Weekly Current Affairs – Nov 4th Week

1. Ayushman Bharat

2. CBI and CVC

3. Article 35A and 370

4. CRISPR-Cas9

5. Leprosy

6. Marijuana

7. Sentinelese tribes

8. Blank slate

9. Compassion fatigue

10. Scully effect

Ayushman Bharat

Introduction

A healthy population is a key contributor to the development of human capital, which, in

turn, is the primary ingredient for growth.

According to the World Bank, health expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic

product (GDP) in India was 3.8% in 2015. This was 16.8% for the United States and

9.9% for the world as a whole.

Fifteen percent of the Indian population is insured, and 94% of the health expenditure is

paid by individuals out of pocket.

Providing the poor with health insurance not only can improve the health of individuals,

but it has much bigger potential positive spillovers. It might be the key to driving families

out of the vicious cycle of poverty.

Against this backdrop, the Ayushman Bharat—National Health Protection Mission (AB-

NHPM), also known as Modicare, generated a lot of interest.

Some salient features of the Scheme

The scheme has two objectives - Creating a network of health and wellness infrastructure

across the nation (for primary health care services) and providing insurance cover to

minimum 40% of India’s total population (for secondary and tertiary health care services)

Beneficiaries of health insurance under the scheme will include 50 crore economically

weak citizens of India as defined in the social, economic and ethnic census 2011

database. It will cover both rural (8.03 crore) and urban (2.33 crore) families.

Ayushman Bharat will subsume the existing Rashtriya Sawasthya Bima Yojna, launched

in 2008 and the Senior Citizens Health Insurance Scheme.

It will provide a benefit cover of Rs 5 lakh/year/family.

Expenses incurred will be shared between Centre and States in 60:40 ratio.

The Government aims to open 5 lakh health and wellness centre by 2022 that will be

equipped to treat various diseases.

Ayushman Bharat will take care of secondary care and tertiary care procedures and also

cover pre and post-hospitalisation expenses.

Cashless benefits will be allowed from any public or private empanelled hospitals. Such

empanelled hospitals will have ‘Ayushman Mitra’ to assist patients.

Benefits can be availed from any place in India and no hospital can refuse treatment

under this scheme.

Guidelines have been given by the Government about families that can’t avail the

benefits under the scheme. For example- Families with credit card limit of over Rs

50,000, families where a member has a government job, etc.

Some facts before we analyse the scheme

Between 2008 and 2015, public health expenditure (Centre and State Governments

combined) remained constant at 3% of GDP.

It increased marginally to 1.4% in 2016-2017. But it is still low compared to world

average of 6%.

The deficient investment in public spending on health has resulted in poor infrastructure

and inadequate human resources.

About 70% healthcare services are provided by private sector.

About 80% of doctors and 75% of dispensaries are serving urban India, which makes up

only 28% of the country’s population, leaving the rest in dire need of basic health

facilities.

There are only 0.9 hospital beds per 1,000 population; whereas the figure is 6.5 per 1,000

population for developed countries. India had access to 0.6 doctors per 1,000 population

while the figure was around three for developed countries.

As per the World Bank, even in 2015, 15% of the children did not have access to basic

vaccines.

Analysis of the Scheme

One of the major departures from previous schemes like the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima

Yojana (RSBY) is that the AB-NHPM will also provide primary care assistance by

upgrading the government health centres.

The insurance amount has also been increased to ₹ 5 lakh from ₹ 30,000. There are also

plans of digitisation of the entire process, which would be largely borrowed from the

Rajiv Aarogyasri Health Insurance Scheme in Andhra Pradesh. The government aims to

cover 40% of the entire population.

One of the major issues with the scheme is how to make it sustainable. It will further add

to the fiscal burden. The government has claimed that it would be able to finance it

through the savings generated from direct benefit transfer (DBT) that amounts to ₹

90,000 crore. However, this money has already been taken into account in fiscal

calculations.

Also, since state governments have to bear 40% of the costs, this would further add to the

fiscal burden of the states and they might ask the central government for more resources.

This would be a problem parti­cularly for poorer states with a large population of people

below the poverty line. Hence, this policy would be taxing the poorer states.

