UN climate summit begins in Peru

Officials from over 190 nations, including India, on Monday converged here at the UN climate summit to negotiate on a new ambitious and binding deal to cut global carbon emissions, in the last chance to reach on a historic deal to be signed next year in Paris.

Negotiations have been ongoing for 20 years, as the UN continues to bring its member countries together to help curb the damaging effects of coal burning and petroleum use, among other sources of pollution.

During the 12—day summit in the Peruvian capital, countries will put forward what they plan to contribute to the 2015 pact in the form of Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) by the first quarter of 2015, well in advance of the Paris conference in December.

The Lima conference needs to provide final clarity on what the INDCs need to contain, including for developing countries who are likely to have a range of options from, for example, sector—wide emission curbs to energy intensity goals.

Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar leads India’s 17-member delegation to negotiate terms for the final agreement to be signed in Paris, which will take effect in 2020.

Ahead of the summit, a report by UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned that populous coastal cities Mumbai and Kolkata are most vulnerable to loss of life and properties due to flooding in the second half of the century.

“Never before have the risks of climate change been so obvious and the impacts so visible. Never before have we seen such a desire at all levels of society to take climate action,” said Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UN Climate Convention.

The UN report warned against extreme weather events like occurrence of heatwave, heavy precipitation, droughts, floods, cyclones and wildfire that cause damage to ecosystems and human systems in various regions.

It suggested that given the current levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and top polluters’ expected emissions in the coming years, it may be impossible to stop the planet from warming to the breaking point of 2 degrees Celsius.

Keywords: UN climate summit, Peru summit, Intended Nationally Determined Contributions, climate change

New HIV cases down by 57 per cent

The number of new HIV infections in India has come down by 57 percent and related deaths by 25 per cent in the last decade.

On World AIDS Day, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda sought people’s involvement in achieving the ambitious global goals of zero new infection and deaths.

Launching the helpline number — 1097, a digital resource centre and a supply chain management system for HIV patients, Mr. Nadda said, “It’s the work of every individual to come out and fight it (HIV) out. There should be zero discrimination against people with HIV. This should be our commitment.”

Stressing on the importance of “restraint” and “precaution”, he said it was time for people to consider their lifestyle, noting that preventive health care has become important after an era when it was considered that antibiotics can “cure everything”.

“We should be working on two fronts. We should be aware and put special emphasis on prevention and help those living with HIV and AIDS so that they face no discrimination,” he said.

Health Ministry, he said, had signed MoUs with 11 ministries for better coordination in tackling AIDS and MoUs with five more ministries are in pipeline.

The first HIV positive person was reported in 1986 in India which currently has 2.1 million affected people, the third highest in the world even as the country’s efforts in restricting its spread is considered a success by most.

Keywords: World Aids Day, December 1, HIV infections in India

Dec 02 2014 : The Times of India (Delhi)

Deadly duplication

Bikram Vohra





The great Indian paper chase would melt even the Don like ice cream in the sun

Swift code, Micr number, IFSC number, postal address and a letter from the governor attesting to your character before you can even pay your taxes. India's love affair with the paper chase continues unabated and sometimes you wonder how it all gets done and where is the need for so much duplication.You are watching this movie and this Bruce Willis type guy says in a Don Corleone voice, “Get twenty million transferred now to my other account.“ There is a whirr sound and zipadoodee, the 20 mil has gone to where the Don wanted it to go. No one wants to take him on, right, like who needs a horse's head in the bed. Imagine Bruce `the don' Willis living here and going through the procedures as they are.
I want to move five million to my offshore account now, do it. Certainly Sir, but first i need some details, what is your Micr number? What did you say? Your Micr number and your Aadhaar card number and your PAN card number and also the swift code for the bank.
Do you know who i am? Yessir but rules are rules, we cannot change them for anyone and oh please, we also need your bank's IFSC number. I practically own the bank. Sir is joking. No, i am not, i also destroy people for breakfast. We are a nationalised bank, Sir, you cannot own it. Sound of gnashing teeth.
...And we cannot transfer money without the Swift code, RBI rules, Sir. But i need the money transferred now, this moment, like they show in the movies. Move it. Pronto. Like yesterday.
We cannot do that, Sir, we are bound by rules and we also need to inform you Sir that we have a new offer for valued clients, if you invest in our `Savdhan' scheme you will get 7.5% annual interest and it is tax free and you get a platinum credit card and dinner for four in a five star restaurant but alcohol beverages are separate... There is a sobbing sound from the other side. Mr Willis is melting like ice cream in the sun.
And we also have a holiday home option where you engage in time sharing...Stop,stop, stop... How long will it take to get my money? Have you filled in form B22 and attached a copy of your returns plus two copies of an affidavit signed by a gazetted officer showing you are a citizen of the country and four photos with a white background?
Over the line there is a sound of a pistol shot. The don is dead. Do you blame Mr Willis?

ec 02 2014 : The Times of India (Delhi)

87% unaware of HIV+ status, may be infecting others

Sushmi Dey

New Delhi:





