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In the Pindwara village of Rajasthan, a grassroots-level initiative led by local women has transformed the community's approach to nutrition. The women, part of a self-help group, began cultivating kitchen gardens to ensure a steady supply of diverse and nutritious food for their families. These gardens now yield various fruits and vegetables, contributing to a balanced diet and reducing the community's dependence on market-bought, often less nutritious food items. This initiative has improved health and empower women by giving them control over their family's nutrition. Similarly, in the tribal regions of Chhattisgarh, a collective effort by local community leaders has revitalized traditional agricultural practices. The community has reintroduced indigenous crops like millets and pulses, which are more resilient to the changing climate and require fewer resources to cultivate. These crops are rich in essential nutrients and have historically been part of the local diet. The community's efforts have not only preserved these traditional foods but also improved the nutritional status of the population, particularly children and women. These <keyword id="22748061" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="community-led" source="keywords">community-led</keyword> initiatives are part of a broader pattern observed in a recent study on <keyword id="22747862" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="diet-diversity" source="keywords">diet diversity</keyword> in <keyword id="20109648" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rural-India" source="keywords">rural India</keyword>. The qualitative study by NGO Vitamin Angels India and supported by UNICEF, conducted across several states, found that communities with strong local leadership and grassroots initiatives showed significant improvements in diet diversity and nutritional outcomes. According to government data, about 17% of children in the age group of 0-5 years are underweight, while 36% are stunted and 6% are wasted (too thin for their height, indicating acute malnutrition). Stunted, wasted, and underweight are key indicators of malnutrition in children aged 0-5 years. The research highlighted that while government programs and interventions are essential, the involvement and initiative of the community are critical to the success and sustainability of these efforts. One of the key findings of the study was that communities with active local participation in nutrition-related activities, such as kitchen gardening and the cultivation of traditional crops, had a higher intake of diverse and nutritious food. The research, which employed a mix of focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, and home observations, reveals how collective and individual contexts -- ranging from socio-cultural norms to economic challenges -- influence dietary practices across different communities like the brick-kiln workers, fishers, and salt pan workers among others. This was particularly evident in regions where women played a central role in these initiatives. The study also noted that these communities were more resilient to food insecurity and were better able to cope with economic and environmental challenges. For example, the study looked into the lives of salt pan workers in Jodhpur who prioritize their children's nutrition despite financial hardships. They ensure that their children never go hungry, even if it means offering biscuits or bread-milk. It suggested that while government initiatives provide the necessary framework and resources, real change happens when communities take ownership of these programmes and adapt them to their local contexts. To enhance the effectiveness of nutritional interventions for pregnant women and children under five, several key recommendations emerge from the study. First, there is a critical need to strengthen the role of ASHA and Anganwadi workers, who are often the primary source of health information in many communities. By providing these workers with advanced training that equips them to offer tailored advice based on the specific socio-cultural and economic contexts of the families they serve, the reach and impact of nutritional programs can be significantly increased. Subsidies for essential complementary foods are another vital measure to address the financial barriers that many families face. These subsidies would ensure that even in economically disadvantaged households, children receive the necessary nutrients during crucial developmental stages, the study recommended. Additionally, promoting a blend of legacy knowledge with modern nutritional insights can lead to more culturally acceptable and effective practices. Health education programs that respect and incorporate local beliefs while introducing scientifically backed practices are likely to be more successful in achieving sustainable behavioral change. Support for maternal health is also paramount. Implementing programs that provide additional food or rest for pregnant women, particularly during the last trimester, can have a positive impact on both maternal and child health outcomes. These programs should be designed with an understanding of local familial structures and dynamics, ensuring that they are accessible and acceptable within the community. Community-based nutritional programs should be developed to emphasize the importance of child nutrition and encourage collective action. Workshops and informational sessions led by trusted community members or healthcare professionals can play a crucial role in disseminating knowledge and encouraging healthy practices. Finally, improving access to fresh and nutritious food, particularly in remote or economically disadvantaged areas, is essential. This could involve initiatives such as creating community gardens, improving market access, or providing transportation subsidies to reach markets with a wider variety of foods.

Community-led nutrition initiatives in rural India can boost diet diversity, empower women, says study

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Hurricane Helene battered rural mountain towns in North Carolina, a key voting bloc for Trump.</li><li>Some analysts and candidates expect turnout to be lower in the region as people rebuild.</li></ul>Three weeks after Hurricane Helene ravaged western North Carolina, hundreds of roads and bridges <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2024/2024-10-14-ncdot-hurricane-helene-recovery.aspx">remain damaged or closed</a> and tens of thousands of residents still don't have running water. Many are displaced after losing their homes and businesses, while others are still clearing out muck and debris.With many Helene survivors still in the thick of recovery, especially residents of rural mountain towns, political analysts and candidates told Business Insider they expect turnout to be lower in the state's western region. The <a target="_blank" href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/president-general/2024/north-carolina/">latest polls</a> show that former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are neck-and-neck, and North Carolina remains a critical battleground state for either candidate's victory."Voting is not the top priority for a whole lot of people right now," said Chris Cooper, a political science professor at Western Carolina University. "Even among the most committed voters. If they don't have drinkable water, their priorities have shuffled. So I expect voter turnout to be down in the most-affected counties."Cooper said his home was largely spared by Helene, but some family members who live in Asheville temporarily relocated to South Carolina. That includes his dad, who had planned to vote early and in-person but now must request a mail-in ballot.Early voting began in North Carolina on October 17, and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="c-link" href="https://www.ncsbe.gov/news/press-releases/2024/10/18/north-carolina-sets-turnout-record-first-day-early-voting">state election officials said in-person turnout topped a previous record set in 2020.</a> At the county level, state election officials told BI that comparing this year's numbers to 2020 wouldn't be accurate due to several caveats, including that the absentee-by-mail voting period started two weeks earlier in 2020 than it did this year.The rural mountain areas of North Carolina previously favored Trump. He won North Carolina by less than 75,000 votes in the 2020 presidential race, with strong support in areas outside urban centers. That included 11 of the 13 counties hardest-hit by Helene. The two exceptions were Buncombe County, where Asheville is located, and Watauga County.<div type="image" title="A man stands near a home with a Trump 2024 campaign sign as he coordinates relief in Lake Lure, North Carolina, on October 2, 2024 after Hurricane Helene." height="683" width="1024" msid="114380742" hostid="261" sizebytes="122340"></div>The Democrats aim to flip <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnn.com/election/2020/results/state/north-carolina">historically red</a> North Carolina, seeing a path in the rapidly growing suburban areas like Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, and Fayetteville. Harris is trying to win over Black and college educated voters, as well as women who oppose the state's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-south-atlantic/patients/health-care-services/abortion-services/nc-abortion-faqs">restrictive abortion law</a>. But the aftermath of Helene has become a political lightning rod, with Trump attacking the Biden administration's response.<h2 id="b6b2ed09-6d41-465a-9740-c901aa87fc11">Officials say North Carolinians know the importance of voting</h2>The traditional ways to reach people, such as door knocking and social media, aren't as accessible because of the destruction and spotty internet service. This has made it difficult for campaign staff to canvas and combat rumors.Trump has spread disinformation, telling attendees at a campaign rally that Harris stole Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster relief funding and spent it on housing for migrants. He also wrote on <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113227266617485932">Truth Social</a> that the federal government and Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, were going out of their way to not assist Republican-leaning areas.The Biden administration and some GOP politicians have debunked the claims, including Rep. Chuck Edwards, a Republican who represents North Carolina's 11th district, which was devastated by Helene.Edwards told BI that he's been working around the clock to connect survivors with the resources they need. He <a target="_blank" href="https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases/debunking-helene-response-myths">issued a statement on October 8</a>, after being inundated with emails and calls from people upset about unfounded rumors."I was getting calls from people around the country who wanted to send personnel, equipment, and water, but worried it wouldn't make it to the right location because of the rumors," Edwards told BI. "Primarily, that FEMA was confiscating supplies and turning people away. There is absolutely no truth to that."Edwards added that even though folks are busy putting their lives back together, they understand that an important election is right around the corner. They are motivated to get out and vote for Trump, he said."They remember what our lives were like the day before the storm," Edwards said, pointing to inflation, oil prices, and a crisis at the Southern border.Edwards' competitor, Rep. Caleb Rudow, is a Democrat who represents Buncombe county in the state legislature. He's been canvassing and posting <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/CalebRudow/status/1846144971256057972">on social media</a>, talking about the importance of this election, particularly after Helene.Rudow said the state needs elected officials who want to solve the climate crisis, which is fueling more intense hurricanes. He also told BI that the relief work by state, local, and federal officials after Helene has shown the power of government in the wake of a disaster.Rudow added that people are resilient, and part of recovery is getting life back to normal. That includes talking about these issues and voting.Even so, people who've lost their homes and loved ones probably aren't thinking about voting, said Bob Phillips, executive director at Common Cause North Carolina, a voter rights group. But it's hard to predict how Helene will affect turnout.North Carolina election officials made emergency changes to expand voting access for residents recovering from the storm."Helene will be a part of this election, and we'll just have to see what the drop off is," Phillips said.Were you impacted by Hurricane Helene and want to share your voting story? Contact cboudreau@businessinsider.com.

