Organ Transplants in India

In News

•  Government removes age cap on cadaver organ transplants.

About

• The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has recently removed the clause that people beyond 65 years could not receive cadaver organ transplants.
• Cadaveric donation comprises organ donation i.e., taking organs (heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, pancreas) from brain-dead people, as well as tissue donation, meaning taking tissues (skin, corneas, tendons, bone) from brain dead as well as heart dead people.
• Certain States like Kerala and Maharashtra have been charging fees ranging from ?5,000 to ?10,000 for registering organ transplant patients.
• Previously, the Health Ministry has proposed a ‘One Nation One Policy,’ for organ donation and transplantation.

Major highlights

• Registration for Organ Recipients:
  • Government removes the need for domicile registration to receive organs from a particular state/union territory
  • All states/UTs directed to not charge any fee for organ recipient registration.
  • Patient will be now allotted a unique ID by NOTTO on registering which will get carried forward even if the patient changes multiple hospitals in different States.
• Age Bar Lifted:
  • Earlier, preference was given to younger patients below 65 years of age.
  • The government removes the age bar for organ registration in consideration of the right to life enshrined under Article 21.
• Transplantation of Human Organs Act:
  • Organ retrieval, storage, and transplantation are governed under THOA, 1994.
  • The law has been adopted by most states but some aspects are vague, leading to confusion and different implementations.
  • The government is working on a ‘one nation, one policy’ approach to eliminate variations.
• Awareness and Education:
  • To create awareness about organ donation, a chapter will be added to the school curriculum soon
  • Anyone regardless of age or gender can become an organ and tissue donor with parental or legal guardian consent required for minors
  • Living persons can only donate to immediate blood relations, while a brain-dead person can donate more than 20 organs and tissues
  • The Health Ministry has instructed States to stop charging registration fees from patients.
  • A chapter in the school curriculum regarding organ donation awareness for students will be introduced.

Organ transplant: Scenario in INDIA

• The number of organ transplants has increased by over three times from 4,990 in 2013 to 15,561 in 2022.
• The most common organ transplant is for the kidney, followed by liver, heart, lung, pancreas, and small bowel transplants.
•  In 2022 alone, nearly 12,791 living donor transplants and 2,765 deceased donor transplants were conducted.
• Only 1,743 (14%) of the organs were from deceased donors, while the majority of organs harvested were from living donors, specifically kidney and liver donations.
• Nearly all deceased organ donations in 2021 were in 15 states, with the top five accounting for over 85% of the total.

Need for Increased Organ Donations in India

• India conducts the third highest number of transplants in the world, but the number of organs needed is still much higher than the number of transplants.
• Lifestyle diseases are increasing the demand for organs as heart and lungs can only be retrieved from deceased donors.
• Nearly 1.5 lakh persons die in road traffic accidents every year in India, many of whom can ideally donate organs.

• Organ transplantation also helps to reduce the burden on the healthcare system by reducing the need for hospitalization, repeat surgeries, and long-term treatment.
• India has an organ donation rate of 0.52 per million population, much lower than the rate in Spain (49.6 per million).
• Organ donation can help save the lives of multiple people, as one donor can donate several organs and tissues.

Challenges of Organ Transplantation

• Lack of awareness: There is a lack of awareness among people about the importance of organ donation and transplantation, which leads to a shortage of donated organs.
• Shortage of donors: Despite increasing awareness, there is still a shortage of organ donors due to several reasons, including religious beliefs, and lack of trust in the medical system.
• Legal and ethical issues: There are several legal and ethical issues surrounding organ donation, including consent, allocation of organs, and the fair distribution of organs.
• Transportation and preservation: Organs need to be transported and preserved under specific conditions to ensure their viability for transplantation which has logistical challenges, especially for organs that have a short shelf life.
• Medical suitability: Not all donated organs are suitable for transplantation due to medical conditions or other factors, which can limit the number of available organs for transplant.
• Costs: The costs associated with organ transplantation can be high, which can limit access to treatment for some patients.

