Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 09 October 2024 | Download PDF

• The 10th Wild Ass Population Estimation (WAPE) conducted by the Gujarat government earlier this year estimated the wild ass population in Gujarat at 7,672.

About Indian Wild Ass:

• Species: Sub-species of Asian Wild Ass (Equus hemionus), locally called Khur in Gujarat.
• Characteristics:
  • Adapted to survive extreme conditions in Gujarat’s Wild Ass Sanctuary.
  • Primary food: Grass from islands in the desert.
• Distribution:
  • Historically found across northwestern India, Pakistan, and central Asia.
  • Currently limited to the Little Rann of Kutch in Gujarat.
• Habitat: Desert and grassland ecosystems.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN: Near Threatened.
  • CITES: Appendix II.
  • Wildlife Protection Act (1972): Schedule I.
• Ecological Significance:
  • Helps in seed dispersal, promoting vegetation growth and diversity.
  • Creates habitats for other species by clearing grasses.
• Threats:
  • Human activities such as salt farming, agriculture, and cattle grazing.
  • Irrigation canals increase soil salinity, impacting the ecosystem.

• The Union Ministry of Health has increased the monthly nutrition support for all TB patients under the Ni-Kshay Poshan Yojana from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 during treatment.

About NPY:

• Scheme: NPY (Nikshay Poshan Yojana) launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW) under the National Health Mission (NHM) in April 2018.
• Type: Centrally sponsored Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP).
• Objective: Provide financial incentives for nutritional support to tuberculosis (TB) patients.
• Beneficiaries: All notified TB patients are eligible for the scheme.
• Eligibility:
  • All TB patients notified on or after April 1, 2018.
  • Includes patients already receiving TB treatment.
  • Must be registered or notified on the NIKSHAY portal.
• Benefits:
  • ₹1000/- per month for each notified TB patient during their anti-TB treatment.
  • Incentives are distributed via DBT (preferably through Aadhaar-linked bank accounts) or in-kind.
• Coverage: Implemented across all States and UTs in India.

• The 2023 State of Global Water Resources Report highlights that 2023 was the driest year for global rivers in over 30 years.

About State of Global Water Resource Report 2023:

• The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has published an annual water resources report since 2021, providing a global overview of water resources.
• Highlights of the 2023 Report:
  • Five consecutive years have seen widespread below-normal river flows and reservoir inflows.
  • All glacier regions reported ice loss for the second consecutive year in 2023.
  • Glaciers experienced the largest mass loss in 50 years, with over 600 gigatons (Gt) of water lost globally.
  • 6 billion people face inadequate water access for at least one month annually, projected to rise to over 5 billion by 2050.
  • The world is off-track in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 on water and sanitation.

• Consumption of ultra-processed and fast foods leading cause of diabetes in India, reveals new study

About AGEs:

• AGEs (Advanced Glycation End Products) are harmful molecules, also called glycotoxins, formed by glycation and oxidation of lipids and proteins.
• Glycation: The process where molecules combine with sugars.
• Oxidation: The process where molecules combine with oxygen.
• AGEs are produced in the body through metabolism, but the primary source is food.
• High-temperature cooking methods like grilling, toasting, roasting, broiling, and frying generate AGEs in food.
• Tobacco use is an additional source of AGEs.

• World Mental Health Day is observed annually on October 10.

About World Mental Health Day:

• It was first initiated in 1992 by the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH).
• The day aims to raise awareness about mental health issues globally.
• It encourages efforts to improve mental health care worldwide.
• The day highlights the growing recognition of the impact of mental health on individuals, families, and communities.

• Former Rajya Sabha member and a five-time MLA from Kesinga Dhaneswar Majhi passes away at the age of 83.
• Majhi served as a Rajya Sabha member from 1978 to 1984 and was elected as a Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Narla and Kesinga constituencies multiple times (1971, 1974, 2000, 2004, and 2014). 
• He had recently quit the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

• The Odisha government has launched ‘Gramodaya’, a comprehensive program aimed at developing areas affected by left-wing Naxalism. 
• The initiative focuses on ensuring 100% coverage of government schemes across 583 villages in 10 affected districts including Bargarh, Balangir, Kalahandi, Boudh, Kandhamal, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Nuapada and Rayagada.
• The program includes grassroots awareness campaigns, village meetings, and grievance hearings to ensure its success.

• Section 163, which was imposed in Dhamnagar NAC of Bhadrak district following communal tension, has been lifted. 
• The decision was taken by the administration as the situation is said to be peaceful.

About:

• Section 163 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) dealt with the offense of taking gratification for the exercise of personal influence with a public servant. 
• This section has been repealed by the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, which now governs offenses related to corruption and bribery.  

• The Odisha State’s first bone bank has been established at the S.C.B. Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. 
• The bone bank will collect, process, and store bone tissue from donors, ensuring its safety and suitability for transplantation. 
• This initiative is expected to improve access to quality healthcare and reduce the financial burden on patients requiring bone grafts.

• Activists in Odisha are urging the state government to reinstate the Odisha PVTG Nutrition Improvement Programme (OPNIP), a vital initiative aimed at addressing malnutrition among Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in the state. 
• The program, which provided crucial nutritional support to children and mothers in vulnerable communities, was abruptly discontinued last month.   

About:

• OPNIP is a comprehensive program designed to address the critical nutritional needs of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in Odisha.
• These tribal communities often face severe malnutrition due to factors such as geographical isolation, limited access to healthcare, and traditional food practices.

Key components of OPNIP:

• Community-based creches: Providing daycare facilities for children aged 6 months to 3 years.
• Spot feeding centers: Offering hot cooked meals for children aged 3-6 years.
• Maternal spot feeding centers: Catering to the nutritional needs of pregnant and lactating mothers.
• Community support: Empowering local PVTG self-help groups to manage the program, strengthening community ownership.

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