<keyword id="10627165" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Appointment-on-compassionate-ground" source="Orion">Appointment on compassionate ground</keyword> is a concession not a right and the object of granting such employment is to enable the affected family to tide over a sudden crisis, the <keyword id="6354977" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="supreme-court" source="Orion">Supreme Court</keyword> has said. The apex court last week set aside the judgement of a division bench of the Kerala High Court, which confirmed the verdict of a single judge directing the Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore Ltd and others to consider the case of a woman for appointment on compassionate ground. A bench of <keyword id="12024223" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Justices-M-R-Shah" source="Orion">Justices M R Shah</keyword> and <keyword id="333383" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Krishna-Murari" source="Orion">Krishna Murari</keyword> noted that the father of the woman was employed with Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore Ltd and died while on duty in April 1995. At the time of his death, it noted, his wife was serving and therefore not eligible for appointment on compassionate ground. "After a period of 24 years from the death of the deceased employee, the respondent shall not be entitled to the appointment on compassionate ground," the bench said. According to the law laid down by the apex court on appointment on compassionate ground, equal opportunity for all government vacancies should be provided to all aspirants as mandated under Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution. Article 14 of the Constitution deals with equality before law and Article 16 with equality of opportunity in matters of public employment. "However, appointment on compassionate ground offered to a dependent of a deceased employee is an exception to the said norms. The compassionate ground is a concession and not a right," the bench said in its judgement delivered on September 30. The apex court noted that when the employee had died in 1995, his daughter was a minor. On attaining the age of majority, she made an application for appointment on compassionate ground, the court said. It also noted that after a period of around 14 years after his death, his daughter had submitted an application for appointment on compassionate ground. Referring to previous judgements of the top court, the bench said as per the law laid down, compassionate appointment is an exception to the general rule of appointment in the public services and is in favour of dependants of a person dying in harness and leaving his family in penury and without any means of livelihood. In such cases, out of pure humanitarian consideration, a provision is made in the rules to provide gainful employment to one of the dependants of the deceased who may be eligible for such employment, the court said. "The whole object of granting compassionate employment is, thus, to enable the family to tide over the sudden crisis. The object is not to give such family a post much less a post held by the deceased," the bench said. Allowing the appeal filed by Fertilizers and Chemicals Travancore Ltd and others against the March this year verdict of the high court, the court said that if such an appointment is made now it shall be against the object and purpose for which the appointment on compassionate ground is provided. Setting aside the high court judgement, it said both the single judge as well as the division bench had committed an error in directing the appellants to reconsider her case for appointment on compassionate ground. The bench noted that her application for compassionate appointment was rejected in February 2018 on the grounds that her name was not in the list of dependants submitted by the deceased employee and that the policy was to give employment to widow or son or unmarried daughter of the employee. It also noted that in December 2019, the appellants had again rejected her application for appointment on compassionate ground on the grounds that 24 years had lapsed since the death of the employee. It also did not meet the primary test of scheme that the deceased employee should be the "sole bread winner of his family" since his wife was gainfully employed with the Kerala State Health Services Department at the time of his death, the bench said. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/infosys-to-lead-it-sectors-q2-show-with-4-revenue-growth-says-jefferies/articleshow/94606976.cms">Infosys to lead IT sector’s Q2 show with 4% revenue growth, says Jefferies</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/suzlon-energys-founder-chairman-tulsi-tanti-passes-away-due-to-cardiac-arrest/articleshow/94596261.cms">Suzlon Energy’s founder chairman Tulsi Tanti passes away due to cardiac arrest</a>

Appointment on compassionate ground concession not a right: SC

The <keyword id="6357972" type="General" weightage="30" keywordseo="jammu" source="Orion">Jammu</keyword> and <keyword id="6354495" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="kashmir" source="Orion">Kashmir</keyword> government has decided to clear 2,000 appointment cases pending under <keyword id="19257709" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="SRO-43" source="Orion">SRO 43</keyword> pertaining to the kin of <keyword id="44465" type="General" weightage="40" keywordseo="militancy" source="Orion">militancy</keyword> victims in the union territory. This is a major decision which will bring relief to these 2,000 youth whose appointments under SRO 43 will now be cleared, officials said. SRO 43 pertains to compassionate appointments in government service for kin of militancy victims, border shelling/ firing and death cases of government employees who died in harness. "The government has decided to clear a backlog of nearly 2,000 SRO 43 appointments pendingso far before the switch over to new policy for such appointments. "The government has introduced a new policy of compassionate appointments from January 1 this year, which is on the pattern of the central government. "Under SRO 43kin of those killed in militancy or border shelling-firing and government employees who died in harness were eligible for a government job. "Under the new policy, which came into effect from January 1, 2023, a merit-based criteria has been adopted for such posts and only those who fall in the criteria will get the government jobs while others will be paid a fixed amount of compensation," officials said. Under SRO 43, 2000 vacancies, mostly in Class-IV category in different departments, have been identified and 2,000 youth will be cleared for the government appointments now. "This decision will generate 2,000 jobs and will also bring major relief to the victims of militancy, border shelling/firing and kin of dead government employees who were waiting for compassionate appointments for a long time. "The new scheme which has already come into force will grant appointment or monetary compensation on compassionate grounds to a dependent family member of a government servant, who may die in harness or as a result of militancy-related action or due to enemy action on the Line of Control/International Border within Jammu and Kashmir and is not involved in militancy-related activities or retires on invalid pension, thereby, leaving his family in penury and without any means of livelihood," officials added. Under the new scheme, which came into force on January 1, 2023, the number of vacancies and the merit list of the eligible candidates will be prepared annually and eligible candidates will be considered purely on the basis of merit obtained with regard to a point-based merit system on quarterly basis. Both the list of vacancies and merit list of candidates will be put out in public domain to make the process fully transparent and accountable. The appointment on compassionate grounds will be made for the multi-tasking staff or equivalent or lowest non-gazetted cadre posts in the department.

