IndiaSpend

A March 2023 study found that families with a member facing mental illness spend nearly 20% of their monthly income on healthcare, pushing around 21% below the poverty line. NSS data from 2017-18 revealed that hospitalisation costs for psychiatric conditions averaged Rs 26,843, with public hospitals charging Rs 7,235 and private ones Rs 41,239—similar to the costs for heart diseases. The shortage of mental health professionals and issues like domestic abuse further exacerbate the situation, making community mental health initiatives potentially more effective. As we observe World Mental Health Day, expanding access to care and providing financial support is essential. https://lnkd.in/gFRqWM7t #MentalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #MentalHealthMatters #SelfCare #SelfLove #MentalHealthSupport #MentalHealthRecovery #Anxiety #Depression #Wellness #IndiaSpend    

Dhanmani Deka, a home guard in Assam's Orang Tiger Reserve for a decade, tragically lost his life when a tiger attacked him during a patrol on August 28. India's tiger reserves are grappling with staffing shortages, forcing management to depend on underqualified casual workers and home guards. Despite the expansion of these reserves, they remain critically understaffed, leaving temporary workers vulnerable to wildlife attacks. To make matters worse, delayed salaries and the absence of insurance for job-related risks further endanger their lives. A story by Bikash Kumar Bhattacharya and Jyotirmoy Saharia. https://lnkd.in/g7CVtuNK #WildlifeConservation #TigerReserves #EndangeredSpecies #TigerProtection #SaveTigers #WildlifeRangers #AssamWildlife #Wildlife #Conservation #Animals #IndiaSpend

A 2008 study in the journal *Nature* found that animals transmitted over 60% of the 335 diseases identified between 1960 and 2004 to humans. The exploitation and illegal trade of exotic wildlife are significant contributors to these zoonotic diseases.   Abi T. Vanak, a senior at the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment, explains that disease transmission affects both human and animal health, often leading to animal suffering. Additionally, invasive species introduced through wildlife trade disrupt local ecosystems and endanger native species. On World Animal Welfare Day, it is important to observe that ensuring the welfare of animals is critical to maintaining the balance of ecosystems. Protecting wildlife from harmful practices like illegal trade and invasive species plays a crucial role in promoting their well-being. https://lnkd.in/dsPimCRR #WorldAnimalWelfareDay #ZoonoticDiseases #WildlifeProtection #AnimalConservation #SaveEcosystems #BiodiversityMatters #ProtectWildlife #Indiaspend 

Sadia (name changed) endured an excruciating ordeal to terminate her pregnancy after being raped by a man who helped her get out of jail in India. Arrested for illegal entry, she had to wait weeks for a legal abortion before being pushed back to Bangladesh, labelled as an infiltrator. She finally found medical help near Cox’s Bazar. Her story highlights the immense struggles of Rohingya refugees dealing with legal systems that lack a proper refugee protection framework. A story by Shreehari Paliath https://lnkd.in/dyZBVftH #RohingyaRefugees #RefugeeRights #Justice #AsylumSeekers #RohingyaWomen #RohingyaCrisis #WomensRights #StopRape #HumanRightsAbuse #RefugeeProtection #IndiaSpend

World Habitat Day draws attention to the need for sustainable urbanisation and habitat protection, with the Sundarbans in southern coastal Bangladesh serving as a notable example of a vulnerable natural environment. The world's largest mangrove forest, home to the Bengal tiger, epitomises the delicate harmony between biodiversity and climate resilience. As the sea levels rise driven by climate change this poses a serious threat to the habitat of the Tigers with 70% of its terrain less than a meter above sea level. The added impact of extreme weather events, including cyclones and heatwaves, underscores the immediate need for global climate action to protect vulnerable habitats like the Sundarbans. https://lnkd.in/duCWPxss #WorldHabitatDay #ClimateAction #Sundarbans #BengalTigers #SustainableFuture #BiodiversityConservation #EndangeredSpecies #MangroveProtection #ClimateChangeImpact #IndianTigers #IndiaSpend

