1/2018

Is Modern Life Making us Lonely?

ecently, UK appointed a ‘Minister for Loneliness’. The decision Rcomes in the wake of the 2017 report, published by the Jo Cox Commission, set up by late British MP Jo Cox on ‘loneliness’. The report indicated that nearly 14 percent of the UK’s population, often or always feel lonely. Before her death, Cox had identified ‘loneliness’ as serious problem plaguing her constituents and wished to initiate “start a conversation” and to combat it. The harsh reality of today’s modern life is that loneliness has become pervasive in recent decades in our increasingly disconnected society. Some believe loneliness – a health crisis, some even call it an epidemic. In India, we are often eager to dismiss emotional health issues as being problems peculiar to the West. We fail to understand that collectivism is not the remedy to isolation, and surrounding oneself with friends and family does not actually ensure mental well-being. In the past several decades, the sudden boom of global technological advancement has created gatherings of more unlike people, such as from different cultural backgrounds. The social structures of modern society have created large cities full of people who are physically present but emotionally disconnected. Increasing globalisation and digitisation has formed a society plagued with loneliness and isolation. Consequently, this produces more potential for social stress and higher barriers to inter-personal relationships. Social isolation can aggravate a person’s feeling of low self-worth, frustration, depression and other mental health concerns. Moreover, a number of studies have found a link between social media use and declines in well-being. Though social media allows us to be connected to our near and dear ones 24x7, a new study carried out by the University of Pittsburgh in US, has discovered that the increasing use of social media is making people feel lonelier. Although it is not clear whether social media causes loneliness, or whether it is just that already lonely people are more likely to spend longer on social networks. www.google.com Unsurprisingly, isolation can have a serious detrimental effect on one’s mental and physical health. Sadly, India ranked a lowly 122, on a list of the world’s happiest countries, dropping four slots from last year in the 2013-2015 report, which ranks 155 countries by their happiness levels. “The World Happiness Report continues to draw global attention around the need to create sound policy for what matters most to people – their well-being”, stated Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, I N S I D E Columbia University, producing the report. Nevertheless, to ensure a better quality of life, we should think about how space W WWI Indian Soldiers Statues around us is designed and constructed, and should constantly explore that what makes us happy in life? W Representing Voice of Youth At its best, anticipation of loneliness might motivate a person to reach out and cultivate friendships, which is the healthiest thing to do if s/he is stressed, depressed Pune Tops Urban Governance W and alone. Survey One should always remember: “We are not al-one, we are all-one”.

