Go well Dr Radium Bhattacharya

Go well Dr Radium Bhattacharya

Dr Radium Bhattacharya breathed her last in early morning wee hours of Sunday, 20 December 2009. She was one of the first veteran AIDS activists in India to take up the fight against AIDS in 1980s. Her contribution to HIV prevention options for women and enabling civil society working on AIDS-related issues to network and collaborate effectively to improve HIV response was a benchmark indeed. Read more

She was the founder-president of Indian Network of NGOs on HIV/AIDS (INN) - national network of non-governmental organizations working on HIV/AIDS issues in India that she had founded in 1994. Today INN is a network of more than 500 NGOs working on issues-related to HIV/AIDS across the country, with several state-level networks too. Dr Radium was leading the Gujarat AIDS Prevention unit (GAP) from her humble office in Ahmedabad.

My association with Dr Radium began in second half of the year 2000 when she convinced me repeatedly to document and raise awareness about women's specific needs for HIV prevention options - and above all, familiarised me with the word that was "Micro... what?" then to me - Microbicides. At the annual national convention of INN in February 2001, in Ahmedabad, Megan Gottemoeller from Global Campaign for Microbicides (GCM) along with Mitchell Warren from Female Health Foundation were there at this INN convention in Ahmedabad contributing enormously in raising awareness about and mobilizing INN partners to respond to HIV prevention needs of women. Microbicides and female condoms both were in spotlight at the 2001 INN national convention. Megan, during her presentation then, had asked the participants how many of them had ever-heard of microbicides, only three hands went up. As the years rolled by, majority of INN partners contributed in pushing the microbicides advocacy agenda in India. It was indeed Dr Radium's commitment to the cause that was instrumental in strategically mobilizing civil society to advocate for accelerating microbicides research and advocacy, with the government, researchers and other stakeholders, and also to lobby for improved representation of civil society as equal partners in microbicides development as research went ahead. Lori Heise, then-Director of Global Campaign for Microbicides (GCM) along with her dedicated team had built the competence of advocates from civil society in India on a range of ethical issues related to microbicides research, and Dr Radium surely took up the mantle to sensitize INN partners in states where microbicides research was taking place and push for regular interface between researchers and civil society to ensure ethical standards were being met as research advanced.

In 2002, during one of her visits to Delhi, she dropped in at the office of PATH India. Mr Vinay Kumar from PATH was very supportive and PATH's commitment to microbicides research further enhanced the advocacy for HIV prevention options for women. National Working group on Microbicides, National Workshops on HIV Prevention option for women, National Policy Workshop on Microbicides, National Stakeholder Meeting on Microbicides, were some of the most tangible outcomes in 2003 and years that followed, strengthening microbicides advocacy and engaging civil society meaningfully as the research progressed ahead in India. Not surprisingly, she was the co-chair of the Community and Advocacy (Track D) Committee of the International Microbicides Conference in New Delhi, India (2008).

Dr Radium along with INN partners, particularly those like Naz Foundation International (NFI) and Bharosa Trust that have contributed to addressing the HIV prevention needs, and improving the sexual health and human rights of marginalised males who have sex with males (MSM), their partners and families, took up the mantle of raising the neglected issue of rectal microbicides research in Indian perspective. There was no microbicide-candidate product being researched upon in India for rectal use - and MSM being recognized by the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) as one of the key high-risk population for HIV, it made sense for INN to work with partners to raise the understanding of HIV prevention needs among the community, and also explore if rectal microbicides were something Indian MSM communities might want to advocate for. With support from GCM, INN convened a national workshop with MSM networks and since then, the advocacy has only upped for rectal microbicides in India.
In one such state-level advocacy workshop on microbicides to sensitize INN partners on ethical issues in microbicides research and encourage them to get involved with microbicides research in their own state of Tamil Nadu, she began the first national dedicated electronic discussion group (eGroup) for information exchange and discussion on issues around Microbicides research, advocacy and community involvement in India, on 11 June 2005. In time, this eGroup connected more than 900 people. Now with Microbicides Society of India (MSI) taking leadership in India, of which Dr Radium was the board member, this eGroup is used currently by MSI.

HIV prevention option for women is just one area where Dr Radium’s defining contribution in terms of building up the civil society response as research progressed ahead, was a landmark. Back in her own state of Gujarat, her contribution to HIV/AIDS response in general was phenomenal. She was one of the veterans to step up the fight against AIDS in India in 1980s, undoubtedly, and recognize early-on the vital role of partnerships and of civil society representation in the AIDS response which led to formation of INN in 1994.

It is an enormous personal loss to me - as she meant no less than my mother. Similar expressions abound as condolences pour in. I have a confession to make too – as I feel very guilty of not keeping promises I made to Dr Radium. When I met her last in Ahmedabad, she was bravely recovering from her illness, and I, was one of those who had promised her to contribute in taking the INN responsibilities while she was recuperating. Despite of my best intentions, I could never keep the promise I made to her and hope for her forgiveness. The only redemption could be to complete the unfinished task, and contribute truly in improving the AIDS response.

Published in:
Elites TV News, USA
Citizen News Service (CNS), India/Thailand
Celebrifi.com

Wikio.com
Twitter.com

Go well Dr Radium Bhattacharya

Go well Dr Radium Bhattacharya

Dr Radium Bhattacharya breathed her last in early morning wee hours of Sunday, 20 December 2009. She was one of the first veteran AIDS activists in India to take up the fight against AIDS in 1980s. Her contribution to HIV prevention options for women and enabling civil society working on AIDS-related issues to network and collaborate effectively to improve HIV response was a benchmark indeed. Read more

She was the founder-president of Indian Network of NGOs on HIV/AIDS (INN) - national network of non-governmental organizations working on HIV/AIDS issues in India that she had founded in 1994. Today INN is a network of more than 500 NGOs working on issues-related to HIV/AIDS across the country, with several state-level networks too. Dr Radium was leading the Gujarat AIDS Prevention unit (GAP) from her humble office in Ahmedabad.

