WHO Global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2025
World Health Organisation (WHO) published the 4th edition of Global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025.
Important Points
- As per the report, South-East Asia Region achieved the fastest rate of decline in use of tobacco. Average prevalence of smoking among men decreased to 25% in 2020, as against 50% in 2000.
- In South-East Region, tobacco smoking among women decreased from 8.9% in 2000 to 1.6% in the year 2020.
- India and Nepal are the countries, which is likely to achieve 30% relative reduction in tobacco use in order to meet Global NCD action target plan by 2025.
- WHO report highlights that, if tobacco control efforts continues with the current level, smoking rates in this region can reach as low as 11% in 2025. It will be the second lowest Regional average rate after Africa, that is 7.5% in 2025.
- The South-East Asia Region has highest rates of tobacco use, that is 29 percent of the population. It accounts for 432 million users.
- This region is also the home to 266 million smokeless tobacco users out of 355 million across the globe.
Significance
- This progress was the result of effective implementation of FCTC and MPOWER package of WHO as well as a set of six cost-effective & high impact measures in order to help countries in reducing the demand and supply of tobacco.
- Tobacco use is one among the key risk factors of noncommunicable diseases and effective tobacco control is significant to prevent and control NCDs. It is a flagship priority of this region since 2014.
Clean Ocean Manifesto
Clean Ocean International Expert Group of UN Decade for Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, is going to present its short list of activities & goals as well as “Clean Ocean Manifesto” on November 19, 2021.
Important Points
- The group has set up two aims, in order to help United Nations in attaining the goal of clean ocean:
- Reducing marine debris by 50-90 per cent and
- globe circling & high-tech system of monitors.
- The expert group is co-chaired by:
- Angelika Brandt from Germany- A Southern Ocean & Antarctica biodiversity expert, and
- Elva Escobar Briones from Mexico- A deep sea biodiversity expert.
- It highlights the challenges and opportunities which Ocean Decade can provide for attaining a clean ocean.
- The expert group also underline that, this process should aim to define and attract financial support in order to meet the initial set of goals for 2025. It should then be followed by goals of 2030.
Objectives for 2030
The statement notes direct route to a clean ocean, highlighting following objectives for 2030:
- Enlarge understanding of pathways for spread & fate of pollutants,
- Reduce and remove top-priority forms of pollution up to 90 per cent and
- To prevent recurrence, reduce sources or emission of pollutants.
Three-day online conference
The three-day online conference will also highlight around 30 activities in place or in development across the world, which can make significant contributions by 2030 to clean ocean. These include initiatives of:
- Successfully and consistently monitoring marine debris from space
- Operating deep sea observatories in Atlantic
- Observing vast Southern Ocean to provide early warnings of possible
India gets re-elected to UNESCO Executive Board
On November 17, 2021, India was re-elected to the executive board of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) for the term of 2021-2025.
Important Points
- India was re-elected with 164 votes.
- Among Group IV Asian & Pacific States, Japan, Vietnam, Philippines, Cook Islands and China were also elected.
UNESCO Executive Board
UNESCO Executive Board is one among the three constitutional organs of the UN agency. It is elected by the General Conference. The board acts under the authority of General Conference. It examines the programme of work for organisation and corresponding budget estimates, which is submitted by Director-General. The board comprises of 58 member-states, each having a four-year term of office.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
UNESCO is a specialised agency of United Nations (UN). It aims to promote world peace & security through international cooperation in education, science, arts, and culture. It comprises of 193 member states and 11 associate members besides partners in intergovernmental, non-governmental, and private sector. The agency is headquartered at World Heritage Centre in Paris, France. Apart from that, it has 53 regional field offices and 199 national commissions which facilitate its global mandate.
Background
UNESCO was founded in 1945 by succeeding the League of Nations’ International Committee on Intellectual Cooperation. Its constitution establishes the goals, operating framework and governing structure of the agency.
UNESCO’s Program
UNESCO works across five major program areas namely, education, social or human sciences, natural sciences, culture and communication or information. It sponsors projects to improve literacy, protect independent media, provide technical training & education, and promote cultural diversity.
Tribal Minister inaugurates TRIFED Aadi Mahotsav
Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda inaugurated TRIFED Aadi Mahotsav at Dilli Haat on November 16, 2021 in New Delhi.
Important Points
- The Aadi Mahotsav was launched in the presence of Sukhram Munda, who is the Grandson of Bhagwan Birsa Munda.
