Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

<ul><li>There have been 129 deaths due to the Acute <keyword id="6382102" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="encephalitis">Encephalitis</keyword> Syndrome (AES) in <keyword id="30033" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bihar">Bihar</keyword> so far. </li><li>The National Research Centre on Litchi has denied speculations linking litchi to causing the syndrome. </li><li>The state-run All India Institute of Medical Sciences (<keyword id="40458" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="AIIMS">AIIMS</keyword>), Delhi, will soon study the actual cause behind the AES syndrome, which is listed under 'unknown category'. </li></ul>129 children have died so far in the Indian state of Bihar due to the latest outbreak of the acute encephalitis syndrome (AES). While poverty and lack of access to healthcare failed the children and their families, a humble fruit, litchi or <keyword id="1168849" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="lychee">lychee</keyword>, is taking the fall for the epidemic. The common ground between litchi and encephalitis is <keyword id="6374885" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Muzaffarpur">Muzaffarpur</keyword>, the centre of the outbreak and the country’s biggest litchi producing district. “We have witnessed around 20% decline in litchi sales in last one week after AES connection with this fruit,” <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/bihar-aes-outbreak-brings-litchi-sales-down-by-15-20/articleshow/69935680.cms">KP Thakur, managing director of a litchi processing and exporting firm, told the Times of India</a>. The fall in demand occurred after the state government of Bihar issued an advisory for parents to not allow their children to eat the fruit. The advisory was based on a speculation that litchi may be the major cause for the encephalitis syndrome, that affects children under the age of 10. "The cases of AES might be linked to litchi but the disease can be caused by a whole plethora of infections and encephalopathy situations," Professor Sheffali Gulati, Chief of Child Neurology Division, Department of Paediatrics AIIMS <a href="https://www.livemint.com/news/india/aiims-delhi-to-find-out-cause-of-aes-listed-in-unknown-category-1561276211601.html">reportedly said</a>. The speculations regarding litchi being the cause for encephalitis gets validity from <a href="https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3014212/encephalitis-lychees-kills-31-children-india-say-health">a research done by the United States in 2005</a>, stating that a toxic substance in the fruit may be the reason. On the other hand, Vishal Nath, Director of National Research Centre on Litchi, has denied the charge that litchi has any link to the cause of the disease. Litchi is sold in many other countries but we don’t hear such epidemics elsewhere, he argued in an interview with IANS, adding that the fruit was a rich source of vitamin B, Calcium, Potassium, Sodium and phosphorus. From pride to panic in six months India exports a part of its litchi produce every year. The government of India wanted to promote the fruit earlier this year by giving it a ‘Geographical Indicator’ (GI) tag. “We have been waiting for GI tag for shahi litchi for a long time. The move has come as a boon for litchi cultivators of the region,” <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/muzaffarpur-shahi-litchi-gets-gi-tag/articleshow/66297801.cms">Nath had earlier said</a> adding that the GI tag will fetch them “good money.” <div type="javascript" title="Custom" contenttype="Video"><cdata><![CDATA[
<div class="flourish-embed" data-src="visualisation/443985"></div>
]]></cdata></div>

 Six months later, the same country is debating whether fruit is lethal for young children. The real reason The debate over the dangers of litchi may distract from the actual reason where the national anger must pour over -- poverty and lack of access to basic healthcare, which millions suffer from 70 years after independence. It’s not just the poor children of Muzaffarpur who ate the fruit, but the ones who died were mostly poor. The United Nations’ Global Hunger Report for 2018 placed India at 103rd spot out of 119 countries. The National Family Health Survey says almost half of the children under five in Muzaffarpur are stunted, almost 60% were anaemic, and more than 40% were underweight. A health ministry survey found that none of Muzaffarpur's 103 primary health centres - and its only community health centre - were even considered fit for evaluation, <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/poverty-not-lychees-the-real-culprit-in-indian-brain-fever-outbreak/malnourishment-is-the-underlying-cause/slideshow/69888516.cms">the Economic Times reported</a>. The state-run All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, will soon study <a href="https://www.livemint.com/news/india/aiims-delhi-to-find-out-cause-of-aes-listed-in-unknown-category-1561276211601.html">the actual cause behind the AES syndrome</a>, which is listed under 'unknown category'. The anxiety of the litchi farmers of Muzaffarpur will continue until the final results of the study are out.