Government Steps to facilitate Organ Transplant in India

Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA): It was enacted in 1994 and governs organ transplantation in India.The act also establishes the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) and State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations (SOTTO) to oversee organ donation and transplantation activities.National Organ Transplant Programme (NOTP): It was launched in 2014 to create a national registry of organ donors and recipients, establish more organ transplant centers, and raise awareness about organ donation.Deceased Organ Donation Program:It was launched by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to encourage organ donation from deceased individuals. National Organ Donation Day: The government of India has designated November 27 as National Organ Donation Day to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation and encourage people to pledge to donate their organs.Swasth Bharat Yatra: It is a government-led campaign to promote healthy living, prevent lifestyle diseases,raise awareness about organ donation and encourages people to pledge to donate their organs.National Organ and Tissue Transplant Registry: It has established a National Organ and Tissue Transplant Registry to maintain records of organ donations and transplantation in the country to help in the development of policies and strategies to promote organ donation and transplantation.Organ Retrieval Banking Organization: It is a part of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi and is responsible for the retrieval, preservation, and distribution of organs for transplantation in the Delhi-NCR region.

Conclusion:

• Although organ donation numbers increased in the last decade, there is still a need to increase deceased donations in India.
• There is a need for awareness, building trust, and increasing the number of medically qualified transplant coordinators to help increase the deceased donations.
• Overall, organ transplant plays a critical role in the medical field by offering hope to patients suffering from organ failure and improving their quality of life. 
• It is a vital healthcare service that requires ongoing support, awareness, and education to increase organ donation rates and help more patients in need.

Tribal Culture & Sustainable Development

Context

• The Prime Minister remarked that the world can learn a lot about sustainable development from Adivasi culture and it can be a solution to global problems like climate change and global warming.

About

• India comprises 8.6% tribal population, has access to an enormous indigenous knowledge which through recognition, adoption, and mainstreaming has the potential to provide sustainable solutions to concerns related to falling agricultural productivity and soil quality, biodiversity loss, water scarcity, pollution, and Climate Change challenges.
• Sustainable Development refers to a way of achieving economic growth and development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

What is Tribal Culture? 

• Communal living: Many tribal communities in India have a strong emphasis on communal living and sharing resources. They live in close-knit communities and often make decisions collectively.
• Connection with nature: Tribals have a strong connection with nature, with traditional beliefs and practices that revolve around the forests and animals.
• Self-Sufficiency: Tribe is a synonym for a self-reliant community, a tribe is a relatively closed society and its openness is inversely related to the extent of its self-sufficient pursuits.
• Spiritual beliefs: Tribals often have their own unique spiritual beliefs, which may involve the worship of ancestors, nature spirits, or deities. 
• Folk arts and crafts: Tribals are known for their unique art forms, including pottery, weaving, and jewellery making. These crafts often have spiritual or cultural significance and are passed down through generations.

Tribal Lifestyle and Sustainable development

• Respect for the natural environment: Tribal traditional practices, such as using natural materials for housing, food, and medicine, and living in harmony with the cycles of nature.
• Conservation of natural resources: Sustainable practices involve limiting the use of resources to ensure their long-term availability, such as rotational farming or allowing forests to regenerate before harvesting timber.
• Community-based decision-making: Collective decision-making takes into account the needs of the community as a whole and ensures that decisions are made in a sustainable and equitable manner.
• Emphasis on intergenerational knowledge sharing: Passing down knowledge to the next generation includes traditional knowledge of the natural environment and sustainable practices for managing resources. 
• Promotion of biodiversity: Tribals have developed practices to protect and promote diversity which includes traditional methods of agriculture, such as intercropping and seed-saving, as well as the protection of sacred sites that are important for the preservation of biodiversity.
• Use of renewable energy: Tribal communities have traditionally used renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and hydropower which can be expanded and modernized to provide clean energy for more people.
• Protection of water resources: Tribal communities rely on water resources and have developed practices that can help to ensure that water is available for future generations, and can reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Regenerative agriculture:  tribal communities have been practicing regenerative agriculture for centuries, which involves practices like crop rotation, intercropping, and regenerating soils with organic matter. These practices help to sequester carbon in the soil, which can help to mitigate climate change.

Challenges faced by tribals in performing their lifestyle

• Land rights: Tribal communities have been displaced from their traditional lands due to industrialization, and mining which has resulted in the loss of cultural identity, and social and economic marginalization.
• Discrimination: Tribal communities often face discrimination and prejudice from the dominant society, including limited access to education, healthcare, and other basic services.
• Climate change and environmental degradation:  Climate Change, such as changes in rainfall patterns, increased frequency of natural disasters, loss of biodiversity, deforestation, pollution, and loss of habitat, has negatively impacted their traditional livelihoods and ways of life.
• Socioeconomic marginalization: Many tribal communities have limited access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, which can result in poverty and social exclusion.
• Cultural assimilation: Many tribal communities face pressure to assimilate into the dominant culture, which can lead to the loss of traditional knowledge, language, and cultural practices.
• Lack of political representation: Tribal communities often lack political representation and may not have a voice in decision-making processes that affect their lives.
• Health challenges: Tribal communities often face challenges in accessing quality healthcare, which can result in higher rates of disease, malnutrition, and other health issues.

