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With the <keyword id="20613906" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="economic-survey" source="keywords">Economic Survey</keyword> flagging a rise in <keyword id="19956983" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="mental-health" source="keywords">mental health</keyword> issues among <keyword id="19916609" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indians" source="keywords">Indians</keyword> calling for a <keyword id="20740266" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="paradigm-shift" source="keywords">paradigm shift</keyword> on how to address the problem, experts on Monday said it is an unaddressed health crisis in India. They called for increasing accessibility to mental health resources, raising <keyword id="19927137" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="awareness" source="keywords">awareness</keyword>, reducing <keyword id="20448786" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="stigma" source="keywords">stigma</keyword> and developing robust support systems to tackle the issue while also highlighting the need to find comprehensive solutions to contributing factors such as work pressure and societal expectations, among others. "Mental health problems are an unaddressed health crisis in India. Nearly 20 per cent of people live with mental health problems in India. Depression and anxiety are common causes of disability. There is a treatment gap of more than 80 per cent," Achal Bhagat, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, Delhi, said. The indirect economic cost of loss of livelihoods due to mental health is significantly high as it is not only for the person living with mental health problems but also due to the loss of livelihoods for the caregivers, he added. Expressing similar views, Shambhavi Jaiman, Consultant Psychiatrist at Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram, said the impact on productivity is substantial, reflecting the broader implications for societal well-being and economic stability. "The contributing factors - work pressure, societal expectations, financial worries, and insufficient support systems - create a complex web of stressors that require comprehensive solutions," she added. Jaiman said addressing mental health issues involves increasing accessibility to mental health resources, raising awareness, reducing stigma and developing robust support systems. "Creating a supportive environment where mental health is prioritised is essential for fostering a healthier, more productive society," she said. Sameer Malhotra, Senior Director and Head Dept of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, pointed out that factors such as growing consumerism, excessive competition, shrinking social and family support networks, increased pace of life and growing distress, timeline pressures, lesser time for self and family are driving rise in mental health problems globally. "Disturbed mindset influences concentration, productivity at work and economics as well," he added. The Economic Survey 2023-24 flagged a rise in mental health issues among Indians, calling for a paradigm shift towards a bottom-up, whole-of-community approach to address the problem. Although it noted that India is creating positive momentum in policy development by recognising mental health as a fundamental aspect of overall well-being, the survey said, "While most of the policy design is in place, proper implementation can accelerate the improvement on the ground. That said, there remain certain gaps in the existing programmes which need to be addressed to maximise their effectiveness". The fundamental issue of the lack of awareness about mental health and the stigma surrounding it can render any sincerely crafted programme unfeasible, it added. "Hence, there is a need to bring about a paradigm shift and utilise a bottom-up, whole-of-community approach in addressing the topic of mental health. Breaking the stigma starts with taking cognisance of the natural human tendency to accept physical ailments and seeking treatment for the same while being in denial about mental health issues," the survey said. To an extent, the denial is an outcome of fear about social attitudes and social acceptance after one 'comes out' with mental health issues, it said. "For public health officials, tackling mental health requires acknowledging and addressing this fundamental reluctance. Arguably, mental health issues drag down productivity more widely in the ecosystem than individuals' physical health issues. Hence, paying attention to mental health issues in society is both a health and an economic imperative," the document noted.

Mental health problem an unaddressed health crisis in India: experts after Economic Survey findings

New Delhi [India], May 16 (ANI): <keyword id="9766785" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Lok-Sabha-elections-2024" source="Orion">Lok Sabha elections 2024</keyword> have seen a <keyword id="20108198" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="voter-turnout" source="keywords">voter turnout</keyword> at polling stations of about 66.95 per cent so far, as approximately 451 million people have voted during the first four phases of ongoing general elections. In a bid to encourage voters to exercise their franchise in large numbers, ECI has enhanced its targeted interventions to reach out to every eligible voter. The Commission led by CEC Rajiv Kumar along with ECs Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, further directed CEOs of the states going to poll in the fifth, sixth and seventh phases to timely distribute voter information slips to all electors and enhance outreach activities. "Commission strongly believes that partnership and collaboration are essential pillars of the voter awareness programme. It's heartening to see that, at the Commission's request, different institutions, influencers and celebrities with significant reach are working enthusiastically on a pro-bono basis," Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said. Further, he added that a higher voter turnout would be a message from Indian voters to the world, about the strength of Indian Democracy. He urges all the voters to cast their vote in huge numbers, as voting day is not a holiday but a day of pride, by participating in the festival of democracy. According to an official release, various <keyword id="21686177" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="voter-awareness-drives" source="keywords">voter awareness drives</keyword> and campaigns have been carried out by stakeholders in collaboration with ECI. Telecom Service Providers such as Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, Bharti Airtel Limited, Jio Telecommunication, and Vodafone-Idea Limited are reaching out to every mobile user in the respective parliamentary constituency through push SMS/Flash SMSs, outbound dialling calls to mobile users, RCS (Rich Communication Services) messaging and WhatsApp messages/alerts. These activities are carried out two/three days before the poll and even on the poll day, in regional languages, with an appeal to vote. ECI has collaborated with BCCI for voter awareness activities during the ongoing IPL season. The voter awareness messages and songs are being played at different stadiums during the cricket matches. The most innovative aspect of this campaign is the administration of voter's pledges by cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in a pre-recorded video message, at various IPL venues. Further, voter awareness messages are integrated into cricket commentary. Cricketers from 10 IPL teams have encouraged voters to participate in the <keyword id="19895394" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lok-sabha" source="keywords">Lok Sabha</keyword> elections in 2024 with their recorded voter awareness messages. A voting day alert was sent to all Facebook users pan India to inform and inform the voters about the general elections and to nudge them to participate in the festival of democracy, the release mentioned. The release further stated that WhatsApp personalised messages have begun on polling day. Google India is contributing through its iconic feature of Google Doodle on poll days and banners appearing on YouTube, Google Pat and other Google platforms. The Retail Association of India has been actively engaging with voter awareness activities, through their retail network, whereby retail chains are encouraged to celebrate the election as a festival. The vast network of post offices and banking institutions was utilised by ECI to reach out to a wide and diverse audience across the length and breadth of the country. In collaboration with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the parliamentary elections campaign logo "Chunav ka Parv, Desh ka Garv" has been integrated with the IRCTC portal and tickets. Voter awareness announcements have been integrated with the public address system at all railway stations. The logo stickers are used on coaches of the superfast trains. In collaboration with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, hoardings on voter awareness have been installed in about 16,000 retail outlets. In collaboration with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, airlines are making an inflight announcement with an appeal message to participate in the ensuing elections. Voter guides are being kept in aircraft seat pockets. Apart from this, many airports are providing space for the display of voter awareness messages. Selfie points have been installed at airports in 10 major cities viz. Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Patna, Chandigarh, and Pune. Cinema theatres across the country are playing ECI voter awareness films and ECI Song Main Bharat Hoon, Hum Bharat Ke Matdata Hai, at regular intervals, as a part of the Public Service Awareness (PSA) film. Sansad TV is creating short films on Unique Polling Stations set up in remote corners of the country by the election machinery after navigating difficult terrains to demonstrate the challenges in ensuring voting at the last mile. AMUL, Mother Dairy and other milk co-operatives have started branding their milk pouches with the message 'Chunav Ka Parv, Desh ka Garv' and encouraging voters through social media platforms. AMUL is also encouraging voters with its unique messaging through AMUL Girl Topical advertisements in newspapers. Prasar Bharati: Doordarshan has produced, various short films, including appeals from constitutional functionaries like President of India, Vice President of India, and Chief Justice of India, among others. Further, unique polling stations are being covered by the regional Kendra's audio-visual documentation. Music App Spotify is running a campaign called 'Play Your Part', and they have issued print advertisements, and curated the playlists for the elections, on their app. Payments app PhonePe has integrated voter awareness message into their app and is actively encouraging voters. BookMyShow has launched an integrated campaign, titled "Aaj Picture Nahi, Bigger Picture Dekho," to raise awareness among voters. MakeMyTrip is running a campaign titled 'MyVoteWalaTrip', whereby discounts are offered to citizens going to vote. Food delivery platforms such as Zomato and Swiggy are disseminating voter awareness messages through their platforms and social media activities. Grocery App Blinkit changed its logo to "Inkit" for the elections, incorporating a message encouraging people to "Go out and Vote" as a tagline. Uber India is reaching out to voters through multi-channel messaging (in-app, emails, push notifications), offering discounts for rides to polling stations, and amplifying voter awareness messages on social media platforms. Bike app Rapido has been encouraging voters with a free ride to vote. Urban Company has launched 'I Have Voted Campaign' to encourage voters. Tata Neu app, serving as the Tata Group's group-wide consumer-facing mobile app, prominently features the "Cast Your Vote" animated banner on its homepage, with additional initiatives currently underway. Truecaller is enhancing its layout by displaying voter awareness message during outbound calls Some other independent initiatives are Mankind Pharma #VotingVirgin campaign, clothing brand Neeru's "Vote ki Taiyaari" TVC, Tinder's "Every Single Vote Counts" campaign, creatively curated social media post by Matrimonial sites like Jeevansathi.com, etc and discounts for voting by popular brands such as Shoppers' Stop, MakeMyTrip, Chroma and many more. Four phases of Lok Sabha polls have been held and the voting will conclude on June 1 with results on June 4. The remaining phases will be held on May 20, May 25, and June 1.

