Editorial 1: Press must remain free if a country is to remain a democracy
Context:
- The media is the fourth pillar in the conception of the State,and thus an integral component of democracy.
- A functional and healthy democracy must encourage the development of journalism as an institution that can ask difficult questions to the establishment or as it is commonly known, “speak truth to power”.
- The vibrancy of any democracy is compromised when the press is prevented from doing exactly this. The press must remain free if a country is to remain a democracy.
Historical role of Press in creating awareness during freedom struggle:
- India has a great legacy of newspapers that have acted as catalysts of social and political change.
- Prior to independence, newspapers were run by social reformers and political activists in order to raise awareness and also as a means of outreach.
- For instance, Dr. Ambedkar launched several newspapers such as Mooknayak, Bahishkrut Bharat, Janata, and Prabuddha Bharat to create awareness about the rights of the most neglected communities in India.
- The newspapers and other publications of pre-Independence India also give us a picture of the detailed history of those times.
- These newspapers are now a source of knowledge, a historical record of the times when courageous men and women acted against the colonial rulers and fought fiercely for our independence. The newsprint voiced the aspiration of the soul, a yearning for freedom.
Role of press in generating cognitive ability of debates , discussion and rightful action
- The media sparks debates and discussion, which are the first step towards action. All societies inevitably become dormant, lethargic and immune to the problems that plague them.
- Journalism (in all its forms) is one of the key aspects which prods us out of this collective inertia.
- The media has always played and continues to play an important role in shaping the course of current events, and by extension, the course of history itself.
- Recently, the #MeToo movement was sparked in part by the publication of stories concerning the accusations of sexual harassment against prominent figures in the film industry in the US.
- The #MeToo movement had cascading effects all across the world and was a watershed moment in history.
- In India, the media’s coverage of the rape of Jyoti, or Nirbhaya, by certain men in Delhi resulted in widespread protests and later, in reforms to criminal law.
- Even on a day-to-day basis, some news stories prompt questions and discussion in Parliament and in the legislative assemblies of states.
- In one judgment, the Supreme Court held: “India’s freedoms will rest safe as long as journalists can speak truth to power without being chilled by a threat of reprisal.”
Evolving Journalism with the time along with its role
- Initially, the outreach of journalism was limited to print media, but this expanded with the introduction of television.
- In the recent past, social media has been a game changer for journalists in more ways than one.
- Online platforms have provided an opportunity to individuals to launch their own online media channels. In that way, online platforms have led to the democratisation of the media.
- Local or community-based journalism
- It has played an important role in encouraging social cohesion and political activism.
- It has the ability to not only educate citizens but also to raise the little-known concerns and set the agenda for debate on those issues at the policy level
- Local journalism shines a bright light on local issues, people, and causes, which many times may not get covered by the media at the national-level.
- Community journalism opens the avenues for the members of marginalised communities to be a voice for their own issues. The emergence of social media enabled them to create their own space and come up with independent media platforms
- The relevance of the media was best highlighted during the period of the Covid-19 pandemic. Electronic, print and social media facilitated the State to disseminate relevant information to the general public at large even during the lockdown.
- Along with The media highlighted administrative loopholes and excesses. Various high courts and the Supreme Court of India relied on news reports in taking suo motu cognisance of instances of violations of people’s rights during the pandemic
- In recent years, we are also witnessing a rising interest in legal journalism. Legal journalism is the storyteller of the justice system, shedding light on the complexities of the law
Challenges with Journalism: As with every institution, journalism is facing its own challenges.
- Fake news poses a serious threat to the independence and impartiality of the press in the current society.
- It is the collective responsibility of journalists as well as other stakeholders to weed out any element of bias or prejudice from the process of reporting events.
- A comprehensive fact-checking mechanism should be in place to verify all news items before reporting. Media houses are expected to act cautiously while publishing news.
- Fake news can misguide millions of people at once, and this will be in direct contradiction with the fundamentals of democracy which form the bedrock of our existence.
- Across the globe, fake news has the capability to create tensions between communities by misleading people. Therefore, to save the democratic values of fraternity which can be damaged, if not destroyed through biased reporting, there is a strong need to bridge a gap between truth and lie.
- Another issue affecting the media is that of legitimacy. A diverse and representative newsroom is essential for media institutions to provide well-researched and complex stories that explore a multiplicity of perspectives and voices.
Conclusion
- Responsible journalism is the beacon of truth that can guide us to a better tomorrow. It is the engine that drives democracy forward, based on the quest for truth, justice, and equality.
- As we navigate the challenges of the digital age, it is more important than ever for journalists to maintain standards of accuracy, impartiality, and responsibility in their reporting.
Editorial 2: World TB Day 2023: How India plans to achieve its target of eliminating tuberculosis by 2025
Context:
- With India setting the target of eliminating tuberculosis by 2025, five years ahead of the global target, scientists are making effort to test newer vaccines and shorter courses of treatment
- Government is focusing on active case finding, entrepreneurs have helped increase testing capacity and the community at large has come forward to provide nutritional support to patients
How many TB cases are detected each year in India?
