`22% of Indian kids are obese, face health risks'





Childhood obesity is reaching alarming pr oportions with India reporting around 22% prevalence rate over the last five years in children and adolescents aged between 5-19 years.A new report by a commission formed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified “marketing of unhealthy foods and non-alcoholic beverages“ as a major factor in the increase in numbers of children being overweight and obese, particularly in the developing world.
Raising concerns about the rise of adult diseases in youth, like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and osteoporosis, the report highlights the effect of obesity on a child's immediate health, educational attainment and quality of life.
“It is important to address the problem of obesity and overweight at school level itself because otherwise it can lead to disease burden which will continue into adulthood,“ says Dr Anoop Misra, chairman, Fortis CDOC hospital for diabetes and allied specialities.
Globally , the trend is high among children under five years of age with at least 41 million found to be obese or overweight in 2014. While the prevalence rateof obesity in this age group is still low in India at less than 5%, the WHO report suggests it is rising at the fastest pace among all developing countries. Between 1990 and 2014, the number of overweight children in low and middleincome countries has more than doubled from 7.5 million to 15.5 million. In 2014, almost half (48%) of all overweight and obese children under 5 years age lived in Asia and one-quarter (25%) in Africa.
According to the report, in poorer countries, children of wealthier families are more likely to be obese, especially in cultures where “an overweight child is often considered to be healthy .“
However, in wealthier countries, poorer children are more likely to be obese partly because of the affordability of fatty fast food and high sugary snacks.
According to Dr Misra, in India there is also a wide divide between children in urban and rural areas.

Source::: Jan 28 2016 : The Times of India, p.19,
http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31804&articlexml=22-of-Indian-kids-are-obese-face-health-28012016017022

Literacy rate up, but so is illiteracy





Population Rising But Enrollment Not Keeping Pace

The overall literacy rate in the country may have gone up to 74.4%, but the drop in the illiteracy rate has not matched the increase in population. Between 2001 and 2011, the population above the age of 7 grew by 18.65 crore but the decrease in the number of illiterates is just 3.11 crore.

A 2015 Unesco report said that in terms of absolute numbers, India -with 28.7 crore illiterates -was the country with the largest number of adults without basic literacy skills in 2010-11 compared to 2000-01 when it had 30.4 crore illiterates.
The fact that illiteracy is not being tackled is evident from the enrolment rates in primary and upper primary schools. Over 12 years (2000-01 to 2013-14), the number of children who enrolled in primary schools increased by just 1.86 crore, and at the upper primary level by just over 2 crore. The population during this period, however, increased by more than 18 crore.
“Over the past few years, there has been a dip in the enrolment rate across the coun try compared to the growth in population,“ says A S Seetharamu, a former professor of the Institute of Social and Economic Change.
Going by 2011 Census data, most states, barring a few like Nagaland, have recorded an increase in population but the enrolment rate does not mirror that.
The country also seems to be having a problem with retaining people in schools and colleges. An average of 326 out of 1,000 students in rural areas are dropping out, while the same is 383 per 1,000 in urban areas, the National Sample Survey Organisation's (NSSO) last survey reveals.This data counts people up to the age of 29.

TIMES VIEW
Data from various sources clearly shows that India is among the least literate countries in the world, and this reflects on the fact that successive governments have failed to provide basic education to all. India is one of 135 countries in the world to have made education a fundamental right, when the Right to Education Act came into force in 2010, but much of that act has remained on paper and controversies have dogged its implementation. That the literacy rate has been rising steadily since Independence is something to cheer about, but not when viewed in conjunction with the exponential growth in population. It's imperative that the government puts more muscle into implementing programmes for compulsory, free education and ensure equal access to all.

Source::: Jan 28 2016 : The Times of India, p.15,

http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31804&articlexml=Literacy-rate-up-but-so-is-illiteracy-28012016013028

MIT, TISS, Tata Trusts launch connected learning tool

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) collaborated with Tata Trusts to launch the Connected Learning Initiative (CLIx), a programme that will alleviate learning experiences for secondary schoolchildren by making effective use of information and communication technology .

Initially, the focus will be to offer content in English, Hindi and Telugu for subjects such as English, science, mathematics and professional values. CLIx will support the existing school curricula with technology integrated aids. While Phase I will include over 1,000 state-run schools from Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram and reach out to around 1.65 lakh students in less than three years, in Phase II, the initiative will look at extending the scope to other states, including Maharashtra, and in more languages. An additional focus will be professional development for 4,400 teachers in the four states.