The state of health infrastructure might prove to be a major problem. This is particularly

important in peripheral areas.

Lack of government health services would result in dependence on the private sector. It is

well known that in regions where the public health sector is well developed, the cost of

the private health facilities is lower. For example, in Tamil Nadu, the private hospitals

have to compete with the government health services and hence the costs are relatively

lower given the quality of services offered. In contrast, in the northern states, the costs in

private hospitals can really skyrocket.

There are no credible monitoring agencies watching out for medical malpractice in such

hospitals.

Monitoring of doctors in public hospitals is also required. It is common knowledge that

government doctors indulge in private practice, which is much more lucrative. Given the

fact that the health insurance covers private facilities, this might be an encouragement for

government doctors to go in for private practice or set up private nursing homes.

It might also encourage people to save less and indulge in more risky expenditure like on

cigarettes and tobacco.

We require monitoring agencies that will look into all these aspects. It is not clear if these

problems have been anticipated by the implementing agencies and whether they have

taken steps to curb these.

Conclusion

One can say that the AB-NHPM has a lot of potential, but it might turn into a nightmare

if not carefully implemented. These issues need to be kept in mind by the policymakers.

We also need better data so that the various dimensions can be analysed.

If implemented properly, the scheme will bring the nation closer to the Sustainable

Development Goal of Universal Health Coverage.

The healthcare services available in India need to be developed and their affordability for

its citizens has to be improved. As the public spending on these services are quite low

compared to the world average, schemes like Ayushman Bharat are a welcome step.

The Government and private hospitals need to cooperate so that a scenario of universal

health coverage in India may get closer and poor people are able to get better and

affordable health care services.

CBI and CVC

Why in news?

The present crisis started, when the central government divested the powers of the CBI

director Alok Verma and appointed Nageshwar Rao to take over as interim chief of CBI.

The Supreme Court ordered Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) to complete its

ongoing inquiry against exiled CBI Director Alok Verma so that the CBI’s reputation is

not at stake. The CVC inquiry will be conducted under the supervision of Former Apex

Court judge, Justice A.K.Patnaik.

CBI

The CBI was established as the Special Police Establishment in 1941, to enquire into

cases of corruption in the procurement during the Second World War.

With time the Santhanam Committee on Prevention of Corruption recommends the

establishment of CBI. The CBI was then established by a resolution of the Ministry of

Home Affairs. The Ministry of Personnel eventually took over the responsibility of CBI

and now it plays the role of an attached office.

The CBI is the premier investigating agency of the Central Government. It is not a

statutory body; it derives its powers from the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act,

1946.

The important role of CBI is prevention of corruption and maintaining integrity in

administration. It works under the overall supervision of Central Vigilance Commission

in matters related to the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

The CVC act provides for a security of two year tenure in office for CBI Director. The

CVC Act also provides the mechanism for the selection of the Director of CBI and other

officers of the rank of SP and above in the CBI.

Central government appoints The CBI director based on the recommendation of a

committee consisting of the Central Vigilance Commissioner as Chairperson, the

Vigilance Commissioners, the Secretary to the Government of India in-charge of the

Ministry of Home Affairs and the Secretary (Coordination and Public Grievances) in the

Cabinet Secretariat.

Section 4B(2) of the DSPE Act lays down guidelines for removal of CBI Director, which

mandates that the CBI Director cannot be “transferred” without the previous consent of a

high-power committee chaired by the Prime Minister.

All the major crimes in the country having National and International ramifications will

be investigated by CBI. It is also involved in collection of criminal intelligence pertaining

to three of its main areas of operation, viz., Special Crimes, Economic Crimes and Anti-

Corruption

Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)

In 1964 CVC was established with the aim of addressing corrupt practices within the

government.

The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) works in coordination with the government

authorities for the betterment of the system.

It must be noted that Central Vigilance Commission is not an investigating agency. It

operates in coalition with the Departmental Chief Vigilance Officers or CBI.

Investigating Civil Works of the government through the Chief Technical Officer is the

only search that Central Vigilance Commission conducts.

All the investigations into corruption cases against government officials has to be

approved by the government. The Central Vigilance Commission also publishes list of

corrupt officials and recommends punitive action against them.

