MANAGING INDIA’S MICROPLASTIC CONTAMINATION

 

GS Paper-III

Curriculum: Environmental degradation, pollution, and conservation

Background: Microplastic contamination, a serious environmental issue, has received little attention in India.

 

Microplastics:

  • These little plastic particles (less than 5 mm long) come from the breakdown of bigger plastics as well as the production of commercial items (microbeads in personal care products, synthetic fibres from garments, etc.).
  • They can be found anywhere, including Antarctica’s terrestrial habitats as well as freshwater rivers, lakes, ponds, estuaries, seas, and oceans.

 

Perilous effects of microplastics

  • In addition to being harmful to ecosystems, microplastics also serve as a vehicle for the spread of other toxic substances in aquatic environments.
  • Microplastics are a huge environmental issue and a threat to human health as well as to marine and terrestrial species.
  • As a result of the widespread use and abundance of microplastics, many scientists now refer to this period as the Plasticene.

 

Microplastic pollution causes in India include:

  • Increased plastic consumption and garbage production are results of rapid industrialization, urbanisation, and population rise.
  • Poor waste management techniques, such as a lack of recycling infrastructure and unethical disposal methods. For instance,

o Municipal solid waste (MSW) is produced in India’s municipalities at a rate of 133,760 metric tonnes per day (TPD).

Only 91,152 TPD of garbage is collected, and 25,884 TPD of that is processed.

Only 9,250 TPD of the plastic garbage generated is recycled.

  • It is vulnerable to the transfer of microplastics from interior areas to the maritime environment due to the extensive coastline and numerous rivers.

 

Indian challenges include:

  • With a population of 1.42 billion, it is the most populated nation in the world.
  • Whether directly or indirectly, all 17 SDGs depend significantly on access to water.
  • Freshwater systems have been misused, poorly managed, and contaminated, which has increased water stress.

Thus, in light of microplastic contamination, fulfilling SDGs by 2030 is a monumental task.

 

Several SDGs that relate to water directly or intricately include:

  • SDG 2: Ending hunger
  • SDG 3: Optimal physical and mental health
  • SDG 6: Sanitation and clean water
  • SDG 7: Accessible and sustainable energy
  • SDG 14: Subaquatic Life
  • SDG 15: Land-based life

 

India’s actions include:

Single-use plastic items were outlawed by the end of 2022 under the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules 2021.

  • Beginning on December 31, 2022, plastic carry bags may have a thickness of up to 120 microns instead of the previous limit of 50 microns.
  • The problem is being actively addressed by a number of nonprofits and civil society organisations, including Saahas, a Bengaluru-based outfit.

 

Way Forward:

  • Concentrate on SDG 6’s primary objectives:

o Ensuring that everyone has equitable access to clean, cheap drinking water.

o Increase water treatment and reduce pollutants to improve water quality.

o Make freshwater withdrawals and supplies sustainable and improve the efficiency of all sectors’ water use.

To support the sustainable use of water resources, implement integrated water resources management.

o Preserve and restore water-related habitats, such as lakes, rivers, aquifers, marshes, mountains, and forests.

  • India should prioritise enhancing the nation’s infrastructure for waste management, encouraging recycling and sensible consumption, and increasing public and industry knowledge.
  • Stricter laws must be put in place, microplastics must be better monitored and studied, and sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics must be promoted.

Conclusion: It is crucial to remember that managing microplastics is a challenging challenge that calls for a multifaceted strategy comprising cooperative efforts from individuals, communities, businesses, and government organisations in order to decrease plastic waste and safeguard the environment.

 

DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DMP) MANUAL

 

GS Paper-III

The Disaster Management Plan (DMP) Manual has been produced by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti.

 

About the DMP Manual:

  • Created by: The Ministry of Jal Shakti’s Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, based on the warning issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in accordance with the Disaster Management Act of 2005.

 

  • Objective:

o To involve stakeholders at the national, state, district, and village levels in ensuring the safety, continuous supply, and least amount of loss of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) assets and services.

o Increase WASH resilience to lessen vulnerability to disasters.

o Create a solid setting, budget, and coordination system to help achieve the intended outcomes.

o Create a strategy that addresses catastrophe mitigation, recovery, response, and recovery.

  • The strategy addresses concerns relating to SC/ST, the elderly, kids, and individuals with disabilities, as well as gender-based vulnerabilities.
  • The Plan is in line with the Department’s two main WASH initiatives, the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBM-G).

 

Three different types of assessments must be made in the event of a disaster:

  • Prior to the disaster: A Hazard-Vulnerability-Capacity mapping to direct the most necessary preparedness measures,
  • During the response: A Rapid requirements Assessment (RNA), which may be finished in a day and identifies the population’s immediate requirements,
  • During Reconstruction and Recovery: A thorough Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) that –
  • Emphasises the community’s long-term needs

o Aids in the administration’s efforts to “update” and “build back better” after calamities.

  • Other initiatives by India to lower disaster risk include:
  • The first G20 Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) was established by India in order to make DRR a top priority for the G20 during its chairmanship.
  • Increasing the scope of catastrophe early warning: During Cyclone Biparjoy, efficient systems for end-to-end early warning and action contributed to India experiencing no fatalities as a result of the event.
  • India is working to achieve the goal of the UN Secretary General’s Early Warnings for All Initiative, which aims to provide universal coverage by the end of 2027.
  • The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CRDI) was established by India and the UN in 2019 to promote disaster resilient infrastructure policy development and capacity building, particularly in developing nations.

