Latest news with #ASAA
Indian Express
21-06-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Vulnerable communities in Gujarat struggle for access to ration, Anganwadi services: Survey
Even as malnutrition rates in Gujarat are rising among children, pregnant women, and adolescents, thousands of vulnerable individuals, including infants, and elderly are being denied access to Anganwadi services and ration due to stringent requirements such as Aadhaar linkage, Face ID authentication, and online registration, stated a survey report released on Saturday. The survey, carried out under Anna Suraksha Adhikar Abhiyan (ASAA) — a collective platform of people's organisations, institutions and activists working on the issue of food insecurity in the state — covered four districts of the state. The Anna Suraksha Adhikar Abhiyan, which translates to 'Right to Food Campaign', has been working in Gujarat since 2003. The campaign has been covering issues of ration, Anganwadi, and midday meals. On Saturday, organisations and activists fighting on these issues in different areas of Gujarat participated in the review meeting in Ahmedabad. The food security survey was conducted in Dahod, Panchmahal, Morbi and Bhavnagar districts in January 2025. A total of 1,261 households, including 321 from Bhavnagar, 356 from Dahod, 290 from Morbi and 294 from Panchmahal were included in the survey. According to the ASAA members, the sample for survey comprised members from the mahila sangathans with mostly belonging to marginalised communities as a 'deliberate attempt was made to include those with social vulnerabilities such as single women, disabled and the elderly'. The results are therefore not representative of Gujarat on average but give an indication of what is happening among some of the vulnerable communities across the state, said an ASAA member. 'These were the communities and families that the National Food Security Act (NFSA) was expected to help,' said Nitaben Hardikar from Anandi, a non-profit women organisation working in rural areas. According to the report, 'there are hundreds of children in villages who do not have birth certificates or Aadhaar cards and cannot be officially registered in Anganwadi, and therefore they remain deprived of Anganwadi services. This issue has been witnessed in many districts such as Panchmahal, Dahod, Banaskantha and Sabarkantha'. 'The infrastructure of Anganwadi is very poor. Anganwadi buildings are in a dilapidated condition and are unsafe for children. Also, there is a need to build a new Anganwadi in terms of the number of children aged 3 to 6 in the village,' stated the report. 'The Food Security Act provides a time-bound grievance redressal framework. But in Gujarat, when people from the vulnerable communities complain about not getting ration or getting less, or not getting access, they are pressured, and in the online complaint, 'the complaint is shown as disposed of without being resolved,' stated another Anand member Sejalben Dand. 'The primitive groups have got Antyodaya cards by law. But they are not given sufficient ration. If they complain, they are pressured,' added Dand. Declaring that in the coming days, the Anna Suraksha Adhikar Abhiyan will wage a 'collective fight on this issue', the members further added that even though the government resolution (GR) clearly provides that widows can get Antyodaya cards, women are 'denied these cards citing the examples of Maliya Mahila Shakti Sangathan and Devgadh Mahila Sangathan from Maliya'. The organisations are supposed to work for women welfare. 'Silicosis patients from Surendranagar and Morbi districts are also fighting for Antyodaya cards. While a few silicosis patients from Morbi's Thangadh got Antyodaya cards but Surendranagar's Dhrangadhra taluka, many patients were rejected. Silicosis does not come under the definition of a serious disease, they were told,' states the report. The report has also cited a few case studies, including one of Rangliben Nayak, a tribal woman from village Kakalpur, Devgadh Baria in Dahod district who had migrated to some other place for work and her family started facing difficulties in accessing food grains as their ration is tied to their village. While another case was of a widow, Meenaben Bachubhai Baariya who is a resident of Vav Lavariya village in Dahod's Devgadh Baria taluka. Her livelihood depends on daily wage farm labour. 'Currently, Meenaben has an APL (Above Poverty Line) ration card. However, as a widow she is eligible for an Antyodaya ration card. Occasionally, she has to ask for provisions from house to house or even go hungry, as she struggles to sustain herself without consistent income. Without an Antyodaya ration card, Meenaben faces significant difficulties in securing sufficient food. This pushes her further into poverty,' the report stated.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