Functions and powers of CVC

To exercise superintendence over the functioning of the Delhi Special Police

Establishment (DSPE) with respect to investigation under the Prevention of Corruption

Act, 1988; or offence under CRPC for certain categories of public servants and to give

directions to the DSPE for purpose of discharging this responsibility;

To review the progress of investigations conducted by the DSPE into offences alleged to

have been committed under the PC Act;

To undertake an inquiry or cause an inquiry or investigation to be made into any

transaction in which a public servant working in any organisation, to which the executive

control of the Government of India extends, is suspected or alleged to have acted for an

improper purpose or in a corrupt manner;

To tender independent and impartial advice to the disciplinary and other authorities in

disciplinary cases, involving vigilance angle at different stages i.e. investigation, inquiry,

appeal, review etc.;

To exercise a general check and supervision over vigilance and anti-corruption work in

Ministries or Departments of the Govt. of India and other organisations to which the

executive power of the Union extends; and

To chair the Committee for selection of Director (CBI), Director (Enforcement

Directorate) and officers of the level of SP and above in DSPE.

To undertake or cause an inquiry into complaints received under the Public Interest

Disclosure and Protection of Informer and recommend appropriate action.

Problems associated with CBI

The agency is dependent on the home ministry for staffing, since many of its

investigators come from the Indian Police Service. The agency depends on the law

ministry for lawyers and also lacks functional autonomy to some extent.

The CBI, run by IPS officers on deputation, is also susceptible to the government’s

ability to manipulate the senior officers, because they are dependent on the Central

government for future postings.

Since police is a State subject under the Constitution, and the CBI acts as per the

procedure prescribed by the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which makes it a police

agency, the CBI needs the consent of the State government in question before it can make

its presence in that State. This can lead to certain cases not being investigated and seeing

a silent deadlock.

CBI which handles cases which are of national importance has been criticised for its

mishandling of several scams due to political pressure. It has also been criticized for

interfering in the investigation of prominent politicians, such as P. V. Narasimha Rao,

Jayalalithaa, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Mayawati and Mulayam Singh Yadav; this tactic leads

to their acquittal or non-prosecution. Some of the examples in which CBI was misused

are Bofors scandal, Hawala scandal, 2G spectrum scam, coal scam, etc.

CBI Autonomy

In the Coalgate scam case the SC raised the question of CBI’s independence and said that

“The CBI has become the state’s parrot. Only screaming, repeating the master’s voice”

The SC had then asked the Centre to make the CBI impartial and said it needs to be

ensured that the CBI functions free of all external pressures.

SC over CBI’s autonomy: In the Vineet Narain case, 1997 The Supreme Court agreed

that the CBI had failed in its responsibility to investigate allegations of public corruption.

It laid down guidelines to ensure independence and autonomy of the CBI and ordered that

the CBI be placed under the supervision of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), an

independent governmental agency intended to be free from executive control or

interference.

CBI and RTI

CBI is placed in the second schedule section 24 of RTI act. Sec 24 states that act not to

apply to certain organizations.

It provides exception to obtaining information from intelligence and security

organisations specified in the second schedule to the RTI act or any information

furnished by them to the government.

What needs to be done?

The first measure is to make sure that CBI operates under a formal, legal framework in

the lines of contemporary investigative agencies. In order to ensure autonomy of CBI a

new CBI Act should be promulgated giving it a statutory backing.

The Lokpal Act prescribes for a three-member committee comprising of the prime

minister, the leader of the opposition and the chief justice of the Supreme Court to select

the director. Even after Lokpal act political interference has been the main hurdle in the

working of the CBI. In order to rectify, a new Act should be promulgated and it must

specify criminal culpability for government interference.

CBI should develop its own dedicated cadre of officers who are not bothered about

deputation and abrupt transfers. But all senior posts in the CBI are now held by Indian

Police Service (IPS) officers.

Along the lines of Comptroller and Auditor General, CBI should be made to be

accountable to Parliament. A more efficient parliamentary oversight over the CBI could

be a way forward to ensure better accountability, despite concerns regarding political

misuse of the oversight.

The CBI should recruit its officers along the lines of UPSC exam. This makes a case for a

fresh look at the service conditions for direct recruitment to the CBI.

