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Education for better health, long life

Education for better health, long life

Eating healthy, receiving regular medical check-ups, exercising regularly and sleeping adequately are among the factors that aid to improve general health. However, research implies that education may be an unanticipated factor in predicting how healthy and long people will live. Education for better health thus seems to be figuring in the development agenda of nations across the world.

 

People get the skills they need to live satisfying lives, prosper personally, and contribute to their communities via education. Furthermore, education increases the likelihood that a person will have access to decent healthcare, find work that pays a livable salary, and live in a relatively safe, non-hazardous environment – all of which are determinant for one’s well-being.   

 

According to ‘Healthy People 2020’, people dwelling in poorer socio-economic circumstances are at higher risk for a variety of health difficulties, including higher rates of disease, mental illness, and early mortality.

 

Early childhood education, high school completion, and college education can all aid people improve their socioeconomic level, lessening the chance of these poor health effects. As a result, public health professionals working to eliminate health inequities must fathom how education affects community health.

 

Living properly requires good health. People are not healthy simply because they are free of sickness and disability. Physical, mental, and social well-being are three components of health that all impact one another in healthy persons.

 

Physical health is concerned with the body’s ability to operate properly, fight disease, and recuperate from illness and injury, whereas mental health is concerned with one’s ability to enjoy life, react appropriately to setbacks, and control despair and anxiety.

 

People who receive a good and quality education are healthier than those who do not. Education not only allows people to advance in their occupations and careers, putting them in a better financial position to obtain good health care, but it also keeps them knowledgeable about how to maintain their health.

 

A person with a college diploma, for example, may be better able to analyze contradictory or sophisticated information found on the internet about how to manage their prediabetes. Furthermore, someone with less formal education may be less equipped to distinguish between trustworthy and untrustworthy information.

 

The Relationship between Health and Education

 

Few can reject education as a social predictor of health when so many elements impact to a person’s well-being. Numerous studies suggest that people with greater degrees of education live healthier and longer lives than those with lower levels of education.

 

Access to education and improved health have been linked from childhood, various findings say. Studies cited by Healthy People 2020 indicate how early childhood interventions may promote physical and mental development.

 

Children at schools with limited health resources and teacher assistance, on the other hand, have lower physical and mental health. Early educational possibilities have a long-term impact on health throughout adulthood. 

 

The Carolina Abecedarian Project discovered that people who attended high-quality early childhood education programmes were less likely to engage in dangerous behaviours such as binge drinking and cigarette smoking by the age of 21.

 

The advantages of early comprehensive education programmes continue to grow. 

 

Education Can Help Improve Healthcare Equity

 

Many aspects of education are connected to health: literacy, high school graduation, and college enrollment are all chances to increase education and hence promote health equity. Public health experts may help individuals live healthier lives by finding solutions and launching initiatives that address educational inequities.

 

According to multiple research referenced in Healthy People 2020, low health literacy and low general literacy can inhibit people from knowing about health, appropriately utilizing medications, and taking advantage of preventative interventions. Someone with low health literacy regarding their epilepsy, for example, may take anti-seizure drugs sporadically, causing seizures as a result. Furthermore, someone with low literacy may find it challenging to evaluate and implement information from their doctor on how to treat their disease.

 

Finding Health Equity-Promoting Solutions

Educating slum women on health
Educating slum women on health

 

Public health experts play a crucial role in safeguarding people’s health and preventing health problems from arising. Assessing and managing the health concerns of a town with lead in its water or designing a pediatric dental hygiene education program for children with cavities are examples of their work. Public health professionals contribute to health equality through teaching communities about healthy lifestyle choices, developing programs to make health care and social assistance more accessible, and lobbying for regulations that guarantee everyone has access to clean food and water.

 

Smile Foundation’s Healthcare Mission

 

Smile Foundation brings excellent healthcare services to the poor, and provides healthcare knowledge and awareness among the disadvantaged. Click here to know more.

