Content

1. Recognise the critical role of the childcare worker
2. Redefining the narrative of TB eradication worldwide

Recognise the critical role of the childcare worker

Why in the News?

• Recent India Childcare Champion Awards highlighted the crucial yet undervalued role of care-workers.
• Global focus via UN’s International Day of Care and Support (Oct 29) emphasizes unpaid care work, gender equality, and social justice.
• Rising attention due to climate impacts, urban migration, and child undernutrition, calling for systemic improvements in care infrastructure and worker recognition.

Relevance:

• GS 1 (Society & Social Issues): Role of women and gender equality; social development and child rights; impact of migration and climate on care responsibilities.
• GS 2 (Governance & Policy): Implementation of ICDS, Palna Scheme; policy gaps in childcare infrastructure and workforce recognition; decentralisation and convergence in social service delivery.
• GS 3 (Economy & Development): Contribution of unpaid care work to GDP (15–17%); public investment in early childhood development; human capital development through nutrition and education.

Practice Question:

• “In the context of India, examine the role of childcare workers in promoting social development and gender equality. Discuss the challenges faced by care-workers and suggest measures to strengthen early childhood care and education.” (250 Words)

International Day of Care and Support (IDCS)

• UN Resolution: Adopted on 24 July 2023; 29 October designated as IDCS annually.
• Objective: Recognises the role of comprehensive care policies to reduce, redistribute, and value unpaid care and domestic work.
• Focus: Benefits children, older persons, and persons with disabilities.
• Gender Dimension: Highlights disproportionate burden on women and adolescent girls; care work often invisible, undervalued, and uncounted in national statistics.

Historical Context of Childcare in India

• Early Initiatives: Late 19th–early 20th century — Tarabai Modak, Gijubai Badheka pioneered institutional childcare with developmentally appropriate practices.
• Post-Independence: Modern childcare mostly private/voluntary; low-income families largely excluded.
• 1972 Study Group (Mina Swaminathan): Focused on holistic development — health, nutrition, education for marginalized children.

Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)

• Launch: 1975; world’s largest early childhood development programme.
• Scale: 1.4 million Anganwadi centres; 23 million children reached; 2.4 million Anganwadi workers/helpers.
• Future Target: Universal coverage to 60+ million children by 2030 — projected 2.6 million centres, 5+ million workers.
• Challenges:
  • Care-workers underpaid (₹8,000–₹15,000/month) and undervalued.
  • Low pre-service and in-service training due to rapid expansion focus.
  • Poor working conditions, lack of social security, minimal career progression.
  • Perception of care-workers as “helpers” rather than professionals.

Care Work & Climate Change

• Vulnerability: Poor women and children worst affected by climate shocks (floods, droughts).
• Migration Impact: Men migrate to urban centres → women assume care and domestic work while seeking employment.
• Urban Gaps: Only 10% of Anganwadi centres functional in urban areas.
• Time Use Statistics: Women spend 426 minutes/day on unpaid care; men 163 minutes — contributing 15–17% of GDP.

Child Nutrition & Development

• Undernutrition: High child stunting (>35%); only 11% of children 6–23 months meet minimum acceptable diet (NFHS-5).
• Link: Mother’s unpaid care workload → less time for child feeding → cognitive and developmental deficits.

Recognition & Awards – India Childcare Champion Awards 2025

• Organisers: Mobile Creches, FORCES; event on 28 October 2025.
• Purpose: Celebrate frontline childcare workers, supervisors, NGOs, local leaders.
• Impact: Highlights professional role of care-workers, social change initiatives, advocacy for child welfare.
• Roles of Care-Workers: Carers, educators, health advocates, decision-makers for child development.

Policy & Investment Gaps

• Current Public Investment: ~0.4% of GDP in childcare.
• Needed Investment: 1–1.5% of GDP to match Scandinavian standards of universal childcare.
• Coverage Gap: Only 2,500 crèches functional under Palna Scheme for children below 3 years.
• Policy Needs:
  • Skill-building and capacity enhancement for care-workers.
  • Decentralisation, convergence, collective ownership of childcare services.
  • Adequate wages, social security, professional recognition.

