PIB Summaries 03 August 2023

CONTENTS

1. eSanjeevani
2. Yudh Abhyas
3. Gender Inclusion Fund (GIF)

eSanjeevani

Context:

Union Health Minister recently informed the Rajya Sabha that the Centre’s telemedicine application eSanjeevani has completed 14,17,81,384 teleconsultations.

Relevance:

GS III- Health

Dimensions of the Article:

1. What is E-Sanjeevani?
2. Benefits of telemedicine

What is E-Sanjeevani?

• Ministry eevani AB-HWC) in the hub and spoke model and patient to doctor (eSanjeevani OPD).
• E-Sanjeevani OPD (out-patient department) is a telemedicine variant for the public to seek health services remotely; it was rolled out on 13th of April 2020 during the first lockdown in the country.
• e-Sanjeevani OPD is a Govt of India flagship telemedicine platform developed by the Centre for Development of Advance Computing (C-DAC), Mohali under the aegis of MoHFW, Govt of India.
•  It provides free consultations to any Indian citizen.
• However, with covid cases surging, the demand for doctors is up while the supply has reduced due to doctors being pulled out for covid ward duties. 
• It enables virtual meetings between the patients and doctors & specialists from geographically dispersed locations, through video conferencing that occurs in real-time.
• At the end of these remote consultations, eSanjeevani generates electronic prescriptions which can be used for sourcing medicines.
• Andhra Pradesh was the first state to roll out eSanjeevani AB-HWC services in November 2019.

Benefits of telemedicine

• Transportation: Patients can avoid spending gas money or wasting time in traffic with video consultations.
• No missing work: Today, individuals can schedule a consultation during a work break or even after work hours.
• Childcare/Eldercare Challenges: Those who struggle to find care options can use telemedicine solutions.

Yudh Abhyas

Context:

Armies of India and the United States will begin another edition of their joint military exercise ‘Yudh Abhyas’ at Fort Wainwright in Alaska.

Relevance:

GS III: Security challenges 

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Yudh Abhyas: India-USA Joint Military Exercise
2. Yudh Abhyas 2023 (19th Edition)
3. List of Other India-USA Exercises

Yudh Abhyas: India-USA Joint Military Exercise

• Yudh Abhyas is an annual joint military exercise conducted between the armies of India and the USA.
• The exercise has been held continuously since 2004, aiming to foster cooperation, share training, and enhance joint operating skills.

Yudh Abhyas 2023 (19th Edition):

• The 2023 edition is the 19th iteration of the joint exercise, hosted alternately between India and the USA.
• The training will focus on the deployment of an integrated battle group under Chapter VII of the UN Mandate.
• Various operations related to peacekeeping, peace enforcement, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) will be practiced.
• Swift and coordinated relief efforts in response to natural calamities will be practiced by troops from both nations.
• The exercise will involve the employment of a coalition-integrated battle group in challenging mountainous and extreme climatic conditions, incorporating elements like heliborne or airborne operations.

List of Other India-USA Exercises:

• Army: Vajra Prahar (Joint Special Forces Exercise)
• Navy: MALABAR (Multilateral Naval Exercise)
• Air Force: Cope India, Red Flag (Multilateral Air Exercises)

Gender Inclusion Fund (GIF)

Context:

Recently, the Minister of State for Education informed the Lok Sabha about the Gender Inclusion Fund (GIF), mentioned in the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020. 

Relevance:

GS II: Education

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Gender Inclusion Fund (GIF)
2. Interventions for Girls’ Education under Samagra Shiksha
3. Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs)

Gender Inclusion Fund (GIF):

• The Gender Inclusion Fund (GIF) aims to ensure high-quality education for all children, with a focus on promoting gender inclusion.
• It seeks to address concerns related to Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs), including females and transgender individuals.
• The fund will be utilized to provide necessary amenities, such as secure and sanitary vending machines, to enhance educational infrastructure.

National Education Policy (NEP) and Gender Inclusion:

• The NEP emphasizes “Equitable and Inclusive Education,” aiming to ensure that no child is left behind due to socio-cultural identities.
• It recognizes the concerns of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs) and promotes gender as a cross-cutting priority for achieving gender equality in education.
• Specific provisions under Samagra Shiksha 2.0, part of NEP, allocate dedicated resources for SEDGs, including girls.

Interventions for Girls’ Education under Samagra Shiksha:

• Opening of schools in the neighborhood to facilitate access for girls.
• Provision of free uniforms and textbooks for girls up to class VIII.
• Appointment of additional teachers, including women teachers, to ensure quality education.
• Stipend for girls with special needs (CWSN) from class I to XII.
• Construction of separate toilets for girls for improved sanitation and hygiene.
• Sensitization programs for teachers to promote girls’ participation.
• Development of gender-sensitive teaching-learning materials, including textbooks.

Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs):

• KGBVs are residential schools for girls from disadvantaged groups, such as SC, ST, OBC, Minority, and Below Poverty Line (BPL) categories.
• These schools cater to classes VI to XII and are established in Educationally Backward Blocks to reduce gender gaps in education.