W Best Performing State Pradeep S Mehta, Secretary General W All-Women Railway Station Miscellany WOMEN’S SPECIAL WWI Indian Soldiers Statues France-based Interfaith Shaheedi Jaya Bachchan could be Richest MP Commemoration Association has announced Renowned Indian actress and Samajwadi Party (SP) Member that statues in the memory of Indian soldiers, of Parliament (MP) from Uttar Pradesh, Jaya Bachchan could who sacrificed their lives in World War I well be the country’s richest MP with declared assets of M1,000 (WWI), would be installed at Neuve-Chapelle, crore. Jaya, who recently filed her nomination as an SP Richebourg in France. candidate for the Rajya Sabha polls, had declared assets worth M493 crore in 2012. According to her affidavit, Jaya and her husband Amitabh Bachchan have immovable assets worth more than M460 crore, which is over twice of the M152 crore they owned in 2012. The value of their movable assets too rose from around M343 crore in 2012 to around M540 crore. (ToI, 14.03.18) Ageless Goddess A 44-year-old Yang Dan has been a weather girl at The Association Head, Ramesh Chander China’s state broadcaster Vohra said that the statues would be featuring CCTV for over 22 years, soldiers of four major Indian faiths – Sikhs, but what is most Hindus, Muslims and Christians. Vohra was remarkable about her long flanked by France-based Punjabi activist Iqbal career is that she does not Singh Bhatti, apart from other members of seem to have aged a day the Association. The statues would be installed during that time. just outside a memorial raised in the memory Everyone started calling her an ‘ageless goddess’ after the producers of of Indian soldiers who fought and lost their her weather programme released a compilation video of her 22-year career lives in WW1. (ToI, 23.01.18) for ‘International Woman’s Day’. The video shows clearly that why people came up with that pompous nickname as Yang Dan looks presently as Obsession for GM Messages young as she did, when she was 22. (http://www.odditycentral.com, 13.02.18) According to American newspaper ‘The Wall Street Journal’, there ‘has been’ a 10- Introducing ‘Jane Walker’ Women fold increase in the number of Google Johnnie Walker, a brand of scotch whisky is now owned searches for ‘Good Morning (GM)’ images by Diageo that originated in the Scottish town of over the past five years. Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire (UK). The brand was first A survey by data-storage firm ‘Western established by grocer John Walker, is rolling out a female Digital’ found that one in three smartphone version of its iconic logo to draw more women to the users in India run out of space daily compared world’s best-selling scotch and acknowledge a broader with one in 10 in the US. push toward gender equality. WhatsApp said more than 20 billion New Brand owner Diageo Plc is hoping the move widens the appeal of the Year’s messages were sent in India, a record, product while celebrating women, stated Stephanie Jacoby, Vice President and more than any other country. Inexpensive of Johnnie Walker. (Mint, 27.02.18) smartphones and data plans have brought thousands of people online. (BL, 23.01.18) SC Reversed its Order India’s Supreme Court has reversed its previous order that the national Air Traffic Doubles anthem must be played in every cinema before a film is screened. The India’s domestic air traffic nearly doubled Supreme Court order came in response to a government request to reconsider to 117 million passengers in 2017 with 100 the controversial ruling. flights taking off every hour compared with The film club had argued that forcing cinemas to play the national 67 in 2011, revealed a data released by anthem and insisting people to stand, while it was being played “infringes Aviation Regulator Directorate General of Civil fundamental rights”, and talked about the false equivalence between an Aviation (DGCA). India’s airlines flew 117.18 “outward show of respect” and an “actual sentiment of respect”. million passengers in 2017, compared to (http://www.bbc.com, 09.01.18) 59.87 million in 2011. They also registered an 18 percent growth over the 99.88 million Impact of Jiyo Parsi Scheme passengers who flew in 2016. Over 130 babies were born since the Indian government launched the Data showed airlines like Air India, Jiyo Parsi scheme in 2013, to address the Parsi community’s declining InterGlobe Aviation Pvt. Ltd.-run IndiGo, population, states a foundation associated with implementation of the initiative. SpiceJet Ltd., Jet Airways (India) Ltd. and GoAir The population of Parsis plunged from 1.14 lakh in 1941 to 57,264 in were able to fly fuller flights in 2017 – flights 2011. The average of Parsi children born annually over the last two decades were 86.1 percent full in 2017, compared was around 200, stated Shernaz Cama, Director, Parzor Foundation project, with 75.5 percent in 2011. (Mint, 24.01.18) which aims to reverse the downward trend. (ToI, 22.01.18)