451 million voters! First four phases of Lok Sabha elections witness 66.95% voter turnout so far

From the coming new academic session, more than 300 universities across the country can implement the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (<keyword id="1650316" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="fyup" source="Orion">FYUP</keyword>). However, this will not be mandatory as students will have the option to pursue FYUP or three-year undergraduate programme. According to <keyword id="44171" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="ugc" source="Orion">UGC</keyword>, students will get a four-year undergraduate 'UG Honours' degree with research specialisation. At present, FYUP has been implemented in about 150 universities across the country from the current session 2023-24. According to UGC Chairman Professor M. Jagadish Kumar, this number will double in the next session. FYUP was implemented by 105 universities across the country at the beginning of the academic session 2023-24. The universities implementing four-year undergraduate courses included 19 central universities, 24 state level universities, 44 deemed universities and 18 private universities. These include Delhi University, Aligarh Muslim University, Jammu Central University, <keyword id="64114" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="visva-bharati-university" source="Orion">Visva Bharati University</keyword>, <keyword id="19309330" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="rashtriya-sanskrit-university" source="Orion">Rashtriya Sanskrit University</keyword> and Maulana Azad National Urdu University. Now the number of these universities has increased to 150. Under the framework of FYUP, UGC has provided students the option to pursue a three-year undergraduate degree as well as a four-year Honours degree, following the provisions of the National Education Policy (NEP). According to the UGC Chairman, students will be provided with a three-year UG degree on completion of 120 credits and FYUP Honours degree on completion of 160 credits in 4 years. Students wishing to pursue research specialisation will have to undertake a research project in the four-year undergraduate course. With this, they will get an Honours degree along with research specialisation. Experts believe that the new draft of the Four Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP) will help students wishing to pursue higher education abroad. The craze among Indian students for studying abroad is increasing year by year. Till November last year, more than 6 lakh Indian students went abroad for higher education, whereas in 2021 this number was 4.44 lakh. As per these figures, Canada, Germany, Australia, United States and Italy are the top 5 countries where more Indian students prefer to study. According to the new draft of UGC, now students will be able to get undergraduate 'Honours' degree only after completing four years instead of three years. UGC says that the draft curriculum and credit framework of FYUP is as per international standards. One advantage of international equality in the level of education is that Indian students will get more opportunities than before for higher education in universities of America and Western countries. However, some academics do not agree with this. Renowned educationist <keyword id="19309331" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="cs-kandpal" source="Orion">CS Kandpal</keyword> said, "FYUP will help those students who are interested in getting admission in many famous universities of America. But there is a need to teach such skills in the programme so that employment can be increased. Such skills will also be very helpful for students studying abroad. These skills may include communication, adaptability, foreign language, and self-awareness." "The basic objective was to include more number of students in the three-year programme in the country. FYUP is an extension of the three-year degree programme. Like in schools you go to class, prepare notes and give exams. You get a grade according to your performance in the exam. With this type of education, students are not prepared to pursue graduation as well as career in good universities abroad, because their aim is only to get admission in a foreign university. Institutions which are planning to start FYUP need to think about this," he added.

