Author: Priyanka Mazumdar

I'm a writing enthusiast. Love to read, write and sing.

Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana

The Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana was launched on 17th September 2015 for the welfare of the people and areas affected by mining operations. Funds for this scheme are generated by District Mineral Foundations (DMFs). And most of these areas are occupied and inhabited by the scheduled tribes. In all the districts that are affected by the mining, District Mineral Foundations (DMFs) under the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015, the Central Government has fixed rates payable by miners to the District Mineral Foundations. An amount of 30% of royalty has to be paid by the miner if the lease executed dates before 12th January 2015 and for the mining leases after 12th January 2015, it is 10% of the royalty payable. These Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) (MMDR) funds are then used for the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana. The directly and indirectly affected people (as specified by the government) by such mining or excavation activities should be covered under this scheme. The list of such directly and indirectly affected people and local communities should be maintained and updated by the District Mineral Foundations (DMFs). People having legal or traditional rights over the land on which mining, excavation, or any such activity is performed come under the list of affected people or traditional communities. The families which get displaced because of these mining activities need to be rehabilitated by the authorities. At least 60% of MMDR funds are required to be utilized in the following ‘High Priority Areas’:

• Health Care – Implementation of Group Insurance Scheme for the mining-affected people should be taken care of. Primary or secondary health facilities should be provided in consideration to the existing available health facilities of the central government, state, or any local bodies to the people of the mining-affected areas. While preparing for such infrastructure the knowledge available with the ‘National Institute of Miner’s Health’ should be included for taking care of diseases and illnesses related to mining.
• Drinking Water – Water purification facilities, drinking water facilities, and water connection pipes should be taken care of.
• Education – Construction of school buildings, hostels for students as well as teachers in remote areas, classrooms, labs, toilets, transportation facilities, and such more education-related resources should be considered.
• Sanitation – Proper collection and disposal of mining waste and fecal sludge, cleaning of public places, and construction of toilets.
• Development of Women and Children – Special programs can be carried out for spreading awareness for maternity-related issues, infections, malnutrition, and child health issues.
• Skill Development – Developing skills of the willing and deserving local people by setting up centers, providing training, and to the Self-Help Groups (SHGs) for generation of economic activities among the backward.
• Safeguard of Old and Disabled – Organizing programs for the welfare of the old and people with disabilities.
• Pollution Control and Environment Preservation – Opting for environment-friendly and sustainable mining techniques, prevention of lakes, ponds, groundwater, and other water resources, prevention of air pollution due to mining, and proper drainage system for mining dump.
Utilization of up to 40% MMDR funds in the following ‘Other Priority Areas’:
• Irrigation – Opting for sustainable and advanced irrigation techniques.
• Watershed and Energy – Establishing rainwater harvesting systems and alternative sources of energy.
• Infrastructure – Developing required infrastructure such as – roads, railways, and water projects.
• And more such measures for sustainable resources and improved environmental conditions in mining districts.

The vulnerable and marginalized communities such as the tribal are empowered through this scheme. It is said, annually Rs 6000 crore is utilized for the development of people and areas affected by mining activities. According to the reports of the ministry, till now an amount of Rs 22,999 crore has been approved out of which an amount of Rs 6,944 has been utilized.

SC/ST Hub

About SC/ST Hub

As per the Public Procurement Policy for Micro and Small Enterprises, it is mandatory to procure a minimum of 25% of the total annual value of goods and services from the Micro and Small Enterprises, in which 4% of goods and services should be procured from SC / ST owned Micro and Small Enterprises and 3% of goods and services should be procured from Micro and Small Enterprises owned by women, for the Central Government Ministries, Departments, and Public – Sector Undertakings. Tenders are published by Central Public Service Enterprises (CPSEs), Public Sector Units (PSUs), and Government Organizations. These tenders are then bid upon and after the order is won, a Performance Bank Guarantee (PBG) is mandatorily required to be submitted for the CPSEs or large firm tenders, against the total value of the tender. This PBG agreement acts as a guarantee that the bank would pay the specified amount in case the Micro & Small Enterprises which is the applicant, fails to meet the ‘financial’ and ‘performance’ obligations. The bank charges an annual fee against its guarantee which generally ranges from 0.5 – 3% per annum. This application fee is paid one time, at the time of issue of the PBG. However, this charge varies based on the ‘risk profile’ of the applicant and various other aspects. Although, these charges are of small amount but somehow add a little burden on the part of entrepreneurs. To lower this burden on the Scheduled Cast / Scheduled Tribes Micro & Small Enterprises (SC / ST MSEs) the government has set the National SC-ST Hub (NSSH). This committee is chaired by Shri Milind Kamble the chairman of the Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI). It provides financial assistance to the SC / T MSEs by reimbursing the bank charges that any SC / ST MSE has paid for issuing PBG for government tenders. For the SC-ST Hub the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, from 2016 to 2020, made an initial fund allocation of Rs 490 crore.