2 Miscellany

Representing Voice of Youth by the Russian-linked automated Hiro Nakauchi, who pioneered the The World Economic Forum (WEF) accounts during the same period of time, research at the University of Tokyo, grew has selected four Indians to represent the company said in documents by the a mouse with a rat pancreas, and a rat the voice of youth at the forthcoming Senate Judiciary Committee. with a mouse pancreas. When cells from annual meeting at Davos in Switzerland. (DNA, 31.01.18) the rat-grown mouse pancreas were They include Kanika Kumar, Associate transplanted into a diabetic mouse, they Vice-President at Intellecap; Dipika ‘Unwanted’ Girls in India made enough insulin to cure the Prasad, Co-founder, Lakeer; Jaideep The Economic Survey presents the condition without being rejected. Bansal, Leader, Energy Access, Global first ever estimate of the number of (FT, 19.02.18) Himalayan Expedition; and Karanvir ‘unwanted’ girls in India – girls whose Singh, Chairman, Visionum group. parents wanted a boy, but had a girl Chatting with the Dead All of them are members of the Global instead – at 21 million. The number A funeral agency in Sweden is Shapers (a WEF initiative), which is a has been arrived at, by looking at the currently seeking volunteers for a youth-led organisation with 7,000 sex ratio of the last child which is project that it hopes will offer people members across 150 countries working heavily male-skewed. comfort by allowing them to speak to to bring about a positive change in their The biologically determined natural their deceased loved-ones. communities. (BL, 08.01.18) sex ratio at birth is 1.05 boys for every girl. The Survey points out that in India, Artificial Heart with Rocket the sex ratio of the last child is skewed Chinese scientists towards male all throughout – for first- have developed an born, it is 1.82, 1.55 for second born, artificial heart using 1.65 for third child and so on. rocket technology, and (IE, 30.01.18) it is currently undergoing testing after Nominees for Worst of Hollywood Swedish scientists are not trying to thorough experiments Adventure Hollywood movie create robots or androids that are fully on animals, stated a ‘Transformers: The Last Knight’ led conscious copies of dead relatives. This media report. nominations for the Annual Razzie is actually about a Swedish funeral The artificial heart has been sent Awards for the worst films on list agency called Fenix wanting to create for testing and inspection after thorough packed with previous Oscar winners bots (computer programmes not robots) experiments on animals, ‘Science and powered by artificial intelligence that Technology Daily’ reported, citing Li can offer comfort to living relatives of Hong, Former Director of China the deceased. Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (http://www.odditycentral.com, 27.02.18) (CALT) from the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Pune Tops Urban Governance Survey Corporation. The artificial heart uses Pune came on top in the fifth magnetic and fluid levitation from a edition of the Annual Survey of India’s rocket system. (ToI, 15.03.18) City-Systems (ASICS), edging out Jennifer Lawrence, Tom Cruise, Mel Thiruvananthapuram, which had Sharing Tweets 470k Times Gibson and Russel Crowe. topped the previous two editions of Russian-linked automated Twitter ‘Transformers: The Last Knight’, the the survey. Bengaluru was ranked at accounts shared US President Donald latest in the action franchise based on the bottom. Trump’s tweets toys that change from robots to vehicles, almost half a earned nine nominations, comprising million times worst acting nods for many of its star- during the final studded cast, including Anthony Hopkins months of the and Wahlberg. Despite lacklustre 2016 election, reviews, the 5th film in the series earned Twitter stated in a submission to a healthy US$605mn at the worldwide Thiruvananthapuram dropped two Congress. box office in 2017. (ToI, 23.01.18) ranks to be placed third out of 23 The automated programmes, or bots, cities spread across 20 states in the retweeted the Republican candidate’s Human Organs in Animals survey done by urban governance @realDonaldTrumpposts almost Researchers from the US and Japan watchdog Janaagraha Centre for 470,000 times, accounting for a little have succeeded in using stem cell and Citizenship and Democracy, which more than 4 percent of the retweets he genomic editing technologies to transfer evaluated the quality of governance received from September 01 to human cells into freshly generated sheep in India’s cities by assessing laws, November 15, 2016. and goat embryos. They said that the policies and institutional processes American politician Hillary Clinton’s chimeras, which contain cells from both currently in place. (Mint, 15.03.18) account got less than 50,000 retweets species, developed for up to three weeks.