Rural North Carolinians are key for Trump's election chances in the swing state. Hurricane Helene upended their lives.

Nalin Bansal, Chief Relationship Management at the National <keyword id="20242630" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="payments" source="keywords">Payments</keyword> Corporation of India (<keyword id="19998946" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NPCI" source="keywords">NPCI</keyword>), speaking at the Global Fintech Festival 2024 on Wednesday, emphasized that only 25 per cent of payment users are <keyword id="19900675" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="women" source="keywords">women</keyword>, with even lower penetration in semi-urban and rural areas. "While we've achieved significant scale in <keyword id="20377974" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="financial-inclusion" source="keywords">financial inclusion</keyword>, penetration remains a challenge, with only 25% of payment users being women, and even fewer in semi-urban and rural areas. Many women's mobile numbers are not linked to their bank accounts, hindering their participation," Bansal said. He added, "Yet, data shows women are 50% less prone to fraud and are highly loyal and engaged users. As an ecosystem, we must prioritize personalized, assisted services and continuous engagement across all channels. UPI123 has made strides, especially for initiatives like Ujjwala, and prepaid instruments hold promise as a 'secret purse' for women. Building trust is crucial, and it is our collective responsibility to foster it." Women are more likely to adopt <keyword id="20853683" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="digital-financial-services" source="keywords">digital financial services</keyword> when introduced by local agents or <keyword id="22950816" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="community-influencers" source="keywords">community influencers</keyword>, particularly women who can help them overcome social and technological barriers. Women who make at least five <keyword id="19971375" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="transactions" source="keywords">transactions</keyword> in the first week of onboarding are twice as likely to continue using <keyword id="19900911" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="UPI" source="keywords">UPI</keyword>. This highlights the need for financial service providers to rethink in-app nudges and sales metrics to encourage consistent usage. 93 per cent of women surveyed expressed the need for ongoing support during the first three months of using digital payments, particularly for grievance redressal during failed transactions. Kalpana Ajayan, Regional Head - South Asia, Women's World Banking, said, "We recognize that digital payments can serve as a powerful tool for women, enabling them to manage their finances more effectively, access a broader range of services, and ultimately secure a better future for themselves and their families." She added, "By addressing the specific barriers that women face in adopting digital payments, we open up a new frontier for growth. This initiative is about much more than inclusion--it's about positioning women as key drivers in the digital financial ecosystem." The NPCI's UPI platform has already revolutionized India's payment landscape, with UPI transactions soaring from Rs 920 million (USD 11.08 million) in FY 2017-18 to Rs 83750 million (USD 1.01 billion) in FY 2022-23, reflecting a staggering CAGR of 147 per cent. The value of UPI transactions reached INR 80.79 trillion (USD 96,287) across approximately 55.66 billion transactions in the first four months of FY 2024-25. Of the 536 million women aged 15 years and older in India, 37 per cent report using mobile internet, making the addressable market for UPI solutions among women around 200 million strong.

Women are more likely to adopt digital financial services when introduced by local agents or women community influencers