Government initiatives to conserve tribal culture

• TRIFED’s Initiatives For Tribal Population
  • Sankalp Se Siddhi – Mission Van Dhan: The Government plans to establish 50,000 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras, 3000 Haat Bazaars, etc.
  • Institutional Support for Development & Marketing of Tribal Products / Produce (Central Sector Scheme)
  • Tribes India Outlets: The outlets will showcase tribal products from all over the country and the outlets will have a specific geographical indication (GI) and Vandhan corners.
• Development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs): The scheme covers activities like housing, land distribution, land development, agricultural development, animal husbandry, construction of link roads, etc.
• Support to Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) and Tribal Festivals, Research Information, and Mass Education
• Scholarships for pre-matric, post-matric, and overseas education 
• Support to National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation
• Vocational Training in Tribal Area: The aim of the Scheme is to develop the skills of the ST youth for a variety of jobs as well as self-employment and to improve their socio-economic condition by enhancing their income.
• The mechanism for Marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) through (MSP) and Development of a Value Chain for MFP’ as a measure of social safety for MFP gatherers (Centrally Sponsored Scheme)         

Way Ahead

• Tribal lifestyles can offer solutions to climate change and global warming through sustainable practices that protect and preserve the natural environment.
• Overall, tribal lifestyles can provide valuable lessons for sustainable development, particularly in areas with high levels of biodiversity or where development threatens the natural environment. 

India-Myanmar Border Issues

In News

• Recently, the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Development of North Eastern Region, held a virtual meeting with the Minister for Border Affairs of Myanmar.

More about the news

• Internal developments of Myanmar: 
  • In the context of recent developments inside Myanmar and their repercussions along India-Myanmar border region, the two sides discussed the need to ensure peace, stability and economic development along the border.
  • It was emphasized that early restoration of peace and security and implementation of development projects in Myanmar will benefit the people residing along both sides of the border. 
  • India also sought continued cooperation of the Myanmar authorities for early repatriation of trapped Indian nationals in the Myawaddy region.
• India’s connectivity projects in Myanmar:
  • The two sides also discussed Government of India’s grant-in-aid connectivity projects in Myanmar aimed at infrastructure development in the country and economic well-being of the people of Myanmar.
• Other issues:
  • Other issues discussed included creation of conducive conditions for the return of Myanmar nationals currently taking shelter in India, combating drug trafficking and other transnational crimes, strengthening people to people exchanges in the bordering areas, Free Movement Regime, and ways to augment border trade.

About the internal Situation of Myanmar 

• Coup: 
  • On 1 February 2021, Myanmar’s military took power in a coup, abruptly halting the country’s fragile transition toward democracy.
    • It justified the coup by alleging widespread fraud in the 2020 election – which Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy won by a landslide.
      • Independent observers have rejected such claims.
  • In the weeks following the coup, huge numbers of people took to the streets for mass protests. 
• Army’s Response: 
  • The military responded with deadly violence and imposed a campaign of terror, raiding homes and arresting anyone suspected of supporting democracy.
  • As compared to 2021, the resistance took more violent forms and spread mostly to the North and Western parts of the country. 
  • The regime has introduced further restrictions on political parties by barring them from speaking with international organisations or foreigners without permission from the electoral body.
• Repercussions:
  • Refugee problem: 
    • the ongoing conflict has resulted in widespread displacement within and outside the country, leading to the refugee problem in neighbouring countries, particularly India and Thailand.
  • Cross border crimes:
    • The incidents of drug trafficking and money laundering have also increased across bordering states, especially Thailand and India. 
    • Finally, drug consumption has surged within the country, deteriorating the health and potential of the younger population.
    • There are also reports of Myanmar emerging as a human trafficking hub.
  • Economic: 
    • The price of basic commodities increased.In addition, as a result of the Russia-Ukraine war, there was a rise in the cost of fertilisers leading to a shortage in the production of food in Myanmar. 
    • The banking sector has seen a slowdown, with a number of private bank branches closing due to armed resistance and instability, as well as Military Council guidelines that restricted fund transfers and limited cash withdrawals.
    • Since the coup, there have also been concerns over the shortage of electricity and frequent power cuts across the country. 

