Blog

11 October 2020 –

“The figures speak for themselves and unfortunately, they are worrying: 132 million girls are still out of school and 9 million of them – compared to 3 million boys – will never even enter a classroom. In the poorest countries, only 13% of girls who manage to enroll in secondary school complete their education. Inequalities between gender and States, two mutually reinforcing inequalities, persist. If we are not careful, these inequalities will worsen tomorrow, particularly as a result of the digital revolution that we cannot allow to leave girls out in the cold.”
— Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of the International Day of the Girl Child.

Adolescent girls have the right to a safe, educated, and healthy life, not only during these critical formative years, but also as they mature into women. If effectively supported during the adolescent years, girls have the potential to change the world – both as the empowered girls of today and as tomorrow’s workers, entrepreneurs, mentors, household heads, political leaders and mothers.
Gender equality is a global priority for UNESCO, and the support of young girls, their training and their full ability to make their voices and ideas heard are drivers for sustainable development and peace.

The Government of India has also implemented several schemes to empower girls, under which “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” is one of them. Apart from this, the central and state governments are also taking initiatives and implementing various schemes. In India too, National Girl Child Day is celebrated every year on 24 January.

“When women participate in the economy, everyone benefits.” – Hillary Clinton

10 October 2020 –

World Mental Health Day (10 October) is a day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma. It was first celebrated in 1992 at the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health, a global mental health organization with members and contacts in more than 150 countries. This day, each October, thousands of supporters come to celebrate this annual awareness program to bring attention to mental illness and its major effects on peoples’ life worldwide.

World Mental Health Day is an initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH). The World Health Organization (WHO), which is the UN’s directing and coordinating authority for health, supports this event. The Mental Health Foundation is another organization that is proactive in promoting World Mental Health Day.

08 October 2020 –

The Indian Air Force on the occasion of its 86th anniversary highlighting the “untiring efforts and supreme sacrifices” made by its personnel, the Defence Ministry said on Sunday. The Indian Air Force, also known as the “Bhartiya Vayu Sena” is the air arm of the Indian Armed Forces. It was officially established on October 8, 1932. Hence, every year the Indian Air Force Day is celebrated with great enthusiasm and fervor at various Air Stations all over the country on October 8.

The Indian Air force, the air arm of the Indian Armed Forces has a primary responsibility of securing the Indian airspace and conducting aerial warfare during armed conflicts. It ranks as the fourth largest Air Force in the world
Since its inception in 1932, the Indian Air Force has had a remarkable history of achievements.

It has participated in four wars with Pakistan and one with People’s Republic of China. It has also played an important role in World War II, blocking the advance of the Japanese army to Burma.
The major operations of the Indian Air Force include Operation Poomalai, Operation Cactus, Operation Meghdoot and Operation Vijay.

Apart from the conflicts, the Indian Air Force also delivers humanitarian aid and disaster relief material during natural calamities. It has been working in the United Nation’s Peace Keeping mission as well.

The President of India holds the rank of Supreme Commander of the Indian Air Force. Former Indian cricket team captain Sachin Tendulkar also holds Indian Air force’s honorary rank of Group Captain.

The Indian Air Force has made a lot of technological advancements in the last few years. New helicopters and air crafts have been introduced. This show the progress and development in the field of creating a new benchmark each time in the history of the Indian Air Force.

The Air force parade marks the beginning of the celebration on October 8th. All the Air Force Stations conduct their respective parades at their air bases.

The wreath laying and the oath taking ceremony are usually the highlights of the celebrations. These celebrations are conducted in full military traditions. At the wreath laying ceremony, a tribute is paid to all the brave hearts of the Indian Air Force who have laid down their lives in the service of the nation.

08 October 2020 –

World Sight Day is an annual day of awareness held on the second Thursday of October, to focus global attention on blindness and vision impairment. This year, World Sight Day will take place on 8 October 2020 with the theme: Hope In Sight.

1 billion people around the world have a preventable vision impairment or one that has yet to be addressed. Reduced or absent eyesight can have major and long-lasting effects on all aspects of life, including daily personal activities, interacting with the community, school and work opportunities and the ability to access public services.

Reduced eyesight can be caused by several factors, including diseases like diabetes and trachoma, trauma to the eyes, or conditions such as refractive error, cataracts, age-related macular degeneration or glaucoma.

The majority of people with vision impairment are over the age of 50 years; however, vision loss can affect people of all ages.

