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The <keyword id="22366986" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="doctor-population-ratio" source="keywords">doctor-population ratio</keyword> in the country is 1:836, which is better than the <keyword id="20522854" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="WHO-standard" source="keywords">WHO standard</keyword> of 1:1000, Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel told the Lok Sabha on Friday. According to the information provided by the <keyword id="20039511" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="National-Medical-Commission" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="National Medical Commission" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="National Medical Commission">National Medical Commission</keyword> (NMC), there are 13,86,136 <keyword id="20522855" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="allopathic-doctors" source="keywords">allopathic doctors</keyword> registered with the State Medical Councils and the National Medical Commission (NMC) as on July, 2024, Patel said in a written reply. "Assuming 80% availability of registered allopathic doctors and around 5.65 lakh <keyword id="20522856" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AYUSH-doctors" source="keywords">AYUSH doctors</keyword>, the doctor-population ratio in the country is around 1:836 which is better than the WHO standard of 1:1000," Patel stated. She also said that there are 731 medical colleges in the country with an annual intake of 1,12,112 <keyword id="20585495" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="MBBS-seats" source="keywords">MBBS seats</keyword> as of now. Further, there are 72,627 <keyword id="22645227" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="PG-seats" source="keywords">PG seats</keyword> as of date, she said. Measures taken by the government to augment medical education facilities and to improve medical standards include <keyword id="22366985" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Centrally-Sponsored-Scheme" source="keywords">Centrally Sponsored Scheme</keyword> (CSS) for establishment of new medical colleges by upgrading district/referral hospitals, under which 157 new medical colleges have been approved and 109 are already functional. Under the CSS, medical colleges have been upgraded to increase the number of MBBS (UG) and PG seats. Support has been provided for an increase of 4,977 MBBS seats in 83 colleges with an approved cost of Rs 5,972.20 crore, 4,058 PG seats in phase-I in 72 colleges with an approved cost of Rs 1,498.43 crore and 4,000 PG seats in phase-II in 65 colleges with an approved cost of Rs 4,478.25 crore. Besides, under "upgradation of government medical colleges by construction of super specialty blocks" component of Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), 75 projects have been approved, of which 66 projects are complete. Under the Central Sector Scheme for setting up of new AIIMS, 22 AIIMS have been approved and undergraduate courses have started in 19 of these. Also, DNB qualification has been recognised for appointment as teaching faculty, to take care of shortage of faculty and there has been enhancement of age limit for appointment, extension or re-employment against posts of teachers/dean/principal/ director in medical colleges up to 70 years. <h2>Claims of Indians being unfit "extrapolated" </h2>Furthermore, Union Health Minister J P Nadda told the Lok Sabha today that WHO's recent report stating that half of India's adult population is physically unfit relied on data collected only from three states and one UT, and the results were extrapolated through a modelling technique indicating inbuilt methodological issues. Responding to a question, Nadda said the WHO defines 'sufficient physical activity' as 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activities per week (brisk walk, lifting light load etc.) or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity per week (running, digging, construction work, outdoor games etc.). The activity level so quantified is based on a self-reported response to questions about physical activity lasting at least for 10 minutes. The National NCD Monitoring Survey of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) 2020 has assessed, inter alia, physical activity amongst Indian adults and found that 58.7% had conformed to the WHO recommendations, Nadda told the Lok Sabha.

Doctor-population ratio in India better than WHO standard, says Govt

The government on Tuesday announced a new <keyword id="22514167" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="centrally-sponsored-scheme" source="keywords">centrally-sponsored scheme</keyword> for <keyword id="20374219" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="skilling" source="keywords">skilling</keyword> <keyword id="20305992" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="20-lakh" source="keywords">20 lakh</keyword> <keyword id="19916812" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="youth" source="keywords">youth</keyword> over the next five years. The announcement was made by Finance Minister <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> in the <keyword id="20387181" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Budget-2024-25" source="keywords">Union Budget 2024-25</keyword>. The minister said that model skilling loan scheme will be revised to facilitate loans up to Rs 7.5 lakh. As part of boosting skilling efforts, 1,000 ITIs will be upgraded on the hub-and-spoke model. Besides, the government will provide financial support for loans up to Rs 10 lakh for higher education in domestic institutions. Sitharaman said the new centrally-sponsored scheme for skilling in collaboration with states and industry will train 20 lakh youth over a period of five years. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/union-budget-2024-live-updates-finance-minister-nirmala-sitharaman-key-announcements-23-july/liveblog/111942008.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/union-budget-2024-live-updates-finance-minister-nirmala-sitharaman-key-announcements-23-july/liveblog/111942008.cms" target="_blank">Union Budget 2024 Live Updates: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to present her record seventh consecutive Budget today</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/expectations-from-union-budget-2024-25-how-will-this-budget-impact-you/articleshow/111946291.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/expectations-from-union-budget-2024-25-how-will-this-budget-impact-you/articleshow/111946291.cms" target="_blank">Union Budget 2024-25: How will this budget impact you?</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/heres-a-quick-overview-of-pm-modi-3-0-governments-first-budget-to-be-presented-by-fm-nirmala-sitharaman-today/articleshow/111944393.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/heres-a-quick-overview-of-pm-modi-3-0-governments-first-budget-to-be-presented-by-fm-nirmala-sitharaman-today/articleshow/111944393.cms" target="_blank">Here's a quick overview of PM Modi 3.0 government's first budget, to be presented by FM Nirmala Sitharaman today</a>

