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Livelihood

Address the Unemployment Rate in India through Skilling the Youth

India's young talent

A seismic event transformed the world in 2020. People’s lives turned upside down within weeks. Many lost their health, jobs, and livelihoods, with the uber-rich also impacted by the devastation of the pandemic. Businesses were not immune either; many, including those that existed for decades, shut down for good, leaving thousands employed.

Fortunately, many things have changed as we approach the third anniversary of the pandemic. Thanks to the vaccine, many lives have been saved, and businesses have slowly regained some of their much-needed vigour. However, the problem of unemployment lingers on, especially in India.

Unemployment in India

Unemployment in India has been around for a while. It has been a problem for governments for decades. The country’s massive population makes it difficult for everyone to find work, but the pandemic magnified the issue. As Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and local businesses suffered from lockdown, people found work hard to come by.

The data published by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) shows the unemployment problem is only worsening. India’s unemployment rate has increased substantially since September 2022. It crossed 9% on a 30-day moving average basis on December 19, marking the highest unemployment rate in India since the pandemic.

Data from the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) makes for similar grim reading. After hitting the 1.15 million mark in July 2022, the new member additions have steadily declined. It dropped to 0.98 million in September and fell further to 0.73 new members in October 2022.

Are there Other Factors?

While the pandemic has undoubtedly accelerated the unemployment issues in India, it isn’t the sole reason.

For years, Indians have struggled with skill development. The problem is especially pronounced in the youth and has played a central role in increasing unemployment in India. The country boasts the world’s largest and youngest population, but only 5% of the workforce is formally skilled. It is an alarming number that highlights the difficulty the Indian youth face when transitioning from the academic to the professional world.

Why Youngsters in India Lack Skills?

The highest unemployment rate in India issue among the Indian youth stem mainly due to following:

1. Lack of information

Many youngsters are unaware of the opportunities on offer in various industries. There’s an information mismatch, which results in unrealistic professional expectations.

2. Lack of training opportunities

Compared to their foreign counterparts, university students in India rarely have access to training opportunities and short-term professional experience. Geographical and financial obstacles get in their way, despite numerous offers on the table.

3. Existing social norms

Some jobs and professions in India have suffered due to social norms and stereotypes. They’re looked down upon and, therefore, subconsciously affect the youth. They do not fancy these jobs, limiting the number of options they have.

Skilling the Youth is the Answer to Unemployment

Youngsters in India are the hope of the country as well as the world. In the next three decades, around 183 million people will join the working age group in India. That is equal to a massive 22 percent of the incremental global workforce, signifying the importance of the great Indian youth to the global economy. The highest unemployment rate in India should become a thing of the past for our nation’s better world positioning.

However, skill development is vital for Indian youngsters to lead the world. Educational institutions can lead the revolution, helping students gain experience whilst studying.

India needs better, more flexible, and modern degree and professional education colleges. Currently, the environment offered by local universities and institutes leaves much to be desired, as they keep students away from the industry.

More focus on training opportunities could be helpful, as students can gain professional insight whilst still in college. Experience from their time in a professional setup could prove a game-changer, allowing them to focus on industry-specific skills academically.

Industry experience also helps reduce information mismatch among the youth. Many are aware of the opportunities and pathways to succeed in the field of their choice. First-hand experience in a company can clear that up, showing them the path to corporate life and the industry of their choice.

Focus on Life Skills

Life skills come in handy throughout life. Indian youngsters are rarely trained in the essential skills needed in life, which indirectly affects their employability. Some of these soft skills include:

1. Problem-solving ability

Running away from problems instead of facing them is an alarming trait in several Indian youngsters. Problem-solving ability, whether at work or in personal life, should be refined and encouraged in schools and colleges.

From an employment viewpoint, it is safe to say youngsters with a problem-solving mindset are more likely to land a job than those lacking the skill. They can also quickly rise through the ranks professionally and help their companies succeed.

2. Strong mindset

Similarly, educational and professional skill-building institutions can train youngsters to control their emotions and build strong mindsets. Failure is a natural step forwards and not backward. With the right attitude, youngsters can tackle employment challenges and improve themselves to increase their employability.

3. More awareness

Youngsters with more knowledge and awareness about what’s happening around them are likely to perform better in interviews. Hiring managers appreciate candidates with an insight into various industries, their current outlook, different markets, and how they might look in a few years. Youngsters can stand out against their competition by keeping themselves updated with the economy and industry.

Closing Note

With the youth population in India increasing every day, governments and educational institutions face the challenge of arming them with the necessary skills. Fortunately, the government identified the importance of skill-building in youth sometime back and took steps to address the problem.

Programs like Make in India and the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas, launched to skill the youth and increase their participation in India’s push towards a $5 trillion economy, have shown promise. The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship are a couple of other government initiatives focused on Indian youngsters.

While significant work is still needed, these initiatives should bear fruit in some years. But whether these moves address the highest unemployment rate in India and guide the country closer to the $5 economy goal remains to be seen.

Smile Foundation, CSR and Skilling The Youth

Smile Foundation realised that with a little hand-holding, youth can become the backbone of the Indian economy. If they are shown the right direction, they prosper, their family prospers and so does the country! And thus STeP or the Smile Twin e-Learning Programme was launched in 2007. The aim is to help as many youth as possible in getting gainful employment.

This e-learning programme is creating a pool of young and independent people through skill enhancement in tandem with market requirements providing training in soft skills, basic computer use, spoken English and the basic communication tools. This initiative is a perfect avenue for CSR interests with many corporates of different sizes investing in its potential. Learn more here!

Categories
Education Livelihood

Entrepreneurship Skills Development for School Students

Digital Literacy in India- Now Find Techies in Rural Areas
Digital Literacy in India- Now Find Techies in Rural Areas

Entrepreneurship– this word wasn’t perhaps known to many until maybe a decade back. To be successful meant studying hard and getting a stable job that paid well. However, the coming of the internet and democratic flow of information has changed everything today. 