The objective for providing financial assistance to the ST / ST MSEs under this scheme are as follows:
• For achieving the target of 4% procurement of goods and services under the Public Procurement Policy, by the SC / ST MSEs.
• To provide exposure to the SC / ST MSEs to the global market.
• To provide a competitive platform to the MSEs and help them with their marketing skills.
• To provide exposure to large industries and buyers.
The nodal agency to look after the implementation of this scheme is the National Small Industries Corporation Ltd. (NSIC).
The financial assistance under this scheme is provided from the National SC-ST Hub (NSSH) fund and has a limit of 50% or Rs 1,00,000 whichever among the two is less. This amount is exclusive of GST and other taxes applicable. Although, in a financial year the scheme can be availed multiple times by the SC / ST MSEs the amount remains limited as mentioned above. The reimbursement s done based on valid documents or receipts showing payment details, bank statements showing debit of BG charges, GST invoice generated through the system, and a copy of PBG issued (which should be certified).
For availing the benefit under this scheme, the following criteria need to be fulfilled:
• If a proprietorship firm wants to be recognized as SC / ST MSE the proprietor should belong to SC / ST category.
• If a partnership wants to be recognized as SC / ST MSE then at least 51% of shares should be held by the SC / ST partners.
• If a private limited company wants to be recognized as SC / ST MSE then the company should have at least 51% shares held by SC / ST promoters.
• The SC / ST MSEs must have their Udyog Aadhaar Memorandum (UAM) number, PAN number and must be registered under the Goods and Service Tax (GST) to avail of the scheme benefit.

After the evaluation and approval of the reimbursement by the NSSHO and NSIC, the reimbursement amount is transferred to the bank account of the applicant from where the PBG charges are debited and this is directly transferred through the Public Financial Management System (PFMS). The claims by the applicant are required to be submitted within 45 days from the time PBG is issued.
This scheme can be availed by the PBG issued on or after 14th November 2018 till the NSSH scheme exists or there are any revisions or amendments made to this scheme.

Impact

The SC / ST Hub also provides professional support to the SC / ST MSEs and provides training and skill development programs. In 2016 – 17 it has provided for 3 capacity building training programs (skill entrepreneurship development) to 83 candidates, in 2017 – 18 64 programs with 1,311 candidates, in 2018 – 19 288 programs to 6,514 candidates and for the year 2019 – 20 provided with 513 programs to 13,362 candidates which come to a total of 868 programs to a total of 21,270 candidates. 823 crore procurements have been made from SC / ST owned MSEs by 162 CPEs and a total of 17,537 SC / ST candidates have been assisted as per the reports of the SC-ST Hub under the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises. This scheme is helping nurture the Micro and Small Enterprises through the involvement of the marginalized, that is the Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes, giving them equal opportunities to grow and develop financially as well as socially.

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

Sanitation and hygiene are crucial aspects of living; especially when it comes to the masses. India has a huge population. The majority of its population resides in rural areas. These rural areas lack basic amenities of living and hygiene. Lack of basic amenities hampers the quality of living. Especially, when it comes to sanitation, the rural people lack toilets and thus, have to defecate in the open grounds. Open defecation proves to be a breeding ground for many infections and diseases, which can even prove to be fatal.

Habits play an important role in keeping the surroundings clean. It is not just the lack of toilets, but also the habits of the people. people in the rural areas have become habituated to open defecation, and even when provided with toilets to use, they chose to defecate in the open. It is also because of a lack of knowledge and awareness. Hence, it becomes important to not just build toilets, but also to aware people about the health issues related to improper sanitation due to open defecation.

To maintain sanitation and prevent any health issues due to lack of sanitation, the government proposed the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

What is Swachh Bharat Abhiyan?

The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan or the Swachh Bharat Mission was launched on 2nd October 2014, on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, by the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi. It focuses on the achievement of universal sanitation. This campaign or janandolan had a nationwide approach and also aimed at open defecation-free India, focusing especially on the rural. From 2014 to 2019, the focus was on the construction of household-owned and community-owned toilets. Monitoring of construction and usage of these toilets was also taken care of.
The birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi was chosen as the day to launch the mission, as Mahatma Gandhi was concerned and conscious about India’s sanitation. He even once said, “Sanitation is more important than independence.” The idea of a clean India with a proper sanitation system took its initial shape from there, and hence, 2nd October makes the best day for the mission launch.

By 2nd October 2019, in India, all the villages, gram panchayats, districts, states, and union territories declared themselves as “open defecation free”, by constructing over 100 million toilets in the rural parts of India, under the Swachh Bharat Mission.

The mission then upgraded to its next phase ‘Phase II’ of Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) i.e., ODP-Plus. This phase was upgraded to ensure that the open defecation-free habit sustains and there is proper access to safe liquid and solid waste management in villages.

Impact

Since 2nd October 2014, more than 10,20,00, household toilets have been constructed; there are 6,03,175 open defecation free villages; 706 open defecation free villages 36 open defecation free states and union territories, and about 63.3% of the rural population is practicing Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM) under Open Defecation Free (OPD) Plus. There has also been an increase in household toilets since 2nd October 2014 and 2,62,734 gram panchayats were declared open defecation free. The construction of toilets not only provided the people especially of rural areas with proper sanitation but also an equal level of basic social amenities.

Restoration of Provisions of SC / ST Act

The weak sections of society are often repressed and exploited by society. To control such behavior and actions the government proposes some laws and bills to safeguard the rights of such weaker sections. But these laws are sometimes misused for the satisfaction of personal desires, and such actions need to be regulated.