#Vision First!
#Eye Care Everywhere
#Make Vision Count
#Stronger Together
#Eye Care for All

04 October 2020 –

The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. – Mahatma Gandh

World Animal Welfare Day is totally dedicated to the animals. The occasion celebrates animal life in all its forms. First started in 1931 at a convention of ecologist in Florence, Italy, the purpose of World Animal Day was to highlight the predicament faced by endangered species. Slowly, the idea grew in scope and later on included all forms of animal life. World Animal Day is celebrated in every corner of the world. October 4 is a significant day as it also marks the Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals.

World Animal Day celebrates relationship between humankind and animal kingdom. Animals play a diverse array of role in our lives. They not just enrich our lives with their support and companionship; they also make us better human beings. It is a historical journey travelled together by humans and animals. The day gives us a reason to be part of something special.

The best part about World Animal day is that it is not restricted to any one nationality, creed, religion, political belief or ideology. This festival is for those who care for animals and also for those who should care for these wonderful creations. Several organizations, animal welfare groups, schools, individuals, charitable trusts and clubs etc participate in Animal day celebration. With every passing year, number of events taking place on this day has increased substantially. The purpose is to ensure our active contributions in saving endangered species and care for all other kinds of animals. The occasion provides us a reason to unite the animal welfare movement all across the globe.

Animal welfare campaigns are launched on World Animal Day. Rescue shelters for the animals are opened in different parts of the world. Fund raising events are also organized. Schools and different groups arrange information displays. Voluntary organizations come forward to sponsor shelter to the animals.

02 October 2020 –

“We believe in peace and peaceful development, not only for ourselves but for people all over the world.” – Lal Bahadur Shastri

Shastri Jayanti’ is celebrated on 2nd October every year. It is the birthday of Lal Bahadur Shastri. Lal Bahadur Shastri was born on 2nd October, 1904 at Mughal Sarai, Uttar Pradesh, India. His father’s name was Sharda Prasad, who was a school teacher and later became a clerk in the Revenue Office at Allahabad. His mother’s name was Ramdulari Devi. He was hardly a year old when he lost his father. After the death of his father, his mother took him and his two sisters to her parent’s house.

Lal Bahadur Shastri was educated at Mughalsarai and Varanasi. He graduated with a first-class degree from the Kashi Vidyapeeth. He was given the title ‘Shastri’. He offered Satyagraha and was sentenced to imprisonment at different times. He joined the Indian independence movement in the 1921. He was deeply impressed and influenced by Mahatma Gandhi. Lastly, India became independent on 15th August, 1947. He became the second Prime Minister of India after Jawahar Lal Nehru.

Lal Bahadur Shastri showed rare quality of courage and determination during India-Pakistan war. He gave a slogan ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kissan’. He was the first person to be posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, A memorial ‘Vijay Ghat’ was built for him in Delhi. Shastri was known for his honesty and humility throughout his life. He died on 11th Jan, 1966 at Tashkent, USSR. Lal Bahadur Shastri was truly a great man who gave less importance to himself.

02 October 2020 –

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” -Mahatma Gandhi

Gandhi Jayanti is one of the three National events having the greatest importance in the life of every Indian. Commemorating Mahatma Gandhi and his contributions are what every Indian does on the day. Everybody knows him as the Father of the Nation, but it was Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose who first used this word on the death of the Kasturba Gandhi, wife of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.

Gandhi Ji was born on 2nd October 1869, and since then, he was a great leader and beloved to everyone, the nation marks his birth anniversary as Gandhi Jayanti every year. Gandhi had a strong faith in Truth and Non-Violence. Not only Indians but also foreigners find him motivational that is why United National General Assembly announced in 2007 that the 2nd October would be ‘International Day of Non-Violence’ onwards.

The President and Prime Minister of India celebrate this day by visiting Raj-Ghat in New Delhi which is the resting place of Mahatma Gandhi. They then do prayers there along with other political leaders of India. Since Gandhi Ji respected all the religions in India that is why people of different religions gather at Raj-Ghat and pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi. On Gandhi Jayanti, we get the best opportunity to tell the world what Mahatma Gandhi had done for the nation and why we should celebrate this fortunate occasion.

01 October 2020 –

“Donate your blood for a reason, let the reason to be life.”