New centrally-sponsored scheme to skill 20 lakh youth over 5 years

<keyword id="19955404" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="finance" source="keywords">Finance</keyword> Minister <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nirmala-sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> presented the Union <keyword id="19936553" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="budget" source="keywords">Budget</keyword> 2024-25 on Tuesday, outlining a detailed financial roadmap aimed at driving economic growth and ensuring fiscal stability. The budget reveals a comprehensive picture of government revenues and expenditures, highlighting major <keyword id="20439675" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="allocations" source="keywords">allocations</keyword> to key <keyword id="20353247" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sectors" source="keywords">sectors</keyword> and <keyword id="19915334" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="schemes" source="keywords">schemes</keyword>. The <keyword id="19945274" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="revenue" source="keywords">revenue</keyword> to the government is generated from multiple sectors. Income tax contributes 19 per cent, borrowings and liabilities stand as the largest source at 27 per cent, and <keyword id="19951327" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gst" source="keywords">GST</keyword> along with other taxes accounts for 18 per cent. Corporation taxes contribute 17 per cent, followed by non-tax receipts at 9 per cent, customs at 4 per cent, excise duty at 5 per cent, and non-debt capital receipts at 1 per cent. On the <keyword id="19936655" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="expenditure" source="keywords">expenditure</keyword> side, the budget outlines significant allocations to various public sectors. Interest payments consume 19 per cent of the total expenditure, central sector schemes account for 16 per cent, and states' tax devolution takes up 21 per cent. Subsidies represent 6 per cent of the spending, while defence expenditures stand at 8 per cent. The Finance Commission and other transfers take up 9 per cent, centrally sponsored schemes another 8 per cent, pensions 4 per cent, and other expenses 9 per cent. In terms of sector-specific allocations, defence receives the highest allocation at Rs 4,54,773 crore. Rural development is allocated Rs 2,65,808 crore, reflecting the government's focus on boosting rural economies. Agriculture is set to receive Rs 1,51,851 crore, while home affairs are allocated Rs 1,50,983 crore, underscoring the importance of internal security. Education, a critical sector for future growth, is allocated Rs 1,25,638 crore. The IT and Telecom sector, pivotal for digital transformation, receives Rs 1,16,342 crore. Health is allocated Rs 89,287 crore, emphasising the ongoing commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure. The energy sector is earmarked Rs 68,769 crore, social welfare Rs 56,501 crore, and commerce and industry Rs 47,559 crore. The budget also highlights significant increases in allocations to major schemes. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) sees an increase from Rs 60,000 crore in FY23-24 to Rs 86,000 crore in FY24-25, aimed at enhancing rural employment. Nuclear power projects receive a boost from Rs 442 crore to Rs 2,228 crore, while the development of semiconductors sees a substantial increase from Rs 3,000 crore to Rs 6,900 crore, underscoring the push towards technological advancement. Direct Benefit Transfer for LPG is allocated Rs 1,500 crore, up from Rs 180 crore, to support energy access. Solar power allocation doubles from Rs 4,970 crore to Rs 10,000 crore, reflecting the government's commitment to renewable energy. This budget, with its detailed allocations and revenue plans, underscores the government's strategy to foster economic resilience, technological advancement, and sustainable growth.

Fund allocations to key sectors and schemes hiked in budget

The <keyword id="19897865" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="telangana-government" source="keywords">Telangana Government</keyword> on Tuesday requested the 16th <keyword id="20015455" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="finance-commission" source="keywords">Finance Commission</keyword> to increase the share of states in <keyword id="386992" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="central-taxes" source="Orion">Central taxes</keyword> from the existing 41 per cent to 50 per cent as over the years cesses and surcharges that are not shared with states have increased. Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of Finance <keyword id="21396591" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bhatti" source="keywords">Bhatti</keyword> Vikramarka in his speech at the meeting with Finance <keyword id="19933395" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="commission" source="keywords">Commission</keyword> Chairman <keyword id="20016026" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="arvind-panagariya" source="keywords">Arvind Panagariya</keyword> and members also urged the finance panel to ensure that states are given the necessary autonomy to tailor <keyword id="20109166" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="css" source="keywords">CSS</keyword> (centrally-sponsored scheme) programmes to their specific development needs. "In addition, we propose increasing the share of states in Central taxes from 41 per cent to 50 per cent. Over the years, cesses and surcharges that are not shared with states have increased, leaving states with a smaller share of total gross tax revenue," he said. Increasing the vertical devolution will give states the fiscal space they need to strengthen welfare programmes, address infrastructure gaps and prioritise local development, he further said. He, however, said it is not just a demand for <keyword id="19909031" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="telangana" source="keywords">Telangana</keyword> but for all states, ensuring a more cooperative federal structure that will benefit the nation as a whole. Bhatti further said the state government urges the Finance Commission to reconsider the use of per capita income distance as the primary indicator in determining horizontal devolution as measuring prosperity and well-being solely by per capita income would deny Telangana the resources needed to address the inequities that exist within the state. The state government is suggesting that the formula for horizontal devolution be modified to add at least a 50 per cent weightage to <keyword id="20149362" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gsdp" source="keywords">GSDP</keyword> (gross state domestic production) contribution. "A greater weight on GSDP would incentivise states to adopt reforms that improve productivity, attract investment and create jobs, ultimately contributing to the national economy. This approach would not only make states more competitive but also help reduce regional disparities, encouraging more balanced growth across the country," he opined. Pointing out that certain expenditures for schemes such as Rythu Bharosa, farm loan waivers and food subsidies are often mislabelled as "freebies," he urged the Commission to recognise these programmes as necessary investments in the welfare of our people. He mentioned that a large part of the state's resources is now being diverted toward debt servicing and hence requested the Finance Commission's support in either restructuring this debt or providing additional assistance to help free up resources for further development. The 16th Finance Commission, led by its chairman Arvind Panagariya, held meetings with several political parties, representatives of local bodies and industry chambers here on Monday as part of its visit to Telangana.

Telangana urges 16th Finance Commission to increase states' share in Central taxes to 50%