An amendment bill was passed in March 2018 to restore the provisions of Scheduled castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, under the initial provision, the conviction rate remained as low as just 15.4% in 2016. The amendment bill included three new clauses to the existing Act – for the registration of a First Information Report ( FIR ), against any person, a preliminary enquiry shall not be required; no approval would be required for the arrest of the accused under the Act; under this Act, Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, dealing with anticipatory bail shall not apply, allowing the accused to apply for anticipatory bail; the decision to arrest or not rests in the hands of the investing officer which cannot be taken away. The Supreme Court also issued guidelines to safeguard people against arbitrary arrest by making the arrest possible only after the written permission of the appointing authority for the public servants and Senior Superintendent of Police in the case of private-sector employees. The verdict for the restoration of the SC / ST Bill faced a widespread protest from the Dalits as according to them it dilutes the original nature of the provision. the Supreme Court took this decision considering the interests of the Scheduled Tribes / Scheduled Castes and as well as the arbitrary arrests taking place under the provision. The decision was made in regards –


• It was observed by the Supreme Court that the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 was used negatively as a way to blackmail and harass the innocent common citizens as well as the public servants in many cases.
• It was also observed that the Act was misused in many cases just to fulfill personal agendas by registering false complaints.
• The main purpose of the Act which was to break the caste-based boundaries was diluting and rather becoming strong because of the false complaints filed for the satisfaction of personal interests.
• The arbitrary arrest of the accused is tried to be put in control by making arrest possible on the written permission of the appointing authority in case of a public servant and written permission of the Superintendent of Police (SP) in case of a public servant.

The restoration was made keeping in mind the interests and safeguard of the marginalized without hampering the safeguard of the general public. Without going for a preliminary enquiry for a First Information Report (FIR) it ensured safeguard for the marginalized and by controlling the arbitrary arrests of the accused by making the arrest possible only after the written permission of the appointing authority and Superintendent of Police under this Act it safeguarded the general public.

Senior Citizens Welfare Fund

About the Scheme

According to the 2011 population census India has nearly 104 million senior citizens of the total population. And around 71 % of senior citizens live in rural parts and 29 % reside in urban areas of India. These senior citizens are often left out when it comes to basic amenities and requirements and have to depend on others for their living and financial support especially in urban areas, whereas the senior citizens living in rural areas are unable to get aids for their age-related impairments or disabilities due to financial weakness. For overcoming this issue in senior citizens of rural and urban areas and provide the senior citizens with financial and health stability, the government came up with the Senior Citizens Welfare Scheme and Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana. The Senior Citizens Welfare Fund (SCWF) was included under the Finance Act, 2015 for 3 years that is till 2020. This fund is utilized for the welfare of senior citizens. It is expected that around 5,20,000 senior citizens would benefit from this scheme. The scheme also tries that at least 30 % of beneficiaries in all districts should be women as far as possible. An amount of Rs. 410.23 crore was allocated as of December 2019, as initial funding under the scheme, and is handled by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The fund is allocated from the unclaimed money which is lying untouched (after 10 years is transferred) under the Small Savings Schemes, Public Provident Fund, Employees Provident Fund (unclaimed for 7 years), any insurance scheme (be it life or non – life), any such unclaimed policy under the insurance companies, Coal Mines Provident Fund, and Central Government Schemes such as the Savings lying in the Post Office, Post Office Time Deposit Account, Kisan Vikas Patra, Post Office Monthly Income Account, Post Office Recurring Deposit, and Senior Citizens Savings Scheme.

In 2016, the Department of Economic Affairs transferred an amount of Rs 5889.17 crore to the corpus of Senior Citizens Welfare Fund and the interest accrued from this would be utilized for the Welfare Scheme funded from the Senior Citizens Welfare Fund. The Department of Economic Affairs allocated an amount of Rs 16 crore from the Senior Citizens Welfare Fund and provided it to the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment for the implementation of the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana. An inter–ministerial committee is set up for the administration of the funds. This ministry comprises – Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment as the Nodal Ministry, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, and Department of Financial Services.

Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana is a scheme under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. This scheme was launched in 2017. The funds for this scheme target at providing assistive living devices and other aids to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category belonging to senior citizens, who suffer from disabilities due to growing age. Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO) is a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment by which the scheme is implemented. This public sector undertaking manufactures assistive living devices. Depending upon the disability of impairment the following assistive devices are provided to the eligible senior citizens under the scheme:

• Spectacles

• Artificial Dentures

• Hearing Aids

• Walking Sticks

• Wheelchair

• Crutches / Walkers

• Elbow Crutches

• Tripods / Quadpods

To avail of benefits under this scheme, the senior citizen must belong to Below Poverty Line (BPL) category. He/she must be suffering from age-related disabilities and those disabilities can be – Loss of teeth, hearing impairment, locomotor disability, or low vision. The assistive devices provided for these impairments try to provide near normalcy bodily functioning.

Impact  

A total of 325 districts were selected for the implementation of this scheme. 135 districts completed their assessment camps for identification of the beneficiaries as of 25/01/2019. As per the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment 70939 senior citizens belonging to the BPL category have benefited from 77 distribution camps organized. In the year 2017 – 18,34069 senior citizens benefited from this scheme and in the year 2018 – 19, 36870 senior citizens benefited from this scheme of Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana.