J&K govt clears 2K pending cases for employment of kin of militancy victims

A US-based diaspora body on Tuesday launched an online petition campaign urging the Secretary of State Anthony <keyword id="10620101" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="blinken" source="Orion">Blinken</keyword> to reduce the long waitlist for various types of American visas being issued from <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>. "We request the State Department, Secretary of State Mr Anthony Blinken and the US embassies in India to eliminate wait times for <keyword id="6359421" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="visa" source="Orion">visa</keyword> appointments in India. "Even after a two-year-long Covid-era pause in visa appointments at the US embassies in India, the visa appointment situation is far from normal, requiring 300 to 900 days of wait time based on the visa types," Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies or FIIDS said launching its online petition campaign. As per travel.state.gov reports on October 31, there is an average 900+ days' wait time for appointments for visitors' visa (B1/B2), an average 400 days' wait time for students (F, M,J) and an average 300 days' wait time for petition-based temp workers like H, L, O, P and Q across the USA consulates in India (Mumbai, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kolkata), it said. In contrast, the US consulates in China only have an average three days' wait time, FIIDS said. "The 900+ days' delay deprives Indian Americans and Indian immigrants in the USA of having their beloved relatives to visit, whether in the time of difficulties, needs, or for celebrations, impacting their quality of life," it said. "The 400+ days' wait time affects students joining the US universities, that not only impacts students' future but also negatively impacts the US universities," FIIDS said, adding, the 300+ days' wait time is impacting productivity and success of various industries and businesses due to lack of skilled workers. "We urge the US State Department and Sec Blinken to resolve this issue. We believe it is not only important for US interests but the right thing to do on moral and compassionate grounds," FIIDS said in its petition on Change.Org. "As per Reuters news on 27th Sept, the Secretary of State blamed the lack of resources and funding due to lost revenues from fees on this 'self-financed program,'" the petition said. "We request the concerned authorities to take all necessary steps and to seek emergency funds to resolve this backlog. We are eager to assist in any way possible and will forge a coalition of individuals who will rise to the occasion to assist in mitigating this issue," it added. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/elon-musk-fired-twitter-execs-including-ceo-parag-agrawal-for-cause-in-a-bid-to-avoid-paying-out-tens-of-millions-in-severance-report-says/articleshow/95182325.cms">Elon Musk fired Twitter execs including CEO Parag Agrawal 'for cause' in a bid to avoid paying out tens of millions in severance, report says</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/twitter-staff-have-been-told-to-work-84-hour-weeks-and-managers-slept-at-the-office-over-the-weekend-as-they-scramble-to-meet-elon-musks-tight-deadlines-reports-say/articleshow/95232215.cms">Twitter staff have been told to work 84-hour weeks and managers slept at the office over the weekend as they scramble to meet Elon Musk's tight deadlines, reports say</a>

Diaspora group launches online petition urging Blinken to reduce visa wait time

<ul><li><keyword id="781" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="agarwal" source="Orion">Agarwal</keyword> donated the award money to a Canadian health charity working for the welfare of native Indians.</li><li>The mining tycoon lauded the achievements of the 1.6 million-strong Indo-Canadian community.</li><li>He said India and Canada have many similarities and they complement each other in many fields.</li></ul> <keyword id="28423" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="vedanta" source="Orion">Vedanta</keyword> founder Anil Agarwal was honoured with the Global Indian Award worth $50,000 by the Canada-India Foundation at its 15th annual gala here at the weekend. Agarwal donated the award money to a Canadian health charity working for the welfare of native Indians. Accepting the award at a star-studded gala event that included <keyword id="179419" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="ontario" source="Orion">Ontario</keyword> Premier <keyword id="275133" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="doug-ford" source="Orion">Doug Ford</keyword>, ministers and Indian consul general Apoorva Srivastava, the mining tycoon lauded the achievements of the 1.6 million-strong Indo-Canadian community in this country. "I have gone all over the world, but I have not seen the kind of bonding in the Indian diaspora anywhere that I see in Canada. Take your businesses to the skies and make Canada proud. You live in the best country in the world," Agarwal said. He said India and Canada have many similarities and they complement each other in many fields. "Together, the two countries can do phenomenal work." The Vedanta founder said India has been a poor country. "But the time has reversed. The $3-trillion economy is going to be a $30 trillion economy in the coming years. The middle class that is 20 per cent today is going to be 80 per cent in the next six-seven years. We are going to build 150 big cities in India. Indians may be 20 years behind Canada in terms of lifestyle, but their aspirations are so high that with a population of 1.4 billion you can just imagine the (sheer amount of) demand." Ontario Premier Doug Ford praised the Indian tycoon for this charity. "I cannot think of any more deserving person (for the award) than Anil Agarwal whose generosity has improved the lives of so many people. You are a role model and an inspiration, Anil," the Ontario Premier said. Welcoming Agarwal to the gala event, <keyword id="154015" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="canada-india-foundation" source="Orion">Canada India Foundation</keyword> chairman <keyword id="321083" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="satish-thakkar" source="Orion">Satish Thakkar</keyword> said, "Mr Agarwal's life story is one that should inspire every youngster growing up, to dream big and persevere to fulfill the dream. As a person who has pledged to give 75 percent of his wealth to charity, Mr. Agarwal is also a philanthropic role model for all. On behalf of CIF and all present, I extend a very very very warm welcome to Mr Agarwal." <keyword id="6360722" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="ratan-tata" source="Orion">Ratan Tata</keyword>, Dr A.P.J. <keyword id="5141" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="abdul-kalam" source="Orion">Abdul Kalam</keyword> and <keyword id="57060" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="deepak-chopra" source="Orion">Deepak Chopra</keyword> among the past recipients of the Global Indian Award started by this premier Indo-Canadian organization in 2007. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/appointment-on-compassionate-ground-concession-not-a-right-sc/articleshow/94615988.cms">Appointment on compassionate ground concession not a right: SC</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/seven-assembly-bypolls-in-six-states-on-nov-3-ec/articleshow/94615301.cms">Seven assembly bypolls in six states on Nov 3: EC</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/jiobook-a-4g-enabled-budget-laptop-is-expected-to-launch-soon-at-15000/articleshow/94613338.cms">JioBook, a 4G-enabled budget laptop is expected to launch soon at ₹15,000</a>

