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Till Nov this year, Kolkata's air quality better than that that of 2019: PCB report

Kolkata: A report published by West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) recently has made clear how lockdown and some measures taken by the board have done miracle with the air quality of the city. Though the air quality in the month of December raised concerns among environmentalists, it was found to be better till November compared to 2019. The report said that there were 148 good days in 2020 compared to 85 in 2019 in the city. Poor days were reduced to 40 in 2020 from 45 in 2019. In Kolkata, very poor days were reduced from 29 in 2019 to two in 2020. In Howrah, very poor days were reduced from 36 to seven. “Apart from lockdown, some of our measures based on scientific studies, including the source-apportionment study, have started yielding results. Spraying of water to stop road dust resuspension, shifting to cleaner fuel by roadside eateries, action against waste burning have started giving results. But the meteorological factors play a huge role. Cloud cover, low wind velocity and fog in winter can suddenly turn ambient air very foul. However, we need more studies in some unknown areas to understand the transborder flow of pollutants to fight it more effectively,” said WBPCB chairman Kalyan Rudra. The 2019, trend showed that Kolkata and Howrah had faced bigger challenge with more days in very poor category and above. About 10% of days in 2019 (till November) in these two cities were in very poor category. In Kolkata, this includes five severe days as well — the worst category. The transitory improvement in air quality in these cities this year so far is a result of the halting of the economy as well as activities during the summer lockdown. “But this should be taken as an opportunity to push implementation of the clean air action plans to prevent rebound effects and retaliatory emissions that are expected to increase with the reopening of the economy,” said air pollution expert and executive director of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), Anumita Roychowdhury. In Kolkata, around 45% of days in 2019 (until November) had exceeded the daily standard, whereas in 2020, it is around 35% — both in Kolkata and Howrah, said Roychowdhury.

Strategic ally: How an organic food company expanded farm-to-fork philosophy to promote chemical-free practices

