Indian National Policy Research Articles

Genetic counseling in sickle cell disease: Insights from the Indian tribal population.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited disorder of hemoglobin. With an overall prevalence of 4.3%, India is the second-largest hub of SCD after Africa. Genetic counseling (GC) is the most cost-effective intervention to reduce the burden of a genetic disease including SCD. Even though GC's role in reducing SCD birth prevalence is well established, it is still not incorporated into Indian national policy and is unavailable to most Indians approaching their marriageable age and childbirth. GC perception and efficacy have alsonot been explored yet among young adults, especially in Indian tribal communities. Counseling in these communities requires careful consideration of their socioeconomic, cultural, and ethical values. Community engagement with local tribes and healthcare infrastructure in a multitier approach is essential for an effective GC. This review aims to provide healthcare providers and genetic counselors with the essentials of GC in the prevention and management of SCD among tribal communities based on the author's counseling experience in South India.

Perspective from 2021 Observations & Interventions in Micronutrient Research in Pune, India

Exciting research has happened in Pune since the publication in 2011 of our review on the role of maternal micronutrients in intrauterine programming of non-communicable diseases. We have completed a preconceptional micronutrient intervention in adolescents with the aim of improving the health of their offspring. This randomized controlled trial was based on our findings in the Pune Maternal Nutrition Study, and is called the Pune Rural Intervention in Young Adolescents (PRIYA) study. Interventions included: (1) vitamin B12 alone; (2) vitamin B12 with multi-micronutrients and milk powder; and (3) placebo. The vitamin B12 dose was 2 μg/day, to make it relevant in terms of physiology and public health. All groups received iron and folic acid as per the Indian national policy. A total of 557 adolescents (17 years of age, 291 boys and 266 girls) were enrolled; those with very low vitamin B12 levels were excluded and treated. Participants were carefully followed up to record marriages and pregnancies, and deliveries were attended to study neonatal outcomes. Very few of the boys married; by contrast, 182 of the girls married and 149 of them delivered a live child during the trial.

INDIAN NATIONAL POLICY ON EDUCATION 2020

The Education system has always been a fundamental part of the economic development of any country. It is utilised to equip individuals to face the future with the skills to achieve their full potential. Within India, the focus of education has been to improve the literacy rate of individuals within the country and promote economic growth within an equitable, just society. The increase of globalisation has enabled the establishment of new policies and strategies to drive educational reforms. The government of India aim to ensure every individual has access to education, paving the way to a sustainable future. This has been illustrated through Prime Minister Narender Modi’s decision to rename the Ministry of Human Resources and Development to the Ministry of Education accompanied by a new policy the ‘National Education Policy 2020’ (NEP 2020), illustrating commitment to the education system within India.

Provisions for Health Sector Response to Substance Use Disorders in the Indian Policy: A Critique of the National Policy on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances

ABSTRACTThis article reviews the provisions of Indian national policy on narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in context of the health sector services for (illicit) psychoactive substances and substance use disorders (SUD). For the the current review, a checklist was developed based on recommendations from various agencies and organizations. The document on Indian national policy on narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances was reviewed based on the checklist. Themes such as identification in the aims/objectives/vision of the policy, including those highlighting treatment-related needs for SUD; establishment of minimum standards of care for treatment; evaluation of treatment programs for SUD; government regulation of public and private drug treatment services; capacity building for treatment services; and harm reduction services to reduce bloodborne infections were documented in the policy. Others such as transparency of the policy making process; situation analysis; implementation of substance abuse prevention and treatment programs that target key populations; impetus on evidence-based programs and practices were inadequately documented. Finally, integration of treatment into existing health care systems; services for co-occurring disorders (medical and psychiatric); monitoring and performance evaluation of prevention programs; harm reduction services to reduce overdose; budget allocations and provisions for implementation were not documented in the current policy.