Other Backwards Classes (OBC) Bill

The OBC Bill provides constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), which was established under the National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993. The power of examining complaints regarding the inclusion or exclusion of individuals or groups in the list of backward classes. The 123rd constitutional bill finally got a nod from the Supreme Court in August 2018 after being not established as a law in 2017 due to lack of majority in the house and inserted a new Article 338B.

This new bill gives the commission to investigate and monitor for the safeguard of the socially and educationally backward classes with the powers of a civil court while investigating and also gives it the power to summon any person across the country and also enforce their presence. As of earlier the commission for SC / ST used to hear for the grievances of the OBCs. The new bill also provides for having a chairperson for the commission, a vice-chairperson, and three other members who will be appointed by the President. The tenure and working conditions for all the members will be decided by the President. BJP government also assured that the committee would include a woman member also. The NCBC will be working for the socio-economic upliftment of the OBCs.

Duties of the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) are –

  • Investigation and Monitoring of the safety and provisions provided to the backward classes under the constitution and other implemented laws.
  • It can inquire about the violation of the rights-specific complaints.
  • Annual reports should be presented to the President, and to be tabled in Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies.
  • To give advice and make recommendations on the socio-economic development of the backward classes.

Reports suggest, that there is less than 15% reservation in the government sector jobs for the OBCs. According to the reports of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) 8.4% grade A pots are occupied by OBCs, mentioned Ram Gopal Yadav, SP, Uttar Pradesh. He even said during the parliamentary debate on the OBC Bill that, there is no need for an OBC creamy layer, as raising the limit of the creamy layer won’t benefit anyone. And also, that, though there is a need to increase the reservation in jobs for the OBCs but getting jobs alone won’t help much. The mindset of people needs to change too. Parties like Biju Janata Dal and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party asked for the power to add or eliminate in the list of backward classes to be laid in the hands of the State and not Centre the state knows better about what kind of people belong in that particular State while Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) asked for reservation for the OBCs even in the private sector. Some even asked for the filling of the reserved vacant seats and that the member of the committee should be chosen from the individuals belonging to the OBC category. However, article 342 A authorizes the President to specify for the socially and educationally backward classes in consultation with the Governors of the respective States. The present members to NCBC are Dr. Bhagwan Lal Sahni as the chairperson, Dr. Lokesh Kumar Prajapati as the Vice-Chairperson, Shri Ajoy Kumar as the Secretary, and the other three members are – Dr. Sudha Yadav, Shri Kaushalendra Singh Patel, and Shri Achary Thalloju.

National Democratic Alliance (NDA)

What NDA or National Democratic Alliance is?

NDA is the abbreviation for the National Democratic Alliance. The NDA is the alliance of the centre-right and right-wing Indian political parties, which is led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The alliance includes 17 parties. The NDA government was founded in 1998 by late Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani and Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

BJP is the only national party in the NDA alliance. Other than that, the alliance includes 25 members as of May 2020:

Janata Dal (United) (JD (U))

Lok Janshakti Party (LJP)

Apna Dal (Sonelal) (AD (S))

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)

Jannayak Janata Party (JJP)

All India Anna Dravida Munetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)

All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU)

National Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP)

Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP)

Pattali Makal Katchi (PMK)

Kerala Congress (J)

Asom Gana Parishad (AGP)

Bodoland People’s Front (BPF)

Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK)

Tamil Maanila Congress (M) (TMC (M))

Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS)

Al India N.R Congress (AINRC)

Mahrashtrawadi Gomantak Paksha (MGP)

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS)

Jana Sena Party (JSP)

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM)

National Peoples Party

Mizo National Front

Sikkim Krantikari Morcha

History of National Democratic Alliance (NDA)

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was formed to contest general elections as a coalition government in 1988. It was led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Several regional parties were included in the NDA coalition, including the Samta Party, All India. Anna Dravida Munetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), and also the Shiv Sena which is the only member of NDA to share the Hindutva ideology of the BJP. In 1988, the NDA won the majority number of seats and with it won the elections, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee again came into power as the Prime Minister. The win was possible because of the outside support that the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). However, the government collapsed because of the withdrawal of the All India Anna Dravida Munetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). Later, few more regional parties joined the NDA, after which it again won the elections of 1999 and for the first time came into power for a full term of five years. Earlier the NDA came into power with Atal Bihari Vajpayee serving as the Prime Minister but for 13 days in 1996, then for 13 months from 1998-1999, and finally for a full term of five years from 1999 – 2004.

Formation of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is one of the two major national political parties of India. One is the Indian National Congress (INC) and the other is the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) among the two major parties. In 1951, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee formed the Bharatiya Janata Sangh, from where the BJP originated. In 1977, the State of Emergency emerged, and to form the Janata Party the Jana Sangh emerged with several other parties and defeated the Congress Party in the general elections of 1977. The Janata Party dissolved in 1980 after being in power for three years, and the former members of the Jana Sangh came together to form the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP then officially was formed in 1980. Initially, in the 1984 elections, it only won 2 seats but later it followed victories in state and national elections and 1996 became the largest party in the parliament. However, it lasted for only 13 days due to the lack of a majority in the lower house of parliament (Lok Sabha). In 1998, after the general elections the coalition government of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the BJP came into power lasted for 13 months and then in 1999 for a full term of five years. However, in 2004 the NDA government faced defeat and Congress Party stayed in power for the next 10 years. In 2014, the BJP led NDA government finally regained its power and served for a full term of five years under Narendra Modi serving as the Prime Minister of India.