In the 21st century, entrepreneurship skills development has become a priority for many. People don’t just want to find comfortable jobs, but they want to become job creators.

The world is waking up to the potential of entrepreneurship. India, on the other hand, is leading in start-up innovation. Tech-based start-ups in India are growing rapidly and government-backed technology like UPI is now going global. By August 2022, India was the third-largest start-up ecosystem in the world. Today, the country has more than 77,000 small and big start-ups spread across 656 districts.

More and more such start-ups are receiving billions of dollars in funding from international organisations. In 2022, 21 Indian start-ups entered the Unicorn Club which means their valuation reached $ 1 billion. All this has been made possible by a conducive environment for innovation and support from the government as well. 

To boost the spirit of entrepreneurship among young Indians and to create a culture of entrepreneurship skill development programme, the government of India launched a flagship initiative in 2016. 

The Startup India Initiative, which was established on January 16th, 2016, has released a number of initiatives with the goal of assisting entrepreneurs, creating a strong startup ecosystem, and changing India into a nation of job creators rather than job seekers. A specialised Startup India Team oversees these initiatives and answers to the Department for Industrial Policy and Promotion (DPIIT).

Let’s Talk About Entrepreneurial Skills Development

When we talk about entrepreneurship, the first question that comes to mind is how to develop entrepreneurial skills? Our education has, so far, been focused on acquiring job skills. The livelihood skill development programme has also followed a basic approach so far.

However, in this rapidly transforming world, the need is to equip the people with the right skills. Once they have the necessary skills and confidence, they can create innovative organisations. In order to achieve this, entrepreneurship is now being taught at various levels.

One of the initiatives taken in this direction is by the Delhi Government. Under its ‘Entrepreneurship Mindset Curriculum’, they launched ‘Business Blasters’ programme. Rs 2000 was given to students of class 11 and 12 to develop ideas for entrepreneurship. 

After thorough evaluation, 1000 of these ideas were selected for the programme.

This was a first-of-its-kind initiative where government schools’ students got a chance to directly pitch their ideas to investors and receive funding. The Delhi Skill and Entrepreneurship University has also been launched with the aim of creating innovators of tomorrow.

Teaching Entrepreneurship in Schools

As we can see from above examples, many initiatives are already being taken to integrate entrepreneurship learning in school and college education. Both private and government institutes are waking up to the importance of developing technical skills for entrepreneurs.

Whether it is starting a small venture or a global start-up, the entrepreneurs need to have the right skills to scale their organisation. This can only be achieved if the students are taught at an early stage to think creatively and take risks. This is why we need to begin from the school level.

Learning about entrepreneurship involves completely changing one’s mindset, altering one’s intellectual perspective, and taking conventional steps to enlighten children. Clearly, entrepreneurial education has a crucial role in influencing perspectives, skills, and traditions.

The goals of entrepreneurship education are so important that it is essential to support a rigorous framework in education and knowledge of the subject, then to offer confidence and steady modernisation to enable more students to benefit from entrepreneurship education.

According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, more than 11% of Indians between the ages of 18 and 64 aspire to launch a business over the next three years. This means that a 10th of working adults is willing to take up entrepreneurship as a career option. For India, a comparatively young country, this can be a major opportunity of growth. If this potential is utilized to its maximum, it can make India a leader in entrepreneurship innovation.

So, What Can We Do About It?

Each student can be taught the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, igniting their interest in the topic. Students can benefit from entrepreneurs’ experiences and learning exposure by interviewing them and engaging in their businesses, for example, which will expose them to real-world experience and motivate them to study business.

In countries like Japan and the United States, entrepreneurship is taught at an early level in schools. It is promoted culturally, and innovation is supported in various ways. India is on the same path. More and more people are looking up to new age entrepreneurs as their heroes today.

Students from all socioeconomic levels benefit from entrepreneurship education because it encourages unique thinking and the development of their abilities and skills.  A lifetime learning process, entrepreneurship education begins in elementary school and continues through all stages of education, including adult education. The creation of opportunities, upholding of social justice, fostering of confidence, and stimulation of the economy all result from this.

With shows like Shark Tank coming to India, the idea of entrepreneurship has now reached every household. The iron is hot, and the hammer is ready! 

What’s needed is that the available opportunity is leveraged. This can only be achieved if we begin from the beginning and introduce entrepreneurship to the students at school level.

Smile Foundation and Entrepreneurship at Schools

Smile Foundation through its Mission Education programme is trying to develop the knowledge base of students from lower-income families in every aspect including the entrepreneurship skills development.

STeP or the Smile Twin e-Learning Programme is another initiative of the Smile Foundation focused on skill development of the Indian youth from the disadvantaged sections of the society. Learn more here and become a part of the change today!

Categories
Nutrition

Is Food Production translating into Adequate Nutrition?

Junk food, sedentary lifestyle leads to rise in hypertension, obesity 
Junk food, sedentary lifestyle leads to rise in hypertension, obesity 

When we talk about nutrition, the first thing that perhaps comes to everyone’s mind is food production. The belief is that to achieve adequate nutrition, we need to produce enough food. However, does necessary food production translate into adequate nutrition? The answer is no.

We cannot just stop at food production if we want to ensure adequate nutrition for everyone. The effort should be to go one-step ahead and understand other challenges like accessibility, local needs, etc.

Mr Chindi Vasudevappa, Vice-Chancellor of National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management said, in a conference, that 70% of Indians consume less than half of recommended dietary allowances of micronutrients. 

The country also is home to 25 per cent of the hungry people in the world. These facts become even starker when we compare it with India’s food production capacity. According to Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations (FAO), India is the second-largest food producer in the world.

