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The Hindu
22 minutes ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Moscow genuinely interested in revival of Russia-India-China troika format: Lavrov
Moscow is genuinely interested in the revival of activities within the framework of the Russia-India-China (RIC) format, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday (May 29, 2025). 'I would like to confirm our genuine interest in the earliest resumption of the work within the format of the troika — Russia, India, China — which was established many years ago on the initiative of [ex-Russian Prime Minister] Yevgeny Primakov, and which has organised meetings more than 20 times at the ministerial level since then, not only at the level of foreign policy chiefs, but also the heads of other economic, trade and financial agencies of the three countries,' Mr. Lavrov was quoted as saying by TASS. The Foreign Minister was addressing an international social and political conference on forming a single and equitable system of security and cooperation in Eurasia in the city of Perm in the Ural mountains, where Europe borders with Asia, at the plenary session of the conference. 'As of today, as I understand, an understanding has been reached between India and China on how to ease the situation on the border, and it seems to me that the time has come for the revival of this RIC troika,' Mr. Lavrov stressed. He also alleged that NATO is blatantly trying to lure India into anti-China intrigues. 'I have no doubts that our Indian friends, and I say this on the basis of confidential conversations with them, obviously see this trend that can be actually deemed as a large provocation,' Mr. Lavrov said. The RIC troika was frozen since the Galwan crisis in June 2020. However, the bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Russia's Kazan in October 2024 was seen as a thaw when the two leaders expressed the need to improve bilateral relations.
The Hindu
22 minutes ago
- General
- The Hindu
Taking baby steps to regulate pre-schools
Exactly how many pre-schools are there in Karnataka? The Department of School Education and Literacy (DSEL) has no accurate answer to this question, thanks to the fact that there has so far been no system in place for registering all pre-schools in the State. A lack of separate rules and regulations or a consistent monitoring system has led to the mushrooming of private pre-schools or early childhood care education centres across Karnataka. While pre-schools running as part of government and private schools are obtaining permission from the DSEL, most stand-alone pre-schools are operating without any approval. In addition, most of those run by corporates as franchise schools and pre-schools too are operating without a monitoring mechanism. There have been allegations that the government or the DSEL has no control over pre-schools, and parents are being exploited by way of exorbitant fees, expensive textbooks, etc. In addition, questions have been raised about the safety and protection of children. Now, for the first time, the Karnataka government has taken steps to register all types of pre-primary schools, including play homes, Montessori, and nurseries, with objectives including child safety and streamlining of private pre-schools. What order says The DSEL issued an order on May 27, 2025, stating that, as per the Karnataka Educational Institutions (Classification and Registration) Rules, 1997, pre-primary education means non-formal education below the first standard for children between the ages of three and five, whether called play homes, Montessori, nursery, etc. The department stated in the order that all 'newly started' pre-schools must be registered compulsorily. Trusts and school managements have been allowed to apply before starting new private unaided pre-primary schools through the newly developed online module on the Student Achievement Tracking System (SATS) portal. Criteria adopted for registration to start a new private unaided pre-primary school include having a building with a carpet area of one square metre per student, subject to a minimum of 2,000 sq. ft, preferably on the ground floor with a playground, either owned or taken on lease for at least 30 years. In addition, the order states that a building fitness certificate and fire safety clearance certificates should be obtained from the competent authority. Physical safety (infrastructure, health, and transportation), personal and sexual safety, and social and emotional safety should be ensured. 'From this year, registration of all pre-schools has been made mandatory. This order has been sent to all district- and taluk-level officers, who have been instructed to register all types of pre-schools in their jurisdiction. Till now, there were no regulations in the department regarding the registration of pre-schools. We also developed a separate module on the SATS portal for pre-schools to register, and it is mandatory for all new pre-schools to register,' says K.V. Trilokchandra, Commissioner, Department of Public Instruction. The Central Board of Secondary Education has made registration of pre-schools under its jurisdiction mandatory from this academic year. No clarity on numbers According to an estimate, there are around 45,000 pre-schools across the State, out of which about 20,000 are integrated pre-schools in government and private schools, permitted by the DSEL. However, the department does not have information about the number of stand-alone pre-schools, including those run as part of franchise chains. Though some stand-alone pre-schools are run after obtaining permission from the