Impact on India

• Issue of infiltration:
  • Incidents of cross-border movements of people and transport of illegal goods were also reported. 
• Geopolitical issues:
  • It has had an adverse impact on India’s Act East policy, which had since 2014 become more dynamic and result-oriented. 
  • It has negatively impacted India’s initiatives in terms of land outreach towards the vibrant economies of South East Asia and  It has also retarded development in the Northeast.
  • This is creating impediments to the Centre’s overtures for future peace initiatives.
    • Also, reports of meddling by Chinese intelligence in supporting these militant groups are of concern and demand proactive action.
• Security Concerns:
  • India’s strategy concerning the military coup in Myanmar comes at the expense of security concerns for the indigenous stakeholders in the NER.

India’s bordersIndia shares land borders with China, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar.India’s borders are unique due to the variety of terrains through which these borders pass, namely deserts, mountains, glaciers and forests. It is obvious that managing such large borders in diverse terrain conditions pose myriad challenges.India’s strategy to guard its bordersConstruction activities:As part of the strategy to secure the borders as also to create infrastructure in the border areas of the country, several initiatives have been undertaken by the Border Management Division. These include: Construction of fence, floodlighting, roads, Border Out Posts (BOPs), Company Operating Bases (COBs) and Deployment of technological solutions along the India-Pakistan, India-Bangladesh, India-China, India-Nepal, India-Bhutan and India-Myanmar borders. Deployment of troops & surveillance: The Indian Army and the BSF are deployed in multiple layers to form an anti-infiltration grid. The border fence and deployment of other surveillance devices have helped in reducing infiltrations. Along Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar borders:Our borders with these countries are guarded primarily by paramilitary forces, and they have to deal with the smuggling and trafficking of humans, drugs, arms, illegal migration and movement of suspected insurgents. Porous borders with Bangladesh and Myanmar and open borders with Nepal pose challenges in dealing with these nefarious activities.Drugs Challenge:Drones have proved to be an effective tool in smuggling drugs across the border. It will take more than mere vigilance on the border to deal with this menace. Improving our intelligence network within the state to nab the drug dealers on our side of the border must be the main priority of our security forces.

Way ahead

• India needs to maintain a close look at the situation at the borders to ensure security.
  • The increase in violence could further lead to an influx of refugees, which could create an economic and social burden in the Northeastern states.
  • Furthermore, the security of the border states is important given the increasing incidents of drug and arms trafficking.
• As the country crisis enters its third year, it is important that all stakeholders are at the table to establish a peaceful and long-term solution. 

Source: TH

Terrorist Organisations Designated Under UAPA

Context

• The Ministry of Home Affairs designated the Khalistan Tiger Force and the Jammu and Kashmir Ghaznavi Force as terrorist organisations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967. 

About

• Jammu and Kashmir Ghaznavi Force (JKGF) surfaced in the year 2020 as a terrorist outfit that threatens security forces and incites people on social media platforms to join terrorist outfits fighting against India. 
• The Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) came into existence in 2011 as an offshoot of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), a banned terrorist organisation.

What is UAPA?

• Unlawful activity means any conduct which constitutes a crime or which contravenes any law whether such conduct occurred before or after the commencement of this Act and whether such conduct occurred in the Republic or elsewhere.
• Section 15 of the UAPA defines “terrorist act” and is punishable with imprisonment for a term of at least five years to life. In case the terrorist act results in death, the punishment is death or imprisonment for life.
• The Act assigns absolute power to the central government, by way of which if the Centre deems an activity as unlawful then it may, by way of an Official Gazette, declare it so.
• The provisions of this Act apply also to
  • Citizens of India outside India.
  • Persons in the service of the Government, wherever they may be.
  • Persons on ships and aircraft, registered in India, wherever they may be.

Issues with UAPA

• Ignoring Fundamental Rights: Those arrested under UAPA can be incarcerated for up to 180 days without a charge sheet being filed. It thus directly violates Article 21 of the constitution. 
• Low Prosecution Rate: According to a PUCL report in 2022, less than 3 percent of arrests made under the UAPA resulted in convictions between 2015 and 2020. 
• Highly Discretionary: It confers upon the government broad discretionary powers and authorizes the creation of special courts with the ability to use secret witnesses and to hold closed-door hearings. 
• Hindering political dissent: It is being used to suppress dissent through intimidation and harassment thus threatening the very existence of public debate and freedom of the press. 
• Criminalizing Thoughts: It criminalizes mere thoughts and political protests that cause “disaffection” with the state. It is an assault on citizens’ right to expression. 
• Stringent Provision of bail: The standard for bail under the UAPA is that it cannot be granted unless the court is of the view that the accused is innocent of the alleged offense.

