Author: News Updates

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How to manage personal loans and financial during these tough times

The world is suffering from two aspects COVID-19 and financial crisis, the COVID-19 impacting communities,  businesses, the current economic situation of the country is  GDP rank is at 5 th (nominal; 2019) 3 rd (PPP;2020)

Family finances during tough times this places a significant burden on family finances, even for parents who have been working.

If money is affecting your family, use these tips to manage your finances during these tough times

Create a budget to add the cash to your family monthly income, then use the value to create a new budget for the family

Invest the money because the best way to grow your money is by learning how to invest

It’s as simple as reading and you can achieve 

Interest from savings

Cash flow from business or real estate

Appreciation of value from a stock portfolio, real estate, or other assets

Thanks to advance technology, you can invest from your home with a small amount, with no fees on accounts, learn the basics, and make good investment decisions

Investing allows you to grow your money over time thanks to the power of returns

You can buy stocks and bonds, at least mutual funds or exchange-traded funds

We can’t control the overall condition of public health during a pandemic but we can control the growth of money to help the medical expenditure 

Obesity and social life.

“People who lie to themselves about investing are the same as overweight people who blame their genes for their obesity.”

A change in the lifestyle of youngsters had not only to change their working habits but also brought a huge change in eating habits resulting in conditions like overweight and obesity. Engaging ourselves in works related to inactivity had worsened the situation.

Eating junk and spicy food instead of a regular balanced diet had contributed in disturbing our BMI index. It is a medical problem that increases your risk of other diseases and health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and certain cancers.

However, the terms overweight and obese differs from each other for adults, WHO define overweight and obesity as-

  • overweight is a BMI greater than or equal to 25; and
  • obesity is a BMI greater than or equal to 30.

Body mass index (BMI) is a simple index of weight-for-height that is commonly used to classify overweight, underweight, normal, and obesity in adults. It is defined as a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of his height in meters.

According to the studies of WHO, In 2016, more than 1.9 billion adults aged 18 years and older were overweight. Of these over 650 million adults were obese. The worldwide prevalence of obesity nearly tripled between 1975 and 2016.

Causes of obesity?

Intake of excess sugar and carbonated drinks, eating fried and unhealthy products, and eating after being full.

Smoking and drinking frequently.

Genetic and medications.

Lack of exercise and sleep.

Social issues.

How it affects one’s social life?

Obesity not only affects a person physically but also mentally. We live in a world where social media had become a crucial part of our lives. We tend to believe in ideal body shape and size and get more prone to body shame ourselves. Obese people are more inclined to get bullied and teased they are seen as a liability on the economy as obesirty contribute towards laziness and lack of interest. This leads to distress and anxiety situations making a person more disposed towards depression. They may also face social isolation making them feel lonely and losing their confidence. Guilt, lower work achievement, and sex problems are some of the major factors affecting the quality of life.

In undeveloped countries the ability to afford food, high energy expenditure with physical labor, and cultural values favored a larger body size are believed to contribute to the observed patterns.

How to prevent obesity?

Exercise on a daily bases maybe it is yoga or cardio. Stay consistent with what you do.

Try to eat a healthy diet enriched with proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Take salad and fruits on a regular bases. Eat-in small intervals.

Quit smoking

Everything takes time but the important thing is to never stop believing in youself and never stop trying

You are special and have a purpose, so take steps to fulfill it. It is never too late to start.

Coronavirus and Social Responsibilities

Coronavirus pandemic is not ending anytime soon. Cases are rising everywhere, with the USA being on top. With many people suffering and being cautious, many other people are ignorant, misinformed, and hostile. Community spread of the virus is increasing in the USA and India. Medical staff, scientists, and police are giving their best to control the spread of coronavirus. It is also the duty of all the citizens to help in controlling the spread of coronavirus. All the capable citizens should come forward in this devastating pandemic situation and lend a helping hand in contributing to treatment, vaccine preparation, manufacture, and distribution. Governments should plan and execute smart measures for the same, but only a handful of countries, including New Zealand, are seen coping effectively with the community spread of coronavirus. Let’s look at the latest coronavirus scenarios around the world, keeping in view the social responsibility, awareness, and control measures.

Schools to reopen in the USA

The USA has the highest number of coronavirus cases and the rate of spread is increasing day by day with 55,196 fresh cases on August 8. A high school in Indiana had to shift to online learning just two days after reopening. Students in Mississippi had to quarantine after classmates tested positive for coronavirus within the first week of reopening. Teachers and parents protesting, scientists forecasting and young kids being at high risk of infections, reopening schools in the USA is under discussion. What did the US president say on August 4?