It also ranks as the second greatest producer of rice, wheat, sugarcane, groundnuts, vegetables, fruit, and fish in addition to being the world’s largest producer of milk and pulses. India is today the ninth largest exporter of agricultural goods in the world. The country has become a net food exporter with a six-fold increase in food crop yields from 50 million tonnes in 1950–51 to approximately 300 million tonnes in 2019–20.

All this could be achieved because of initiatives like Green Revolution, Public Distribution Program, and sale of subsidized products to the poorer population. Even during the Covid pandemic, the Indian government provided free food to more than 80% population of the country.

Even with all this, why is the food production in India not translating into adequate nutrition for everyone?

Food Processing and Nutrition

Almost every kind of food that reaches our plates is processed in some form. Whether it is traditional form of processing or industrial, it is needed to store and transport food at long distances. However, one of the challenges of food processing is that it may negatively affect the nutritional value.

When the food is ultra-processed, it may contain high amounts of sugar, preservatives, and other ingredients which may not be good for long-term consumption. Additionally, some of the minerals and vitamins in the food may get dissolved during the processing.

So, does that mean we should do away with industrial processing of food? In today’s fast-paced world, that cannot be a solution. There are many reasons for this but the two most important ones are that food processing can improve accessibility and also make India a global leader in food production.

Thus, the solution lies in finding the ways in which the balance between food production and nutrition, and food processing and nutrition can be maintained. After the Covid-19 pandemic, people have become more conscious of what they are consuming.

Therefore, there has been a rise in the demand for gluten-free, organic food which uses natural preservatives and additives. The industry for organically grown and processed food is growing rapidly in India and around the world.

Even the government, through Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), is bringing in policies to boost investments in food production processing industry in India. With regularization of the food processing industry, MoFPI can ensure transparency so that customers can make better decisions.

Food Processing Industry in India

One of the largest food processing industries in the world, India’s output is anticipated to reach $535 billion by 2025–2026. Approximately 1.93 million people are employed in the food processing business, according to government statistics, which accounts for 12.38% of all registered factory employment. 

The government has made significant investments in the food processing sector in India, including 68 Agro-Processing Clusters, 356 Cold Chain Projects, and 41 Mega Food Parks. The Indian food sector is expected to produce $535 billion in US dollars by 2025, with a CAGR of 11%. According to trends, India’s food processing sector is anticipated to expand as a result of global mindful consumption.

As mentioned above, India is already a leader in food production globally. The country can leverage its position to become a global leader in food processing as well. Even within the country, many startups are now coming up which are focusing on providing healthier options to customers.

The food processing sector is the sunrise sector in the country and with its growth, we can also expect the nutritional benefits can also reach the end consumer.

Achieving Adequate Nutrition Targets

As discussed in the beginning, food production cannot alone solve India and world’s nutritional deficiency problems. What we need is focus on multiple areas to ensure food nutritional food is made available to everyone.

There are reasons like poor storage facilities, wastage in transportation, and use of contaminated water which impacts the access to nutrition for people in India. According to Mr Vasudevappa, India loses Rs 1,00,000 crore of food every year.

All these problems can be solved by bringing in necessary investment and improving the infrastructure. By focusing on food production, diversification of crops, and building a robust food processing industry, India can achieve its targets of providing nutritious food to everyone.

Another major problem that the world, and India, need to focus on is climate change which is impacting food production and driving hunger. What we need is to build a food processing industry which is resilient to the vagaries of climate change. By growing crops like millet which consume lesser water, we can further improve our agricultural production and provide adequate nutrition to everyone.

The focus to ensure adequate nutrition for everyone is an arduous one. However, by focusing our energy on improving food production and food processing, we can achieve our goals. Smile Foundation is also doing its part in its mission of providing nutritious meals to underprivileged children and their families.

Categories
Health

Telemedicine Project in Mewat: Healthcare Access via Technology

Telemedicine Project in Mewat: Healthcare Access via Technology
Mr. Shankar taking medical services from SoW Doctor

It’s a well-known fact that Health is Wealth. Health adversely affects not only the health but overall financial, family, and social aspects of one’s life. Untimely identification of health problems results in various social problems. One healthcare project was undertaken by Smile Foundation and one of its most committed partners, Philips in the Mewat region of Haryana, India to make healthcare accessible to the rural area through technology.

Many people are deprived of trustworthy, consistent, modern health care because of their location as they can be miles from a hospital or clinic, living in a desolate area, or regularly underserved areas. After Covid-19, it was very difficult for the community members of Mewat to get consulted by the doctors physically in the hospitals.

To enhance access to healthcare in remote locations of Mewat through digital healthcare intervention, Smile Foundation partnered with Philips India and a total of 269 mobile OPDs were conducted and a total of 13753 patients were treated during the reporting period.

Mobile Telemedicine Unit

Telemedicine came as a boon for patients shortly after the government of India and the Medical Council of India released their new guidelines for use of telemedicine during the pandemic. Even without a medical emergency like the pandemic, providing in-person healthcare is challenging, particularly given the large geographical distances and limited resources.

This particular Mobile Telemedicine Unit conducts OPDs 5 days in a week covering 1-2 villages per day falling within the catchment areas of the sub-centers for general consultation. On the 6th day, the unit carries out documentation and stock update. The roster is prepared during the pre-operational period. To avoid duplication of services provided by the government, only those services will be provided which are not covered by the sub-center.

Short Case Story

Mr. Shankar Hadpad is a 55-year-old farmer. His main source of livelihood is farming, but due to the excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in farming, he was diagnosed with a skin disease 2 years ago. He consulted several dermatologists but did not get cured from the prescribed medication from the private Hospitals.

Mr. Shankar
Mr. Shankar taking medical services from SoW Doctor

When he came to know about the Smiles on Wheels (SoW) service, he visited it and got counseled by the SoW doctor along with the nurse. Thankfully, around 75 % of his ringworms have now been cured.

As medical facilities are limited in a rural area, telemedicine consultation has been very helpful to the beneficiaries in getting themselves treated. They are able to access primary health care services through the telemedicine unit. This healthcare project is a complete success.