Way Ahead

• The Act needs to be amended, in order to ensure a constitutional functionary who is independent of the Executive, is in charge of sanctions for prosecutions and investigations under this Act.
• Ensuring proper implementation: One of the main issues with the UAPA has been its misuse by law enforcement agencies. Therefore, there is a need to ensure correct implementation.
• Balancing security and individual rights: The UAPA is a powerful tool but it can also be misused to curtail the rights of citizens. Thus there is a need to strike a balance between national security concerns and individual rights.
• The law can be made more effective by incorporating modern investigative techniques, providing greater oversight and transparency, and ensuring that the rights of the accused are protected.
• Ensuring judicial independence: The UAPA cases are often politicized, and there are concerns about the independence of the judiciary in such cases. Thus the UAPA cases should be heard and decided on the basis of evidence and the rule of law.
• SC on UAPA
  • The Court’s ruling in NIA v Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali (2020) has made the grant of bail almost impossible.
  • Justice Rohinton Nariman urged the SC to strike down “the offensive portions of the UAPA”

Special Marriage Act

• In News

• Several interfaith couples have chosen to marry under a secular personal law through the Special Marriage Act, 1954.

What is the Special Marriage Act, of 1954?

• The Special Marriage Act of 1954 (SMA) provides an alternate route to religious laws for marriage It governs a civil marriage where the state sanctions the marriage rather than the religion.

Need for this Act

• Issues of personal law such as marriage, divorce, adoption are governed by religious laws that are codified. These laws, such as the Muslim Marriage Act, 1954, and the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, require either spouse to convert to the religion of the other before marriage.
• SMA enables marriage between inter-faith or inter-caste couples without them giving up their religious identity or resorting to conversion.

Concerns 

• The provisions relating to notice, publication and objection have rendered it difficult for many people intending to solemnize inter-faith marriages.
• In 2009, the Delhi High Court, underlining the right to privacy, struck down the practice of posting the notice of intended marriage under the SMA to the residential addresses of both parties.
• In January 2021, the Allahabad High Court ruled that couples seeking to solemnize their marriage under the Special Marriage Act, 1954 can choose not to publish the mandatory 30-day notice of their intention to marry.

Way ahead

• The state needs to focus on promoting and protecting the rights of women within marriage and aim for a more equal, progressive law.

Source: TH

EC and Party Symbols

In News

• The Election Commission of India (ECI) ordered that the Eknath Shinde camp of the Shiv Sena will retain the official name and the ‘bow and arrow symbol of the party.

About

• Role of ECI in Alloting Symbols:
  • The Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968 empowers the EC to recognise political parties and allot symbols. 
  • Evolution of Symbol order:
    • Before 1968, the ECI issued notifications and executive orders under the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961.
    • The Election Commission of India (ECI) promulgated Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order in 1968  to deal with the allocation of symbols.
  • Provisions:
    • Symbols order has provisions regarding the registration and recognition of political parties as state and national parties.
    • Under Paragraph 15 of the Order, it can decide disputes among rival groups or sections of a recognised political party staking claim to its name and symbol.
  • As per the guidelines, to get a symbol allotted:
    • A party/candidate has to provide a list of three symbols from the EC’s free symbols list at the time of filing nomination papers.
    • Among them, one symbol is allotted to the party/candidate on a first-come-first-serve basis.
    • When a recognised political party splits, the Election Commission decides on assigning the symbol by evaluating the support enjoyed by a claimant in both  organisational  and legislative wings. within the political party.
    • Where it is not possible to decide which group has a majority, the EC may freeze the party’s symbol and allow the groups to register with new names.

Source:  TH

Lead Poisoning in India: A Public Health Concern

In News

• Recently, a not-for-profit organization has highlighted the issue of lead poisoning in India.

About

• Centre for Science and Environment(CSE) through an article has recently highlighted that lead poisoning is a significant public health issue in India, with millions of children and adults affected.
• As per the World Health Organization (WHO), the lead metal can be ingested through the mouth, inhaled through the respiratory system or absorbed by the skin.
• Lead poisoning is a serious health issue caused by the accumulation of lead in the body, leading to various health problems.
• Major sources of lead exposure include lead-based paints, lead batteries, contaminated soil and water, and occupational exposure in industries such as mining, smelting, and battery recycling.
• The think tank has highlighted how lack of screening systems, inability to determine source of exposure and lax implementation of safety norms have compounded the problem in India.