Vedanta founder Anil Agarwal honoured with Global Indian Award in Canada

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A mental health crisis can involve feelings of overwhelm, extreme distress, and thoughts of suicide.</li><li>You can support a loved one in crisis by asking what they need and listening with empathy.</li></ul>It's natural to feel worried or even frightened when someone you care about is going through a mental health crisis, but you can do a lot to help them. A mental health crisis can happen in response to trauma or overwhelming stressors that make it difficult to navigate everyday life. Facing this level of intense distress may, in some cases, lead to thoughts of self-harm or <a href="https://www.insider.com/cdc-11-percent-us-adults-seriously-considered-suicide-in-june-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suicide</a>, though not everyone in crisis will have a plan to die. One important first step toward offering compassionate support involves remembering your loved one didn't choose to experience this distress. In short, a mental health crisis isn't their fault.Another important step in recognizing when to offer support? Knowing the signs of a crisis. According to <a href="https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/mas/providers/andrewdavis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dr. Andrew Davis,</a> a psychiatrist at <a href="https://thrive.kaiserpermanente.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kaiser Permanente</a> in Maryland, some signs that may suggest a mental health crisis include:<ul><li>Rapid changes in mood and increased agitation</li><li>Self-harm</li><li>Increased substance use</li><li>Isolating or withdrawing from others</li><li>Psychosis, or losing touch with reality, which might include hallucinations or delusions </li><li>Paranoia</li><li>Inability to perform daily tasks and do basic self-care, like eating, showering, and getting enough sleep</li></ul>Below, find eight tips from mental health experts you can use to support your loved one in coping with distress and finding care.Important: If you're having thoughts of suicide, help is available right now. You can get free, confidential support from compassionate crisis counselors by calling <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/mental-health/988" target="_blank" rel="noopener">988</a> to reach the <a href="https://988lifeline.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Suicide and Crisis Lifeline</a> or texting "HOME" to 741741 to reach the <a href="https://www.crisistextline.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Crisis Text Line</a>.<h2>1. Help them connect with crisis support</h2>If your loved one has <a href="https://www.insider.com/the-unexpected-red-flag-words-suicide-counselors-look-for-2020-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">expressed thoughts of hurting themselves</a> or others, or you're just genuinely worried about their health and well-being, you can start by helping them reach out to a crisis counselor. According to <a href="https://tavihawn.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tavi Hawn</a>, a licensed clinical social worker and founder of <a href="https://reclaimandrisetherapy.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reclaim &amp; Rise</a>, crisis counselors are trained to:<ul><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/mental-health/how-to-be-empathetic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Listen with compassion</a></li><li>Talk through in-the-moment strategies for easing distress, such as calling a friend, taking a walk, or listening to music</li><li>Provide information on local resources</li><li>Help your loved one practice grounding techniques, such as doing some gentle stretching or bringing attention to their breath</li></ul>Crisis hotlines include:<ul><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/call-988-mental-health-support-suicide-prevention-us-2022-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline:</a> Call 988</li><li><a href="https://nami.org/help" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) HelpLine</a>: Call or text 800-950-6264</li><li><a href="https://www.crisistextline.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Crisis Text Line</a>: Text "HOME" to 741-741</li><li><a href="https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Trevor Project hotline for LGBTQIA+ youth</a>: Call 1-866-488-7386, or text "START" to 678-678</li><li><a href="https://www.callblackline.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BlackLine crisis call line for BIPOC</a>: Call or text 1 (800) 604-5841</li><li><a href="https://translifeline.org/hotline/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Trans Lifeline crisis hotline</a>: Call 877-565-8860</li></ul>Some cities and towns also have local mental health crisis response teams, which can send counselors out to help de-escalate the situation, assess whether or not your loved one is safe at home, and connect them with helpful resources. You can check with your state's local mental health department or local police department to find out if there's a response team in your area.<h2>2. Offer distractions</h2>Davis recommends helping your loved one find a distracting activity, which can create some mental distance from their source of distress and help them stay grounded in the present.A few ideas to try include:<ul><li>Putting on a feel-good movie</li><li>Painting, drawing, or working on another creative project</li><li>Going out for a comforting meal, or preparing one together </li><li>Taking a walk together outside</li></ul>The same distractions don't work for everyone, which is why <a href="https://www.mindpath.com/staff/zishan-khan-md/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dr. Zishan Khan</a>, a psychiatrist with <a href="https://www.mindpath.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mindpath Health</a>, advises asking your loved one what might feel good to them at that moment. If they say they don't know, it's OK to offer some suggestions — or ask them whether it might help more to just sit and talk.<h2>3. Ask what they need </h2>Rather than assuming you know what your loved one is feeling or what they need from you, just ask. For example, you might ask:<ul><li>What can I do to make your life easier at the moment?</li><li>Is there anything I can take off your plate to make things feel less overwhelming?</li><li>I'd love to spend some time with you — is there a specific activity that would feel really good to you right now?</li></ul>"Maybe they need someone to provide accountability for some steps they want to take to help themselves, like checking in after therapy appointments," says <a href="https://apathwaytoyou.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stephani Jahn</a>, a licensed mental health counselor in private practice. "Or maybe they'd find it helpful to grocery shop or batch-cook together once a week to make their life easier," Jahn says.Note: Just keep in mind that sometimes, intense distress can make it hard to know what might make a difference, so they may not be able to answer right away. <h2>4. Check in about suicidal thoughts</h2>It may feel scary to bring up the subject of suicide, but always make it a point to ask if your loved one has considered ending their life. The idea that talking about suicide can increase the risk of a suicide attempt is just a myth. As a matter of fact, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24998511/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">experts have found</a> talking about suicide can both reduce thoughts of suicide and improve mental well-being. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) <a href="https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/September-2019/How-to-Ask-Someone-About-Suicide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recommends saying something</a> along the lines of, "Sometimes when people are going through what you're going through, and dealing with such intense emotional pain, they think about suicide. Has that ever crossed your mind?"Asking this question lets them know that they can safely talk to you about their suicidal thoughts. Important: If they do have active suicidal thoughts and a plan to die, call 988 right away for more support. <h2>5. Listen and validate</h2>Just listening to your loved one share their experiences without judgment is an invaluable way to offer support, Khan says.You might try starting a conversation with, "I've noticed [XYZ behavior] lately, and I just want to make sure you're OK because I know you've been going through a lot lately. How have you been feeling?" Then, give them your undivided attention and hold space for whatever uncomfortable emotions they're grappling with, advises <a href="https://streaklinks.com/BOgBaMovr-4e0f3FqQA68qyI/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fanisha-patel-dunn-do-0210698b%2F" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Anisha Patel-Dunn</a>, a licensed psychiatrist and Chief Medical Officer of <a href="https://streaklinks.com/BOgBaMwOTnRiAuMUOwF5Ju9C/https%3A%2F%2Flifestance.com%2F" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LifeStance Health</a>. While your gut reaction may be to try and fix the problem or cheer them up, Patel-Dunn says this approach can end up inadvertently invalidating their feelings. You can, however, help normalize their experience by <a href="https://ctrinstitute.com/how-to-practice-validation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">offering validating statements</a> like "It makes sense that you would feel overwhelmed," or "That sounds really stressful," Khan says.<h2>6. Help them search for a therapist</h2>If your loved one already has a therapist, you might encourage them to reach out during a time of crisis. If they don't have a therapist, Khan advises offering to help them find one.To get started, you can search for local licensed mental health professionals using online databases like:<ul><li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PsychologyToday</a></li><li><a href="https://www.goodtherapy.org/find-therapist.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoodTherapy</a></li><li><a href="https://mentalhealthmatch.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mental Health Match</a></li><li><a href="https://www.therapytribe.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TherapyTribe</a></li></ul>Quick tip: You can also contact the <a href="https://www.samhsa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline by calling 800-</a>662-HELP (4357). SAMHSA offers 24/7 confidential support and guidance with treatment referrals.You can also help by contacting potential therapists to find out if they're taking new patients and accept your loved one's insurance, or by making appointments for them. Davis also suggests providing a ride to their appointment or offering to help with child care, if that's an obstacle.If your loved one can't access therapy for any reason, you can also help them search for <a href="https://namimass.org/peer-support/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">peer-led crisis programs</a>. For example, NAMI runs virtual <a href="https://namimass.org/nami-peer-to-peer/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">8-week recovery programs</a> as well as <a href="https://namimass.org/nami-connection-recovery-support-groups/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">virtual connection groups</a> — both of which are completely free to participate in. The recovery program covers a range of discussions and activities, like building a support network and crisis plan, while the virtual connection groups involve sharing experiences in a supportive setting and learning new coping skills.<h2>7. Stay connected</h2>It's crucial to stay in touch with a loved one going through a mental health crisis — not only so you can pay attention to any signs they're considering suicide or self-harm, but also just to remind them you care. Even just a quick phone call or text to say, "Hey, I've been thinking about you today, how are you feeling?" can go a long way."Many people won't reach out for help, either because they're worried about possible judgment, they feel ashamed or embarrassed, or they fear being ignored and rejected. They need reassurance that they are not alone, and expressing concern and empathy shows them they are worthy of love," Khan says.You can also build up your loved one's support system by encouraging other friends and family to check in — especially on days when you know you won't have the chance.<h2>8. Know when to get emergency medical assistance</h2>When your loved one experiences <a href="https://www.insider.com/cdc-11-percent-us-adults-seriously-considered-suicide-in-june-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suicidal thoughts</a>, your instinct may be to <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/emergency-room-what-to-expect" target="_blank" rel="noopener">take them to the ER</a> — but police officers and emergency room staff don't always <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-mental-health-professionals-are-trained-deescalate-public-health-issues-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">know how to handle mental health crises</a>. Hawn says engaging the police during a mental health crisis can be traumatic or even <a href="https://theintercept.com/2019/09/29/police-shootings-mental-health/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">deadly in some cases</a>, <a href="https://ps.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.ps.202000942" target="_blank" rel="noopener">especially for Black people and Indigenous people</a>.In most cases, Davis recommends skipping the ER and instead reaching out to a local mobile crisis intervention unit, your loved one's therapist, or a crisis hotline. However, you may need to seek immediate care at the ER if your loved one experiences:<ul><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/mental-health/hallucinations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hallucinations</a>, delusions, or other <a href="https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions/Psychosis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">symptoms of psychosis</a>.</li><li>A suicide plan, the intent to die, and the means to take their life.</li><li>Potentially life-threatening physical symptoms, such as wounds from self-harm or irregular breathing from <a href="https://www.insider.com/what-can-happen-if-you-drink-too-much-alcohol-2018-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">using alcohol or other substances</a>.</li></ul>If you do call 911, Khan recommends notifying the operator right away that you're calling about a psychiatric emergency and requesting an officer trained in crisis intervention. You can also contact local crisis resources to ask for a mediator who can be present for the encounter with the police. Note: Many emergency departments now have <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34403550/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EmPATH units</a>, where EmPATH stands for emergency psychiatric assessment, treatment, and healing. These units are specifically designed to offer compassionate care for behavioral health symptoms — and evidence suggests they can effectively <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34403550/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">treat people with suicidal thoughts</a>.<h2>Insider's takeaway </h2>When someone you care for experiences deep and overwhelming pain, you might feel lost, scared, and unsure of how to help. Remember, though, they didn't choose to feel this way, and you can do a number of things to support them as they navigate this difficult time. For example, listening to their concerns with empathy and without judgment may offer some much-needed comfort."Acceptance and support from loved ones are incredibly valuable in helping someone recover from these crises," Jahn says.While some people may want extra help in finding a therapist and making day-to-day responsibilities easier to manage, others may need some quality time with you or some engaging distractions. When in doubt about what your loved one needs from you, just ask.