Some businesses have shaped our economies and societies more than others, whether by feeding us cheeseburgers or by controlling commodities. Can they also give an impetus to organic farming, which has been progressing at a tardy pace in India? Latest data available with the government for 2018-19 showed that only 2 per cent of the country’s net sown area is under organic farming and 1.3 per cent of the farmers follow the practice. To understand how private players can play their part to encourage farmers as well as influence consumer choices, researchers with Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) analysed the functioning of one of the country’s oldest organic food companies, Sresta Natural Bioproducts Limited. Based in Hyderabad, Telangana, Sresta forayed into the organic food business in 2004. Organic food was just an exotic idea then, with most farmers relying on chemical inputs for improved crop yield; the government introduced schemes to support and promote organic farming only a decade later. So, Rajshekhar Reddy Seelam, who had launched Sresta as a farm-to-fork initiative, decided to follow a two-pronged strategy. On the ground, the company offers constant support to farmers to wean them off chemical inputs and shift to organic farming. To create an assured market, it also procures, processes and markets the produce. At the same time, Sresta invests in massive awareness programmes about organic farming and its benefits for human health and the environment, to create consumer demand for the products. Today, the company’s brand name “24 Mantra” has the largest market share in organic food products, as per the India: Organic Industry Market Report-2021 released by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service. The company has grown from 40 farmers to 40,000 farmers, covering nearly 81,000 hectares (ha) in 15 states. From procuring wheat, mustard, gram and barley initially, Sresta’s list now includes nearly 200 products, from flour, grains, pulses, millets, dry fruits and spices to flours, cold-pressed oil, pickles, cookies, culinary pastes, jams and ready-to-eat products. Seelam said farmers in the country are hesitant to take up organic farming due to overreliance on chemical inputs and fears of reduced yield. Hence, Sresta tries to eliminate all the steps that make farming a cumbersome venture. Sresta procures its produce from over 80 project areas established across the country. In each project area, which spans 15-20 km radius and comprises 200-300 farmers, Sresta has deployed ground staff for deciding on the procurement targets for the year. “Government mandis do not have a separate procurement system for organic produce, while Sresta allots a time and date for procurement,” said Subhas Chander, an organic farmer from Nawalgarh in Jhunjhunu district, Rajasthan, where the company first started operations. Chander grows wheat, mustard, gram and pearl millet, which the company procures at a rate 8-12 per cent higher than the minimum support price offered by the government. “I receive Rs 200-300 more per 100 kg for my organic wheat,” Chander said. Karni Ram, another organic farmer from Pillyon ke Daahar village in Rajasthan’s Sikar district also informed CSE researchers that from Sresta, he receives Rs 300 more per 100 kg of wheat; Rs 500 more for mustard and Rs 400 more for fenugreek. Farmers said they also save on cost of loading, unloading produce and mandi tax with Sresta. Sresta’s field staff conduct regular training and awareness programmes for the farmers to improve crop yield and reduce farm input costs. I used to practise organic farming based on my limited understanding of the concept,” said Manoj Kumar, a young farmer from Nawalgarh. “After joining Sresta in 2015, I received training on selection of seeds and planting materials, preparing organic insecticides for pest management and harvest techniques,” he added. Sresta also provides support for organic crops it does not procure. For example, it has developed a package of practices to grow potatoes for farmers in Nawalgarh, which has lowered cultivation costs by 30-40 per cent. In Madhya Pradesh, Om Prakash, an organic farmer from Lasudi village, Mandsaur district, narrated how his association with Sresta has provided him new income opportunities. “Sresta encourages farmers to use their own local seed varieties. So I not only sell my crops as grains but also as seeds, which is more profitable,” added Prakash, who majorly grows wheat, mustard and soybean. Karni Ram said that the company also sends scientists to the field to advise farmers on specific yield issues. To assure the consumers about the quality of the produce, Sresta helps farmers obtain organic certification under the National Programme for Organic Production, which allows for exports and bears the cost of the process. Scientists at Sresta constantly research on improving packaging and quality of the products. They have, for instance, found a way to enhance the shelf life of jaggery-based products by reducing the crystallisation of the raw produce. To increase its consumer base, Sresta has tied up with over 7,500 retail outlets across the globe, which includes modern trade stores, general stores and ethnic stores such as Aditya Birla Retail Limited, Food Bazaar, Hyper City, Walmart Best Price, Spencer’s and Godrej Nature’s Basket. The company also makes its products available over e-commerce platforms, advertises its products through campaigns and through social media, shares recipes that use its products and spreads awareness on the benefits of organic food. In the past three years, the company has made on average a profit of Rs 7.56 crore, with Rs 10.39 crore in 2020-21 despite COVID-19. Some 55 per cent of its sales are from India and 45 per cent from other 34 countries. Some 75 per cent of international sales are from the US, through a wholly owned subsidiary called Fyve Elements. However, there have been some problems. “A few years ago, payment was delayed and I could not meet expenses. I had to discontinue work with Sresta,” said Bapu Lal, a farmer from Jhakeda village in Mandsaur. To overcome this hurdle, Sresta has appointed in certain areas an aggregator-farmer, to procure on its behalf. In such cases, farmers are paid right away, but the rates are slightly lower and the aggregator gets a commission of 1 per cent on the total amount. If the company plans to roll this out on a large-scale, it must ensure farmers’ share is not affected. Some farmers also say that Sresta stops procurement of a particular crop if its target is met, which leaves them with unsold produce. The company can look into raising procurement levels based on the crop grown and the stocks available. Finally, as with most organic players, Sresta’s high prices dissuade consumers. Negotiating pricing policies on e-commerce platforms, and government support for mark-eting will help ease costs, which can lower the final sale prices. Generating demand through awareness on the benefits of organic products will also help both the company and the sector grow. End-to-end support Sresta Natural Bioproducts Limited has expanded the “farm-to-fork” philosophy to boost consumption of organic produce as well as to promote chemical-free practices among farmers Pre-sowing Training on organic practices for each crop and season, which include composting techniques, preparation of organic inputs and support in transition from conventional agriculture Sowing and harvest Sresta’s ground staff, who aid in training and procurement, inform farmers on the annual targets and maintain records of the types of crops sown. They monitor fields, record practices followed for weeding, pest and disease treatment and address farmers’ concerns. Before harvest, they inspects the growth of crops and trains farmers on suitable practices to safeguard the produce Post-harvest Random samples of crops are picked, mixed and sent to Hyderabad for quality tests Procurement Farmers whose samples have passed the quality tests gather for procurement. In some areas, procurement is coordinated by aggregator-farmers. The procurement happens in collection centres 10-15 km from villages. The crops are loaded and unloaded for free, inspected for uniformity, infestation, colour, contamination and moisture. Once the produce is weighed, farmers get a receipt. Crops are stored at local warehouses and transported to processing centres within a week Payment Payment is transferred into the bank accounts of the farmers within 14-21 days. In case the produce has been collected by an aggregator, payment is done right at the time of procurement Processing Produce goes through two rounds of processing wherein it is cleaned, checked and packaged under the brand name “24 Mantra” Marketing The company advertises products through campaigns and through social media, shares recipes that use its products and spreads awareness on the benefits of organic food Sales The products are sold in over 7,500 retail outlets, modern trade stores, general stores, ethnic stores and e-commerce platforms, at prices 40-60 per cent higher than those for conventional products. Some 55 per cent of sales are from India and 45 per cent from 34 other countries Source: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/agriculture/strategic-ally-how-an-organic-food-company-expanded-farm-to-form-philosophy-to-promote-chemical-free-practices-85229

Cosmetic products caused allergic reaction in 15% of Indian households: LocalCircles

Around 34% of the respondents said that they received a counterfeit cosmetic product via online platforms in the last three years. 17% of the respondents encountered quality issues in the products they purchased. The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) stated in a report that more than 40% of fairness creams use mercury, which is banned in several countries. Fake products are the bane of the online universe, but the problem is bigger when these fake products lead to ailments. A new survey by social network LocalCircles revealed that around 15% of the Indian households in India had an allergic reaction or severe ailment from cosmetic products they purchased in the last three years. Shockingly, 34% of the respondents said that they received a counterfeit cosmetic product via online platforms in the last three years and 45% of them couldn’t return the product. Over 17% of the respondents encountered quality issues in the products they purchased in the last three years, according to the survey report. Overall, 56% have had no issues at all with products purchased. The platform conducted a pan-India survey and got over 37,000 responses from household consumers residing across 305 districts of India, including tier 1,2,3 and 4 cities. “Unfortunately, due to lack of proper regulation, many of the cosmetic products, particularly those promising to make an individual fair and lovely, often contain ingredients that are not advised for use on humans,” the survey says. LocalCircles also shared that as per a 2014 report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), more than 40% of fairness creams use mercury, which is banned in several countries. Similarly, 60% of lipsticks tested had a presence of heavy metals, including chromium (toxic), which is a carcinogenic and nickel. The CSE report said, “It is possible to eliminate these toxins from lipsticks, (but) the industry is not doing it, nor is the government forcing them to adhere to the set norms.” According to LocalCircles, Indians have a greater love for cosmetic and skincare products and some even choose to undergo beauty treatment or therapy using varied products, including herbal and natural produce. The beauty and personal care industry in India, which is said to be the 8th largest market in the world, was valued at $20 billion in 2020 as per LocalCircles report. The market is fuelled by both offline and online sales. In recent years, Nykaa, Mama Earth, Sugar Cosmetics, and others, have emerged as leading e-commerce players in the beauty and cosmetics segment in India.