India's tragic encephalitis epidemic has hit a humble fruit, Lychee, and its farmers

<ul><li><keyword id="14666" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP">BJP</keyword> President <keyword id="6355521" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="amit-shah">Amit Shah</keyword> is admitted in <keyword id="40458" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="AIIMS">AIIMS</keyword> for <keyword id="43489" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Swine-flu">swine flu</keyword> treatment. </li><li>Finance Minister <keyword id="42575" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Arun-Jaitley">Arun Jaitley</keyword> has flown to the US for medical reasons. </li><li>Few months before election, BJP’s top leaders are missing in action. </li></ul>India is just a few days away from the interim budget, and Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> has already started campaigning for the general <keyword id="6355644" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="elections">elections</keyword> due in May, but both his Finance Minister and the party president are out of action due to bad health. The Bharatiya Janata Party President <a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/amit-shah-hospitalized-bjp-president-admitted-to-aiims-after-contracting-swine-flu-leaders-wish-speedy-recovery/1446170/">Amit Shah</a> has been admitted in All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) as he is down with swine flu. Shah took to Twitter to post about his health and wrote, “I have been affected by swine flu disease and the treatment for the same is going on. With the blessings of God and love and good wishes of all of you, I shall be healthy soon.” Meanwhile, Finance Minister <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/arun-jaitley-travels-to-us-for-medical-check-up/articleshow/67536475.cms">Arun Jaitley</a> has flown to the US for medical treatment. All eyes were on Jaitley as he was supposed to present the <keyword id="7190005" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="interim-budget-2019">Interim Budget 2019</keyword> on February 1 and now reports say that he might even miss the presentation of the budget. Jaitley, who has been <a href="https://twitter.com/arunjaitley/status/1085776969738919936">tweeting</a> rigorously even while undergoing treatment, is suffering from a rare form of <a href="https://www.timesnownews.com/health/article/arun-jaitley-diagnosed-with-soft-tissue-sarcoma-rare-a-type-of-cancer-symptoms-causes-treatment/348940">cancer</a> according to reports. Jaitley has been suffering from health issues for a while now. In 2018, Jaitley had taken off from his duties as Finance Minister when he underwent dialysis followed by a renal transplant in May. Railways Minister Piyush Goyal had taken additional charge of the finance ministry then. Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi too sent his best wishes for the Finance Minister. He tweeted, “I'm upset to hear Arun Jaitley Ji is not well. We fight him on a daily basis for his ideas. However, I and the Congress party send him our love and best wishes for a speedy recovery. We are with you and your family 100% during this difficult period Mr Jaitley.” Another senior BJP leader <a href="http://zeenews.india.com/india/senior-bjp-leader-ram-lal-admitted-to-noidas-kailash-hospital-2171489.html">Ram Lal</a>, the National General Secretary, has been admitted to Kailash Hospital in Noida due to high fever. IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad too was admitted in the ICU at AIIMS complaining of nasal congestion. He was discharged on Thursday afternoon. With a wobbly economy, and the disappointment in recent state elections, the ruling BJP government has an uphill task before the country goes to vote in less than five months. Any flux in the top leadership will be a setback for the party. See Also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/poll-bound-narendra-modi-returns-to-core-voter-base-seeks-10-quota-for-upper-castes-but-will-it-fly/articleshow/67420469.cms">Poll-bound Narendra Modi returns to core voter base, seeks 10% quota for upper castes — but will it fly?</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/the-modi-government-is-looking-to-boost-rural-consumption-with-record-outlay-for-employment-scheme/articleshow/67555665.cms">The Modi government is looking to boost rural consumption with record outlay for employment scheme</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/interest-free-loans-and-income-support-the-upcoming-budget-may-be-a-song-for-indias-farmers/articleshow/67538156.cms">Interest-free loans and income support— the upcoming Budget may be a song for India’s farmers</a>