300 univs to see national rollout of four-year undergraduate programme

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, <keyword id="26680" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="nitin-gadkari" source="Orion">Nitin Gadkari</keyword> on Tuesday launched <keyword id="3367686" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="bharat-ncap" source="Orion">Bharat NCAP</keyword>, India's own crash testing safety programme, saying that it was a historic day for the country and that requests have been received for crash testing of 30 models. Addressing a gathering following the launching of Bharat NCAP, <keyword id="6361025" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="gadkari" source="Orion">Gadkari</keyword> said: "Today is a very important day in the history of Indian automobile industry but even also it is important for the society. I really appreciate the way in which the Indian automobile industry cooperates and because of their cooperation today it is a time for all of us that we are launching the Bharat NCAP programme." Regarding the programme, the Minister said: "It was a mission of the government. Cost of testing from abroad is Rs 2.5 crore and in India under the Bharat NCAP it is Rs 60 lakhs. And with global standards your market is going to increase. I am really happy that it is helpful for the consumers. By the star rating people can understand the quality of the product and now we are going to create awareness in the mind of the people." He also said that there is a huge demand for higher star rating vehicles. "People are cautious about safety, pollution. People want to use different type of fuel. If anywhere there is a new alternative available then they are ready to use," he said. "Today we have got a request to test and certify 30 models from several manufacturers. We have received 30 vehicles for the rating under Bharat NCAP and I am happy with the response." Gadkari also highlighted that India is facing two important challenges -- one is road accidents and another is air pollution, and "in some way our Ministry is responsible for that". He said that every year 5 lakh accidents and 1.5 lakh deaths takes place in India. "Every day 1,100 accidents and 400 deaths and every hour 47 accidents and 18 deaths. 70 per cent death is of 18 to 34 years and loss of GDP is 3.14 per cent." He also said head on collisions killed 27,000 people, while 18,000 died due to side collisions. Emphasising on saving lives, Gadkari said that "this is the time we have highest priority for how we can save the lives of the people and road safety is the most important thing for that". "But it is not that only the automobile industry is responsible, somewhere road engineering is a big problem." The Minister further said that at the same time the other important factor is automobile engineering. But these are the things we need to improve. He also said that now the market is not only cost-centric but quality centric. "Now the most important thing which I feel is that the market, the market is not cost centric, but it quality centric. The automotive market in India has been changing lately with consumer's focus shifting from being cost-centric to quality-centric," he said. He also said that "our dream is to make Indian Automobile industry above Rs 15 lakh crore". "When I had taken charge as the Minister, our industry in the world was at number seven. Now just two to three months before we have surpassed Japan and now are at number three. First is China and second is US." Gadkari also said that many of the Indian brands of two wheelers are already exporting 50 per cent of their production and there is also a lot of technologically changes particularly in the form of using different type of fuels. "I am very sure about it that as far as cost is concerned we are very very competitive in the world and in the quality point of view if you are equal to that anywhere whatever the cost maybe in US even I am confident that a day will come that we will be equally reasonable with China also and day will come that people will prefer cost wise and quality wise that they will prefer our vehicle first," he said, adding that for that reason there is huge potential available for the export. "The dream of Prime Minister (<keyword id="6354477" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="Orion">Narendra Modi</keyword>) to make India a 5 trillion economy is the basic backbone of the automobile industry, which is one of the largest employers, biggest export and biggest tax payer sector for the government. This industry is giving maximum GST to the state and the Central government. He also asserted that the mission is to make India number one in manufacturing hub in the world." SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/personal-finance/news/how-to-find-unclaimed-bank-deposits-using-udgam-portal/articleshow/102830161.cms">Have unclaimed bank deposits? Here’s how to find it using UDGAM portal</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/indian-pc-market-declines-for-fourth-consecutive-quarter-reports-15-decline/articleshow/102822733.cms">Indian PC market declines for fourth consecutive quarter, reports 15% decline</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/gboard-checkout-upcoming-features-of-google-app/articleshow/102649444.cms">Gboard to onboard AI for stickers, proofreading and more</a>

Nitin Gadkari launches Bharat NCAP, India's car crash test programme

<ul><li>50%-60% of hiring managers consider learning through online courses as an important part of their recruitment process. </li><li>Candidates need to self-assess skills and experience that they already possess and look at skills they want to develop. </li><li>Employees should evaluate the course content and decide whether it aligns with their current and future career goals. </li></ul>While 2021 and 2022 were characterized by the great resignation, 2023 could very well be the time of great <keyword id="6357067" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="layoffs" source="Orion">layoffs</keyword>. Recently layoffs have been common especially in the tech sector, with thousands of employees laid off and in lookout for a job, while others are living in the fear that they may be laid off too when the axe falls again. In such a circumstance, employees would do well to upskill so that they can bring more value to their organizations. A recent <keyword id="3554713" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="Upskilling" source="Orion">Upskilling</keyword> Trends Report 2023, by Great Learning, a professional learning platform, highlights that upskilling helped 43% of professionals gain career growth in their own organization, while 23% were able to switch to a different domain and 18% were able to secure a new job. “Ideally, the trigger for reading and continuously learning should happen well before the possibility of a layoff. That way you are already prepared. Most industries and functions are in the midst of a technology disruption. A good place to start would be to understand how technology is disrupting your sector and how you can leverage technology to improve your productivity and organization’s competitive advantage,” says Arjun Nair, Co-Founder, Great Learning. E-learning is a great way to acquire new skills, as it gives candidates access to some of the best trainers and teachers in a specific field. “New-age skills acquired from reputed online learning platforms are of great value and employers definitely provide an edge to candidates with such learning experiences. In fact, around 50%-60% of hiring managers consider learning experiences through online courses as an important part of their recruitment process,” says Sanjay Shetty, Director, Professional Search &amp; Selection, and Strategic Accounts, Randstad India, a recruitment agency. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Know where you stand" comment="subhead2" text="Know where you stand">Know where you stand</cmsannotation> “Firstly, candidates have to go back to the ancient Greek Delphic maxims - ‘know thyself’,” says Rituparna Chakraborty, Co-Founder and Executive Director, TeamLease Services, a staffing and human resources firm. Candidates have to self-assess skills and experience that they already possess. They have to list down the skills they own, want to develop and how they can gain the skills from different channels/sources needed for the job they aspire for. There are various tools or organizations that offer these services that you can leverage, which are worth investing in. One can also look at job postings where one might be interested in applying going ahead. Looking at these job descriptions will help one understand what skills one should add to their portfolio. As a fresher, you may not have much experience or knowledge about your field, so it's essential to focus on developing foundational or technical skills relevant to your industry. “You can start by assessing your current skill set and identifying any areas where you lack knowledge or expertise. Once you have a better idea of your skill gaps, you can then look for courses or programmes that offer an overview of the industry or job role you're interested in,” says Harsh Bharwani, CEO &amp; Managing Director of Jetking Infotrain, a computer networking institute. If you are in a job, it is important to map your career competencies and aspirations before you venture out to pursue paid courses, in particular.. “Consult career transition experts and, if available, career coaches, as well as peers, mentors, and industry experts who can advise you on the nuances of relevance and scalability and teach you from their successes and failures,” says Manu Saigal, Director - General Staffing, Adecco India, an HR services and recruiting company. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Choose the right course" comment="subhead2" text="Choose the right course">Choose the right course </cmsannotation> The choice of a course will be a function of one’s aspirational career path and where they stand at present . “You must be sure that the courses you are taking shall improve your probability of success and will add resilience. Employers are looking at employees who can be put to multiple job roles and hence possess a variety of skills – sometimes diagonally opposite,” says Shantanu Rooj, Founder &amp; CEO, TeamLease Edtech. For example, software engineers with understanding of psychology would be a great combination! So one approach is to identify skills and competencies that can assist you in advancing in your career or provide you with a competitive advantage in obtaining a promotion. Always look at who is providing and who is teaching the course. Value of the course will depend on the instructor, content, and provider (in that order). “Finally, work towards applying the learning from the course on the job. Remember, courses do not make you employable, they help you develop those skills that make you employable. In your resume, focus on how the courses helped you in your job,” says Prof. Niraj Mankad, associate professor, operations, FLAME University. While a course offered by a reputed university like Harvard may hold more value, you need to assess and evaluate the course contents and how relevant it is to your industry and whether it aligns to their current and future goals. One way to find out more about a course is to connect with people on Linkedin who have already taken the same course and ask them how the course has benefited them in terms of learning and career opportunities. When choosing a course, it is important to strike the right balance between hard skills and soft skills. “Today, aspirants should focus on developing a combination of soft and hard skills as both are equally important in today's employment landscape,” says Shetty. For example, in the field of digital marketing, hard skills such as search engine optimization, pay-per-click advertising, and web analytics are important, but so are soft skills such as communication, creativity, and critical thinking. On the other hand, an IT professional needs to be adept in hard skills including Java, DevOps, MySQL, etc. as well as soft skills such as communication, teamwork, time management, and adaptability. Constant re-skilling and upskilling is thus extremely crucial to remain employable and competitive in today’s rapidly evolving job market. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/dr-reddys-acquires-mayne-pharmas-usa-prescription-portfolio-for-105-mn/articleshow/98265086.cms">Dr Reddy's acquires Mayne Pharma's USA prescription portfolio for $105 Mn</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/adani-ports-spicejet-interglobe-aviation-among-stocks-to-watch/articleshow/98261988.cms">Sensex, Nifty50 likely to open in the red amid negative global cues: Adani Ports, SpiceJet, InterGlobe Aviation among stocks to watch</a>