Article 35A and 370

Context

The Supreme Court on Monday declined to entertain a fresh petition challenging Article

370, which gives special autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir.

One of the main writ petitions pending is by NGO ‘We the Citizens’, which challenges

the validity of both Article 35A and Article 370.

It argues that four representatives from Kashmir were part of the Constituent Assembly

involved in the drafting of the Constitution and the State of Jammu and Kashmir was

never accorded any special status in the Constitution. Article 370 was only a ‘temporary

provision’ to help bring normalcy. The Constitution makers did not intend Article 370 to

be a tool to bring permanent amendments, like Article 35A, in the Constitution.

The petition said Article 35A is against the “very spirit of oneness of India”. Restricting

citizens from other States from getting employment or buying property in J&K is a

violation of their fundamental rights, it said.

What is Article 35A?

The heading of Article 35A reads: “saving of laws with respect to permanent residents

and their rights”.

The laws granting special rights to permanent residents would not be deemed a violation

of the fundamental rights of other citizens.

Arguments against Article 35A

The ‘classification’ created by Article 35A has to be tested on the principle of equality as

it treats non-permanent residents of J&K as ‘second-class’ citizens.

Such persons are not eligible for employment under the State government and are also

debarred from contesting elections.

Meritorious students are denied scholarships and they cannot even seek redress in any

court of law.

Further, the issues of refugees who migrated to J&K during Partition are still not treated

as ‘State subjects’ under the J&K Constitution.

It was inserted unconstitutionally, bypassing Article 368 which empowers only

Parliament to amend the Constitution.

The laws enacted in pursuance of Article 35A are ultra vires of the fundamental rights

conferred by Part III of the Constitution, especially, and not limited to, Articles 14 (right

to equality) and 21 (protection of life).

Arguments in favour of Legality of Article 35A

Article 370 (1) (d) empowers the President of India to extend with requisite exceptions

and modifications the other provisions of the Indian Constitution to J&K as may be

necessary.

The Delhi Agreement of 1952 followed Article 370. According to the Clause 2 of the

agreement, the State Legislature of J&K was given power to make laws for conferring

special rights and privileges on the ‘state subjects’.

Article 35A follows the Instrument of Accession and the guarantee given to the State of

J&K that the State’s autonomy will not be disturbed.

Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand and such other states also have laws which say that

no outsider can buy land.

Article 370

Article 370 of the Indian constitution is an article that grants special autonomous status to

the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The article is drafted in Part XXI of the Constitution,

which relates to Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions.

The state’s constituent assembly was empowered to recommend the articles of the Indian

constitution to be applied to the state or to abrogate Article 370 altogether. After the state

constituent assembly has dissolved itself without recommending abrogation, Article 370

is deemed to have become a permanent feature of the Indian constitution.

In the case of Jammu and Kashmir, the representatives to the Constituent Assembly

requested that only those provisions of the Indian Constitution that corresponded to the

original Instrument of Accession should be applied to the State.

The Article 370 was incorporated into the Indian Constitution, which stipulated that the

other articles of the Constitution that gave powers to the Central Government would be

applied to Jammu and Kashmir only with the concurrence of the State’s constituent

assembly.

Important provisions under the article

According to this article, except for defence, foreign affairs, finance and

communications, Parliament needs the state government’s concurrence for applying all

other laws. Thus the state’s residents live under a separate set of laws, including those

related to citizenship, ownership of property, and fundamental rights, as compared to

other Indians.

Indian citizens from other states cannot purchase land or property in Jammu & Kashmir.

Under Article 370, the Centre has no power to declare financial emergency under Article

360 in the state. It can declare emergency in the state only in case of war or external

aggression. The Union government can therefore not declare emergency on grounds of

internal disturbance or imminent danger unless it is made at the request or with the

concurrence of the state government.

Under Article 370 the Indian Parliament cannot increase or reduce the borders of the

state.

CRISPR-Cas9 Technology

Context

Chinese health and medical ethics authorities started an investigation on Monday into

claims by a scientist who released videos on YouTube, saying he had altered the genes of

twins born earlier this month, creating the first gene edited babies.