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/LuLaRoe/photos/a.1875986319094412.1073741845.552499618109762/1876022822424095/?type=3&amp;theater">Facebook/LuLaRoe</a>LuLaRoe has found itself at the center of a number of controversies.</div></div></div><ul><li>Four plaintiffs have filed a class-action law suit against LuLaRoe, saying that the company deceived them when it changed its buyback policy in September.</li><li>While some salespeople have found success with the company, others have amassed considerable debt.</li><li>The company continues to face controversy during a period of massive growth.</li></ul> Direct sales clothing brand LuLaRoe is no stranger to controversy. From <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/lularoe-refunds-customers-for-defective-leggings-2017-4">torn leggings</a> to salespeople who claim they were encouraged to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-much-money-lularoe-consultants-make-2017-8">incur massive debt</a>, the company has struggled to maintain its emphasis on community and self-empowerment during a period of massive growth. LuLaRoe is now facing a class-action lawsuit that alleges it misled its salespeople in what the <a href="http://www.haelaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Complaint-Dkt-1.pdf">plaintiffs are calling</a> a "pyramid scheme." The suit, which has four plaintiffs from across the US, alleges that the company deceived salespeople - who are called "consultants" - by telling them they could return unsold inventory for a full refund if they decided to leave the company. A sudden change to the policy in September <a href="http://www.lularoe.com/press">lowered the promised refund from 100% to 90%</a> of purchased inventory, with additional restrictions. According to Yahoo, <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/new-lularoe-lawsuit-calls-leggings-giant-pyramid-scheme-end-184529361.html">many consultants said</a> that they felt comfortable joining the company because of the buyback guarantee, thinking that they wouldn't face financial stress if they weren't able to sell as much clothing as they had hoped.The plaintiffs allege that in changing the rule, the company misled consultants who thought they would still be able to sell clothing with the 100% buyback guarantee. The suit was filed on October 13 in the US District Court for the Central District of California, and it accuses LuLaRoe on six counts of misconduct, including unfair business practices, misleading advertising, and breach of contract. Since it is a direct selling company, LuLaRoe does not offer its clothing through stores or a company website, but instead through consultants who must be referred by a current consultant and buy at least $5,000 worth of inventory to join the company. The consultants do not decide which items they will sell - their inventory is assigned by the company - and they often sell items through social media or online forums. Those who recruit new consultants and sell a sufficient amount of inventory are eligible to be promoted to a sponsor, trainer, coach, or mentor role, and they receive higher bonuses.The plaintiffs in the class-action suit describe this structure as a "pyramid scheme." LuLaRoe did not immediately return Business Insider's request for comment. The company told Yahoo that its operations are not problematic because compensation is based off of sales rather than the number of new salespeople a consultant recruits. But, the fact that one must recruit new salespeople to be eligible for certain bonuses, combined with the abruptly changed buyback policy, has made some skeptical.While LuLaRoe continues to count many satisfied customers and consultants among its ranks - the company <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/new-lularoe-lawsuit-calls-leggings-giant-pyramid-scheme-end-184529361.html">told Yahoo</a> that 90% of its retailers continue to work with them - its rapid growth has threatened its culture and business model.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BJszMUPgMr6/">Instagram/@lularoe</a>LuLaRoe's business has grown rapidly.</div></div></div>The company has been accused of encouraging consultants to amass debt and acquire as much inventory as possible in the past. "I was urged to stop paying my bills to invest in more inventory," one seller <a href="https://qz.com/1039331/mlms-like-avon-and-lularoe-are-sending-people-into-debt-and-psychological-crisis/">told Quartz</a> in August. "I was urged to get rid of television. I was urged to pawn my vehicle. I just had to get on anxiety meds over all of it because I've started having panic attacks."Those who have struggled to move inventory say that a substantial increase in sellers - from 2,000 in September 2015 to over 80,000 today - has created a level of competition that is much greater than they were led to believe when they joined the company. In March, Business Insider <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-much-money-lularoe-consultants-make-2017-8">found</a> that over 80% of LuLaRoe's consultants were not able to clear $5,000 in sales in the prior month, with the average monthly sales totaling $3,387.The company's defenders say that anyone who puts forth enough effort can become successful, and that those who believe otherwise simply aren't working hard enough.In a controversial webinar, CEO Mark Stidham - who joined the company after his wife, DeAnne, founded it - told consultants who complained about the quality of their inventory and their inability to sell it, "No, you're stale. Your customers are stale. Get out and find new customers. If you bring a new customer in, then your inventory isn't stale. The problem is, you try to sell to the same group of people day after day after day."Stidham has his defenders. One seller <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/lularoe-is-making-millennial-moms-rich-2016-9">profiled</a> in Business Insider in September 2016, Alexandra Laigle, was able to pay off her student loans and allocate savings for her children's future college expenses. "It has completely changed my life," she said. "My entire family is outfitted in the product. All my friends have heard me go on about it. It's my life." <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ian-schrager-public-hotel-kill-airbnb-luxury-for-all-les-nyc-studio-54-retail-travel-2017-10">The man who co-created the legendary club Studio 54 built a massive luxury hotel that's trying to kill Airbnb</a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

LuLaRoe is facing a class-action lawsuit from consultants who call it a 'pyramid scheme'

The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment has been allocated Rs 13,539 crore in the 2024-2025 budget, an increase of 37 per cent from the 2023-2024 revised estimates of Rs 9,853.32 crore. This increase is primarily focused on enhancing <keyword id="20312810" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="welfare-programmes" source="keywords">welfare programmes</keyword> for <keyword id="21384605" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="marginalised-communities" source="keywords">marginalised communities</keyword> and improving infrastructure for social services. The key areas of funding include Rs 9,549.98 crore for the 'Umbrella Scheme for Development of Scheduled Castes', a significant increase from the Rs 6,780 crore in the previous financial year. For achieving social justice comprehensively, the saturation approach of covering all eligible people through various programmes, including those for education and health, will be adopted, Finance Minister <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> said on Tuesday while presenting the 2024-25 Union Budget in Parliament. She said to ensure <keyword id="22517725" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="inclusive-human-resource-development" source="keywords">inclusive human resource development</keyword>, a social justice saturation approach will be adopted. Social justice through the saturation approach refers to a strategy where the government aims to ensure that all eligible individuals are covered by various programmes and initiatives. The department has been allocated Rs 2,150 crore for the 'Umbrella Programme for Development of Other Vulnerable Groups' and Rs 314 crore for the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction. The establishment expenditure of Rs 145.80 crore for the central administration includes allocations for the secretariat and national commissions. The amount is a slight decrease from the previous year's Rs 152.60 crore. The National Commission for Scheduled Castes has been allocated Rs 38 crore and the National Commission for Backward Classes Rs 21 crore. The budget of the Development and Welfare Board for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities remains at Rs 5 crore. Central sector schemes and projects are among the focus areas of this budget, with the <keyword id="22517726" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="scholarships-for-higher-education" source="keywords">Scholarships for Higher Education</keyword> for Young Achievers Scheme for Scheduled Castes being allocated Rs 428 crore. This scheme encompasses various sub-schemes, including the National Fellowship for SCs, Free Coaching for SCs and OBCs, Top Class Education for SCs and the National Overseas Scholarship for SCs. The Scheme of Residential Education for Students in High School in Targeted Areas for SCs has been allocated Rs 133.07 crore. The department also prioritises <keyword id="22024434" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="economic-assistance" source="keywords">economic assistance</keyword> and <keyword id="20068989" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="skill-development" source="keywords">skill development</keyword> through initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi Yojana -- that has been allocated Rs 130 crore -- and the <keyword id="20245482" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="venture-capital-fund" source="keywords">Venture Capital Fund</keyword> for SCs and OBCs -- that has bee allocated Rs 50 crore. Additionally, the Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers, which previously had allocations, does not feature in the current budget, indicating a possible reallocation of funds or a change in strategy. Support for marginalised individuals, particularly through the Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise programme, which includes comprehensive rehabilitation for persons engaged in begging and welfare of transgender persons, has been allocated Rs 98.46 crore. This marks a substantial increase from the previous year's Rs 32.82 crore, highlighting a growing commitment to addressing these vulnerable groups' needs. Transfers to states and Union Territories under centrally sponsored schemes form a major part of the budget.