This layoff season, upskill to stay afloat say experts

New Delhi, May 27 (IANSlife) More than 51 percent of women respondents say that Indian schools do not have a proper system to prepare teen and adolescent girls regarding the onset of menstrual periods. Nearly 60 percent women feel schools lack adequate facilities for girls to change and dispose of sanitary pads off, says a survey. Today is Menstrual Hygiene Day 2020 falling , and feminine hygiene brand Everteen had conducted the fifth edition of its annual Menstrual Hygiene Survey. The survey was conducted among nearly 7000 Indian women participating from various cities of India including Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Kolkata. Over 51 percent women respondents claimed that Indian schools do not have adequate systems to educate or mentally prepare teen and adolescent girls regarding the onset of menstrual periods. More than 95 percent women asserted that Indian school system should have some awareness programs to prepare girls on the subject. The survey also revealed that during adolescence, nearly 60 percent women did not have any prior knowledge about menstrual periods. In fact, as many as 38 percent women had first misinterpreted it as an injury or disease. In terms of infrastructure, almost 59 percent women felt that schools do not have adequate cleanliness of public toilets or facilities for girls to change and dispose sanitary pads off. Chirag Pan, CEO, PAN Healthcare, says, "Menstrual hygiene and wellness have been known issues in the Indian context. While there has been progress in recent years, it is imperative that we leverage our strength in the Indian value-based systems and inculcate the importance of good menstrual hygiene from the onset of puberty itself. Schools can and must play a pivotal role in bringing this paradigm shift through classroom education, awareness programs and focused infrastructure development." In workspaces too, 41 percent women felt their office needed better cleanliness and facilities to change and dispose sanitary pads off in toilets. The survey also suggests that the role that doctors can play in preventing gynecological problems is significantly downplayed due to the shame and guilt associated with menstrual cycles in Indian context. More than 50 percent women said they have had some gynecological infection or problem such as UTI, rashes, foul smell or itching during or after menstrual cycle in the past one year. Among these, 20 percent of women had such issues more than 3 times during the year. More than 64 percent women have faced irregularities in their period dates, out of which half have had to deal with it more than 3 times in a year. Ironically, only 37 percent of women said they consult a doctor in case or irregular periods, whereas 32 percent prefer to discuss it within the family and 30 percent just ignore it. Similarly, more than 54 percent women have had white discharge, but only 25 percent prefer to consult a doctor. As many as 56 percent women believe that menstruation is still perceived as a taboo in Indian society. Not surprisingly, then, more than 42 percent of women felt uncomfortable buying sanitary essentials from a shop or a chemist, especially when there were several other customers. Because of the guilt associated with menstrual cycle, 87 percent women admitted that they had to hide or secretly take their sanitary product for changing. Interestingly, more than three-fourth of the respondents said that menstruation would not have been such a taboo subject in the society if men had it too! Another key revelation from the survey shows that 53 percent women have used a public toilet more than 3 times at an office, mall or cinema hall to change sanitary product. Hariom Tyagi, CEO, Wet and Dry Personal Care,says, "Our survey shows that 75 percent women feel uncomfortable having to use public toilets to change sanitary products. Yet, more than 93 percent women still use sanitary napkins. By switching to better, modern-age menstrual hygiene methods (MHM) such as menstrual cups, women can reduce the number of times they have to change their sanitary product in a day. Many women have told us that using menstrual cups has greatly reduced their daily discomfort due to periods." The survey revealed that menstrual cups are now being used by 4 percent of the women, and their adoption has overtaken tampons by almost double. One of the alarming trends that emerged from the survey shows that more than one-third women said they have used a pill or some other method to delay periods in case of an important occasion. (IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in) --IANS adr/tb/