Anti -mask protests in Japan and USA

  • Approximately 150 demonstrators gathered held an anti-mask rally in Salt Lake City on August 5, carrying posters that read “Don’t smother the children” and “Let kids be kids. No masks!”
  • A grilled-cheese shop owner in Windermere, Florida, announced that she wouldn’t require face masks inside her restaurant and promised “100 free meals for patrons who come with no masks.” Many anti-mask protesters gathered outside her shop in her support.
  • Today, in Shibuya, Japan, a cluster festival, which deliberately spreads coronavirus without wearing masks, held a cluster demo and roamed around the Yamanote Line. The organizer of the demo calls himself “cluster jack” and seems to have a bad throat.
coronavirus, anti-mask, Wisconsin, USA
Anti-mask rally in Wisconsin.
Source: Channel3000.

Look at the Cluster demo.

Bill Gates and Serum Institute of India

Bill gates tie-up with the Serum Institute of India in the speedy manufacture and distribution of the coronavirus vaccine. Serum Institute is one of the vaccine developers in the world. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will provide at-risk funding of USD 150 million to Gavi, the vaccine alliance, via its Strategic Investment Fund, which is to get used by the Serum Institute to manufacture the coronavirus vaccine. The vaccine is likely to be available to at least 92 countries.

New Zealand: 100 days without community spread

New Zealand gets praised internationally for its handling of the coronavirus pandemic. The government has lifted almost all of its lockdown restrictions, first imposed in March. The last case of community transmission in New Zealand got reported on May 1, days after the government started lifting its lockdown. August 9 is the fourth day in a row that no fresh coronavirus cases got reported and the total number of active cases in the country is 23, all in managed isolation. The country of 5 million people sought control measures like immediate lockdown, tough border restrictions, effective communication and high testing and link tracking program.

Russia to launch the first coronavirus vaccine next week

Russia is all set to register the first coronavirus vaccine on August 12. Currently, the vaccine is at the third stage of testing and will get tested on 1600 people after registration to ensure its effectiveness and safety. The vaccine trials began on June 17 among 76 volunteers. The fast-track testing of the vaccine by Russia is worrying the scientists, activists and lawmakers and is being questioned. We hope that the vaccine is being tested rightfully and does not have any side-effects.

Reasons for gender pay gap to exist and ways to overcome it :

Reasons for gender pay gap to exist :
According to a research, there are four reasons for gender pay gap to exist. First is, companies hire more men in senior management roles compared to women. Secondly, part-time roles and caring responsibilities are shared unequally in the society. Thirdly, women prefer working in low-paid sectors and roles and lastly, women are paid less when compared to men in the same roles.
Claudia Goldin and Henry Lee, Harvard University states that “When you look at the gap, it widens at the upper end. In fact, we see the largest differences at the very upper end, not at the lower end”. It might not seem like a big difference when a person who is supposed to earn 14 dollars per hour earns 10 dollars but it will make quite a big difference when a person who is supposed to make 300,000 dollars makes only 150,000 dollars. Companies are more comfortable and satisfied with hiring more men in senior management roles compared to women. A research found that it was likely for employers to hire men more than women in senior roles not because of prejudice but because they stereotype and rely on their perception that men are better performers at certain tasks. It was also stated that this can be divided as two faces of discrimination which is statistical discrimination which is because of beliefs about gender differences in skills, experience and abilities and taste discrimination which is a result of stereotypes or bias against certain group. Women find it very difficult to make it to the senior roles of their company and advance in their field. When compared to men women earn about 78 cents on the dollar. It is estimated that only 4.2% of women make it up-to being CEOs and only 19.2% of board members. A study suggests that women not being able to reach the top is because of the “broken rung”. It was found that for every 100 men promoted as manager only 72 women which accounts to men holding 62% of manager level roles whereas women hold only 38%. Therefore, this broken rung is an obstacle for the women even at the entry level. Also, this entry level inequality allows men to outnumber women in such roles and the number of women at the senior level roles decreases.
Part time roles and caring responsibilities are shared unequally in the society. Women are more in the “nurturing” roles than the men, which makes them look more concerned and commited to their home and family and not their jobs.Gender inequalities in part time and in caring works also lead to a gap in pay. A cross-country analysis also found that in countries where women who spend more time on unpaid care, it was likely to have a larger gap in pay. And in part time jobs women earn only 65% of what men earn when they spend twice as much time in caring activities and only 40% when it was full time jobs. Women devote almost 60% of their time to household and caring activities, irrespective of whether they are employed, educated or earning.
Another reason for this gap to exist is also because women prefer working on low wage sector and roles and employment of women in such roles are increasing day by day. An estimate of 7.6 million jobs were taken up by women in this low wage and female dominated sectors between the years 1994 and 2014 which almost a third of all new jobs in that period. The US Bureau of Labor statistics stated that the businesses which cater to provide care for the old and disabled, because the business increased almost four times between the years 1994 and 2014 . This shows that women prefer to work in low paid sectors and roles. The “women’s work” which involves cooking, cleaning,caring is always looked down and considered as something that does not require acknowledgement and this assumption has followed also to the marketplace. Though these jobs require energy, stamina , physical and mental strength, these jobs are never valued and women who play the most part in these jobs are often undercompensated . Therefore , it is not that the women who prefer low paid jobs but it is that these low paid jobs are undervalued. Also women are paid less compared to the men doing the same roles. Pay is decided based on gender and not on competence.