Disease, Disability And Death: Impact Of Exposure To Air Pollution

Dr Arvind Kumar, a chest surgeon from Medanta – The Medicity is of the opinion that air pollution makes an individual diseased, it decreases performance and kills prematurely India is the world’s second most polluted country in the world, states the Air Quality Life Index 2022, produced by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC). Air pollution shortens the average Indian life expectancy by 5 years. And in some areas like Delhi, the most polluted city in the world, air pollution shortens lives by almost 10 years. Air pollution not only shortens lifespan but also adversely impacts all parts of the body during the course of life and kills an individual bit by bit. In an exclusive interview with NDTV-Dettol Banega Swasth India, Dr Arvind Kumar shared the health impacts of air pollution. Dr Arvind Kumar is the Chairman of the Institute of Chest Surgery, Chest Onco-Surgery and Lung Transplantation at the Medanta – The Medicity in Gurugram. Immediate, Short And Long-Term Health Impacts Of Exposure To Air Pollution Explaining the immediate and short term impacts, Dr Kumar said, Immediate comes on the external surface. You have red watery eyes, itching and burning in the nose, sore throat, and cough. As soon as you inhale a huge amount of smoke, there is an instant cough and a little choking sensation. As far as short-term impacts are concerned, exposure to polluted air causes bronchial asthmatic tendencies. In children, it is known to cause pneumonia, in fact, in adults also. Especially in the elderly, those with pre-existing lung diseases, it can cause pneumonia and asthmatic tendency bronchitis. When asked about long-term health issues, Dr Kumar said from head to toe, no organ or cell in the body is spared from the ill effects of air pollution. He explained, Long term effects include various cancers in children, pre-mature hypertension in children, 10-20 times higher chance of brain attack and heart attack, lung cancer, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), emphysema, various endocrine defects and now most frighteningly even obesity and diabetes are being linked to exposure to pollution. So, air pollution makes you diseased, it decreases your performance and kills you prematurely. According to the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019, published in The Lancet, 1.67 million deaths were attributable to air pollution in India in 2019, accounting for 17.8% of the total deaths in the country. The death rate due to ambient particulate matter pollution increased by 115.3% from 1990 to 2019. Dr Kumar added, In children, air pollution is now causing neuro-inflammation which is making them hyper-excitable and decreasing their attention which is something schools are reporting and we are saying this present generation is very naughty. They are not naughty, they are actually suffering from ill effects of air pollution. It is a health-impacted community and not a naughty community. The Impact Of Air Pollution On The Brain One of the reasons behind hyperexcitability is the impact of air pollution on the brain. Explaining the same in detail, Dr Kumar said, The portal of entry is the lungs and from there the polluted particles enter the bloodstream and get distributed to all the organs in the body. When they go to the brain, they cause inflammation, which in layman’s language is the swelling of the brain parenchyma as well as the layer meninges which are there. We call it neuro-inflammation. This causes hyperexcitability, and attention deficit disorders, among others. Reports from China suggest that prolonged exposure to air pollution causes impaired IQ development to the tune of 10-20 per cent. When these children become adults, they become susceptible to a 10-20 times higher chance of brain strokes. How Pregnant Women And Fetuses Are Getting Affected By Air Pollution Air pollution is now recognised as a threat to the lives of fetuses. Elaborating on this, Dr Kumar said, When a pregnant mother breathes polluted air, pollutants get absorbed through her lungs and into the blood. It is that blood that is actually nourishing the baby growing in her uterus. The toxins impact the growth of the child, depending on what age of gestation they are in. In the first three months, the organs develop, so if these chemicals are what the fetus is exposed to, in the first three months, there could be congenital defects which is already a reported reality in the medical literature. Later on, it can cause intra-uterine growth retardation and premature delivery, it can even lead to the death of the child inside the uterus and a whole lot of problems after birth. There is a definite disease, disability and death which occurs in the baby inside a pregnant mother’s womb due to exposure to air pollution.

Delhi pollution: 10-day campaign against open burning of waste

With Delhi’s pollution levels oscillating between ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ zones over the last three days, state environment minister Gopal Rai on Tuesday declared a special campaign against open burning, also announcing that 611 teams from different agencies have been formed as part of the drive. “To stop the incidents of open burning in Delhi, the government has started a special anti-open burning campaign. A total of 611 teams have been assigned the responsibility for this, and these teams will work together day and night to reduce pollution,” Rai said. Delhi on Tuesday logged an Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 366 (very poor), according to the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) daily national bulletin released at 4 pm. This was lower than the 410 (severe) recorded on Monday, but slightly higher than the 353 (very poor) on Sunday. Rai also appealed to RWAs to provide electric heaters to guards in their colonies who are posted on night duty, noting that this is also a provision under the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap). This, he said, will ensure that instances of open burning reduce considerably. The 611 teams will be formed from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), the municipal corporation, along with Delhi’s revenue and irrigation and flood control (I&FC) departments, and the drive will be carried out for the next 10 days, the minister said. “Staying at ground zero, all teams will ensure that there is no open burning anywhere in Delhi, and if incidents of burning are found, action will be taken by the teams against the concerned people… People can also register a complaint on the ‘Green Delhi’ application in case open burning is recorded in their neighbourhood. This will ensure timely action from these teams,” Rai said. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said efficiently managing waste alone can bring about a reduction in contribution from open waste burning, however, other sources of pollution also needed to be tackled across different sectors.