In her <keyword id="19906106" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Interim-Budget" source="keywords">Interim Budget</keyword> speech in February 2024, <keyword id="20385790" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Finance-Minister" source="keywords">Union Finance Minister</keyword> <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> celebrated what she termed as the Modi government's landmark achievement: unleashing 'nari shakti' or women's power through various initiatives since 2014. Among these, the creation of one crore 'Lakhpati Didis' — women whose annual household income exceeds one lakh rupees — under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), has garnered significant attention. <h2>The hype around it </h2>Imagine being a <keyword id="20416259" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lakhpati-Didi" source="keywords">Lakhpati Didi</keyword> — a rural woman whose annual household income exceeds Rs. 1 lakh. These women are not just financial achievers; they are community leaders who inspire others through their entrepreneurial journeys. Their success stories highlight the transformative impact of self-help groups (SHGs) and collective action in rural India. Launched amid much fanfare on August 15, 2023 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself, the 'Lakhpati Didi' scheme aims to empower women through diverse skill development programs, from producing LED bulbs to operating agricultural drones. Partnering with entities like Patanjali, Flipkart, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the initiative also focuses on branding and marketing these products, ostensibly connecting women with credit lines and MUDRA loans for financial support. Almost an year on, the scheme is all set to get some well-deserved boost in the Budget 2024 to be presented on July 23. However, the time also apt to examine if it has actually contributed to <keyword id="20009191" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="women-empowerment" source="keywords">women empowerment</keyword> in the country. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111915324" title="Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to table Economic Survey in Parliament today" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> <h2>The reality check </h2>Critics argue that such schemes may inadvertently tether women's SHGs to corporate networks, potentially benefiting transnational agribusiness giants aligned with the government. Programs like 'Namo Drone Didi', allocated Rs. 500 crore in the Interim Budget, exemplify this trend by integrating women into digital agriculture, albeit under the influence of corporate agendas. Further, while the Interim Budget championed the narrative of women's economic prosperity, it failed to adequately address their basic needs. Despite claims of empowerment, essential schemes such as PM Awas Yojana (Rural) and Har Ghar Jal have seen significant budgetary underspending, raising concerns about the government's commitment to women's welfare beyond mere rhetoric. For instance, the underutilisation of funds in Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) and the shrinking allocations for crucial subsidies like nutrition and education further highlight the disconnect between budgetary outlays and on-ground impact. This trend suggests a shift in responsibility towards state governments without commensurate support from the Union government, leaving vulnerable populations like widows and rural women at risk. Overall, the well-intentioned narrative around the scheme needs better translation and execution on ground to achieve desired outcomes. <h2>Looking ahead </h2>Until now, the budgetary allocation for women-centric programs have remained disproportionately low, with the Ministry of Women and Child Development having been allocated Rs 26,000 crore in 2024-25, an increase of 2.52% compared to the previous budget. This paltry investment underscores a broader pattern of neglecting systemic issues such as gender-based violence, social discrimination and pro-corporate stance. As Budget 2024 approaches, stakeholders eagerly anticipate policies that not only boost economic growth but also empower rural women as entrepreneurs and leaders. While Lakhpati Didi stands poised to empower rural women with opportunities and support, more steps are needed to make it more sustainable. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111689743" title="Union Budget 2024: A handy FAQ guide to decode the upcoming budget" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

Budget 2024: Can Lakhpati Didi Yojana’s reality inspire better focus on women?

<ul><li>A married woman’s employability is linked to a mother-in-law’s employment status, husband’s salary and so on, as per a new report.</li><li>For underprivileged <keyword id="121387" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rural-women" source="Orion">rural women</keyword>, there is no marriage and motherhood penalty when it comes to employment.</li><li>Most such women, however, turn into contributing family workers in agriculture and work for subsistence.</li><li>In districts where women have high paid jobs, there are also more cases of domestic violence. </li></ul>One generation leads the other and that’s true in the case of women and their employment status in India. An unemployed mother-in-law can bring down the employability of a married woman and vice-versa, according to the ‘State of Working India 2023’ report by <keyword id="125797" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="azim-premji-university" source="Orion">Azim Premji University</keyword>. Proving that there is an inter-generational effect on gender norms, the report says that a married woman living in a household with an unemployed mother-in-law is less likely to be employed — 20% less likelihood in urban areas, and 30% in rural areas. This is in comparison to households without a mother-in-law. “However, if the mother-in-law was present and employed herself, this is associated with a higher likelihood of women’s participation to the extent of 50% (rural) to 70% (urban) more than households with no mother-in-law present,” the report released on Wednesday said. The husband and his earnings The story of women and employment in India is far from a straight line – many factors including marital status, economic status and motherhood – all have a direct impact on it. For married women especially, the husband’s salary is seen to have a direct impact. The report finds that husband’s income has a U-shaped effect on women’s employability. “A common gender norm is the “male breadwinner” norm, i.e. husbands are considered the primary earners with wives contributing to household income only if necessary,” the report says. In households where the husband’s earnings are high, the probability of the wife being employed is low, controlling for individual and household factors. But it’s not a straight line. After the husband's salary crosses ₹40,000 per month, women’s employability increases, especially in urban areas. “This U-shaped pattern could result from a change in norms with rising incomes or it could also be due to the fact that such husbands are matched with higher educated wives who have preferences as well as opportunities to access better paid work,” the report says. What’s the price of a job? In the case of rural women, marriage and motherhood only improves their employment. However, that’s associated with the fact that they turn into contributing family workers in agricultural work or find or find self-employment. “Thus, for women in the informal economy, rather than a marriage or motherhood penalty for employment, we find the reverse. But the absence of a penalty may not be a positive outcome since it likely reflects a compulsion to work for subsistence,” says the report. But are women happier with more employability? There is no straight answer for this question as well because there is data to show that districts that report high rates of working women also show women saying that they make their own healthcare decisions, own large assets or meet relatives. Yet, independence comes with a painful price for working women – as districts with higher percentages of women with paid working jobs also report higher domestic violence. “The suggested mechanism is that working women are more likely to face partner violence due to challenging of established gender norms,” the report says.