My association with Dr Radium began in second half of the year 2000 when she convinced me repeatedly to document and raise awareness about women's specific needs for HIV prevention options - and above all, familiarised me with the word that was "Micro... what?" then to me - Microbicides. At the annual national convention of INN in February 2001, in Ahmedabad, Megan Gottemoeller from Global Campaign for Microbicides (GCM) along with Mitchell Warren from Female Health Foundation were there at this INN convention in Ahmedabad contributing enormously in raising awareness about and mobilizing INN partners to respond to HIV prevention needs of women. Microbicides and female condoms both were in spotlight at the 2001 INN national convention. Megan, during her presentation then, had asked the participants how many of them had ever-heard of microbicides, only three hands went up. As the years rolled by, majority of INN partners contributed in pushing the microbicides advocacy agenda in India. It was indeed Dr Radium's commitment to the cause that was instrumental in strategically mobilizing civil society to advocate for accelerating microbicides research and advocacy, with the government, researchers and other stakeholders, and also to lobby for improved representation of civil society as equal partners in microbicides development as research went ahead. Lori Heise, then-Director of Global Campaign for Microbicides (GCM) along with her dedicated team had built the competence of advocates from civil society in India on a range of ethical issues related to microbicides research, and Dr Radium surely took up the mantle to sensitize INN partners in states where microbicides research was taking place and push for regular interface between researchers and civil society to ensure ethical standards were being met as research advanced.

In 2002, during one of her visits to Delhi, she dropped in at the office of PATH India. Mr Vinay Kumar from PATH was very supportive and PATH's commitment to microbicides research further enhanced the advocacy for HIV prevention options for women. National Working group on Microbicides, National Workshops on HIV Prevention option for women, National Policy Workshop on Microbicides, National Stakeholder Meeting on Microbicides, were some of the most tangible outcomes in 2003 and years that followed, strengthening microbicides advocacy and engaging civil society meaningfully as the research progressed ahead in India. Not surprisingly, she was the co-chair of the Community and Advocacy (Track D) Committee of the International Microbicides Conference in New Delhi, India (2008).

Dr Radium along with INN partners, particularly those like Naz Foundation International (NFI) and Bharosa Trust that have contributed to addressing the HIV prevention needs, and improving the sexual health and human rights of marginalised males who have sex with males (MSM), their partners and families, took up the mantle of raising the neglected issue of rectal microbicides research in Indian perspective. There was no microbicide-candidate product being researched upon in India for rectal use - and MSM being recognized by the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) as one of the key high-risk population for HIV, it made sense for INN to work with partners to raise the understanding of HIV prevention needs among the community, and also explore if rectal microbicides were something Indian MSM communities might want to advocate for. With support from GCM, INN convened a national workshop with MSM networks and since then, the advocacy has only upped for rectal microbicides in India.
In one such state-level advocacy workshop on microbicides to sensitize INN partners on ethical issues in microbicides research and encourage them to get involved with microbicides research in their own state of Tamil Nadu, she began the first national dedicated electronic discussion group (eGroup) for information exchange and discussion on issues around Microbicides research, advocacy and community involvement in India, on 11 June 2005. In time, this eGroup connected more than 900 people. Now with Microbicides Society of India (MSI) taking leadership in India, of which Dr Radium was the board member, this eGroup is used currently by MSI.

HIV prevention option for women is just one area where Dr Radium’s defining contribution in terms of building up the civil society response as research progressed ahead, was a landmark. Back in her own state of Gujarat, her contribution to HIV/AIDS response in general was phenomenal. She was one of the veterans to step up the fight against AIDS in India in 1980s, undoubtedly, and recognize early-on the vital role of partnerships and of civil society representation in the AIDS response which led to formation of INN in 1994.

It is an enormous personal loss to me - as she meant no less than my mother. Similar expressions abound as condolences pour in. I have a confession to make too – as I feel very guilty of not keeping promises I made to Dr Radium. When I met her last in Ahmedabad, she was bravely recovering from her illness, and I, was one of those who had promised her to contribute in taking the INN responsibilities while she was recuperating. Despite of my best intentions, I could never keep the promise I made to her and hope for her forgiveness. The only redemption could be to complete the unfinished task, and contribute truly in improving the AIDS response.

Published in:
Elites TV News, USA
Citizen News Service (CNS), India/Thailand
Celebrifi.com

Wikio.com

Lucknow Journalists commit to the cause of child rights

Lucknow Journalists commit to the cause of child rights

Anjali Singh, CNS

Lucknow journalists joined hands with an organization working on child rights to sign a petition to stop child abuse. The media fraternity of Uttar Pradesh capital city has also urged the government to set up a Child Protection Unit in the state to put a stop to the rising incidences of crime against children. Read more

It has never happened before, thus it’s relevance is doubly important, specially so when the Fourth Estate unites for a worthy cause like child rights. That’s exactly what the media fraternity did in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, when they joined hands with an organization working on child rights to sign a petition to stop child abuse.

They also urged the government to set up a Child Protection Unit in UP to put a stop to the rising incidences of crime against children.

Informs, Saaksham Foundation, an organization addressing violations of child rights in Uttar Pradesh who led the petition campaign, “The media is fed up of writing and reporting on cases of inhuman attacks on children and not seeing anything done to stop it. So they were more than willing to raise they voice to tell the government that this cannot go on. And for the first time in history scribes from the city all joined hands to say enough is enough and asked the state government to do something to ensure safety of children in UP. Journalists from all the leading news papers and electronic media in the city including Times of India, Hindustan Times, Hindustan Hindi, Indian Express, The Pioneer, IANS, Aaj Tak and Times Now gave their overwhelming support to the petition when we approached them. The petition was handed over to the Chief Cabinet Secretary, Chief Minister Mayawati’s office, Shantha Sinha, Chairperson, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and Congress Youth Leader Rahul Gandhi.”

Adds Sharat Pradhan, Senior Journalist and Chief of Bureau IANS UP, who lend his full support to the petition as well, “I think this is a very encouraging move by the media. Its high time they start thinking about writing and getting sensitized about issues what they feel is not fashionable enough to report about. Now is the time journalists should get committed to social issues and take the initiative to shake their morality back to consciousness. I feel it is issues and campaigns like the joint media petition that will help them to that as most of them don’t think much of what is wrong and what is right unless they are motivated to get involved in such issues.”

Rightly said so, as the jointly signed petition not only demands setting up a Child Protection Unit in the State to address the increasing numbers of brutal attacks on children, but interestingly the scribes and the social organization have sought the provision of child friendly police station and police personnel to be placed at every thana in 71 districts of UP. The provision for which has been made in the Juvenile Justice Act 2006 and the directives of the National Human Rights Commission.

So why did the media react to the issue of child rights?

Answers Ravi Krishna, News Editor, Times of India, Lucknow, “Acts of violence against children are generally underplayed in the media unless an incident of the magnitude of Nithari happens. TV channels too use incidents to sensationalize the issue rather than substantiate it. This trivializing of news has resulted in poor public response to crimes against children. So it’s important from time to time to be a part of such initiatives so that the fourth estate is not taken lightly when sensitive issues like women and child rights are concerned.”

More so Krishna feels, “Sensationalism has ensured that crimes against children get a knee-jerk response form government agencies, including the judiciary at a time which has to grapple with weak prosecution. Thus there is a need to set up specific cells in the police department under the watch of registered NGOs and monitor their functioning at macro level. The government should work on a two-pronged strategy -- prevention and rehabilitation of victimised children. This petition hopefully will start a movement to help make it happen.”

A fact that is further corroborated by Siddarth Mathur, Principal Correspondent, India Express, Lucknow, “It’s quite frustrating when despite writing about the sensitive issues like child rights not much has changed. I hope that such moves like signing a petition together by the media fraternity can alter things and change mindsets. I know it won’t happen right away but in the future gradually a change can be brought in if repeated efforts are made to highlight such issues effectively.”

And efforts to ensure that consistent attempts are made to address children’s issues regularly, organizations like UNICEF Lucknow too are playing an important part in sensitizing the media in the city towards issues related to children.

Their fortnightly programme Media for Children held at the Lucknow Press Club has served as a effective catalyst to take the discussions on child rights to a appropriate level by the media.

Says Augustine Veliath, Communications Specialist, UNICEF Lucknow, “I have never before seen media respond to children’s issues as a group. They have openly told the state government that they are tired of reporting on children’s issue after issue and not seen any action to stop their victimization. It’s remarkable as they have taken this stand in the 20th year of the Convention for the Rights of The Child. I believe that media has a great role to play in protecting children and this joint petition by the media bears testimony to that. Media is the voice of the voiceless and children have no voice of their own. I am very thrilled that the media in Lucknow have regrouped to give children a voice.”

And what is the government speak on the petition?

On receiving the petition and going through the contents Vijay Shanker Pandey, Chief Cabinet Secretary expressed his concern over the issue and assured Director Saaksham Foundation that he will be looking into the matter and also call a meeting to discuss setting up a Child Protection Unit in UP soon.

Shantha Sinha, Chairperson, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights who also received a copy of the petition expressed her concern over the fact that children were being subjected to such brutal attacks and said she will take up the matter strongly and also expedite the process of setting up a State Commission for Protection of Child Rights in UP.

Amen to that!

Anjali Singh

(The author is a Special Correspondent to Citizen News Service (CNS) and also the Director of Saaksham Foundation. Email: anjali@citizen-news.org)


Published in:
Citizen News Service (CNS), India/Thailand
Elites TV News, USA
Wikio.com, UK
Celebrifi.com

Lucknow Journalists commit to the cause of child rights

Lucknow Journalists commit to the cause of child rights

Anjali Singh, CNS

Lucknow journalists joined hands with an organization working on child rights to sign a petition to stop child abuse. The media fraternity of Uttar Pradesh capital city has also urged the government to set up a Child Protection Unit in the state to put a stop to the rising incidences of crime against children. Read more

It has never happened before, thus it’s relevance is doubly important, specially so when the Fourth Estate unites for a worthy cause like child rights. That’s exactly what the media fraternity did in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, when they joined hands with an organization working on child rights to sign a petition to stop child abuse.

They also urged the government to set up a Child Protection Unit in UP to put a stop to the rising incidences of crime against children.

Informs, Saaksham Foundation, an organization addressing violations of child rights in Uttar Pradesh who led the petition campaign, “The media is fed up of writing and reporting on cases of inhuman attacks on children and not seeing anything done to stop it. So they were more than willing to raise they voice to tell the government that this cannot go on. And for the first time in history scribes from the city all joined hands to say enough is enough and asked the state government to do something to ensure safety of children in UP. Journalists from all the leading news papers and electronic media in the city including Times of India, Hindustan Times, Hindustan Hindi, Indian Express, The Pioneer, IANS, Aaj Tak and Times Now gave their overwhelming support to the petition when we approached them. The petition was handed over to the Chief Cabinet Secretary, Chief Minister Mayawati’s office, Shantha Sinha, Chairperson, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and Congress Youth Leader Rahul Gandhi.”

Adds Sharat Pradhan, Senior Journalist and Chief of Bureau IANS UP, who lend his full support to the petition as well, “I think this is a very encouraging move by the media. Its high time they start thinking about writing and getting sensitized about issues what they feel is not fashionable enough to report about. Now is the time journalists should get committed to social issues and take the initiative to shake their morality back to consciousness. I feel it is issues and campaigns like the joint media petition that will help them to that as most of them don’t think much of what is wrong and what is right unless they are motivated to get involved in such issues.”

Rightly said so, as the jointly signed petition not only demands setting up a Child Protection Unit in the State to address the increasing numbers of brutal attacks on children, but interestingly the scribes and the social organization have sought the provision of child friendly police station and police personnel to be placed at every thana in 71 districts of UP. The provision for which has been made in the Juvenile Justice Act 2006 and the directives of the National Human Rights Commission.