How a bootstrapped Pune startup is becoming a major player in India’s Swachh Bharat campaign

The team belongs to a bootstrapped city startup, ProEarth Ecosystems, which provides solid waste management solutions with the aim of creating zero-waste cities In the morning, a team of workers moves on motorcycles from one housing society to another across Pune to deal with the garbage generated in the apartments. The housekeeping staff of the apartments would have left the mostly-sorted waste in buckets that the team will sort one last time before depositing it into composting bins designed in a sustainable way. Their work spans 100 building complexes and they help process around 10 tonnes of waste every day. The team belongs to a bootstrapped city startup, ProEarth Ecosystems, which provides solid waste management solutions with the aim of creating zero-waste cities. ProEarth has projects on composting, dry-waste management, garden-waste management, and e-waste management, and holds frequent awareness-building workshops on preventing sanitary waste. In November, ProEarth Ecosystems was selected as one of the 18 finalists—from entries from 20 states—at the National Conference on Social Innovation at the Pune International Centre. “So far, we have not taken any funding from anybody. We have made our money and ploughed it into building the company further. Now that we want to quickly scale into different cities and provide the same service, we will have to look at raising money,” says Anil Gokarn, who founded ProEarth in September 2014. The turnover in the last FY was Rs 85 lakh, and the company is on course to earn Rs 1 crore by April 2023. According to a 2021 report, “Waste-Wise Cities”, by NITI Ayog and the Centre for Science and Environment, the country produces 1,30,000 to 1,50,000 metric tonne (MT) of municipal solid waste daily, which amounts to around 330-550 gm per urban inhabitant per day. “This adds up to roughly 50 million MT per year; at current rates, this will jump to some 125 million MT a year by 2031. What is also of concern is that not only is the quantity increasing, but the composition of waste is changing – from a high percentage of biodegradable waste to non-biodegradable waste,” says the report. The Swachh Bharat campaign by the government has helped draw the attention of government institutions and private companies towards solving the problem. ProEarth, for instance, is part of a system or network that includes other environment-conscious stakeholders and is based on cooperation. For instance, when the municipal corporations of Pune do not pick up garden waste from private properties, ProEarth created a process to remove the waste and supply these to NGOs working to green the hills of the city. “In this way, we are handling about 40 tonne of waste. These leaves and mulching materials naturally decompose on the hill and convert into soil. We charge the waste generator but not the NGO to whom we provide this as fertiliser,” says Gokarn. Another collaboration is with the Institute of Natural Organic Agriculture, whose research and methodologies Gokarn has studied. “For composting, we use their cultures, which have been approved by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. The composting is clean and odour- and pest-free,” he says. “The composting pits are also aesthetically designed and, in some building complexes, have been placed at the entrance rather than in a dark corner,” he adds. The major hurdle for cleanliness entrepreneurs is a lack of awareness. “For the past eight years, we have been working with customers by handholding them at every step. We also conduct collection drives for societies and organisations, where we begin conversations about conscious living. That drives action towards communities taking an onus on managing the waste they generate. We want to build a zero waste concept where, literally, minimum waste will be dumped in cities and villages,” he says.

