Latest news with #ofLiving
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
‘DBSE will be phased out, no point in having two Boards'
As the Delhi government completed first 100 days, Education Minister Ashish Sood, in an interview with The Hindu, speaks about the government's achievements in the field of education, plans to set up CM Shri Schools, introduce new subjects like Rashtraneeti and Science of Living, regulate fee hikes in private schools, and gradually phase out the Delhi Board of School Education (DBSE), which was introduced by the previous Aam Aadmi Party government What are some of the biggest achievements in the first 100 days in the field of education? Two major achievements stand out. First, we have initiated a 360-degree transformation of schools. CM Shri Schools, which will match private schools in infrastructure and quality, are being launched. These schools will have smart boards, AI tools to assist teachers, and language labs. All verticals of the National Education Policy (NEP) will be integrated into the curriculum. Second, we have addressed the issue of fee exploitation in private schools. A new law has been introduced to protect Delhi's common man from being overcharged. This legislation will ensure relief from unjustified fees. Since the new law is yet to be passed, how will fees be regulated this academic session? We aim to implement it soon and ensure that any excess fees charged are refunded to parents. In cases like DPS Dwarka, we sent a committee led by the District Magistrate. Today, parents have received justice in court thanks to that intervention. Will new CM Shri Schools be built, or will existing DBSE schools be repurposed? We don't have the time to build entirely new structures right away, so in the initial phase, we are upgrading existing buildings. Just like Pratibha Vidyalayas were converted to Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar Schools of Specialised Excellence (SOSEs), some CM Shri Schools will be developed similarly. Others will come up gradually as new institutions. Will the Delhi Board of School Education (DBSE) be phased out? Yes. We haven't taken any new admissions under DBSE this year, and it will be phased out. There is no logic in having two Boards in one State. The previous government created confusion. We already have the CBSE, and the DBSE is linked to the International Baccalaureate Board, which is a separate Board altogether. This dual system does not make sense. There were issues regarding funding 12 Delhi government-funded Delhi University colleges. Has that been resolved? We're resolving that. On April 1, we released the grant-in-aid for the quarter, which addresses salary and infrastructure concerns. We want to avoid academic disruptions. New governing bodies will also be formed as per the law. What will be taught under the new subjects 'Rashtraneeti' and 'Science of Living'? Science of Living will address stress and anxiety in children through yoga, meditation, and emotional wellness. Teachings from spiritual leaders like Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Baba Ramdev, and Jaggi Maharaj will be incorporated. Rashtraneeti will focus on civic responsibility, patriotism, environmental awareness, and values such as keeping the Yamuna clean. The curriculum is under development, and classes will begin this academic year. What lies ahead? Our biggest concern is that Delhi's poor parents should not be extorted, which is why we want to ensure strict enforcement of the new law. Additionally, we plan to launch a school ranking system, like in colleges, to encourage healthy competition. Government and private schools will be ranked separately and together, so they can compete and be on par with each other.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Moving from addiction to a greater high
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is a humanitarian and spiritual master. He has founded The Art of Living, present in 180 countries, known to empower individuals through its unique breathing techniques and tools for mind management. LESS ... MORE (Today is World No-Tobacco Day) The nature of the mind is to chase joy. It moves towards anything that seems to offer a moment of joy. In that search, it looks in places joy cannot be found in and often falls into the trap of habits that promise happiness but do not deliver on this promise. All addictions of this planet promise joy, but they never deliver. Ask people who are smoking: do you feel ecstatic? They'll say-No and yet leaving the habit is painful. If you look closely, you'll see this habit is not stronger than your mind. What can help to break free from it is not just force, but spiritual wisdom. In order to come out of a habit that brings you limited pleasure, you need something that gives you greater joy. Is it possible to experience a high that doesn't lead to bondage and pain? Love is powerful. When you love someone deeply, whether it is your child, your partner, your parents and you promise them you'll stop, you find the strength to do so. Not because the craving disappears, but because love is greater than the craving. You keep the promise not for yourself, but for someone who matters more than a cigarette. Greed too can be used positively to tame a bad habit. Suppose someone said, 'If you quit smoking for three months, you'll win Rs. 2 lakh,' the mind will immediately drop the habit to chase the reward. The same mind that seemed helpless now becomes determined. Fear can also guide you in giving up a habit. When someone is told, 'If you continue drinking or smoking, your health will fail, and you might not survive,' a deep alertness can arise. That fear, when understood with wisdom, can help you steer away from the danger. Fear and greed are lower forms of motivation. To me, love and commitment can bring lasting change. What can truly liberate us from the bondage of our habits and patterns is the path of spirituality. Spirituality gives you the greatest high, far more potent than any substance. Meditation, devotion, service-they uplift you instead of leaving you depleted. They energize and expand your awareness. They make you vibrant, your mind calm, and your heart open. Even the act of smoking itself is nothing but a misuse of breath. The relaxation one feels is not