Budget: Rs 13,539 cr allocated to social justice department, 37% higher than last year

The government will provide financial support for <keyword id="19936324" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="loans" source="keywords">loans</keyword> up to Rs 10 lakh for <keyword id="19896809" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="higher-education" source="keywords">higher education</keyword> in domestic institutions, <keyword id="20385790" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Finance-Minister" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Union Finance Minister" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Union Finance Minister">Union Finance Minister</keyword> <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Nirmala Sitharaman" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Nirmala Sitharaman">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> announced on Tuesday. Presenting the <keyword id="19936553" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="budget" source="keywords">budget</keyword> for 2024-25, she said e-vouchers for this purpose will be given directly to one lakh students every year with interest subvention of 3 per cent of the loan amount. Upgrading 1,000 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in hub and spoke model, aligning course content with skill needs of industry and revision of model skill loan scheme, are among the measures announced by the Finance Minister for Skill Development sector. "For helping our youth who have not been eligible for any benefit under govt schemes and policies government will provide financial support for loans up to Rs 10 lakh for higher education in domestic institutions. E-vouchers for this purpose will be given directly to one lakh students every year with interest subvention of 3 per cent of the loan amount," Sitharaman said. The Union Budget for 2024-25 will provide Rs 1.48 lakh crore for education, employment and skilling in the country. She said, "1,000 ITIs will be upgraded in hub and spoke model, course content and design will be aligned to the skill needs of industry and new courses will be introduced for emerging needs. I am happy to announce a new centrally sponsored scheme for skill development in which 20 lakh youth will be skilled over period of 5 years". "The model skill loan scheme will be revised to facilitate loans up to RS 7.5 lakh with a guarantee from government promoted fund..this measure is expected to help 25,000 students every year," she added. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/union-budget-2024-live-updates-finance-minister-nirmala-sitharaman-key-announcements-23-july/liveblog/111942008.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/union-budget-2024-live-updates-finance-minister-nirmala-sitharaman-key-announcements-23-july/liveblog/111942008.cms" target="_blank">Union Budget 2024 Live Updates: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to present her record seventh consecutive Budget today</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/expectations-from-union-budget-2024-25-how-will-this-budget-impact-you/articleshow/111946291.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/expectations-from-union-budget-2024-25-how-will-this-budget-impact-you/articleshow/111946291.cms" target="_blank">Union Budget 2024-25: How will this budget impact you?</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/heres-a-quick-overview-of-pm-modi-3-0-governments-first-budget-to-be-presented-by-fm-nirmala-sitharaman-today/articleshow/111944393.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/heres-a-quick-overview-of-pm-modi-3-0-governments-first-budget-to-be-presented-by-fm-nirmala-sitharaman-today/articleshow/111944393.cms" target="_blank">Here's a quick overview of PM Modi 3.0 government's first budget, to be presented by FM Nirmala Sitharaman today</a>

Budget 2024-25: Govt announces loans up to ₹10 lakh for higher education in domestic institutions