Rising to the Healthcare Challenges in Aspirational Districts of Odisha

The Challenge Under the Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY, the world's largest health insurance scheme, health cover of up to Rs 5 lakh is provided per family. According to government sources, approximately 4 crore poor patients have availed the benefit of Arogya under this scheme across the country. Despite these compelling figures, the BJD government in Odisha has refused to implement Ayushman Bharat, claiming that Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (a state insurance scheme which covers hospitalizations but not outpatient care or drugs) is superior. Although BSKY currently covers over 69 lakh families and aims to cover 96.5 lakh families, awareness about it remains underwhelming, particularly in remote Odisha. Odisha has the 2nd highest rate of Catastrophic Healthcare Expenditure (CHE) in India, i.e., 24% CHE (National Sample Survey Office, 2019) despite presence of public sector facilities, eligibility of 80% of households for BSKY, and the provision of drugs for free in government-run facilities. Public sector facilities like Primary Health Centres and Community Health Centres have proved to be dishearteningly inadequate in rural Odisha as villagers need to travel from difficult terrains to treat a minor fever or headache, incurring Rs 200 - Rs 500 per visit. More often than not, they are notified of the unavailability of medical professionals upon their arrival. Attempts have been made by various NGOs and field workers to improve the pitiable state of healthcare. For instance, Pravasini Batakar from Odisha’s Kandhamal district crossed streams and trekked hills daily to bring medicine to the doorsteps of the remote tribal population. She motivated people to form a Health-Kit containing medicine for common ailments like fever, cold, diarrhoea, headache and cough. However, despite these noble endeavours, three key issues continue to plague rural Odisha: lack of healthcare providers, high out of pocket expenditure, and lack of essential drugs. In fact, earlier this year the medical team assigned to a diarrhoea contaminated village in Nabarangpur district had to resort to hurling medicine packets towards villagers. Research conducted by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on the utilization of DMF funds in different mining districts of Odisha reveals that funds allocated towards livelihood and healthcare has been subpar at best. “In Sundergarh, one of Odisha’s top mining districts, a negligible Rs. 3 crore has been provided for child development out of the district’s Rs. 745 crore sanctions. This is at a time when under five Mortality Rate in rural areas of the district is as high as 67, and nearly 50% of the children below this age are victims of stunted growth,” the report said. To quote Shankar Oram, BJP MLA in Sundergarh “From Hemgiri to Koira, a number of mining activities involving coal, iron ore, manganese, lime stone are going on. But people in these areas are still deprived of primary education, primary health, drinking water, road connectivity and electricity,”. Srestha Banerjee, Programme Head, International Forum for Environment, Sustainability & Technology (iFOREST), who was the linchpin of the CSE report, voiced her concerns over the diversion of the funds to urban areas and non-priority sectors. With livelihood and income generation in mining-affected areas at stake, there needs to be a reassessment of priorities to rectify the current trajectory. 3. Corporate Social Responsibility An analysis of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) expenditure in Odisha over the period of 2014-18 reveals that as many as 13 districts in Odisha have almost zilch expenditure under CSR. Moreover, CSR spending has high variance across regions, with 10 districts securing 93% of CSR fund allocation. Recognizing the irregular spending patterns, Odisha government established a CSR council to institutionalise the CSR expenditure and reduce the disparity in spending. But the results are yet to transpire. This is not to harangue the state government but to present the immense potential of dovetailing government efforts with CSR. Policy Recommendations and Insights 1. Addressing Doctor Shortage The Government of Odisha in collaboration with the CSR Consortium could launch Project Target Quartet in 4 aspirational districts. A 9-month comprehensive paramedical training would equip the barefoot doctors, popularly labelled as ‘quacks’ by the medical community, with the skills essential to cater to the healthcare needs of tribals in remote villages. An RCT can be conducted to evaluate the impact of the intervention before launching it on a state-wide basis. 2. Combating High OOP The efforts of the barefoot doctors could be complemented by Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) Workers who can be upskilled to identify and refer cases that qualify for BSKY. There can be sensitization drives by Anganwadi workers to improve awareness among pregnant mothers of eligibility for BSKY and its coverage of hospitalization costs to reduce high OOP per child delivery. Conscientious use of the DMF would advance the goal of strengthening healthcare infrastructure and creating robust preventive and curative medical sanctuaries for the rural poor. Employing constraint optimisation models and participative budgeting techniques prior to fund allocation would minimize deadweight losses arising from inefficient allocation of resources. 3. Reducing CHE This policy suggestion would come at the heels of the highest essential drugs price hike till date, which has led to a 10.7% increase in the price of scheduled drugs. The National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) list includes essential drugs like paracetamol, antibiotics like azithromycin, used to treat bacterial infections, anti-anaemia, vitamins and minerals. Some drugs used for treating moderately to severely ill Covid-19 patients and steroids are also included in the list. The hike which can be attributed to rising input costs due to the pandemic has exacerbated the issue of high CHE in Odisha. Research indicates that drugs & outpatient care seem to be key drivers of CHE and CHE in the state would be reduced by 56% by eliminating spending at private sector pharmacies. Addressing this calls for a 2 pronged approach. The Government of Odisha can form tie ups with pharmaceutical companies and the CSR consortium to improve accessibility and facilitate distribution of relatively cheaper medicines. Barefoot doctors can be provided with these essential medicines after training. Conclusion Unlike the Odisha government, the Gujarat state government took a different trajectory after the announcement of the Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY in 2019 and decided to integrate the state government’s Mukhyamantri Amrutam and Mukhyamantri Amrutam Vatsalya schemes with it. The beneficiaries of these three schemes were issued co-branded cards under the PMJAY-MA. Since the integration of the two schemes, PMJAY-MA cards have been issued to 1.58 crore beneficiaries in Gujarat. Mukhyamantri Amritam was introduced many years ago in Gujarat and now with the introduction of PMJAY-MA, residents of the state can avail benefit of free treatment even outside Gujarat. In a press release on 17 October, 2022, the Prime Minister said that Ayushman Yojana fosters the spirit of ‘Sarve Santu Niramaya’ i.e. may all be free of diseases and the distribution of 50 lakh cards to people in Gujarat evinces the sensitivity of the state government. “We have been hearing about health insurance in many countries of the world but India is going beyond that, ensuring health assurance”, said the PM. Schemes serve a much higher purpose than mere political foreplay. It is therefore paramount that evidence based policy making take precedence over myopic, short-lived electoral gains. Taking cue from the Gujarat Government, The Government of Odisha should place the interests of the indigents at the forefront and integrate the state insurance scheme with Ayushman Bharat to live up to the ancient philosophy of “Service to Humanity is service to God”.