Saas, bahu aur naukri: The inter-generational effect on gender norms

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Stella Guan, 34, is a digital nomad who has been traveling the world for the past year.</li><li>Her parents, in their early 60s, retired last year and decided to join her for the summer.</li></ul>This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Stella Guan, a 34-year-old graphic designer, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://pathunbound.com/">educator</a>, and <a target="_blank" class="" href=" https://chinadigitalnomads.com/">digital nomad retreat organizer</a> about her experience living in China alongside her retired parents. The essay has been edited for length and clarity.I started as a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/becoming-a-digital-nomad-jobs-travel-remote-work-pros-cons-2023-5">digital nomad</a>, almost entirely unplanned. And this arrangement was unplanned as well.My parents are in retirement right now, and they're finally in a place where they can just travel and not worry about anything else. They lived in Guangdong Province, which is right next to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hong-kong-millennial-housing-prices-income-debt-dreams-2023-9">Hong Kong</a>.They're still young enough to not have mobility issues, so they packed up their house last year and wanted to travel more.My mom worked for a clothing company and my dad was an engineer. In China, women retire a lot earlier than men, so she has basically been waiting for my dad to retire before she traveled.My parents are on social media and watched all these other people close to their age — in their early 60s, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/couple-visited-91-countries-doesnt-stay-in-airbnbs-prefers-hotels-2024-2">other retirees</a> — traveling. And they wanted to do that as well.They were inspired by other people more than their own child.<h2 id="6e9ba20b-b92a-42fd-ad8c-6483d264da43">We chose a rural part of China for our two months of living together</h2><div type="image" title="Stella Guan with her parents inside an open-air market." height="4032" width="3024" msid="112549132" hostid="261" sizebytes="664890"></div>We moved out to Yunnan, a rural region, in June.The weather is perfect. It's in a mountainous region — it's just high enough that you feel cool, but it's not too high that you can't breathe.I just love mountains, and mountains are everywhere.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/millennial-regret-buying-house-remote-work-travel-airbnb-buyers-remorse-2024-1"> It reminds me of California</a>, but I'd say that the weather is even better than California.<h2 id="bd2c76e5-698e-4aa9-8d68-22b0edf818da">Lunch can be as little as $2 and rent is under $100</h2>The cost of living is really, really amazing. It's like half of what big cities are.It really is <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moving-to-china-leaving-arizona-shenzhen-phoenix-cost-of-living-2024-5">supercheap to live here</a>.Just yesterday, my mom and I were taking a walk around the neighborhood, and my mom saw this building with available apartments for rent. So she asked this guy in front of the building, "How much do you pay for rent here?" And then he said, "600 renminbi," which is actually about $90 a month for a one-bedroom.We went and looked. It's not luxurious or anything, but it's pretty well-lit and a decent place to live.Right now, my parents and I rent two apartments that together cost $200 a month.Even with food for the month, it's under $300 to live here. You can get a really delicious bowl of noodles for the equivalent of $1.50 to $2.<h2 id="bd5a4517-d8d4-4d27-b864-854c4a2ded00">I work during the day while they shop at local markets</h2><div type="image" title="Stella Guan and her mother stand on a patio on a sunny day in front of a gray brick clock tower" height="3024" width="4032" msid="112549129" hostid="261" sizebytes="1398684"></div>They usually go out to the market in the morning, because they like to buy fresh food every day.They like to drive around, go to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-food-scandal-middle-class-buy-direct-farms-2021-12">different markets</a>. My mom takes her time haggling, choosing different vegetables. My dad is less interested, but he drives her.I stay at the house to work.I'm mostly done by early afternoon and if I'm not, they sort of force me to take a break. In this regional town, people just hang out. It's just super relaxed.We'll spend our afternoons doing family time. Right now my dad is <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/teaching-daughter-to-drive-brought-closer-together-2024-5">teaching me how to drive</a>. He'll take me out to practice.Recently we've done a few small weekend trips. There was a local fire festival that's really cool — it's one of the biggest annual events in the region. We also went to a small town with this really unique folk architectural style 30 to 40 minutes away.I definitely encourage other families to do it. It's not very often you get to spend this much time <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/adult-relationship-with-parents-individuals-2024-2">with your parents as an adult</a>.We have such limited time with them. I think traveling is its own form of bonding, too.You definitely have to understand the physical limitations of your older parents, because they may not be able to keep up with you. But that's perfectly fine.It really is all about the family time.

I'm a millennial in a 'digital nomad family.' My retired parents and I are living in a rural town for under $300 a month.

<keyword id="19919396" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tripura" source="keywords">Tripura</keyword> Agriculture and Farmers Welfare <keyword id="19914583" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Minister" source="keywords">Minister</keyword> Ratan Lal Nath on Thursday said that within the next few months, drone technology will be integrated with the state's agriculture sector to address certain challenges. The members of <keyword id="22212826" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="womens-self-help-groups" source="keywords">women's self-help groups</keyword> (SHGs) will get the best possible training so that they can operate the drones effectively for different purposes such as <keyword id="22212827" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="spraying-fertilisers" source="keywords">spraying fertilisers</keyword> and pesticides in fruit and flower gardens. Speaking to after the inauguration of the new Agriculture Development Research and Training Centre at Killa under the Gomati district of Tripura, Nath said, "The central government has launched the scheme called drone Didi which is especially for women. Soon after the scheme was launched, a state committee was constituted. As per the recommendations of the committee, drones will be sent to the agriculture sub-divisions." According to Nath, the appointment of trainers has already been done who will impart training to the SHG members. "The trainers are already recruited. We hope within the next two months drones will reach each of the 47 agri-subdivisions," he added. The Minister also announced that a special scheme has been undertaken to appoint "Krishi Sakhis (Friends of Farmers)" who provide agriculture-related solutions to the farmers in the rural areas. "One sakhi (friend) will be appointed for one rural local body such as Gram panchayats and Village Committees. We have forwarded the proposal to the central government. If we get the approval, the process of appointing Sakhis will be started immediately." On the agricultural infrastructure he inaugurated, Nath said, "We are setting up new infrastructure in all agri subdivisions. This is a new training center set up for the farmers of the area. All the officials, trainers, and experts will come here and speak to the farmers. Arrangements have also been made for video conferencing." SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/reliance-jio-and-airtel-price-hike-new-plans-and-how-you-can-save-money/articleshow/111331794.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/reliance-jio-and-airtel-price-hike-new-plans-and-how-you-can-save-money/articleshow/111331794.cms" target="_blank">Reliance Jio and Airtel price hike – new plans and how you can save money</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/allied-blenders-ipo-allotment-how-to-check-allotment-ipo-gmp-listing-date-and-more/articleshow/111317150.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/allied-blenders-ipo-allotment-how-to-check-allotment-ipo-gmp-listing-date-and-more/articleshow/111317150.cms" target="_blank">Allied Blenders IPO allotment – How to check allotment, IPO GMP, listing date and more</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/upcoming-smartphones-launching-in-india-in-july-2024/slidelist/111304902.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/upcoming-smartphones-launching-in-india-in-july-2024/slidelist/111304902.cms" target="_blank">Upcoming smartphones launching in India in July 2024</a>