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In The Spotlight

Winning the final frontiers in tackling malnutrition

Winning the final frontiers in tackling malnutrition

According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) – 5, the number of stunted children under the age of five in India has decreased from 38.4 percent to 35.5 percent, and the number of children who are underweight has decreased from 35.8 percent to 32.1 percent.

 

As per proven research, newborns should be fed mother’s milk exclusively for six months. Breastfed children are more likely to have stronger immunity against ear infections, diarrhea, and respiratory infections, besides allergies, asthma, diabetes, and obesity. Breastfeeding helps the uterus contract and reduces the mother’s risk of breast, uterine, and ovarian cancer too.

 

To combat the rising problems of undernourishment and manage it in a mission-like way, the Prime Minister’s National Nutrition Mission, or POSHAN Abhiyaan, was launched in 2018.

 

 

While lactating, a woman’s energy needs will rise in order for her to maintain her vigour. Specific food categories provide energy, which is measured in kilocalories or calories. During the first six months of breastfeeding, they will need to ingest at least 2400 to 2700 kcal each day. Because women will be solely breast-feeding their infant, their body’s energy requirements are higher during this time. However, as they begin weaning by providing diversity to their baby’s food in the last six months, they will breastfeed less frequently, lowering their daily energy demand to 2250 to 2550 kcal.

 

Lactating women should always include these in their diet 

 

  • Milk products that are rich in calcium
  • Fruits for better fiber
  • Dals and pulses rich in protein
  • Cereals like Jowar, bajra, wheat

 

Initiatives taken by various State Governments to Fight Malnutrition

 

The Odisha government launched CMAM in the tribal-dominated Kandhamal district in 2015, which had the state’s highest proportion of under 5-year child mortality in 2012–13. Setting up medical facilities closer to people, weekly surveillance of unfussy SAM children, an in-patient facility to admit children with SAM and associated medical complications, and provision of Modified Energy Dense Nutritional Food (EDNRF), Modified Hot Cook Meal (HCM), and Modified Take Home Ration were all part of a standard CMAM approach (THR).

 

After treatment, the focused programme resulted in children gaining the necessary weight, considerably increasing the district’s nutritional status. Odisha’s success in community-led and community-managed trials in a variety of disciplines has set an example. 

 

States like Kerala has consistently been a forerunner of such practices. Encouragingly, Odisha has been able to achieve this level with consistent endeavour for the last 20 years, thanks to the Mission Shakti Programme, a plan that initially organized women into self-help organizations as a livelihood project. Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh are the other states that have demonstrated the efficiency of this strategy too.

 

Conclusion

 

Because CMAM has the ability to combat severe acute malnutrition by building strong health systems, a community-wide collaborative effort will ensure the efficient delivery of long-term healthcare. Furthermore, while prioritizing SAM, drawing from lessons learned in other states will be crucial in combating the rising malnutrition problem.

 

Multiple forms of malnutrition (MOM) lower roughly 8 per cent of a country’s economic growth, according to a Lancet 2019 research. Because a country’s wealth is determined not only by its citizens’ talents and education, but also by their health and nutrition, it is past time for India to address the needs of its eight million SAM children if it is to achieve a USD 5 trillion economy by 2024-25.

 

Smile Foundation’s role

 

We have been actively striving to reduce malnutrition as part of our work with mothers and children. We guarantee that students receive healthy and nutritious meals at our Mission Education centers. We are also sensitizing their parents about it. We are continually enabling and supporting community women as well as new-born through our Swabhiman programme. Above all, tailor-made nutrition projects are also operational at various pockets across India.

 

You can also take up an active role in ensuring nourishment, find out more here.

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Insights

Schools Reopening after Two Years: Challenges and Remedies

Schools Reopening after Two Years: Challenges and Remedies

The world intensely needs young people to reclaim and appreciate their liberty to interact with their peers and teachers, and learn in a physical classroom without fear of repercussions. With the threat of COVID-19 fading away slowly, schools have learned to be adaptable, resourceful, and far more resilient in order to manage the unique circumstances caused by the infection. Much has been said regarding the procedures that institutions should follow as schools reopen after two years. To gain fresh ideas, one must first examine the current procedures. This article aims to address the issues that educational institutions confront, as well as the special concerns that should be taken into account when establishing a reopening plan.