Guwahati’s Air quality slips from ‘Moderate’ to ‘Poor category’

Guwahati's air quality has significantly deteriorated, with an Index Value of 230 and prominent pollutants displayed as PM 2.5 levels According to the latest report on Guwahati’s air quality index, released on December 14, the figures displayed show a concerning sign, as Guwahati’s air quality has dipped to the ‘poor’ category, raising concerns about the city’s deteriorating air quality. In response to the report, Senior Congress leader Pradyut Bordoloi tweeted, “Worrying air quality data from Ghy demystifies the common notion of clear blue skies in the NER. There is an urgent need to assess local sources & targeted interventions. A reminder that air pollution is the 2nd leading risk factor for premature deaths after malnutrition”. Guwahati’s air quality has significantly deteriorated, with an Index Value of 230 and prominent pollutants displayed as PM 2.5 levels. Weather apps on people’s phones, labelling the city’s AQI as ‘unhealthy,’ have been warning citizens of the deteriorating situation. Bordoloi shared a study conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a think tank based in New Delhi, which found that Guwahati has the most polluted air in northeastern India. “The Average PM 2.5 levels in 2021 (up till November 30) has already surpassed the 2019 annual average in Guwahati. The city’s 2020 annual average was also higher than its 2019 average which indicates a continuous worsening of air in the city”. The AQI is divided into six categories: Good, Satisfactory, Moderately Polluted, Poor, Very Poor, and Severe. Each of these categories is determined by the ambient concentration levels of air pollutants and their potential health effects (known as health breakpoints). The higher the AQI value, the more polluted the air is and the more serious the health concerns.

Five careers in the environment sector

For those who want to make the world a better place to live in, here are some options in the environment sector Somehow, the pandemic managed to make the world recognise the environmental crisis in a way that no disaster or activist could. As the world woke up to the fact that things could go irreparably wrong, companies, multilateral agencies and universities threw themselves into finding solutions and investments in Environmental, Sustainability and Governance (ESG) programmes surged. Climate finance skyrocketed with the World Bank delivering a record $32 billion for climate-related projects across the world! According to Bloomberg Intelligence, ESG assets are expected to be more than $50 trillion by 2050. In short, the environment has taken centre stage and presents diverse career opportunities. Environmental Scientists and Engineers Environmental scientists may work with companies researching processes to cut down carbon emissions or to use recycled goods and reduce non-biodegradable waste. They can work with research laboratories on sources of clean energy or microbial decomposition of plastics. Or with policy organisations documenting the effects of global warming and climate change on the earth’s natural systems and processes. Some leading areas in research today include climate change, renewable energy, noise, water and air pollution, wildlife conservation and loss of biodiversity. Environmental Engineers with a specialisation in Civil or Chemical engineering work on wastewater management, air and water pollution control, waste disposal and recycling. Electrical and Mechanical engineers work on generating and harnessing green energy through nuclear fusion or solar panels, and on reducing the carbon impact of automobile and manufacturing industries. Environmental Policy Analysts Any action that mitigates the negative effects of human activity on the environment as taken by a government, industry or organisation is called environmental policy. For example, a gated community’s rules on waste segregation amount to environmental policy at the individual level. Environmental Policy analysts may work with the government through the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and its many organisations in forest or coastal management, pollution, biodiversity or wildlife conservation. Recruitment is done through the Indian Forest Service exam or through direct jobs. Policy makers can also work with advocacy groups and think tanks such as Council On Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), World Resources Institute India (WRI India) and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) or with consulting firms like Deloitte, Accenture, Booz Allen Hamilton in various ESG projects. Environmental Lawyers Environmental law is a body of laws, regulations, agreements, and common laws that govern how humans interact with their surroundings. While it aims to protect the environment from harm, it also defines who can use natural resources and on what terms. Laws can vary from pollution regulation, the use of natural resources, forest protection and mineral extraction, to the protection of animal and fish populations. Environmental lawyers work with the government to draft laws, run their own practice handling Public Interest Litigation (PIL) cases against polluting industries, or work with companies dealing with environmental regulations and issues. They can also work with think tanks as policy analysts. Environmental Economists The focus of environmental economics is to encourage sustainable development policies that balance both environmental and economic concerns. It deals with the economic and financial implications of environmental policies such as the impact of the ban on plastic on small-scale industries. A popular example of environmental economics is the carbon tax the government levies on polluting industries. Environmental Economists may work with the government, with think tanks and with companies using and trading in carbon credits to create regulatory systems. Carbon credits are permits for a company to emit a certain quantity of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases. Companies earn carbon credits by investing in environment-friendly projects and these credits can also be traded internationally. ESG Investors and Analysts As investments and new ventures in environmental projects increase, there is a corresponding rise in ESG investing and funds. ESG funds, focussed on investing in environmentally-responsible businesses, were launched in the 1960s but have seen a huge jump in the last five years, with India alone recording an inflow of ₹5000 crore in 2021-22. This has created a demand for investment analysts who can assess the financial and non-financial value and feasibility of these projects. ESG analysts scrutinise investment opportunities to determine their financial impact, sustainability, environmental impact and growth potential and advise investors on the most suitable projects to invest in. So, for those of you looking for a career with meaning here’s a chance to make money while literally making the world a better place to live in!

From the Editor: COP27 falls short [Gas in Transition]

Maybe the early problems were a sign of things to come. Over the first couple of days of COP27, delegates to the gathering in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh were faced with empty water coolers and barren food stalls. For some strange reason, the only foodstuff in ample supply was ice cream, and some delegates were reported to have been relying on the treat for their three daily meals. The lack of sustaining nourishment led to testy talks, but in the next few days, organisers sorted out the food chain. The same couldn’t be said for the course of... Sunita Narain, director-general of the Centre for Science and Environment in New Delhi, said she feared the core purpose of COP summits, to push world...