Tripura to introduce drones for agriculture purposes, says Minister

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A report about a rural bachelor who can't afford a $70,000 dowry in China was met with backlash on Monday.</li><li>Such a bridal price is many times over what a typical rural worker earns in a year.</li></ul>A Chinese state media report about rural men struggling to afford exorbitant dowries has triggered backlash online from people who say the bachelors are missing the point.State-run outlet Legal Daily <a target="_blank" href="http://legalinfo.moj.gov.cn/zhfxfzzx/fzzxyw/202403/t20240325_496559.html">published an article</a> on Monday covering the dating lives of three rural men in their early 30s, who said they can no longer keep up with rising "betrothal prices."The story of one man from Jiangxi province, whom Legal Daily gave the pseudonym Cheng Wei, went <a target="_blank" href="https://s.weibo.com/weibo?q=%23%E9%83%A8%E5%88%86%E5%86%9C%E6%9D%91%E5%A4%A7%E9%BE%84%E7%94%B7%E9%9D%92%E5%B9%B4%E5%9B%A0%E5%BD%A9%E7%A4%BC%E9%AB%98%E7%BB%93%E4%B8%8D%E8%B5%B7%E5%A9%9A%23">viral on Weibo</a>, China's version of X.According to state media, the man "lamented" that dowries in his home region had grown to about 500,000 RMB, or $70,000 — a nearly impossible cost for a rural worker."500,000 RMB is a very unrealistic expectation. To put things in perspective, the annual disposable per capita income among <a target="_blank" href="https://www.stats.gov.cn/english/PressRelease/202402/t20240201_1947120.html#:~:text=Among%20them%2C%20the%20median%20of,was%2086.4%20percent%20of%20the">rural residents in China is about 20,000 RMB</a>," Mu Zheng, a professor of sociology and anthropology at the National University of Singapore, told Business Insider.Such a dowry would likely cost rural families years of savings or could sink them in debt, Mu said.But instead of drawing sympathy, the report received a harsh response on Weibo. Many accounts, who listed themselves as female on their profiles, say men are using the unattainable dowries as an excuse for their undesirability as partners."Always discussing the dowry, and not discussing what the man is like, or what the bride's family must pay," <a target="_blank" href="https://weibo.com/2087169013/O6AJOg4LL?refer_flag=1001030103_">one top comment said.</a>"Then don't get married. No one wants to marry you if you have no money," <a target="_blank" href="https://weibo.com/2253853021/O6C9D5TIH?refer_flag=1001030103_">a blogger, who listed themselves as female, wrote.</a>As of Monday afternoon Beijing time, the topic received some 32 million views on Weibo, per data seen by BI.In China, grooms typically pay for dowries to the bride's family and can sometimes be expected to fork up the cash for huge expenses like cars or houses as a prerequisite.Some urban couples in China are now going for what is often dubbed a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201812/20/WS5c1b40a0a3107d4c3a001ece_10.html">"naked marriage,"</a> where people get hitched without the man first securing the dowry, car, apartment, or perhaps even a diamond ring. But the traditional practice of paying for your bride is still strong in rural areas, Mu said."The expectation for dowries has diverged in China due to both the rising costs of living — particularly with housing — consumerism, and rising individualism," she said.<h2>It's not about the dowries, people say</h2><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-crackdown-betrothal-gift-bride-price-birth-rate-population-2023-3">Rising dowries have unsettled Chinese officials</a> already fretting about plummeting national birth and marriage rates. The state frequently <a target="_blank" href="https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202402/02/WS65bc4904a3104efcbdae9469.html">discourages families</a> from demanding exorbitant betrothal agreements, in a bid to remove another obstacle to marriage.Yet the prevailing perspective on Chinese social media has been that fixating on surging dowry expectations is distracting from the real issue — that modern women want to wed for love and a stable future but are pressured to shore up marriage rates.In essence: A man who relies on a dowry likely doesn't make the cut, and women shouldn't be expected to marry him."If you don't believe me, tell a handsome guy to go on a blind date. I guarantee that someone will marry him even without a dowry, and even give birth to monkeys for him," wrote <a target="_blank" href="https://weibo.com/1823751845/O6CEEbNJJ">one commenter</a>, who listed themselves as female."Nowadays, independent urban women live freely and self-sufficiently, while older youths in rural areas want to get married," <a target="_blank" href="https://weibo.com/7310963831/O6Bke7rnr?refer_flag=1001030103_">another wrote</a>. "The two don't match up, so there's a severe gap.""It's not a question of whether the betrothal gift is good," one commenter added. "It's a matter of not finding a suitable marriage partner. If it's clear there's no good match, why persist?"The furor could partially stem from repeated messaging from provincial governments that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-operation-warm-beds-declining-marriages-sparks-social-media-storm-2021-10">affluent city women should return to their home villages</a> to marry rural bachelors. These campaigns sometimes go viral and get slammed on social media.Meanwhile, it's become increasingly clear that officials are concerned by the growing prevalence of singlehood among rural men, with state media often discussing such bachelors leading loveless lives. Local governments have been <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-population-demographics-birthrate-fertility-subsidies-incentives-ivf-betrothal-gift-2023-10">concocting various policies and incentives</a> to encourage marriage in poorer areas.The divide is widening between marriage expectations held by Chinese women and those placed on them, Mu said."They demand better quality marriage, and are more likely to decide to get married when they feel it's right," she said. Meanwhile, many families in China still expect the wife to be the primary caregiver and homemaker.In the case of the dowry backlash, China is seeing more women refusing to take responsibility for fixing the nation's population woes, she said."Increasingly, they don't feel incentivized or that it's emotionally and morally right to get married for the sake of marriage, or in this case, to address the imbalanced marriage markets," she said.

Rural men in China say they're too poor to afford the massive dowries expected of them. People on social media say it's just an excuse.

New Delhi, The staggering number of nearly 1.5 million women of reproductive age in <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="keywords">India</keyword> grappling with epilepsy highlights a critical need for tailored care and support, said experts on International Epilepsy Day on Monday. World Epilepsy Day is observed every year on February 12 to raise awareness and timely intervention for people suffering from the neurological disorder characterised by recurrent seizures. The disease affects approximately 50 million individuals worldwide, with a significant portion residing in India, where 10-12 million people are affected. Social stigma and reluctance to seek medical intervention often hinder women from receiving the care they need. Concerns related to reproductive health are a significant issue within the community of women with epilepsy. But experts stated that proper treatment can help women lead a normal and healthy life. "Despite the disease prevalence, there exists a considerable treatment gap in the management of epilepsy, particularly in low-resource settings like rural areas of India. With nearly 1.5 million affected women in India, special attention must be given to women of reproductive age with epilepsy, as pregnancy poses unique challenges. Issues such as teratogenic effects from antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and increased infertility rates are significant concerns,'' said Dr. <keyword id="20554579" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="siby-gopinath" source="keywords">Siby Gopinath</keyword>, Epileptologist and Professor of Neurology at Amrita Hospital, Kochi. Neuroinfections, head trauma, and metabolic abnormalities significantly contribute to the burden of epilepsy in India, especially among women of reproductive age. Children also bear a substantial impact, with the highest incidence occurring in the first year of life and peaking between ages 1 to 12. Diagnosis in children poses challenges due to various seizure imitators, necessitating evaluation by trained paediatric neurologists. The experts said that women with epilepsy can plan pregnancies if they have been seizure-free for two years or more. Collaboration between neurologists, gynaecologists, and paediatricians is essential to manage medications during pregnancy and address any seizures promptly. "Women with epilepsy can lead a normal life with timely and proper treatment. It is crucial to address the unique challenges faced by women, including social stigma, to ensure they receive the necessary medical attention. Women with epilepsy should plan pregnancy so that anti-epileptic medications do not harm the baby as well as the mother," Dr. <keyword id="20554581" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ak-sahani" source="keywords">AK Sahani</keyword>, Director and Chief of Neurology, Indian Spinal Injuries Centre (ISIC) New Delhi, told IANS. However, the doctor said that the ongoing medication dose can be optimally minimised to reduce the risk to the baby and prevent epilepsy in the mother. "Otherwise, drugs can be switched over to other safer drugs for pregnancy. Women with epilepsy can go safely for pregnancy under the supervision of a neurologist and they can have normal delivery," Dr <keyword id="20554580" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sahani" source="keywords">Sahani</keyword> said. The causes of epilepsy vary, including birth defects, oxygen deprivation or hypoxic sequelae, genetics, brain infections, head injury, stroke, and brain tumours. "Diagnosis involves a comprehensive approach, including medical history, physical examination, and various investigations like blood investigations, bedsides EEG, video EEG, CT, MRI of the brain. These tests and investigations help in identifying potential causes and plan appropriate treatments. Treatment options include anti-seizure medications, with the caveat that finding the right medicine and dosage may take time," said Dr. Amlan Mandal - Senior Consultant - Neurology, Narayana Hospital RN Tagore Hospital. "<keyword id="19935980" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="surgery" source="keywords">Surgery</keyword> is also considered to address underlying causes more so in drug resistant epilepsy such as removing brain tumours. Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) may be required in cases where the origin of seizures is unclear," the doctor said.