just from nicotine, but from the way you breathe. Just hold your fingers near your mouth as if holding a cigarette, inhale deeply and exhale slowly. Do this for a few rounds. You will feel the same calmness. It is nothing but pranayama, but without the side effects. To truly break a habit, don't make grand, lifelong vows. If you say, 'I will never smoke again,' the mind becomes rebellious. Instead, take a smaller, achievable step: 'I will not smoke for the next 40 days.' Then, renew that commitment. Gradually, you will find the distance between you and the addiction grows wider, until the craving falls away altogether. Another secret lies in shifting your mindset from 'what can I get' to 'how can I serve?' This change is a revolutionary act in one's life. Obsession and depression often stem from a life centered on oneself. But when you step out to serve others, your problems begin to fall away. Your life becomes purposeful and you realize you are needed in this world. And slowly, a deeper joy begins to take root, one that no substance can ever offer. The journey out of addiction is not one of suppression, but of expansion. As you engage in meditation, singing, and acts of kindness, your body grows stronger, your immune system improves, and your heart becomes more open. The mind becomes clear and the spirit becomes free. You are no longer a slave to a craving. You are full, content, and joyful. Always remember, we have a choice. We can choose short-term comfort that leads to long-term pain, or short-term discomfort that leads to lasting joy. Spiritual wisdom is what enables us to make the wiser choice-to endure a little, so that we may be truly free. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
Miami Herald
25-04-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Scott Galloway warns Americans on Social Security, retirement investing
Planning for retirement involves addressing various challenges, broadly focusing on ensuring financial stability and preserving one's desired lifestyle. Some major concerns include calculating expected Social Security benefits, managing rising health care costs and assessing retirement savings and investment adequacy. Day-to-day expenses, such as groceries, utility bills, transportation, and leisure activities also weigh heavily on retirees' budgets. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Common fears include outliving one's investments and savings, the impact of inflation on fixed income, and coping with ever-growing medical expenses. Balancing all these elements while planning for unforeseen circumstances is a crucial part of navigating retirement successfully. Scott Galloway, the popular author, podcaster and New York University professor, shares a warning on investing for retirement - and also has a bold opinion on how Social Security should be financed. Related: Scott Galloway sends strong message on Social Security To address the concern about outliving savings, many choose to invest in financial accounts such as 401(k)s and IRAs (Individual Retirement Accounts), paying close attention to tax considerations to help maintain their financial security throughout retirement. Health care expenses present another major challenge, as medical needs tend to grow with age. Although Medicare offers partial support, it doesn't cover everything - retirees often need to budget for additional costs such as prescription medications, long-term care, and specialized medical treatments. Inflation also poses a serious threat by reducing the purchasing power of fixed incomes over time. For retirees who rely heavily on Social Security benefits, this erosion of value can make it harder to uphold their desired lifestyle as prices for everyday goods and services continue to climb. Social Security serves as a cornerstone of retirement income but comes with uncertainties. Concerns about its future viability, Cost of Living Adjustments based on inflation, and potential reductions in benefits due to strained trust funds contribute to the financial worries retirees face. Galloway also offers a strong word of caution on investing for retirement. In a recent conversation on the Pivot podcast he hosts with prominent business journalist Kara Swisher, Galloway issued a warning and gave some investing advice. "For the most part, don't believe you're smarter than everybody else. I strongly believe that low-cost index funds are the way to go," Galloway said. "And that is you want to reduce your fees and you want to be totally diversified." "You don't need to find the needle in the haystack. You want to buy the whole haystack," he added. "I would do something along the lines of 50% of an S&P fund or maybe QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) if you want a little bit more exposure to aggressive tech companies." More on retirement: Scott Galloway sends strong message on Social SecurityJean Chatzky cautions U.S. workers on Social Security, retirement moneyDave Ramsey bluntly warns Americans about retirement Galloway added more detail to this advice and emphasized his warning about fees. "There are a lot of great financial advisors on, I hate to say it, Tik Tok and on Instagram reels, where you can type in your exact personality and situation and it'll look probably something like this," Galloway said. "Fifty percent in an S&P or S&P-related low-cost index fund to Schwab or Vanguard." "You do not want to pay fees," he continued. "Thirty percent in some sort of index fund that gives you exposure to international or some sort of a credit or debt fund." "Again, the key is low fees and then maybe Treasurys so that you have access to some liquidity in case you run into a short-term liquidity crunch, one of you loses your job or something like that." Related: Dave Ramsey has blunt words on 401(k)s, Roth IRAs now Galloway, who says he earns $16 million annually, contends that wealthy individuals, including himself, should forgo receiving Social Security benefits. He advocates for the adoption of means-testing to determine eligibility, aiming to ensure that Social Security resources are directed toward those who genuinely depend on it for financial support during retirement. His view is that serious reform is necessary to cut its cost dramatically. Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