- Although India continues to be the largest contributor to global TB cases, there has been a decline in the number of cases in 2021.
- Reporting of TB cases also improved in 2021 – although it didn’t reach the pre-pandemic levels, it bounced back from the lows seen during the first year of the pandemic, according to the Global TB Report 2022.
- The incidence of TB – new cases detected through the year – reduced by 18% in 2021 over the 2015 baseline, dropping to 210 cases per lakh population as compared to 256 cases per lakh population.
- The incidence of drug-resistant TB also went down by 20% during the period from 1.49 lakh cases in 2015 to 1.19 lakh cases in 2021.
- India accounts for 28% of all TB cases in the world, according to the Global TB Report 2022. There were 21.3 lakh cases detected in 2021 as compared to 18.05 lakh cases in 2020.
- The numbers are still lower than the 24.04 lakh cases reported before the pandemic in 2019, according to data from the government’s Ni-kshay portal that can help in real-time reporting of new TB cases.
- A survey conducted across 20 states pegged the incidence at a higher 312 cases per lakh population.
India’s TB elimination target?
- Although elimination of Tuberculosis is one of the sustainable development targets to be achieved by 2030 by the world, India has set the target of 2025. The national strategic plan 2017-2025 sets the target of India reporting no more than 44 new TB cases or 65 total cases per lakh population by 2025.
- The estimated TB incidence for the year 2021 stood at 210 per lakh population.
- Achieving this target is a big task as the plan had envisaged an incidence of only 77 cases per lakh population by 2023.
- The programme also aims to reduce the mortality to 3 deaths per lakh population by 2025. The estimated TB mortality for the year 2020 stood at 37 per lakh population.
- The plan also aims to reduce catastrophic costs for the affected family to zero. However, the report states that 7 to 32 per cent of those with drug-sensitive TB, and 68 per cent with drug-resistant TB experienced catastrophic costs.
- The goals are in line with the World Health Organisation’s End TB strategy that calls for 80% reduction in the number of new cases, 90% reduction in mortality, and zero catastrophic cost by 2030.
What is being done to try to achieve this target?
- To achieve the TB elimination target of 2025, the government has taken several steps including looking for cases actively among vulnerable and co-morbid populations, screening for it at the health and wellness centres, and calling on the private sector to notify all TB cases.
- An online Ni-kshay portal has been set up to track the notified TB cases.
- The pandemic has led to improved access to the more accurate molecular diagnostic tests like CB-NAAT and TureNat that were also used to test for Covid-19.
- At present, there are 4,760 molecular diagnostic machines available, covering all districts of the country.
- In addition, 79 line probe assay laboratories and 96 liquid culture testing laboratories have been set up for the diagnosis of multi and extremely drug resistant TB.
- The government has also implemented a universal drug susceptibility test, meaning that antibiotic susceptibility of the mycobacterium is determined for all newly diagnosed cases.
- Earlier, the patients were started on first line treatment and were tested for drug resistance only if the therapy did not work. Conducting a drug susceptibility test at the outset ensures that the patients are given antibiotics that will work for them from the get go.
What are the improvements in treatment protocols?
- Newer drugs such as Bedaquiline and Delamanid for the treatment of drug-resistant TB have been included in the government’s basket of drugs provided free TB patients.
- These oral drugs can replace the injectable kanamycin that was associated with serious side effects like kidney problems and deafness.
- These new drugs have also been included in the new National List of Essential Medicines that gives the government power to regulate their market price as well.
- Researchers have also been studying shorter three- and four-month courses of anti-tubercular drugs, instead of the existing six-month therapy.
- Anti-tubercular drugs have to be taken for six months to over two years depending on the susceptibility of the mycobacterium.
- Long duration of treatment results in people dropping out in between, increasing their likelihood of them developing drug-resistant infections later.
Newer vaccines for TB in upcoming time ( Way forward)
- Nearly 100 years after the existing BCG vaccine was developed, researchers are on the lookout for newer ways of preventing tuberculosis infection. The BCG vaccine uses a weakened form of the TB bacteria to train the immune system.
- Although it can protect against severe forms of TB like the ones in the brain, the protection is not very good against the most common form of TB in the lungs.
- It offers limited protection to adults, it doesn’t prevent people from getting the infection or re-activation of a latent infection.
- Trials are underway to test the effectiveness of a vaccine called Immuvac, which was initially developed to prevent leprosy, in preventing TB.
- The vaccine developed using mycobacterium indicus pranii has antigens – the portions of a pathogen against which antibodies are developed – similar to those of leprosy and TB bacteria.
- Researchers are also testing the vaccine candidate called VPM1002, which is a recombinant form of the BCG vaccine modified to express the TB antigens better. This results in better training of the immune system and protection against TB.
- Researchers are also studying whether the existing BCG vaccine booster shot should be given to household contacts of a person with active tuberculosis.