1.5 million women of reproductive age in India affected by epilepsy: Experts

New Delhi, Feb 4 (IANS) Focus on the rural economy in the budget has been waning over the years and in such a scenario a revival of the rural economy would take time, <keyword id="45949" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="jm-financial" source="Orion">JM Financial</keyword> said in a report. In the absence of a specific focus on the rural economy in the <keyword id="6360189" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="union-budget" source="Orion">Union Budget</keyword> for 2023-24, analysts don't see immediate triggers for revival in the rural economy. Moreover in the absence of specific or enhancement of allocation towards the rural economy, we believe that the rural environment would have to revive on its own. Hence we would view businesses dealing with price sensitive low ticket items as less likely to benefit, JM Financial said. An attempt is made to make the new tax regime more attractive after getting a low response in FY23, however we believe the benefits in the form of tax saving on enhanced no-tax limit (INR 0.2mn) is unlikely to spur demand in a meaningful manner, JM Financial said in a report. Unlike the anticipation by a section of the market, rural focus was missing in the budget announcements. The expectations of a populist budget was linked to 9 state elections in 2023, moreover with FY24 being the last full year budget before the general elections in CY24. However, we believe that the schemes relating to empowerment of women <keyword id="75772" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="self-help-groups" source="Orion">Self Help Groups</keyword>, artisans and setting up of digital infra for agriculture and farmer centric solutions would provide opportunities in the rural economy to improve their livelihood, JM Financial said. Moreover, the budgetary allocation towards rural centric schemes like <keyword id="6361863" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="mgnrega" source="Orion">MGNREGA</keyword> and PM <keyword id="865803" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="gram-sadak-yojana" source="Orion">Gram Sadak Yojana</keyword> has been declining ever since FY22. Even the sentiments as collated by CMIE show a declining trend in the rural economy ever since June '22 whereas the sentiments in the urban economy seem to be holding up well, JM Financial said. In the absence of a specific focus on the rural economy, we don't see immediate triggers for revival in the rural economy, the report said. The latest rabi sowing has been progressing well even on a higher base of last year, except in the case of wheat. Subsidy burden has been the major pain point in India's fiscal, led by rising fertilizer and food prices. Fertilizer subsidy was increased by INR 1.1tn in FY23 over and above the budgeted figures of INR 1.05tn. Allocation towards fertilizer subsidy has been made to the extent of INR 1.75tn in FY24. We believe with easing inflationary pressures, the government could have limited the allocation to INR 1.4tn, as fertilizer prices have moderated by 40% from its peak. However, the geo-political situation is still in a flux and the government's higher allocation seems prudent at this juncture. Food subsidy has been pegged at INR 1.97tn (vs INR 2.9tn FY23RE), as the outlay would be reduced with the discontinuance of the PM Garib Kalyan Yojana. On an overall level, subsidies form 1.2% of GDP vs 1.9% in FY23RE. Past data indicates that the exuberance or otherwise relating to the budget day normalizes within a month in the equity markets. Moreover, a substantial positive performance in Nifty was witnessed in the week following the budget day only during FY16, FY20 and FY21. The personal income tax changes in the Union Budget affect many but the impact is low, Credit Suisse said in a report. The split of salary income by income groups shows that while the number of filings is mostly by low-income groups, the bulk of the taxes come from high income. 56% of the filers belong to the low-income group but they add to just 2% of the tax collected. People earning more than Rs 10mn are less than 1%, but they add to 10% of the tax collected, the report said. Inflows from small savings deposits have shrunk considerably. Small saving deposits for government have been declining, and at the current pace, can be 20% YoY lower for FY23. This may still be marginally better than budgeted, though these flows are generally larger nearer to the year-end. While bank deposit rates have risen considerably, NSSF rates remained low for most of FY23, were raised in Jan-2023. The Centre continues to remain dependent on small savings flows to fund the deficit, Credit Suisse said.