Two out of the top three leaders in BJP are out of action

Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> has announced that the government has cancelled the <keyword id="6356155" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="cbse">CBSE</keyword> <keyword id="6361875" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="class-12">class 12</keyword> board <keyword id="6359161" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="exams">exams</keyword>. <keyword id="6354642" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Modi">Modi</keyword>, in a statement, said that the decision on class 12 exams have been taken “in the interest of students.” The Prime Minister said, “COVID-19 has affected the academic calendar and the issue of board exams has been causing immense anxiety among students, parents, and teachers, which must be put to an end.” He also stressed that the health and safety of the children is utmost important and there would be no compromise on that. Modi also said that India’s <keyword id="8763838" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="covid-19">COVID-19</keyword> situation is still “dynamic.” "Government of India has decided to cancel the Class XII CBSE Board Exams. After extensive consultations, we have taken a decision that is student-friendly, one that safeguards the health as well as future of our youth," the prime minister tweeted after the meeting. While the alternative assessment criteria for the exams has not been finalised by the board yet, officials said, it is expected to be on similar lines as announced for Class 10 which took into account the performance of a student in various tests and exams through the year. It was also decided in the meeting that in case some students desire to take the exams, such an option would be provided to them by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), as and when the situation becomes conducive. This is the first time that the CBSE has completely cancelled the board exam conducted by it. Last year, exams were midway when a nationwide lockdown was announced in view of the COVID-19 outbreak and the remaining exams were cancelled later. With the decision to cancel the exams coming amid high COVID-19 cases in several states and continuing health-related apprehensions about the future, Modi said the health and safety of students are of utmost importance, and there would be no compromise on this aspect. Anxiety among students, parents and teachers must be put to an end, and students should not be forced to appear for exams in such a stressful situation, a government statement quoted the prime minister as saying. Modi further asserted that all stakeholders need to show sensitivity for students as well as their parents and teachers. In the review meeting, officials gave a detailed presentation on the wide and extensive consultation held so far and views received from all stakeholders, including by state governments. "In view of the uncertain conditions due to COVID-19 and the feedback obtained from various stakeholders, it was decided that Class XII board exams would not be held this year," the statement said. Modi said at the meeting that COVID-19 has affected the academic calendar and the issue of board examinations has been causing immense anxiety among students, parents and teachers, which must be put to an end. He said the COVID-19 situation is dynamic across the country, and that the number of cases is coming down with some states managing the situation through effective micro-containment, while some states have still opted for a lockdown. Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' tweeted, "I wish all the students very best in their careers. I would like to reiterate safety and career of students is of paramount importance for Modi government". Nishank, was earlier in the day hospitalised at AIIMS due to post-Covid complications. Students, parents and teachers are naturally worried about the health of students in such a situation, he noted, asserting that students should not be forced to appear for exams in such a stressful situation. Amid continuing demands for cancellation of exams by a large section of students and parents, the ministry had called a high-level meeting last Sunday to deliberate on the issue which was also attended by state education ministers and education secretaries. The CBSE had proposed two options -- conducting regular exams for only major subjects at notified centres or holding shorter-duration exams at the school where a student is enrolled. The proposed time-line for conducting the exams was between July 15 to August 26 and declaring the results in September. States were asked to submit detailed suggestions by May 25. Majority states opted for the second option which included conducting 90 minutes exams for major subjects at students' home schools. Few states also insisted on vaccinating students before going ahead with the exams. A group of students had also approached the Supreme Court seeking cancellation of the exams. In a hearing on Monday, the government had told the apex court that The CBSE had on April 14 announced cancellation of Class 10 exams and postponement of Class 12 exams in view of the surge in coronavirus cases. According to the evaluation criteria announced for class 10 students , while 20 marks for each subject will be for internal assessment as every year, 80 marks will be calculated on basis of the students' performance in various tests or exams throughout the year. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/google-photos-alternatives-are-hardly-any-good/articleshow/83138238.cms">Google Photos alternatives are hardly any good – here’s what made the Google service so good</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/economy/news/indias-gdp-has-contracted-five-times-since-1947-but-never-as-bad-as-7-3/articleshow/83135455.cms">India’s GDP has contracted five times since 1947, but never as bad as 7.3%</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/xiaomis-latest-wired-charging-tech-can-fully-charge-a-phone-in-just-8-minutes-and-wirelessly-in-15-minutes/articleshow/83136172.cms">Xiaomi’s latest wired charging tech can fully charge a phone in just 8 minutes and wirelessly in 15 minutes</a>

CBSE class 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announces that government has decided to cancel the exams

You Searched For "AIIMS no charges" and got 3 results

India's tragic encephalitis epidemic has hit a humble fruit, Lychee, and its farmers

Sriram Iyer

Two out of the top three leaders in BJP are out of action

Sanchita Dash

CBSE class 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announces that government has decided to cancel the exams

PTI

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides