
Class against pregnancy among minors in schools
RANCHI: In a government initiative to discourage minor girls from getting pregnant, special awareness classes will be held in schools in the tribal-dominated Khunti of Jharkhand.
According to education department officials, the schools will also utilise parent-teacher meetings, conducted on the 25th of every month, to inform parents about their girls' safety. The department also considers hiring counsellors to advise the minor girls, believing they suffer from a psycho-sexual problem.
District Education Officer Aprupa Chaudhary stated that the order, currently in the drafting stage, will be issued once schools reopen after the summer vacation.
'As it is a problem among minors, it is also important to create awareness among the children as well as their parents. Therefore, we have decided to hold a special period of the School Health and Wellness Programme (SHWP) every Tuesday, dedicated to creating awareness among children. They will be told how early pregnancy or early relationship will affect their future and make an adverse impact on their health,' Chaudhary said.
She said the decision was taken following reports that a vast number of minor girls were getting pregnant and giving birth to children. Most live with their parents, while a few live with their minor husbands or partners. Notably, addiction to alcohol and 'hadia' (rice beer) causes parents to ignore their children's welfare. The youngsters roam around in the jungle with their friends and get pregnant accidentally, though consensually, due to ignorance.

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Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Khunti govt school students to get sex education lessons
Ranchi: In a unique move, Khunti administration has planned to rollout in govt schools in the district to sensitise students on the adverse impacts of unsafe sex amid concerns of pregnancies among minor girls here. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Officials said that the move is part of the long-term education programme to sensitise students on the sensitive topic. Khunti district education officer (DEO) Aparupa Chowdhary said all govt schools in the district have been directed to educate the students on these issues during the school health and wellness programme (SHWP) classes which are held every Tuesday. She directed that SHWP classes on the first and third Tuesdays of every month should be dedicated to educating students on evaluating the behaviour of people, including neighbours, identifying their intentions, and distinguishing between right and wrong actions. A teacher designated as an 'Arogya Doot' would study the issues extensively and create awareness among the students. In addition, career counselling would be organised for students between classes VI and XII to discuss the adverse impact of early motherhood and fatherhood on health, education, and career. "If required, the issues would be discussed with the help of videos and photos," she said. The programme would begin on the first Tuesday after the resumption of classes post summer vacation on June 5. The DEO also directed that for the next three months, the topic would also be taken up in the parents-teachers meets (PTM), which is held on the 25th of every month. Village elders, school management committee presidents, and other influential persons in society would be invited. "There have been few reports and cases in recent times related to early maternity among minors which is a concern. We plan to educate the students, parents, and society through SHWP and PTM. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now We hope that participants at PTM would use their influence to stop such practices in society. The education department would take feedback from every school in this regard through a Google link and take further action," Chowdhary added. Notably, various social activists, including former Zila Parishad President Jenica Gudia, have termed early alcohol addiction among youths as one of the reasons for illicit intercourse. "Such situations also arise due to traditional practices like 'Dhuku', in which a tribal girl can live with a man even before marriage," claimed another expert.


