UNITED NATIONS DAY 24 October 2016

Message of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon   

This year’s observance of United Nations Day occurs at a time of transition for the world and for the United Nations. Humanity has entered the era of sustainability – with a global commitment to fulfill the great promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  In this, the Organization’s 71st year, we have 17 goals to propel us towards a better future for all on a healthy planet.

A few reflections on the World Mental Health Day

Dear colleagues,

“Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it…,” says the Dalia Lama. Indeed, life is precious, the most prized gift bestowed on us. Yet, in our daily quests, somehow this precious gift gets compromised. The clutter and din of our lives, both professional and personal, takes a toll of our health and well-being.

Imagining Development: From Vision to Action-Certificate Course by Azim Premji University

the certificate course - ‘Imagining Development: From Vision to Action’ from Nov 22 - Dec 02, 2016, designed specifically for professionals working in various development domain. The brochure is available here . For further details and videos, please visit our website: www.azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in OR http://azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/SitePages/University-resource-centre-events-imagining-development.aspx. 

WORLD FOOD DAY: 16 October 2016

Message of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon  

As the global population expands, we will need to satisfy an increasing demand for food.  Yet, around the world, record-breaking temperatures, rising sea levels and more frequent and severe droughts and floods caused by climate change are already affecting ecosystems, agriculture and society’s ability to produce the food we need.  The most vulnerable people are world’s poorest, 70 per cent of whom depend on subsistence farming, fishing or pastoralism for income and food.

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL: 11 October 2016

Message of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon  

The theme of this year’s International Day of the Girl is based on the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals. The slogan is: Girls’ Progress equals Goals’ Progress: What Counts for Girls. The wellbeing, human rights and empowerment of the world’s 1.1 billion girls are central to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. When we agreed on that agenda, we promised girls quality education and health services.

INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ERADICATION OF POVERTY: 17 October 2016

Message of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon  

We are approaching the end of the first year of implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  With its 17 Sustainable Development Goals, the 2030 Agenda is a universal vision for peace, prosperity and dignity for all people on a healthy planet.  Achieving this objective is inconceivable without fulfilling the mandate of SDG 1 to end poverty in all its forms.

Why are so many Indian children stunted?. By Arundhati Murlidharan

One of the main reasons is undernutrition, mainly caused by unsafe water, bad sanitation and poor hygiene.Why are so many Indian children short for their age, or stunted? Cognisant of the country’s nutrition problem, especially among children, the Government has made concerted efforts to get food to children and their families through various initiatives. India has undoubtedly made progress with regard to child undernutrition with stunting rates dropping from 48 per cent in 2006 to 38.7 per cent in 2015.

India flunks sustainable health scores as well. By FPJ Bureau

THE real remover of backwardness in society is good quality school education. Skill development comes in later. Basic education helps backward communities march forward, and challenge the conventional upper classes, without jeopardising service level standards in administration and society.

Incurable JE threatens India

Japanese encephalitis is the leading cause of brain inflammation in Asia.

Panic gripped Manipur in July, 2016 when a four-year-old girl -- after suffering high fever, convulsions, and slipping in and out of consciousness over a few days -- succumbed to Japanese encephalitis (JE), the state’s first death from the viral brain infection transmitted by the Culex mosquito since 2010. A few days later, the virus claimed its second victim, an adult. These deaths were enough to close school until the end of July in the district of Churachandpur and spark a reaction in Parliament a fortnight ago.

Why we don’t want sex education

In the age of the Internet, gender, sexuality, puberty and sexual health remain taboo topics in schools and homes.

During a workshop on puberty awareness targeted at 10- to 12-year-old boys, sex educator Anju Kishinchandani was faced with a curious situation. When they were talking about the growth of pubic hair, one of her students thought he would have to stop going to school. Perplexed, she asked him why, and he said that since he wore shorts to school, hair might grow out from under them.