Categories
Nutrition

Focus on Nutrition, Not Hunger

Focus on Nutrition, not Hunger
Focus on Nutrition, not Hunger

The Latin quote ‘Mens sana in corpore sano’ when translated means ‘a healthy mind in a healthy body’. And this is what a well-balanced diet provides– energy that you need to keep active throughout the day and nutrients that you need for growth and repair, helping you to stay strong and healthy and help to prevent illness. Hunger and Malnutrition in India need a proper discussion.

Hunger and Malnutrition in India

Let’s start by understanding the difference between nutrition and food. Why? Because it’s important to know the nutritional elements of the food that is served on a plate. While food does fill the stomach, the essential question that one needs to ask here is what nutritional elements have been consumed through the food?

The data related to deaths under the age of five years in the country due to hunger and malnutrition is alarming, amounting to many deaths every year, owing to hunger of children alone.

A quick look at the data– 

  • India’s position in the Global Hunger Index currently stands at 107th out of 121 countries. With a score of 29.1, India has a level of hunger that is serious.
  • India is the largest milk producer in the world and is also self-sufficient as a grain producer. Still a part of the marginalised population don’t have easy access to either sufficient milk or quality food grains.
  • Several other factors contribute to malnutrition – safe drinking water, sub standard sanitation especially toilets, low immunity amongst kids and pregnant women, and most importantly lack of education and awareness of healthy food habits amongst rural and marginalised section of society

This draws attention to a very important question– are we eating right? It is easy to confuse filling our stomachs to eating healthy and right. As data has proven, this is not a correct assumption. What fills a plate also needs to be nutritionally balanced and filling.

Importance of Good Nutrition

Good nutrition means having a wholesome, healthy and sustaining diet. This is beneficial as it provides the body with the essential nutrients to safeguard against diseases. It also boosts immunity and strength to withstand any ailments that may prop up during one’s life span. Eating a variety of foods and consuming less salt, sugars and saturated and industrially-produced trans-fats are essential for a healthy diet.

So what can be called Good Nutrition ?

Eating a variety of foods and consuming less salt, sugars and saturated and industrially-produced trans-fats are the hallmarks of good nutrition and essential for a healthy diet. Processed foods should be avoided as much as possible as they offer no nutritional value, even if they seem to satisfy hunger. In fact, the side effects of consuming such food is alarming as they drain the body disrupting its smooth and healthy functioning. 

Special Nutrition Programme

A special nutrition program was launched in India in 1974-78 as part of the Minimum Needs Programme. The objective was to provide additional healthy meals to pre-school children and expectant and nursing mothers for six days a week. This would provide the missing nutrients, making the meals healthy and balanced.

The programme is active in many forms both in rural areas which are inhibited predominantly by lower socio-economic groups in tribal  as well as in urban slums. This initiative is required to ensure that the most vulnerable sections of our society enjoy a healthy diet throughout their lives.

The outcomes will be positive and the country will see healthy pregnancies, normal growth, development and ageing cycles amongst all.

What constitutes Proper and Accurate Food Nutrition

For healthy growth, the body has to function and grow appropriately. And for that to be possible, one must consume enough nutrients as part of their regular diet. Nutrients are of two types–  macronutrients classified under proteins, carbs, fats, fiber and water; and micronutrients classified under vitamins and minerals.

Consuming meals that have a balanced mix of these nutrients, both macro and micro helps the body in producing the necessary energy, metabolic activity, micronutrient shortages, chronic disease prevention, general health promotion and well-being.

Major Takeaway

Food is every individual’s basic need and access to healthy nutritious food is every individual’s– be it a man, woman or child, fundamental right. Quality and wholesome food consumption need to be a matter of routine especially for the marginalised sections who are most deprived of healthy meals.

This is essential for sound health, normal maintenance of life, survival, and well-being of all human beings. As we step into a new year, we must pledge towards omitting hunger and malnutrition everywhere on the planet.

Smile Foundation cares about the food and nutrition of the children associated with its various programmes and takes special measures to ensure nutrition to children and families from lower-income households. Hunger and malnutrition in India will become a thing of the past with the initiatives of the Indian Government and various social development organisations.

Categories
Women Empowerment

Making Women Empowerment a Men’s Issue

women empowerment NGO
women empowerment NGO

When we hear the words ‘women empowerment’, what is the first thing that comes to our mind? It is when we help women in accessing equal opportunities as men. Whether it is education, health, employment, etc., women should have the same facilities available to them. There are many women empowerment ngo working to alleviate the problems of millions of women across the world.

The Unequal Struggle

Women, who make half the population of the world, struggle with inequality in different areas even today. According to a report, women constitute 24% less of the world’s parliamentarians. Only 5% of the mayors are women. This is the state of political representation of women in the world.

Not just that, women are also paid 24% less than men for similar work. There are still 18 countries in the world where men can decide if women should work. Another disturbing fact is that one in three women are likely to face violence during their lifetime.

These facts explain why women empowerment is an important issue to be discussed. Having said that, if we make this only an issue about women then that defeats the purpose. An important factor here is that men need to take equal responsibility for this culture of inequality. Since men, as seen from the facts above, are socially, politically, and economically in a stronger position, their contribution is extremely crucial for empowering women.

Why Women Empowerment Matter

Women empowerment has been recognized as an important tool of sustainable global development. The United Nations Population Fund, time and again, has emphasized the need for equality. In its Millennium Declaration, 2000, it focused on equality for women through various assertions. It stated:

“No individual and no nation must be denied the opportunity to benefit from development. The equal rights and opportunities of women and men must be assured.”

“To ensure that, by the same date, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling and that girls and boys will have equal access to all levels of education.”

“To promote gender equality and the empowerment of women as effective ways to combat poverty, hunger and disease and to stimulate development that is truly sustainable.”