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The three people on the hook for George Santos's $500,000 are anonymous in court filings.</li><li>"That is information you'll never get," Santos said when asked about their identities.</li></ul>A member of Congress isn't in jail and we don't know why.Last month, federal prosecutors in New York brought a 13-count indictment against Rep. George Santos, a Republican who represents part of Long Island.<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/case-against-george-santos-slam-dunk-legal-experts-say-2023-5">According to charging documents</a>, Santos personally stole donations to his campaign operation, illegally took pandemic employment funds, and lied to Congress on financial forms.Instead of keeping Santos in jail until his criminal trial, a judge allowed him to be released on a $500,000 bond.Three people, under the judge's terms, would guarantee that bail amount — meaning they'd be on the hook for all that cash if Santos broke his bond conditions by failing to show up in court or traveling outside of New York and Washington, DC.In other words, a member of a closely-divided House of Representatives owes his freedom to three people.Who are they? Their identities, bizarrely, remain secret.But I have a pretty good theory.There's a very strong chance that one person putting up the money — directly or indirectly — is the jailed exiled Chinese billionaire tycoon Guo Wengui.<h2>Even Ghislaine Maxwell and SBF didn't get this kind of secrecy</h2>Santos certainly doesn't want us to know who these bond sponsors are. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vSf_1Q6aZw">Speaking to members of the media</a> outside the federal court in Central Islip <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/george-santos-in-custody-faces-20-years-prison-charges-2023-5">after he entered his not-guilty plea</a>, the congressman said we would "never" find out the identities of the three sureties."That is information you'll never get," he said. "Because your intention is to go harass them and make their life miserable. You're not getting that."In court proceedings, the identities of the sponsors <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/george-santos-bond-guarantors-secret-after-indictment-2023-5">have been shrouded in extraordinary secrecy</a>.The bond documents, which are supposed to include their names, have not been publicly filed. The court held a secret hearing with the sureties, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/george-santos-bond-guarantors-secret-after-indictment-2023-5">according to a filing from the New York Times</a>. We don't even know the explanation from prosecutors and Santos's defense attorneys behind any arguments to keep the documents sealed. No indication of sealed documents or hearings even appear on the public docket.Insider — along with a group of other news organizations — have asked US District Judge Joanna Seybert, who is now overseeing the case, <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23828361-us-v-santos-23-cv-197-unsealing-request-by-news-organizations">to unseal all records related to the bond sponsors</a> (as has the Times, in a separate application). The decision to keep these documents sealed, Jeremy A. Chase and Alexandra Settelmayer at the law firm Davis Wright Tremaine LLP wrote in the filing, is totally out of step with the public's presumption of access to judicial documents. It's particularly important in a case like this, where Santos is an elected official and must make financial disclosures to Congress."Rep. Santos has been criminally charged with fraud that directly relates to his role as an elected official in Congress, eroding public confidence in our government institutions and political leaders," they wrote. "Given Rep. Santos' role as a public servant, access to the identity of the bond sureties will bolster trust in the judicial process here."<div type="image" title="george santos court" height="1665" width="2221" msid="100686988" hostid="261" sizebytes="268496"></div>There's little precedent for this secrecy. Earlier this year, lawyers for Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of now-bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX, <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/sam-bankman-fried-ftx-judge-bail-guarantors-confidential-bankruptcy-court-2023-1?_gl=1*17frtvu*_ga*MTcwMzczMDQzOC4xNjY4MDkxNDMz*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTY4NTY0MDEzMy4xNDg0LjEuMTY4NTY0MDMyMS41Mi4wLjA.">fought to keep</a> the identities of the two sponsors of his mammoth $250 million bond package under seal. The arguments in that case, at least, were filed on the public docket — Bankman-Fried's lawyers were concerned they'd be harassed by members of the media and the public.The judge overseeing his case <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sam-bankman-fried-bail-sponsors-revealed-former-stanford-law-dean-2023-2">sided with Insider and other media organizations</a> and unsealed bond records, revealing their identities. (Bankman-Fried's bond guarantors are Larry Kramer and Andreas Paepcke — both have ties to Stanford University, which employs his parents.)"The non-parental bail sureties have entered voluntarily into a highly publicized criminal proceeding by signing the individual bonds," <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sam-bankman-fried-bail-sponsors-should-be-public-judge-says-2023-1">US District Judge Lewis Kaplan wrote in the decision</a>.Even the identities of the people who offered to post bail for Ghislaine Maxwell, the associate of Jeffrey Epstein who was ultimately convicted of trafficking girls to him for sex, were made public in court documents."The unique stigma of association with Epstein, Maxwell, and their ring of pedophilia, sexual abuse of minors, and sex trafficking no doubt animated the Court's decision to permit the names of those proposing to post her bail — which was ultimately denied — to be kept a secret," lawyers for media organizations wrote in the filing for the Santos case. "None of these concerns are present here. While Rep. Santos is accused of serious financial crimes, a public association with him does not carry nearly the same stigma as with the Jeffrey Epstein child sex trafficking scandal."<h2>Santos sure likes Guo Wengui</h2>Around the same time Santos was indicted, and shortly before he needed the bail money, he apparently picked up an interest in a very rich person: Guo Wengui.More specifically, he developed an interest in Guo's own bail problems.Federal prosecutors <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guo-wengui-steve-bannon-ally-arrested-charged-fraud-scheme-2023-3">brought an indictment against Guo in March</a>, accusing him of running a complicated billion-dollar fraud scheme that stole money from his political supporters.From his Manhattan penthouse, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guo-wengui-chinese-billionaire-ties-steve-bannon-arrested-fbi-arrested-2023-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Guo had cut a complicated figure</a> situated in the middle of relations between the United States and China, which he left in 2014.Guo claimed to be exiled from his home in China for blowing the whistle on corruption, and has fashioned himself as a patron of right-wing rabble-rousers, including Steve Bannon (<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/steve-bannons-we-build-the-wall-officially-a-zombie-charity-2023-2">who himself is under indictment</a> for allegations that he oversaw a fraud scheme that stole money from political supporters). Forbes <a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/guo-wengui/?sh=4a51866226e9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">calculated his net worth to be $1.1 billion in 2015</a>, and more recent media reports have <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/30/us/guo-wengui-china.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">referred to him as a billionaire</a>. <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinese-tycoon-holed-up-in-manhattan-hotel-is-accused-of-spying-for-beijing-11563810726">Some experts believe</a> <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/10/24/how-a-tycoon-linked-to-chinese-intelligence-became-a-darling-of-trump-republicans">Guo may be a spy for China</a>.<div type="image" title="guo wengui steve bannon" height="1666" width="2223" msid="100686990" hostid="261" sizebytes="118022"></div>One of Guo's and Bannon's projects is the New Federal State of China, which purports to be a government in exile that will take over China once the Chinese Communist Party is overthrown. Prosecutors allege Guo illegally took money from the Rule of Law Foundation and the Rule of Law Society, two nonprofits he founded that have similar policy objectives. (Guo and Bannon have both pleaded not guilty in their respective cases.)The judge overseeing Guo's case denied giving him bail, siding with prosecutors who argued he was a flight risk because of his vast wealth, ties abroad, and connections to powerful people.This upset, of all people, <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=guo%20(from%3Asantos4congress)&amp;src=typed_query">a certain member of Congress representing a sliver of Long Island</a>."Miles Guo has been detained since March 15 without bail? The #CCP corruption runs deep," Santos tweeted on May 4, using another one of <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/ho-wan-kwok-aka-miles-guo-arrested-orchestrating-over-1-billion-dollar-fraud-conspiracy">Guo's many names</a>. (An affinity for using multiple names, which are variations of each other, is something Guo shares with George Anthony Devolder Santos.)"Miles Guo is a political prisoner of the CCP inside the United States," Santos said in a tweet two days later. "Let that sink in."The next week, Santos was in custody himself, for his own alleged fraud scheme.Waiting outside court, in Santos's posse, was Cait Corrigan, a failed Republican congressional candidate and <a href="https://twitter.com/iamcaitcorrigan/status/1655740108304203777">another supporter of Guo</a>.There were also a number of other unidentified individuals who appeared to be affiliated with the New Federal State of China movement, including one who appeared to wear a pin with the movement's logo.Santos didn't respond to Insider's request for comment, and his attorney Joe Murray declined to comment.Attorneys representing Guo didn't respond to a request for comment, either.Santos doesn't have many other deep-pocketed supporters, particularly none with a high tolerance for risk.Even before prosecutors accused him of bilking money from donors, he had trouble raising funds following media reports revealing he was a serial fabulist, <a href="https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/guide-george-santos-lies.html">lying about everything</a> from his education to his mother's death. An <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/15/nyregion/george-santos-campaign-donations.html">April financial disclosure</a> indicated he returned more than $8,000 in donor contributions, which exceeded the $5,300 he raised in the year's first quarter.In contrast, a Republican member of Congress in a neighboring district raised more than $500,000 from individual donors and political action funds, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/15/nyregion/george-santos-campaign-donations.html">according to the New York Times</a>.So, is Guo one of Santos's bail sponsors? Someone else from the New Federal State of China movement using his money?We may find out for sure soon.The judge set a deadline of Friday for Santos and the Justice Department to respond to the applications made by media organizations to unseal the identities of the three bail sponsors.

Is indicted Chinese billionaire tycoon Guo Wengui secretly bankrolling George Santos's bail?

<keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> has embraced technology in every field of activity. It is adopting smart farming methods through technology and innovation in the agriculture sector and this may prove to be a game changer in the days to come by substantially raising farmers income. How is this method beneficial? Smart farming involves the application of sensors and automated irrigation practices. It can help monitor agricultural land, temperature and soil moisture. This would enable farmers to monitor crops from anywhere. Moreover, smart farming can help integrate digital and physical infrastructures, which would benefit small farmers. Agri-based startups can reach out to the farmers and help them gain access to such viable and cost-effective solutions. Agri-based, tech-driven startups have been very innovative in assisting farmers and revolutionising farming techniques. They have also addressed one of the most powerful headwinds (climate change) through climate-smart farming. In a unique move, the Indian government is implementing a <keyword id="12166469" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Digital-Agriculture-Mission" source="Orion">Digital Agriculture Mission</keyword> (DAM), which includes India Digital Ecosystem of Agriculture (IDEA), Farmers' Database, Unified Farmers Service Interface (UFSI), funding to the states on the new technology (NeGPA), revamping <keyword id="3182679" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mahalanobis-National-Crop-Forecast-Centre" source="Orion">Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre</keyword> (MNCFC), Soil Health, Fertility and profile mapping. According to a report published by the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) in 2019, there were more than 450 argi-based tech-driven startups in India as of 2019. This number has skyrocketed in the last two years as the sector witnessed a surge in investments and funding. Agri-based tech-driven startups have been very innovative in assisting farmers and revolutionising farming techniques. They have also addressed one of the most powerful headwinds (climate change) through climate-smart farming. Under the NeGPA programme funding is given to the governments in various Indian states for Digital Agriculture projects using emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Internet of Things (IOT), Block chain etc. Adoption of drone technologies is being done too. To promote smart farming, the government promotes startups in the agriculture sector and nurtures agri-entrepreneurs. The 'Per Drop More Crop' component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sichai Yojana (PMKSY-PDMC) aims to increase water use efficiency at the farm level through micro irrigation technologies like drip and sprinkler irrigation systems. PMKSY is a scheme initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The <keyword id="87560" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Council-of-Agricultural-Research" source="Orion">Indian Council of Agricultural Research</keyword> (ICAR) promotes innovation, extension and education in agriculture. A total of 1,575 field crop varieties were released for different agricultural crops during 2014-21. During 2014-21, 91.43 crore agri-advisories were provided to farmers through mobiles. ICAR developed 187 mobile apps on different farm and farmer related services during 2014-21. The agriculture sector plays a vital role in enriching India's economy. Agriculture accounted for almost 17.8 per cent of India's Gross Value Added (GVA) in 2019- 20. According to the World Bank's collection of development indicators, employment rate in the Indian agriculture sector stood at 41.5 per cent in 2020. From a socio-economic standpoint, agriculture is a vital sector which requires focus and awareness at all levels. According to India Brand Equity Foundation, the rising population and changing diets have created a huge pressure on land in India. Farmers are struggling to keep up as crop yields level off, soil degradation rises, water shortage increases, biodiversity declines, and natural calamities become more frequent. Furthermore, agriculture accounts for almost 14 per cent of India's total greenhouse gas emissions. In the meantime, the NITI Aayog (erstwhile Planning Commission of India) conducted a study entitled "Efficacy of Minimum Support Prices on farmers", in 2016, which found, among other things, that MSP declared by the government has encouraged 78 per cent of the farmers covered under the study for adopting improved methods of farming such as high yielding varieties of seeds, organic manure, chemical fertilizer, pesticides and improved methods of harvesting etc. Additionally, oilseeds, pulses and copra of Fair Average Quality (FAQ) are procured from registered farmers under Price Support Scheme of the umbrella scheme of Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA), as per its prescribed guidelines. The Indian national Budget for 2018-19 had announced the pre-determined principle to keep Minimum Support Price or MSP at levels of one-and-half times of the cost of production. Accordingly, government has increased the MSPs for all mandated Kharif (including wheat), Rabi and other commercial crops with a return of at least 50 per cent over all India weighted average cost of production from the agricultural year 2018-19. Moreover, India's National Crop Insurance Portal (NCIP) is the only source of enrolment for Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), on which farmer applications from various designated sources including banks/financial institutions are entered. Specific cut-off dates have been prescribed for enrolment of farmers, debit of premium, remittance of farmers' premium to concerned insurance company and uploading of data of farmers on NCIP. The <keyword id="603825" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ministry-of-Food-Processing-Industries" source="Orion">Ministry of Food Processing Industries</keyword> (MoFPI) has been incentivising setting of food processing industries through central sector umbrella scheme �Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY), Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI) and centrally sponsored scheme �PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme across all the country. Under scheme of creation of infrastructure for agro processing clusters, a component scheme of PMKSY, the scheme is aimed at development of modern infrastructure and common facilities to encourage entrepreneurs to set up food processing units based on cluster approach and also to create modern infrastructure for food processing closer to production areas and to provide integrated and complete preservation infrastructure facilitates from the farm gate to the consumer. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/india-must-pitch-for-rupee-as-dollar-distancing-might-be-finally-happening-sbi-ecowrap/articleshow/93513940.cms">India must pitch for Rupee as dollar distancing might be finally happening: SBI Ecowrap</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/snapchat-comes-to-india-with-exclusive-features-heres-how-much-it-costs-and-how-to-sign-up/articleshow/93513880.cms">Snapchat+ comes to India with exclusive features — here's how much it costs and how to sign up</a>

Smart farming can prove to be a game changer in the coming days

January 17 was a historic day for China. After decades of styling itself as a powerhouse of unfettered growth, the country revealed that its population had declined for the first time since the 1960s.And with life expectancy rising and birthrates sinking to record lows even after ending the one-child policy in 2016, China's 1.4 billion population isn't just shrinking — it's also aging, fast.This landmark moment signifies a monumental shift in how China must chart its future. Left unchecked, an aging population presents crises on multiple fronts: The country will have more elderly people in need of healthcare, and at the same time fewer and fewer working age adults to drive the very economy that funds this care.China is also dealing with aging on an unprecedented scale. By 2040, it's expected to have 400 million people above the age of 60 — more people than in the entire US. The country's leadership knows it has to quickly sow the seeds for an effective system down the road. In March, Beijing <a href="https://english.www.gov.cn/news/topnews/202203/02/content_WS621ea784c6d09c94e48a5b80.html#:~:text=BEIJING%20%E2%80%94%20China%20has%20released%20a,of%20the%20country's%20aging%20population." target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced a five-year plan — its broad vision — to tackle aged care</a>. Individual counties, fretting about their falling marriage rates, are trialing a <a href="https://www.insider.com/china-operation-warm-beds-declining-marriages-sparks-social-media-storm-2021-10">bevy of creative strategies to coax couples into marrying and having children</a>.On the wider scale, China's response as a nation has been lagging. Recent policies to bolster birth rates were enacted too late, and government-sponsored aged care can't even cope with today's demand, experts on China told Insider.Five professors who specialize in studying China's population and economy helped Insider break down the nation's race against time.<h2>A national insurance scheme is currently in trial stage</h2>As the only developing nation in the world growing old before it gets rich, China needs to figure out how to pay for elderly care.But there are no easy, one-step solutions for China's aging problem, said Sabrina Luk, an assistant professor in public policy and global affairs at the Nanyang Technological University of Singapore.China is currently trialing a national insurance scheme that specifically covers care for older people with long-term needs, like patients who suffer from dementia or have diabetes. In the pilot program are 15 cities, such as Chengdu, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, said Luk, who's written two studies on aging in China.It's up to each city to decide how it funds the scheme, who gets benefits, and what kind of care they receive.Most of these cities pay for treatment by taking funds from mandatory insurance programs that people have been putting money into for years. In China, if you're a working adult in a city, you're required by law to pay for health insurance.These insurance programs usually lump contributions into one big pool, and cover workers even after they've stopped working, meaning a retiree can get medical care even if they've stopped paying a premium.But if China is progressively getting older while having fewer working age adults, demand for age care insurance will skyrocket even as the number of people contributing to the programs shrinks, Luk said.<div type="image" title="A care manager or &quot;nursing housekeeper&quot;, accompanies a 92-year-old who lives in their own home to a hospital in Beijing." height="2736" width="3648" msid="98084830" hostid="261" sizebytes="826060"></div>And elder care is expensive — usually three times higher than healthcare for younger generations, she added."It's obvious that relying on contributions from medical insurance schemes to fund age care services is not likely to be viable in the longer term," she said.<h2>Cracks in the insurance scheme are already showing</h2>Even this early, the cracks are starting to show, said Luk.Some cities already have deficits in their shared insurance pools, estimated to total $100 billion nationwide in 2024, said Luk. There also aren't enough facilities that accept the new scheme, nor is there enough staff under the program to take care of older folks, she added.Professor David Goodman, the director of the China Studies Centre at the University of Sydney, said local governments in poorer regions will especially struggle to keep up with expenses, in a country where wealth and urbanization rates can vary drastically. In Beijing, <a href="https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2022/April" target="_blank" rel="noopener">China's richest province, GDP per capita was $28,517 in 2021, compared to $6,362 in Gansu, China's poorest province</a>."I can imagine that some richer cities will be able to do this, and actually will be able to do quite a lot of philanthropy too," Goodman said. "But I think one thing is certain — it won't be common prosperity. It can't be."<div type="image" title="An elder views family photos at the village nursing home in Checheng Village of Ji County, north China's Shanxi Province, Nov. 17, 2015." height="2316" width="3088" msid="98084839" hostid="261" sizebytes="275584"></div><h2>Aging at home — the ultimate aim</h2>Like in the US, China's main aim is to let people grow old in their own homes, and keep them out of nursing homes and assisted living facilities where possible, said Gu Qingyang, an associate professor of economics at the National University of Singapore."China is trying to establish day care centers, where people can return to their homes and be cared for by their children at night," said Gu.That's the goal for aging people anywhere in the world, said Stuart Gietel-Basten, a professor of social science and public policy at Abu Dhabi's Khalifa University, whose research covers demographics in China."You want to age in place. You want to get older in your own home and to stay in your own home for as long as possible," said Gietel-Basten.<div type="image" title="Old men in China trade their birds at a morning market." height="3435" width="5000" msid="98084843" hostid="261" sizebytes="625840"></div>It's a particularly effective solution for poorer seniors in rural China, <a href="https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202207/28/WS62e1f59fa310fd2b29e6ee25.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">where a typical resident makes $2,700 a year</a> and pensions are too small to buy longterm medical care.For example, an elderly farmer who's worked physical labor for most of their life and is in good health can sustain themselves for many years with a supportive community, Gietel-Basten said."The problem comes if you've got some kind of chronic, long-term illness. By that stage, it's very difficult to access complex health and social care services in the middle of nowhere and sparse populations," he added.Alzheimer's is quickly rising as a concern in China, Luk said. The country recorded around <a href="https://gpsych.bmj.com/content/gpsych/35/1/e100751.full.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">15 million people with dementia in 2022</a>, the most in the world."Dementia in China in 2030 is estimated to represent about 10% of the forecasted $1.1 trillion global cost in 2030," Luk said.China's National Health Commission launched a national dementia strategy in 2020 to bolster services for Alzheimer's patients under its "Healthy China Action Plan." But it's yet to produce any significant results, Luk said. "In the context of China, many people with dementia and their caregivers still cannot obtain the support they need," she said.With years still left on the clock, China can also cut down on the burden by teaching its people to adopt habits that will help them age healthily, like cutting down on drinking, quitting smoking, and exercising regularly, Luk said."Whelping older adults to thrive is actually helping them to achieve healthy aging," Luk said. "Without a healthy body, people can't do the things they want and enjoy life.""It's not just about adding years to life," she said, "It's also about adding life to years."<div type="image" title="An elderly woman suffering from dementia is given a doll to help her remember her past." height="2016" width="3000" msid="98084847" hostid="261" sizebytes="317192"></div><h2>One proposed solution: outsource to the private sector</h2>Still, even if China isn't achieving widespread success with age care yet, it's got a fighting chance at finding stability over the next few decades, several experts told Insider."Is China aging rapidly? No doubt. On the flip side, it's got a lot of positives," said Gietel-Basten.The government's one-party system allows it to pivot quickly and implement sweeping changes, compared to democracies where the keys to power can change hands every few years, he said.But it's not yet clear if the central government will decide to harness that power and go all-out with a push to bolster age care services — like Beijing did with its sweeping zero-COVID campaign that locked down hundreds of millions and stifled businesses for years."It will likely happen if the middle class creates a tipping point, where there is so much unanswered demand for age care that local governments say: 'Okay, it's time we did something,'" said Goodman, the China Studies Centre director.On the other hand, it may not need a drastic, nationwide campaign.Beijing has been pressuring the private sector into building daycare centers, wards, and other age care infrastructure to shore up gaps in local government finances, Gu said.Chinese corporate giants like Alibaba, Tencent, and Geely Automobile, compelled by Xi Jinping's administration to share their wealth, have pledged billions to "common prosperity funds."<div type="image" title="Senior citizens read books at a community-based day-care center in Hanshou County, central China's Hunan Province, July 20, 2022. Hanshou in recent years has set up community-based day-care centers for elderly people, providing a variety of leisure activities, health care and catering service to meet the need of senior citizens." height="3712" width="5568" msid="98084851" hostid="261" sizebytes="2554050"></div><h2>Another proposed solution: rely on migrant labor</h2>An option for China could be to rely on migrant labor, pulling in foreign workers on short-term contracts to work in factories, care for the elderly, and even raise crops — like Taiwan and South Korea did in the 1990s, said Carl Minzner, a senior fellow for China studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.Yet China has few foreigners compared to the rest of east Asia, and Xi has been closing the door to China, rather than opening it, to the rest of the world, Minzner said."Naturally, this is where some will vaguely gesture in the direction of technology or robotics as a magic wand that will allow Beijing to surmount these challenges," Minzner said. But aging countries like Japan and South Korea are far wealthier than China, and still are relying on migrant labor instead of fancy tech solutions, Minzner said."Why should China be any different?" he said.

China has to figure out how to care for 400 million people over the age of 60 by 2040 — and it's off to a rocky start

The <keyword id="499463" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Ministry-of-Road-Transport-and-Highways" source="Orion">Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways</keyword> (<keyword id="375113" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="morth" source="Orion">MoRTH</keyword>) is all set to roll out a new ₹7,270 crore <keyword id="12179033" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="State-Support-Programme" source="Orion">State Support Programme</keyword> for Strengthening <keyword id="87280" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Road-Safety" source="Orion">Road Safety</keyword> to help realise the vision of 'Zero road fatalities on Indian roads.' The centrally-sponsored six-year programme will be implemented in 14 states that are now contributing to 85 per cent of the total road fatalities in the country. While MoRTH will lend a budgetary support of Rs 3,635 crore, an amount of Rs 1,818 crore will be secured as loan each from the World Bank and the <keyword id="50190" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Asian-Development-Bank" source="Orion">Asian Development Bank</keyword>. Of the total cost, Rs 6,725 crore will be disbursed to the 14 states based on their performance while MoRTH will use Rs 545 crore for capacity building activities. The scheme will incentivise state governments to drive road safety interventions at the grassroots level with the main objective of curbing road accidents and achieving a reduction in fatalities, the MoRTH said in a concept note circulated to the target states. The target states under the scheme are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Bihar, Telangana, West Bengal, Odisha, Haryana and Assam. "This is an output and outcome-driven scheme wherein the performance of the states will be assessed on 11 mandatory and three elective indicators (road safety interventions). The grants will be distributed to the states based on the Key Performance Indicators," top official sources told PTI. The preliminary project report prepared by MoRTH says the Motor Vehicle Amendment Act (2019) was brought in as an important intervention to achieve the fatality reduction target. "To leverage the strengthened law, it is necessary to have focused interventions in the related areas of road safety like road engineering, enforcement, road safety advocacy and media campaigns and efficient emergency response systems. The states need to be supported to act on result-oriented strategies. Hence the new scheme," the sources said. India reported about 1.51 lakh road deaths in 4.49 lakh accidents in the year 2019. Of the total deaths, the 14 identified states accounted for 1,27,379. The number of fatalities remained consistent over the last five years. In 2020, 1.32 lakh road deaths were recorded across the country, with the Covid-19-induced lockdown resulting in the reduction in number. The new scheme targets to reduce the fatality rate by 30 per cent by March 2027. Cyclists, two and three-wheeler riders and pedestrians have been identified as 'vulnerable road users' who comprised about 54 per cent of road traffic deaths in India. Under the new scheme, performance-based indicators have been proposed with the aim of reducing the impact of road accidents on these vulnerable users. An Integrated Road Accident Database (IRAD) will be rolled out in all states by 2022-23 and applied for identifying and rectifying all black spots on state highways and major district roads. Road safety audit will be made mandatory on state highways and urban roads by the end of the scheme period. From 2022-23, MoRTH will launch a 'Challenge Round' every year to provide incentives to states on additional road safety interventions and also to promote competition among states. "The grant of Rs 7,270 crore will only meet partial fund requirement for the scheme. States are expected to make their own budgetary allocations and also implement projects in Public-Private Partnership mode," MoRTH told the states. Independent Verification Agencies will scrutinise the states' achievements, based on which the Central grant will be released. Some of the other major interventions mooted under the scheme are: Installation of speed management devices on urban roads in cities with a population of over four lakh, state highways and national highways for increased enforcement, a unique number for reporting accidents, development of dedicated lanes for two-wheelers on state highways and urban roads and identification of priority corridors. State Education Boards will be required to introduce a chapter on road safety for classes 6-9 in 2022-23 and up to class-12 the next year on. Deployment of Advance Traffic Management System, campaigns on vehicle safety and driver training, establishment of a Command and Control (Data) Centre for ambulances, establishment of automated vehicle fitness centres are some of the other initiatives planned under the scheme. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/highlights-of-prime-minister-narendra-modis-speech-at-the-unga-today/articleshow/86510462.cms">Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi makes his points on China, Afghanistan and Pakistan at the United Nations General Assembly</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/personalities/freshworks-ceo-girish-mathrubootham-shares-someone-said-i-will-be-nothing-but-a-rickshaw-puller/articleshow/86507840.cms">WATCH: "Someone said I am good enough to be a rickshaw puller," shares Freshworks CEO Girish Mathrubootham in a candid chat</a>

Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to roll out ₹7,270 crore support programme for 14 states

New Delhi, Apr 19 () More than Rs 36,659 crore has been transferred to the bank accounts of 16.01 crore beneficiaries using direct benefit transfer (DBT) between March 24 and April 17 during the lockdown, the finance ministry said on Sunday. The cash amount has been transferred by using Controller General of Accounts' (CGA) digital payments technology Public Financial Management System (PFMS) under Central Schemes (CS) and Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS). DBT ensures that the cash benefit is directly credited into the account of the beneficiary, eliminates leakage and improves efficiency. "More than Rs 36,659 crore has been transferred by using Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) through the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) in the bank accounts of 16.01 crore beneficiaries by the Controller General of Accounts (CGA) office during COVID-19 lockdown," the ministry said in a statement. Of the Rs 36,659 crore, Rs 27,442 crore has been transferred under CSS and CS and Rs 9,717 by various state governments for its welfare schemes. Between March 24 and April 17, the DBT payments under all the central sector/centrally sponsored schemes through PFMS amounted to Rs 27,442.08 crore in the accounts of 11.42 crore beneficiaries through schemes like PM-KISAN, Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), National Social Assistance Program (NSAP), Prime Minster's Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), National Health Mission (NHM), scholarship schemes of various ministries through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). Besides, states like UP, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Tripura, Maharashtra, Jammu &amp; Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh have used DBT to transfer cash in the bank accounts. Through 180 welfare schemes, the state governments using PFMS have disbursed to 4.59 crore beneficiaries, an amount of Rs 9,217.22 crore between March 24 and April 17. Apart from above mentioned schemes, payments were also made under the PM Garib Kalyan Yojana, Rs 500 was credited in the women account holder of Jan Dhan accounts. Till April 13, the total number of women beneficiaries stood at 19.86 crore, which resulted in disbursement of Rs 9,930 crore. A total of Rs 17,733 crore has been paid under PM-KISAN to 8.43 crore beneficiaries, while Rs 5,406 crore has been disbursed under MGNREGA to over 1.55 crore bank accounts. The ministry said PFMS usage for DBT payments increased over last three financial years with total amount disbursed through DBT increasing from 22 per cent in 2018-19 to 45 per cent in 2019-20. With effect from April 1, 2015, the finance ministry had made it mandatory to use PFMS for payment, accounting and reporting under DBT and directed all implementing ministries or departments to ensure that no payments under DBT schemes were processed unless the electronic payment files for such payments were received through PFMS. JD HRS

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