Schools in India should have menstrual awareness programme: Survey

(Photo Source : Wikimedia.org) <ul><li>Despite 76% youth interested in enrolling themselves in <keyword id="507263" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="skill-development-programme">skill development programme</keyword>, 70% of adults aren’t aware of it, according to a major study. </li><li>Three-quarters of the surveyed people never attended any such programme, said the ‘Young India and work’ study. </li><li>The youth is more interested in sectors which are expecting less growth in recruitment. </li></ul>Rising unemployment has been one of major headwinds in the growth of the Indian economy. Yet, around 70% of youth lack awareness about the much-publicised skill development programme run by the government to boost employment, a major study has revealed. According to the study, ‘<a href="https://www.orfonline.org/research/young-india-and-work-a-survey-of-youth-aspirations-45455/">Young India and work</a>’ by the Observer Research Foundation and <keyword id="69007" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="World-Economic-Forum">World Economic Forum</keyword>, 1.3 million people are added to India’s working population monthly. Even with fewer jobs, only one fourth of the youth have enrolled themselves in the skill development programme. Time constraints and financial problems were among the major reasons cited by a third of the respondents, said the study. The findings not only highlighted the gap between a government scheme and youth awareness but also pointed out the mismatch of youth aspirations and industry demands. The preferences of youth and companies recruiting for jobs also vary. While young people are flexible about mobility but companies are focusing more on hiring locally. Additionally, only 14% of companies use the Internet for hiring whereas three-quarters of the youth are dependent on Internet for any kind of employment information. Enterprises in customer services, sales, information technology support, accounting and auditing may witness growth in their hiring process but young people are attracted towards sectors which is expected less growth in coming five years. And even though more women professionals are preferred in the field of education, training, research and health, almost three-quarters of females from age 26 to 30 were not employed. Half of the youth were more inclined towards government jobs than private sector jobs, which added to the surging unemployment rate. Talking about a possible solution, 60% of the surveyed respondents said that government action and economic policies could resolve the issue. As the youngest nation, India will need inclusive growth since strategies cannot be implemented in isolation, suggested the study. SEE ALSO <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indias-government-is-mulling-a-plan-to-give-the-countrys-top-engineering-institutes-more-autonomy-heres-what-that-would-entail/articleshow/66541240.cms">India’s government is mulling a plan to give the country’s top engineering institutes more autonomy — here’s what that would entail</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-records-the-highest-unemployment-rate-in-two-years-says-study/articleshow/66555760.cms">India records the highest unemployment rate in two years, says study</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/in-india-women-rule-the-skies-with-the-highest-share-of-female-pilots-in-the-world/articleshow/66590435.cms">In India, women rule the skies with the highest share of female pilots in the world</a>

Amid unemployment tensions, 70% of Indian youth lack awareness of government’s much-touted skill development programme

<ul><li><keyword id="56000" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="UNICEF">UNICEF</keyword> and <keyword id="6354576" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="facebook">Facebook</keyword> collaborate to build safer and healthier online experiences for adolescents and children. </li><li>The partnership seeks to create a safe environment for children online and offline.</li></ul><keyword id="275625" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="UNICEF-India">UNICEF India</keyword> and Facebook today launched a one-year joint initiative on ending violence against children with a special focus on online safety. The partnership seeks to create a safe environment for children online and offline. It aims to improve children’s resilience and capacity to access the digital world safely, increase awareness on violence against children and its impact on children, families, and communities, as well as increase skills of communities and frontline workers to better prevent and respond to violence. This partnership will include a nation-wide social media awareness campaign, and capacity building for 100,000school children on online safety, digital literacy, and psychosocial support. The virtual event saw the presence of Aastha Saxena Khatwani, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Women &amp; Child Development, Government of India together with Facebook Head of Programs and Outreach, Madhu Sirohi and <keyword id="11821667" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="unicef-india-deputy-representative-programmes">UNICEF India Deputy Representative Programmes</keyword>, Yasumasa Kimura. Well-known actor and UNICEF India’s celebrity advocate on ending violence against children, <keyword id="6354535" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="ayushmann-khurrana">Ayushmann Khurrana</keyword> gave his keynote message. During the launch there was a panel with representatives from UNICEF, Facebook, Leher and a child leader, to discuss challenges and solutions to address safety of children in online and offline spaces. Aastha Saxena Khatwani, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Women &amp; Child Development, Government of India said, “In the last year and half, the internet has enabled children to continue with their education, removing the barriers of time and geography. As we encourage children to explore the great knowledge resource available online, we should be cognizant of the threats that come along with the all-pervasive nature of these online mediums. I am glad that UNICEF and Facebook are taking this important step forward to educate and sensitize our younger generation against online abuse.”.” “The COVID-19 pandemic has increased chances for children to face violence – whether online or offline. Acknowledging the significant efforts being made to end violence against children, its important different stakeholders come together, to increase awareness, change behaviors and perceptions around how, when and where violence against children occurs. This is critical to promote better understanding the violence and most effective ways to ensure child safety both online and offline,” said UNICEF India Deputy Representative Programmes, Mr. Yasumasa Kimura. “The partnership with Facebook at this critical time will help shape a safer online and offline world for children to grow, learn and thrive,” he said. Facebook Head of Programs and Outreach, Ms. Madhu Sirohi said, “The pandemic has spurred the adoption of digital platforms. Being online gives young people so many choices. It gives them skills such as self-control and resilience that can help them make decisions that will lead to positive outcomes both online and offline. Protecting children online is important to us and we take this responsibility seriously. Over the years we have worked with parents, governments and safety experts to offer a safe online experience for the youngest members of our community. Today, we are delighted to partner with UNICEF to make the internet safe for children and young audiences. Through this partnership we want to help them participate in public life by using the power of digital platforms, and to advocate for issues they care about.” Supporting the initiative, actor and UNICEF India’s celebrity advocate on ending violence against children, Mr. Ayushmann Khurrana said, “The internet is a double-edged sword. We have seen its myriad benefits during this pandemic. At the same time, it has its own risks. We need to equip our children and adolescents with knowledge and digital tools so they can safely navigate and participate actively in the ever-evolving digital society. As UNICEF India’s celebrity supporter, I am honored to extend my support and voice to this important initiative. I welcome this initiative that will create awareness and help children, parents, teachers and other actors understand better the safety and wellbeing of our children in the digital era and take appropriate preventive and responsive measures.” Speaking at the panel discussion, 16-year-old Jaspreet Singh said, “If the question arises whose responsibility is it to make sure that we are safe, the answer is very simple. It is Us, the users, because if not us, then who? This initiative from UNICEF and Facebook will empower us to experience the power of internet in a safer and responsible way.”