Programs aimed towards empowering women have a long-lasting impact for themselves, their families, and also for the nation at large. According to a statistic, as of 2011, every additional year of basic education increased girls’ future earnings by 10–20%, while every additional year of secondary education raised earnings by 15–25%. 

Also, there would be two-thirds fewer adolescent pregnancies and women would have fewer children overall if all females completed secondary education. Women with more education are much more likely to seek out prenatal care and trained delivery attendants, which lowers mother and newborn mortality. 

Mothers who have received education are better equipped to protect their young children from common illnesses like pneumonia and malaria, which could potentially save three million lives. For every $1 invested in programmes that help women engage in income-generating activities, $7 is returned. In a nutshell, empowerment of women creates a much larger impact than we can anticipate.

Women in India

Just like the rest of the world, India too has a problem of gender inequality. Women suffer because of discrimination on various fronts. Globally, females have greater survival rates at birth, are more likely to have healthy development, and are just as likely to attend preschool as boys, yet in India more girls die at birth rate than boys. Additionally, girls are more prone to drop out of school early.

Women also have to face discrimination because of social stigma related to menstruation. Therefore, women empowerment is a crucial area to work upon in a country like India. Indian society has seen reformation over the centuries and decades. In fact, some of the early reformers who fought for women were men.

One of the shining examples is Raja Ramnohun Roy who worked tirelessly for the abolition of Sati practice and succeeded. Thus, the importance of women empowerment in India has been a subject of discussion for centuries now. When India became independent, equality for all, irrespective of their gender or sex, became a fundamental right of all citizens.

Today, the country has various schemes that work in this direction. From the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padao’ campaign to Ujjawala Yojana, the Indian government has been continuously working towards betterment of women in the society. Many of these schemes also focus on the need for men to come forward and participate in this change. This is again important because making women empowerment a men’s issue can expedite the entire process of change.

NGOs and Women Empowerment

Then, there are non-government organisations too which are working in the same direction. The NGO for women empowerment in India has been doing exceptional work for women economic empowerment, social equality, and much more. One of the examples is the ‘Swabhiman’ program by Smile Foundation. The programmme works for women empowerment and was launched in the year 2005.

Since then, the goal has been to empower women through creative community initiatives, support them in their education and livelihoods, help them develop life skills, give them the confidence to seek medical attention and bring about lasting changes in the neighbourhood, and involve both men and boys in the effort to create a society where gender roles are equal.

In conclusion, we can understand why women empowerment is so important for the world. If half of the population is kept away from opportunities, it limits the growth that we can achieve. Imagine the overall positive impact if women were given equal opportunities as men.

Everyone would benefit from it and today we need a more sustainable development. Therefore, making women empowerment a men’s issue is important. This is because society needs to come together and find the social evils. This can only be achieved together and it is the need of the hour.

Categories
Education

Quality Education is a Basic Right of Every Child

Gender Stereotyping Bad for Both Girls and Boys
Gender Stereotyping Bad for Both Girls and Boys

Afroz (name changed) works as a domestic help in the apartment complexes of Noida, Uttar Pradesh, and stays in a rented accommodation in an urban village of the city. Many years back, in search of a livelihood, she had migrated from Bhagalpur in Bihar to the National Capital Region (NCR) along with her husband.

The city did not disappoint her and she was happy that she no more had to mill rice on dhenki (a traditional rice mill made of wood and iron), which was her routine work in the village. But within a few months of staying in NCR she realised that to better the living condition of her family, she will have to work.

“My neighbour worked as a domestic help and often brought home sweets and gifts. I thought why shouldn’t I? My husband was reluctant but I convinced him,” says Afroz. Afroz has three children now who study in a private school and also go for private tuition after school hours. She and her husband work very hard to pay their fees.

Ask her why is she not sending her children to a government school where education is free, and she says, “Sarkari school me achhi padhai nahin hoti. Didi soti rehti hai. Aaj kal sab ghar me Angrezi bolne lage hain. Kal ko log apne bachon kaa khayal rakhne ke liye Angrezi bolne waali kaamwali dhundenge. Kamsekam mere bachon ko kaam to mil jayega. (They do not teach well in government schools. With the English-speaking population increasing in the country, there would be a time when people will look for educated English-speaking maids and caretakers. My children will at least get that job).”

Afroz has high aspirations for her children but is very practical in her approach. Free or cheap quality education in India is still not a reality of Afroz and her kids.

RTE Act, 2009 for Quality Education in India

When the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, came into effect in April 2010, it incited hope that India’s public education system would be strengthened if it has to be ensured that no child in the country is deprived of a quality education in India.

The government reports looked fair till the pandemic forced the physical closure of schools and learning shifted to the online medium where a computer or a smartphone and internet connection became a requirement for parents if learning of their children had to be continued.

Many children across the country were deprived of elementary and secondary education not only because their parents could not afford it but also because many schools lagged behind in basic technical infrastructure.  

As per the Unified District Information System for Education (UIDSE+) Report 2020-21, in 2019-20, only 5.5 lakh schools in the country had functional computers. It increased to 6 lakh in 2020-21. Likewise, only 3.36 lakh schools had internet facilities in 2019-20 which went up to 3.7 lakh in 2020-21 with 40 per cent of the schools having functional computers.

Enrolment in Schools

However, the Gross Enrollment Ratio improved and the total students enrolled in school education from primary to higher secondary stood at 25.38 crore.   If the UDISE+ report is to be believed, 39.7 lakh students of government-aided, private school students, shifted to government schools during the 2020-21 academic year.

Enrollment in private schools dropped at the pre-primary and primary levels by 22.28 lakh and 11.6 lakh respectively while enrollment in government schools saw a rise of 18.82 lakh and 9.28 lakh in the primary and upper primary classes respectively. The reason was obvious: Job loss, death of parent/s or a family member, salary cut, or loss in business increased the financial vulnerability of parents and guardians during the pandemic.