Revival of rural economy to take time in the absence of triggers: JM Financial

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Nami Iman, a content creator from Georgia, felt stuck at home and wanted to branch out. </li><li>She applied to a work program in Montana and moved to a place where she knew nobody.</li></ul>This is an as-told-to essay based on a conversation with Nami Iman, a content creator on TikTok originally from Metro Atlanta, who is documenting her new life in Montana. The essay has been edited for length and clarity.A couple of months ago, my best friend sat me down and told me I was wasting my life because I was too afraid to take risks. Best friends keep it real with you, and she was right — I've always avoided taking big leaps of faith. It's one of the reasons why I decided to take the biggest risk I've ever taken in my life and move to Montana. My journey to Montana started earlier this year when I decided I was going to get a steady job. In January of 2022, I committed to being a full-time content creator. The first month, I only made enough to live off of for a while, but then after that, the brand deals just stopped coming in. Finally, I told myself if I want to create content full-time, I need sustainability. I did not want to start doing a nine-to-five, but my mom would always tell me, "You have to do things that you don't want to do in order to get to where you want to go."So I decided to buckle down and get a real job. One day, I came across a TikTok of this girl saying she applied for a job through this website called CoolWorks, which connects people to jobs in different places across the country. I was tired of living at home in my semi-rural town of Covington, Georgia, and I felt like it was time for me to step out on faith and step out on myself. For a very long time, I had such a fear of growing up, but I knew I would be missing out on a lot if I didn't take the opportunity to apply.I applied to 20 jobs the first day I got on CoolWorks. A place called Sage Lodge near Yellowstone National Park was the first to reach out to me. I told God, "Look, if you allow this to happen for me, I'll say yes to the first opportunity that comes my way." I got the job. And then, boom — I was moving out. The whole process took a couple of weeks, and before I knew it, I was on my way to Montana at the end of June. At first, I thought I was fine. But then, when I said goodbye to my mom before I got on the plane and took off, the real fear and anxiety kicked in. I was really flying into the unknown. I was going to a whole new place, a whole new environment where I didn't know anyone or anything. That terrified me. But because things were moving so quickly, I had a deep feeling that it was meant for me. As soon as I touched down in Montana and met my housing coordinator, I realized it just felt like an extension of home.<h2>'There's a little magic here'</h2>I settled down in the housing offered by my job — I have my own room here, and my roommate Emily is an angel — and I immediately started working as a concierge at the lodge.I never thought that I would be a concierge — I had no idea what a concierge even was before this. The new job was a huge shift, and sometimes I feel insecure as hell because it's something that I've never done before.In fact, life in Montana was filled with new experiences. I walk to and from work almost every day now. Every job that I've had prior, I either worked from home or drove to work. Now, I have to use my legs to get to where I need to get to. When I lived at home, I felt very depressed, and there were days when I didn't leave my bed. But this job is forcing me to get out and accept the beauty that this world has to offer.And Montana is just the most picturesque place. There are squirrels, deer, gorgeous green fields, streams, and mountains as far as the eye can see. It literally looks like a postcard out here. When I'm not working, Emily and I just sit on the couch, drink tea and watch "Abbott Elementary." When we have the opportunity to go out, we take hikes, go to dispensaries, and explore new places. I even went fishing in the Yellowstone River my third day here.It's been a month since I got to this place. I can't believe seeing Montana never crossed my mind before this opportunity. There's such beauty and, as corny as it sounds, there's a little magic here. There's just something special about this place.<div type="image" title="A woman on a boat looks afraid while holding a fish" height="843" width="1125" msid="102549594" hostid="261" sizebytes="78960"></div><h2>'I want every Black person to come out here and enjoy Montana'</h2>One of the reasons I began documenting this journey on TikTok is because I wanted to be able to go back and look at old videos of myself and capture these moments in time. What I didn't know was that my video, where I documented my decision to leave home, would go as viral as it did. But I'm glad that it did. I've gotten comments from random people telling me, "I don't know you but I'm so fucking happy for you. I'm so proud of you." Some people, women who look like me who are probably scared to take risks, tell me that I've inspired them to do the same.Would I recommend this opportunity to other people? A part of me says yes.I've met an amazing roommate who I know will probably be a lifelong friend. There's so many opportunities that come in the unknown — and the unknown can be very scary and terrifying. But sometimes in life, you just got to learn how to pivot. I was afraid of risk. I'm still a little afraid, I will admit. But there is more confidence in me. And I want people who feel the same way to know that if it can happen for me, it can happen for you. <div type="image" title="Nami Iman stands barefoot on a trail in a pink, full length dress" height="2030" width="2707" msid="102549595" hostid="261" sizebytes="678596"></div> I would just say, before you decide to take that unexpected journey, do your research, especially if you are a Black person. Truthfully, I am the only Black woman here, and I wanted my safety as a Black woman to be my top priority. Be very thorough in your research, and just try to make sure you're going into a safe environment.I want every Black person to come out here and enjoy Montana like I have. I want more Black people and different cultures to see the beauty that Montana has to offer.