3 Briefs

Airport ‘Lands’ at 11th Spot The move will further boost the Another panther’s body without Jaipur airport has reached 11th state governments effort to use its canines and claws was found position in the country in daily technology to improve the lives of recently the hills near Kerapura village scheduled flight operations. Everyday, people. These initiatives include a near Bali in Pali district, prior to 69 flights operate from here leaving dedicated start-up policy and various which the mutilated body of a many peer cities behind. Of these, E-governance measures. panther was found in the Bisalpur 60 flights are domestic while nine The online records will help hills also raising a serious question are international. research scholars, administrative – are the rosetted felines being made Recently released figures from departments of state government, targets by an organised poaching Airport Authority of India have judiciary and general public. Further, gang? (DNA, 05.03.18) revealed that Jaipur is now on 11th it will be helpful in a variety of place in the list in which Delhi and research uses including teaching Infra Projects on Fast Track Mumabai are top two airports in that purpose, building plans, publications Administrative hurdles in the way order. Goa is ahead of Jaipur due to and legal proceedings. (IT, 10.01.18) of the Dravyawati riverfront project international connectivity, but Jaipur were removed while the proposed is ahead of the coastal city in terms Shivdaspura airport got further Best Performing State of growth rate. (DNA, 27.02.18) After playing host to the launch impetus as Chief Secretary of of the pan-India expansion of the Rajasthan N C Goel held meetings Pink City Running on CNG Beti Bachao Beti Padhao programme with top officials of concerned If things move in right direction, earlier in March 2018, Rajasthan is departments. The riverfront project Jaipur will soon be joining the league all set to lead the way in the Centre’s is thus could now be dedicated to of cities like Delhi, Gurgaon, plans to overhaul the primary public this Independence day. Ahmedabad and few others city. education in the country. “The Chief Secretary reviewed Petroleum and Natural Gas The Ministry is expected to the Dravyawati riverfront project and Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has release a state-wise index soon many inter-departmental issues were selected Jaipur among cities for which follows a district-wise report resolved. On completion, the announcements bid for the city gas of all 700 districts released in ambitious riverfront project will be distribution (CGD) in coming weeks. January 2018. Senior officials at the a 47-km long eco-tourism site, “PNGRB is in the process of HRD Ministry conveyed that the integrated with water treatment identifying cities for ninth round for state has been one of the best facilities and entertainment facilities. CGD. Jaipur is one of them”, stated an performing states (including (DNA, 20.01.18) official. The availability of Compressed Karnataka and Chhattisgarh) in the Natural Gas (CNG) gas network will National Assessment Survey (NAS) Pushing for Network Expansion provide a cleaner and cheaper fuel conducted by the NCERT in 2017. Jaipur Metro is bound for a new option and CNG. (DNA, 14.03.18) (ET, 16.03.18) destination with work of new Phase IB (2.4 km) of the network likely to be completed by the end of 2018, Digitisation of Historical Records Panthers in ‘State’ of Danger With an aim to protect old and Is the Rajasthan Forest department making Phase-I (12.07 km) of the fragile documents, the Rajasthan sitting on a time bomb. It was only a project fully operational. The Jaipur government is digitising 10,000 pages week ago when the body of a panther Mero Rail Corporation (JMRC) has daily to preserve administrative and – with its paws and head chopped off got going on the detailed project historical records of Rajputanas – was recovered from near Beawar report (DPR) for its next phase of princely states. city of the state. expansion. Rajasthan Bags Top Slot aipur Municipal Corporation (JMC), which is engaged in improving the Jranking of the city in Swachh Survekshan, has added another feather in the cap. In the Citizen Feedback under Swachh Survekshan-2018, Jaipur has reached number five position among 4041 cities across the country. Whereas, Rajasthan has reached the number one position among states. Mayor Ashok Lahoti and JMC Commissioner Ravi Jain gave this information. He said that Rajasthan has reached number one rank throughout the country in the feedback through the mobile app of the Ministry of Urban As part of a joint venture with Development (MoUD). (DNA, 20.01.18) EGIS India Consulting Engineers Pvt. Ltd. and Feedback India Pvt Ltd., French firm EGIS Rail is reviewing the DPR prepared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for the 24-km-long Phase-II corridor. (FE, 19.01.18)