DSEL, the department is not monitoring them in any way, once permitted. Now, although the government has made registration mandatory for new pre-schools starting from 2025-26, there is no clarity on whether these rules apply to existing schools. There is now a demand from parents, educationists, and other stakeholders to issue comprehensive regulations or standard operating procedures (SOPs) applicable to all pre-schools across the State for the safety of children. What are the demands Stakeholders point out that many aspects, including fees, are arbitrary in pre-schools. Although the government has no control over fee fixation in private schools, the rules allow for the regulation of a fee increase of only 10% to 12% a year. In addition, the details of the fees charged by private schools have to be published on the notice board. However, since none of these rules apply to pre-schools, a modest private pre-school in tier-1 cities like Bengaluru charges ₹30,000 to ₹50,000 per student a year. There are even instances of big private schools charging ₹1 lakh to ₹1.5 lakh a year for pre-school admission. 'Pre-schools have become a big business now, and they charge more than regular schools. Private pre-schools charge huge fees in the name of uniforms, textbooks, and other things. If parents question this, schools tell them to enrol their children elsewhere. That's why the government should bring in fee regulation for private pre-schools,' said Tanuja M., mother of a pre-school child and a bank employee in Bengaluru. Safety of children and the absence of a child-friendly atmosphere are also a concern, as many of the stand-alone pre-schools in the State are being run in residential houses and commercial complexes without any safety measures. 'There is a rule that pre-schools should be started only on the ground floor of a building for the safety of children. However, many stand-alone pre-schools are functioning on the upper floors. Despite several complaints to the Education Department in this regard, nothing has changed. If any accident occurs, who is responsible?' asks B.N. Yogananda, president of the Parents Association. No uniform curriculum Another issue often flagged is the absence of a uniform curriculum in pre-schools. Earlier, the State government had implemented the 'Chili-Pili' curriculum in the pre-schools under its jurisdiction and in those in anganwadi centres. It has now been updated as 'Chili Pili-Plus'. However, there is no uniform or single curriculum applicable to all pre-schools in the State. 'As per rules, there should be no fixed curriculum in pre-schools. Children should have a play-based method of learning. Children are taught to write right from the start in many pre-schools. But language learning includes listening, learning, speaking, reading, and finally writing. Imposing the writing method at the pre-school level will affect the learning of children. Therefore, the State government should take steps to implement a curriculum that is applicable to all pre-schools and is conducive to the overall development of children,' says V.P. Niranjanaradhya, development educationist. Age limit violation Some pre-schools are also found to be enrolling children who are underage, violating the age criteria, leading to problems later when they join primary school. As per the National Education Policy-2020, in July 2022, the DSEL made it mandatory for the completion of six years by June 1 for admission to class 1. Accordingly, the age for admission to Montessori was set at three years, for LKG at four years, and for UKG at five. However, as a temporary step, the department relaxed the six-year age cap for school enrolment for two years. According to that order, it was mandatory to follow the age rule from 2025-26. But, despite the order, most pre-schools continue to enrol children who are under the prescribed age. Buckling under pressure, the government recently postponed the implementation of the age limit rule for admission to class 1 to the next year. SOP for pre-schools 'Child protection is a fundamental right in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). The UNCRC talks of children's survival rights, developmental rights, protection rights, and participation rights. In addition, according to Article 39(e) and (f) of the Indian Constitution, it is the responsibility of the State to raise children in a healthy and meaningful way. Even if the State does not run any institutions, it should formulate guidelines or SOPs for those who run institutions. There are no regulations related to the safety of children in pre-schools and protection from exploitation and discrimination. Therefore, in the interest of the protection of children, the Karnataka government should bring a comprehensive regulation or SOP for pre-schools,' says Niranjanaradhya. He points out that Section 11 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, focuses on pre-school education for children. It mandates that the government provide free pre-school education to children above the age of three to prepare them for elementary education and offer early childhood care and education until they turn six. 'The Karnataka Education Act, 1983, has allowed the government to regulate all pre-schools, including government and private ones. Therefore, the State Education Policy that the Karnataka government intends to implement should at least make appropriate rules regarding the regulation and management of pre-schools,' he says. New regulation welcomed Meanwhile, the Associated Managements of Schools in Karnataka (KAMS), an association of private school managements, has termed the order issued by the government on registration of pre-schools as a good start. 'Although the State government had issued an order on the registration of pre-schools in 2018, the department has not implemented it. Despite several appeals and protests, unauthorised pre-schools have continued to mushroom. Since there is no fee regulation, they are exploiting children and parents. In many places, there is not even a minimum infrastructure. Therefore, the government has made the registration of pre-primary schools mandatory from this year, which is a healthy development. From now on, all types of pre-schools in the State must be registered compulsorily. If they are not registered, they will be considered unauthorised. IDs will not be created in SATS for children in such pre-schools,' says D. Shashikumar, general secretary of the KAMS. (Edited by Giridhar Narayan)
