\ SAMVAD
Kartik Shukla 3, Vik. Samvat 2080, Yugabda 5125:16 November 2023: SM 5016 (For Private Circulation Only)
1. FESTIVALS:
PRABODHINI EKADASHI: Prabodhini Ekadashi (November 23 this year), also known
as Deva Uttana Ekadashi is the Ekadashi in Shukla Paksha of the Hindu month of
Kartika. It marks the end of the four-month period of Chaturmasa, and Bhagwan
Vishnu is believed to wake up from his sleep on this day. The symbolic union of
Vishnu and Lakshmi or Tulsi Vivaha is also celebrated on this day.
2. RAM MANDIR ’PRAN-PRATISHTHA’ A GREAT MOMENT OF JOY:
HOSABALE: Addressing the media after the conclusion of Akhil Bharatiya
Karyakari Mandal meeting, Dattatreya Hosabale, Sarkaryavah of RSS, said that the
’Pran-Pratishtha’ ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, scheduled for January
22, 2024, will be a great moment of joy for everybody.
3. YOGI ADITYANATH INVITED FOR 'PRAN-PRATISHTHA' CEREMONY:
General Secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust Champat Rai and Treasurer
Govind Dev Giri Maharaj paid a visit to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi
Adityanath on November 10 and invited him for the 'Pran-Pratishtha' ceremony at
the Ram Mandir on January 22, 2024.
4. SHRI RAM JANMABHOOMI INVITATION TO MORE THAN 10 CRORE
FAMILIES: ALOK KUMAR: Around 4000 prominent saints of all Hindutva
traditions and senior social, cultural and creative leadership of the country
will participate in the ‘Pran-Pratishtha’ ceremony at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
5. ABKM BAITHAK 2023: The Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari
Mandal (ABKM) meeting of the RSS was held at Sardar Patel School in Bhuj from
November 5 to 7. It was attended by 357 representatives from 45 provinces and 11
regions, and they outlined an agenda to reinforce Sangh’s activities across the
nation, with a focus on border area security, social initiatives, and
environmental conservation.
Echoing a sentiment of national pride and identity, Hosabale referenced the
momentous progress of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir, citing the upcoming
‘Pran-Pratishtha’ ceremony scheduled to take place on January 22. From January 1
to January 15, swayamsevaks will embark on a door-to-door campaign, inviting
citizens to partake in this memorable occasion, carrying images of Shri Ram
Lalla and revered Akshat from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra.
Hosabale also shed light on the revamped training curriculum within Sangh,
emphasising tailored programmes for different age groups and focusing on
practical skills and direct contributions to various spheres of social life
during the ’shiksha varg’. With the Sangh’s mission centred on character
building and social service, the press conference highlighted the steady
expansion of Sangh’s reach, with 95,528 daily and weekly shakhas across the
country. With a goal to extend Sangh’s activities to 59,060 mandals by the
centenary year, the organisation continues to attract members from across all
age groups, with over 37 lakh swayamsevaks participating in the Guru Pujan this
year.
Reflecting on Sangh’s enduring commitment to societal welfare, Hosabale recalled
the resilient efforts of swayamsevaks during the catastrophic earthquake of 2001
and their ongoing contributions to rehabilitation and service work in various
parts of the country. He emphasised the importance of connecting communities
across regions, citing the commendable efforts of swayamsevaks from Saurashtra-Kutch
in aiding development schemes in remote areas such as Assam and Tripura,
fostering national unity and solidarity.
The press conference was attended by Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh Sunil
Ambekar, Akhil Bharatiya Sah-Prachar Pramukh Narendra Thakur, and Akhil
Bharatiya Sah-Prachar Pramukh Alok Kumar.
The meeting’s conclusion marks RSS’s continuous efforts towards nation-building
and social welfare, affirming its enduring commitment to fostering a strong,
united, and culturally enriched Bharat.
The ABKM is held bi-annually, with a March session preceding the Akhil Bharatiya
Pratinidhi Sabha and a second session between Dussehra and Diwali.
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6. THAILAND ANNOUNCES VISA-FREE ENTRY FOR BHARATIYA
CITIZENS: Thailand is scrapping visas for Bharatiya tourists in order to
boost its tourism sector. Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin told reporters
after a cabinet meeting on October 31 that between November 10, 2023 and May 10,
2024, Bharatiya tourists will be able to enter Thailand without a visa. Taiwan
has also been included in the plan in a bid to draw in more tourists as the high
season approaches. With about 1.2 million arrivals, Bharat has been Thailand’s
fourth largest source market for tourism this year after Malaysia, China and
South Korea. Inbound tourism from Bharat showed signs of growth as more airlines
and hospitality chains targeted that market.