The government report stated that admission of young children in schools during the pandemic was postponed and more so it was noticed among vulnerable kids like children at pre-primary, class 1 level, and Children With Special Needs (CWSN).

Even as the scare of a fourth COVID-19 wave still looms, private schools that were stalled by the government from hiking the fees for the last two years, have declared an increase in tuition fees leaving those parents still coping with the stress caused due to the pandemic, baffled.

Article 21 (A) inserted in the Indian Constitution through the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act made free and compulsory education of all children in the age group of six to fourteen years, a Fundamental Right.

NEP 2020: Quality Education in India

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 which came up after a gap of 34 years and is aligned to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all, also emphasises guaranteeing universal access to school education at all levels. 

Over the years, the school enrollment rate has increased in the country but dropout has not stopped completely. The annual dropout rate of secondary school students in 2020-21 was recorded at 14.6 per cent.

To bring back children who have dropped out from school and to prevent further dropping out of children from school, the NEP 2020 stresses providing effective and sufficient infrastructure so that all students have access to safe and engaging school education at all levels from pre-primary school to Grade 12. 

In alignment with SDG 4, some states have taken infrastructure development in schools seriously. Delhi has already set an example. In Odisha, as of now, the makeover is limited to high schools as it is primarily funded by the school alumnus under the Mo School Abhiyan. An
all-inclusive change in the education ecology is being brought about by states like Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Andhra Pradesh.

Kerala has always been way ahead of others but even Haryana has made an effort to make 80 per cent of government school students in elementary classes saksham (grade competent) through the state’s flagship programme Saksham Haryana.

Education which was once a State subject was shifted to the Concurrent List by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act. Though the Centre has powers to bring uniform educational reforms, it is on the states to ensure proper implementation of the laws and policies, be it RTE or NEP.

It would not be very fair to compare the outcome of one state with the other given that the economy and ecology of states differ, but an effort to improve the quality of education in India will have to be attempted by all the states. There is mushrooming growth of private schools and hardly any efforts made by state governments to establish new government schools or monitor the quality of education in private schools. 

Don’t limit Afroz’s Dreams for Her Kids

Aforz says, “Mai to unpadh hoon. Mere shauhar padhe likhe hain, lekin Angrezi me achhe nahin hain. Upar se ye project wagaira, hamare paas kahan time hai (I can’t read and write. My husband can, but he is not good in English. And do we have time for school projects).” But she finds it strange when her employers send their wards to the so-called top schools of the city and also struggle to help/do their children’s project works.

A good curriculum, advanced educational learning materials and chic infrastructure cannot ensure quality learning. Schools, both government and private, will have to be trained in engaging children, unearthing their hidden talents, boosting their self-esteem, preparing them for life, and showing them the way forward.

The NEP 2020 also reiterates that education is a “public service and access to quality education must be considered a basic right of every child”. What we need is a strong, vibrant public education system. Charities in India supported by corporate houses are doing their bit in reaching out to disadvantaged children.

Nevertheless much more will have to be done to make universal access to high-quality education, a reality in the true sense. The number of applicants for Kendriya Vidyalayas across the country is proof that if quality education in India is provided in state-owned schools, it would be the first choice of not only the disadvantaged groups but also of the Indian middle class.

Smile Foundation and Quality Education

Smile Foundation truly believes in the holistic development of the children. Through its flagship initiative, Mission Education, it is trying to ensure that children are provided with quality education in India. Every barrier that can be brought down for the endeavor of success of every child from an underprivileged situation is taken care of dutifully. Quality education for all will be a reality very soon!

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Insights

Is India Becoming a Country for Daughters?

Is India Becoming a Country for Daughters?
Is India Becoming a Country for Daughters?

“My daughter is my biggest achievement. She is a little star and my life has changed so much for the better since she came along.” – Denise Van Outen

The quote above pretty much explains the importance of daughters. The sex ratio is more balanced in the developed countries of the world. According to a Pew survey, Indian families are becoming less likely to seek abortions to assure the birth of sons over daughters. Punjab and Haryana, once notorious for female foeticide, have made significant progress in correcting their unbalanced sex ratio at birth.

The study employs the International System, which expresses the ratio as the number of boys born for every 100 females, even though the sex ratio at birth is defined in India in terms of the number of male births per 1,000 female births.

Child Sex Ratio in India

According to the survey, the sex ratio at birth has improved the greatest in India’s northern states while declining in the southern and eastern regions. Additionally, there is a noticeable decrease in “son preference” throughout India, especially among the Sikhs.

The study says that the sex ratio at birth has decreased in the north, which includes Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, and the Union territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, from 118 boys in 2001 to an average of 111 boys for every 100 girls in 2019–21.

The research credits the government of India’s efforts to stop sex selection, including a ban on prenatal sex testing and sex-selective abortions as well as an advertising push to rescue the girl child, for the overall improvement in sex ratio at birth. 

It says that these actions were taken at a time when the nation was experiencing greater societal changes related to income and education. The study split India into six zones: north, east, west, south, central, and northeast.

Child Sex Ratio of Some States in India

The ratio, however, increased in the five southern states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka, going from 106 boys for every 100 females in 2001 to 108 boys for every 100 girls in 2019–21.

In the eastern region of India, which includes Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Odisha, the sex ratio has likewise gotten worse, rising from 107 in 2001 to 109 in 2019–21. The analysis reveals that the sex ratio at birth has generally improved across the rest of India. In the west (Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Goa), it decreased from 116 to 108 (boys per 100 girls), while in central India (Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh), it decreased from 111 to 106 (boys per 100 girls).

It slightly improved to 104 from 105 in the northeast (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura, and Sikkim).

The figures of the child sex ratio in NFHS-5 and the census appear to be different. For instance, India’s total sex ratio was 933 according to the 2001 census, while it was 1,000 according to the NFHS-3 survey, which was carried out in 2005-2006. Once more, the sex ratio was 940 in the 2011 Census, while it was 991 in NFHS-4 (20015–16).