The Hindu
37 minutes ago
- Health
- The Hindu
From tea stalls to tumours, tobacco affordability fuelling cancer epidemic in India
'Sutta breaks' are common in India. A glass of tea and a cigarette constitute the popular 'chai-sutta.' Sandeep, a young marketing executive, says, 'It's time to take a break from work stress and make connections. The chai-sutta break is where ideas flow as freely as the smoke.' Not surprisingly, workplaces are common settings where non-smokers are involuntarily exposed to second-hand smoke. Tobacco use in India: a growing concern According to GATS2 data, nearly 42% of men and 14% of women in India use tobacco. Home to 70% of the world's smokeless tobacco (SLT) users, SLT is preferred over smoked tobacco. In smoked tobacco, the bidi is favored over cigarettes, especially in rural and low-income groups. Despite the preference for bidis, India has seen the largest increase in the market share of cigarettes globally. Rajesh, a shopkeeper in Mulshi, a village near Pune, commented, 'Bidis are what people here can afford. Cigarettes are for the city folks. But now even in villages, people want to try cigarettes because they think it's modern.' Both SLT and smoked tobacco drastically increase cancer risk, particularly for lung, head, neck, stomach, and pancreatic cancers. 'My uncle chewed tobacco for years,' said Sunita, a homemaker from Maharashtra. 'He passed away from mouth cancer, and we didn't realise how dangerous it was until it was too late.' India ranks first globally in male cancer incidence and mortality rates. Among tobacco-related cancers in males, lung cancer leads globally, while in India, lip and oral cancers top the list, followed by lung cancer. 'Every time I see someone with a gutkha pouch in their pocket, I feel like warning them,' said Manish, a college student whose father succumbed to oral cancer. Clearly, the ban on gutkha in India has been unsuccessful. Economic costs of tobacco use Along with the health burden, tobacco use imposed an economic cost of ₹1.77 lakh crore (1.04% of India's GDP) in 2017-2018. Smoking accounted for 74% of these costs, while SLT use made up 26%. With tobacco use on the rise, both health and economic costs are projected to increase. Rajiv, a father of three who quit smoking after a lung cancer scare, said: 'I never realised the financial toll until I saw the hospital bills. Smoking doesn't just cost you money -- it costs you your life and the lives of those who depend on you.' India faces a dual challenge of significant health and economic burdens from tobacco-related cancers and the complexities of lung cancer screening in a TB-endemic country. This underscores the urgent need for evidence-based anti-tobacco policies as a primary prevention strategy. However, the tobacco industry's influence—through policy interference, pricing tactics to maintain affordability, targeted marketing, dense tobacco shop networks, and a lack of political will—ensures widespread tobacco accessibility. 'The fact that a bidi costs less than a cup of tea is a tragedy,' said Ashok, a retired clerk. 'When I was younger, I didn't think twice about buying a bidi. Now I see how cheap tobacco ruins lives.' Taxation remains a critical yet underutilised tool in reducing tobacco use. Despite the proposed GST increase to 35%, it falls short of the World Health Organization's recommendation of taxing tobacco at 75% of its MRP to effectively deter use. Even with the steep increase in tobacco tax, its impact decreases if consumers' income increases significantly. Unlike in other countries where higher prices have deterred smoking, rising disposable incomes in India, particularly among the 450 million middle class have outpaced tax increases. With increased purchasing power, tobacco products continue to be affordable. The unchanged tobacco prices in the 2024 Union Budget further exacerbated this issue, enabling tactics like 'undershifting,' where manufacturers absorb tax hikes to expand markets. A key factor in tobacco affordability is its unit pricing. A pack of bidis has a median price of ₹12 but can be found for as little as ₹5. Similarly, smokeless tobacco products have a median price of ₹5, with some being sold for as low as ₹1. Shankar, a daily wage labourer and cancer patient said he could afford to buy a few packs every day. While cigarette packs have a median price of ₹95, cheaper options are available for as cheap as ₹5. Sonia, a college student, observed, 'Cigarettes are so cheap that they're easy to buy. The government needs to make it harder for people like us to afford them.' To enhance affordability, cigarettes are often sold as single sticks - a practice banned in 88 countries but not in India. Priced at approximately ₹15, single sticks become easily affordable and bypass graphic health warnings. Research shows that 