 

Health and well-being of children

 

One of the most pressing issues that institutions must address is guaranteeing the health and well-being of students and employees. It is the only way to build a good opening strategy. Many specialists feel that the physical reopening of schools will increase the risk of the coronavirus transmitting unless precautions are taken. This could also result in the suspension of physical education sessions. Parents, students, and instructors may be concerned about the schools’ ability to handle the crisis as a result of this “one stride forward, two steps backward” dilemma.

 

Aside from the obvious threats that the public faces, there are certain key problems that are specific to schools and school-going children. The most serious of these is that young children can be sluggish and naïve when it comes to following COVID prevention protocols to the letter. Students may, for example, fail to properly utilize masks, sanitize themselves, or comply with social distancing rules. Rather than following the general reopening rules adopted by most corporations and other adult-centric institutions, schools will need to give proper consideration to such aforementioned concerns.

 

Action plan for schools

 

The following are some of the considerations that should be addressed by school officials while designing a reopening action plan. These include being aware of the local reality and the latest information like the number of active cases, infection rate, and so on. If schools don’t follow suit, it could jeopardize not just public health but also the prestige of schools. Furthermore, good communication is a factor that schools must embrace to be successful in their reopening and planning processes. Before reopening, the plan and recommended Covid-19 rules must be discussed with students and parents persuasively. The reopening plans of the schools must ensure that the previously communicated practices are reinforced consistently and continuously.

 

A tool for monitoring real-time compliance to the criteria and obtaining data to take prompt and effective action would also be advantageous to the reopening approach for schools. Apart from watching, it is also critical to raise awareness among all stakeholders about the need of adhering to the established preventive guidelines. It can be accomplished through workshops, virtual seminars, or elaborate information campaigns, which include the placement of large, prominent banners as visual reminders throughout the structure. All parties must adhere to the established guidelines, or the reopening process would be difficult.

 

Problems faced by students

 

Some students are afraid to return to physical classes. After more than two years of pandemic-related turmoil, they have become accustomed to the virtual learning environment. They appear to be at ease with this new method of acquiring education. As a result, returning to physical school settings is becoming increasingly challenging for them. 

 

Another pain point students will face is the lack of continuity in their routine. Their school routine can be further disrupted if there begins another outbreak. These uncertainties will affect their education, both in the short term and long term. It will also destabilize extra-curricular activities. Children will become reluctant to participate in co-curricular activities. 

 

After this long gap, students may also find it difficult to get their socializing skills and rhythm back. However, it is anticipated that with the passage of time, these difficulties and awkwardness will fade away.

 

Psychological effects of the pandemic on children

 

Students’ support for school reopening has been swayed by an emotional setback caused by the protracted lockdown and closure of schools. There have been multiple cases of youngsters becoming self-conscious of their bodies and having a poor body image as a result of prolonged periods of inactivity indoors, which has a severe effect on health. 

 

Furthermore, several kids who were talented and successful athletes sensed a separation from their interests. The lockdown left a void in their lives, affecting their mental and physical well-being. Along with implementing a solid reopening plan, schools must address these concerns about students’ mental well-being to encourage their attendance in physical learning spaces through frequent sessions on a positive attitude.

***

In conclusion, a successful reopening strategy relies on an honest evaluation of the situation of ground reality, student-centered policies, and good communication. As long as schools remain pragmatic and design a well-prepared reopening framework, a considerable return to normal life may be expected in the coming months – something that lakhs of students, teachers, and parents have been looking forward to for the past two years.

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Insights

Welcoming Children Back to School – Tips for Schools and Teachers

Welcoming Children Back to School – Tips for Schools and Teachers

Students and educators must acclimatize and start planning for a return to school when COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. School staff will need to encourage pupils as they make their way back to school while also managing their own anxieties and change.

 

This article offers advice for school staff on how to help pupils cope with the move, with a focus on worried students. While the emphasis is on planning for school reopening, these suggestions can also assist instructors in preparing for the return to a virtual classroom.