The announcement was made on Wednesday in Mumbai in the presence of Tata Trusts chairman Ratan Tata, MIT president Rafael Reif, board chairperson S Ramadorai, and TISS director S Parasuraman.


Source::: Jan 28 2016 : The Times of India (Mumbai), http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31804&articlexml=MIT-TISS-Tata-Trusts-launch-connected-learning-tool-28012016004033

Kerala becomes 1st state in country to achieve 100% primary education 

"Kerala has become the first state in the country to achieve total primary education. This has been achieved through the primary education equivalency drive of the state literacy mission — Athulyam. The equivalency programmes have proved a huge success and the ultimate objective is to achieve total Plus-Two education in the state," education minister P K Abdu Rabb said here on Monday.

The declaration will be made at a function at Kerala University Senate Hall.

 

 The second phase of Athulyam was carried out across the state as part of the Mission 676 of the government, launched to mark its third anniversary. The programme offers a chance for those who failed to get primary education due to various reasons to achieve the education qualification equivalent to fourth standard.

 

Those aged 15 to 50 were beneficiaries of the programme and were identified through family registries prepared by anganwadis under the social justice department and also through ward-level surveys carried out by instructors in continuing education programmes.

Around 2.6 lakh candidates appeared for the 4th standard equivalency examination in June 2015 and 2.2 lakh candidates qualified. The equivalency examination was held in 6,613 centres across the state and those who scored 30/75 in English and 20/50 in other subjects were declared winners.

 

Source | Times of India | 12 January 2016

UPSC aspirants to get Rs 10K per month


The Maharashtra government has decided to give scholarships to encourage students to clear their Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam. The decision was taken at the cabinet meeting on Tuesday .
The state government has six coaching centres in Mumbai, Nagpur, Kolhapur, Amravati, Aurangabad and Nashik where 600 students are going to be trained. The government plans to give aspirants a sum of Rs 10,000 per month.

The government has made a provision of Rs 23.46 crore for the same. The civil services exam is conducted by the UPSC annually in three stages--preliminary , main and interview--to select officers of Indian Administrative Service, Indian Foreign Service and Indian Police Service, among others.

Over 15,000 people qualified the 2015 civil services preliminary exam across India. In 2015, a record 9,45,908 candidates applied for the exam, but only 4.63 lakh appeared for the test on August 23.

The scholarship will be given for all three stages (preexam, main test and final interview). Every year, roughly 15,000 from the state take the UPSC exam but only 80-100 students clear it. “The government should also create an atmosphere along with the scholarship. There is need to set up an upgraded library with more reference books.The state should make more reading rooms available for students,“ said Ajit Padwal, director of Lakshya Academy , which trains UPSC aspirants.


Source::: Jan 13 2016 : The Times of India, p.5,
http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31804&articlexml=UPSC-aspirants-to-get-Rs-10K-per-month-13012016005028

Muslims have largest share of young, but also die early


Census Shows Drop In U-20s In All Communities

Muslims in India have the highest share of children and teenagers (0-19 age group) among all religions, at 47%, compared to 40% for Hindus and just 29% among Jains, according to new Census 2011 data released on Tuesday . If all communities are taken together, around 41% of the country's population is below 20 years old and nine per cent above 60 years, leaving 50% in the intervening 20-59 age group.

Overall, life cycles of different religious communities in India have shown common trends of declining proportion of children and increasing shares of elderly while also showing marked differences in average life span.

The share of the young population has declined since the previous census in 2001 when it was 45% for the whole country , 44% for Hin dus, 52% for Muslims and 35% for Jains. This is a reflection of across-the-board declines in fertility rates --number of children born --leading to a slowing down of the respective population growth rates.

The decline is the least for Hindus and highest for Budd hists and Christians, at seven percentage points, followed by Sikhs and Jains at six percentage points.

At the other end of the life cycle, the proportion of elderly has risen across all communities as life spans have generally increased. The elderly, 60 years and above, make up about nine percent of the country's population.

Across religious communities, there is considerable variation in the share of the elderly population, which can be directly linked to economic status and access to healthcare. In the Muslim community , just 6.4% of the population is over 60 years, almost 50% lower than the national average. In 2001, this share was 5.8%, indicating only a marginal increase. Among Jains, and Sikhs, the share of elderly is 12%, over 30% more than the national average.These shares are more also because the younger generation's numbers are less. The Hindu community is close to all national averages because they make up nearly 80% of the country's population.

Age-wise population shares reveal another important aspect of the lives of people -dependency . Both children and the elderly are dependent on the able and adult population. Overall, the young dependency ratio--number of children aged up o 15 dependent on every 1,000 members of the working age population--has declined from 621 in 2001 to 510 in 2011.This is a direct consequence of declining number of children.