खराब एयर क्वालिटी IVF लैब्स को प्रभावित कर सकती है; एक्सपर्ट के मुताबिक प्रदूषण स्टिल बर्थ के मामलों को बढ़ा सकते हैं

स्नेहा कुमारी: ग्रीन थिंक टैंक सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट के अनुसार, अक्टूबर से नवंबर तक की अवधि में दिल्ली पिछले आठ सालों की तुलना में सबसे कम प्रदूषित थी और सर्दियों के मौसम में अब तक कोई गंभीर स्मॉग नहीं देखा गया है. हालांकि ये बहुत अच्छी बात है लेकिन वायु प्रदूषण हमारे स्वास्थ्य को कैसे प्रभावित करता है, इससे यह समस्या दूर नहीं होती है. हमारे स्वास्थ्य पर वायु प्रदूषण के दुष्प्रभावों को समझने के लिए की जा रही कई स्टडी के मद्देनजर, एक्सपर्ट ने इस बात पर चिंता व्यक्त की है कि इन-विट्रो फर्टिलाइजेशन (IVF) की प्रक्रिया के परिणाम पर इनडोर एयर क्वॉलिटी का सीधा प्रभाव पड़ता है. पूरे भारत में आईवीएफ क्लीनिकों के अंदर रियल-टाइम एयर क्वॉलिटी इंडेक्स (AQI) की मॉनिटरिंग के बारे में जागरूकता बढ़ाने के प्रयास में, हाल ही में एक स्टडी की गई थी जिसमें लैब में मौजूद पॉल्यूटेंट्स (प्रदूषकों) को हाईलाइट किया गया था जो आईवीएफ प्रक्रिया के लिए हानिकारक साबित हो सकते हैं. एयर प्यूरिफायर बनाने वाली कंपनी ऑरा एयर ने देश भर के आईवीएफ क्लीनिकों में इनडोर एयर क्वॉलिटी पर एक रिसर्च की है. मुंबई के वॉकहार्ट अस्पताल में प्रसूति एवं स्त्री रोग की सलाहकार डॉ. गंधाली देवरुखकर ने News9 को बताया, “लैब में किए जाने वाले हर IVF ऑपरेशन के दौरान HEPA फिल्टर का इस्तेमाल किया जाता है. दो मुख्य कारक हैं नाइट्रोजन डाइऑक्साइड और ओजोन जो एयर क्वॉलिटी इंडेक्स (वायु गुणवत्ता सूचकांक) को गिराने का कारण बनते हैं और लोअर बर्थ रेट से जुड़े हैं. इसके अलावा, 10 मिमी या उससे ज्यादा बड़े कणों को गर्भवती महिलाओं के गर्भपात से जोड़कर देखा गया है.” “चूंकि पूरी आईवीएफ प्रक्रिया क्वॉलिटी कंट्रोल के साथ एक नियंत्रित सेटिंग में की जाती है, इसलिए किसी भी गलती का गर्भावस्था पर प्रतिकूल प्रभाव पड़ सकता है. HEPA प्यूरीफायर को जितना ज्यादा वायु प्रदूषण बाहर है उस हिसाब से फिलटरेशन करना चाहिए, हालांकि यह पूरी तरह से मशीन की क्वॉलिटी पर निर्भर करता है. आईवीएफ ऑपरेशन रूम के अंदर हवा की गुणवत्ता को बनाए रखा जाना चाहिए. किसी भी कमी का उस महीने की गई हर आईवीएफ प्रक्रिया पर प्रभाव पड़ सकता है. हवा में मौजूद कार्बन मोनोऑक्साइड स्टिलबर्थ से जुड़ी है स्टडी के उपायों में AQI, PM 2.5 और PM 10 (पार्टिकुलेट मैटर), VOCs (वोलेटाइल ऑर्गेनिक कंपाउंड), CO2 (कार्बन डाइऑक्साइड), CO (कार्बन मोनोऑक्साइड), तापमान और आर्द्रता शामिल थे. डॉ देवरुखकर ने कहा, “चाहे आईवीएफ लैब के बाहर हो या अंदर सल्फर डाइऑक्साइड, कार्बन मोनोऑक्साइड और नाइट्रोजन डाइऑक्साइड सहित अन्य गैसें गर्भपात और प्रजनन दर कम करने में भूमिका निभाती हैं. वायु प्रदूषण के चलते पुरुषों और महिलाओं दोनों ने प्रजनन क्षमता में कमी का अनुभव किया है.” उन्होंने कहा, “उदाहरण के लिए हवा में मौजूद नाइट्रोजन डाइऑक्साइड ओव्यूलेशन के दौरान अंडों में मौजूद द्रव को प्रभावित करता है और इससे अंडों की गुणवत्ता खराब हो जाती है. इसके चलते प्रजनन दर कम और गर्भपात हो सकता है. मुख्य रूप से कार्बन मोनोऑक्साइड स्टिल बर्थ रेट से खास तौर पर जुड़ी हुई है.” AQI कई मौकों पर औसतन 250 से ज्यादा रहता है स्टडी के परिणामों के मुताबिक लैब्स में AQI कई मौकों पर औसतन 250 से ज्यादा हो गया, जिसे अनहेल्दी और घातक माना जाता है. VOC एक कॉमन इनडोर एयर पोल्यूटेंट (वायु प्रदूषक) स्टडी का प्रमुख प्रदूषक था, जिसका रिकॉर्ड किया गया उच्चतम स्तर 2600ppb था, जबकि इसका सुरक्षित स्तर 500ppb से कम है. स्टडी में पाया गया कि CO2, PM 2.5, PM 10 और CO का स्तर सुरक्षित सीमा के अंदर था. स्टडी के परिणामों पर टिप्पणी करते हुए ऑरा एयर के प्रबंध निदेशक भारद्वाज पीवी ने कहा, “प्रयोगशालाओं में पाए जाने वाले वायु कण या किसी भी प्रकार के प्रदूषक संपूर्ण आईवीएफ प्रक्रिया के लिए हानिकारक साबित हो सकते हैं. यह स्टडी वास्तविक समय में वायु गुणवत्ता की जांच के महत्व के बारे में जागरूकता पैदा करने के लिए आयोजित की गई थी. यहां तक कि असिस्टेड रिप्रोडक्टिव टेक्नोलॉजी (ART) बिल भारतीय आईवीएफ केंद्रों के लिए मासिक वायु-गुणवत्ता रिपोर्ट देना अनिवार्य बनाता है.” “आईवीएफ केंद्रों के पास आज उन उपकरणों के लिए एक बजट है जो VOC के स्तरों पर नजर रखते हैं और उसे कम करते हैं. इनडोर एयर पोल्यूटेंट (वायु प्रदूषकों) को HEPA पर आधारित हाई क्वालिटी वाले फिल्टर के जरिए नियंत्रित किया जा सकता है. हमें विश्वास है कि मेडिकल लेबोरेटरी, आईवीएफ सेंटर और अस्पताल जल्द ही एयर क्वालिटी को मॉनिटर करने और हानिकारक VOC से छुटकारा पाने के लिए प्यूरिफिकेशन टेक्नोलॉजी में निवेश को प्राथमिकता देंगे क्योंकि यह लैब के परिणामों पर खराब असर डाल सकते हैं.”