 

Promote a methodical approach rather than avoidance.

 

Students will be anxious regardless of how well you plan. As a result, rather than avoiding dread and anxiety, it will be necessary to encourage tolerance.

 

Fear induces a natural desire to flee, yet this avoidance perpetuates anxiety in the long run. Facing frightening events, on the other hand, fosters endurance and reduces anxiety in the long run by teaching kids that they are capable of coping.

 

Empower, support, and communicate with students

 

The recent events are likely to have had a significant influence on the mental health of pupils. They might be feeling a range of emotions in response to the news of the recent changes, such as anxiousness, discontent, and frustration.

 

It is critical for educators to listen to students’ concerns and demonstrate compassion, especially if the emotions are strong. Allowing families to know that you understand and value their viewpoint will aid in the opening of a problem-solving discourse.

 

Motivate pupils to interact by encouraging them to play and participate in sports.

 

Many states have imposed stringent physical distance restrictions on children, preventing them from playing and interacting with their classmates in playgrounds and other public places. In line with the school safety standards, ensure that when children return to school, they have plenty of opportunities to mingle, play, and connect with the classmates they’ve been missing for so long.

 

Be honest and realistic

 

Anxious adolescents will almost certainly require some assurance from trustworthy individuals and teachers before returning to school.

 

Blanket soothing remarks (e.g., everything will be alright; there is nothing to be concerned about) can be misleading and can cause doubt and misunderstandings, leading to the need for additional assurance. Excessive reassurance seeking is a side effect of this cycle (child constantly asks if things are okay).

 

Rather, it is preferable to communicate with pupils in an open, genuine, and supportive manner. This could involve admitting dangers while highlighting how precautions can lower those hazards and how children can feel positive about returning to school after all of the thinking and planning to keep them safe.

 

Staff should foster acceptance of uncertainties and educate students to apply realistic reasoning skills and come up with solutions to problems. Students should be taught; “problems are there, can you come up with any idea to solve this problem?” This will make students more creative.

 

Students should be praised and rewarded for their efforts

 

When kids return to school, congratulate them on their bravery in the face of adversity, and tell them that being strong and bold will enable them (and you and your colleagues) get through this together.

 

When you witness a student or coworker accomplish something you know is difficult for them or creates stress, let them know you noticed and appreciate them for tackling their concerns head on.

 

Intersessions should be planned and structured throughout the school year

 

Intersessions are pre-scheduled chunks of time that can be used as needed throughout the year. In the incident of pandemic-related disruptions, they allow for additional days or weeks of recovery time.

 

By interweaving short breaks, or intersessions, throughout the school year, this alternative primarily focuses on establishing adaptability for future school closures, should they be unavoidable.

 

Promote re-enrollment of students

 

Many educational institutions may find it difficult to assure that all pupils return to school following extensive school closures. Re-enrolling vulnerable people, such as girls and immigrants, will very certainly entail significantly more work. Offering scholarships to needy and bright students will encourage them.

 

Mission Education programme by Smile Foundation

 

Smile Foundation’s Mission Education is a national-level education initiative dedicated to delivering basic education and healthcare to poor children. The Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the education of disadvantaged children, believes that there is no better place to begin than in the halls of schools, whether the issue is healthcare, poverty, population control, unemployment, or human rights. Visit here to know more.

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Insights

Health Impact of Air Pollution on Children

Health Impact of Air Pollution on Children

On the occasion of International Childhood Cancer Day on 15th February 2022, I participated in a webinar organized by a leading organization in India. The subject of the webinar was air pollution and children’s health. During the webinar, many shocking and negative health impact of air pollution on children were discussed. That compelled me to write and share this to with you all.

 

How air pollution impacts children

 

Air pollution is everywhere and affects people of all ages. Children are most at risk from the negative effects of air pollution. These include increased odds of birth defects, infant mortality, neurodevelopment issues, obesity, lung growth issues, pneumonia, asthma, and cancers. Unfortunately, the list goes on and nearly every child in the world faces air pollution levels that can be destructive to their health. Children are in many ways the most at risk when it comes to air pollution’s negative health effects.

