What is Ladakh demand on Gilgit Baltistan? (GS Paper 2, Governance)
Why in news?
- Recently, Ladakh’s two key socio-political conglomerates, the Leh Apex Body (LAB), representing several Buddhist religious and political parties, and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), representing Muslim religious groups and local parties, submitted a memorandum to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) over a series of fresh demands from the region.
- These demands include extending the territorial control of Ladakh up to Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.
What is the current status of Ladakh?
- Ladakh, spread over 59,146 square kilometres, was a part of the Kashmir division of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir.
- It was carved out as one of the Union Territories, the other being J&K, out of the State on August 5, 2019, as the Centre ended the special constitutional position of the region provided to it under Article 370.
- However, unlike the UT of J&K, Ladakh does not have a legislature. But it has two elected hill councils, the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council-Kargil (LAHDC) and LAHDC-Leh. They run micro governance issues of the region with a population of 2.74 lakh (2011 census).
- Ladakh is a Muslim-majority UT, with the Leh district dominated by Buddhists and Kargil by Shia Muslims.
- The region witnessed a divided reaction to the Centre’s moves to abrogate Article 370 and 35A, provisions that granted exclusive rights to locals over land, jobs and natural resources.
- Leh for many decades, supported the demand for UT status. However, Kargil, after the events of 2019, has been insisting on reunification with Kashmir.
What are the latest demands of the region?
- In the past two years, both the socio-political bodies of Leh and Kargil launched street agitations, protesting against the UT status without a legislature.
- Both districts joined hands to launch a major campaign for the restoration of Statehood with a legislature. Earlier, Ladakh would send four members to the J&K Assembly and two members to the State’s legislative council.
- There is also a unanimous cry for special status under the Sixth Schedule and Article 371 of the Constitution of India on the lines of Mizoram, Tripura, Sikkim and other northeastern States. People of Ladakh argue that opening up the region to outsiders and outside investment will impact “the most ecologically fragile and sensitive areas.”
- Ladakh also demands exclusive rights over recruitment. It has put forth a proposal to the Centre to have the Ladakh Public Service Commission for the recruitment of gazetted jobs.
- It also demands that the twin hill councils should have the power to recruit lower rung staff for the region. The Ladakh resident certificate should be the only basis for applying for these jobs in the region, said the key bodies of Ladakh in the memorandum.
Why extension of territorial control?
- Prior to 1947, the Ladakh district also comprised the Gilgit-Baltistan area, which is now under the occupation of Pakistan. The memorandum highlights the fact and seeks extension of territorial control up to Gilgit-Baltistan. The memorandum impressed upon the Centre to make “attempts to include this area into Ladakh”.
- It demanded reservation of seats for Gilgit-Baltistan once a legislature is granted to the region. Ladakh also shares a long but volatile Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and saw a violent skirmish between the troops of these countries in 2020.
- The fresh memorandum to MHA underlines that “empowering the locals will foster stability in the region, further enhancing the foreign policy”.
What is the Centre’s stand?
- In the wake of street protests held by people in Ladakh, the Centre in 2022 formed a committee under Minister of State G. Kishan Reddy to engage with the members of the LAB and KDA.
- The Centre had assured the people it would find “an appropriate solution to the issues related to language, culture and conservation of land in Ladakh.” However, it has failed to arrive at a solution.
- After a fresh bout protests in 2023, another high-powered committee, with Minister of State Nityanand Rai at its head, was empowered to engage with the stakeholders of Ladakh.
- The 17-member committee included the Ladakh Lieutenant Governor and members from the KDA and LAB. In 2024, these bodies submitted a written memorandum to pave the way for more structured talks over the list of demands.
Can malaria vaccine rollout be scaled up?
(GS Paper 2, Health)
Why in news?
- Recently, Cameroon in Africa became the first country in the world to launch the RTS, S malaria vaccine for children into its routine national immunisation services.
Details:
- According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the rollout follows a malaria vaccine pilot programme in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi, as efforts gather pace to scale up vaccination against the disease in high risk areas.
- Twenty countries aim to roll out the programme in 2024, according to GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, and other outfits which aim to provide equal access to new and underused vaccines for children living in the world’s poorest countries.
Where is the malaria burden highest?
- Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bite of the infected female Anopheles mosquito. It is preventable and curable.
- According to the WHO’s World Malaria Report 2023, while Africa bears the highest malaria burden, accounting for 94% of cases and 95% of global malaria deaths in 2022, India in 2022, accounted for a staggering 66% of malaria cases in the WHO South-East Asia Region.
- India and Indonesia accounted for about 94% of all malaria deaths in the WHO South-East Asia Region. Despite a 55% reduction in cases since 2015, India remains a significant contributor to the global malaria burden.
- The Health Ministry said that over the past 15 years, India has made progress in reducing its malaria burden. It has a vision for a malaria-free country by 2027 and elimination by 2030.
Funding of vaccine:
- The current rollout is part of a UNICEF initiative where the contract for the first-ever supply of a malaria vaccine was given to British multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company GSK with a value of up to $170 million.
- This, would lead to 18 million doses of the vaccine RTS,S/AS01 being available over the next three years. UNICEF adds that the RTS,S malaria vaccine is the result of 35 years of research and development and is the first-ever vaccine against a parasitic disease.
- The vaccine acts against Plasmodium falciparum, the most deadly malaria parasite globally.
R21:
- The anticipated rollout of a second jab, R21, developed by Oxford University, is expected to significantly increase the number of doses available for use.
- This is to be manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, which aims to make 100 million doses per year, so long as it passes the regulatory approvals following its recommendation for use by the WHO last year.
How does the dose work?
- The vaccine, as per WHO, should be provided in a schedule of four doses in children from around five months of age.
- It further adds that a 5th dose, given one year after dose 4, may be considered in areas where there is a significant malaria risk remaining in children a year after receiving dose 4.
- While India will have to wait for the vaccination to be introduced here with no date set as of now, the vaccine is currently for areas with highly seasonal malaria or areas with perennial malaria transmission with seasonal peaks; countries may consider providing the vaccine using an age-based administration, seasonal administration, or a hybrid of these approaches.
What are some of the challenges?
- Experts say climate change emerges as a major driver, affecting malaria transmission and overall burden. Changing climate conditions enhance the sensitivity of the malaria pathogen and vector, facilitating its spread.
- WHO emphasises the substantial risk climate change poses to malaria progress, necessitating sustainable and resilient responses.