4 Briefs

Smart’ Cycles for Metro Riders dispensation in state revoked its Mishra said that performance of The JMRC will soon introduce recent controversial order on all the central schemes in Rajasthan eco-friendly smart cycles at Jaipur implementing a dress code for have been outstanding. Mishra Metro stations for its passengers to government-run colleges in the state. reviewed Smart City, Swachh Bharat provide last mile connectivity. Raje said the Directorate of College Mission, HRIDAY, AMRUT, ‘Housing Passengers commuting between 9.25- Education had issued the order to for All’ and other schemes along with km corridor – Mansarovar to introduce uniforms in government the Chief Secretary N C Goel. He also Chandpole can hire these Global colleges based on suggestions by praised Chief Minister Vasundhara Positioning System (GPS)-enabled student representatives. (IE, 13.03.18) Raje, Urban Development Minister cycles after downloading a mobile Shrichand Kriplani and Manjeet Singh app. Achieving ‘Digital Inclusion’ for the results Rajasthan has shown. The JMRC will fix M5 for half an Rajasthan is one of the first states (DNA, 17.03.18) hour. Initially, these services would to embrace E-governance. Currently, be provided at Chandpole and Railway at position #6, the state government State at 6th Rank in EoDB station areas. Besides, a GPS tracking, is working to make ‘digital’ a welcome Rajasthan’s ranking in ‘Ease of cashless and under public sharing phenomenon in the urban areas and Doing Business (EoDB)’ has slipped scheme, five scooters (Activa) and rural parts of the state. from top five positions as local bodies four motorcycles will be made Rajasthan aims to become a and urban improvement trusts lag available to the public by the JMRC leading start-up hub in line with the in implementing business reforms. at Mansarovar Metro station parking. existing start-up hubs like Andhra The state’s real-time ranking was third (ToI, 30.01.18 & 28.03.18) Pradesh, Kerala, etc. Bhamashah till January 2018, but now it has Yojana, E-Mitra, Rajasthan Single Sign slipped to sixth position. Govt. Seeks Public Opinion On, E-Sign, E-Sanchar, RajNet, Raj The yearly state-wise ranking will Before presenting the proposed Payment Platform, using E-Learning be based on assessment of Rajasthan Regional and Urban apps for audio visual-based smart implementation of the ‘Business Planning Bill 2018 in the ongoing state studies in schools. Reforms Action Plan’ in 2017. assembly for approval, Rajasthan There have been countless According to the data on Department government has sought suggestions initiatives implemented by the state of Industrial Policy and Promotion and objections from the public till government at the ground level to (DIPP’s) website, Rajasthan stood at February 22, 2018 on the draft. minimise corruption and increase sixth place as on February 01, 2018, “The proposed draft lets the transparency in the state residents. with an implementation score of government follow an existing master (https://inc42.com, 22.03.18) 89.97 percent. (ToI, 11.02.18) plan, or ‘direct to prepare a fresh master plan under the provision of Posting to Transgender Cop All-Women Railway Station this Act and on and from the date on For the first transgender cop of Jaipur’s Gandhi Nagar Railway which the fresh draft master plan is the state, the wait is finally over. After Station has become the first non- published, such master development a three-year-long legal battle, 25-year- suburban station in the country to plan shall ceased to be in operation’, old Ganga Kumari has been given a be completely operated by women. states the draft of the Regional and posting as a constable in Jalore Urban Planning Bill. (ToI, 12.02.18) district of Rajasthan. “When I came here, everyone congratulated me at Govt. Revokes Dress Code the barrack”, said Kumari. On March 04, 2018 the Bhartiya The posting comes three years Janata Party (BJP) government in after she cleared the constable Rajasthan, had announced a dress recruitment examination in 2015. code in state-run colleges from the Ganga is to undergo one-year From selling and checking of tickets academic year 2018-19, drawing training Jaipur. “In the medical test, I to security, all the operations will protests from students and was declared a transgender and be controlled and operated by the opposition Congress, which dubbed denied posting”, she added. 40 women. Neelam Jatav will be it as an attempt to ‘saffronise’ (ToI, 18.03.18) first woman station superintendent. institutions. Of 40, four will look after train operations, eight will do bookings, Pat on the Back The central government Uraban six will handle reservations, six will Development & Housing (UDH) check tickets and make an Secretary Durga Shankar Mishra announcement, 10 will look after commended Additional Chief Railway Police Force (RPF) while Secretary of Local Self Governance remaining six will take up other Buckling under widespread Manjit Singh for rolling out the small work. The staff will work in protests, especially by students, Chief central government’s funded three shifts of eight hours. Minister Vasundhara Raje’s schemes, in an exceptional manner. (BS, 26.02.18)