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7. VIJAYADASHAMI UTSAVS: 39 shakhas of Sanatan Dharma
Swayamsevak Sangh SDSS Myanmar conducted Vijayadashami utsavs at 13
places in the 9 vibhags of Myanmar. More than 1100 people including around 350
bal and 400 sevikas participated in the utsavs. Demonstration of physical
activities were conducted in some vibhags while some other vibhags organised
kabaddi, kho-kho and geet competitions.
88 people participated in the Vijayadashami Utsav conducted by Parashuram Shakha
in Kansas City. Sundarji Shanmugam - President of Hindu Mandir and
Cultural center of Kansas City was the chief guest on the occasion.
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8. DIWALI CELEBRATIONS AROUND THE WORLD: On November 11,
Ayodhya broke its own Guinness World Record by lighting over 22,23,000
diyas to mark the Deepotsav celebrations on Diwali eve. Around 25,000 volunteers
lit 22.23 lakh diyas at 51 ghats of Ram Ki Paidi along the Sarayu river. High
commissioners and ambassadors of over 50 countries witnessed the Deepotsav.
The streets of Serangoon Road and Race Course Road in Little India came alive
with a brilliant display of lights and colours, embodying the spirit of Diwali
in Singapore.
In Dubai, numerous neighborhoods, including Al Mankhool, Bur Dubai,
Karama, and Al Barsha, sparkled with vibrant illuminations as residents
celebrated Diwali.
Nepal celebrated the five=day festival of lights called Tihar
which included Laxmi Puja and Gai Puja.
The Indian Cultural Association in collaboration with Swami Vivekananda Cultural
Centre in Sri Lanka organised Diwali celebrations on November 11. Governor of
Sri Lanka’s Eastern province Senthil Thondaman attended and witnessed the
cultural performances and an animation on the relevance of Diwali and Ramayana.
Around 250 people including Mayor of Bradford Councillor Gerry Barker
participated in the official switch on of Deepavali lights organized by the
Yorkshire branch of Vishwa Hindu Parishad at the Ukrainian Community Centre in
Bradford, UK.
The Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) USA along with more than 200 other
Dharmic organizations, came together to commence the fourth annual Sewa
Diwali Food Donation Drive to provide essential food supplies to local food
pantries.
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9. DIASPORA WEEK IN RIYADH: The inaugural day of the
‘Pravasi Parichay’ or Diaspora Week unfolded in Riyadh, as the Bharatiya
expatriate community came together on October 31 to celebrate National Unity
Day. Minister of State for External Affairs, V. Muraleedharan, extended his best
wishes to the attendees via a video message, emphasizing the significance of the
occasion. The Bharatiya Ambassador to Riyadh, Dr. Suhel Khan, paid tributes to
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, urging the Bharatiya diaspora to actively participate
in the ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ campaign.
10. BHARAT HANDS OVER RELIEF MATERIALS TO NEPAL: The
6.4 R magnitude of earthquake that jolted western Nepal killed 153 people and
injured 250 people on November 3.
The first consignment had arrived at Nepalgunj on November 5 and was handed over
by Naveen Srivastava, the ambassador of Bharat to Nepal, on behalf of the
Government of Bharat, to Nepal’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister
Purna Bahadur Khadka in the presence of Chief Minister of Karnali Raj Kumar
Sharma.
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11. IIT MADRAS OPENS CAMPUS IN ZANZIBAR: Zanzibar
President and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council Hussein Ali Mwinyi
inaugurated The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras Zanzibar on November
6 at the Zanzibar campus in the presence of Tanzanian officials, Bharatiya
dignitaries, faculty, and students.
In the first batch at IIT Madras Zanzibar, women comprise 40 per cent of the
total students admitted to the BS and MTech programs in Data Science and
Artificial Intelligence.
Initially, the institute will offer BS and MTech programs, however, in the
coming year, it will offer more academic programs in Data Science and Artificial
Intelligence.
The campus will have the ability to accommodate students in dorms and provide
various facilities. A press release on the occasion stated that the existing
campus in Bweleo district, located approximately 15 km south of Zanzibar Town,
is equipped with international amenities designed to meet the current needs of
students. It added that a permanent campus will be built jointly by the
Government of Zanzibar and the Government of Bharat soon.