American Sleep Apnea Association Rebrands as Wellness, Sleep & Circadian Network (WSCN)
New Name, Expanded Mission, Same Commitment to Empowering Patients and Advancing Science WASHINGTON, June 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today marks a transformative moment in the 35-year history of the American Sleep Apnea Association (ASAA). The organization proudly rebrands as the Wellness, Sleep & Circadian Network (WSCN), a global "KNOWLEDGE HUB" empowering anyone, anywhere to own all 24 hours with practical, science-based tools that improve sleep, circadian health, and overall well-being. WSCN, pronounced "WISSEN" (means "knowledge"), and builds upon ASAA's legacy of advocacy, education, research and support for people with sleep apnea. It is now expanding its reach to address the growing global demand for guidance around whole-day health. The organization is redefining what it means to live well and make every moment count, acknowledging that life happens 24 hours a day 7 days a week. "When we were building out our new direction, the concern was that no one knows what circadian means. My response? Exactly. That's our purpose. Share the words to what we experience across all 24 hours," said Dr. Anne Marie Morse, Chair of the Board of Directors for WSCN and a nationally recognized leader in sleep and circadian medicine. It's Time to Own All 24 Hours Sleep is the body's repair crew. Circadian rhythms are its master schedule. When aligned, they power our energy, mood, immunity, productivity, and mental health. But when disrupted, the risks are substantial: heart disease, depression, diabetes, even cancer. New research continues to illuminate the central role of circadian biology in overall health. WSCN is here to translate that science into accessible tools, education, and community connection. "Our name says it all," said Morse. "The Wellness, Sleep & Circadian Network reflects our vision to be a global masterclock, harmonizing health across all hours of the day and night." What's Changing and What's Staying the Same As WSCN, the organization's scope is expanding, but its foundation remains rooted in the trust and services built under the ASAA name. Existing programs like the AWAKE Peer Mentor Program, CPAP Assistance Program, and Patient Leadership in Research (PLIR) will remain pillars of support. These are now complemented by: Expanded resources on circadian health, helping individuals better understand their internal body clocks A more integrated approach to health and wellness, connecting sleep with mental, emotional, and physical performance A global community movement, uniting patients, researchers, clinicians, and advocates around the power of 24-hour health "We're not abandoning the sleep apnea community. We're evolving with them," said WSCN Chief Transformation Officer, Gilles Frydman. "Sleep apnea doesn't exist in isolation, and neither should our solutions. WSCN builds on ASAA's legacy and brings the full 24—hour biology into focus, bridging the gap between day and night" A New Era of Impact With a name inspired by both knowledge (wissen) and the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)—the brain's biological timekeeper—WSCN is setting out to be the trusted Knowledge Hub for all aspects of health and wellness and how they intersect with sleep & circadian science. Empowering and motivating their community to boldly use every moment to live maximally and achieve their goals. WSCN will continue investing in education, partnerships, and research that prioritize lived experience. It will also advocate for sleep and circadian science to be recognized as core pillars of healthcare systems, wellness strategies, and daily life. This rebrand is more than a facelift. It is a call to action. "This isn't just a rebrand," Morse added. "It's a global movement. A bigger, bolder commitment to every person who wants to reclaim their health, one day and night at a time." Join the Movement WSCN invites everyone—from longtime supporters to those who want to use the power of sleep and circadian health—to become part of its growing global community. Visit Explore educational resources Join community events and advocacy initiatives Support programs through donations or sponsorship Because your best night fuels your best day, and your best self is powered by all 24 hours. Media Contact:Chloe PhamCommunications ManagerEmail: 396306@ About WSCN Founded in 1990 as the American Sleep Apnea Association, the Wellness, Sleep & Circadian Network (WSCN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that bridges the gap between day and night. WSCN translates cutting-edge sleep and circadian science into practical tools that help people sleep better, live better, and thrive. As the trusted global Knowledge Hub, WSCN unites research, education, and community to drive whole-day wellness. View original content: SOURCE Wellness, Sleep & Circadian Network (WSCN)