Key Takeaways for Policy & Society

• Care work is central to social development, gender equality, and child well-being.
• Recognition of care-workers as professionals is critical for quality childcare.
• Expanding public investment and infrastructure is essential to achieve universal and equitable early childhood care.
• Climate change and migration intensify the urgency of reliable childcare, particularly for marginalized communities.

Redefining the narrative of TB eradication worldwide

Why in the News?

• Recognition: Molbio Diagnostics awarded the Kochon Prize 2025 for pioneering point-of-care TB diagnostics.
• Global Significance: Highlights India’s role in affordable, scalable health technology with global impact.
• Ongoing Relevance: Reinforces the push for innovative, inclusive solutions in TB elimination amid persistent disease burden.

Relevance:

• GS 2 (Governance & Health Policy): National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP); public-private partnership models; policy innovation in diagnostics and health delivery.
• GS 3 (Science & Technology, Health, Economy): Role of indigenous technological innovations (point-of-care molecular diagnostics) in improving public health outcomes; addressing malnutrition as a determinant; cost-effective scalable solutions.
• GS 1/2 (Society & Ethics): Health inequities, social determinants of TB, stigma reduction, access to care for marginalized populations.

Practice Question:

• “Discuss how point-of-care molecular diagnostics have transformed TB control in India. Evaluate the role of indigenous innovation and public-private collaboration in achieving equitable health outcomes.”(250 Words)

Tuberculosis (TB) Control  

• Global Burden: TB remains one of the top infectious killers globally; India accounts for ~25% of global cases.
• Traditional Diagnosis: Sputum smear microscopy (low sensitivity) or culture (time-consuming, weeks).
• Challenge: Delays in diagnosis meant late treatment, ongoing transmission, and poor outcomes.

Point-of-Care Molecular Diagnostics – Revolutionary Shift

• Technology: Small, battery-powered PCR machines enable TB and drug-resistance detection in under an hour.
• Key Platforms: WHO-approved rapid molecular diagnostics like Truenat.
• Impact:
  • Faster detection of TB and rifampicin-resistant TB.
  • Facilitates early initiation of treatment, improving outcomes.
  • Overcomes challenges like sputum collection in children via stool-based testing.
• Field Evidence:
  • Nigeria: Rifampicin-resistant TB detection nearly doubled.
  • Mozambique & Tanzania: On-site testing with rapid results increased treatment initiation within 7 days.

India’s Contribution & Recognition

• Innovation: Goa-based Molbio Diagnostics developed portable molecular diagnostics, endorsed by WHO in 2020.
• Award: Kochon Prize 2025 (global recognition for contributions to TB diagnostics).
• Significance: Indian indigenous innovation impacting TB elimination globally; field-ready tests allow diagnostics to reach patients directly.
• Historical Recognition: Kochon Prize awarded to India previously in 2006 and 2017.

India’s National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) Role

• Adoption: Thousands of point-of-care molecular testing units installed nationwide.
• Effect: Reduced delay between suspicion and treatment; enhanced TB management protocols.
• Collaborative Approach: Integration of public sector reach with private sector innovation, technology, and agility.

Global and Social Implications

• Scalable Deployment: Indian diagnostics used worldwide — mobile clinics in Africa, refugee camps in Eastern Europe.
• Comprehensive Care: Diagnostics alone insufficient; must be combined with nutrition, treatment access, social protection, stigma reduction.
• Determinants of TB in India: Malnutrition accounts for ~40% of TB cases.

Future Needs

• Integrated Innovations: Diagnostics + nutrition support + digital adherence + contact tracing + vaccines.
• Equity Focus: TB is a disease of inequality; solutions must reach marginalized populations.
• Sustainable Impact: Investment in scalable, field-ready solutions crucial for global TB elimination goals.

Key Takeaways for Policy & Society

• Early and accurate diagnosis via point-of-care molecular testing is game-changing for TB control.
• Indigenous innovations can transform global health equity when integrated with national programs.
• Effective TB elimination requires holistic approaches, addressing social determinants, nutrition, treatment, and stigma.
• Public-private collaboration is imperative for large-scale, inclusive public health interventions.