 

Why are children more affected by air pollution?

 

  • Their organs (heart, lungs, etc) are still developing.
  • Children breathe faster than adults, resulting in breathing in more pollutants.
  • They may spend more time outside playing, exposing them to poor outdoor air quality levels.
  • They spend time near their mothers while the latter cook with polluting fuels and devices.
  • Children have a longer life expectancy than adults, so latent disease mechanisms have more time to emerge and affect their health

 

In recent years, more research has been done on how air pollution affects children’s health and the results are scary. It is very alarming for all of us. The World Health Organisation has said that air pollution has a “vast and terrible impact” on child health and survival and is an overlooked health emergency for children around the world. They breathe is so much polluted air that it puts their health and development at serious risk.

 

Some research and reports

 

Here are some recent researches and reports which have revealed that air pollution has a devastating impact on children’s health.

 

  • 9 out of 10 children around the world are breathing in toxins that exceed safe levels–WHO
  • Air pollution will become the leading cause of child mortality by 2050–UNICEF
  • 60% of children in Kolkata have lung function impairments compared to 24% in the cleaner areas–CNCRI
  • In Jharkhand over 20% children suffer from acute respiratory disorders–CINI
  • Air pollution is a leading cause of concern in the mining state of Jharkhand where more than 17.8% children die as a consequence of being exposed to toxic particulate matter–Newswing
  • As per a study, 90% children are more vulnerable due to air pollution–SwitchONFOundation

 

Life expectancy has been drastically reduced in the presence of air pollution. But overall awareness on this menace is scarce. Hence, there is a need to raise awareness in public and private sector and enact a strong law against its violation. Through awareness only, air pollution can be portrayed as a major killer among the public and that can save our children and future generation.

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In The Spotlight

School-based Learning in the Post-Pandemic World

School-based Learning in the Post-Pandemic World

The last couple of months have been overwhelming with schools reopening for all classes, including primary sections, across India. Life is not the same for a child who is going back to school-based learning after an unexpectedly long period of almost two years. For the youngest ones, school-based learning in the times of COVID will be a first-time experience.

 

Shutdown of Schools

 

School is an integral and core element in a child’s life. The sudden closure of schools–followed by the initiation of remote classes through digital modes, tele-conferencing, cluster-level classes in the community and educational programmes run on television and radio–all impacted children’s. The absence of social interactions, the precautions taken to protect children from the virus, and the learning gaps might affect the life of a child in the long run.

 

The UN report ‘The Impact of COVID-19 on Children’, dated April 2020, gives some insights on this. Although children remain comparatively less impacted from the direct health effects of COVID-19, the crisis could leave a profound effect on their well-being. All children, of all ages, got affected either by the socio-economic impacts or by mitigation measures that may inadvertently do more harm than good.

 

However, through the Shiksha Na Ruke initiative of Smile Foundation, as part of its Mission Education programme, aimed to mitigate some of these ill effects. All efforts were redirected towards ensuring that quality and timely learning resources and facilities continued to be available to the schools and education centres. Along with focus on value education, celebration of events and important days, hygiene, health, nutrition, and extra-curricular sessions on spoken English, personality development, career guidance, yoga, etc., this encouraged and motivated children to remain positive and healthy.

 

The Learning Graph

 

There is a stark difference in learning approaches between remote and in-school learning. This has quite evidently been indicated through its impact on the learning levels in children, majorly in the foundational classes. The major outcome observed is the lower levels of understanding in some students on concepts and basics, which is a matter of concern as confirmed by the teachers. Although the children received access to many free online learning platforms and videos, there are students who would not have been able to follow a routine or be comfortable following the content and flow of the materials. Eventually this would lead to loss of interest or the required momentum to continue following online resources. Furthermore, with parents restarting work, intermittent Internet connectivity, inadequate data pack and over-dependence on digital resources added on to the irregular schedule of learning process and environment for the students.

