Union Environment Ministry and US Agency for International Development (USAID) has launched Forest-PLUS 2.0.
It is a 5-year programme that focuses on developing tools & techniques to bolster ecosystem management and harness ecosystem services in forest landscape management.
It is a set of pilot projects meant to enhance sustainable forest landscape management.
Previously, Forest-PLUS was completed in 2017. Forest-PLUS 2.0 was initiated in December 2018.
Achievements of Forest-PLUS –
Promotion of bio-briquettes in Sikkim,
Introduction of solar heating systems in Rampur and
Development of an agro-forestry model in Hoshangabad
Forest-PLUS 2.0 - It comprises pilot project in 3 landscapes - Gaya in Bihar, Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala and Medak in Telangana.
These sites were chosen for the contrast in their landscapes – Bihar (Forest deficit area), Telangana (Relatively drier area) and Kerala (Rich in Biodiversity).
3 Focal points of action under the programme are,
Developing tools for multiple services in forests management
Instruments for leveraging finance & mobilising investment from the private sector
Economic opportunities for forest-dependent people.
HC guidelines on Article 25
HC of Karnataka has declared that Article 25 (Freedom to free profession, practice and propagation of religion), does not extend to public road and footpath.
It said that denial of permission to put up temporary structures on roads and footpaths for religious festivals or functions will not infringe upon the freedom granted Article 25.
It also observed that one cannot get rights to use public roads and streets just because it was for religious purpose.
It issued guidelines to all city municipal corporations on processing applications for temporarily using public roads and footpaths.
NIKSHAY
It is a web enabled application, which facilitates monitoring of universal access to TB patient’s data by all concerned stakeholders.
It has been developed jointly by the Central TB Division of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and National Informatics Centre (NIC).
Two objectives –
To create database of all TB patients including Multi-Drug Resistant cases across the country,
To use this database for monitoring and research purposes at all levels so that TB can be eradicated from India in an effective manner.
The government launched the Nikshay Poshan Yojana, a direct benefit transfer scheme, to provide nutritional support to TB patients.
Under the scheme, TB patients receive Rs. 500 per month for the entire duration of treatment.
According to the recent Tuberculosis India Report 2019 released by the Govt of India, the estimated TB incidence in India stands at 27 lakh.
Report Highlights - TB burden in India is highest in Uttar Pradesh, followed by Maharashtra and Rajasthan, Gujarat and MP.
The number of HIV-infected people who go on to develop Tuberculosis (TB) is increasing in India.
TB is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among People Living with HIV (PLHIV).
In 2018, the Revised National Tuberculosis Programme (RNTBP) was able to achieve notification by 21.5 lakh persons, which is an increase of 16% as compared to 2017.
LRRK2
Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) is a kinase enzyme that protects the body against viral and bacterial infections by triggering inflammation like swelling, redness, heat and pain.
According to a recent study, this enhanced inflammation can lead to collateral damage to the body.
Inflammation caused by mutation in a gene can raise the risk of Parkinson’s and Crohn’s diseases as well as leprosy.
Leprosy caused by infections characterised by lesions in the nerve endings of the skin.
LRRK2, which causes excessive inflammation to defend body against a type of mycobacterium infects peripheral nerves, is thought to be behind leprosy.
The findings are also important for ongoing clinical trials of Parkinson’s drugs that can reduce excessive LRRK2 activity.
However, total absence of LRRK2 function can make people more prone to infections.