UNICEF India and Facebook launch an initiative on ending violence against children with a special focus on online safety

If <keyword id="8206" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Christmas">Christmas</keyword> is the time to bestow the gift of love and support unconditionally, this one-year-old <keyword id="6404679" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="start-up">start-up</keyword> from <keyword id="157098" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Delhi-NCR">Delhi-NCR</keyword> could not be doing anything more appropriate. We all know how crucial <keyword id="1630741" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Elder-Care">elder care</keyword> is but very few organisations in India are into <keyword id="1984353" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Organised-geriatric-care">organised geriatric care</keyword> management. The country has a vast population of 100 million-plus people past the age of 60 who are tagged as <keyword id="20566" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="senior-citizens">senior citizens</keyword>. But ‘life’ past one’s prime tends to be difficult as <keyword id="20972" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="aged-people">aged people</keyword> require constant help, care and other emergency facilities to live quality life. In contrast, the traditionally <keyword id="1984357" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Close-knit-Indian-society">close-knit Indian society</keyword> is changing fast and many of the old people are left to their own resources to manage their life. The <keyword id="391353" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Social-infrastructure">social infrastructure</keyword> of the country is also not adequate, which means the government does not have adequate resources to ensure <keyword id="1984362" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Affordable-elder-care">affordable elder care</keyword> across India. 
 This is precisely where <keyword id="1984339" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="WhenAt60-Solutions">WhenAt60 Solutions</keyword> steps in. An elder care initiative for seniors (those who are aged 60 or above), the start-up provides a whole bunch of essential, at-home services, so that people don’t have to leave the comfort of their homes. A group of <keyword id="472653" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="trained-professionals">trained professionals</keyword> with patience, empathy and a firm conviction to change things for the senior citizens are at the core of this organisation. Here is a snapshot that captures the start-up’s vision and viability. 
 
Who runs WhenAt60 Solutions (www.whenat60.com): A team of former corporate honchos from IT and finance space, led by <keyword id="1984340" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Joydeep-Chakraborty">Joydeep Chakraborty</keyword>. An NIIT alumnus, Joydeep is an IT professional with 20 years of experience and expertise in commercial business applications and software products. Prior to starting the venture in October 2012, he had worked with companies such as CPA Global, RMSI and GrapeCity. Its service facilitators are called <keyword id="1984381" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Whispering-Warriors">Whispering Warriors</keyword> – a team of trained professionals such as lawyers, chartered accountants, finance professionals and more, who believe in the cause and work for the elderly to make their life more hassle-free, independent and fulfilling. The firm’s expert panel also includes <keyword id="25205" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="doctors">doctors</keyword>, <keyword id="1984369" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gerontologists">gerontologists</keyword> and yoga instructors. 
 
What inspired the venture: The current social situation in India and the numerous problems faced by the senior citizens here. “They have some specific needs, both social and otherwise,” observes Joydeep. “These could be as simple as having someone to talk to or participating in events with like-aged and like-minded people. Or they could be complicated ones like <keyword id="1207047" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="legal-problems">legal problems</keyword>, <keyword id="1864742" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="finance-management">finance management</keyword>, health issues, etc. If the grown-up children are staying in a different city or country, the situation could become worse,” he adds. 
 That was the key reason behind this initiative and the founders decided to focus on the educated, urban people at first as they are often fending for themselves. “Their children are mostly <keyword id="527762" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="corporate-employees">corporate employees</keyword> and have their own challenges to cope with – work, kids, daily chores, money… <keyword id="660687" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Aged-parents">Aged parents</keyword> don’t get the kind of priority they deserve and we thought they could be our <keyword id="1486934" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="target-audience">target audience</keyword> at this point,” explains Joydeep. 
 
What’s the pitch: To help senior citizens ‘rejoice life and not retire from it.’ WhenAt60 Solutions endeavours to bring vital information, key services and essential products to senior citizens to strengthen and prolong productive and <keyword id="1984377" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Good-quality-independent-living">good quality independent living</keyword>. The bouquet of ‘at-home’ services is not only convenient, but also changes people’s perspective and happiness quotient. 
 
How it works: If you are seeking these services for yourself, your friends or loved ones, the access points are many. There’s the website, social media, referrals and word-of-mouth that bring service seekers to WhenAt60 Solutions. Getting a membership is quite simple and each member can choose from more than 32 complimentary and <keyword id="1984378" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Paid-services">paid services</keyword> (<keyword id="6355587" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Legal">legal</keyword>, <keyword id="44477" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="financial">financial</keyword>, <keyword id="42518" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Medical">medical</keyword>, <keyword id="6355003" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="leisure">leisure</keyword> &amp; <keyword id="6397447" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="recreation">recreation</keyword>, access to unique products, etc). 
 The start-up has also initiated a unique <keyword id="1984374" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Corporate-awareness-programme">corporate awareness programme</keyword> – so that employees get to know about the geriatric services it offers and opt for the same for their aged parents and relatives. “That’s a great way to reach out to people who need our help,” says Joydeep. “If corporate employees require those services for their aged parents and relatives, they can easily contact us. Our dedicated team of trained, full-time workers will then take care of every requirement,” he explains. One can also become a <keyword id="26386" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="volunteer">volunteer</keyword> or a <keyword id="6791462" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="sponsor">sponsor</keyword> to support the initiative. 
 
Claim to fame: <keyword id="1984391" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Awareness-creation">Awareness creation</keyword> and <keyword id="1984392" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Concept-branding">concept branding</keyword> are the key focus right now and the start-up is doing well that way. Since it was set up, the organisation had been invited to conduct more than 20 corporate sessions. It had done 500 hours of road shows, besides holding awareness campaigns at five universities. “WhenAt60 Solutions is gradually gaining traction. We have a great YouTube channel in place now; more than 13,000 visitors have already come to the site and we have 1,000-plus active followers on Facebook, people who are our constant source of new ideas and thoughts,” details Joydeep. 
 
Show me the money: As of now, it is a self-funded initiative with revenues coming from annual membership fees and corporate sponsors. In addition, the start-up is looking for alliances with like-minded organisations who want to help senior citizens. “We have started in a small way but hope to break even by the end of 2014,” says Joydeep. The company will also expand its operations to <keyword id="6354925" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Kolkata">Kolkata</keyword>, <keyword id="6358070" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mumbai">Mumbai</keyword> and <keyword id="6360078" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Chandigarh">Chandigarh</keyword> during the first phase. 
 