 

Therefore, the immediate task at hand for schools and teachers is to make the children comfortable coming to school. Further, they can create an exciting and fun learning environment, assess their mental well-being, and take precautions to ensure the child enters and stays in a hygienic and safe learning place. All the Mission Education centres have created a vibrant ambience, ensured children maintain social distancing, wear masks, keep their hands sanitised and, above all, look forward to coming to school every day.

 

It’s School Time…Again!

 

Re-opening of schools has evoked a sense of hope for the distraught learning status for children across the country. Parents, teachers, and students have welcomed the decision of letting children attend school with a sense of caution and preparedness, believing it’s best for the child. For a nation with a population of 1.4 billion and growing, the pandemic has definitely caused setbacks and unintended delay in helping to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. However, with the continued efforts of Mission Education along with its associated partners, we are trying to reach out to the thousands of children who were bereft and left out of the learning process and bring them back into a better, progressive, and enhanced education fold.

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Insights

STEM vs STEAM education: A battle of mind vs matter?

STEM vs STEAM education: A battle of mind vs matter?

STEM is a well-known concept in education these days. Experts and educators swear by the four pillar of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. However, for the holistic development of a pupil, a greater sense of creativity and personalization is required. Thus enters STE(A)M. This is the addition of Arts along with STEM learning. STEAM education can ensure a better rounded approach to a child’s education. However, STEM vs STEAM has been a long battle that continues.

 

Individually, STEM and STEAM are not new concepts. One could describe them as ways of understanding and integrating form of learning that resembles real life. Instead of teaching math as separate from science, they can be taught together in a way that shows how the knowledge from those two fields compliment and support each other.

 

STEM vs STEAM: How are they different?

 

The main difference between STEM and STEAM is the way of approaching scientific concepts. While the focus of STEM is on hard scientific skills, STEAM makes used of both hard and soft skills to solve problems.

 

STEAM encourages collaboration to understand a STEM concept. An example of this is as follows. One can deepen their understanding of science or math by using STEAM tools such as data visualization. Applying this out-of-the-box thinking leads to emergence of new ideas and products. It also makes it easier to understand complicated data sets by using understandable formats.

 

Similarities between STEM and STEAM

 

Integration is the key in both STEM and STEAM. In both STEM as well as STEAM, the disciplines are not taught individually by themselves—rather the focus is on holistic, well-rounded teaching and learning. In some ways, both these ways of understanding are relevant to our daily lives and work. To come up with the solution to any problem, we factor in various parameters and think of the problem as a whole. The same goes for STEM and STEAM.

 

In the practical world, we need a range of skill sets for work as well as personal life. All these skills when woven together create a skilled individual.

 

Why STEAM is becoming popular?

 

STEAM curriculum includes a study of the humanities, languages, art, new media, and so on. If one can master any of these subjects, along with their knowledge of STEM, they can go a long way in their professional lives. As per a LinkedIn report from 2018, 57% of senior leaders value soft skills over hard skills.

 

Incorporating the ‘A’ with STEM education also makes learning more fun and helps in keeping children engaged. They are able to bring a personal expression to their academics.

 

STEAM only works towards enhancing STEM, not taking anything away from it. It inculcates a greater sense of creativity in the student, preparing them for a vast number of job opportunities in the future.

 

Goal of STEAM learning

 

It is important for children to learn that they do not have to be either creative or analytical—they can be both! STEAM learning does precisely this. It teaches young people to use both sides of their brain to solve any problem they come across.

 

A STEAM-based learning model can ensure better preparedness for students who will enter the workforce tomorrow, regardless of role or industry.

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In The Spotlight

Field Visit to Maharashtra: Experiencing the Ground Work of Smile Foundation

Field Visit to Maharashtra: Experiencing the Ground Work of Smile Foundation

Irecently got the opportunity to represent the Communications Department of Smile Foundation on a field visit. There I witnessed the ground work of Smile Foundation. This particular visit was for our Swabhiman programme. Swabhiman is the women’s empowerment programme by Smile Foundation. It aims to provide quality education, healthcare, nutrition, and livelihood to women from under-privileged sections.