 

Disaster response best practises in Odisha:

  • Sneha Abhiyaan: Under this programme, the management of cyclone shelters, including the distribution of cooked food, is delegated to self-help groups (SHGs) in the community.
  • Mamta Gruhas: These protected areas offer complete care to women, children, and other disadvantaged groups in society.
  • Training and capacity building of frontline staff (ASHAs, SHGs): SDRF offers instruction in first aid, shelter management, rescue operations, and government policies pertaining to human trafficking.

 

Way Forward:

  • Long-term rehabilitation must be a priority if affected communities are to become more resilient.
  • Women’s collective leadership is crucial to this process.

In conclusion, a renewed sense of urgency and a people-centered strategy can dramatically lower disaster losses by 2030 as the globe reaches the halfway point of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030.

 

Prelims:

The goal of disaster risk reduction (DRR) is to prevent disasters by proactively identifying and mitigating the risks and vulnerabilities that can cause them. Considering India’s acceptance of the National Disaster Management Plan, analyse.

 

 

 

PROJECTS STARTED UNDER PMFBY

 

In order to give farmers essential weather-related information, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare launched the Yield Estimation System (YES-TECH) Manual, the AIDE mobile app, and the Weather Information Network Data Systems (WINDS) online.

  • The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) has introduced this.

 

launched initiatives

Initiative Descriptio

At the Taluk/Block and Gramme Panchayat levels, Automatic Weather Stations, Rain Gauges, and Rain Watch Towers will collect and record hyper-local weather data through the WINDS (Weather Information Network Data Systems) portal, which will host, manage, and process it.

It will give farmers important weather-related information and data.

It will improve risk assessment and decision-making in disaster mitigation, crop insurance, and agricultural advice.

A smartphone application called AIDE (App for Intermediary Enrolment) was launched to make it easier for farmers to access numerous government programmes and perks. Farmers may quickly sign up for and take advantage of the many agricultural programmes with the app.

It would guarantee a smooth and open procedure, making crop insurance more available and practical for farmers.

A manual for implementing a technology-based system for yield estimation in agriculture is called YES-TECH (Technology-based Yield Estimation System). The programme makes use of technology to precisely estimate agricultural yields, assisting farmers in decision-making and planning.

 

Additional similar initiatives:

Project/Initiative Description

Forecasting Agricultural production using Space, Agro-meteorology and Land based observations (FASAL) project · FASAL project utilizes space technology, agro-meteorology, and land-based data for reliable agricultural output forecasting.

  • It helps farmers make informed decisions based on reliable crop yield estimates.

National e-Governance Plan in Agriculture (NeGPA) It enables farmers to access important agricultural data and services through digital platforms.

National Agricultural Drought Assessment and Monitoring System (NADAMS) It assists in identifying regions undergoing drought conditions and facilitates suitable drought management methods to benefit farmers.

Bhuvan, an ISRO geoplatform, provides information on weather, pest surveillance, and plantations. Additionally, it encourages the use of Kisan Drones for crop evaluation and makes it easier to digitise land data to enhance agricultural practises.

 

Significance:

These programmes seek to close the informational gap in weather and provide farmers with timely, precise information for efficient planning and decision-making.

 

Regarding PMFBY:

A crop insurance programme called Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) was introduced in 2016 to offer farmers financial assistance and risk coverage against crop losses brought on by natural disasters, pests, and diseases.

 

 

THE SIXTH HIV-FREE PATIENT, A RESIDENT OF GENEVA

 

A sixth person, referred to as the Geneva patient, is most likely HIV-free thanks to a stem cell transplant for leukaemia. 20 months after ending antiretroviral medication, his virus level was undetectable.

  • The HIV virus could resurface, though, because his cells are still vulnerable to it.

 

A stem cell transplant is what?

Healthy stem cells are delivered into a patient during a stem cell transplant (SCT) to replace sick or damaged stem cells. Specialised human cells called stem cells have the capacity to multiply and develop into a variety of cell types throughout the body. The transplant seeks to treat certain illnesses including leukaemia and lymphoma and restore the body’s capacity to create healthy blood cells.

 

Can all HIV patients be treated with SCT?

Due to difficulties in obtaining compatible donors and the mutation being primarily seen in Caucasians, stem cell transplant is unlikely to become a common treatment for HIV. Risks associated with stem cell transplantation include the possibility of patient rejection and the virus finding new methods to infect cells.

 

Why can Caucasians recover but other races cannot?

Due to the higher prevalence of the CCR5 delta 32 gene mutation in Caucasians, the recovery of HIV with stem cell transplantation has been seen more frequently in this racial group. Due to the absence of the receptors on their immune cells—which the virus uses to bind to and infect the cells—people who inherit two copies of this mutation (one from each parent) are inherently resistant to some strains of HIV.

Effective antiretroviral therapy continues to be the mainstay of HIV treatment, inhibiting the virus and enabling a recovery in CD4 immune cell count. Although it doesn’t totally get rid of the virus, it lowers viral particles to undetectable levels and stops them from spreading.

The Berlin patient, the London patient, and the New York patient are three further individuals who underwent stem cell transplantation and experienced HIV remission. Adult and umbilical cord stem cell stem cell therapy may make it possible for persons of other races to get transplants.