AIDS

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a chronic disease. It is caused by the infection of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The virus attacks the immune system, causing a potential life threat. Initially, the infected person may not show any or negligible symptoms like dry cough, chills, nausea, fever, body aches, and loss of appetite. A prolonged period with no symptoms may make it seem normal, but over time, the virus interferes more with the immune system, which makes the body much vulnerable to infections and results in tumors and tuberculosis. Such symptoms which show up later are said to be Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Abnormal weight loss can be seen in this stage.

Causes of AIDS

The cause of AIDS is HIV infection. The virus copies its RNA into the host cell’s DNA, altering the genetics of the body. This ability of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) makes it a retrovirus. HIV targets and destroys the White Blood Cells (WBCs). The white blood cells are known as the immunity cells as they fight against any foreign bodies such as viruses, bacteria, fungus, or any other infections and diseases. As the WBCs weaken, the overall immune system gets disturbed and weak, resulting in the inability of the body to fight against any disease.

How Does the Virus Transmit?

HIV is mainly transmitted from unprotected sexual intercourse through genital, oral, or rectal parts. The body fluids released during sexual activity transmit the virus from one infected body to the healthy body. Other than that, it can also transmit through pre-natal and blood.

In the case of blood, using the same needles as used on HIV positive person on a healthy person can easily infect the person. Even, transfusion of blood of an HIV-infected person into the body of a healthy person transmits the virus.
In pre-natal transmission, the virus is transmitted through the mother to the baby during pregnancy, during delivery, or through breastfeeding.

Treatment

AIDS is a lifelong disease that neither has a cure nor vaccine. But it can be treated and prevented. People have the misconception that HIV can even spread with minimum touch or contact with the infected person, without any sexual contact necessarily. It is important to have protected sex to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. After all, prevention is better than cure.

It is advised to have safe sex and wear condoms by any of the partners, be it male or female. It not only prevents unplanned pregnancy but also safeguards against HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
It is better to get tested for HIV routinely and to have a restricted number of partners to have sex with.

Stigma Related to AIDS

Many people still have the misconception that AIDS is contagious and often maintain a distance from people with AIDS. There have been various instances where people with AIDS are not accepted socially. They are often not offered jobs or terminated from their jobs after finding their disease.

Many cultures and religions discourage the use of condoms as they believe it is a barrier to the natural process. Such ill practices contribute to the spread of such diseases.

Conclusion

HIV is not a contagious disease; however, it is life-threatening. Being bullied or secluded by people makes it much tougher for HIV patients to survive. They are already suffering, and discrimination against them makes them mentally suffer more than they are already suffering physically due to the underlying disease.

HIV-positive patients can lead healthy and normal life with proper treatment, love, and affection. It is important to create awareness among people regarding AIDS. Educating them about the fatality and the importance of getting tested on a regular basis for HIV is crucial.

Doctors’ Day: A Day for the Life Savers

Doctors are said to be next to God. They save the lives of people, risking their own many a times. This day is a tribute to all the doctors and healthcare workers.

Every year the Indian Medical Association (IMA) celebrates 1st July as National Doctors’ Day on the birth and death anniversary of Bengal’s former Chief Minister, Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, to commemorate his contributions in the medical field to serve humanity. He took birth on 1st July 1882 and died on the same day in 1991. The day was first recognized in the year 1991.

National Doctors’ Day is dedicated to the doctors who serve to save the lives of people sacrificing their own. It is to recognize the contributions, efforts, and sacrifices the doctors make for the community and mankind. This year’s theme for National Doctors’ Day is “Save The Saviours”.

Coronavirus is contagious and life-taking, yet doctors are making all efforts to save the lives of the infected. Many doctors lost their life battle to save others. Especially now, when the pandemic has taken a toll on the lives of people, doctors have constantly worked day and night without break to save the lives of the patient. Their consistent attempts have saved the lives of many.

The doctors have been working 24*7 in that Personal Protective Equipment or as we know it as PPE kits; fully covered all day long without any complaint of heat, without water or food for as long hours as 17-18 hours at least; without any complaint of hunger or thirst, just to save the lives of people suffering from the deadly coronavirus. The continuous wearing of masks scars their ears and cheeks. The doctors sacrifice a lot for patients.

The pandemic made us understand more about the importance and dedication of doctors and health workers in our lives. Many of the retired doctors and nurses got trained and returned to work to treat the patients of COVID-19. The doctors and nurses working for treating the COVID-19 patients are not able to meet their families, for preventing the spread of it. They stay away from their kids and family just so that the patients can return to their families healthy and safe. Many doctors themselves suffering from coronavirus sacrificed their lives by giving up on hospitals beds for other patients when there were crisis for beds in hospitals.

Honorable Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, even mentioned doctors’ day and emphasized the role and exceptional contribution of doctors to save the lives of people in this pandemic. He also said that the doctors’ love for medicine is their love for humanity and with this power of love the doctors are taking care of us. He even congratulated and appreciated the efforts of doctors through his tweet saying, “On Doctors’ Day, my greetings to all the doctors. India’s strides in the world of medicine are commendable and have contributed to making our planet healthier.”