The Crisis in India

• Half the children in India record high blood lead levels, with 275 million children in India recording levels beyond the tolerable limit of 5 µg/dL.
• Adults are also affected, with Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh accounting for 40% of the population with high blood lead levels.
• Lead toxicity in India contributes to 4.6 million Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) and 165,000 deaths annually.

The Impact of Lead Poisoning:

• Lead poisoning can have severe physical and developmental impacts, including anemia, developmental delays, and damage to the nervous system.
• Once lead enters the bloodstream, it goes directly to the brain, making it particularly harmful for children.
• During pregnancy, if the mother consumes lead, there is no placental barrier, so the lead is transferred to the fetus.

Government steps to control lead poisoning

National Programme for Prevention and Control of Fluorosis, Endemic Skeletal Fluorosis and Arsenicosis: It was launched in 2010 to take measures to prevent lead poisoning.In 2013, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) issued a notification that banned the import of lead acid batteries that do not meet the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specifications.National Health Mission (NHM): It was initiated by the government to provide comprehensive healthcare services, including screening for lead poisoning and treatment for affected individuals.Lead Battery Waste Management Rules, 2016: It was formulated by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to regulate the disposal of lead-acid batteries and promote their recycling in an environmentally safe manner.National Programme for the Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE): It was launched by the government to provide healthcare services to the elderly population, who are particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning.Center for Advanced Research on Environmental Health (CAREH) : It was established by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to conduct research on environmental health issues, including lead poisoning.

What more can be done? 

• Awareness campaigns: The government can launch awareness campaigns to educate people about the dangers of lead poisoning and the sources of lead exposure.
• Ban on lead-based paints: The government can ban the production, sale, and use of lead-based paints. Several countries have already banned lead-based paints, and India needs to follow suit.
• Lead battery recycling regulations: The government can regulate the recycling of lead batteries to prevent the release of lead into the environment.
• Periodic soil testing: The government can conduct soil testing in areas with high lead exposure to identify and mitigate contaminated areas.
• Drinking water testing: The government can ensure the testing of drinking water for lead contamination in areas where there is a high risk of exposure.
• Occupational health and safety regulations: The government can implement and enforce occupational health and safety regulations to protect workers in industries that involve lead exposure.
• Affordable medical treatment: The government can provide medical treatment and support to people affected by lead poisoning.

Source: DTE

Omorgus Khandesh

In Context

• A new beetle species have been discovered in India, according to a paper published in the New Zealand-based journal Zootaxa.
  • The new beetle species was discovered by a  scientist from the Zoological Survey of India, Western Regional Centre (WRC), Pune.

Key Facts

• It is necrophagous and also called a keratin beetle.
  1. Necrophagous are arthropods which feed directly on dead remains.
• This species belongs to the Trogidae family. With the addition of this new species, now there are a total of 14 extant species of this family in India.
• The beetles of this group are sometimes called hide beetles as they tend to cover their body under the soil and hide.
• They are not photogenic; they are usually black or grey and encrusted in dirt.
• Their bumpy appearance is distinct, with short, dense setae all over the body.
• It is mainly associated with bird and mammal nests or burrows.

Significance

• The beetle is important for forensic science as it helps detect the time of death of an animal or human. 

Source:

World Pangolin Day

In Context

• World Pangolin Day is celebrated on the third Saturday in February every year

About

• It is an international attempt to raise awareness of pangolins and bring together stakeholders to help protect these species from extinction.

Pangolins:

• Pangolins are scaly mammals that eat ants, termites and larvae.They are one of the most trafficked mammals in Asia . Pangolins are in high demand in countries like China and Vietnam. Their meat is considered a delicacy and pangolin scales are used in traditional medicine and folk remedies.
• Out of the eight species of pangolin, the Indian Pangolin and the Chinese Pangolin are found in India.   

• Habitat:
  • Indian Pangolin is widely distributed in India, except the arid region, high Himalayas and the North-East. The species is also found in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
  • Chinese Pangolin is found in the Himalayan foothills in Eastern Nepal, Bhutan, Northern India, North-East Bangladesh and through Southern China.
• Protection Status:
  • IUCN Red List
    • Indian Pangolin: Endangered
    • Chinese Pangolin: Critically Endangered
  • Both these species are listed under Schedule I, Part I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
  • Appendix I of the International Convention of Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)