- During the event, Sukhram Munda remembered the sacrifice and contributions of Bhagwan Birsa Munda. He noted that, his grandfather united the tribals in forest and fought for independence.
- On the occasion, olympic medalist Padma Vibhushan MC Mary Kom was selected as brand ambassador of the TRIFED Aadi Mahotsav.
- In the Mahotsav, 1000 tribal artisans will be participating from 26 states in the 15-day Aadi Mahotsav to showcase their products.
Aadi Mahotsav
- Aadi Mahotsav is a celebration of the spirit of Tribal Culture, Cuisine, Craft, and Commerce.
- This event provides a platform to the tribal population to showcase their products.
- It also helps the artisans in connecting with the mainstream population.
- It acquaints people with and gives a peek into rich tribal culture and heritage.
- The event helps the underprivileged tribes in getting a bigger market to display and sell their arts and crafts.
Importance of Aadi Mahotsav
Aadi Mahotsav provides a direct connect between masses and tribal people. A significant feature of the event is “TRIBES India cuisines”, which are created and presented in delectable forms to suit urban taste by special tribal chefs.
Background
TRIFED had organized 16 Aadi Mahotsav in 2019-20. Most recent Aadi Mahotsav was organised in New Delhi, in November 2020. The 2020 event was attended by 500+ artisans and they transacted business worth over Rs 20 Crores in two-week long festival.
ASER 2021 Report
16th Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2021 (Rural) was published by Pratham foundation on November 17, 2021.
Important Points
- ASER provides report on schooling status of children in the age group of 5-16 age across rural India including the ability to do basic reading & arithmetic tasks.
- This year, ASER followed a phone-based survey format, as field survey was not possible due to covid-19 pandemic.
- Survey was conducted during September-October 2021.
- It tries to find out how children in aged between 5-16 studied at home since the onset of covid-19 pandemic as well as challenges that schools & households now face in the backdrop of opening up of schools.
Key Findings of the report
Important findings of the ASER 2021 report are as follows:
- As per report, there was an overall increase in proportion of children enrolled in govt schools in between 2018 and 2020. Enrolment increased from 64.3% to 65.8%. But in 2021, enrolment suddenly increased to 70.3%.
- Enrolment rate in private schools has decreased as compared to last year. In 2020, enrolment rate was 28.8% which decreased to 24.4% in 2021.
- In 2021, 73.1% school respondents received training to implement Covid-19 prevention measures.
- Even though availability of smartphones increased to 67.6% in 2021 as compared to 36.5% in 2018, around 79% of children in private schools had smartphone at home as opposed to 63.7% children in government school.
- Number of school-going children taking tuition increased by 40% during closure of their schools.
- 52% of the respondents cited financial distress caused by covid-19 pandemic as the reason of increase in enrolments in government school.
21st IORA Annual Council of Ministers’ Meeting
The 21st Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Annual Council of Minister’s (COM) Meeting was held in Dhaka on November 17, 2021.
Important Points
- India took part in the conference in virtual mode.
- India was led by Minister of State External Affairs (MoS), Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh.
- IORA COM was held in hybrid format in Dhaka.
- At the end of this meeting, Dhaka Communique was adopted.
India’s affirmation at the summit
- While addressing the summit, the MoS reaffirmed India’s strong commitment of strengthening IORA, which is the largest and pre-eminent organization in Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
- India also reaffirmed the commitment to promote peace, security and prosperity in IOR, as well as in wider Indo-Pacific.
- Minister also noted the contributions made by India as coordinator of the IORA priority areas of Disaster Risk Management (DRM).
- While addressing the “Strategic Dialogue on “Impact of COVID-19 and perspectives of economic recovery in IOR” MoS highlighted India’s assistance as the first responder to several countries in Indo-Pacific during Covid-19 pandemic.
India’s initiatives
In order to strengthen IORA, India undertook several initiatives during 2021:
- Assistance to the IORA Secretariat,
- Capacity building workshops in areas including from Yoga, traditional medicines to Remote sensing.
- UNCLOS and Ocean Data Management
- Discussions on various issues under IORA.
Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)
IORA is an international organisation comprising of 23 states surrounding the Indian Ocean. It is a regional forum, tripartite in nature, to bring together representatives of Government, Academia and Business in order to promote co-operation and closer interaction among them. The Coordinating Secretariat of IORA is at Ebene, Mauritius.
