DOWN TO EARTH AUGUST ISSUE:

 Swatch Bharat: The Behavior Issue

 Sanitation is more important than Independence – Mahatma Gandhi.
 To end open defecation by 2-10-2019.
 Scenario: Toilets built, but not used. As cited in the 2015 CAG Report NSSO Survey.
 Reasons: No behavioural changes in orthodox social mentality.
 Solutions:
1. Social or legal compulsion:
- Haryana, Chattisgarh, UP have passed bills that state that people who wish to
contest panchayat elections need toilets.
- Aggressive form of blowing whistles at defecators and publishing images.
- However, we should not shame them. Social pressure should not mount to
social stigma.
2. Most important step is to create awareness.
- People do not use toilets because they are ill-aware of its ill effects.
- For eg: Tobbacco usage has fell drastically as people have no doubt about its ill
effects.
 World’s Largest Solar Park – Kurnool, AP.
 Jan Swastha Sahyog – Health NGO.
 Chemicals that are leached from plastics at high temp:
- Bisphenol A and phthalates.
 Serpentine Issues:
 Snakebite- notified a Neglected Tropical Disease by WHO.
 Added in 2017 along with mycoses and scabies.
 NTD?
- Communicable diseases in tropical/subtropical reasons that could be
prevented/tackled easily with proper steps.
- Leprosy, Rabies, Dengue and Chikungunya are included.
 Scabies – Skin infection by a mite, Sarcoptus scabie. Also called the 7 yr itch.
 Snakebite and its problems:
1. Death.
2. Necrosis/tissue death due to envenoming – Resulting complications such as
amputation affects poor manual labourers the most.
 Indian scenario:
- Half of the global deaths due to snakebites. Most fatalities caused by Russell’s
Viper, Spectacled Cobra, Saw-scaled viper and the Common krait.
- But still underprepared for it.
 Underpreparedness as in:
1. Lack of accurate data to assess snakebites. Govt data and private data are
conflicting.
2. Lack of antivenom availability leading to venom dilution by companies.
- Chennai based Irula Snake Catcher’s Co-Op society is the only org that extracts
venom.
3. Lack of research on snake species and corresponding type of toxin leading to
improper administration of antivenom.
Note: Snake venom is of 4 kinds:
a) Neurotoxic – Toxic to the nervous system.
b) Haemotoxic- Toxic to RBCs.
c) Cytotoxic – Toxic to cells.
d) Myotoxic – Toxic to muscles.
 4. There is need for a highly potent Anti Snake Venom to avoid administration of high
dosage of low potency anti-venom.
 Startups Chakr in Delhi and Graviky Labs in Bengaluru have developed a way of
producing ink from air pollution soot of diesel generators and vehicles.
 NITI AAYOG for PPP in district hospitals:
 Reasons:
1. For reducing the burden of NCDs.
2. Key challenges have been to find funds for NCDs, build health infrastructure in
rural areas and hire specialists in rural areas.
 Con is that it might become unaffordable.
 Migratory Problems:
 Reasons are climate change, human activity, change in land use patterns,
infrastructural developments and the invasion of alien species.
 Evident as migration has begun earlier in Maasai Mara- Serengeti region in Africa.
Maasai Mara in Kenya , Serengeti in Tanzania.
 Lake Victoria is in Kenya- Tanzania border. A part of this system.
 Duckweed/Pigweed/ Kulfa/ Leibak kundo – rich megafood, good for diabetics. Contains
essential fatty acids, Omega 3 acids and vitamins. Contains oxalates and bad for kidney
stones.
 Effects of the Aral Apocalypse:
1. Dust plumes rise from dried lake bed and make winters colder and summers warmer.
2. Deterioration of air quality and makes crop fields salty on landing.
3. Widespread salinisation rendering the land unusable.
4. Economic ruin and migration to cities.
 Most recent bird species in Himalayas – Himalayan Forest Thrush. Location discovered:
Arunachal Pradesh.
 Mundrothuruthu/Munroe Island – a sinking island in Kollam, Kerala at the confluence of
Lake Ashtamudi and Kallada River.
 Kollam/Quilon was an ancient port. Mentioned by Ibn Batuta.
 Kallada river – Flows East to West.
 Ashtamudi Lake- A backwater of the Arabian Sea. One of the Ramsar Wetlands.
 Reasons:
1. The Thenmala Dam has destroyed the delicate soil balance.
2. Tsunami of 2004- destroyed the shelthering mangroves and carried away soil.
3. High tides.
4. Climate change and rising sea levels.
 Reasons for freq train derailments:
 2016- Rajendranagar Patna Express and the Sealdah-Ajmer Express.
 2017- Hirakand Express and the Kalinga Utkal Express.
 Reasons:
1. Human error.
2. Track rails fractures and improper maintenance.
3. Old coaches made at ICF (Integral Coach Factory) are outdated and infamous for
piling up on derailment. The Anil Kakodkar committee on railway safety has
recommended switching to LHB ( Linke Hoffsman Busch) coaches which have
better shock absorption and reduces derailment chances.. Lack of funds prevents
this.
4. Overloaded coaches – more susceptible to toppling over.
 Solns( as listed by The Railways Ministry):
1. Track and coach up gradation.
2. Upgrading from analogue ultrasonic to digital ultrasonic.
3. Crashproofing coaches.
4. Electronically monitoring track geometry.