 

Interacting with and documenting the case stories of Swabhiman beneficiaries from Maharashtra was immensely enriching and eye opening for me. It exposed me to the realities of life and the inequalities that exist around us. Most importantly, it has made me more self-aware of my privilege. The entire experience also taught me about how non-profits work with the community at the ground level.

 

I was accompanying a senior manager from Swabhiman. She looks after the implementation and review of their projects in different parts of the country.

 

We flew from Delhi on an early morning and reached Mumbai around 11am the same day. After quickly dropping off our bags at the hotel, we started off to the field.

 

During my time in the field, I witnessed the unique holistic approach of the Swabhiman team. It empowers the lesser privileged girls beyond focusing on just academics.

 

We also went on several home visits. I was overwhelmed with all the love and warmth that we received from the Swabhiman scholars. At the same time, it was disheartening to see the living conditions that they are growing up in. Lack of sanitation, light and space in the slum and their stories of the pandemic made me quite emotional.

 

On the second day of our field visit, we went to Modgaon and several other villages in the Palgarh district of Maharashtra. There we attended a session in the morning with the Swabhiman scholars and then went on multiple home visits throughout the day. We covered almost 10kms that day walking through fields to meet our talented scholars. That experience will remain with me throughout my life.

 

We interacted with several girls, as well as their parents, who were shortlisted for the scholarship during the home visits. Further, we also talked to women entrepreneurs, farmers, and a self-help group (SHG) formed by a few women in Modgaon.

With the self-help group in Modgaon.
With the self-help group in Modgaon.

Over the course of the day, we came across a Swabhiman scholar who had dropped out of school due to financial crisis at home. She looked sad and hopeless when we asked her about the situation. However, the intervention of the Swabhiman team enabled her to go to school from the very next day.

 

It is immensely inspiring to see how so many women and girls are overcoming the obstacles of life with so much courage and enthusiasm.

 

On the third day of the field visit, we went to an urban slum in Kalyan in the Thane district of Maharashtra. We met several Swabhiman scholars and interacted with their families. The spirit of young girls and their willingness to work hard to achieve their dreams was motivating.

 

My first ever field visit was much more than just a professional experience. It taught me lessons of life and gave me memories for a lifetime.

 

To know more about the ground work of Smile Foundation, click here.

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Insights

Has the informal sector recovered from the pandemic?

Has the informal sector recovered from the pandemic?

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen a substantial impact on employment around the world. This is particularly for those working in the informal sector. Over 60% of all workers globally are classified as ‘informal’. However, has the informal sector recovered from the pandemic?

 

Informal sector and the pandemic

 

The pandemic interrupted the livelihoods of many workers in the informal sector. The lockdowns that followed dealt more blows to this sector than ever before. The informal sector is yet to recoup their losses, and their income is yet to be restored to pre-COVID-19 levels. According to a survey conducted by Azim Premji University, 15% of informal sector workers remain unemployed after quitting their jobs. Furthermore, 23% of those polled had lost their jobs due COVID-19. Nearly half of those surveyed (46%) are still working in the same job but for less money.

 

Many people were able to return to work after the lockdown restrictions were relaxed. However, unemployment and underemployment remain prevalent. A survey by Action Aid reveals some telling figures. It says that 16,961 informal workers from 28 states and UTs constituted 48% of informal sector employees. They remained jobless, while 42% worked substantially fewer hours per week than before the lockdown.

 

Rural unemployment was 53% and urban joblessness was 36%, respectively. However, underemployment rates in rural and urban areas were over 39% and 50%, respectively. The Action Aid research also indicated that recovery differed greatly by industry and kind of job. It stated construction operations recovering the slowest and agricultural activities recovering the fastest.

 

Changes in working conditions

 

For workers in the informal sector, having benefits such as flexibility in work hours may not be as appealing. This is because the formal sector poses other insecurities related to income, physical and mental health, and other uncertainties. COVID-19 has aggravated this.

 

Due to the ambiguity of the complete ramifications of the pandemic on the economy and anticipated shifting risks of future pandemics, these shifts in the balance of an individual’s costs and benefits are likely to persist for some time.