I moved from Atlanta to rural Montana and documented my move on TikTok. Here's why I'm glad I did it.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>When Puerto Rico became a colony of the US in 1898, much of its population was living in poverty.</li><li>The US government and Puerto Rico's appointed government instituted an economic development strategy for the island called "Operation Bootstrap."</li></ul>In 1898, the United States government acquired Puerto Rico through the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Spanish-American War. This was only one year after Spain had granted the island the power to self-govern. But after Spain lost the war, they ceded control of Puerto Rico.At the time, <a target="_blank" href="https://archive.org/details/reportoncensusof00unitiala/page/40/mode/2up?view=theater">Puerto Rico's population</a> was just under 1 million. Most were living in poverty. It wasn't uncommon for families to spend the majority of their income on food. Many people worked for only cents per day harvesting sugarcane. Others owned farms or worked inland on coffee and tobacco fields."Imagine that about 90% of your income is spent on food, and you're still malnourished. There's no money for clothes. Shoes were basically non-existent among the peasantry. And that was before the Great Depression," Dr. Harry Franqui-Rivera, a Latin American History Professor with a focus on Puerto Rico at Bloomfield College told Business Insider.<div type="image" title="Laborers cutting sugarcane in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, circa 1950." height="3805" width="5400" msid="106356539" hostid="261"></div>In tandem with the appointed Puerto Rican government, the US government drew up a plan to develop the island. In 1947, US Congress passed the Industrial Incentives Act, which became a part of "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/40992748">Operation Bootstrap</a>," the name given to a number of projects that aimed to industrialize Puerto Rico's agrarian economy.US corporations were lured to the island through tax exemptions and a cheap labor pool, which pushed agricultural workers into urban areas where newly formed factories were. However, that also led to fewer jobs and higher <a target="_blank" href="https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences/applied-and-social-sciences-magazines/operation-bootstrap">unemployment</a>, creating what was described as a "surplus population" on the island.To address this issue, the government came up with a two-pronged approach. In the short term, they would encourage Puerto Ricans to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.history.com/news/puerto-rico-great-migration-postwar">migrate</a> to the mainland and surrounding islands in the Caribbean. In the long term, they would encourage <a target="_blank" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/2633177">sterilization</a> and birth control, which bolstered the burgeoning <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/harvard-slavery-integral-history-disturbing-eugenics-experiments-and-tk-2022-4">eugenics</a> movement in the US.<h2>Sterilization was the only form of contraception accessible to many Puerto Rican women</h2>Beginning in the 1910s through the 1920s, the economy in Puerto Rico was industrialized by pushing rural workers to urban areas where there were new factories. Some families were able to get the newly-formed factory jobs, while others weren't so lucky. Following the landfall of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.puertoricoreport.com/page-history-hurricane-felipe-1928/">Hurricane San Felipe</a> and the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/what-caused-the-great-depression">Great Depression</a>, by the 1940s the <a target="_blank" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=DChqCAAAQBAJ&amp;pg=PT111&amp;lpg=PT111&amp;dq=This+produced+a+stagnant+economy,+and+unemployment+shot+up+from+11+percent+in+April+1940+to+a+high+of+37+percent+in+September+1942&amp;source=bl&amp;ots=mEbjGjBnvg&amp;sig=ACfU3U3rxgIVPYcw21RJpdLajOMQgL9GSw&amp;hl=en&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwikn6jylqODAxWeCnkGHVMsBZYQ6AF6BAgIEAM#v=onepage&amp;q=This%20produced%20a%20stagnant%20economy%2C%20and%20unemployment%20shot%20up%20from%2011%20percent%20in%20April%201940%20to%20a%20high%20of%2037%20percent%20in%20September%201942&amp;f=false">unemployment rate</a> on the island was around 37%. Many residents were forced into poverty.In 1937, contraception and sterilization was made <a target="_blank" href="https://pasquines.us/2015/09/01/sterilization-the-untold-story-of-puerto-rico/">legal</a> in Puerto Rico. When signing the bill, Acting Governor Rafael Menendez Ramos made <a target="_blank" href="https://scholarship.law.duke.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2850&amp;context=lcp">a statement in support</a> of the legalization of sterilization, citing the problem of "surplus population," writing that "the inevitable consequence is increasing unemployment, growing poverty and mounting misery."<div type="image" title="Puerto Rican women register to vote on the territorial constitution, San Juan, Puerto Rico, November 1950." height="3788" width="4882" msid="106356615" hostid="261"></div>Some women chose to undergo sterilization because it was the only option for contraception available to them. Others were coerced into doing so by their doctors."In Puerto Rico, it was a class-based society," Franqui-Rivera said. "So imagine a doctor in Puerto Rico in the 1930s telling a woman from the peasantry that she should have or recommend that she get sterilized. There is no way for them to say no."Sterilization or "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.thenation.com/article/society/ourmotherstoo-reckoning-with-my-abuelas-coerced-sterilization/">La Operación</a>" as it was called, was one of the only options for birth control women had available to them in the early 20th century. Birth control trials began on the island in the 1950s — well after contraception and sterilization became legal.One survey from the <a target="_blank" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3259513/#:~:text=21%25%20of%20these%20women%20expressed,being%20consulted%20about%20the%20operation.">1982 Puerto Rico Fertility and Family Planning Assessment</a> found that, of the women interviewed who were sterilized between 1954-1982, 21% said they felt some regret and 11% felt definite regret for having been sterilized.Sterilization and birth control efforts were effective in reducing fertility rates on the island. In 1950, the average Puerto Rican woman had given birth to an average of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/2134751?read-now=1&amp;seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents">5.2 children</a> by the age of 50. By 1977, that average had dropped to 2.7 births per woman.<div type="image" title="A group of Puerto Rican women, trained in household work by the Puerto Rican government, arrive at Newark Airport to work in homes in New York, 1953." height="1841" width="2454" msid="106356616" hostid="261"></div><h2>Some Puerto Rican nationalists feared the US had plans of a physical and cultural genocide</h2>Puerto Rico's birth control movement had strong <a target="_blank" href="https://journeys.dartmouth.edu/latinxreproductiverights/2018/04/10/16/">opponents</a> and supporters. On one side were the Catholic Church and Puerto Rican nationalists, who opposed sterilization. The Catholic Church took their position on birth control based on religious grounds. The nationalists feared that the US as a colonial power had plans of physical and cultural genocide of Puerto Rico.On the other side of the sterilization debate was the US federal government, the Puerto Rican government, public health officials, and private elite, who held the belief that the underdevelopment of the island was due to poverty and in order to develop the island, the population had to shrink.Even within the ranks of those who supported sterilization or birth control, there were progressive and conservative factions. Progressive factions supported some amount of birth control and sterilization for those living in poverty, but they didn't agree with the genetic inferiority argument that many conservative eugenicists believed. Progressive groups wanted to institute birth control, but they also wanted to strengthen education, combat crime, and develop welfare benefits for poorer families, Dr. Laura Briggs, Professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, wrote in "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520232587/reproducing-empire">Reproducing Empire</a>."Dr. Iris López, a sociology professor and director of Latin American Studies at City College of New York and author of the book "Matters of Choice: Puerto Rican Women's Struggle for Reproductive Freedom," said most people who were a part of the birth control movement held a progressive ideology."The sterilization in Puerto Rico had to do more with the whole overpopulation ideology versus the general view of eugenics that people are targeted, genetically inferior, or unfit to reproduce," López said. "It was largely driven by the Puerto Rican government and the Puerto Rican people themselves wanting to help 'our people,' the poor people on the island."<div type="image" title="Women lined up at police headquarters during a roundup of suspected nationalists after an aborted revolt in San Juan, Puerto Rico, 1950." height="2308" width="3077" msid="106356618" hostid="261"></div><h2>Many women did not know the sterilization procedure would be permanent</h2>The process of sterilization involves a woman's fallopian tubes being tied or cut through a procedure called tubal ligation. While today it may be possible for women to undergo surgical reversal to try to become pregnant, the reversal process was not pioneered until the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.tubal-reversal.net/blog/history-of-tubal-reversal-surgery/">1970s</a>. For most Puerto Rican women, sterilization was permanent.Because of the colloquial language physicians used telling women they needed to get their "tubes tied," some women were under the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/20628205">misconception</a> that the procedure would be <a target="_blank" href="http://palante.org/Women%27s%20Position%20Paper.pdf">reversible</a>.As López writes in her book, while sterilization in many cases was not forced onto Puerto Rican women, many women felt they did not have an alternative because of government policy and the social conditions they were subjected to. Some factories may have also <a target="_blank" href="https://journeys.dartmouth.edu/apulidolats3/2018/04/22/reproductive-genocide-a-look-into-sterilization-in-puerto-rico-and-east-los-angeles/">encouraged</a> their employees to be sterilized to reduce turnover.While <a target="_blank" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12279870/">projected rates</a> of sterilization on the island between 1930 and 1970 vary somewhere between 30-40%, López said there were higher rates of sterilization amongst married women. A 1982 <a target="_blank" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3259513/#:~:text=21%25%20of%20these%20women%20expressed,being%20consulted%20about%20the%20operation.">survey</a> found that 42% of married women interviewed said they had been sterilized.The sterilization law and eugenics board were <a target="_blank" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/2633177">repealed</a> in Puerto Rico in 1960, but high rates of sterilization continued on the island until the late 1980s, according to a Family Planning Perspectives study released in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/2135873?origin=crossref">1992</a>.Today, the effects of the economic development plan that led to the birth control movement reverberate on the island. Puerto Rico's population is <a target="_blank" href="https://academic.oup.com/gerontologist/article/62/7/964/6607773">aging rapidly</a>, and people have continued to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2019/09/puerto-rico-outmigration-increases-poverty-declines.html">move away</a> from the island in recent years in the wake of Hurricane Maria and as the economic situation worsens. The average number of births per woman was <a target="_blank" href="https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.TFRT.IN?locations=PR">0.9 in 2021</a>."The Puerto Rican age, on average, is a huge problem," Franqui-Rivera said. "Even when the labor market was so good, incredibly good, it was a tough labor market."

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