So why did the media react to the issue of child rights?

Answers Ravi Krishna, News Editor, Times of India, Lucknow, “Acts of violence against children are generally underplayed in the media unless an incident of the magnitude of Nithari happens. TV channels too use incidents to sensationalize the issue rather than substantiate it. This trivializing of news has resulted in poor public response to crimes against children. So it’s important from time to time to be a part of such initiatives so that the fourth estate is not taken lightly when sensitive issues like women and child rights are concerned.”

More so Krishna feels, “Sensationalism has ensured that crimes against children get a knee-jerk response form government agencies, including the judiciary at a time which has to grapple with weak prosecution. Thus there is a need to set up specific cells in the police department under the watch of registered NGOs and monitor their functioning at macro level. The government should work on a two-pronged strategy -- prevention and rehabilitation of victimised children. This petition hopefully will start a movement to help make it happen.”

A fact that is further corroborated by Siddarth Mathur, Principal Correspondent, India Express, Lucknow, “It’s quite frustrating when despite writing about the sensitive issues like child rights not much has changed. I hope that such moves like signing a petition together by the media fraternity can alter things and change mindsets. I know it won’t happen right away but in the future gradually a change can be brought in if repeated efforts are made to highlight such issues effectively.”

And efforts to ensure that consistent attempts are made to address children’s issues regularly, organizations like UNICEF Lucknow too are playing an important part in sensitizing the media in the city towards issues related to children.

Their fortnightly programme Media for Children held at the Lucknow Press Club has served as a effective catalyst to take the discussions on child rights to a appropriate level by the media.

Says Augustine Veliath, Communications Specialist, UNICEF Lucknow, “I have never before seen media respond to children’s issues as a group. They have openly told the state government that they are tired of reporting on children’s issue after issue and not seen any action to stop their victimization. It’s remarkable as they have taken this stand in the 20th year of the Convention for the Rights of The Child. I believe that media has a great role to play in protecting children and this joint petition by the media bears testimony to that. Media is the voice of the voiceless and children have no voice of their own. I am very thrilled that the media in Lucknow have regrouped to give children a voice.”

And what is the government speak on the petition?

On receiving the petition and going through the contents Vijay Shanker Pandey, Chief Cabinet Secretary expressed his concern over the issue and assured Director Saaksham Foundation that he will be looking into the matter and also call a meeting to discuss setting up a Child Protection Unit in UP soon.

Shantha Sinha, Chairperson, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights who also received a copy of the petition expressed her concern over the fact that children were being subjected to such brutal attacks and said she will take up the matter strongly and also expedite the process of setting up a State Commission for Protection of Child Rights in UP.

Amen to that!

Anjali Singh

(The author is a Special Correspondent to Citizen News Service (CNS) and also the Director of Saaksham Foundation. Email: anjali@citizen-news.org)


Published in:
Citizen News Service (CNS), India/Thailand
Elites TV News, USA
Wikio.com, UK
Celebrifi.com

Lack of immunization ups fatal diseases like diphtheria

Lack of immunization ups fatal diseases like diphtheria
Kulsum Mustafa

Low percentage of routine immunization in Uttar Pradesh is resulting in the resurgence of diseases like diphtheria and whooping cough in children. While in some districts of UP, immunization is less then 20 percent, in others it is between 20-40 percent. Professor (Dr) Yogesh Govil from Department of Paediatrics, Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University (CSMMU, upgraded King George's Medical College - KGMC) said that in Tamil Nadu the immunization is 92 percent while in Karnataka it is 84 per cent.

Professor Govil gave this information in his presentation titled ‘Routine immunization-bitter facts’. Prof Govil was interacting with the journalists at ‘Media for Children’ programme, a bi- monthly media- sensitization event held at the UP Press Club on Friday, 25 December 2009. The programme was organized by Media Nest, a forum working for the welfare of journalists and their families and is supported by UNICEF.

Vaccinations for diphtheria, whooping cough, polio, tetanus and measles are necessary and a right of every child. Prof Govil said that when we do not give these life-saving vaccinations to our children we subject them to life threatening diseases. The doctor bemoaned the fact that the lack of immunization is resulting in the resurgence of these diseases and the results are fatal in many cases.

“All these vaccinations just cost less then Rs 5, but they provide the child with an armour of health,” said Dr Govil adding that only after a child gets all these vaccinations that we can say that he is 100 per cent immunized.

“We got 107 cases of diphtheria in our hospital but could only save 41. Sixty six children were lost because somebody somewhere did not think it important that the child was given the vital and necessary vaccination for diphtheria,” said Dr Govil.

Urging the media to come forward and help in focusing the attention of the masses on this issue Dr Govil said that it is important that those who draft and execute the state health policies are subjected to greater accountability.

On a suggestion by a scribe whether the government focus and priority being pulse polio has affected the routine immunization he answered in the affirmative. However he agreed to a suggestion coming from another journalist in the audience that routine immunization be linked the pulse polio programme.

Kulsum Mustafa
(The author is a senior journalist and Secretary-General of Media Nest)

Published in:
Citizen News Service (CNS),India/Thailand
Elites TV News, USA
International News and views.com
Twitter.com
Celebrifi.com
Wikio.com

Lack of immunization ups fatal diseases like diphtheria

Lack of immunization ups fatal diseases like diphtheria
Kulsum Mustafa

Low percentage of routine immunization in Uttar Pradesh is resulting in the resurgence of diseases like diphtheria and whooping cough in children. While in some districts of UP, immunization is less then 20 percent, in others it is between 20-40 percent. Professor (Dr) Yogesh Govil from Department of Paediatrics, Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University (CSMMU, upgraded King George's Medical College - KGMC) said that in Tamil Nadu the immunization is 92 percent while in Karnataka it is 84 per cent.