15,000 Testing Centres Fail To Check Spread

As many as 87% of HIV+ people are not even aware that they are suffering from the infection and may be unknowingly spreading the virus, according to government data.Estimates by National Aids Control Organization (Naco), which works under the ministry of health and family welfare, show over 22 million people were tested during 2013-14, of which 2,40,234 people were found HIV positive.
This included over 12,000 pregnant women who were diagnosed with the virus.
“The low level of awareness among HIV positive population is of concern because research shows that early diagnosis is crucial. It allows patients to start on treatment sooner, which can greatly reduce the risk of spreading the infection to partners. Detecting the virus early also improves health outcomes for infected patients,” said Gerald Schochetman, senior director, Infectious Diseases and Diagnostic Research, Abbott.
Government officials as well as health experts say the risk is more among the vulnerable population that practises high-risk behaviour or have higher chances of HIV prevalence. This includes sex workers, trans-genders and even long-distance truckers.
Over the years, counselling and testing centres across the country have increased with many private laboratories now offering HIV detection tests apart from the government centres. In 1997, there were just 67 HIV testing and counselling sites in India, whereas Naco data shows there over 15,000 healthcare facilities offering counselling and testing across India in 2014.
“Counselling and testing services are important components of prevention and con trol of AIDS in the country ,“ said Anand Grover, founderpresident of Lawyers Collective. Grover said instead of cutting corners with the vulnerable population by criminalizing them, government should counsel and provide them with proper care so that they do not transmit the disease further.
For the full report, log on to http:www.timesofindia.com

Special Academy for Training Teachers of Differently-Abled Students

 Given the unique challenges that need to be addressed when it comes to imparting education to differently-abled children, HRD Minister Smriti Irani has revealed that a separate academy would be established for training teachers to address the issues.

On the role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), which can help differently-abled students, Irani said at a UNESCO conference, “The academy and institutions will be developed so that teachers can be specially trained for those who are differently able and their challenges and needs are addressed within the educational system.”

The minister shared plans to engage the best of practices the world has to offer in the field of ICT and education in order to adapt to these technologies and methodologies to help citizens in the best possible way.

In this year’s general budget, there was the Madan Mohan Malviya teaching mission that acknowledges the need to train teachers to address challenges of specially-abled children. Rs 500 crore has been allocated toward this initiative by the government.

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Smriti Irani Interfering, Assertive: UGC member

When it comes to political popularity, HRD Minister Smriti Irani is getting more than she bargained for as serving UGC member, M M Ansari, has slammed the minister for being too interfering in the functioning of the commission and for taking in arbitrary decisions. Ansari has also questioned Irani’s capabilities to lead the crucial education sector as he feels that Irani is entirely dependent on a ‘well-planted bureaucracy’ and the RSS for running the ministry.

This statement has come at a time when she recently scrapped the German language to be taught as the third language in Kendriya Vidyalayas. Ansari, who has been UGC member since 2012, criticised this move as he is of the opinion that in the present scheme of things, it is important to give children the choice to pick what language they want to study.

Ansari stated, “There is excessive interference from the minister in the UGC. One saw it in the FYUP issue, or in the way the ministry first decided on the Swachh Bharat implementation in the education sector and then informed us and asked us to send a circular to universities, or in how she announced the Swami Vivekanand scholarship programme for a single girl child without consulting us. The ministry has been simply imposing decisions. Any decision of the UGC should emerge from an exercise within the UGC.”

The UGC member also slammed the appointment of Ram Shankar Katheria as Minister of State for HRD. Katheria has been in the midst of controversy over allegations that his graduation mark sheet was forged.

NSDC, DU Collaborate for Skilling Undergraduate Students 

Enhanced employment opportunities may soon be on the cards for 4 lakh undergraduate students at Delhi University. The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and DU have joined hands to introduce skill-based training programmes to improve their employability in the increasingly competitive market.

NSDC and DU have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to bring skill-based training for the undergraduate students in DU, including the School of Open Learning (SOL) and Non-Collegiate Women’s Education Board (NCWEB). The MoU was signed by Dilip Chenoy, Managing Director & CEO, NSDC and Dr. Tarun, Registrar, University of Delhi.

This programme would include systematic training, certificates of competency, and placement assistance. The programmes offered will be aligned to Qualification Packs (QP) and National Occupational Standards (NOS) developed by NSDC through Sector Skill Councils. The skills provided during the training will be measured by facilitating employment to the students post achieving certification.

The students will be given a choice to select any one skill-based course from the identified sectors in addition to the regular academic subjects. This course will be a part of applied course offered to the students and will be integrated into the time table of the participating colleges.

Post achieving certification, NSDC will ensure that its Sector Skill Councils and Training Partners who will be participating in the implementation of the program agree to 70 percent post training placement of students desiring the same.

Commenting on the partnership, Dilip Chenoy said, “The University of Delhi is one of the premier universities in the country known for its standards of education and research. NSDC is pleased and honoured to partner with DU in this initiative. This is a big opportunity for students who wish to supplement their theoretical knowledge with practical hands-on training that will improve their employability in the increasingly competitive job market in the country and transform their lives.”

With mutual understanding between DU and NSDC, up to 6 sectors per college will be introduced initially which include IT/ITES, BFSI, telecom, healthcare, automotive and media & entertainment. DU will create awareness among the students to promote and encourage enrolment in skill based courses by sharing information on its website, mass e-mailing students and actively promoting it on other social media platforms.

Every student will be awarded a joint certificate on successfully undergoing assessment as per the guidelines issued by DU and NSDC. Prior to the start of a new academic year, DU and NSDC will jointly review introducing new sectors and courses based on the demand of the industry.

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