As we observe the International Day of Older Persons, we must recognise the challenges posed by an ageing demographic. In the next decade, many nations will struggle to meet the diverse needs of older adults, who often manage multiple chronic conditions requiring extensive healthcare. Lifestyle choices common among the upwardly mobile middle class, such as their diet and exercise habits, add to this complexity. These shifts affect individual health and raise broader societal issues as we work to ensure older individuals can live meaningful, dignified lives in their later years. https://lnkd.in/dHzMYEHR #ElderlyCare #SeniorHealth #Health #AgingPopulation #InternationalDayofOlderPersons #SeniorCitizens #ElderlyRights #Seniors #ElderlySupport #IndiaSpend  

This year, more than 100 children in Gujarat have lost their lives to acute encephalitis, making it the worst outbreak in India in 20 years, according to the World Health Organization. The situation improved only after authorities took significant reactive actions, including launching a public awareness initiative to encourage community vigilance against this vector-borne illness. Research indicates that climate change will worsen the spread of these diseases, highlighting the urgent need for preventive action. Charu Bahri calls for a shift toward proactive health measures. https://lnkd.in/dDDGSk89 #Encephalitis #AcuteEncephalitis #ChildHealth #VectorBorneDiseases #PublicHealth #ClimateChange #HealthAwareness #DiseasePrevention #WHO #HealthEducation #IndiaSpend

Researchers long predicted climate change would influence India’s monsoon, and now their predictions have come true. The monsoon features brief, intense downpours followed by long, dry spells. While the dry periods this year weren't as prolonged as last year's, which saw a particularly dry August, many areas experienced concentrated rainfall over short periods. Like last year, the Northeast and Bihar faced deficient rainfall, though a few timely rain showers spared some regions. As monsoon 2024 comes to an end, read our final report by Tanvi Deshpande. https://lnkd.in/dzmwSQwi #ClimateChange #Monsoon2024 #IndianWeather #RainfallTrends #MonsoonImpact #ClimateCrisis #GlobalWarming #ExtremeWeather #IndiaRainfall #MonsoonPatterns #Indiaspend

India increased its number of districts from 310 in 1951 to 640 in 2011, and projections show a rise from 693 to 785 between 2021 and February 2024. Districts play a crucial role in delivering developmental programs by state and union governments, yet experts and our analysis reveal a lack of clear criteria for defining them. For instance, the 2011 census recorded just 8,004 residents in Dibang Valley, while Thane, before Palghar's separation in 2014, had a population of over 10 million. This data visualisation by Shivakumar Jolad and Mehr Kalra from FLAME University’s Centre for Legislative Education and Research illustrates the significant demographic and geographical disparities among India's districts. https://lnkd.in/diVHi4fX #DistrictsInIndia #AdministrativeReform #UnionGovernment #PopulationGrowth #DevelopmentalPrograms #IndiaCensus #DemographicDiversity #Governance #Districts #RuralDevelopment #Indiaspend

On World Contraception Day, we highlight the complex issue of contraceptive choices in India, where female sterilisation remains the leading family planning method. Despite the availability of safer, reversible options, nearly two in five married women undergo this risky and permanent procedure. IndiaSpend reported in 2017 that the government offers free sterilisation and provides Rs 600 to women from vulnerable households who opt for the procedure. ASHAs receive incentives for bringing women to health centres. However, more than 5% of women regret their decision, and although they can theoretically reverse the procedure, the chances of getting pregnant afterward are slim. https://lnkd.in/dn6hFhdW #WorldContraceptionDay #FamilyPlanning #ContraceptiveChoices #FemaleSterilization #ReproductiveHealth #WomenEmpowerment #IndiaHealth #PublicHealth #SafeContraceptives #WomenRights #IndiaSpend