Doctors’ Day is for us to make out some time and appreciate the efforts and contributions of doctors. Thank them for their sacrifices and selfless services.

PRADHAN MANTRI UJJWALA YOJANA

In India, around 10 crore households out of more than 24 crore households lack LPG connections and so use coal, firewood, cow dung cakes and other such fuels as primary fuels for cooking. The emission from these are extremely harmful for the human body. To save the women and children from the health risk the PMUY scheme was released.

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana was launched on 1st May 2016, by honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh. The scheme aims at providing safe cooking fuel- LPG. 5 crore LPG connections will be provided to the families belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) with a financial support which is an interest free loan for each connection, for the purchase of gas stove and refill to be provided in next 3 years. The government would bare a cost of 1600 per connection for the purchase of other support items for LPG connection such as a cylinder, regulator, safety hose, booklet, etc.

According to report of WHO, smoke generation from the burning of unclean fuel for cooking such as wood, coal, cow dung cakes, and other such unclean fuel is equally toxic to burning 400 cigarettes in an hour. Inhalation of such unclean fuel smoke affects the health adversely. WHO estimates 5 lakh deaths in India take place because of inhalation of such toxic smoke from household pollution causing several pulmonary, heart and lung diseases to the women and children.

The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana was formulated keeping in mind the health of the women and children and to keep them away from the toil of collection firewood from unsafe areas. This scheme also took to the empowerment of women, especially the women in rural areas, by providing LPG connections in the name of the women of the household. An amount of Rs 8000 crore was allocated for this scheme, for The BPL families identified on the basis of the Socio-Economic Caste Census Data.

The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana not only empowers the women of the rural areas and safeguard the health of women and children, but also provides business opportunity of at least Rs 10000 by providing employment to around 1 lakh people. It provided a boost in the ‘Make in India’ project as all the gas stoves, LPG cylinders, gas hose and regulators are manufactured domestically for the implementation and fulfilment of this scheme.

Impact

714 districts have been covered under this scheme an 7,19,06,812 PMUY connections have been released, as per the records of ‘pmuy.gov.in’, the official website of government of India for Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana. Against the target of 15 million for the first year of launch, 22 million connections were provided. 30 million connections were provided by 23rd October 2017. 44% of these connections were provided to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes families. In 2018 included 80 million poor households to provide them with LPG connections. An increase of 56% in 2019 was achieved as compared to 2014. This scheme provided the women for prevention against respiratory diseases because of unclean cooking fuel and also provided for the upliftment of social status of women by making it mandatory to take LPG connection on the name of the women of the family.

WHAT DOES THE THE COLOUR SAY

Our lives are full of colours. Every person has a favorite colour and colour preference for their things. It helps us identifying and recognizing various objects. Colours are not just for a pleasant visual experience. Each colour has its meaning. Every colour tells something about human behaviour.

It is exciting to know how human behaviour can be studied through various elements. One such element is colour. Colours can not only impact how food tastes but can also tell a lot about a person’s nature and behaviour. Ascertaining human behaviour through colour study is known as colour psychology.

Every colour has an emotion associated with it. People respond to different colours in different ways. Some colours like red and orange act as stimulants.

Impact of Colours

Colour influences the way people perceive and understand things. The colour even impacts the appetite. You must have noticed most of the restaurants or food outlets use red and yellow colours in their menus, logos, and table clothes because the colours like red and yellow stimulate hunger like Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, Domino’s, and more.

You must have also noticed the chocolate flavoured products feel more chocolaty if they are brown in colour than any other colour. If any food item is pale, white, or dull coloured, it is usually perceived as plain or spice-less food.

The colour for product packaging is chosen according to the need and personality of the product as well as customers. Like, the kinder joy chocolate makes its packaging containing toys for girls in pink, and in blue for packaging having toys for boys. This is because the colour pink is usually associated with femininity and blue with masculinity. Even the products that claim to be natural and organic have their packaging mostly in green, as green is the colour of plants and trees (natural).

The red colour is associated with danger and evokes alertness or fear, and hence, it is used for signboards that have any sort of warning written on it. The railway crossing has stop signs board in red. You must have noticed that the computer displays warning or error signs if any website or file poses any threat to the computer security, the warning sign that pops up is also usually red.

Some colours and meanings and emotions associated with it:

  • White signifies purity and peace. On the other hand, it also plain and tasteless when it comes to food.
  • Red is associated with danger and fear. But it is also said to be the colour of love and passion and that’s why mostly red coloured roses are given to someone you love.
  • The green colour soothes the mind and signifies eco-friendly nature, while it is also the colour of jealousy and envy.
  • Yellow radiates happy vibes and energy. On the flip side, it means cowardice and irresponsible.
  • On one hand, the blue colour stimulates calmness of mind, and on the other hand, it depicts the lack of emotions.

A single colour can have multiple meanings and emotions associated with it according to the thing it is related to.

Through colour mapping, human behaviour can also be studied. This also helps in identifying and psychological disorders.

LET’S TALK ABOUT PCOS

Any person may suffer from some sort of health issue. Especially, in today’s time where people are living a hectic, stressed, and unbalanced lifestyle. Hormonal disorders have also become common. Some issues cure with time, while some take a lifelong deal. In India, 1 in 5 women suffers from PCOS.