Ways to overcome the gender pay gap :
Continuous pressure on gender pay gap situation has resulted in formulating certain strategies to overcome it. Some of these include designing senior work roles for all employees, irrespective of gender bias; developing quality flexible jobs that allow men and women to balance caring responsibility with their ambition; opening up all industries to flexible working arrangement and part-time jobs and lastly paying same remuneration to women and men for the same roles. With these strategies and others gender pay gap in the world can be reduced. There should be a balance and equality in maternity and paternity leave like in the case of Sweden where there is an availability for paternal leave on the basis of ‘use it or lose it’ which will develop a sense of sharing the caring responsibilities. A family friendly working condition must be created so that it will help the man and woman of the house to balance work and family. This will also help them choose working hours accordingly and accommodate their caring responsibilities. Unpaid work must be recognized as the national policy level so that a change in the organizational structure can be established .Minimum wage should be raised since this minimum wage is decreasing from the 1960s which is leading these wage ages to live in poverty. “The unwillingness to raise the minimum wage is really hurting women, because they are disproportionately represented at that level” says Isabel V Sawhill, a senior fellow of Economic studies. Raising this minimum wage will serve as a step to improve low wage jobs which are majorly female dominated jobs. This will not only reduce the level of poverty but also bridge the pay gap. “States with Equal Minimum Wages for Tipped Workers Have Smaller Wage Gaps for Women Overall and Lower Poverty Rates for Tipped Workers”. Equal pay laws need to be strengthened so that potential pay discrimination can be tackled and there can be transparency of pay between Co workers. There are a lot of steps organisations can do to ensure gender wage parity which includes checking wage parity right from the time a person is employed. Market analysis must also be conducted to have a check on wage parity. The company should also look for unconscious biases when there is assessment.The most important obstacle to wage equality, however, lies in our attitudes. When women value themselves enough to fight for their due, and when society values all human beings equally, the gender wage gap will cease to be an issue.Claudia Goldin and Henry Lee from the Harvard University say that it is important to divide labour at home. Change must begin at home and the couple should decide and balance their home and career as to who is on call at home and who is the office. Paying same remuneration to women and men for the same roles can also serve as an effective strategy as this will also help the women not to feel less about themselves and to feel a contentment in what they are doing.

Modelling has no age bar

Recently Chang Won and his wife Hasu Shoso were visible all over the internet for their quirky style. Chang, 83 and Hasu,84 are a Taiwanese couple who own a laundry shop in Taichung, a small city in Taiwan. Over the years many of the customers forgot or due to some other reasons were unable to collect back their clothes. The couple did not felt like throwing away those left over clothes. So so that 31 year old grandson Reef Chang suggested that they should model in those clothes to avoid getting bored. They did so and soon became influencers on social media sites. They have almost 600,000 followers on Instagram. This gave them lot of attention and people loved their style for the fact that the used old clothes to wear them in a fun and cool manner. They made the term cool which is generally related to the youth accessible to old people as well. They have made a point that even old people can model as well as the youth and complete them. Cheers to the couple.

Immune to COVID-19!!!

Retrieved from the-scientist.com

There was an article in Deccan Herald regarding a paper. which appeared in National Reviews Immunology back to the fact human immune system might be able to fight COVID-19 as SARS-COV-2 had already come into existence earlier. As a result of which many people had grown an immunity towards it due to T cells which are loafers who might be surviving in human’s bloodstream owing to commotion with other relative coronaviruses, which cause common cold in us.

Though this study is not clearly backed but researchers are getting strong indications regarding this. Dr. David L. Katz, founding director of Yale University’s Yale Griffin Research Center remarked it as one of the excellent news while giving an interview to CNN. He stated, “We have had indications for this from a long time that many people may not be prone to get this….”

My Views

Now when he have heard such an outstanding news, we can give our minds some relaxation that maybe in nearest future we might get vaccine of the disease which has caused such devastating damage to human population which has killed 727 thousand people worldwide taking 19.7 millions in its grasp; though we can proudly say with our cumulative effort 11.9 millions have recovered from it. It has ruptured us from inside out stealing our hope but we are survivors, we know how not to succumb to such fights. We are ready to fight, survive and thrive again.

MENTAL HEALTH

“Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not; and often times we call a man cold when he is only sad.”
― Henry Wads worth Longfellow

We are living in a world where physical fitness had become more important without caring for one’s mental health.

In the race of achieving everything, we have forgotten to look after our well being and to feed our brain with good thoughts. Being mentally stable is what is required to have a peace of mind and it contributes towards satisfaction of oneself.