Time of India
31-05-2025
- Time of India
Uptick in Covid cases, symptoms mostly mild
Pune: Several city hospitals are of late reporting an uptick in Covid-19 patients, most with mild symptoms. Dr Piyush Chaudhary, an infectious disease specialist at Jehangir Hospital, confirmed the uptick in cases. "The number of cases being detected is definitely increasing, but predominantly they are milder. Only patients who are elderly or have comorbidities with multiple medical problems are experiencing severe disease," he said. The hospital currently has two Covid patients in the ICU, both elderly individuals aged 75-80 years with multiple underlying health conditions. Healthcare professionals are observing a growing demand for precautionary vaccine doses amid increase in Covid cases. Reasons: Patients' immunity from last shots in 2022 has begun to wane and current variants differ from those the earlier vaccines were designed to combat. Most new cases are being attributed to the Omicron sub-variant JN.1. Other strains, including NB 1.8.1 and LF.7, are also under observation, according to recent reports. Dr Chaudhary said, "The increase in Covid cases has been noticeable over the last two weeks, with more cases appearing this week. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Eternia Spacious 3 & 4 BHK Residences for Grand Living Eternia Residences Learn More Undo It's gradually increasing." He attributed part of the rise in detected cases to increased testing. "Now that Covid is everywhere in the news, people are testing more," Dr Chaudhary said. "While there is increased interest from patients regarding vaccination, Covid vaccines are currently not available in the market. The vaccines we previously administered offer some protection against severe disease, though they were formulated for earlier variants. An updated vaccine would help boost antibody response and provide enhanced protection against current strains," he said. Dr Ameet Dravid, an infectious diseases expert with Noble Hospital, said, "There's a definite uptick in Covid cases. This week we've had around six cases, with the majority seen in the outpatient department. Two patients are currently admitted in the ICU." He said, "One is 25-year-old, who developed seizures after having fever for two days and tested positive for Covid. The second is a 70-year-old woman, who came with breathlessness. We initially thought it was heart-related, but her Covid test also came positive. Both ICU patients are recovering." Dr Dravid, "Swab samples of the patients have gone to NIV, and only those confirmed by it will be part of government Covid data statistics. The actual number of cases is likely to be much higher because private labs are testing but government reporting only includes NIV-confirmed samples." He said there had been an uptick in upper respiratory tract illnesses, with some turning out to be Covid. The majority were H1N1 or swine flu, though. Dr Ajit Tambolkar, intensivist at Poona Hospital, said, "We have a Covid patient, a 70-year-old diabetic man, in the isolation ward. He doesn't require ICU care. Another was discharged recently — a young girl with no comorbidities but had recent travel history. She has been discharged. The 70-year-old man initially needed oxygen, which was stopped on Friday. These cases came in the last seven days. We had no Covid cases before that. Symptoms are mild — cough, cold, fever and flu-like symptoms. We suggest people seek medical intervention if their symptoms last for more than three days." Dr Nikhil Phadke, founder-director and chief science officer of GenePath Diagnostics, said "We have started seeing Covid positives again after a long time in the past 10 days. But the uptick doesn't seem dramatic so far." A senior state health department official said, "No Covid vaccine is available currently because manufacturing stopped due to reduced demand in the past. The latest uptick in Covid cases is expected as it's endemic, and we have more H1N1 cases than Covid at present. Vaccination is a preventive policy when infections are on a large scale. According to public health experts, Covid vaccination is not required currently as it is endemic and the number of such cases is within normal parameters. "


New Indian Express
31-05-2025
- New Indian Express
Class against pregnancy among minors in Jharkhand schools
RANCHI: In a government initiative to discourage minor girls from getting pregnant, special awareness classes will be held in schools in the tribal-dominated Khunti of Jharkhand. According to education department officials, the schools will also utilise parent-teacher meetings, conducted on the 25th of every month, to inform parents about their girls' safety. The department also considers hiring counsellors to advise the minor girls, believing they suffer from a psycho-sexual problem. District Education Officer Aprupa Chaudhary stated that the order, currently in the drafting stage, will be issued once schools reopen after the summer vacation. 'As it is a problem among minors, it is also important to create awareness among the children as well as their parents. Therefore, we have decided to hold a special period of the School Health and Wellness Programme (SHWP) every Tuesday, dedicated to creating awareness among children. They will be told how early pregnancy or early relationship will affect their future and make an adverse impact on their health,' Chaudhary said. She said the decision was taken following reports that a vast number of minor girls were getting pregnant and giving birth to children. Most live with their parents, while a few live with their minor husbands or partners. Notably, addiction to alcohol and 'hadia' (rice beer) causes parents to ignore their children's welfare. The youngsters roam around in the jungle with their friends and get pregnant accidentally, though consensually, due to ignorance.