In the videos, the scientist defended his work: “I understand my work will be

controversial, but I believe families need this technology. And I am willing to take the

criticism for them.”

Earlier, Mr. He said he was aiming to bestow on the gene edited babies “lifetime

protection” against HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

Mr. He said he began his work in the second half of 2017 and enrolled eight couples. All

of the potential fathers involved were HIV-positive. Five chose to implant embryos,

including the parents of the twin girls, identified only by the pseudonyms Mark and

Grace. The babies’ names are Lulu and Nana, He said in one video.

“If true, this experiment is monstrous,” said Julian Savulescu, director of the Oxford

Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics at the University of Oxford.

Cutting-and-pasting DNA

CRISPR-Cas9 is a technology that allows scientists to essentially cut-and-paste DNA,

raising hope of genetic fixes for disease. However, there are also concerns about its safety

and ethics.

CRISPR is a dynamic, versatile tool that allows us to target nearly any genomic location

and potentially repair broken genes. It can remove, add or alter specific DNA sequences

in the genome of higher organisms.

CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) are sections of

DNA and are sections of genetic code containing short repetitions of base sequences

followed by spacer DNA segments.

CAS-9 (CRISPR-associated protein 9) is an enzyme. It uses a synthetic guide RNA to

introduce a double strand break at a specific location within a strand of DNA. It is a

system used by bacterial cells to recognize and destroy viral DNA as a form of adaptive

immunity.

What are the pros of Gene editing?

CRISPR could be used to modify disease-causing genes in embryos brought to term,

removing the faulty script from the genetic code of that person’s future descendants as

well. Genome editing (Gene editing) could potentially decrease, or even eliminate, the

incidence of many serious genetic diseases, reducing human suffering worldwide.

It might also be possible to install genes that offer lifelong protection against infection.

What are the cons of Gene editing?

Making irreversible changes to every cell in the bodies of future children and all their

descendants would constitute extraordinarily risky human experimentation.

There are issues including off-target mutations (unintentional edits to the genome),

persistent editing effects, genetic mechanisms in embryonic and fetal development, and

longer-term health and safety consequences.

Some argue that we do not understand the operations of the genome enough to make

long-lasting changes to it. Altering one gene could have unforeseen and widespread

effects on other parts of the genome, which would then be passed down to future

generations.

Many consider genome alterations to be unethical, advocating that we should let nature

run its course.

Few argue that after permitting human germline gene editing for any reason would likely

lead to its ignorance of the regulatory limits, to the emergence of a market-based

eugenics that would exacerbate already existing discrimination, inequality, and conflict.

It will become a tool for selecting desired characteristics such as intelligence and

attractiveness.

Leprosy

Context

The World Health Organisation’s declaration of the elimination of leprosy as a public-

health concern in India in 2005 have reduced attention and funds, making life more

difficult for about 2,00, 000 people living in the colonies, the vast majority of whom do

not have the disease.

While the disease itself may be dying out in the colonies, a lingering, centuries-long

stigma still leads to discrimination.

“When the WHO made its declaration in 2005, government attention shifted away from

the disease and international funding also dried up. It diluted a very good mission, which

had created a lot of expertise… The rationale may not be wrong, but I do think it is

premature,” says Vineeta Shanker, executive director of the Sasakawa-India Leprosy

Foundation, which is working among the colonies.

What is Leprosy?

Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is a bacterial disease which affects the skin and

nerves which can lead to physical deformity and disability if left untreated.

Despite a centuries-long stigma, it is not hereditary, it is completely curable, and is only

mildly infectious – more than 85% of cases are non-infectious and over 95% of the

population has a natural immunity to the disease.

Initially, infections are without symptoms and typically remain this way for 5 to 20 years.

Symptoms that develop include granulomas of the nerves, respiratory tract, skin, and

eyes.

This may result in a lack of ability to feel pain, which can lead to the loss of parts of

extremities due to repeated injuries or infection due to unnoticed wounds. Weakness and

poor eyesight may also be present.

Leprosy is one of the World’s oldest diseases with India accounting to 60% of the annual

new cases.

In 2005, it was officially declared eliminated as a public health concern in India. This

was when the new cases fell to less than 1 per 10,000. Yet India accounts for the largest

number of leprosy affected people in the world.