The COVID-19 had too negatively affected the lives of many people and created new barriers. Many people are suffering from many mental issues during this pandemic period.

There lies a difference in being sad and being depressed;

Sadness is for a particular instance that happened due to some ill happening or due to mood changes but depression is a long term phenomenon, overthinking and negative perspective towards everything could be the major causes. Depression could often lead to suicidal thoughts which could grow intense during the time. Depression can cause tiredness and deprival in day to day task performed.

Here are some steps that we all can follow to feel better and lively every passing day :

  1. Take time out for yourself no matter how small, talk to yourself about the happenings of the day.
  2. Get up early in the morning and practice some yoga and meditation  to make your mind still and calm.
  3. Do not disturb your sleeping cycle and try to drink hot milk before sleeping.
  4. Think of one good thing that happened in the day and show some interest in nature.
  5. Talk to people around you maybe they are friends,family or relatives just share what you feel inside.
  6. Eat healthy try to have a balanced diet.
  7. Avoid much use of social media platforms which make you feel toxic from inside.
  8. Spend time with your family maybe watching a movie together or just by sitting together having lunch.
  9. Try to ignore unnecessary things which make you feel sad.
  10. Watch motivational videos and movies to help you keep going.

It is alright to speak about your emotions to anyone. No one in this world is completely free from stress and anxiety. Everyone have certain issues of their own. It is better to think that you are not the only person surviving everyone does it help you to have a positive outlook towards life,

If still, you face problems do not hesitate to visit a doctor and have a regular checkup.

Always remember the most important person is you take care of yourself in every way possible . life is just a game and you are fighting for survival. losing is easy but winning takes real courage.

“Do not brood over your past mistakes and failures as this will only fill your mind with grief, regret and depression. Do not repeat them in the future to keep growing.” – Swami Sivananda

Growing concern for AI as unemployment surges

“Artificial Intelligence is the new electricity” a quote by Andrew Ng — former Baidu Chief Scientist and co-founder of Coursera gives a beautiful insight about what AI is and how it will impact our lives.

I would like to start by dissecting the topic of discussion. The first part is to establish what AI and unemployment really are and second being how closely co-related they are. A quick google search defines Artificial Intelligence as intelligence demonstrated by machines and a plethora of other similar meanings where machines seem to take intelligent decisions. On the other hand, unemployment is not that easy to define. However, the definition given by NSSO can be used for reference here i.e Unemployment occurs when a person who is actively searching for employment is unable to find work.

Now If we compare the data from birth of AI as a field in 1956 to today one can easily infer that the periods where the field of artificial intelligence has sky rocketed, the unemployment rate more or less hasn’t followed the same suit. An argument can be made during the current times but the numbers for the current period also tell the same story.

I would like to bring attention to how AI instead helps to create jobs. The World Economic Forum in 2020 forecasted a strong increase in AI jobs globally over the next 2 years, with new jobs per 10,000 opportunities increasing from 78 today to 123 in 2022.

And fortunately, one of the major sectors to benefit from this is Finance & Auditing. AI has enabled large pieces of the audit process to be automated, but it hasn’t reduced the number of people involved in the audit process. Professionals now can find patterns in the data they would otherwise not see and create better forecasting models. Other Industries adopting AI have seen reduced wastages and savings in time which ultimately making the economy more productive.

Another Argument can be drawn from the past. Jobs which could never be predicted are existing today because of technology. For Eg. Air Hostesses/Pilots, entire Airports and other jobs attached to Aviation industry were non-existent before we made Aeroplanes themselves.

So, what are some of the possible jobs that can be created by the AI revolution?

Jobs directly related like safety and maintenance engineers, machine designers, and ethics re-searchers are some examples. Specialized skills such as data analysis will be needed too.

Jobs indirectly related to AI will also expand, such as educational content related to such fields. Experts will also be in demand as all this needs knowledge and specialization.

And Finally, Humans will be able to focus on doing more rewarding work such as scientific discovery, problem solving, and innovative design. The decline of monotonous jobs will also allow for creative jobs to expand as people have more time to pursue less technical interests.”

Look We might think AI and computer advancements as something really scary but to be honest even with such leaps every year computers are nowhere close to having true intelligence as we possess. All this is because humans have something special, the ability to use knowledge.

Even the most advanced AI systems like IBM’s Watson has more knowledge than most humans, yet all its power is only ultimately used to help humans in decision making. Jobs in the field of Human Resource Management, Software Development, Public Relations and other creative fields cannot be automated. Ever

And lastly to conclude, Electricity might have replaced jobs in candle factories but I don’t think it has added to unemployment woes since.