The NFHS statistics is a sample survey and only the next census will establish whether there are more women than men in India, even though both sources show a continual increase in the overall sex ratio.

Clearly the sex ratio is improving and it’s a good sign. As people are getting more educated, preference for sons is on a decline. Still a lot remains to be achieved in terms of a balanced sex ratio.

More Females than Males

The Economic Survey indicates that there are more women than men in India. There are now 1,020 more females than men for every 1,000 people, up from 991 in 2015–16. Additionally, from 919 in 2015–16 to 929 in 2019–21, the sex ratio at birth has grown.

The government has undertaken special reforms through the “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” (BBBP) plan to avoid gender-biased sex-selective elimination and to ensure the survival and welfare of the female child.

In the majority of states in India, the sex ratio has improved.

Reduced Total Fertility Rate

The total fertility rate (TFR), which is the average number of children per woman, has decreased from 2.2 in 2015–16 to 2 in 2019–21. Another name for it is Replacement Rate.

According to the Survey, the overall fertility rate has even fallen below the replacement threshold of fertility (2.1 children per woman) for the nation. Except for Manipur, Meghalaya, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh, all of the states and UTs have reached replacement level fertility.

Internet Usage and Literacy Rates among Women

Between the ages of 15 and 49, Indian women are still behind males in literacy. In rural India, the difference is substantially larger. This results in a digital divide as well. In India, women are much less likely than males to have ever used the internet. More women than in 2015–16 reported feeling empowered to make important household choices.

Financial Self-Reliance

Women are now more likely to report having separate bank accounts. Compared to the last NFHS survey, more of them take part in household decision-making. The poll has limitations because it does not provide comparison information for males.

Conclusion

India is certainly becoming a country for daughters. The situation has improved a lot since the past 20 years. There is an old African proverb, “If you educate a man, you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman, you educate a family (nation)”  Therefore, imparting education to girls is important in taking ahead the nation.

However, India still has got a long way to go and is prepared to cross every bridge to become a truly equitable nation.

Smile Foundation and Girl Child

Learn about Smile Foundation’s girl child focused initiative, ‘She can Fly‘

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Education

Emotional Intelligence(EQ) is the Glue that Binds IQ and Success

EQ is the glue that binds IQ and Success
EQ is the glue that binds IQ and Success

“Tell me more.” “How do you like to be communicated to?” “I appreciate you.” “What are your thoughts?” “I have a different perspective.” “Are you OK?” “I hear you.” “I’m sorry.” These plethora of random statements are not so random. These are in fact some of the most powerful phrases of emotionally intelligent leaders. A marker of high EQ.

Why is Emotional Intelligence important in the workplace? Does it have some actual currency or is it a buzzword, a trend that will fade over time? Does EQ count in the “how to be successful” metrics? Let’s get into the depths of this topic that does determine the course of one’s success.

What is EQ?

Emotional intelligence (EQ) is the ability to perceive, understand and analyze emotions, and use emotions to facilitate thinking. High EQ means you’re capable of strong social skills. EQ is important because it’s a key to success in work and relationships. 

A high EQ helps you have positive communication with others, while low EQ can quickly become a barrier in personal and professional relationships. EQ is connected to “soft skills,” like having a positive attitude, being considerate, and being super empathetic. These skills are essential indicators of potential job performance success.

Having a high IQ will get you in the door, but it’s your EQ that will keep you there– meaning EQ is the new IQ

Intelligence Quotient (IQ) is not a predictor of success. It’s only one component of the whole success bandwagon, and it has its limits. In fact, some studies have shown that high IQ people are actually less satisfied with their lives than those who don’t score high on tests like the SAT or GRE (the Graduate Record Exams).

But EQ is different—it’s an indicator of success in work and relationships. If you have high EQ but low IQ, you may find yourself struggling at work because your skills aren’t quite as strong and therefore your job performance suffers.

But if your EQ is lower than your IQ then you might have trouble connecting with other people because your personality doesn’t match well enough for them to feel comfortable opening up to you. 

You might think– What matters more in such a scenario?

You would be mildly surprised to know that EQ outweighs IQ in many such instances. Your emotional awareness counts more where it truly matters.

Benefits of High EQ

Emotional intelligence (EQ)- the ability to perceive and express emotions, understand and analyze emotions, and use emotions to facilitate thinking

If you have high EQ in any area of your life (work or personal), you are going to do increasingly well in both. You would be identified as someone who would see a person beyond what’s visible or performed.

A person who understands that emotions affect one’s overall work performance is a huge asset to any organization as it creates a toxic-free environment. An ecosystem wherein one is valued more than their data inputs.

If you don’t have the ability to talk openly with others, then it will be difficult for you to form strong relationships or get along well with coworkers, clients, or customers. Thinking broadly, EQ then is a crucial indicator of success in work and relationships.

Why Communication will always be the Key to Success

Communication is the key to success– no matter how many times this statement gets repeated, it will always remain true. Your success– however you perceive it, would highly depend on effective communication with your co-workers and customers.

In the workplace, it’s important that employees work together as a team because they need each other if they want their organization to succeed and reach new heights. They also want their customers’ satisfaction so that they keep coming back for more business from them! EQ makes you pivot towards the underlying problems of the issues making it easier to find holistic solutions for your clients or co-workers.

Measurement of EQ

EQ can be measured in many different ways– including surveys and interviews, but the most reliable way is through self-report questionnaires that ask you how well you deal with stress, manage conflict with others or work on projects in groups.

You may be surprised by how important EQ is for your career. According to one study published in Harvard Business Review (HBR), employees who scored high on this trait were more likely to get promoted than those who scored low! Yes, EQ weighs that high on the employability score!

Five key areas that influence emotional intelligence

American author, psychologist, and science journalist Daniel Goleman popularized the concept of emotional intelligence in his New York Times best-seller, Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ. In his book, he described in detail the five key areas that influence emotional intelligence– Self-awareness, Self-regulation, Motivation, Empathy, and Social Skills.