Achievements and misses of the Indian national policy on biofuels 2009

The National Policy on Biofuels (NPB) 2009 was adopted on 24th December 2009 in India to ensure the minimum availability of biofuels at any given time to meet the demand. NPB 2009 laid down the vision, goals and strategy to biofuel development while proposing a framework of technological, financial and enabling mechanisms. The NPB 2009 undertook reforms and aimed to increase the biodiesel blending percentage in diesel and bioethanol blending percentage in petrol to 20% each by 2017. It promoted inclusive growth, development and contributed to energy security and climate change mitigation. The lack of assured supply of raw material feedstock for biofuel production has been the major slippage of NPB 2009. NPB 2018 was adopted on 16th May 2018 and built on the foundation laid upon by NPB 2009. The paper focuses on the importance of NPB 2009, its achievements and misses and touches upon NPB 2018.

Ensuring Social Inclusion and Quality in Learning of Children with Special Needs through Inclusive Teacher Education

Education acts as an instrument of Socialization, helping the individual to internalize the structures and processes of society and learn those skills and attitudes, which will enable him to take a meaningful place in society and contribute to its well being. Also, it helps in developing the capacity for critical thinking hence becomes a catalyst for social change. What happens in a situation, if the education does not reach all? You would agree that there is a global concern on ‘Education for All’ without compromising the quality. With this comes a challenging task to respond to wide array of students with different needs .At the school level, inclusive education seeks to address the learning needs of all with a specific focus on those who are marginalized due to some disability. The regular schools with inclusive orientation are the most effective means of combating discrimination, creating welcoming communities, building an inclusive society and achieving education for all (UNESCO, 1994). This has further restated in World Education Forum that school should accommodate all children regardless of their physical, intellectual, social, emotional, linguistic and other conditions, (Dakar, 2000). Also, the Indian National Policy on Education (1986) and National Curriculum Framework for school education (2000) emphasized the need for integration of all children with special needs in the regular schools.

Comparing Clementines and Satsumas

It is sometimes claimed that there is no religious education in the general Indian school system. there are reasons to suggest that matters are more complex than that. Combining the two fields of religious and comparative educational studies, this article shows that there are themes in Indian syllabuses and teaching materials that involve religious content. empirical data include the Indian National Policy of education, the National Curriculum Framework and syllabuses, as well as syllabuses and textbooks from a particular school board (CISCe).

Displacement Induced by Development and Indian National Policy on Rehabilitation and Resettlement of Displaced Population

Displacement Induced by Development and Indian National Policy on Rehabilitation and Resettlement of Displaced Population

Group intervention for carers of geriatric patients: experiences from a clinic in India

Sixty per cent of the global elderly population live in low-and middle-income countries, and this proportion was expected to rise to 70% by 2010 (International Institute of Ageing, 2001; Ferri et al, 2005). The 2001 Indian census found over 70 million people aged 60 years or more (considered senior citizens according to the Indian National Policy on Older Persons). Most of those senior citizens live with younger family members and are dependent on them for financial and social support. Hence, any physiological and psychological changes in the older family members affect the younger supportive members as well.

Indian National Policy on Resettlement and Rehabilitation and the Marginalization of Women

Development caused displacement generates varied responses from different sections of society and it also creates a differential impact on the lives of people. It is generally believed that development efforts, which does not leave majority of its people worse off and promotes health, education and income could be regarded as participatory. But most of the development projects operate in totally opposite direction where majority of the project affected families are left to fend for themselves with poorly planned, badly executed, inappropriate and inadequate rehabilitation plans. The resettlement and rehabilitation for them becomes all the more difficult in the absence of state level policy and legislative mechanisms. With globalisation and trade liberalisation, the increased demand for land has provided further boost to the miseries of displaced persons evicting them from their homes and forcing them to give away their assets and means of livelihood. Women are the worst affected among the displaced people. Being the otherwise most discriminated and vulnerable, displacement adds to their already existing miseries. Therefore the present paper analyse the present R&R policies and finds that policies have grossly neglected the women and do not address their issues.