 

There has been a rapid rise in working from home, along with the likelihood that remote-based operations will continue in the next few years. This will shift the balance between formal and informal employment, as well as persons who combine formal and informal labour. As a result of more work from home, social and childcare obligations (typically delivered informally) may increase.

 

Is there a rise or reduction in the number of people who work informally?

 

The ratio of informal to formal labour is shifting.

 

Past and future economic shocks–such as financial crises, health, demographic, and environmental challenges–could add to pressure on workers for better and more secure jobs. Some firms, on the other hand, may respond by increasing the employment of informal and casual labour.

 

Major health, economic, and other developments will certainly have far-reaching consequences for individuals and communities in terms of informal employment.

 

As the balance between formal and informal work shifts, the two may become more polarised. However, the future balance between formal and informal labour is uncertain. It will be critical to protect the working conditions and benefits of those who work informally and to integrate them into the formal labour market.

 

The future balance of informal and formal employment is unknown. However, several bodies have made strong recommendations for well-thought-out initiatives to establish more robust, long-term recoveries that address workers’ holistic needs, rights, and ambitions.

 

In the next few months, surveys performed by the government and non-governmental organisations will reveal the entire effects of the second wave on the lives of informal workers. What is clear is that India’s 500 million working people require a good rescue package. This ensures consumption security, which can be attained through expanded public employment guarantee programmes such as MG-NREGS, and continued direct cash transfers to poorer households. Also the rapid implementation of the “One Nation, One Ration Card” policy is important. A fundamental right to work would be a necessary step in the right direction.

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National Science Day 2022: Integrating Science and Technology in a Sustainable Future

National Science Day 2022: Integrating Science and Technology in a Sustainable Future

National Science Day is celebrated every year on February 28 since 1987. The day celebrates Sir C. V. Raman’s exceptional achievements in science. His most notable contribution was the discovery of the Raman Effect, which won him the Nobel Prize in 1930. Honoring a scientist like him instills hope in future generation to pursue their dreams and make a mark in the world of science and technology.

 

The theme of National Science Day 2022 is ‘Integrated Approach in Science and Technology for a Sustainable Future’.

 

Relevance of National Science Day today

 

In wake of the government’s New Education Policy 2020, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) has taken centrestage. STEM education aims to nurture a new generation of youth who have an analytical yet creative bent of mind. These youth are also more equipped to deal with a world where science and technology are everywhere.

 

This National Science Day, we can take note of a few salient points related to STEM learning. Each of these is crucial for the development of science and technology in India.

 

Resource building

 

Getting an early start on STEM education can contribute immensely to resource-building for the future. Being in touch with STEM concepts can help youth chart a career path for themselves which they might otherwise not have thought of.

 

Curiosity building

 

Curiosity building is a big part of STEM education. If a child is not curious about, say, how a machine works, how they can make something better, how things unfurl in the physical world, they will never seek the answers. It is the human spirit of seeking answers to difficult questions that has resulted in the scientific advancement we have witnessed so far.

 

Range of formal education options

 

Pursuing a career in science does not necessarily mean that one has to enrol in a four-year BTech programme. There are a wide range of options available for those who want to follow this career path. There are various diploma and certificate courses that equip you with the necessary technical skills. Examples of this include ITI (which stands for Industrial Training Institute) and polytechnic institutes. Even a course with Smile Foundation’s STeP initiative could lead to a sustainable career in medical sciences.  

 

Job options in future

 

Studying a course that is related to STEM can open a whole world of options for any potential candidate. Gaining specialization in afield can prove to be beneficial for a wide range of job options. For instance, someone whose expertise lies in chemicals can opt for a well-paying job selling or marketing chemicals. They can even pursue a career in research or teaching. Similarly, a qualified nurse can not only act as a nurse but also train others and prepare learning materials and practical sessions for them.

 

With the current wave of start-ups in India, an entrepreneurial dream could also become a reality for many. However, one needs the right set of skills to succeed in a business.

 

Teacher capacity training

 

All of the above will be possible only by training teachers properly. The current capacity of teachers in the STEM field should be boosted with proper training programmes for them. An able teacher today can nurture an able workforce for the future.

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