Covid-19

The vaccine race for covid-19 is going hotter in this days,as per latest reports Russia is planning to launch its vaccine on 12 th August 2020,it’s going to available in the market from October

Oxford university vaccine has already began its phase 2 and 3 in India with serum institute,this vaccine is planning to launch in October

According to sources,the vaccine will be available from October,and will reach to every citizen by 2021,around 150 countries are in the vaccine race

What makes an employee to be motivated and satisfied with his job

There are definite links between how motivated you are at your workplace and your level of job satisfaction. Owners of small businesses should endeavor to increase job satisfaction so employee motivation will also improve, resulting in better job performance and increased efficiency. Concentrate on creating enthusiasm, optimism, contentment and feelings of teamwork to help your company flourish.

Feelings of worth

It is important to an employee’s mental outlook to believe she is valuable to your company. Encourage feelings of worth in your workers as a means of increasing motivation and job satisfaction. Praise your employees for exceptional performance, thank them for extra efforts, congratulate them on their talents and reward them with gift cards and other expressions of gratitude. Also, give them challenges such as leading a work team, designing a project or mastering the new office equipment and software, which can help increase feelings of worth when the challenges are successfully met.

Commitment

Employee commitment is enhanced when an employee feels motivated and satisfied at his job. The link between motivation and satisfaction is, therefore, illustrated by the commitment a worker shows toward his company. Therefore, motivation plus job satisfaction equals commitment.

“Happiness is affected by (employee’s) sense of control over their lives.”

Employers should also encourage employees to customize their workstations. This could include décor and/or equipment. This not only gives employees control over their work environments, but it can ease personal barriers such as back pain or eyestrain. In addition, studies show that certain colors or décor can improve happiness. Employees will be able to create a place they enjoy working in rather than being stuck in a bland office cubicle.

Another way to give employees a sense of control is to create employee-driven competitions such as sales competitions. These activities put employees in control of their success. Each employee can set personal goals, and they will feel a sense of accomplishment rather than obligation.

If you want to know how to motivate your employees and get positive employee engagement, you have to make them feel passionate to go to work every day and wanting to spend time with you and their colleagues.

There are some fantastic ways which can you use to motivate your employees :

Create a friendly work environment: Your employees spend a large amount of time of their lives working in the office. So try to make the office look as friendly and appealing as possible. When you create a pleasant atmosphere where it is welcoming and comfortable, your employees will be more than eager to go to work every day.

Acknowledge employees’ achievement: Everyone wants to be recognised for something they have done; regardless if it was for a work or personal achievement. The acknowledgement of a job well done coming from upper management will mean more to an employee than you think. Always remember to give credit when credit is due. takes more than just a pat on the back. Try giving simple incentives when rewarding engaged employees.

” For good ideas and true innovation, you need human interaction, conflict, argument , debate .”

It does not have to be monetary rewards all the time; simple things like a week of having a personal parking spot at the office would be sufficient. Rewarding employees could also be a part of the company benefits.

Positive communication is the key: Everyone communicates at work and it is probably the easiest thing you can do with your employee. Yet it can also be the most difficult. Spend a short period of time each day to have a word with your employees; discussing things from concerns to ideas. This will not only make your employee happy , it will also provide you with much-needed insight on your business from your employees.

Encourage friendly competition :

A little competition among the employees would not hurt. A competitive environment is a productive environment. Encourage employees to participate in competitions or challenges as it is healthy and may actually lead to increased camaraderie. Friendly competition amongst teams helps with employee engagement and employee participation.

Encourage creativity: Creativity does not have to be based on the work that the employees are doing. It could be simple task like giving ideas on the next company retreat or team building exercises.

“An employee’s motivation is direct result of the some of interactions with his or her manager.”

Encourage team work: Try to remove any bureaucracy and hierarchy within the company and create an ‘openness’ to new ideas at any level and working together as a team keeps employees motivated.

Welcome all ideas: Everyone is unique and unpredictable and each with individual desires and some with complicated ideas. Remember not to shunt away ideas or suggestions no matter how silly or meaningless they may sound.

Have a meaningful and worthwhile goal: Managers should ensure that the company has a vision and plan at a corporate and individual level. Employees who have a path set before them that may lead to promotion can work towards a goal. Achievable goals are very helpful as it gives employees the drive to work harder without being asked.

Be a leader worth following: As a leader, employees are going to look to you to set an example for the rest of the group. Leaders tend to be setting a tone and values for the company. By doing so, it could have a meaningful effect on the mentality of the employees. If leaders set an example of positive thinking, employees will follow and the entire work culture will become more motivating.

Thede are the ways which make an employee to be motivated and satisfied with their job at workplace. And gives a good result or outcome to the organisation. And it make effective employee and more productivity.

Every company is different; some of these ideas may work for your company, while other methods are not the right ones. Perfect your motivation strategy as you get to know the individuals in your company and they will reward you with greater dedication and a positive perspective for the company’s future. Do not forget that an employee who enjoys coming to work is a worthy investment. Try boosting your team happiness as well .