Related Personality - Baba Amte (1914-2008)

Baba Amte, (Murlidhar Devidas Amte), Indian lawyer and social activist, devoted his life

to India’s lower-caste Dalits and especially to the care of those individuals who suffered

from leprosy (Hansen’s disease).

His work earned him numerous international awards, notably the 1971 Padma Shree, the

1988 UN Human Rights Prize, a share of the 1990 Templeton Prize, and the 1999 Gandhi

Peace Prize.

Amte was born into an affluent Brahmin family and acquired the nickname Baba as a

child. He trained as a barrister but, influenced by Mahatma Gandhi’s nonviolent fight for

justice, abandoned his legal career in the 1940s.

He settled with his wife in a labour ashram, then studied leprosy at the Calcutta (now

Kolkata) School of Tropical Medicine, and in 1951 founded Anandvan, an ashram

dedicated to the treatment and rehabilitation of leprosy patients. Amte, who suffered from

cancer, died at the Anandvan ashram and was given a Maharashtra state funeral.

Marijuana

Context

Three major science administrators in India — the Council of Scientific and Industrial

Research, the Indian Council for Medical Research and the Department of Biotechnolgy

— are getting together to promote research in herbal drugs, some of which involve

deriving new drugs from marijuana.

The researchers will test whether strains of marijuana grown at the CSIR-IIIM campus in

Jammu could be effective in the treatment of breast cancer, sickle-cell anaemia as well as

be “bio-equivalent” (similar in make-up and effect) to marijuana-derived drugs already

approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

What is Marijuana?

Marijuana is a psychoactive drug from the Cannabis plant used for medical, recreational

& religious purposes.

Cannabis can be used by smoking, vaporization, within food, or as an extract.

It creates mental and physical effects, such as a "high" or "stoned" feeling, a general

change in perception, and an increase in appetite.

Short term side effects may include a decrease in short-term memory, dry mouth,

impaired motor skills, red eyes, and feelings of paranoia or anxiety.

Long term side effects may include addiction, decreased mental ability and behavioural

problems in children whose mothers used cannabis during pregnancy.

What is its historic significance in India?

Cannabis has been used since ancient times in India, dating back to 2000 BCE.

The cannabis plant has been mentioned as one of the five sacred plants in the Vedas.

Bhang, an edible preparation of cannabis, which is ‘consumed either in the form of a

drink or smoked’ is common during the Hindu festivals of Holi and Mahashivaratri.

What are its medicinal qualities?

There has been no rigorous scientific testing of the medicinal properties of cannabis due

to restrictive laws.

There is considerable evidence though, supporting its use in the treatment of

chemotherapy - induced nausea and vomiting, neuropathic pain, and multiple sclerosis.

Lower levels of evidence support its use for AIDS, wasting syndrome, epilepsy,

rheumatoid arthritis, and glaucoma.

What is its legal status?

Marijuana (or hemp), more formally parts of the cannabis super-family, is illegal for

commercial cultivation though it grows as weed in several parts of the country.

Uttarakhand, Jammu and — as of this month Uttar Pradesh — have allowed restricted

cultivation of the plant for medical research.

The possession, use, and sale of cannabis are illegal in most countries as a result of an

agreement in the ‘International Opium Convention’ (1925).

Indian government banned the use of cannabis by passing the Narcotic Drugs and

Psychotropic Substances Act-1985.

The rigour of restrictive laws & its implementation varies greatly across countries.

Canada, Belgium, Australia, the Netherlands, Spain, and several U.S. states are some

territories were medical use of cannabis is legal.

Netherlands (1976) & some US states (recently) have allowed for the recreational use of

marijuana.

What do the doctors say?

The opinion among medical practicners in India is divided.

Some are of the opinion that, it is a better alternative to alcohol & tobacco consumption.

While supporters claim that denying medical use of marijuana is a violation of ‘Right to

life’, others believe it is not all that important a drug for Palliative Care.

Most doctors advocate caution, as a wrongly worded policy could potentially aggrevate

substance abuse among youngsters.