What is PCOS?

PCOS or polycystic ovarian syndrome is a hormonal disorder. The female body produces estrogen, progesterone, and androgen. These hormones are responsible for regulating ovulation. Though androgen is said to be the male hormone, it is also produced by the female body; just the amount is low comparatively. When the body produces higher amounts of androgen than the normal amount (because of increased insulin level), it results in PCOS.

The ovaries produce eggs each month, if the egg gets fertilized it gets itself embedded in the uterus, otherwise, the uterus lining (consisting of blood, tissues, and nutrients forming a cushioning for the embryo to grow) breaks and flow through the vagina. And this is called a period. But when the eggs are interfered with by the higher amounts of androgen, the eggs in place of maturing start to develop cysts. These eggs then instead of releasing, like in a normal period, start to build up cysts on the ovaries. This causes irregular ovulation each month and hence irregular or missed periods.

Problems of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

  • Usually, PCOS is only thought to be related to difficulty in conceiving. But it has other issues too which are often not talked about as fertility remains the prior concern as infertility is considered something that could create a problem for marriage. However, is it not necessary that female suffering from PCOS is infertile. And the issue of infertility (if there) is treatable (for most of the cases) through proper medication, exercise, and a healthy lifestyle.
  • As the male hormone ‘androgen’ level increases, it results in excessive body hair (as can be seen in males), called hirsutism. However, this symptom is not necessarily shown in every female suffering PCOS.
  • Male pattern hair loss or thinning of hair.
  • Acne outburst 
  • Obesity is another issue in PCOS. People tend to get obese with PCOS but it can be controlled through a healthy diet and lifestyle. However, this symptom is not necessarily shown in every female suffering PCOS.
  • As the insulin levels are increased there is a higher risk of developing diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), and even heart diseases.
  • Insomnia and sleep apnea (paused breathing for a short period while asleep).

Irregular periods are the most common sign of PCOS. It can be diagnosed by gynecologists through different check-ups like weight, hair growth, acne, darkened skin may even prescribe a pelvic ultrasound and blood tests.

Treatment

PCOS is not curable but treatable. Proper diet, exercise, and a healthy lifestyle can help in manage PCOS. Taking consistent medication as prescribed by the medical experts helps in regulating the menstrual cycle. The doctors often prescribe for birth control pills to control the hormone levels as they are rich in hormones. This regulates the menstrual cycle as well as controls excessive hair growth and acne. The treatment varies from 6 months to 1 year.

Food rich in omega 3 fatty acids, magnesium, zinc, vitamin D, vitamin B12 is important to manage PCOS. Leafy greens are best to be consumed as it provides the body with required nutrients without adding to obesity.

Exercise and yoga are as necessary as diet and medicines. The doctors often suggest practicing certain yoga asanas that help the womb heal.

Following a healthy routine with good food and proper sleep is important. Sleep plays a vital role in helping the body absorb the nutrients in food and medicines better.

It is strictly advised to consult a doctor if any of the above-mentioned symptoms show up.

And never take any medicines without consulting the doctor.

All About Bachelor of Journalism & Mass Communication

Mainstream courses are chosen by a majority of people. But if you want to do something creative and different from the usual courses, then a Bachelor of Journalism & Mass Communication (BJMC) is a great option.

It is an undergraduate program for the students who aspire to work in the media industry such as print (newspaper, magazines, books), radio, television, and films. This program is best for inquisitive students, have a good command of the language, have the interest and confidence to report the happenings around the world, and have a grip on writing. Students with an interest in editing software and technical knowledge can also opt for this program.

Bachelors of Journalism & Mass Communication is a degree program for 3 years, which is divided into 6 semesters.

Eligibility Criteria

The students willing to get admission in the BJMC course need a minimum qualification of 10+2 in any stream, with at least a 50% score (varies according to the college requirement).

Admission Process

The admission process varies in different colleges. Some take admissions based on merit lists and some have entrance exams for it. If the admission is based on a merit list, then the result of class 12th is into account. This is also known as direct admission. If the admission is based on the entrance exam, then it is conducted in stages or rounds. The first round includes a written exam, after which the qualified students need to qualify for the personal interview (PI) round and group discussion round. 

If any student has prior work experience or has worked on any project, then on that basis also some colleges select the students for admission.

Some of the common subjects consisted in BJMC course

  • Advertising
  • Film Theory & Practice
  • Media Laws & Ethics
  • Public Relations
  • Basics of Research
  • Basics of Photography
  • Writing for Media
  • Animation Theory & Practice

Career Options in Bachelors of Journalism & Mass Communication

BJMC is a vast field and has a variety of options to pursue your career. It has an opportunity in both government and private sectors. Students willing to get into jobs after completion of their bachelors can do so. Students willing to pursue their higher studies can complete their masters and have better job opportunities and salary packages as they have a much broad perspective in the field.

Students willing to work in the government sector, especially in civil services can give Civil Service Exam conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and become IIS Officers. IIS stands for Indian Information Services. The job of the IIS officer is o communicate the information on behalf of the government. 