87% of Indian cigarette vendors sell single sticks, frequently operating near tea stalls, reinforcing the widespread 'chai-sutta' culture. In India where a significant proportion of the population earns ₹170-180 per day (exchange rate $1 = ₹85), along with the addictive potential of tobacco, makes the current tobacco pricing affordable to fulfill their cravings. Outlook: the way forward Tobacco affordability undermines the WHO's MPOWER framework and weakens tobacco control, hindering efforts to reduce tobacco-related cancers. Reducing tobacco use is vital for cutting cancer incidence. However, to make early detection and treatment accessible, health systems must be strengthened. Meanwhile, implementing robust anti-tobacco policies can be effective in curbing tobacco use. To achieve this, several key adjustments are crucial. Firstly, regular tax hikes that outpace income growth can make tobacco products unaffordable, discouraging their use. Additionally, banning single-stick sales can reinforce health warnings and curb impulse purchases. Furthermore, allocating tobacco tax revenue towards public health initiatives, such as cancer screenings in underserved areas, can have a significant impact. Enforcing plain packaging with prominent health warnings can also reduce tobacco's appeal, while restricting sales near tea stalls can help break the 'chai-sutta' association. Robust enforcement, through regular inspections and penalties, is essential to uphold these regulations. Moreover, prioritising cancer screening, tobacco-cessation programmes, and research can further bolster tobacco control efforts, ultimately creating a comprehensive approach to tackle tobacco use.' As Shalini, a widower - her husband and bread-earner of the family - died of lung cancer and now single mother of two, put it, 'It's not just about saving lives today—it's about creating a future where my kids don't grow up thinking chai-sutta is a normal part of life.' (Dr. Vid Karmarkar is a social entrepreneur, researcher, writer and advocate of advancing equitable cancer care and global health. He is also the founder of the Canseva Foundation, a registered nonprofit organisation. Email:
The Hindu
38 minutes ago
- Business
- The Hindu
The Hindu Morning Digest: May 30, 2025
No talks till Pakistan renounces terror, vacates PoK: India Any engagement with Pakistan will have to be 'bilateral', but India will not engage with its neighbour on issues such as trade, the Indus Waters Treaty, or Jammu and Kashmir as long as Pakistan continues to support cross-border terrorism against India, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday (May 29, 2025). Israel accepts new U.S. proposal for temporary ceasefire, White House says Israel has accepted a new U.S. proposal for a temporary ceasefire with Hamas, the White House said Thursday (May 29, 2025). The fresh signs of progress towards a temporary truce came after U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, expressed optimism earlier this week about brokering an agreement to halt the Israel-Hamas war and return more of the hostages captured in the attack that ignited it. Appeals court allows Trump to continue collecting tariffs under emergency powers law for now A federal appeals court on Thursday (May 29, 2025) allowed U.S. President Donald Trump to continue collecting tariffs under an emergency powers law for now, as his administration appeals an order striking down the bulk of his signature set of economic policies. India hopes U.S. will clear visas on merit Issuing visas is a sovereign issue for the U.S. government, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday (May 29, 2025), but added that the government hopes that the process will be completed in time for Indian students to join the U.S. universities they have gained admission to this year. Centre appoints three judges to Supreme Court, fills all 34 posts The Centre on Thursday (May 29, 2025) cleared the appointment of three judges to the Supreme Court. With this, the top court has reached its full sanctioned strength of 34 judges. Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal confirmed the appointments through a post on X. IPL RCB vs PBKS Qualifier 1: Royal Challengers waltz past Kings into final If there was a blueprint for Royal Challengers Bengaluru after opting to bowl in IPL's Qualifier 1, it would have been pretty similar to how things transpired at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium on Thursday (May 29, 2025). Almost everything that the RCB bowlers did fell into place as Punjab Kings' catastrophic explosion with the bat saw it folding up for 101 in 14.1 overs. It takes RCB to a fourth IPL final, in Ahmedabad on June 3 (Tuesday), and ignites hope among its fervent fanbase of a long-awaited maiden title. Federal judge extends order blocking Trump administration ban on foreign students at Harvard A federal judge on Thursday (May 29, 2025) extended an order blocking the Trump administration's attempt to bar Harvard University from enrolling foreign students. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs extended the block she imposed last week with a temporary restraining order, which allows the Ivy League school to continue enrolling international students as a lawsuit proceeds. Lok Sabha Speaker to lead delegation to BRICS inter-parliamentary forum Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will be leading an Indian parliamentary delegation to the 11th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in Brazil this June, where he is scheduled to address the forum on the 'BRICS Parliaments united for the reform of the multilateral peace and security architecture', a statement from the Lok Sabha Secretariat said on Thursday (May 29, 2025). Bangladesh should focus on solving its governance issues: India India on Thursday (May 29, 2025) reminded Dhaka that the 'responsibility for law and order and governance' of Bangladesh lies with the interim government of the country, with the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal warning that attempts to 'deflect attention' would not solve the country's problems. Pakistan only a cradle of terrorism, has nothing good to offer: Modi Observing that Operation Sindoor was far from over, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday (May 29, 2025) that Pakistan has nothing positive to offer to the world, and since its creation, the country has only 'nurtured terrorism.' 'We destroyed their terror hideouts; which Pakistan could not have imagined ever being possible,' the Prime Minister said while addressing a public meeting at Alipurduar in West Bengal. Nari Shakti played crucial role during Operation Sindoor: Rajnath Singh Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday (May 29, 2025) said women pilots and other women soldiers played a crucial role in the effective action taken by India against terrorism in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Jammu & Kashmir during Operation Sindoor. Give generous relief package to residents of Poonch: Rahul Gandhi The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday (May 29, 2025) wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the Union Government to offer a generous relief and rehabilitation package to the residents of Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and other areas affected by Pakistani shelling Delhi HC orders takedown of parts of Mohak Mangal's video targeting ANI The Delhi High Court on Thursday (May 29, 2025) directed YouTuber Mohak Mangal to remove specific portions of his video targeting news agency ANI, in which he used terms such as 'hafta wasooli' (extortion), 'gunda raj', and 'kidnap'.
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Drunk Delhi teen rams car into slum; 2 killed, pregnant woman, child injured
Two people were killed and three others, including a pregnant woman and a child, were injured when a drunk teenager rammed his speeding car into two bicycles before crashing into a roadside jhuggi in west Delhi's Janakpuri early Thursday (May 29, 2025), police said. Police said the 19-year-old was looking for a dhaba when he lost control over the vehicle. Locals alleged one of the cyclist was dragged under the wheels of the car for more than 300 metres and stopped only after crashing into the jhuggi. Anish Ansari (45), who worked at a factory in Mayapuri, was on the cycle and died in the incident. Phool Singh (35), who lived in the jhuggi that the car crashed into, was also killed. He was a chik maker and also made some extra buck by making masala and chutney. His wife Soni (25), and five-year-old nephew Vishal were injured in the incident, Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Vichitra Veer said in a statement. Kuldeep (28), who was also on a cycle that was hit was injured. Police said Harsh Sehrawat, who was driving the car, is a resident of Pochanpur village in Dwarka. "As per the facts established in the investigation so far, Harsh was driving a Swift car and his friend Pankaj was sitting with him. They were coming from Gurugram after attending a function," the DCP said. "They were roaming around looking for some dhaba. At the place of the incident, Harsh failed to control the vehicle due to overspeeding, hitting bicycle riders and the jhuggi," he said. On verification, police found that Harsh had a driver's license but was found to be under the influence of alcohol, the DCP said. According to police, Phool Singh and his family were asleep in their jhuggi when the car ran over him first, and then hit the charpoy on which Soni and the child were sleeping. Phool Singh was sleeping on the floor. He is survived by four children—two sons aged around seven and five, and two daughters aged about 10 and two years. Soni is three months away from delivering their fifth child. Ansari, a resident of Sitamarhi in Bihar, is survived by his wife and four children. Locals told PTI that the car which had two occupants first hit a cycle near a temple on Pankha road. "One of them fell on the roadside, while Ansari was dragged by the car for about 300 metres till they rammed into a jhuggi. They drove the car over Phool's chest and then hit his wife and nephew," said Arun (20), who lives in a nearby jhuggi. "Everyone was asleep so we didn't pay much heed when the first noise came of the car hitting the cyclist. But hearing the loud noise of wheels skidding and crashing in the jhuggi," he said. Another local added that the car wouldn't have stopped if it hadn't hit a motorcycle parked near the jhuggi which halted the vehicle. "There were more people sleeping in other jhuggis. Many more would have been killed if the car didn't hit a motorcycle, halting it," he said. People at the crash site said they gathered and took the two persons out of the car. Both of them were heavily drunk, locals alleged, adding that some people informed the police. Police said that a PCR call about the accident was received at Janakpuri police station around 3.30 a.m. A PCR team and the local police reached the spot and rushed the injured to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared two of them brought dead, police said, adding that two of the injured are undergoing treatment. The driver has been apprehended and is being questioned. Legal action is being taken in the matter, police said.
