PIB Summary- 2nd March, 2022 | PIB (Press Information Bureau) Summary - UPSC PDF Download

Janaushadhi Diwas 2022

Why in News?

Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), under the aegis of Department of Pharmaceuticals is going to celebrate their 4th Jan Aushadhi Diwas.

Details:

• It will be a weeklong celebration starting today ie from 1st March to 7th March 2022.
• Jan Aushadhi kendras conducted Jan Aushadhi Sankalp Padyatra at 75 locations, across the country.
• Prime Minister announced the celebration of Jan Aushadhi Diwas every year on 07th March to educate the general public about the benefits of the Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana.
• The theme of this year’s (2022) Janaushadhi Diwas is Jan Aushadhi-Jan Upyogi.

About Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana

• Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) is a campaign launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals in 2008 under the name Jan Aushadi Campaign.
• Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) is the implementation agency for PMBJP.
• The Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India works under the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers.
• PMBJP stores have been set up to provide generic drugs, which are available at lesser prices but are equivalent in quality and efficacy as expensive branded drugs.
• It also intends to extend the coverage of quality generic medicines so as to reduce the out of pocket expenditure on medicines and thereby redefine the unit cost of treatment per person.

What is a generic medicine?

• There is no definition of generic or branded medicines under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules, 1945 made thereunder. However, generic medicines are generally those which contain same amount of same active ingredient(s) in same dosage form and are intended to be administered by the same route of administration as that of branded medicine.
• The price of an unbranded generic version of a medicine is generally lower than the price of a corresponding branded medicine because in case of generic version, the pharmaceutical company does not have to spend money on promotion of its brand.

Mission of PMBJP

• Create awareness among public regarding generic medicines.
• Create demand for generic medicines through medical practitioners.
• Create awareness through education and awareness program that high price need not be synonymous with high quality.
• Provide all the commonly used generic medicines covering all the therapeutic groups.
• Provide all the related health care products too under the scheme.

Vision of PMBJP

• To bring down the healthcare budget of every citizen of India through providing Quality generic Medicines at Affordable Prices.

Salient Features of the Scheme as follows

• Ensure access to quality medicines.
• Extend coverage of quality generic medicines so as to reduce the out of pocket (OOP) expenditure on medicines and thereby redefine the unit cost of treatment per person.
• Create awareness about generic medicines through education and publicity so that quality is not synonymous with only high price.
• A public programme involving Government, PSUs, Private Sector, NGO, Societies, Co-operative Bodies and other Institutions.
• Create demand for generic medicines by improving access to better healthcare through low treatment cost and easy availability wherever needed in all therapeutic categories.

Benefits of Jan Aushadhi Campaign

• The Jan Aushadhi initiative will make available quality drugs at affordable prices through dedicated stores selling generic medicines which are available at lesser prices but are equivalent in quality and efficacy as expensive branded drugs.
• Promote greater awareness about cost effective drugs and their prescription.
• Make available unbranded quality generic medicines at affordable prices through public-private partnership.
• Encourage doctors, more specifically in government hospital to prescribe generic medicines.
• Enable substantial savings in health care more particularly in the case of poor patients and those suffering from chronic ailments requiring long periods of drug use.

Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)

Why in News?

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), commemorated its 20th Foundation Day by organising the National Innovation Conclave on Low Carbon Technologies.

Details:

• This conclave provided a platform to present the innovations showing benefits of energy savings and greenhouse gas emission reduction potential when deployed at a large scale in industrial and commercial sectors.
• Facility for Low Carbon Technology Deployment (FLCTD) is a project financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) in collaboration with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE).
• The event showcased many low carbon technology innovations developed and validated with the support of FLCTD project. More than 35 innovators participated in the exposition organised under the event.

About Facility for Low Carbon Technology Deployment (FLCTD):

• Facility for Low Carbon Technology Deployment (FLCTD) Project was launched in 2016 with an objective to identify innovative energy efficiency and low carbon technology solutions that address the existing technology gaps in Indian industrial and commercial sectors.)
• FLCTD project is financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) in collaboration with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE).
• FLCTD has identified six priority technology verticals for ‘Innovation Challenge’.
• The project conducts annual innovation challenge and invites participation from industry, innovators, and technical institutes in the following areas:
  (i) Waste Heat Recovery,
  (ii) Space Conditioning,
  (iii) Pumps, Pumping Systems and Motors,
  (iv) Industrial IoT,
  (v) Industrial Resource Efficiency
  (vi) Electrical Energy Storage.
• FLCTD project have already developed 18 new techniques and of which 12 have been commercialised.

About Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE):

• The Government of India set up Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) on 1st March 2002 under the provisions of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.
• The mission of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency is to assist in developing policies and strategies with a thrust on self-regulation and market principles, within the overall framework of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.
• Objective: To reduce energy intensity of the Indian economy.

Role of BEE

• BEE co-ordinates with designated consumers, designated agencies and other organizations and recognize, identify and utilize the existing resources and infrastructure, in performing the functions assigned to it under the Energy Conservation Act.
• The Energy Conservation Act provides for regulatory and promotional functions. 

The Major Promotional Functions of BEE include:

• Create awareness and disseminate information on energy efficiency and conservation
• Arrange and organize training of personnel and specialists in the techniques for efficient use of energy and its conservation
• Strengthen consultancy services in the field of energy conservation
• Promote research and development
• Develop testing and certification procedures and promote testing facilities
• Formulate and facilitate implementation of pilot projects and demonstration projects
• Promote use of energy efficient processes, equipment, devices and systems
• Take steps to encourage preferential treatment for use of energy efficient equipment or appliances
• Promote innovative financing of energy efficiency projects
• Give financial assistance to institutions for promoting efficient use of energy and its conservation
• Prepare educational curriculum on efficient use of energy and its conservation
• Implement international co-operation programmes relating to efficient use of energy and its conservation

National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)

Why in News?

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) today celebrated its 17th Foundation Day at 15th August Ground at Red Fort, New Delhi.

Details:

• New motto of NCPCR ‘भविष्यो रक्षति रक्षित:’ “the new motto exhorts us to protect the future i.e. our children, for in their welfare lies the foundation of a strong Nation.”
• The Union WCD Minister also complemented the collaboration between NCPCR & Border Security Force for the special initiative called ‘SAHARA’, which is an initiative to provide psycho-social counselling & support to children of BSF jawans who made the supreme sacrifice.  

About National Commission for Protection of Child Rights :

• The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has been constituted by the Government of India ,under the Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act,2005 to exercise and performs the powers and functions assigned to it under CPCR Act,2005.
• National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) emphasizes the principle of universality and inviolability of child rights and recognizes the tone of urgency in all the child related policies of the country.
• For the Commission, protection of all children in the 0 to 18 years age group is of equal importance.

The commission consist of the following members namely:-

• A chairperson who, is  a person of eminence and has done a outstanding work for promoting  the welfare of children; and
• Six members, out of which at least two are woman, from the following fields, is appointed by the Central Government from amongst person of eminence, ability, integrity, standing and experience in,-
  (i) Education;
  (ii) Child health, care, welfare or child development;
  (iii) Juvenile justice or care of neglected or marginalized children or children with disabilities;
  (iv) Elimination of child labour or children in distress;
  (v) Child psychology or sociology; and
  (vi) Laws relating to children.

Functions:

• Examine and review the safeguards provided by or under any law for the time being in force for the protection of child rights and recommend measures for their effective implementation;
• Present to be central government, annually and at such other intervals, as the commission may deem fit, reports upon working of those safeguards;
• Inquire into violation of child rights and recommend initiation of proceedings in such cases;
• Examine all factors that inhibit the enjoyment of rights of children affected by terrorism, communal violence, riots, natural disaster, domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, trafficking, maltreatment, torture and exploitation, pornography and prostitution and recommend appropriate remedial measures;
• Look into the matters relating to the children in need of special care and protection including children in distress, marginalized and disadvantaged children, children in conflict with law, juveniles children without family and children of prisoners and recommend appropriate remedial measures;
• Study treaties and other international instruments and undertake periodical review of existing policies, programmes and other activities on child rights and make recommendations for their effective implementation in the best interest of children;
• Undertake and promote research in the field of child rights;
• Spread child rights literacy among various section of society and promote awareness of the safeguards available for protection of these rights through publications, the media, seminar and other available means;
• The Commission shall not enquire into any matter which is pending before a State Commission or any other Commission duly constituted under any law for the time being in force.