Sentinelese tribes

Context

An American national was killed by members of a protected and reclusive tribe in the

Andamans, possibly with arrows, when he tried to enter the North Sentinel Island, the

police said on Wednesday.

In a press release, Dependra Pathak, Director General of Police (DGP), Andaman and

Nicobar Police, said John Allen Chau, 27, had enlisted the help of local electronics

engineer Alexander and a water sports service provider and hired five fishermen to evade

the patrolling teams of the police, the Coast Guard and the Navy to reach the island. For

this, the fishermen were paid ₹25,000 by Mr. Chau.

The DGP said that access to North Sentinel Island and its buffer zone is strictly restricted

under the Protection of Aboriginal Tribe (Regulation), 1956 and Regulations under

Indian Forest Act, 1927.

Who are the Sentinelese?

The Sentinelese, a negrito tribe who live on the North Sentinel Island of the Andamans,

have not faced incursions and remain hostile to outsiders.

The inhabitants are connected to the Jarawa on the basis of physical, as well as linguistic

similarities, researchers say. Based on carbon dating of kitchen middens by the

Anthropological Survey of India, Sentinelese presence was confirmed in the islands to

2,000 years ago. Genome studies indicate that the Andaman tribes could have been on the

islands even 30,000 years ago.

How are they protected?

The Govt. of India issued the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal

Tribes) Regulation, 1956 to declare the traditional areas occupied by the tribes as

reserves, and prohibited entry of all persons except those with authorisation.

Photographing or filming the tribe members is also an offence. The rules were amended

later to enhance penalties. But restricted area permits were relaxed for some islands

recently.

Have they made contact?

The Sentinelese have been fiercely hostile to outside contact. But in 1991 they accepted

some coconuts from a team of Indian anthropologists and administrators.

Some researchers argue that the Sentinelese have been mostly left alone even from

colonial times, unlike other tribes such as the Onges, Jarawas and Great Andamanese,

because the land they occupy has little commercial attraction.

How many are there?

From 1901 to 1921 they were estimated to be 117 people. In 1931, the number dropped to

50, a figure used for the 1961 Census too. In 1991 their head count was put at 23. Census

2001 counted 39 inhabitants.

Related Concept - Tribal Panchsheel

Jawahar Lal Nehru gave his five fundamental principles for tribal development

1. People should develop along the lines of their own genius, and the imposition of alien

values should be avoided.

2. Tribal rights in land and forest should be respected.

3. Teams of tribal should be trained in the work of administration and development so that

introducing too many outsiders into tribal territory should be avoided.

4. Tribal areas should not be over administered or overwhelmed with a multiplicity of

schemes.

5. Results should be judged not by statistics or the amount of money spent, but by the

human character that is evolved.

Blank slate

Also known as tabula rasa, this refers to the idea that the mind of any newborn child is

equivalent to a blank slate that has nothing written over it.

Thus, the proponents of the blank slate theory strongly believe that the behaviour of an

adult human being is entirely the result of the various experiences to which she has been

exposed over her lifetime.

This is in contrast to the theory of biological determinism which states that human

character is inherited at birth and cannot be influenced by the environment.

The blank slate is an important idea in the controversial debate regarding whether it is

nature or nurture that determines human nature.

Compassion fatigue

Also known as secondary traumatic stress, this refers to a state of psychological fatigue

that is experienced by people who invest a lot of time and effort into charity and social

rescue activities.

Compassion fatigue can cause victims to slowly lose any feeling of compassion towards

people who may be in need of their assistance.

This happens because of repeated exposure to people in need of help, leading them to

develop a feeling of numbness.

Compassion fatigue is said to affect professional assistance providers like doctors, nurses,

firefighters and other emergency service personnel who are constantly exposed to people

who need help.

Scully effect

(Note to the students – This concept can be used as a part of Social influence and persuasion)

This refers to a social phenomenon wherein movie characters can surprisingly inspire

behavioural changes in people in the real world.

It is named after Dana Scully, a woman character in the American television series The

X-Files which was aired mostly in the 1990s.

Studies have found that the character, portrayed as a medical doctor and a special agent

successfully working for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, inspired many women who

watched the series to take up education and careers in the fields of science, technology,

engineering and mathematics and with various law enforcement agencies.