5 Opinion Raje Announces Sops for Students and Women

The Rajasthan 2018 Budget emphasises greatly on women, farmers the youth, employment, development, infrastructure and poverty

eplying to a debate on the state budget 2018-19 After drawing much flak on a press gag order last year, R presented by her in the Legislative Assembly, Rajasthan the Raje government announced subsidised home loans for Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje expressed deep concern journalists for up to M25 lakh. The government also announced over crime against women, and said the government had camera insurance schemes for photo and video journalists. decided to amend Indian Penal Code (IPC) for making This comes amid the uproar over a controversial Bill, the provisions for stricter punishment. The Rajasthan government Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill, 2017, which seeks will amend IPC for stricter punishment for offenders in to shield both serving and former judges, magistrates and cases related to crime against women, said Raje. public servants in the BJP-ruled state from being investigated The Raje government also announced several schemes for on-duty action without the government’s approval and and sops for women. The Chief Minister announced that a bar the media from reporting on allegations against them women’s wing will be opened in 28 Industrial Training without its prior sanction. Institutes (ITIs) institutes in the state to improve opportunities The Rajasthan government announced that it will recruit for women. Moreover, the government also announced that 54,000 Grade-III teachers, 9,000 Grade-II teachers across all women workers will be entitled to a total of two years state government schools. Raje also said that the enrolment of childcare leave. Class XII girl students who score more rate in state government schools have increased and 12 lakh than 85 percent in Board exams, will be given free scooters more students have registered for education. The government by the state government. announced an increase in the grants given to Aadarsh Schools. Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje announced a one-time The state will also start the first ‘Skills University’ in the loan waiver of up to M50,000 for small and marginal farmers, country to train over 2 lakh youth in various skills for better at a cost of M8,000 crore to the exchequer. job opportunities; eight new ITI’s will also be opened to this Besides, 28 primary health centres, free travel for people effect. The government also announced free Wi-Fi facilities in above 80 years of age and one attendee on half fare in the all state universities. state roadways buses, were also announced. The Chief The Raje government announced M25 lakh to cricketer Minister also declared hike in honorarium to Anganwadi Kamlesh Nagarkoti for his exceptional showing in the Under- workers and an underpass from Ramniwas garden to Delhi 19 Cricket World Cup. The government also declared a road for a better traffic management. ‘youth icon’ scheme to promote participation in sports. Meanwhile, the government’s flagship Annapurna Rasoi Besides, the government also announced several scheme, on the lines of Tamil Nadu’s Amma Canteens, to infrastructure projects in the state. “In the last four years, we provide low priced meals to the poor, also found a mention. have completed the construction and repair of 49,878 km of Raje promised that all 500 Annapurna kitchens would be roads”, mentioned Raje. functional by 2018. This has been adapted from a news published in FIRSTPOST on February 12, 2018

Sources: BL: The Hindu Business Line; BS: Business Standard; DNA: Daily News and Analysis; ET: The Economic Times; IE: The Indian Express; FE: The Financial Express; FT: Financial Times; IT: India Today; ToI: The Times of India

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