• 02 Aug 2025

Operation Naya Savera to Curb Human Trafficking

Why in News? 

To mark World Day Against Trafficking in Persons (30th July), the Bihar Police Headquarters launched ‘Operation Naya Savera’, a major drive to rescue and rehabilitate trafficking victims, especially minors, from exploitative sectors. 

• The 2025 theme of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is "Human trafficking is organised crime — End the exploitation." 

Key Facts Regarding Operation Naya Savera and Human Trafficking in Bihar 

• About Operation Naya Savera: It is a fortnight-long campaign (31st July to 14th August 2025) that aims to rescue and rehabilitate victims of human trafficking, child labour, flesh trade, and exploitation in orchestra groups.  
  • It is organised by the Weaker Sections Division of Bihar Police.  
• Statistics on Trafficking in Bihar: From January to May 2025, a total of 231 human trafficking cases were registered in Bihar.  
  • During this period, 118 minor girls and 506 boys were rescued, and 144 traffickers were arrested.  
  • According to NCRB 2022, Bihar ranked third nationally in human trafficking cases with 260 cases, but it topped the country in the number of minors rescued. 
• Anti-Trafficking Mechanism in Bihar: 
  • District-Level Mechanism: Each district has an Anti-Human Trafficking Committee and an Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force (AHTTF) which conducts raids and rescues based on confidential inputs.  
    • In border areas, similar operations are carried out by the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).  
  • Rehabilitation Process: Rescued victims are rehabilitated through Child Welfare Committees (CWC) and child care institutions.  
• Challenges in Combating Trafficking: Proximity to borders aids traffickers' escape, while delayed information hampers rescues.  
  • Family non-cooperation and social stigma hinder rehabilitation and reintegration of survivors. 
• Strategy to Enhance Anti-Trafficking Strategy: Bihar is deploying ground staff across roads and railways to trace victims and has strengthened coordination with NGOs, police, and welfare departments.  
  • It is also promoting community awareness, supporting survivor reintegration, and issuing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to guide police actions.

Bastar Olympics Gets National Recognition as 'Khelo India Tribal Games'

Why in News? 

Two major developments have been announced in Chhattisgarh’s sports and healthcare sectors. The Bastar Olympics has now been officially recognized as ‘Khelo India Tribal Games’, giving it national-level status.  

Key Points 

• Support for Indigenous Sports: The Khelo India Scheme includes a dedicated component for “Promotion of Rural and Indigenous/Tribal Games”. 
  • Sports like Mallakhamb, Kalaripayattu, Gatka, Thang-Ta, Yogasana, and Silambam have already been promoted under this component. 

Khelo India Scheme  

• The Khelo India Scheme, launched in 2016–17, aims to promote mass participation and excellence in sports across India.  
• Extended till 2025–26 with a financial outlay of ₹3790.50 crore, the scheme focuses on developing sports infrastructure, organizing competitions, talent identification, and supporting sports academies.  
  • It also promotes inclusiveness through initiatives for women, persons with disabilities, and indigenous sports.  
• Key components include the Fit India Movement, playfield and coaching development, and a national physical fitness drive for school children. 

Rajasthan Victim Compensation Scheme, 2011

Why in News?

In compliance with the directions issued under the Action Plan 2025–26 of the Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority, a meeting of the Victim Compensation Scheme was held in July 2025. The committee approved a total compensation amount of ₹14.25 lakh under the Victim Compensation Scheme.

Key Points

• Rajasthan Victim Compensation Scheme, 2011: It aims to provide financial assistance to victims of crime or their dependents for medical expenses, rehabilitation, and funeral costs. 
  • Administered by the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) or State Legal Services Authority (SLSA), the scheme supports victims who have not received compensation under any other scheme.

State Legal Services Authority:

• The State Legal Services Authority (SLSA) is constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, to implement the mandate of Article 39-A of the Constitution, which ensures equal justice and free legal aid. 
  • Each state government sets up an SLSA to provide free and competent legal services to the weaker sections of society and to organize Lok Adalats for speedy dispute resolution. 
• The SLSA is headed by the Chief Justice of the High Court as Patron-in-Chief, with a sitting or retired High Court Judge as Executive Chairman (nominated by the Governor in consultation with the Chief Justice). 
• It ensures that justice is accessible, inclusive, and affordable, regardless of economic or social barriers.

Bone Marrow Transplant Included Under Swasthya Sathi Health Scheme

Why in News?

The West Bengal government has included bone marrow transplant (BMT) under its universal health coverage scheme 'Swasthya Sathi', raising hopes for wider accessibility to this life-saving procedure, particularly for patients with blood disorders like thalassaemia.

Key Points

• Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) is a medical procedure used to replace damaged or diseased bone marrow with healthy stem cells.
  • The healthy stem cells may come from the patient (autologous) or a donor (allogeneic). 
  • BMT helps restore the body’s ability to produce healthy blood cells and improve immunity.

Swasthya Sathi Health Scheme

• Swasthya Sathi is a flagship health insurance scheme launched by the West Bengal government on 30th December 2016, providing cashless, paperless health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care. 
• It covers all family members, including parents of both spouses and dependent physically challenged individuals, with no cap on family size. The entire premium is borne by the state, with no cost to beneficiaries. 
• The scheme uses smart cards, real-time e-health records, and an IT-enabled platform for enrollment, hospital empanelment, pre-authorisation, and claim settlement.

Thalassemia 

• It is a genetic blood disorder in which the body produces abnormal or insufficient hemoglobin, leading to the destruction of red blood cells and causing anemia. It is inherited from parents and can be mild or severe. 
• Severe cases may require regular blood transfusions and bone marrow transplant is considered a potential curative treatment, especially if done at an early age.

Bharat Ratna to Bhikhari Thakur

Why in News?

BJP MP Manoj Tiwari has urged Union Home Minister to posthumously award Bharat Ratna to Bhikhari Thakur, the legendary Bhojpuri poet, playwright, singer, and social reformer.

• The demand for Bharat Ratna to Bhikhari Thakur faces no political opposition in Bihar, reflecting broad cross-party respect for him.

Key Points Regarding Bhikhari Thakur

• About: Bhikhari Thakur, born in 1887 in Qutubpur Diara village, Saran district, Bihar, is often hailed as the "Shakespeare of Bhojpuri".
  • He later migrated to Calcutta (now Kolkata), where he keenly observed the struggles of migrant workers, which deeply influenced his work.
• Literary Contributions: He authored 29 books, beginning with Batohiya in 1912. 
  • His most famous play, Bidesiya, highlights the pain of separation caused by migration. 
  • Works like Beti Bechwa, Gabar Ghichor, and Achhoot Ki Shikayat addressed critical social issues such as child marriage, dowry, and untouchability. 
  • Achhoot Ki Shikayat is based on the life of Hira Dom, a Dalit character.
  • Through his works, he addressed social issues such as child marriage, caste discrimination, gender inequality, alcoholism, and migration and displacement.
• Legacy: Bhikhari Thakur remains a symbol of Bhojpuri pride and Bihar’s cultural legacy, with his theatre and music continuing to educate, inspire, and promote social reform through grassroots art.