Delhi Pollution: दिल्ली के कई इलाकों में खराब हुई हवा, यहां आज भी 200 से कम AQI, जानें मौसम का हाल

विज्ञान और पर्यावरण केंद्र (Centre for Science and Environment)की मानें तो सर्दियों के इस सीजन में अबतक किसी भी दिन गंभीर श्रेणी में स्मॉग दर्ज नहीं क... https://www.aajtak.in/india/delhi/story/aqi-delhi-today-air-quality-improve-15-december-pollution-updates-in-delhi-cpcb-data-safar-mausam-updates-lbs-1595139-2022-12-15

Delhi’s AQI at ‘moderate’, better than usual for December

“Low winds in winter, which usually sees calm conditions, facilitate dispersion of pollutants. This December, the days have been warm which has also broken our fall into severely air-polluted days,” said a Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) official. A winter breeze has brought Delhi’s air quality from ‘very poor’ to ‘moderate’ in a matter of three days. The city, which usually sees ‘very poor’ or ‘severe’ air quality days in winter, recorded ‘moderate’ air Tuesday and Wednesday morning. While the Air Quality Index (AQI) on Tuesday was 177, it stood at 160 Wednesday morning. “Low winds in winter, which usually sees calm conditions, facilitate dispersion of pollutants. This December, the days have been warm which has also broken our fall into severely air-polluted days,” said a Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) official. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, meanwhile, talking about a Centre of Science and Environment (CSE) report said Wednesday, “The people of Delhi have worked hard to reduce pollution. We are seeing results slowly. We have to reduce it further.”

Delhi Pollution Updates: खुलकर लें सांस, दिल्ली में हैं आप! प्रदूषण से मिली राहत, सभी इलाकों का AQI बेहतर

दिल्ली सरकार प्रदूषण को लेकर समय-समय पर एक्शन ले रही है. जिसका सकारात्मक असर दिल्ली के प्रदूषण के स्तर में देखने को मिल रहा है. इसकी पुष्टि थिंक टैंक ... https://www.aajtak.in/india/delhi/story/aqi-delhi-air-quality-improve-today-14-december-pollution-updates-aqi-moderate-cpcb-data-safar-mausam-updates-lbs-1594470-2022-12-14

स्मॉग का पहरा हुआ कम, दिल्ली-एनसीआर में वायु गुणवत्ता में सुधार, खुल कर ले सकते हैं सांस

सर्दियों के दिनों दिल्ली और एनसीआर की हवा में प्रदूषण का स्तर कुछ अधिक ही रहता है। लेकिन तेज हवा की वजह से प्रदूषण के स्तर में कमी आई है। इसका मतलब ये कि आप खुलकर सांस ले सकते हैं। दिल्ली का एक्यूआई इस समय 133 जोकि मॉडरेट कैटिगरी में है। सीएसई के डेटा के मुताबिक दिसंबर के 13 दिन बीत चुके हैं और इन दिनों में किसी भी दिन गंभीर श्रेणी में स्मॉग नहीं दर्ज किया गया है। अच्छी बात यह है कि दिल्ली के करीब करीब सभी इलाकों में हवा की गुणवत्ता बेहतर हुई है। बता दें कि ग्रेप की तीसरी श्रेणी के तहत पाबंदियों को हटाया गया है हालांकि ग्रेप-2 में पाबंदियां लागू हैं। एक्यूआई में कमी रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक दिल्ली और एनसीआर में वायु की गुणवत्ता औसतन 142 के करीब रही है। अगर 2018 से इसकी तुलना करें तो 18 फीसद की कमी और 2016 की अपेक्षा करीह 37 फीसद की कमी है। 2016 का साल इस मायने में खराब साबित हुआ क्योंकि अक्टूबर और नवंबर के महीने में वायु की गुणवत्ता बेहद खराब थी। जानकारों का कहना है कि दिल्ली और केंद्र सरकार द्वारा उठाए गए कदमों का असर जमीन पर नजर आ रहा है लेकिन इस दिशा में अभी और कुछ करने की जरूरत है।