India’s Healthcare Condition

Long before the virus invasion into India, the nation already suffered from a devastatingly poor healthcare system. With more corrupt systems in Public (government owned) hospitals where only miserable think of going while the middle or upper  middle and upper classes always seek for the genuine treatments at heavily priced private hospitals. Middle class economic sectors do end up with long term bank loans.

We’ve seen many cases in the past where private hospitals literally looted patient’s families, in some cases the patient was already dead while reaching the hospital and yet doctor’s kept the dead bodies for treatment and kept fooling the family by saying “we are doing the treatment and trying our best to save the patient”. All this was done just to add up bills for the families and friends of patient.

There’s a saying about doctors worldwide that they are a form of god who saves lives but this thought is questioned when some doctors commit the hideous sins ever known to humanity. This is happening even during the treatments of covid-19 specifically in India where many citizens are falsely reported covid positive and are admitted to expensive private medical institutes who charge hefty charges (8-12 Lakhs INR) from somebody who’s already negative from the virus contagion.

In many other cases where healthy citizens wrongly reported are admitted to hospitals and later their vital body parts viz. heart, kidneys, eyes, liver etc were removed for organ trade benefits. So how these doctors were able to do this and how still many are doing this right under the nose of government administrations. The answer comes to complete absence of investigation of each dead body, these doctors know it for sure that an alleged positive patient when claimed dead would be directly sealed into a body bag by the hospital workers. No policemen and neither family nor friends are allowed to have a sneak peek at the dead body. The dead body in a body bag is directly sent for cremation. This gives an upper hand for corruption and illegal organ trade.

Some 2.4 million Indians die of treatable conditions every year, the worst situation among 136 nations studied for a report published in The Lancet. Poor care quality leads to more deaths than insufficient access to healthcare–1.6 million Indians died due to poor quality of care in 2016, nearly twice as many as due to non-utilisation of healthcare services (838,000 persons).

“For too long, the global health discourse has been focused on improving access to care, without sufficient emphasis on high quality care,” Muhammad Pate, co-chair of the commission that produced the report, who is also chief executive of Big Win Philanthropy and former minister of state for health in Nigeria, said in a statement. “Providing health services without guaranteeing a minimum level of quality is ineffective, wasteful and unethical,” he said.

As the Indian government readies to roll out its ambitious national health protection scheme, the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, by the end of September 2018, the study’s findings are crucial.

“We need to better measure the quality of our health system as a composite entity rather than be merely content with certifying hospitals and laboratories,” said Srinath Reddy, president of the Public Health Foundation of India, a Delhi-based think tank, about the lack of mechanisms for monitoring quality in India. “Some elements of quality, mainly in maternal and child health, are being monitored under NRHM [National Rural Health Mission]. However, composite measures of the health system overall are unavailable,” he said.

Public accountability and transparency on health system performance are two ways to improve the quality of healthcare, the commission recommends.

Commonly used health metrics such as the availability of medicines, equipment and skilled attendants do not reflect quality of care and even “lead to false complacency about progress”, it says, proposing a dashboard of metrics that should be implemented by countries by 2021 to enable transparent measurement and reporting of quality care.

Manish Sisodia on National Education Policy 2020

Recently an interview of Mr. Manish Sisodia, the Education Minister and Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi was published in Hindi newspaper Hindustan. He talked about the New Education Policy 2020 and what he thinks about it. I will state some of the important things he said.

He is somewhat happy with the new policy. But at the same time. He states that an education policy does not mean that all all all good things about education are to be written and kept. It means that the policy should state how to implement it. According to him a new policy has few floors which leads to confusion as to how how it will be implemented. He says that in the New Education Policy government schools are omitted and private schools are given much priority. He also emphasizes on the fact that a law should be made which specified the minimum to be spent in the education sector. He feels government schools will benefit if such a thing happens. Government schools will then be able to give quality education at par with private schools.

He appreciates the concept of foundation learning and equal education for all. But questions how is that possible if Anganwadi workers are asked to teach in government schools. Because the teachers in private schools are well educated and trained to teach. This will mean difference in standards of education provided.

Emphasizes on the fact that the board exams should be cancelled. in the new policy the students have an option to give boards twice but after that they also have to give a NTA test. he feels that if the students have to finally given the NTA then what is the need for boards. He also talks about the three language formula which states that a student will learn three languages in school two of which will be native Indian languages. appreciate the fact that in the foundation years the students will get to study their mother tongue. He says that if students learn to study in the native languages then the learn in capability will increase.

SEPARATION OF POWERS

INTRODUCTION

As said by Aristotle, “All constitutions have three elements, concerning which the good lawgiver has to regard what is expedient for each constitution. When they are well-ordered, the constitution is well-ordered, and as they differ from one another, constitutions differ. There is one element which deliberates about public affairs; secondly that concerned with the magistrates- the question being, what they should be, over what they should exercise authority, and what should be the mode of electing to them; and thirdly that which has judicial power.”[1]

Separation of power basically means distribution of the powers and authority as well as responsibilities and duties amongst the three pillars of our nation that is, the executive, the legislature and the judiciary. It deals with the function of each organ of the state and its inference on other organ. India is a quasi-federal country.