8 ways you can help a loved one — or even save their life — during a mental health crisis

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Title 42 is a public health order that allows the government to turn away migrants seeking asylum in the event of a pandemic.</li><li>The order was supposed to be lifted on May 23, but a federal judge ruled to keep the policy in place.</li></ul>At least 53 people believed to be migrants died after being <a href="https://www.insider.com/bodies-migrants-found-dead-san-antonio-texas-reports-2022-6">found</a> in an overheated, abandoned tractor-trailer in <keyword id="12062287" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="san-antonio" source="Orion">San Antonio</keyword>, <keyword id="11896956" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="texas" source="Orion">Texas</keyword>, on Monday, June 27.They were thought to be migrants crossing the border into the US; Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said in a <a href="https://twitter.com/m_ebrard/status/1541755714259091456">tweet</a> that the victims <a href="https://www.insider.com/truck-migrants-dead-mexican-guatemalan-honduran-citizens-official-says-2022-6">include</a> citizens from Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras. It is thought to be one of the most fatal cases of migrant deaths near the southern border in recent years.In a <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1541858758820864000">tweet</a>, President Joe Biden said that his "administration will continue to do everything possible to stop criminal smugglers from exploiting migrants."However, immigration advocates told Insider that they are frustrated that the Biden administration has not done more to end Title 42, an emergency <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/CDC-Order-Suspending-Right-to-Introduce-_Final_8-2-21.pdf">public health order</a> that allows the government to turn away migrants seeking asylum because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Experts believe that Title 42 has caused more cases of human smuggling across the border, resulting in injuries and fatalities like the incident in San Antonio."Allowing Title 42 to continue and other egregious policies for migrants is racist, hypocritic[al], and deadly," Patrice Lawrence, executive director of UndocuBlack Network wrote in a statement to Insider. "The migrants who perished in the truck in San Antonio, Texas should have been met with compassionate policies. They were not. They should be alive today and together with their loved ones. They are not."<h2>Title 42 was set to end in May.</h2>In April, the Biden administration announced that it would be terminating Title 42, a public health order under the Public Health Service Act enacted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that allows the federal government to turn away migrants seeking asylum in the event of a pandemic or epidemic.However, after 24 state attorney generals <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/20/judge-blocks-biden-administration-from-lifting-title-42-border-policy-00034195">sued</a> the administration, a Federal judge in Louisiana issued a ruling blocking the CDC from ending Title 42. The extension was supposed to be lifted on May 23, 2022; however, Title 42 still remains in place."I would say for Black migrants, that is a place of dignified rage, is the best way to put it. I think disappointment is putting it too mildly," Haddy Gassama, National Director of Policy and Advocacy at UndocuBlack Network, told Insider. "Frustration is, I think, a little too polite."April 2022 saw the highest amount of border encounters on record at the U.S. southern border, according to <a href="https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/southwest-land-border-encounters?language_content_entity=en">US Customs and Border Protection</a>. The Biden administration has also expelled migrants under Title 42 at <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2022/04/27/key-facts-about-title-42-the-pandemic-policy-that-has-reshaped-immigration-enforcement-at-u-s-mexico-border/">twice the rate</a> of the Trump administration.As far as Biden's overall grade on immigration, advocates said there has been an increase in legalization for people who are already in the country. However, they believe Biden has not lived up to what he promised. After the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police, President Biden affirmed that his administration would prioritize <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/equity/">racial justice</a> in all of his policies, <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/06/19/fact-sheet-the-biden-harris-administration-advances-equity-and-opportunity-for-black-americans-and-communities-across-the-country/">including immigration</a>. Immigration advocates say that has not been the case."I think what's disheartening for us is that Biden very much ran on a platform around racial equity. And, for us, our tagline is that immigration is a Black issue. And we feel that oftentimes his policies don't reflect some of those sentiments," Gassama said.<h2>Advocates say the Biden administration can do more, even after the extension of Title 42.</h2>Louisiana US District Court Judge, Robert Summerhays, a Trump appointee, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/05/20/title-42-asylum-border/">sided</a> with the 24 states, stating the Biden administration must launch a <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/uploads/2011/01/the_rulemaking_process.pdf">notice-and-comment process</a> in order to remove the policy in what's called the Administrative Procedure Act.Muzaffar Chishti, a senior fellow at the Migration Policy Institute, said the administration can issue a stay of the injunction, pass an executive order and wait for it to be challenged in court or follow the procedural grounds stated by Judge Summerhays under the Administrative Procedure Act since removing the policy still has merit. The Biden administration has filed an appeal to Judge Summerhays' ruling. "I think initially it might have been defensible just because they have a lot of restrictions placed on travel to the United States by air, by road, in any case, but I think the more after we got the vaccination and after the travel restrictions on airfare and travel, particularly, were loosened, it became less and less defensible," Chishti told Insider. <h2>Advocate said the Biden administration has extended protective status to those already in the US.</h2>While immigration advocates are frustrated with the Biden administration's immigration policies, particularly with regards to people seeking asylum, Christi said the administration has been responsive to accepting Afghan refugees and extending Temporary Protected Status to Haitians and <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/secretary-mayorkas-designates-cameroon-for-temporary-protected-status-for-18-months">Cameroonians</a> who are living in the US.For people already in the country, the administration has reeled back on deportations and is accepting <a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-joe-biden-donald-trump-alejandro-mayorkas-4fd76fd10ffe5e1ee96b665c3cbb7be4">more</a> green card applications than the Trump administration. "With the exception of Title 42, it's hard to see a more pro-immigration administration," Chishti told Insider. "Immigration advocates are focused on two things that the Biden administration was expected to improve. One is the situation on the border, and the other was sort of trying to get legalization for 11 million unauthorized people in the country."<h2>Looking ahead to midterms.</h2>As far as what is next for immigration advocates, Gassama said they are looking ahead to the midterms this year and the general election in 2024."What's disheartening for us is that Biden very much ran on a platform around racial equity," Gassama told Insider. "I think, on the one hand, the injunction is terrible that, you know, these sort of Republican states and attorneys general are using their power, and these Trump-appointed federal judges are using their power to effectively ban asylums at the border. But on the other hand, I think the slowness of [the Biden] administration to even respond when these things happen, again, is an example of their apathy."

After 53 migrants were found dead in San Antonio, immigration advocates urge the Biden administration to end Title 42

Raipur, May 27 () With the lockdown adversely affecting the state's revenue collection, the Chhattisgarh government on Wednesday decided to take several austerity measures, including prohibiting foreign tours, not holding meetings in expensive hotels and not creating new posts, officials said. The state's finance department has issued a directive, which will remain effective till March 31 next year, a public relations department official here said. The measures have also been taken as there is an immediate need for arranging additional resources in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic, he said. "The state government has taken several important decisions to cut its expenditures and ensure optimal utilisation of resources available for development-oriented works in the backdrop of fall in revenue collection due to the lockdown," the official said. "As a part of the measures, creating new vacancies, transfer of government staff, holding meetings in expensive hotels, foreign tours and purchase of new vehicles have been prohibited," he said. To control the establishment expenses, the state government has banned creation of new posts in all the departments, public undertakings, municipal bodies with immediate effect. Under special circumstances, new posts can be created after taking permission from the finance department, he said. As per the directive, recruitment on all vacancies, except those done directly through the state Public Service Commission or appointment on compassionate grounds, can be done only after taking permission from the finance department. For the posts that were earlier approved by finance department but recruitment on these still pending, the concerned department will have to again seek permission for filling those vacancies, he said. Besides, foreign tour on government expenditure has been completely banned. Government officials are not allowed to travel in business class in flights and the first class compartments in trains on government expenses. Unnecessary official tours without approval from competent authority will remain prohibited, he said. The departments have been directed to organise minimum meetings and to curtail the expenses on events such as conferences, seminars, government programmes. Urgent meetings-programmes should be organised in government buildings instead of expensive hotels. As far as possible, meetings should be organised via video conferencing and webinar, he said. The order further stated that the departments should only launch the extremely important schemes in the current fiscal and the operation of ongoing schemes should be reviewed separately. Departments have been directed to hold the schemes that are irrelevant in the current scenario, he said. Similarly, in the fiscal year 2020-21, purchase of new vehicles has been completely banned. Only the vehicles required for essential services can be purchased after taking permission from the finance department, he said. Annual salary increment payable to state government employees from July 1, 2020 and January 1, 2021 has been put on hold until further notice, he said. As per the transfer policy issued by the General Administration Department, transfer of officials and employees has been prohibited. Keeping in view the additional expenses caused due to transfer of employees, departments are expected to keep the transfers to minimum possible and if urgently required, transfer on ones own expenses should be given preference, he said. TKP NP NP