List of Job Opportunities for Journalism & Mass Communication Students:

  • Journalist
  • Radio Jockey (RJ)
  • Columnist
  • Animator
  • Public Relations Officer
  • Photo Journalist
  • Video Editor
  • Copy Writer
  • News Analyst
  • Television Anchor
  • News Anchor
  • Film Maker
  • Illustrator
  • Advertisement Agency
  • Fashion Photographer
  • Wildlife Photographer

The list does not end here. The job opportunities are enormous.

Salary Package

A student can earn a handsome amount after the successful completion of his or her course. The salary varies according to job responsibility and the organization. For a fresher, the salary varies from between Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 4 lakhs. However, the amount tends to rise with time and experience.

International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

Drug abuse and the illegal trade of drugs have been a huge concern. No matter what steps have been taken, this illegal trade continues to take place undercovers around the world.

It is well known; how injurious drugs are for health. Overconsumption of drugs can cause serious illnesses like cancer, lung or heart disease, and increases the chances of having a stroke. Drug abuse can also affect the mental health of a person and result in mental disorders.

What is Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking of Drugs?

Drug abuse refers to the use of drugs and certain chemicals in amounts that are harmful to the body. Taking drugs in heavy amounts causes addiction, which often leads to illegal buying and consumption of drugs.

The illicit trafficking of drugs refers to the illegal trade of drugs. The question here arises, are there legal drugs? The answer is yes. There are drugs which legal like- nicotine, caffeine, alcohol, and other such drugs that are given on medical prescription. Such drugs bind upon the age, and regulations liking driving and location where it is being consumed.

Different nations have different drugs forbidden by law. Cocaine, marijuana, ecstasy are some of the drugs that are illegal at different places.

What is International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking?

The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is observed on June 26th every year since 1987, after the United Nations General Assembly decided to see this day to spread awareness about drug-related issues among people. This year’s theme, ‘Share Facts on Drugs, Save Lives’, aims at educating people about the effects of drug consumption, its treatment, and ways to combat misinformation about drugs.

People consume different drugs to create pleasure for themselves. Especially the youth consume it; mostly in peer pressure. Other reasons can also make people opt for drugs like any stress; be it personal or professional. When such drugs are consumed in heavy amounts its results are dangerous. It can even result in death due to the failure of organs. It can also cause hallucinations, reduce memory power, lowered attention, insomnia, and difficulty decision making.

Drug abuse for a long time can even cause depression and anxiety. People who are addicted, even overuse their medically prescribed drugs by buying them from different medical stores.

People commit crimes due to drug abuse as they lose control over themselves and their conscience. There have been cases where people have become ill-tempered and have murdered or attempted to murder people just because of some small argument. Their relationships with their families and friend have been destroyed. They have lost their jobs and are living chaotic life. They get aggressive and violent over time.

It is important to talk to people who abuse drugs and find out the reason for their condition; what made them fall into this trap, and not just push them away. if medical help is required, they can be sent to rehabilitation centers to make them addiction-free and help them live a normal life. things happen around us, but we often tend to ignore such things walk away; without bothering about it as it has nothing to do with us. As responsible people and for the sake of humanity we must try and help such people.  

Impact of E-Learning on Students

COVID-19 has challenged the physical health as well as the mental health of people. The children and the elderly are the ones most affected. The pandemic has brought a lot of changes in the lives of almost every individual. From working on your desk to working from the comfort of your, everything has flipped. Everybody’s life has been impacted by the sudden arrival of the pandemic. Working from home, which was initially feeling comfortable has now become bored and irritating. Even the students have lost interest in their online classes.

Earlier children had the access to playgrounds to play with their friends, which has now been limited to the boundaries of their homes because of the coronavirus, due to which the screen time of children has increased. Playing outdoors kept them physically fit and mentally healthy.
The children are becoming irritated and moody being inside their home for such a long time. To keep up their mood, the children have to resort to mobiles and laptops; to play games, watch videos and shows. This has increased their screen time, which has further led to other issues.

Constantly using gadgets and glaring on the screen affects eyesight. Which can lead to blurry vision, and in severe cases can even lead to partial or complete blindness. The screen radiates blue light, which also hampers sleep.

Schools, universities, and colleges are places where the students not just study, but also interact with their peers and dwell together. They don’t just grow here intellectually but also culturally and morally through various activities taking place; contributing to their holistic development.

Be it, school-going children or college students, all have to be on their phones and laptops for their online classes because of the inability to resume on-campus learning due to COVID-19. Initially, online classes seemed interesting as it was a change in the conventional education process. But lately, students have become bored and have lost interest in their studies, as it has become a monotony now.

Students’ sleep cycle has been impacted a lot. The overuse of phones has impacted their quality of sleep and resulted in either too little sleep or too much sleep. The students from the underprivileged areas are unable to attend their classes properly due to bad network quality. This is stressing them out and taking a great toll on their mental health.

Students are overly stressed about whether they would be able to graduate on time or not as many institutions postponed their exams. This is a concern for the timely completion of their degrees, which decides their further step; be it getting into a university for their higher studies or getting into a job.

Stress and anxiety have become a problem in students, which is a reason for their distraction and reduced concentration level. Online classes are also causing social isolation, which is also triggering stress in the students. Lack of communication is causing them distress. Procrastination has become another issue among the students, which is resulting in lower grades.

The students are facing various issues. However, the educator’s and parent’s support can lower the negative impact due to the pandemic through proper communication and guidance.