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12. ISRO'S ADITYA-L1 SPACECRAFT CAPTURES GLIMPSE OF SOLAR
FLARES: On November 7, Bharat's solar mission spacecraft, Aditya-L1 captured
the first high-energy X-ray glimpse of solar flares. ISRO, while sharing an
update on the recent development, noted that during its first observation
period, the High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer (HEL1OS) on board
Aditya-L1 spacecraft has recorded the impulsive phase of solar flares.
13. BHARAT SUCCESSFULLY TEST-FIRES ‘PRALAY’ MISSILE:
Bharat successfully tested its surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile
(SRBM) ‘Pralay’ from Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha on November 7.
Developed by the DRDO, ‘Pralay’ is a 350-500 km short-range surface-to-surface
missile with a payload capacity of 500-1,000 kg. ‘Pralay’ was designed for
deployment along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and Line of Control (LoC).
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14. RISE IN PATENT APPLICATIONS IN BHARAT DEMONSTRATES
RISING INNOVATIVE ZEAL OF YOUTHS: PM MODI: Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi said
on November 8 that the rise in patent applications in Bharat demonstrates the
rising innovative zeal of its youths and is a very positive sign for the times
to come.
The report further said that for the first time, there were more patents filed
by Bharatiya residents as against foreign filers, indicating the country’s
fast-growing innovation ecosystem.
What is even more significant is that resident patent filings in Bharat (filed
with the Bharatiya Patent Office) rose by 47 per cent to 38,551 in 2022 and were
half of the total filings of 77,068 filed with the Bharatiya Patent Office.
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15. OBITUARY: PADMANABH B ACHARYA: An ardent
swayamsevak, Padmanabh B Acharya passed away on November 10 in Mumbai. He was
92. He was born on July 17, 1941, in Udupi, Karnataka and earned his degree from
the MGM College of Udupi. Subsequently, Acharya relocated to Mumbai to pursue
legal studies and was a key figure among the founders of the Akhil Bharatiya
Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
In her condolence message, Rashtrapati Murmu recognised him as a seasoned leader
and acknowledged his service as governor in several northeastern states .
RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat and Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale also
expressed their grief over the demise of Acharya.
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16. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Vishwa Vibhag Samyojak
Saumitra Gokhale will be travelling to Singapore and Thailand. Vishwa Vibhag Sah
Samyojak Dr. Ram Vaidya and Anil Vartak will be travelling to Thailand.
Visitors: Darshan Soni - USA, Sumesh Soman - Bali
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Good work should be done as soon as possible, and inauspicious
should be avoided as much as possible. —Sri Ramayana
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JAI SHRI RAM
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HOW CREDIBLE IS THE GLOBAL HUNGER REPORT?
Ashwani Mahajan
Once again India is ranked rather low in the Global Hunger Report, but how
credible are the criteria and methods employed in evaluation?
Like previous years, once again a
German organisation named Welt Hungerhilfe has released its 'Hunger Index' and
the hunger ranking of the countries of the world based on the same, in their
so-called Global Hunger Report 2023. In this ranking, India has once again been
placed very low at 111th position. It is noteworthy that this year 125 countries
have been included in this ranking. Last year in 2022, India was ranked 107th in
the list of 121 countries and 2021, India was ranked 101st in the ranking of 116
countries.
What they mean by this hunger index is that not only, there is a huge problem of
hunger prevalent in India, but the performance of other countries is far better
than India. If we believe the report, the performance of countries like
Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka etc., which are dependent on food supplies from
India, is much better than India. In such a situation, it is natural to raise
questions on this report. Let us try to understand the reality of hunger and its
indices in India.
There are 4 parameters to measure this Hunger Index - malnutrition, stunting in
children, underweight in children, wasting (low weight for height) and child
mortality (mortality rate in children under 5 years of age). The hunger index
based on all these parameters is estimated. Welt Hungerhilfe says that in India
this index is 28.7, which is considered very serious, whereas in Pakistan it is
26.6, due to which Pakistan is ranked at 102nd position, which is above India.
Similarly, Bangladesh is ranked at 81st position with 19.0 points and Sri Lanka
is ranked at 60th position with 13.3 points.
If we see the parameters and scales used in constructing this Hunger Index,
there are question marks on the data on one hand and the methodology on the
other. Not only the Indian government, but many other experts have summarily
rejected this report.
Child Mortality
According to of Welt Hungerhilfe’s methodology, child mortality has been a major
determinant of the hunger index. While estimating, the hunger index for the year
2023, surprisingly the child mortality rate data of 2020-21 has been taken. The
report puts India's child mortality rate at 31 per thousand.