MEANING

The French thinker Montesquieu stated, early in eighteenth century, that moving power in the hands of only one organ or group of the government is tyrannical. In order to address this problem, he felt that the solution would be to place power in three separate three arms of government, namely the legislature, the executive and the judiciary. This would make it possible for each body to be autonomous of the other in such a way that there can be no encroachment or overlapping of powers and that there could be harmony that would help the smooth functioning of the government.

These words state the Doctrine of Separation of Powers as given by Montesquieu, “There would be an end of everything, were the same man or same body, whether of the nobles or of the people, to exercise those three powers, that of enacting laws, that of executing laws, that of executing public resolutions, and of trying the causes of individuals.”

Understanding that the function of a government is to safeguard individual rights but recognizing that governments have traditionally been the principal violators of such rights, a number of measures to reduce that likelihood have been developed. One such measure is of the separation of powers.

The premise behind Separation of Powers is that if a single person or community has a considerable amount of control, they can become harmful to the general public. Separation of powers is a way to minimize the momentum of power in the hands of any group, making abuse and arbitrariness more difficult to be brought into practice. It is generally accepted that there is a tripartite structure of government authority and power:

(i) Legislature (ii) executive (iii) judiciary.

As per the theory of the separation of powers these three powers and functions of the government must always be kept separate in a free democracy, exercised by separate Government organs.

DOCTRINE OF SEPARATION OF POWERS

As explained by Wade and Philips, The Doctrine of Separation of Powers indicates 3 features to showcase the Powers of Government:

I. The same person should not form part of more than one of the three organs (i.e. Executive, Legislature and Judiciary) of the Government. For example, ministers should not sit in Parliament.

II. One organ of the Government should not control or interfere with any other organ of the Government in carrying out its functions. For example, judiciary should not be independent of executive.

III. One organ of the Government should not exercise the functions dispensed to any other organ. For example, ministers cannot be the part of law making body.

Separation of powers means delegation of powers for certain specified functions of the government. All the powers of the government have been conceived as falling within one or another of given three modules-

(1) The enactment of creation of laws

(2) The interpretation of the laws made

(3) The enforcement of those laws

Namely, legislative, judicial and executive. Government has been reckoned to be made up of tripartite structure having for their functions and such classification is known as classical division.

IMPORTANCE

As it is a very generally accepted fact that whenever a huge amount of power is given in the hand of any administering authority there are higher probabilities of corruption, maladministration and misuse of power. This doctrine aids in preventing the abuse of power.  This doctrine shields the individual from the arbitrary rule. The government is the violator and also safeguards individual liberty.

Basically, the importance can be summarized in the following points:

  • Terminating the authoritarianism, it safeguards the liberty of an individual.
  • It not only protects the liberty of the individual but also preserves the efficiency of the administration.
  • Focus on the requirement of independence of the judiciary
  • Prevent the legislature from enacting an arbitrary rule.

THE TRIPARTITE STRUCTURE

Model is divided into three branches of state. All have separate powers and responsibilities but are inter dependent on each other. Let’s know about these branches in brief.

Legislature:

It is the law making body of the country.

It is the basis for the functioning of the other two organs, the executive and the judiciary.

It is also sometimes accorded the first place among the three organs because until and unless laws are enacted, there can be no implementation and application of laws.

Executive:

The executive is the organ that implements the laws enacted by the legislature and enforces the will of the state.

It is the administrative head of the government.

Ministers including the Prime/Chief Ministers and President/Governors form part of the executive.

Judiciary:

The judiciary is that branch of the government that interprets law, settles disputes and administers justice to all citizens.

The judiciary is considered the watchdog of democracy, and also the guardian of the Constitution.

It comprises of the Supreme Court, the High Courts, District and other subordinate courts.

INDIAN CONSTITUTION AND SEPARATION OF POWERS

The doctrine of separation of powers is not accorded a constitutional status. Apart from the Directive principles laid down in Article 50 which enjoins separation of judiciary from the executive, the constitutional scheme does not embody any formalistic and dogmatic division of powers. In India we have parliamentary form of government where executive is very important part of legislature. We don’t follow this doctrine with rigidity but then the essential functions have been sufficiently differentiated and it is an assumption that one organ of the state will not perform the functions of another organ of the state. Every organ of the state has to perform the essential functions, i.e. the legislature must legislate, the executive must execute and the judiciary must adjudicate.

CONCLUSION

There is no clear difference between executive and legislative forms of government: the legislation that is enacted must always be enforced and executed, and a great deal of executive intervention involves new legislation. Although, judiciary is an independent body.

