GOA

Only 30% of Goa’s 18-23 youth in college, far behind Sikkim’s 54%

Goa is in the league of 14 states and Union territories which have more than 30% of its population in the 18 to 23 age group enrolled in higher education institutes, as per the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) report for 2018-19.

However, the state, which fares better than most on different living parameters, still has a long way to go to catch up the best GER in the country, with over 50% of the population in the 18 to 23 age group in Sikkim and Chandigarh pursuing higher education.

Goa has a population of around 1.81 lakh in the age of 18 to 23 years, of which a majority of over one lakh are males as against 79,000 females. But when it comes to pursuing higher education, the females outnumber the males.

Goa was also among only eight states and UTs where the female teachers were higher than male ones.

Every year, 1,246 women completed their postgraduation from the state, in comparison to only 600 men. At the graduate level, of the over 8,000 that obtain a degree each year in Goa, around 5,100 were women and 2,899 were men.

The number of male students enrolling for full-time diploma programmes was five times higher than females in Goa, according to the AISHE report.
Also, Goa had a teacher-pupil ratio at the higher education level of one teacher for every 33 students, while the national average stood at one teacher for every 39 students.

INTERNATIONAL

International Day of Sign Languages: 23 September

International Day of Sign Languages was observed on 23 September.

The objective of the day is to raise awareness of the importance of sign language in the full realization of the human rights of people who are deaf.

Sign languages are fully-fledged natural languages, structurally distinct from the spoken languages.

The theme of the day is ‘Sign Language Rights for All’.

NATIONAL

· Shondol dance of Ladakh enters the Guinness Book of World Records

Shondol dancecreated history by entering into the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest Ladakhi dance. The dance was performed in the Naropa Festival 2019. The Guinness Book of World Records official adjudicate, Swapnil Dangarikar presented the certificate to the chairman, Naropa Festival Organising Committee, Drukpa Thuksey Rinpoche.

In the occasion of Naropa Festival 2019, over 408 women dressed up in traditional dresses and beautiful headgears and performed the dance.

Shondol dance is known as theroyal dance of Ladakh.

It is a famous dance in which the artistes used to perform for the king of Ladakh.

· Ministry of Power conducted a National Conclave in MSME sector

ð Ministry of Power conducted the National Conclave on Enhancing Energy Efficiency in MSME sector in Delhi on 23 September. The conclave was jointly inaugurated by Shri Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and Shri RK Singh, Union Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy.

ð The centre is taking various efforts for the development of MSMEs with an objective to transform the sector through green and sustainable initiatives towards high growth. It is expected that the Energy efficiency measures would reduce MSMEs’ power bills and make them competitive in the international market.

The aim of the conclave is to create a platform for pooling the knowledge and synergizing the effortsof various stakeholders. Various strategies will be set up to promote energy efficiency. It will also include discussion on key issues like technical and financial capabilities of MSMEs, capacity building and awareness programme.

· PM launched CDRI at UNSG Climate Action Summit

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modilaunched the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)at the United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG) Climate Action Summit which is being held in New York. The summit is hosted by UNSG Mr. António Guterres. The summit aims to ramp up climate actions worldwide. PM Modi presented the country’s practical approach and roadmap to mitigate climate change in the summit. PM invited the UN Member states to join CDRI.

The proposal to set up CDRI was initially approved by the Prime Minister on 13 August 2019. The supporting secretariat will be set up in New Delhi, India. The memorandum and regulations of the CDRI society will be prepared by the National Disaster Management Authority.

· Centre launched UMMID to tackle inherited genetic diseases

Centre has launched theUnique Methods of Management and treatment of Inherited Disorders (UMMID) It was launched by the Union Minister for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan. He also inaugurated the National Inherited Diseases Administration (NIDAN) Kendras. It is supported by Department of Biotechnology (DBT) under the Ministry of Science and Technology.

UMMID aims to tackle inherited genetic diseases of newborn babies. The initiative will ensure proper treatment to children and create awareness amongst the masses. UMMID initiative aims to work towards achieving wellness by promoting the prevention of genetic diseases under the National Health Policy, 2017of the government.

UMMID is to be implemented at government hospitals in order to help the people who cannot afford expensive care for genetic disorders.

The initiative will use cutting edge scientific technology and molecular medicine to extend Universal Health Coverage for all.

Under UMMID initiative

(i) NIDAN Kendras will be established. It will provide counselling, prenatal testing and diagnosis, management, and multidisciplinary care in Government Hospitals (GH) where the number of patients are more.

(ii) Skilled clinicians in Human Genetics will be produced.

(iii) Screening of pregnant women and newborn babies for inherited genetic diseases will be undertaken in hospitals at aspirational districts.