According to the data published by the Sample Registration System of India, the
child mortality rate decreased from 35 per thousand in 2019 to 32 per thousand
in the year 2020. If this rate of decline in child mortality is considered, then
it is expected to reach 24.4 by the year 2023. In such a situation, there is no
reason why the outdated data on the child mortality rate in India should be
taken at 31 per thousand, to estimate the hunger index in India in 2023.
According to the latest data, the infant mortality rate in Pakistan is 55.8 per
thousand and the child mortality rate is higher than that. Despite this, India
is placed at 111th position in terms of hunger and Pakistan is shown at 102nd
position. The reason for this is that wrong data has been used in other scales
of the hunger index too.
There are some errors in the data of other international agencies as well. While
figures published by the Indian government were showing the infant mortality
rate at 28 per thousand in 2020, international agencies are putting it at
29.848. It is noteworthy that it’s not ethical or even legitimate to use any
data other than the official data, by any foreign or Indian agency. But this
World Hunger Report openly says that the data reported by the governments to the
United Nations don't need to only be used in this report. The rapidly improving
conditions in India may not be pleasing to the organisations working with their
malafide intentions.
Malnutrition
As far as data on malnutrition is concerned, Welt Hungerhilfe does not have any
factual data, as the household consumption survey by the concerned official
agency has not been conducted since 2011. Therefore, malnutrition figures have
been prepared based on a 'Gallup Survey' with a sample of 3000 people, the
methodology of which is also questionable, which shows malnutrition at 16.6 per
cent. It is worth noting that in reality, based on real-time health data of more
than 7 crore children, the Poshan Tracker, published that only 7.7 per cent of
children in the country were malnourished in February 2023. If we talk about
production and availability of food, India ranks 35th in the world in the latest
global ranking (2020) of 188 countries. The continuously increasing per capita
production of food grains, milk, eggs, fruits, vegetables, fish etc. confirms
that India is today producing surplus food, compared to demand.
Stunting and Wasting
Till recently, data on stunting and wasting assessed by only the National Family
Health Survey (NFHS) was available in the country. However, due to the small
sample size, the NFHS data was often questioned. Notably, a comprehensive
nutrition campaign has been launched by the Ministry of Women and Children,
Government of India, to tackle the problem of malnutrition in the country. While
NFHS used to draw conclusions based on a relatively small sample, Poshan Tracker
is publishing figures based on real-time data from more than 7 crore children,
with wasting data consistently showing that only 7.2% of India's children were
wasted, whereas Welt Hungerhilfe's Hunger Report (2023) used the wasting figure
of NFHS 2019-21, that is, 18.7 per cent.
As far as stunting is concerned, experts believe that there cannot be a single
standard of height for the entire country. Not only stunting but wasting depends
on many factors including geography, environment and genetics, apart from
nutrition. If we see, the height of Punjabi children is several inches more than
the children of the North-East. The World Health Organisation has also accepted
this.
Not only this, the Indian Government's Nutrition Campaign (Poshan Abhiyan) is
working hard to address the problem of malnutrition in the country, and
assessing the outcome periodically, recognising the same, and the World Health
Organisation has also started using the data published by Poshan Tracker. Though
there are many objections to the methodology of the Welt Hungerhilfe report,
even if the formula used by the agency is followed, to calculate the hunger
index, and if the correct data is fed i.e. child mortality rate (under 5
mortality rate) of 24.4 per thousand; if wasting and undernourishment are
considered to be 7.2 per cent and 7.7 per cent respectively (assuming other age
groups too have similar nutrition outcome), as per the data collected by Poshan
Tracker, and if stunting figures are discarded since they are not comparable,
then hunger index estimated by the author of this article, comes out to be
9.528. Accordingly, as per the formula of Welt Hungerhilfe, India's ranking in
the hunger index is not 111th but 48th.
It is natural that after the report of Welt Hungerhilfe, has been published,
many opposition political parties have made hunger, an issue, based on this
report. In such a situation, it is clear that this agency has consistently been
trying to defame India by using questionable data and methodology, which is far
from the reality. Strict action should be taken against all such agencies trying
to defame India.
(The author is a Professor, at PGDAV College, University of Delhi and with
Swadesh Jagran Manch)
https://www.dailypioneer.com/2023/columnists/how-credible-is-the-global-hunger-report-.html
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SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN vishwav@bol.net.in http://shrivishwaniketan.blogspot.com and https://svn.epapers.in/
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