As such, division can be said to be an artificial division. This is borne out by the fact that there is presently no constitutional system with a comprehensive separation of powers where there is a distribution of the three functions between three independent bodies without overlapping or cross-coordination.

[1]Aristotle- Politics- BOOK 4- Part XIV

AYURVEDA :THE ANCIENT INDIAN ART

In olden days man lived very close to nature and whenever he got in disposed he cured himself by the resources and materials provided by nature, which is nothing but the herbs. The vast field of Ayurvedic science is gaining more importance and popularity across the globe because of its amazing therapeutic values. Ayurveda is a 5,000-year-old system of medicine with historical roots of natural healing in the Indian subcontinent. Ayurveda is a science of life (Ayur = life, Veda = science or knowledge). Globalized and modernized practices derived from Ayurveda traditions are a type of alternative medicine. Approximately 90% of ayurvedic preparations are plant-based.

Ayurvedic medicines prepared from the herbs are said to have no side effects. Herbs play a major role in Ayurvedic system. Herbs possess infinite potencies or Saktis and work wonders. A small herb dissolves stones in the bladder, kidneys and gall-bladder in a minute or the twinkling of an eye.

 Ayurveda is a perfect science of life and consists of a body of most remarkable knowledge on the internal mechanism of human health and longevity, on medicinal herbs and therapeutic roots, on the efficacious treatment of human ills by eradicating from the human system the very sources of their causation. The Ayurvedic science which works based on the herbs promises wonders to mankind when taken in a wise and prudent manner.

An Ayurvedic herb is a plant source which is used in the preparation of ayurvedic medicines. The plant on the whole with its leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds, roots, roots bark, and resin has medicinal values apart from its flavour and fragrance. It acts as a perfect mechanism in bringing a balanced harmony between the mind and spirit. When compared to other synthetic drugs ayurvedic herbal medicines do not cause any side effects. It works effectively fighting against various infections and diseases and thereby gaining quick recovery.

Right from very olden days it is believed that Ayurvedic herbs are supposed to give a solution for all kinds of diseases which was even considered impossible by other field of medical science. The sages in olden days were mainly involved in experimenting the different kinds of herbs and then the preparation of ayurvedic medicine from them. Study of each herb indepth, along with its effects of the doshas is to be considered for designing the Ayurvedic herb formulas. Each herb with its own characteristic features is thus used for specific diseases and its treatment.

Spitting in India: A public nuisance

Smoking/spitting tobacco is also a major public health hazard which contributes to the spreading of communicable diseases like Tuberculosis, Swine Flu, Avian Flu and Pireumonia disease. There are new laws that can come into force as a bane to many Pan Masala lovers. The national directive on lockdown conditions issued by the Home Ministry on Wednesday, April 15 states that the violators will be punished. It states that “Spitting in public spaces shall be punishable with a fine. There should be a strict ban on the sale of liquor, gutka, tobacco etc.”

RELEVANT PROVISIONS APPLICABLE

Following are the sections under the Indian Penal Code, 1860:-

  1. Section 268 : Public nuisance:- a person is guilty of a public nuisance who does any act or is guilty of an illegal omission which causes any common injury, danger or annoyance to the public or to the people in general who dwell or occupy property in the vicinity, or which must necessarily cause injury, obstruction, danger, or annoyance to persons who may have occasion to use any public right.
  2. Section 269:- Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease danger­ous to life:—Whoever unlawfully or negligently does any act which is, and which he knows or has reason to believe to be, likely to spread the infection of any disease dangerous to life, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine, or with both.
  3. Section 278 :- Making atmosphere noxious to health:—Whoever voluntarily vitiates the atmosphere in any place so as to make it noxious to the health of persons in general dwelling or carrying on business in the neighbourhood or passing along a public way, shall be punished with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.

WHAT’S IN IT?

With a daily rise of novel coronavirus, the patients around the country and the State Governments are ensuring strict laws. On that note, Himachal Pradesh police have issued a law for people who spit in public will now be charged with attempt to murder. The Union Ministry has made public spitting an offence under the Disaster Management Act.

Medical professionals state that droplets expelled in the air by infected patients via coughing or sneezing are the common means of transmission of the virus. As such, spitting is more dangerous as it can carry the pathogen to a longer distance than even coughing or sneezing could. The reason for this measure that not only Himachal Pradesh but various states around the country are banning spitting because of its scientific reasons.

CONCLUSION:

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation imposed ₹1000 fine on anyone caught spitting in public. So everyone, do be careful and refrain from spitting in public.  Other states including Bihar, Telangana, Haryana, and Assam, have banned smokeless tobacco products and public spitting. In states like Uttar Pradesh, pan masala products are banned to discourage spitting.

REFERENCES:

  1. https://indiankanoon.org/
  2. https://www.ijlmh.com/
  3. http://pbhealth.gov.in/