COVID-19 effect: C'garh govt goes on austerity drive

<ul class="summary-list"><li>HMO and PPO plans offer different types of coverage so it's important to know which is best for you.</li><li>HMO plans are often less expensive with low deductibles, but they're more limiting than PPO plans.</li><li>PPO plans are more expensive but will usually cover some out-of-network costs, unlike HMOs. </li></ul><keyword id="6362363" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="health-insurance">Health insurance</keyword> coverage in the US is a complicated process fraught with different plans and prices. To help you navigate your way through it all, we discuss the difference between two main coverage options: <a href="https://www.medmutual.com/For-Individuals-and-Families/Health-Insurance-Education/Compare-Health-Insurance-Plans/HMO-vs-PPO-Insurance.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) and PPO (Preferred Provider Organization)</a>Understanding the difference between HMOs and PPOs insurance plans can not only help you choose the right one for your needs but also help you avoid expensive, unexpected medical bills. <h2>HMO vs. PPO plans</h2>HMO plans tend to be cheaper than PPO plans, but they're also generally more limiting. HMO plans typically have lower premiums, lower copay amounts, and low deductibles (unless a high deductible plan is chosen to lower overall costs).However, you cannot see an in-network specialist directly. First, you must go through a primary care physician who will then refer you to a specialist. If you don't have a referral, chances are your insurance won't cover the visit. You are also dependent on your primary care physician's referrals when you need to see a specialist, which can delay your treatment and limit your options. For instance, if you have an earache, you would have to visit your primary care physician first, rather than going to an ENT specialist directly. Important: If you go to a provider outside the network on an HMO plan, you have to bear the entire cost yourself, except in certain cases of emergency. PPO plans, on the other hand, offer you a wider network of doctors and hospitals. These plans also don't restrict you to a single primary care doctor, which means you can visit a specialist without a referral.Therefore, PPOs are a good option for people who want more flexibility in choosing their <keyword id="6354750" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="health">health</keyword>care providers, people who travel frequently, or people who need to regularly visit specialists because they have chronic health conditions.It's important to note though that while PPO plans offer more flexibility, they also tend to be more expensive than HMO plans. But unlike HMO plans, PPOs will pay some of the cost for out-of-network healthcare, typically 50%. To summarize, here's a breakdown of the pros and cons for HMO versus PPO plans:<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 60px;" border="1"><tbody><tr style="height: 20px;"><td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 20px;"> </td><td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 20px;">HMO</td><td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 20px;">PPO</td></tr><tr style="height: 20px;"><td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 20px;">Pros</td><td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 20px;"><ul><li>Lower monthly premiums</li><li>Lower copays</li><li>Lower deductibles</li><li>Fewer claims since care is usually within the network</li></ul></td><td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 20px;"><ul><li>Wider network of providers</li><li>More flexibility in choosing providers</li><li>Better coverage of out-of-network providers</li><li>You can receive treatment faster since you can go directly to a specialist of your choice</li></ul></td></tr><tr style="height: 20px;"><td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 20px;">Cons</td><td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 20px;"><ul><li>Smaller network of providers</li><li>Less flexibility in choosing providers</li><li>Out-of-network providers are rarely covered, apart from emergencies</li><li>Treatment can take longer, since you have to see your primary care provider first</li></ul></td><td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 20px;"><ul><li>Higher monthly premiums</li><li>Higher copays</li><li>Higher deductibles</li><li>More claims, since care may be outside the network; you may have to pay first and then file for reimbursement</li></ul></td></tr></tbody></table>If neither HMO or PPO sound like your ideal plan, there's also a middle ground. They're called hybrid plans. One example is Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO) plans, which combine aspects of HMOs and PPOs. EPOs may not require a primary care doctor, for instance, but will limit coverage to in-network providers or facilities. Make sure to read the materials sent by your health plan to understand the detail, particularly when referrals are needed.<h2>What happens if I get a surprise bill?</h2>Related Article Module: How to spot expensive errors on your medical bill, and when you should ask for an itemized billOnce you have an HMO or PPO plan, there are some instances where it can still be confusing to know when you receive in-network versus out-of-network coverage. And if you accidentally go out-of-network - especially on an HMO plan - it can lead to a surprisingly expensive bill.In fact, according to a <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2760721" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2020 study</a>, around 18% of emergency room visits in the US result in at least one surprise bill."If you receive an out-of-network bill that you were not expecting, check with your insurance company, your employer (if you are insured through your work), your <a href="https://content.naic.org/state-insurance-departments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">state insurance department</a>, and, if your state has one, a <a href="https://www.usa.gov/state-consumer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">consumer assistance program</a> to learn your rights and next steps. You may be able to appeal the charges," says Fish-Parcham.Moreover, if you have received treatment and are unable to pay your medical expenses in full, you can contact the billing department of the hospital and <a href="https://www.smartaboutmoney.org/Topics/Spending-and-Borrowing/Manage-Medical-Bills/Options-for-Paying-Medical-Bills" target="_blank" rel="noopener">request a payment plan</a>.Hospitals typically don't charge interest and you can split the payment into monthly installments that you can pay off without harming your credit rating. If your bill is not paid and sent to a collection agency, interest is charged and it is harder to negotiate the balance due.<h2>Assistance programs for medical bill payment</h2><ul><li>Government bodies, like <a href="https://www.ssa.gov/compassionateallowances/index.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Compassionate Allowances</a> and agencies that provide <a href="https://www.ssa.gov/disability/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">benefits for people with disabilities</a></li><li>Organizations, like the <a href="https://www.cancer.org/treatment/finding-and-paying-for-treatment/understanding-financial-and-legal-matters/managing-costs.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">American Cancer Society</a> and <a href="https://rarediseases.org/for-patients-and-families/help-access-medications/patient-assistance-programs-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Organization for Rare Disorders</a></li><li>If you are underinsured (for instance if your plan has catastrophic coverage only, or you have a very high deductible) many hospitals and clinics provide financial assistance if you are unable to pay your medical bills.</li><li>Hiring an <a href="https://advoconnection.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">independent patient advocate</a> to negotiate your bill (your savings will often be much more than the fees paid to an advocate).</li></ul>You might also consider getting supplemental insurance to help cover any out-of-network costs that your primary insurance doesn't cover.Important: Beware of short-term or disease-specific plans that are not compliant with Affordable Care Act (ACA) rules; the premiums may cost less but these plans have many exclusions.<h2>How do I tell if a doctor or service is out-of-network?</h2>According to <a href="https://www.familiesusa.org/writer/cheryl-fish-parcham/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cheryl Fish-Parcham</a>, director of access initiatives at <a href="https://familiesusa.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Families USA</a>, a nonprofit health advocacy organization, there are some ways to check whether a doctor or service provider is in-network: <ul><li>Ask your doctor's office whether they take your insurance when you're making your appointment. Use the specific name of your plan; for example it's not just "Blue Cross," it's "Blue Cross Premier Preferred Silver."</li><li>Check your insurance company's online directory of in-network providers to see if your provider is listed, or to find a provider close to you. Beware that although online directories are updated regularly, they are not solid proof of network status.</li><li>Call your insurance company's member services number and ask them if the provider is in-network. Document who you speak to, along with the date, in case there is confusion at a later time.</li></ul>"For hospitals, it is a bit more complicated; you can call the hospital and check with your insurance company to see if the hospital itself is in-network, but that doesn't guarantee that all of the providers that see you within the hospital will also be in your network," says Fish-Parcham. Some doctors, like anesthesiologists, for example, or services received in the hospital, like lab work or emergency care, may be considered out-of-network, even though the hospital is in-network, according to Fish-Parcham. This is because these doctors or service providers may not have agreed to your insurance company's rates or terms. In this case, you may be required to pay the provider the amount that is not covered by your insurance company; this is referred to as balance billing. Many, but not all plans will cover emergency services at in-network status however you may have to demonstrate afterwards that it was a true emergency."You should always check that your local hospital and any other you may use - particularly if you have a chronic condition - is in-network when you sign up for your insurance plan. If you can plan ahead and know that you'll have a treatment, surgery, or pregnancy, make sure that the doctor, surgeon, or NICU is in-network at that hospital as well," says <a href="https://www.npaf.org/team/caitlin-donovan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Caitlin Donovan</a>, a spokesperson for the <a href="https://www.npaf.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Patient Advocate Foundation</a>. <h2>Insider's takeaway</h2>Choosing the right insurance plan for your needs is important to avoid surprise bills.HMO plans are more affordable but they are more restrictive in terms of providers. PPO plans offer more flexibility in choosing providers and cover some of the costs of out-of-network providers. <a data-type="606f4f37c29eae2d9c45f6e2">A quick and simple guide to reading your medical bills and Explanation of Benefits</a><a data-type="606f4edac29eae2d2f046c0e">How to spot expensive errors on your medical bill, and when you should ask for an itemized bill</a><a data-type="5e20eb05ab49fd33561f2632">A TikTok user's simple trick for lowering pricey hospital bills is going viral</a><a data-type="5e0f7e84855cc27e1a39ef97">Medical expenses, from PPE to doctor's fees, are tax deductible under 2 conditions</a>

