SUBJECT – Indian Economy
TOPIC – Indian Economy | Role of Government in Economic Activities. Private, Public, and Merit Goods | Social Sector – poverty, unemployment, and inequality. Healthcare and Education Policy | Problem of regulatory effectiveness. Redefining the Role of the State in Economic Development and an Employment-oriented Growth Strategy
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Q1 Write about the Lado Protsahan Yojana. 2M
Answer:
Announcement: Introduced in Rajasthan Budget 2024-25.
Benefit: Offers a saving bond of Rs. 1,00,000 upon the birth of a girl child from poor families.
Aim: Promotes girls’ education, empowers them economically, and combats crimes like female foeticide.
Q2 Discuss the position of India in the Multidimensional Poverty Index 2022 while describing the method of calculation of Multidimensional Poverty Index. 5M
Answer:
The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) is developed by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Method of Calculation of the Multidimensional Poverty Index –
- The MPI assesses poverty through three dimensions: Health, Education, and Living Standards
- Each dimension is equally weighted at one-third [1/3rd]
- Each dimension is further divided into specific indicators as follows –
A household is considered multidimensionally poor if it is deprived of at least one-third of the weighted indicators
Position of India in MPI 2022 –
- 16.4% of the population in India is multidimensionally poor
- In terms of numbers, approximately 23 crore people in India are multidimensionally poor
- India ranks first in the Multidimensional Poverty Index 2022.
- MPI value is – 0.069
Progress – 55% people were multidimensionally poor in 2005 [41.5 crore people exited poverty between 2005-06 and 2019-21]
Q3 Enlist major schemes run by Govt of India to ensure Quality and Affordable Health for all. Also, discuss improvements in overall health using various health-related Indicators.10M
Answer:
SDG goal 3 calls upon states to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. In line with this, India has implemented various initiatives aimed at ensuring quality and affordable healthcare accessible to all its citizens.
Major schemes –
| Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) | Janani Suraksha Yojana – To reduce maternal and neonatal mortality by promoting institutional delivery among poor pregnant women | Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana – partial wage compensation to women for wage-loss during childbirth and childcare |
| Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN) – For Zero preventable maternal and newborn death | e-Sanjeevani OPD – National Telemedicine Service of India is a step towards digital health equity to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) | Social Awareness and Actions to Neutralize Pneumonia Successfully (SAANS) – Launched in November 2019 to reduce childhood pneumonia deaths |
| Free Drugs and Diagnostic Service | Maternity Benefits Act – 6 months paid maternity leave | Pradhan Mantri Ujjawala Yojana – To improve the health of women and children by providing them with clean cooking fuel, LPG, instead of smoky fuels or firewood |
| Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme – Strengthening of District Hospitals by providing affordable dialysis services | Ayushman Bharat – Health and Wellness Centres – Name changed to ‘Ayushman Arogya Mandir’ with the tag-line ‘Arogyam Parmam Dhanam’The creation of 1.5 Lakh Health & Wellness Centres | Ayushman Bharat – PM Jan Aarogya Yojana [Health insurance of Rs. 5 lakhs per year to over 10 crore impoverished families for secondary and tertiary care] |
| POSHAN Abhiyaan – To reduce stunting, undernutrition, anemia (among young children, women and adolescent girls) and reduce low birth weight by 2%, 2%, 3% and 2% per annum respectively. | Anemia Mukt Bharat Strategy – To reduce anaemia among six beneficiaries age group – children (6-59 months), children (5-9 years), adolescents (10-19 years), pregnant and lactating women and in women of reproductive age group (15-49 years) | COVID-19 Vaccination Programme – To include all persons aged 12 years and above and for the precautionary dose for all persons aged 18 years and above |
| Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission – The backbone necessary to support the integrated digital health infrastructure of the country | Ayushman Bharat – Health Infrastructure Mission – Focus on all all levels viz. primary, secondary and tertiary and on preparing health systems in responding effectively to the current and future pandemics/disasters. | Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act, 2021 – |
| National Health Policy 2017 | Mental Healthcare Act 2017 | National Strategic Plan for TB Elimination 2017 |
| HIV and AIDS (Prevention & Control) Act 2017 | Mission Indradhanush 2014 | Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram 2014 |
| Swachh Bharat Abhiyan 2014 | Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan 2022 to end TB by 2025 | National Tele Mental Health Programme (Tele MANAS) |
| National Deworming Day |
Improvements in overall health –
- Total fertility rate (children per woman) decreased from 2.2 (NFHS-4) to 2.0 (NFHS-5)
- Health Insurance Coverage increased from 28.7% (NFHS-4) to 41.0% (NFHS-5)
- Institutional births increased from 78.9% (NFHS-4) to 88.6% (NFHS-5)
- Infant mortality rate decreased from 40.7% (NFHS-4) to 35.2% (NFHS-5)
- Children under 5 years who are stunted (height-for-age) decreased from 38.4% (NFHS-4) to 35.5% (NFHS-5)
- Children under 5 years who are wasted (weight-for-height) decreased from 21.0% (NFHS-4) to 19.3% (NFHS-5)
In conclusion, prioritizing quality healthcare is paramount for leveraging India’s demographic dividend and advancing the nation’s progress during the next 25 years of Amrit Kaal.
Q4. Write a letter to the Editor of a national newspaper emphasizing the need for compulsory rural posting for doctors.
Answer:
Sungleam Society
Indiranagar
Jaipur
24 December, 2023
The Senior Editor
The Hindustan Times
Jaipur
Subject: Compulsory rural posting for doctors.
Respected Sir,
Over 100 million people live in rural India but India’s rural health service is non-existent. Most of the states face an acute shortage of doctors. The doctor-patient ratio in the country is 1: 2000 but most of the doctors are concentrated in towns and cities. The shortfall of surgeons, gynaecologists, physicians and paediatricians in rural areas is as high as 70 percent. It is because of our lopsided development that villages lack basic infrastructure making it difficult for people (doctors) to serve there. But doctors must realize that their profession needs commitment and sacrifice. For them the welfare of patients is above everything else.
On an average the state spends Rs. 15 to 20 lakh per student of MBBS. It is only fair that once doctors get their degrees they should work in rural areas for five years where their services are most needed. They owe it to the state for investing so much in their training. Moreover early exposure to real India will be good training for young professionals and give them invaluable experience. It would be ideal if this is done voluntarily. If it is not, the government will have to make it compulsory. The state will be failing in its duty if it does not provide basic medical facilities for its rural population.
The Government should provide proper infrastructure and basic facilities in primary health centres in rural areas. Utilities like electricity and water and furniture should be made available. The government should arrange to repair and equip the 1,42,655 sub-centres, 23109 primary health centres and 3,222 community health centres. Secondly there should be attractive incentives for doctors to serve in rural areas. Also, serving in rural areas should be made part and parcel of the degree course to sensitise the future set of doctors. Once this is done doctors will willingly opt for rural posting.
Riya Kumari
(A concerned citizen)