  • Self-awareness is the ability to understand your emotions and how they influence your thoughts and behavior.
  • Self-regulation is the ability to manage your emotions so that they are not disruptive to your thoughts and behavior.
  • Motivation is the ability to work towards goals and achieve them.
  • Empathy is the ability to share someone else’s feelings or experiences by imagining what it would be like to be in that person’s situation.
  • Social Skills involve being empathetic to other people’s feelings as well as understanding their needs (especially when things go wrong).

Emotional Intelligence Unlocks Possibilities for You

The relevance of EQ cannot be understated for the processes of recruitment, promotion, and retention in many organizations as policies are altered to evaluate employees from the more trusted lens of EQ.

Many big Organizations in their surveys have found out that across their global teams’ mid-career executives having high potential had higher EQ competencies than their peers.

Machines will keep getting smarter with us increasingly becoming technology-reliant, so it is paramount to continue investing in our EQ as individuals. As the traits of EQ are all learned behaviors, it’s possible for us to actively work on them to enhance our relationships across realms, as well as boost the odds of our work success. 

Conclusion

Emotional intelligence is the key to improving your personal effectiveness. It’s the foundation for dealing with impulses, dealing with stress, and responding versus reacting. Holistic development in education also means the presence of EQ in educators, parents and guardians.

Youngsters and parents of young children should harness the power of EQ, alongside IQ and job skills, so that young people emerge as successful professionals and happy individuals.

Emotional Intelligence is something that you can cultivate and improve over time, but it’s more important than ever to be mindful of what you’re saying and how you’re saying it.

If you want to get ahead in the world, EQ will help ensure that your words are helpful and not hurtful. When someone asks you for some tips for success– maybe start with the importance of EQ.

“What really matters for success, character, happiness and life-long achievements is a definite set of emotional skills – your EQ — not just purely cognitive abilities that are measured by conventional IQ tests.” —

Daniel Goleman
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Education

National Credit Framework Changes Our Thinking on Education

National Credits Framework changes the way we think about Education
National Credits Framework changes the way we think about Education

Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think. – Albert Einstein

The new National Credit Framework will make it possible for students to switch between schools and boards without needing an equivalency certification provided by different school education boards in order to be admitted to higher education institutions or hired by the federal or state governments.

National Credit Framework, what is it?

On October 19, Union Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan published the draft report on the National Credit Framework (NCrF) and encouraged the general people across the country to comment on the study.

The National School/Higher Education Qualification Framework and all other qualification frameworks for secondary, postsecondary, and vocational education are under the umbrella of NCrF. This concept creditises learning, or gives distinct types of learning—including academic, skill-building, and experience learning—credit-based worth. 

Credit will be a means of identifying and measuring the levels of learning and learning outcomes at various stages of school or employment. The draft also offers comprehensive instructions and formulae for figuring out such credits (and the learning hours required to earn those credits).

It’s interesting to note that the NCrF provides the option of accruing, transferring, or redeeming any such credits (via the “Academic Bank of Credit”) to facilitate mobility across various stages and types of learning. According to the NCrF, any credit will only be granted following an evaluation, the specifics of which will be decided by the relevant regulatory body (such as UGC, AICTE, NCVET, NCERT, NIOS etc.). The NCrF does not have any regulatory requirements; it is only an enabling framework. 

Any relevant credit-based criteria must be communicated by the regulatory agencies or independent organisations in charge of education, employment, or skilling.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has recently pushed for legislation that will support undergraduate programmes with numerous entry and departure points.

Forward Thinking with regards to Learning and Outcomes

For students, NCrF will make course completion times flexible and open the door to numerous entry points, exit points, and employment opportunities. Additionally, they receive credit for all hours spent learning, including academic, vocational, and experiential hours. Additionally, it does away with the rigid division among the fields of science, arts and commerce.

As a result, the Education Ministry developed the National Credit Framework, which will allow students to digitally deposit their credits in the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC). This situation makes a consistent credit-based strategy essential. In essence, the framework is a set of guidelines that training institutions, schools, colleges and universities should adhere to while implementing the credit system.

How will Students benefit from NCrF?

While the majority of educational institutions in the nation use the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS), which allows students to earn credits by finishing a certain degree, With the adoption of NCrF, students will now have the option to combine several different courses, enabling both inter- and intra-disciplinary instruction. In a sense, NCrF aims to unite all frameworks under a single roof.

According to the rules of NCrF, students must acquire at least 40 points after putting in 1200 “notional learning hours” to qualify for a year of schooling.

The learning hours are different from the traditional academic learning hours in that they consist of time spent in a variety of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities, such as athletics, yoga, performing arts, music, social work, NCC, technical courses, as well as on-the-job coaching, internships, in addition to the time spent in the classroom.

This will assist students in concentrating on both fundamental academic excellence and skill development in order to better prepare them for future employment.

According to the UGC, students will have the chance to enrol in new courses, disciplines, and projects in conjunction with National Schools and Institutions when the NCrF is implemented (UGC). However, the school board examinations are still required and will still be taken into account when computing the final credit points, even when the students gain more experience through extra courses.

How will the Education System implement the National Credit Framework (NCrF)?

To bring about a radical shift in the Indian Educational System, the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 was unveiled. The policy discusses the holistic development of a child in addition to their schooling.

Principals and instructors now design a framework based on 21st century skills, holistic development, competency, and other factors, including curricular and extracurricular activities. Many pedagogies are developed according to each subject and topic covered in primary schools.

Therefore, the National Credit Framework is sure to transform education in the country. It will definitely change the way we think about education and the grading system.

Smile Foundation and Education

Smile Foundation puts utmost importance to a life full of learning. Through its flagship initiative, Mission Education, it is trying to make education a living and breathing reality for children who are way less privileged than many of us.

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