Biggest challenge: Reaching out to more people and pinpointing their needs are going to be tough. The target spectrum is 10% of the country’s population, but that size is more than the population of some countries like the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Thailand and South Korea. To cater to such a huge number is no easy task but WhenAt60 Solutions is committed to do its best. But what about <keyword id="592293" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="market-competition">market competition</keyword>? “We don’t have any competition in this space – we only have a few collaborating and complementing initiatives by like-minded entrepreneurs who equally feel for the cause. Together, we hope to improve the current state of things,” says Joydeep before signing off.

This Social Enterprise Acts Like
Extended Family, Offers Comprehensive Elder Care

<ul><li>As the entire country continues to be locked in their homes, mother earth is healing herself -- right from greener pastures to clearer skies and reduced pollution. </li><li>To mark <keyword id="18996" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="World-Environment-Day">World Environment Day</keyword>, a few brands took cognizance of this and urged every citizen to imbibe these learnings, reflect upon their actions and as we brace ourselves for the lockdown being lifted, emerge as more conscious beings with focus on a sustainable future. </li></ul>Civilisation today is staring at what can only be called the biggest human challenge. This pandemic has left us thinking, wondering and questioning about all that we have done in the past. The environment is one such area where enough human effort may not be sufficient to reverse the damage caused so far, but a little conscious effort every day, collectively may promise our future generations a safer planet to inhabit, a lot safer than the one we call our home today. Like every year, a few brands have come forward to remind its consumers and fellow companies that sustainability should be prioritised at every household and workplace. Here are a few campaigns that caught our attention: <keyword id="64202" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="United-Nations-Environment-Programme">United Nations Environment Programme</keyword> UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) under its global theme – ‘Super Year For Nature &amp; Biodiversity’ released a campaign with MoEFCC (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCl94zd6YfuUrv9DJz_5RcA">Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change</a>) conceptualized by Ogilvy. The campaign brought to light the dwindling population of endangered species in India namely, Snow Leopard, Gangetic River Dolphin &amp; Great Indian Bustard. <div type="image" title="Ogilvy_Time-for-nature_Leopard" msid="76217012" hostid="261"></div> Kansai Nerolac Paints Kansai Nerolac Paints digital film extends the thought of Nerolac’s recently launched brand campaign #AajCarefulTohKalColourful and is the third film in the continuing series. Through the digital film, Nerolac aims to raise awareness on the importance of environment conservation for a brighter and colourful tomorrow. Its ‘Aaj Careful Toh Kal Colourful’ with an intent to underline the importance of taking necessary precautions in the current Covid-19 situation to ensure a colourful future. The new thought-provoking film encourages citizens to take positive actions for the betterment of the environment and showcases how people can do their bit by taking small steps such as switching off fans/lights when not in use, conserving water, planting trees, contributing to cleaner air in minimal ways and more. <div type="Youtube" id="aNElLheBep4" title="Stand together for the Environment- Aaj Careful Toh Kal Colourful" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/aNElLheBep4/mqdefault.jpg"></div> ITC ITC pledged once again to help shape a better, secure, sustainable and inclusive future for the generations to come with a powerful campaign. <div type="Youtube" id="rrSlLqBLPa0" title="ITC - World Environment Day 2020" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rrSlLqBLPa0/mqdefault.jpg"></div> Welspun Welspun Group launched a song titled ‘Ek Soch Hai Jaagi’ in collaboration with Kailash Kher to commemorate the World Environment Day. It aims to encourage people to introspect on their role in shaping the environment and steer them to build a better tomorrow. It also celebrates the metamorphosis of nature as it recuperates and replenishes during the lockdown. <div type="Youtube" id="74sbc3RYzzE" title="Ek Soch Hai Jaagi Official Song | Kailash Kher | Welspun Group" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/74sbc3RYzzE/mqdefault.jpg"></div> Tata Tiscon Tata Tiscon tried to spread the message of building a strong planet through Tata Tiscon Go Green, the brand’s sustainability initiative. ‘Plant for the Planet’, is a digital film conceptualised by Wunderman Thompson South Asia that was released on World Environment day to encourage people to care for and nurture the environment. <div type="Youtube" id="JOppVCz_vws" title="'Plant for the Planet’ for Tata Tiscon Go Green on World Environment Day" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JOppVCz_vws/mqdefault.jpg"></div>

World Environment Day: Brands urge consumers to come out of the lockdown as conscious beings and continue following sustainable practices

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Many schools, offices, conferences, and even Broadway shows have been cancelled in the US in an effort to help reduce the spread of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/category/wuhan-coronavirus">the novel coronavirus</a>. </li><li>Guidance for <keyword id="34615" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="restaurants">restaurants</keyword> and patrons varies widely by state and jurisdiction.</li><li>Experts told Insider people at <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-virus-everything-we-know-deadly-2019-ncov-wuhan-spread-2020-1">higher risk for coronavirus</a> should eat in, and even healthy people should recognize going out isn't risk-free. </li><li>If you must eat out, choose places that aren't crowded and where you won't be seated closely together. </li></ul>As Americans stage home offices, <a href="https://www.insider.com/what-does-social-distancing-mean-how-you-can-practice-it-2020-3">cancel social events</a>, avoid public transportation, and otherwise practice social distancing in an effort to reduce the chances of contracting and spreading the novel <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword>, many are wondering, "Can we at least go out to eat?" The answer, experts say, depends. Your own vulnerabilities to the disease, where you live, and the <keyword id="6371025" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="restaurant">restaurant</keyword> you're considering going to itself all matter. Plus, your responsibilities to your community play a role in the answer, too. "So much of this is situation specific," Lauren Dunning, a director for the Milken Institute Center for the Future of Aging, who was most recently at the Los Angeles County Department of Public <keyword id="6354750" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="health">Health</keyword> focusing on chronic and infectious diseases.Here, experts break down exactly what you should consider before going out to eat. <h2>People over 50 shouldn't eat out, one expert said</h2><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cdc-americans-over-60-stock-up-on-groceries-stay-home-2020-3">Older adults and those with underlying health conditions</a> like heart disease, diabetes, and lung diseases, are especially vulnerable to contracting COVID-19 and getting seriously ill from it. "I would advise those that are above 50 and/or have pre-existing health conditions to avoid going out to eat altogether," Amit Malik, former clinical director of operations for various hospitals and health systems including New York Presbyterian Hospital, told Insider. That doesn't mean healthy, young people should rush out for every meal, though. "If you're going out to eat, you are putting yourself at risk, period," Malik said, because the virus spreads when people are in close quarters, which outside of a pandemic, are the appeal of restaurants and bars. "It's recommended for everyone, regardless of age and health status, to avoid being in large crowded places for the foreseeable future," Malik said, and to, of course, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-dry-your-hands-preven-coronavirus-2020-3">wash and dry your hands frequently and thoroughly</a>. <div type="image" title="crowded restaurant" height="787" width="1200" msid="77545306" hostid="261"></div><h2>Choose where you dine wisely</h2>If you do choose to go out to eat, where you go matters.<a href="https://drdarria.com/">Dr. Darria Long Gillespie</a>, clinical assistant professor at University of Tennessee Erlanger and national spokesperson for the American College of Emergency Physicians, suggested people ask: How many people will be there? How close will you be to all of those people? How well ventilated is the space or how much people can move around?"The more people, the more closely packed, and the more poorly ventilated the space, you can imagine that's a bad situation," she said. On the other hand, she said, going to an uncrowded, open-air restaurant with a friend or two is a lower risk. Many states and cities have implemented capacity limits to eliminate the possibility of walking into a crowded restaurant altogether. New York City, for one, has limited indoor capacity to 50% or less at <a href="https://ny.eater.com/2020/3/12/21175439/coronavirus-nyc-restaurant-capacity-reduce">venues including bars and restaurants</a> that seat under 500 people. Venues higher than that capacity have been ordered to close.But the rules vary by jurisdiction and much is left up to restaurants and individual patrons. If you live somewhere that hasn't instituted similar guidelines, Malik suggested avoiding places where groups of people are huddled around the bar or high-tops, as well as restaurants that have waiting areas where patrons are hanging out while they wait for their table to be prepared. "It's wise at this time to avoid being in close contact with strangers for any extended period of time given the facts about how this virus is spread," he said. <h2>Not all social distancing shields are created equal</h2>Some restaurants are getting creative with their set-ups to encourage dining at a distance.In Amsterdam, for example, one restaurant built <a href="https://www.insider.com/amsterdam-restaurant-mini-greenhouses-cubicles-social-distance-2020-5">small greenhouses</a> on its waterfront to physically separate outdoor diners. A café in Germany went with a more whimsical solution: handing out <a href="https://www.insider.com/german-cafe-pool-noodles-social-distance-2020-5">hats with pool noodles attached</a> to ensure that customers sit at a safe distance.Indoor dining poses more of a challenge, but in France, some restaurants are investing in <a href="https://www.insider.com/a-restaurant-is-testing-plastic-shield-pods-keep-diners-safe-2020-5">lampshade-like plastic shields</a> that cover individual patrons while they eat. <a href="https://www.insider.com/ways-restaurants-are-getting-social-distancing-right-2020-5#hotpots-are-enjoyed-in-thailand-with-the-help-of-plastic-barriers-18">Plastic partitions</a> also make it possible for friends to sit at the same table while social distancing.But not all solutions have been effective; namely, <a href="https://www.insider.com/face-shields-did-not-protect-people-from-coronavirus-swiss-outbreak-2020-7">plastic face shields</a> failed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus at a hotel in Switzerland. Swiss health officials, echoed by the World Health Organization and Dr. Anthony Fauci, said that, when in doubt, masks and social distancing are the best measures you can take to stay healthy. <h2>You probably won't get COVID-19 from <keyword id="6181" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Food">food</keyword></h2>There's <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/frozen-food-unlikely-to-transmit-coronavirus-like-in-new-zealand-2020-8?r=US&amp;IR=TIR=T">currently little to no evidence</a> suggesting you can contract the coronavirus from <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/food-and-COVID-19.html">handling or consuming food or drinks</a>. COVID-19 is a respiratory illness, so it's primarily spread through droplets released when someone coughs, sneezes, or talks."People should not fear food, or food packaging or processing or delivery of food," WHO head of emergencies programme Mike Ryan <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-who/people-should-not-fear-spread-of-covid-19-in-food-packaging-who-idUSKCN2592D5">told a briefing</a> in Geneva on Aug. 13. "There is no evidence that food or the food chain is participating in transmission of this virus. And people should feel comfortable and safe."Still, you may want to stick with restaurants you trust to be smart about food safety."I'd recommend avoiding restaurants that have poor ratings from food inspections — those are restaurants you'd want to avoid anyway," Sue Ann Bell, an assistant professor at the University of Michigan School of Nursing and expert on the health effects of disasters, told Insider.The restaurant industry is <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-fears-mcdonalds-starbucks-close-2020-1">taking its own precautions</a> to help keep customers and staff safe, with some adding hand-sanitizing stations or signs reminding people to wash their hands and stay home if they're sick."Restaurants take care and concern practicing safe food preparation and handling under normal circumstances," Larry Lynch, senior vice president of science and industry for the National Restaurant Association, said in a statement to Insider. "State and local food codes establish strict safe food handling requirements for restaurants, and operators are being proactive by stepping up existing cleaning and sanitation procedures."<div type="image" title="ubereats delivery" height="1984" width="3000" msid="77545310" hostid="261"></div><h2>Consider your community and other options </h2>As with all coronavirus prevention protocols, it's not just about keeping yourself safe, it's about keeping your neighbors and community healthy too, Dunning stressed. So, on the one hand that may mean healthy young people should consider eating in to avoid being a vector of illness for someone more vulnerable; but on the other hand it could mean patronizing a local establishment to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-gig-economy-with-lack-of-sick-leave-spreading-coronavirus-2020-3">help lower-wage workers continue to get their paychecks</a>.If you're vulnerable to the illness or would rather stay in, you can still help your community by ordering from a favorite restaurant through a service like Door Dash or Uber Eats, Bell said. Or, Dunning suggested, call ahead to see if you can pick something up to eat at home or buy a gift certificate from the joint to use later. "We all want to do our part," Dunning said. <ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/what-does-social-distancing-mean-how-you-can-practice-it-2020-3">What 'social distancing' actually means, and how to know if you should cancel your plans during the coronavirus outbreak</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mcdonalds-workers-push-for-paid-sick-leave-as-coronavirus-spreads-2020-3">McDonald's restaurant workers push for paid sick leave and updated safety policies as coronavirus spreads across the US</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/coronavirus-help-acts-of-kindness-good-deeds">10 heartwarming ways everyday heroes are helping people affected by coronavirus</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/when-is-too-late-to-get-flu-shot-coronavirus-2020-3">Why you should still get the flu shot, even though it won't directly protect you from the coronavirus</a></li></ul>

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