The important differences between HMO, PPO, and EPO insurance plans

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Russian forces captured the city of <keyword id="13301336" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="kherson" source="Orion">Kherson</keyword>, <keyword id="11985141" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ukraine" source="Orion">Ukraine</keyword>, in early March.</li><li>Life for 290,000 residents changed overnight, and food supplies are quickly disappearing.</li></ul>Hunger has descended upon Kherson, Ukraine, and with it, desperation.Food warehouses in the Ukrainian city are nearly depleted and looters are beaten in the street.The first thing 20-year-old Igor does each morning is look for food. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-stores-empty-food-running-out-russians-capture-kherson-2022-3">The grocery stores are near empty now</a>, but he continues to search.When <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-captures-first-major-city-kherson-ukraine-2022-3">Russian troops invaded Kherson earlier this month</a>, life for the young student, along with the city's 290,000 residents, changed overnight.Just days earlier, Igor was preparing for university exams at his local maritime academy. Now, he finds himself responsible for his entire family amid a brutal occupation. With his father abroad and unable to return home because of the war, Igor is tasked with protecting and providing for his mother, younger brother, and two grandparents — an increasingly difficult job as the realities of war sink in for Kherson's residents.Igor, whose full name is known by Insider and is being identified by only his first name to protect his safety, spoke about the everyday horrors people in Kherson are experiencing under Russian occupation as Russian leader Vladimir Putin continues to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/live-updates-russia-ukraine-crisis-2022-2#a-small-group-was-seen-praying-in-the-main-square-of-kharkiv-just-25-miles-from-russias-border">wage war across Ukraine</a>.<div type="image" title="A Russian tank sits in the streets of Kherson." height="512" width="1024" msid="90278556" hostid="261"></div><h2>Early-morning explosions</h2>Igor has spent his entire life in Kherson, which is located 200 kilometers east of Odesa. He told Insider that his city, located strategically near the Black Sea, was once a typical Ukrainian port, known for its famous sea academy, which graduates a cohort of <keyword id="6356001" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="international" source="Orion">international</keyword> sailors each year.<iframe title="" id="datawrapper-chart-W5lxR" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/W5lxR/3/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% ; border: none;" height="651"></iframe>The city's people enjoyed their lives, Igor said. They had "enough of everything."But in the early hours of Thursday, February 24, Igor woke to the <keyword id="11893589" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="news" source="Orion">news</keyword> that <keyword id="11894337" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="russia" source="Orion">Russia</keyword> was invading his country. For weeks, Ukrainians had received intelligence that such an attack was possible, but nobody wanted to believe it could really happen, Igor said.Despite the initial shock, he managed to stay calm. The first thing Igor did that morning was go to the store to secure food for his family — a task that would soon become a daily necessity.Over the next few days, Russian troops moved to surround Kherson. Then, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kherson-mayor-tells-residents-follow-russia-troops-orders-2022-3?utm_campaign=sf-insider-main&amp;utm_source=facebook.com&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;fbclid=IwAR38P7c_4ndhSEcVIVVV7QQuZsojkynBn9RADuSSbPJNd6J8OIBlwPwxx3g">they entered the city.</a>As high-level explosions targeted Kherson, Igor took his family to the basement of their home; everyone carrying emergency backpacks previously prepared with small amounts of food, water, and official documents. The family sheltered together for hours that night until there was a reprieve.<div type="image" title="An emergency backpack." height="721" width="960" msid="90278557" hostid="261"></div>In the first moment of calm, Igor said he went outside to have a smoke and talk with a neighbor. But those small acts of normalcy failed to hide the truth: Kherson — and Igor's life along with it — was forever changed.By Wednesday, March 3, less than one week after Russian forces first rolled into Ukrainian territory, Kherson was fully occupied; the first major city to fall to Russia. <h2>Burnt bodies in the street</h2>As Igor stepped onto his balcony to smoke on that first day of Kherson's occupation by Russian forces, a projectile hit nearby, he said. Then, a second one."A man got torn to pieces," he told Insider. "The entire store is splattered with what's left of him."Graphic photos reviewed by Insider show the mangled remains of the man's body lying bloody in the street beside a Russian tank. The gruesome site is located close to Igor's residence and a photo of an ID Igor found near the body suggests the dead man was a 38-year-old Russian soldier.Igor believes the mounting Ukrainian and Russian corpses in Kherson — a result of ongoing fights and attacks throughout the city — are now being collected by city-appointed cars. Family members and friends of the Ukrainian dead are also collecting their loved ones.In the immediate aftermath of Russia's invasion, Kherson's mayor, Ihor Kolykhaiev, told <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/02/world/europe/kherson-ukraine-russia.html">The New York Times</a> that Russia's weapons left many of the city's dead unrecognizable, forcing volunteers to bury them in mass graves."Many of the bodies have been blown apart," the mayor told the outlet. "If we can make a photograph it makes sense to try to identify them, but if not we put them into bags and bury them that way."On one of his daily walks earlier this month, Igor came across the charred remains of Kherson's main shopping center. After the building was bombed by Russian troops, Igor said "black snow" appeared to fall upon the remnants as it "melted into plastic." Now, Igor and his family keep a heavy-duty gas mask among their emergency supplies. The sound of explosions and the sight of burnt bodies — once jarring to the citizens of Kherson — have quickly become commonplace."Now people don't pay so much attention to these attacks," Igor said. "People are already used to explosions."Russian attacks persist throughout the city still. Igor and his family retreat to the basement during the assaults and venture above ground only when the skies grow quiet. When he walks through the streets of his hometown, Igor said he regularly sees corpses.<blockquote class="pullquote-wrapper"><q class="pullquote-quotation">I doubt that when this is all over, we will be what we used to be before this war.</q> <cite class="pullquote-source">Igor</cite></blockquote>"At first it was quite challenging," he said of witnessing the human toll. "But at this point, you get completely indifferent to it; no more and no less than when you see a dead rat or cat on the street.""I doubt that when this is all over, we will be what we used to be before this war," he added.Kherson's mayor estimated that as many as 300 Ukrainian civilians and fighters were dead in the aftermath of Russia's initial invasion, The Times reported. Reliable death counts in the days since have been nearly nonexistent.But Igor doesn't like to think about the horrors. Instead, he keeps himself busy, seeking out ways to help his family and others. And there are plenty of problems to solve — the most urgent being the city's rapidly-declining food supply.<h2>Dwindling food and desperation</h2><div type="image" title="Empty shelves in a grocery store in Kherson." height="640" width="1280" msid="90278558" hostid="261"></div>Kherson has been completely cut off from supplies, Igor said, who added that no humanitarian assistance is being allowed in. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-says-russia-not-allowing-humanitarian-aid-into-captured-city-2022-3">Ukrainian officials earlier this month said the same</a>, accusing Russia of not allowing previously-agreed upon humanitarian corridors within the city.Life in Kherson is now all about securing food. Each day Igor starts his morning by trying to gather cash or food to feed his family and others who are stuck in the city.Igor has become the man of the family, so the work falls to him. Kherson's women are terrified to leave their homes, he said, citing <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/russian-soldiers-ukrainian-women-ukraine-kherson-sexual-assault-accusation-1684920">rumors of rapes</a> and murders since Russian forces invaded.While out on the streets, Igor talks to people about where to find food, seeking out warehouses or certain stores rumored to have supplies left. The lines at such locations are long — he said sometimes as many as 200 people have gathered to wait for limited amounts of food.<iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/3XYcS1MD-XildMFVD.html" width="100%" height="100%" style="position:absolute;" title="Empty Stores"></iframe>But on Friday, March 11, the last food warehouse in the city closed, Igor said. And people have become desperate.Some citizens have tried to buy large amounts of food that they sell to people in need. Others have turned to looting.One video shared with Insider shows a man duct-taped to a tree in Kherson as people assault him, slapping and kicking him on his bare bottom as his pants sit around his ankles.The man in the video, Igor said, was a security guard who got caught trying to steal food from a store nearby. People in the streets took him and tied him to the tree last week as punishment.Insider could not independently verify this account, but an additional source told Insider that she's heard of the tactic being used in response to accused looters across Ukraine. Igor said it is because there is no longer a police presence to respond to low-level crimes."There is no one to punish them," Igor said of the accused looters. "This [punishment] is done by ordinary citizens."<iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/PMb6wuUC-XildMFVD.html" width="100%" height="100%" style="position:absolute;" title="Naked Man Being Beaten 1"></iframe>Igor said he isn't sure how the accused thieves free themselves from the displays of vigilante justice. He hasn't seen anyone stuck outside for longer than a day and posited that compassionate passersby eventually un-tape them from their posts, or family members come to rescue them.But long hours trapped outside can turn dangerous in the below-freezing temperatures that are currently plaguing Kherson.Average temperatures, both day and night, fall below freezing, Igor said, which makes standing in long lines for food that may never materialize particularly challenging.Desperation among hungry civilians, already in full swing, is likely to intensify in the coming days. Igor estimated on Friday, March 11, 2022, that there was enough food left in the city to last one more week; perhaps only days for those who no longer have cash to spend.Kherson's mayor echoed Igor's estimates, telling <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCNightlyNews/status/1502086911225040896">NBC News</a> on March 10 that the city had only one week of food left.<div type="image" title="Empty shelves in a grocery store in Kherson." height="640" width="1280" msid="90278559" hostid="261"></div>Once his family's reserves run out, Igor said he plans to visit nearby rivers to fish."We still have fishermen," he said. "There are absolutely no authorities in the city, and no one forbids fishing."Gas and medicine have become scarce in the city, as well. Igor said he's witnessed lines at gas stations that are hundreds of cars long. He said a taxi driver told him that he waited eight hours to get only 20 liters of gas at twice the normal cost.In a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/karamalikov.ilya/videos/1560412287674243">video posted to Facebook</a> on Sunday, Kherson's mayor said the city is running out of gas, medications, and food.<h2>Defiant demonstrations</h2>Since the city was seized, scores of Ukrainians have taken to the streets daily to protest the Russian occupation. Earlier this month, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/05/world/europe/kherson-protests-ukraine.html">the city's mayor estimated that nearly 2,000 people attended a protest</a> in Liberty Square.Over the weekend, hundreds of demonstrators gathered to protest against rumors that <a href="https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/ukraine-russia-putin-news-03-12-22/h_b071e08bb841408d1f5e226f8f1311f5">Russia intends to turn the Kherson region into a breakaway republic.</a> A senior Ukrainian official in the area said the Russians are aiming to create the People's Republic of Kherson that's independent from Ukraine, according to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/ukraine-russia-putin-news-03-12-22/h_b071e08bb841408d1f5e226f8f1311f5">CNN</a>.Igor said he knows several people who have attended the public gatherings to demonstrate Ukrainian solidarity. He posited that the wide-scale protests serve a dual purpose, with Ukrainians taking to the streets in an attempt to prevent the Russians from filming propaganda in Kherson.<iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/VTMXBjNS-XildMFVD.html" width="100%" height="100%" style="position:absolute;" title="Russians Firing At Protest 1"></iframe>Igor accused the Russians of <a href="https://observers.france24.com/en/europe/20220310-russia-ukraine-fake-tv-report-kherson-protest">staging fake, pro-Russia demonstrations</a> to give the impression that Ukrainian people are eager to be a part of the country currently invading them, bringing in Crimeans to act the part of grateful civilians. In 2014, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-russia-took-crimea-2015-3">Russia invaded and annexed the Crimean Peninsula</a> from Ukraine, and continues to occupy the peninsula.The Russians, Igor said, prominently distribute food to these alleged interlopers to try and entice Ukrainians to join them.It puts Kherson's residents in an impossible position. Because of the Russian presence in the city, which has Kherson occupied on all continental sides, the only way out of Ukraine for the city's residents is to go to Russia via Crimea — a Faustian bargain that Igor said few are likely to make.Hopes for "green corridors," or a humanitarian path for civilian evacuees and assistance, have disappeared. The demilitarized zones are meant to offer safe passage for humanitarian assistance to enter besieged cities and for fleeing refugees to leave.<a href="https://rsf.org/en/news/rsf-refers-russian-strikes-four-ukrainian-tv-towers-international-criminal-court">Russia has also attacked Kherson's telecom towers</a>, bringing the city to its knees by controlling what information is disseminated and isolating it from the rest of the world.Igor, like many other Ukrainians, uses the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-telegram-became-the-heart-of-the-ukraine-conflict-2022-3">messaging app Telegram</a> — considered a more secure option than some other messaging apps — to communicate with his cousin in New York each day; a last link to the outside world.His cousin waits anxiously for updates from her many family members stuck in the country. She told Insider she feels helpless watching the war unfold from thousands of miles away.<h2>Burying childhood friends</h2>Igor's current goal, he said, is to get his family to safety, and soon; perhaps to Poland, the Czech Republic, or even the US.He told Insider his biggest fear is losing his family. "There is no greater fear," he said.Even if he can get his loved ones out, Igor said he may stay behind in Ukraine, taking care of his family's remaining business and continuing to help others who are in need.In the last week, the 20-year-old told Insider he's buried seven of his friends, many of whom he'd known since childhood, but said he did not want to discuss the details of their deaths."I just want their sacrifices not to be in vain," he said.Frustrations in Kherson are growing as residents decry the lack of attention on their grim circumstances. Accounts out of the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/besieged-ukraine-mariupol-mass-graves-killings-civilians-continue-russian-invasion-2022-3">embattled Mariupol</a> and a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kyiv-apartment-block-destroyed-russia-air-strike-deaths-2022-3">still-resilient Kyiv</a> lead nightly news coverage across the globe. But reports of life in Kherson have been far more scarce.Igor said it sometimes feels as though the world has forgotten about his city.But while food — and hope — continue to dwindle in Kherson, the <a href="https://www.insider.com/sunflowers-ukraine-russia-war-symbol-2022-2">defiant Ukrainian spirit persists.</a> The city's mayor on Sunday said the Ukrainian flag still flies outside his city office."What hope can there be?" Igor said."We will win anyway. Nobody doubts it."Translations by Oleksandr Vynogradov.

A Ukrainian man describes life in Russian-occupied Kherson: Dead bodies in the street, dwindling food on the shelves, and no way out

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/47540968.cms" /> Employees of <keyword id="6354731" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="State-Bank-Of-India">State Bank of India</keyword>'s associate banks, including State Bank of Mysore, State Bank of Patiala, State Bank of Travancore and <keyword id="143585" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="State-Bank-of-Hyderabad">State Bank of Hyderabad</keyword> went on a one-day <keyword id="6358138" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Strike">strike</keyword> on Thursday. They are protesting against the decision to merge these banks with the SBI permanently. The employees demanded filling up of vacancies, increasing the number of staff in the <keyword id="157757" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="housing-loan">Housing loan</keyword> section and extending the compassionate ground appointments to associate banks, a PTI report said. 
		 
	
		The SBI associate banks employees also warned the management that they would go for a nationwide strike on June 24 if their demands are not fulfilled. They want the management to find a solution soon. 
		 
	
		Recently, talks were held in Delhi over the matter, but failed to reach a conclusion. This prompted the unions to call for the strike. The <keyword id="6452174" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="All-India-Bank-Employees-Association">All India Bank Employees Association</keyword> claimed that 50,000 employees participated in the strike today. 
	(Image: Indiatimes)

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