Professor Govil gave this information in his presentation titled ‘Routine immunization-bitter facts’. Prof Govil was interacting with the journalists at ‘Media for Children’ programme, a bi- monthly media- sensitization event held at the UP Press Club on Friday, 25 December 2009. The programme was organized by Media Nest, a forum working for the welfare of journalists and their families and is supported by UNICEF.

Vaccinations for diphtheria, whooping cough, polio, tetanus and measles are necessary and a right of every child. Prof Govil said that when we do not give these life-saving vaccinations to our children we subject them to life threatening diseases. The doctor bemoaned the fact that the lack of immunization is resulting in the resurgence of these diseases and the results are fatal in many cases.

“All these vaccinations just cost less then Rs 5, but they provide the child with an armour of health,” said Dr Govil adding that only after a child gets all these vaccinations that we can say that he is 100 per cent immunized.

“We got 107 cases of diphtheria in our hospital but could only save 41. Sixty six children were lost because somebody somewhere did not think it important that the child was given the vital and necessary vaccination for diphtheria,” said Dr Govil.

Urging the media to come forward and help in focusing the attention of the masses on this issue Dr Govil said that it is important that those who draft and execute the state health policies are subjected to greater accountability.

On a suggestion by a scribe whether the government focus and priority being pulse polio has affected the routine immunization he answered in the affirmative. However he agreed to a suggestion coming from another journalist in the audience that routine immunization be linked the pulse polio programme.

Kulsum Mustafa
(The author is a senior journalist and Secretary-General of Media Nest)

Published in:
Citizen News Service (CNS),India/Thailand
Elites TV News, USA
International News and views.com
Twitter.com
Celebrifi.com
Wikio.com

Let Heaven And Earth Rejoice

Let Heaven And Earth Rejoice

It is Christmas time once again. It is the season of rejoicing; of giving and receiving; of raising our hands in Thanksgiving. Christmas no longer belongs merely to the Christians. It is more of a universal celebration. The festivities of Christmas have seeped into the ethos of all nations. As I write this, I am inhaling deep, the festive spirit pervading the streets of a misty morning Bangkok, whose 92% population, of over 6 million, is Buddhist and a mere 1% Christians. Yet, there are fairy tinsel lights, white Christmas trees (a few coloured ones too, but none green) and breathtaking decorations in and outside the malls. The petite Thai waitresses, even in small eating joints, have donned red pixie caps and the warm air of the city reverberates with the sounds of laughter and joy. The peak tourist season adds to the gaiety, with honeymooning couples strewn all over the place.

Santa Claus, or Father Christmas (can’t we have Mother Christmas? was the innocent remark of my friend’s 5 year old son) has long overpowered the infant Jesus Christ. We now have even the ‘Best Santa’ contests, with Jimmy Chan of Hong Kong being voted this year’s top Santa Claus of the world. The corporate world has added its own embellishments by way of greeting cards, expensive gifts, Christmas Eve Balls, special Christmas dinners, etal. I wonder, if the proverbial stockings are still hung in homes (we did that in our very Hindu home), as the modern day gifts would rarely fit into them. So it is more of a display of wealth and an excuse to splurge in the ever expanding shopping malls. The humble manger, with the infant Jesus swathed in rags, is almost forgotten. Yet, there have been some well meaning improvisations. The Green Santa Claus from Japan, who instead of doling out gifts, talks about preserving the environment to have peaceful and beautiful Christmas times in future.

The birth of Christ is an event which teaches humanity the lessons of austerity and humility. It teaches us to respect the poorest of the poor and to accept the graces, as well as tribulations of life with equanimity. Let Christmas not be reduced to a fashionable and commercial venture. Let us not forget the real meaning of Christmas, which is of forgiveness and humility. Let the massed ringing of cash registers in shopping malls not drown the jingling of the reindeer’s bells, bringing joy to the uncluttered hearts of children.

Yet, this time of the Yuletide season, always reaffirms my faith in the goodness of humankind. It really seems that God is in her place in heaven and all is right with the world. So be it. May peace and goodwill always prevail on earth.

A Merry Christmas and A Very Happy New Year to all of you, from Citizen News Service.

Shobha Shukla

(The author is the Editor of Citizen News Service (CNS), has worked earlier with State Planning Institute, UP, and teaches Physics at India's prestigious Loreto Convent. Email: shobha@citizen-news.org, website: www.citizen-news.org)

Published in:
Citizen News Service (CNS), India/Thailand
Twitter.com
Elites TV News, USA

Let Heaven And Earth Rejoice

Let Heaven And Earth Rejoice

It is Christmas time once again. It is the season of rejoicing; of giving and receiving; of raising our hands in Thanksgiving. Christmas no longer belongs merely to the Christians. It is more of a universal celebration. The festivities of Christmas have seeped into the ethos of all nations. As I write this, I am inhaling deep, the festive spirit pervading the streets of a misty morning Bangkok, whose 92% population, of over 6 million, is Buddhist and a mere 1% Christians. Yet, there are fairy tinsel lights, white Christmas trees (a few coloured ones too, but none green) and breathtaking decorations in and outside the malls. The petite Thai waitresses, even in small eating joints, have donned red pixie caps and the warm air of the city reverberates with the sounds of laughter and joy. The peak tourist season adds to the gaiety, with honeymooning couples strewn all over the place.

Santa Claus, or Father Christmas (can’t we have Mother Christmas? was the innocent remark of my friend’s 5 year old son) has long overpowered the infant Jesus Christ. We now have even the ‘Best Santa’ contests, with Jimmy Chan of Hong Kong being voted this year’s top Santa Claus of the world. The corporate world has added its own embellishments by way of greeting cards, expensive gifts, Christmas Eve Balls, special Christmas dinners, etal. I wonder, if the proverbial stockings are still hung in homes (we did that in our very Hindu home), as the modern day gifts would rarely fit into them. So it is more of a display of wealth and an excuse to splurge in the ever expanding shopping malls. The humble manger, with the infant Jesus swathed in rags, is almost forgotten. Yet, there have been some well meaning improvisations. The Green Santa Claus from Japan, who instead of doling out gifts, talks about preserving the environment to have peaceful and beautiful Christmas times in future.

The birth of Christ is an event which teaches humanity the lessons of austerity and humility. It teaches us to respect the poorest of the poor and to accept the graces, as well as tribulations of life with equanimity. Let Christmas not be reduced to a fashionable and commercial venture. Let us not forget the real meaning of Christmas, which is of forgiveness and humility. Let the massed ringing of cash registers in shopping malls not drown the jingling of the reindeer’s bells, bringing joy to the uncluttered hearts of children.

Yet, this time of the Yuletide season, always reaffirms my faith in the goodness of humankind. It really seems that God is in her place in heaven and all is right with the world. So be it. May peace and goodwill always prevail on earth.

A Merry Christmas and A Very Happy New Year to all of you, from Citizen News Service.

Shobha Shukla

(The author is the Editor of Citizen News Service (CNS), has worked earlier with State Planning Institute, UP, and teaches Physics at India's prestigious Loreto Convent. Email: shobha@citizen-news.org, website: www.citizen-news.org)

Published in:
Citizen News Service (CNS), India/Thailand
Twitter.com
Elites TV News, USA

Another Setback in Noor Bano case

Another Setback in Noor Bano case

Anjali Singh, CNS

Once again the case of seven year old Noor Bano came to a dead end on Dec 22 with the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) forwarding the case to the government Railway Police (GRP) for ivestigation and action. The case was first brought before them for hearing by Saaksham Foundation on Dec 15.

While the CWC remained indecisive then, yesterday on Dec 22 a three member committee comprising of Dr VV Brigeetha, DK Chaudhary and Shyam Kumar again sat on judgment of the case and issued a letter to GRP Police once again to investigate the case.

The CWC letter was delivered yesterday evening to the thana incharge of GRP seeking lodging of First Information Report in the Noor Bano case.

Interestingly what was omitted was the fact that the case had already been referred to the Krishnanagar Thana by the DGP who instructed them to lodge an FIR when the case was put up before him.

But the Krishna Nagar thana refused to lodge the FIR and forwarded it to GRP saying the case came under GRP's jurisdiction.

The CWC also did not to make use of their suo motto powers to give verbal orders to lodge an FIR to Krishnanagar Thana to investigate the case. Neither did they consider the fact that the child was in immediate need of rehabilitative care and medical compensation.

Saaksham Foundation in its letter addressed to the CWC Chairperson had categorically mentioned that the case be registered at the Krishna Nagar thana and investigation into kidnapping, physical abuse and disfiguring of the child be ordered immediately. The GRP had no jurisdiction in this case as the child had gone missing from Alambagh and is a resident of Kanausi, Manaknagar which is under the Krishnanagar Police circle.

Yet decision on the case was delayed and when a judgment was finally delivered a week later all the details were not taken into consideration and the case was forwarded to GRP.

This will not only further dilute the case but also hamper delivering of justice to the child and her family.

As requested on behalf of the child, letter from CWC should have been shot off to the DGP and the DIG Range to immediately get the FIR on the case lodged in the relevant thana so that proper investigation on the matter could begin. It should have also instructed the state officials responsible to ensure rehabilitative care due to Noor Bano her as per her right.

But none of the above was done and the buck continues to be passed on in the Noor Nano case even by the Committee which is a foremost representative and protector of child rights in UP.

Anjali Singh
(The author is a Special Correspondent to Citizen News Service (CNS) and also the Director of Saaksham Foundation. Email: anjali@citizen-news.org)

Published in:
Elites TV News, USA
Citizen News Service (CNS), India/Thailand
Tweetmeme.com
Twitter.com
Thetvrealist.com

Another Setback in Noor Bano case

Another Setback in Noor Bano case

Anjali Singh, CNS

Once again the case of seven year old Noor Bano came to a dead end on Dec 22 with the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) forwarding the case to the government Railway Police (GRP) for ivestigation and action. The case was first brought before them for hearing by Saaksham Foundation on Dec 15.

While the CWC remained indecisive then, yesterday on Dec 22 a three member committee comprising of Dr VV Brigeetha, DK Chaudhary and Shyam Kumar again sat on judgment of the case and issued a letter to GRP Police once again to investigate the case.

The CWC letter was delivered yesterday evening to the thana incharge of GRP seeking lodging of First Information Report in the Noor Bano case.

Interestingly what was omitted was the fact that the case had already been referred to the Krishnanagar Thana by the DGP who instructed them to lodge an FIR when the case was put up before him.

But the Krishna Nagar thana refused to lodge the FIR and forwarded it to GRP saying the case came under GRP's jurisdiction.

The CWC also did not to make use of their suo motto powers to give verbal orders to lodge an FIR to Krishnanagar Thana to investigate the case. Neither did they consider the fact that the child was in immediate need of rehabilitative care and medical compensation.

Saaksham Foundation in its letter addressed to the CWC Chairperson had categorically mentioned that the case be registered at the Krishna Nagar thana and investigation into kidnapping, physical abuse and disfiguring of the child be ordered immediately. The GRP had no jurisdiction in this case as the child had gone missing from Alambagh and is a resident of Kanausi, Manaknagar which is under the Krishnanagar Police circle.

Yet decision on the case was delayed and when a judgment was finally delivered a week later all the details were not taken into consideration and the case was forwarded to GRP.

This will not only further dilute the case but also hamper delivering of justice to the child and her family.

As requested on behalf of the child, letter from CWC should have been shot off to the DGP and the DIG Range to immediately get the FIR on the case lodged in the relevant thana so that proper investigation on the matter could begin. It should have also instructed the state officials responsible to ensure rehabilitative care due to Noor Bano her as per her right.

But none of the above was done and the buck continues to be passed on in the Noor Nano case even by the Committee which is a foremost representative and protector of child rights in UP.

Anjali Singh
(The author is a Special Correspondent to Citizen News Service (CNS) and also the Director of Saaksham Foundation. Email: anjali@citizen-news.org)

Published in:
Elites TV News, USA
Citizen News Service (CNS), India/Thailand
Tweetmeme.com
Twitter.com
Thetvrealist.com

Will cancer-stricken commissioner get justice on 14 January 2010?

Will cancer-stricken commissioner get justice on 14 January 2010?

Kulsum Mustafa

Mumbai: The Commissioner of Customs at Mumbai, Deepak Kumar, and members of anti-tobacco lobby are anxiously looking forward to heralding in the New Year. On 14th January, 2010, will be pronounced a landmark judgment in the case that has already gone down in annals of history. Whatever the verdict the case is India’s first such complaint to be filed by a serving officer.

Deepak Kumar has registered a case at Maharashtra Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Mumbai. on December 2. He has demanded compensation of Rs. 1 Crore (INR 10 million or USD 200,000) from ITC Ltd, Kolkatta for severe physical damages, including loss of natural voice, incurred due to tobacco consumption without awareness of the dangers posed by the product.

After nearly 40 years of regularly smoking cigarettes, he had developed throat cancer. Kumar's larynx – the voice box has been removed. So severe was his ailment that his treatment entailed two surgeries and radiation therapy, just to keep the cancer from spreading. The dream of the man who wanted to become an attorney after he retired from the Customs department today lies shattered. His resonant voice is gone Mr. Kumar can barely utter just a few words, and that also with great difficulty and after first covering the hole in his larynx with his palms. From his neck hangs a white gauze bib- an attempt to hide the gaping whole left by the surgery.

“It is not money, it is not personal vendetta, I await this judgment because it is in larger interest of tobacco consumers. The consumer must know he is inhaling and chewing poison,” Mr. Kumar told media persons at a national level media interaction organized in Mumbai by Healis Sekhsaria Institute for public Health.

The judgment Mr. Kumar hopes will make tobacco companies accountable, pressurize government bodies to curb tobacco products in India and make public aware of the ill effects of tobacco and draw attention to the hardships faced by users of tobacco.

“I have seen death, pain and suffering. On the hospital bed I took a vow- if I survive I will devote my entire life to anti-tobacco campaign. I do not want others to suffer what I have…... “ says Mr. Kumar, his voice choked with emotions. Mr. Kumar was operated in the Tata Memorial Hospital in November 2008.

Not able to take on the strain of speaking through prosthetic voice box Mr. Kumar addressed the media through power point presentation. He went on to describe his journey from a 16 year old boy, thrilled and excited at smoking his first cigarette. In the next 40 years the number increased to 40 sticks a day. In those days there was no warning about cigarette smoking being injurious to health. This came to be printed on cigarette packs only in mid eighties. "If I had made an informed choice 40 years ago, it would be a different story. But when I began smoking, which started as just a cigarette or two during my pre-college and early college days, there were no warnings. Nothing. How could I -- or the millions of others in India who started then -- have known that cigarette smoking is more addictive than heroin? It was intentionally made glamorous, through marketing. I used to smoke Wills Navy Cut, an ITC brand. I'll never forget that advertisement campaign they ran: a beautiful young girl, a handsome young man, and between them a pack of Wills Navy Cut. The slogan? Made for each other," said Mr. Kumar in a remorseful voice.

"More than anything, I regret smoking that first cigarette. Ultimately, it ruined my life. How many more lives must be ruined by tobacco in this country?" he asks, adding that education and awareness for the people is the most important step especially in India which has more tobacco users than almost any country in the world.

Kulsum Mustafa
(The author is a senior journalist and Secretary-General of Media Nest)

Published in:
Citizen News Service (CNS), India/Thailand
Elites TV News, USA
World News Report
Inbox Robot News, Robot
Health Care Industry Today
Tobacco Industry Today
Rediff News.com
Twitter.com

Will cancer-stricken commissioner get justice on 14 January 2010?

Will cancer-stricken commissioner get justice on 14 January 2010?

Kulsum Mustafa

Mumbai: The Commissioner of Customs at Mumbai, Deepak Kumar, and members of anti-tobacco lobby are anxiously looking forward to heralding in the New Year. On 14th January, 2010, will be pronounced a landmark judgment in the case that has already gone down in annals of history. Whatever the verdict the case is India’s first such complaint to be filed by a serving officer.

Deepak Kumar has registered a case at Maharashtra Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Mumbai. on December 2. He has demanded compensation of Rs. 1 Crore (INR 10 million or USD 200,000) from ITC Ltd, Kolkatta for severe physical damages, including loss of natural voice, incurred due to tobacco consumption without awareness of the dangers posed by the product.

After nearly 40 years of regularly smoking cigarettes, he had developed throat cancer. Kumar's larynx – the voice box has been removed. So severe was his ailment that his treatment entailed two surgeries and radiation therapy, just to keep the cancer from spreading. The dream of the man who wanted to become an attorney after he retired from the Customs department today lies shattered. His resonant voice is gone Mr. Kumar can barely utter just a few words, and that also with great difficulty and after first covering the hole in his larynx with his palms. From his neck hangs a white gauze bib- an attempt to hide the gaping whole left by the surgery.

“It is not money, it is not personal vendetta, I await this judgment because it is in larger interest of tobacco consumers. The consumer must know he is inhaling and chewing poison,” Mr. Kumar told media persons at a national level media interaction organized in Mumbai by Healis Sekhsaria Institute for public Health.

The judgment Mr. Kumar hopes will make tobacco companies accountable, pressurize government bodies to curb tobacco products in India and make public aware of the ill effects of tobacco and draw attention to the hardships faced by users of tobacco.

“I have seen death, pain and suffering. On the hospital bed I took a vow- if I survive I will devote my entire life to anti-tobacco campaign. I do not want others to suffer what I have…... “ says Mr. Kumar, his voice choked with emotions. Mr. Kumar was operated in the Tata Memorial Hospital in November 2008.

