World Environment Day

Click here for Manifest 11 article on the same topic

Environment-Environment- Conservation, environmental pollution, and degradation

25 Clean Air measures 

The report, Air Pollution in Asia and Pacific: Science-based Solution, is the first comprehensive scientific assessment of the air pollution outlook in Asia and the Pacific. It details 25 policy and technological measures that will deliver benefits across sectors. These are as follows;

• Strengthen emission standards for road vehicles
• Regularly maintain and inspect vehicles
• Mainstream electric vehicles
• Provide better mobility options
• Control dust from construction and roads
• Reduce emissions from international shipping 
• Improve post-combustion control
• Strengthen industrial process emissions standards
•  Introduce efficient brick kilns technology
• Control methane from oil and gas production 
• Improve solvent use and refinery controls
• Use environmentally-friendly refrigerants  
•  Provide clean cooking and heating options
• Strictly enforce bans on household waste burning 
• Provide incentives for improved energy efficiency in households
• Increase renewable electricity generation
• Improve energy efficiency for industry
• Recover coal mining gas 
• Improve livestock manure management 
• Strengthen the management of nitrogen fertilizer application
• Better management of agricultural crop residues
• Present forest and peatland fires
• Promote more efficient rice production practices
• Stop biogas leakage from wastewater treatment 
• Improve solid waste management 

Research and Development in Ayurveda

• Ayurveda, the science of life, is one of the oldest and comprehensive systems of healthcare. It was discovered through suitable sources of acquiring knowledge and producing evidence (pramana), viz.

1. Pratyaksha(Direct evidence)
2. Anumana(logical inference)
3. Antopadesha(verbal & authentic documentary testimony)
4. Yukti(experimental evidence) etc 

These pramanas are well comparable with the present research methodology. Proper research and documentation has been an indispensable part of Ayurveda.  

• After Independent in 1947, the movement for the revival of Indigenous Systems of Medicine gained the momentum.

Different Committees and their recommendations:

• The Chopra Committee in 1948 identified the objectives and areas for research in the Indian Systems of Medicines. And based on its recommendations the Central Research Institute for Ayurveda was established at Jamnagar in 1953. A Post Graduate Training Course was also started there in 1956.
• The Udupa Committee in 1958  further streamlined the research priorities with the establishment of the Post Graduate Institute of Indian Medicine at Banaras Hindu University Varanasi in 1963.
• In 1969 Central Council for Research in Indian Medicine and Homeopathy (CCRIM&H) was established after the Vyas Committee recommendation in 1966.
• In 1978 CCRAS (Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha) was formed, which later bifurcated further into Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) and Central Council for Research in Siddha in 2011.
• In 2014, for further strengthening of AYUSH systems, Department of AYUSH (under MoHWF) was upgraded to a full-fledged Ministry of AYUSH.
• A web-based AYUSH Research Portal has been initiated by the Ministry of AYUSH, to showcase published research works in AYUSH systems of medicines.
• The new initiative of Ayurveda biology programme will also pave the way toward better understanding and interdisciplinary approach for validation of Ayurvedic fundamentals.

National AYUSH Morbidity and Standardized Terminology E-Portal (NAMASTE Portal)

• Central Council of Research in Ayurvedic Sciences(CCRAS)is an apex organization for the formulation, coordination, development, and promotion of Research in Ayurveda and Sowa Rigpa systems of medicine. The research activities of the Council are carried out through its 31 institutes located all over India and also through collaborative studies with various universities, hospitals and institutions. These include;

1. Clinical Research
2. Medicinal Plant Research 
3. Drug standardization
4. Pharmacological Research and
5. Literary Research

CCRAS has been involved in the development of Standardization Ayurveda Terminologies. The National Ayurveda Morbidity Codes (NAMC) is an important part of this document which is also being used for morbidity data collection under NAMASTE Portal. This portal has the potential to revolutionize morbidity statistics data collection.