Prelim Bits 03-07-2023 | UPSC Daily Current Affairs

Santal rebellion (Hul Revolt) 1855-56

Every year, the state of Jharkhand celebrates June 30 as ‘Hul Diwas’, marking the beginning of the Santal rebellion.

Santals

• The Santal people had migrated from the Birbhum and Manbhum regions (present-day Bengal) to Jharkhand, starting around the late 18th century.
• The 1770 famine in Bengal caused the Santals to begin moving and soon, the British turned to them for help.
• With the enactment of the Permanent Settlement Act of 1790, the East India Company brought a large area under settled agriculture.
• The area of Damin-i-Koh which is a forest to be settled by the Santals affected by the permanent settlement and the tribals are compelled to practice settled agriculture.

At present the Santal community is the 3^rd largest tribal community in India, spread across Jharkhand-Bihar, Odisha and West Bengal.

Reference

The Indian Express | Hul Diwas

White-rumped Vulture

Despite protective measures, the future of white-rumped vulture remains extremely perilous in the Sigur plateau in the Nilgiris.

Sigur plateau

• Sigur plateau, Nilgiris is the last southernmost viable breeding population for the White-rumped vulture in India.
• Reasons for the population decline
  • Vultures died after consuming organophosphorus (insecticides) and urea used to poison carnivores.
  • Anthropogenic pressures, such as cattle-grazing and poorly designed check-dams, have depleted the habitats of vultures.
• Sigur Plateau - It is one of the most vital wildlife corridors linking the western and eastern ghats.
• It is bounded to the northwest by the Bandipur National Park, to the east by the Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary, and to the west by the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary.
• It is a part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves of UNESCO.
• The corridor is critical for preserving the genetic diversity of the region's tigers and elephants.
• The Sigur plateau is home to the Irular community tribals.

Reference

The Hindu | White-rumped vulture faces threat in Nilgris’ Sigur plateau

National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission

Recently, Prime Minister launches the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission.

• Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA) is a collection of inherited red blood cell conditions that have an impact on haemoglobin, which transports oxygen throughout the body.
• To know more - Sickle cell Anaemia

National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission

• Aim
  • To eliminate Sickle Cell Anaemia by 2047
  • To improve the care and prospects of all sickle cell disease patients
• Objectives
  • Provision of affordable and accessible care to all SCD patients
  • To ensure quality of care for SCD patients
  • To reduce the prevalence of SCD
• Ministry - It is a joint mission of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and state governments.
• It focuses on addressing the significant health challenges posed by sickle cell disease, particularly among tribal populations of the country.
• It is now implemented in 17 high-focus states across the country.
• The program is executed as part of the National Health Mission (NHM) through the platform of Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) and Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA).
• Strategy - The strategy emphasizes on 3 pillars:
• Health promotion - Awareness generation & pre-marital genetic counselling
• Prevention - Universal screening and early detection
• Holistic Management & continuum of care
  • Management of persons with sickle cell disease at primary, secondary and tertiary health care levels; treatment facilities at tertiary health care facilities
  • Patient support system
  • Community adoption
• Beneficiaries - Mission mode to cover 0 to 18 years of age and shall incrementally include the entire population up to 40 years as a part of National Health Mission.
• The program envisages Sickle Cell Genetic Status Cards to beneficiaries.

World Sickle Cell Day observed each year on June 19.

Reference

PIB | National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission

Bonalu Festival

The annual bonalu festival held recently in the Golconda fort in Hyderabad.

• It is an annual festival celebrated in the twin Cities Hyderabad and Secunderabad and other parts of Telangana state, India.
• It is dedicated to the worship of the Goddess Mahakali.
• The word “Bonalu” is derived from the Telugu word “Bhojanalu,” which means “feast” or “meal.”
• Bonalu involves worship of Kali in her various forms such Mysamma, Pochamma, Yellamma, Dokkalamma, Pedamma, Poleramma, Ankalamma, Maremma, Nookalamma etc.
• Bonalu starts with the Aahsda month according to the Hindu calendar that falls in July/August.
• Other temples such as Akkanna Madanna temple in Haribowli, Muthyalamma temple in Shah Ali Banda are the popular venues where Bonalu is celebrated.

Reference

The Hindu | Golconda Fort reverberates with Bonalu festival

Pangong Tso Lake

China is rushing to complete a bridge across the Pangong Tso, connecting the north and south banks simultaneously India is also building a black-topped road on its side on the north bank.

• Pangong Tso is a high altitude saltwater lake in Ladakh.
• It is the world’s highest saltwater lake.
• Pangong Lake, derives its name from the Tibetan word, “Pangong Tso”, which means “high grassland lake”.
• Formerly, Pangong Tso had an outlet to the Shyok River, a tributary of the Indus River, but it was closed off by natural damming.
• Two streams feed the lake from the Indian side, forming marshes and wetlands at the edges.
• Distribution - 1/3^rd of the lake is lying in India & the other 2/3^rd is in China.
• Pangong Lake is a disputed territory between India and china where the Line of Actual Control passes through the lake.
• Pangong has a unique feature, it acts like a chameleon and changes its color from blue to green to even grey at times.
• Though it is a saline water lake, it freezes completely during winters.
• The lake is in the process of being identified as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
• After the convention, it will be a first trans-boundary wetland in South Asia.

Reference

The Hindu | India, China ramp up infra on north bank of Pangong Tso lake