Not able to take on the strain of speaking through prosthetic voice box Mr. Kumar addressed the media through power point presentation. He went on to describe his journey from a 16 year old boy, thrilled and excited at smoking his first cigarette. In the next 40 years the number increased to 40 sticks a day. In those days there was no warning about cigarette smoking being injurious to health. This came to be printed on cigarette packs only in mid eighties. "If I had made an informed choice 40 years ago, it would be a different story. But when I began smoking, which started as just a cigarette or two during my pre-college and early college days, there were no warnings. Nothing. How could I -- or the millions of others in India who started then -- have known that cigarette smoking is more addictive than heroin? It was intentionally made glamorous, through marketing. I used to smoke Wills Navy Cut, an ITC brand. I'll never forget that advertisement campaign they ran: a beautiful young girl, a handsome young man, and between them a pack of Wills Navy Cut. The slogan? Made for each other," said Mr. Kumar in a remorseful voice.

"More than anything, I regret smoking that first cigarette. Ultimately, it ruined my life. How many more lives must be ruined by tobacco in this country?" he asks, adding that education and awareness for the people is the most important step especially in India which has more tobacco users than almost any country in the world.

Kulsum Mustafa
(The author is a senior journalist and Secretary-General of Media Nest)

Published in:
Citizen News Service (CNS), India/Thailand
Elites TV News, USA
World News Report
Inbox Robot News, Robot
Health Care Industry Today
Tobacco Industry Today
Rediff News.com
Twitter.com

Orphanages are viable options for some children: Study

Orphanages are viable options for some children: Study

A Duke University study of more than 3,000 orphaned and abandoned children in five Asian and African countries has found that children in institutional orphanages fare as well or better than those who live in the community.

The findings contrast sharply with research that associates institutions with poorer health and well-being, and the policies adopted by many international agencies/governments.

"Our research is not saying that institutions are better. What we found is that institutions may be a viable option for some kids," said study leader Kathryn Whetten, director of the Center for Health Policy at the Duke Global Health Institute. "As the number of orphans continues to rise worldwide, it is vital not to discount orphanages before assessing whether they are harmful to the millions of children for whom they care."

Whetten’s research team compared the physical health, cognitive functioning, emotion, behaviour and growth of orphaned or abandoned children ages 6-12, half of them living in institutions and the other half dwelling in the community. The study found that children in institutions in five countries reported significantly better health scores, lower prevalence of recent sickness and fewer emotional difficulties than community dwelling children. These findings suggest the overall health of children in orphanages is no worse than that of children in communities.

The research team has been following the 3,000 orphans involved in the study for three years, and they plan to continue tracking them into their late teens and early 20s to determine how their childhood affects their life course.

Published in the interactive open-access journal PLoS ONE, this is one of the most comprehensive studies of orphans ever conducted. Data were collected between May 2006 and February 2008 from children and their caregivers in 83 institutional care settings and 311 community clusters. The study assessed five culturally, politically and religiously-distinct countries that face rising orphan populations. Sites included Cambodia, Ethiopia, Hyderabad and Nagaland in India, Kenya, and Tanzania.

"Very few studies cross a span of countries like ours does," said Whetten. "The design flaw of past studies is that they compared a small number of orphanages against community houses. Those limited results can’t be generalized to other places."

Some of the most influential studies on child institutions were conducted in eastern bloc countries. But the greatest burden of orphans and abandoned children is in sub-Saharan Africa and Southern and Southeastern Asia.

Of the estimated 143 million orphans and abandoned children worldwide, roughly half reside in South and East Asia, according to UNICEF. An estimated 12 percent of all children in Africa will be orphaned by next year as a result of malaria, tuberculosis, pregnancy complications, HIV/AIDS and natural disasters, according to the World Health Organization.

The Duke study included less formal institutions in Asia and Africa that were not studied before, and not easily recognized. Researchers spent the first six months meeting with members of each community to identify and map orphanage locations. In Moshi, Tanzania, the research team found 23 orphanages, after initially learning of just three from local government officials.

"What people don't understand is that, in many cases, the institutions are the community’s response to caring for orphaned and abandoned children," said Whetten. "These communities love kids and as parents die, children are left behind. So, the individuals who love children most and want to care for them build a building and that becomes an institution. These institutions do not look or feel like the images that many in this country have of eastern bloc orphanages, they are mostly places where kids are being loved and cared for and have stable environments."

The research findings run contrary to global policies held by childrens rights organizations such as UNICEF and UNAIDS, which recommend institutions for orphaned and abandoned children only as a last resort, and urge that such children be moved as quickly as possible to a residential family setting.

"This is not the time to be creating policies that shut down good options for kids. We need to have as many options as possible," said Whetten. "Our research just says ‘slow down and let’s look at the facts.' It’s assumed that the quality of care-giving is a function of being institutionalized, but you can change the care-giving without changing the physical building."

Whetten said more studies are needed to understand which kinds of care promote child well-being. She believes successful approaches may transcend the structural definitions of institutions or family homes.

"Let's get beyond labeling an institution as good or bad," she said. "What is the quality of care inside that building, and how can we help the community identify cost-feasible solutions that can be delivered in small group homes, large group homes and family homes?”

The study was supported by grants from the National Institute of Child Health and Development. Other Duke researchers involved in the study include Rachel Whetten, Jan Ostermann, Nathan Thielman, Karen O’Donnell, Brian Pence and Lynne Messer.

Published in:
Elites TV News, USA
Citizen News Service (CNS), India/Thailand
Science Daily News
Newspond.com
Redtram.international
Daylife.com
Wopular.com
Tweetmeme.com
Astonmartinnews.com
Iplextra.indiatimes.com
Physorg.com
Hivatlas.org
Newssurfwax.com
Twitter.com
Religion Today
Psychnews.com
Megite Health News
Newstin News, UK
Wikio.com, UK
News.duke.com, Duke
The Herald.sun
Top News, USA