Observation of National Voluntary Blood Donation Day in our country started on 1st October 1975, under the initiative of Indian Society of Blood Transfusion and Immunohaematology (established on 22nd October 1971) with the guidance of Mrs.K.Swaroop Krishen( a well known social worker in the field of voluntary blood donation movement in India) and Dr.J.G.Jolly, the then in charge of Blood Bank, P.G.I. Chandigarh. Since then, the 1st October of each year is being observed throughout the country as the National Voluntary Blood Donation Day. In the year 1996, National Aids Control Organisation came forward to support the observation.

The main objectives of observing this day are:-

1. To increase awareness among the peoples of this Country, the importance of voluntary blood donation.

2. To achieve 100% Voluntary Blood Donation, so as to be able to give the safest blood to the needy patients.

3. To have enough blood stock in our blood banks for any eventuality.

4. To give our thanks and reinforce the self esteem of those who donate blood voluntarily, so that they continue to do so regularly.

5. To inspire those who had not donated blood but are in good health, to start donating blood.

6. To inspire those donors who donate blood only for their relatives or friends, to donate voluntarily.

It is well known that transfusion of blood or its components is one of the very important components of the modern health care system. Many surgical and medical conditions require transfusion of blood and its components during the treatment process. Morerover in cases of mass casualties, blood transfusion playes a vital role in the life saving process. But this vital fluid called blood cannot be manufactured in factories, and someone has to donate. A healthy person within the age of 18 to 65 years, having a minimum weight of 45kg and haemoglobin 12.5 gm% can donate blood in every three month, four times a year. Blood donors are classified as voluntary and replacement. Voluntary donors are those who donate blood by his or her own will and without getting any cash or kind for donating blood and their main aim is to save a life. Replacement donors donate blood only when one of his or her relatives or friends need blood transfusion. Previously there were another type of donors known as professional or paid donors. As their blood is not considered safe for transfusion, the supreme court of this country has banned them from donating blood since 1st January 1998.

Though blood transfusion has saved many lives, this vital fluid also carries the risks of transmitting diseases. It is therefore mandatory to test every unit of blood collected for the presence or absence of five disease markers ( Transfusion transmitted infections) i.e. Human immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis-B, Hepatitis-C, syphilis and malaria. If one of the tests is positive the blood unit must be discarded. No blood or its components can be issued without testing the above five disease markers. But in the disease process there is a certain period known as the window period, and during this period the disease cannot be detected by the test done. Advanced testing facility like nucleic acid testing can only shorten the detection during the window period.

29 September 2020 –

“A healthy heart for a healthy lifestyle”

In May 2012, world leaders committed to reducing global mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by 25% by 2025. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is accountable for nearly half of all NCD deaths making it the world’s number one killer. World Heart Day is, therefore, the perfect platform for the CVD community to unite in the fight against CVD and reduce the global disease burden.

Created by the World Heart Federation, World Heart Day informs people around the globe that CVD, including heart disease and stroke, is the world’s leading cause of death claiming 17.9 million lives each year, and highlights the actions that individuals can take to prevent and control CVD. It aims to drive action to educate people that by controlling risk factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, at least 80% of premature deaths from heart disease and stroke could be avoided.

World Heart Day is a global campaign during which individuals, families, communities, and governments around the world participate in activities to take charge of their heart health and that of others. Through this campaign, the World Heart Federation unites people from all countries and backgrounds in the fight against the CVD burden and inspires and drives international action to encourage heart-healthy living across the world. We believe in a world where heart health for everyone is a fundamental human right and a crucial element of global health justice because we believe every heartbeat matters.

27 September 2020 –

World Rivers Day is a celebration of the world’s waterways. It highlights many values of our rivers, strives to increase public awareness, and encourages the improved stewardship of all rivers around the world. Rivers in every country face an array of threats, and only through our active involvement can we ensure their health in the years ahead.

In 2005, the United Nations launched the Water for Life Decade to help create a greater awareness of the need to better care for our water resources. Following this, the establishment of World Rivers Day was in response to a proposal initiated by internationally renowned river advocate, Mark Angelo.

The proposal for a global event to celebrate rivers was based on the success of BC Rivers Day, which Mark Angelo had founded and led in western Canada since 1980. A World Rivers Day event was seen by agencies of the UN as a good fit for the aims of the Water for Life Decade and the proposal was approved. River enthusiasts from around the world came together to organize the inaugural WRD event. That first event in 2005 was a great success and Rivers Day was celebrated across dozens of countries. Since then, the event has continued to grow. It is annually celebrated on the last Sunday of every September. Last year, several million people across more than 60 countries celebrated the many values of our waterways.