Content:

1. ONOS bitten
2. Indians need to share contraceptive responsibility

ONOS Bitten

Relevance : GS 2(Governance )

Practice Question: Discuss how One Nation, One Subscription can boost the research ecosystem in India. Suggest key measures to make the research field more inclusive. (250 Words )

Present research accessing model

• Journals charge hefty fees for individuals and institutions to access research papers.

• Research institutes rely on subscriptions for access, but increasing costs burden libraries.

• Librarian consortia were formed to negotiate better subscription deals.

ONOS and Benefits

• What is ONOS?
  • A national-level subscription plan for access to research journals.
  • Proposed in the 2020 National Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy.

• Government Approval: Union Cabinet sanctioned ₹6,000 crore for three years.

• Key Advantage:
  • Journals become accessible to underfunded government institutes.
  • Centralised bargaining replaces fragmented consortia.

Limitations of ONOS

• Exclusion of private institutions:Only publicly funded institutes benefit, excluding private institutions.
  • Continues reliance on profit-driven publishers who use publicly funded research.
  • Potential to perpetuate inequity in global research accessibility.

Missed Opportunities

• Alternative Models Ignored: significant push for ‘green’ or ‘diamond’ open-access models ensuring free access to publicly funded research.

• Lack of Local Support:
  • Limited encouragement for indigenous journals catering to Indian scholars.
  • Missed chance to promote India’s leadership in shaping global research access policies.

Financial and Policy Concerns

• Budget Allocation Issues:
  • The stagnation in gross expenditure on R&D as a percentage of GDP raises concerns over prioritising journal subscriptions over broader R&D funding.

• Transparency Challenges:
  • Monitor the relevance of subscribed journals.
  • Avoid predatory publishers.

Evolving Research Trends Ignored

• Shift to ‘Gold’ Open Access: Journals are moving to models where researchers pay for publication, enabling free public access.
• Rise of Preprint Servers: Preprints are becoming a popular way to share research quickly and freely.
• ONOS does not align with these global shifts.

Consultation and Tailored Needs

• Institutional Input Missing: Institutes were not consulted on their specific requirements or concerns.
• Premature Celebration: The absence of a holistic strategy undermines the initiative’s potential impact.

Indians need to share contraceptive responsibility

Relevance : GS 2( Health )

Practice Question: Explain gender inequality in the sterilisation process and also discuss the possible reasons for the same. (250 Words )

Historical Background

• 1952: India pioneered a national family planning programme with an initial focus on maternal and child health.

• 1966-70: Vasectomies constituted 80.5% of sterilisation procedures.

• Decline: Vasectomy rates decreased significantly due to policy shifts and socio-cultural factors.

Statistics

• NFHS-5 (2019-21): Male sterilisation is stagnant at 0.3%, compared to 37.9% for female sterilisation.

• Target Missed: National Health Policy 2017 aimed to increase male sterilisation to 30%.

• Gender Inequality: Women disproportionately bear the sterilisation burden, undermining efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 5 (gender equality).

Barriers to Vasectomy Adoption

• Cultural Beliefs:
  • The perception is that sterilisation is solely a woman’s responsibility.
  • Male egos and family opposition hinder adoption.

• Economic Concerns:
  • Fear of losing daily wages due to the procedure.
  • Lack of awareness about government-provided cash incentives.

• Healthcare System Challenges:
  • Shortage of trained providers, especially in rural areas.
  • Poor awareness among community health workers about no-scalpel vasectomies.

Policy and Ground-Level Gaps

• Lack of Awareness: Limited knowledge about vasectomy benefits and incentives.

• Ineffectiveness of Policies: Policies lack actionable steps and effective implementation mechanisms.

International Success Stories

• South Korea: High vasectomy prevalence attributed to progressive societal norms and gender equality.

• Bhutan: Vasectomy is normalised via government-led camps and good-quality services.

• Brazil: Mass media campaigns significantly increased uptake, raising prevalence from 0.8% in the 1980s to 5% in the last decade.

Recommendations for India

• Awareness of Contraceptive responsibilities, debunking myths, etc

• Promotion of Incentive programmes for vasectomies
  • Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh success stories backs it.

• Health System Strengthening:
  • Need to train vasectomy procedures professionals.
  • Invest in technological up-gradation to make procedures safer and accessible.

• Adopting best practices: Adopt strategies from countries like South Korea, Bhutan, and Brazil.

Conclusion

• Male participation in family planning should be encouraged.

• Promotion of Informed Decision-Making among couples.