Page 34 - Covid 26 July 2021

The campaign highlighted the three key Js:
• Jeevan (life) – Every life and livelihood is precious, so vaccination is key to life and is free.
• Jeevika (livelihood) – You can continue with your Van Dhan Vikas Kendra and livelihood activities without any fear of getting the disease if you are vaccinated. It also saves you from hospitalisation and other opportunity costs.
• Jaagrookta (awareness) – Simplification of the process of registration for vaccination, place, accessibility to different audiences and age groups, especially women and elderly population. Van Dhan Vikas Kendras collaborate and work with other stakeholders with service as a motto and with dedication and commitment that they have a key role to make panchayats and villages coronavirus free.
Website link:
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1735934
Steps taken by the Government to support out of school children
and children orphaned due to COVID-19
The Department of School Education & Literacy (DOSE&L) has developed an online module for compiling the data of out of school children (OoSC) identified by each state/UT and their mapping with special training centres (STC) on the PRABANDH portal (http://samagrashiksha. in). The concerned state/UT validates the childwise information of the identified OoSC and STC uploaded by the concerned block resource centre of the state to monitor the progress of OoSC mainstreaming. For the first time in 2021-22, under Samagra Shiksha, financial assistance up to Rs 2000 per annum has been envisioned to support out of school children in the age group of 16-19 to complete their education through NIOS/SIOS, to access course materials and certification.
DOSE&L and Ministry of Women & Child Development have issued a joint letter to facilitate the education of children orphaned due to COVID-19. This will be done by bringing them under the fold of the various schemes run by the DOSE&L, and outlining the role of teachers, district education officers and child welfare committees.
Website link:
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1736861
B.1.617.2, known as the Delta variant, is around 40-60 per cent
more transmissible than the Alpha variant: INSACOG
In a recent interview, Dr NK Arora, co-chair, Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) elaborates on the standard operating procedure (SOP) for testing and follow-up on variants, what makes the Delta variant so transmissible, how genomic surveillance can help contain its spread, and also reemphasises the importance of COVID-19 appropriate behaviour.
Recently INSACOG expanded its reach. What is the thought behind its expansion?
There is a need to keep a strict vigil on the emergence of variants of concern and outbreaks so that they can be contained before they spread to a larger region. The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), established in December 2020, was a consortium of 10 laboratories. Recently 18 more laboratories became part of it.
VOL. IV ISSUE 7
VIGYAN PRASAR 30
COVID-19 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EFFORTS IN INDIA