At the other end of life, the old dependency ratio has increased from 131 in 2001 to 142 in 2011, in accord with the growing elderly population.

If we add up both young and old, in 2001, 752 people were dependent on every 1,000 persons in the working age population of 15 to 59 years.Compared to that, in 2011, this ratio has come down to 652.

Across religious communities, Muslims have the highest total dependency ratio of 748 compared to the lowest ratio for Jains which is just 498. For Hindus, the ratio is 640. All ratios have declined since 2001.

Source:: Jan 13 2016 : The Times of India, p.1.
http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31804&articlexml=Muslims-have-largest-share-of-young-but-also-13012016001008#

Govt OKs 33% quota for women in CRPF, CISF





Reservation Only For Constables; 15% In BSF, SSB & ITBP

The government on Tuesday took an important step to improve gender equality in the paramilitary by approving reservation of 33% women at the constable rank in two major central paramilitary forces CRPF and CISF and also setting a 15% quota in BSF , SSB and ITBP .These forces together comprise of around nine lakh personnel of whom only around 20,000 are women as of now.The reservation will come into effect immediately . The decision was taken by home minister Rajnath Singh after a meeting on Tuesday , said sources.
“With a view to enhance representation of women in central armed police forces, home minister Rajnath Singh has approved 33% posts at constable level for being filled up by women,“ a MHA statement said. This reservation would be horizontal, it said.
The move came following the recommendation of the committee on empowerment of women in its sixth report that said there is an urgent need to provide due representation to women in paramilitary forces. The CRPF , mostly deployed in law and order du ties and anti-Naxal operations, has just about 6,300 women in its ranks.
The parliamentary standing committee on home affairs recently found that women personnel constitute only a little over 9% of the Delhi police force and asked the home ministry to ensure their numbers are enhanced up to 33 per cent.

Source::: Jan 06 2016 : The Times of India (Mumbai), page 14,

http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31804&articlexml=Govt-OKs-33-quota-for-women-in-CRPF-06012016012017

Girl edu in focus on Savitribai's birth anniv.





To focus attention on educating the girl child, the state education department has asked schools to celebrate the birth anniversary of social reformer Savitribai Phule, with a series of activities commemorating her work, until January 26.

According to a government resolution, schools have been asked to implement the `Lek Shikva Lek Vaachva' (educate the daughter, save the girl) programme, in keeping with the work done by Savitribai, wife of social reformer Jyotiba Phule, for women empowerment.

Some schools have been highlighting the work of famous women across various fields. “We wanted to tell the children about women at the forefront in various walks of life so that girls are motivated to be ambitious and make a name for themselves,“ said Veena Donwalkar, principal, Chattrapati Shivaji Vidyalaya in Dharavi.

Source::: Jan 06 2016 : The Times of India (Mumbai), page 13,

http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31804&articlexml=Girl-edu-in-focus-on-Savitribais-birth-anniv-06012016011038

Maha plans sops for dalit, tribal entrepreneurs


The Maharashtra government is mulling over providing special incentives for dalit and tribal entrepreneurs both in terms of preferential land allotment and financial support.
Among the incentives being considered is preferential land allotment within the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) segment in the MIDC zone. Also on the anvil is financial support from the state's social welfare and tribal fund and a separate investment fund within the Small Industries Development Bank of India.

“The state government is considering proposals sent by the Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI) for entrepreneurs from the Scheduled Castes and Tribes. A final decision will be taken by the state cabinet,“ said industries secretary Apurva Chandra.

The DICCI has 3,000 members across the country , a third of which are in Maharashtra. It estimates that SC and ST entrepreneurs comprise over 14-15% of the entrepreneurs within the MSME segment in the country .

“This policy will play a crucial role in boosting the confidence of dalit entrepreneurs.The corporate world has been a major beneficiary of the government's policies and equity,“ said DICCI founder Milind Kamble, who runs MPK Enterprises. The body had been pursuing proposals with the state government over six months.

Kamble says he is hoping for a financial layout of at least Rs 90 crores for the scheme. “Andhra Pradesh and Telengana have taken the lead in this area but Karnataka, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh have also offered similar schemes,“ he said.

Among the proposals put forward by the DICCI is that land should be allotted to SC and ST entrepreneurs in proportion to their population in the state in MIDC, CIDCO and maritime areas. It has also suggested direct lending, credit guarantee scheme and fiscal incentives.

Source::: Jan 06 2016 : The Times of India (Mumbai), page 12,
http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31804&articlexml=Maha-plans-sops-for-dalit-tribal-entrepreneurs-06012016010005