<ul><li><strong><a href="https://uhi.abdm.gov.in/">UHI </a>is a network that can enable interoperability in health services.</strong></li><li><strong>Through <keyword id="1766345" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="uhi" source="Orion">UHI</keyword> enabled applications, patients can discover, book, conduct and pay for services via an application of their choice.<br /></strong></li><li><strong>e-RUPI is a new fintech initiative for instant payment to healthcare service providers in the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.</strong></li></ul>Just like <keyword id="6358921" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="upi" source="Orion">UPI</keyword> revolutionized payment transactions in <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>, Unified Health Interface or UHI will revolutionize digital health service delivery, said Dr R S <keyword id="445" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="sharma" source="Orion">Sharma</keyword>, CEO, <keyword id="7183605" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="national-health-authority" source="Orion">National Health Authority</keyword>, <keyword id="191419" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="ministry-of-health-and-family-welfare" source="Orion">Ministry of Health and Family Welfare</keyword> at IFTA 2022 held in Mumbai. <br /><br />A foundational layer of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) stack, <a href="https://uhi.abdm.gov.in/">UHI </a>is a network of open protocols that can enable interoperability in health services. Through UHI enabled applications, patients can discover, book, conduct and pay for services offered by a variety of participating providers via an app of their choice. <br /><br />“UHI facilitates the ease of doing business for health care service providers by granting them access to a large number of users, through the medium of a common platform. This paradigm shift in healthcare delivery also gives rise to a sea of opportunities for the emerging HealthTech ecosystem” said Dr Sharma. <br /><br />Some of the services that will be included in UHI are teleconsultation, lab booking and ambulance services. <br /><br />The healthcare system is also working on enabling payments via e-RUPI, as part of a fintech initiative for instant payment to healthcare service providers - under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, a government funded health insurance scheme. <br /><br />e-RUPI is a person and purpose specific digital instrument based on the architecture of UPI. It’s a one-time, cashless, contactless prepaid digital voucher which can be availed through an SMS or QR Code. It can be redeemed without a card, digital payments app, or internet banking access. <br /><br />“e-RUPI will have myriad use cases: to start with, health, nutrition, education and agriculture are just a few areas that are going to benefit from it. A number of states have already started using e-RUPI for various benefit delivery programmes in their states,” Dr Sharma added. <br /><br />It was launched by <keyword id="12394777" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="national-payments-corporation-of" source="Orion">National Payments Corporation of</keyword> India (NPCI) in August <a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1743056">2021</a>. <br /><br />Dr Sharma believes that it is time that we innovate new products in the fintech industry which could be combined with healthtech for an affordable, scalable and accessible digital healthcare ecosystem.<br /><br />IFTA 2022 is a fintech event hosted by <keyword id="8249528" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="india-fintech-forum" source="Orion">India FinTech Forum</keyword>, an advocacy group. More than 2,750 fintech companies and over 30,000 individuals are members of this forum. <br /><br />SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/urban-company-grants-shares-worth-rs-5-2-cr-to-497-gig-workers/articleshow/95828715.cms">Urban Company grants shares worth Rs 5.2 cr to 497 gig workers</a><br /><a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/international/news/indonesia-relaunches-multiple-entry-visa-that-was-deactivated-during-the-pandemic/articleshow/95828509.cms">Indonesia relaunches multiple entry visa that was deactivated during the pandemic</a><br /><a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/tips-to-make-whatsapp-more-private-and-secure/articleshow/95825054.cms">Tips to make Whatsapp more private and secure</a><br /><br />

‘United Health Interface will do to service delivery what UPI did to payments’

The Reserve Bank of India (<keyword id="30067" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rbi" source="Orion">RBI</keyword>) on Thursday proposed to enhance the cap under <keyword id="11912975" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="e-rupi" source="Orion">e-RUPI</keyword> prepaid digital vouchers.<br /><br />The present cap of Rs 10,000 will be increased to Rs 1 lakh per voucher and such vouchers will be allowed to be used more than once, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said while announcing the latest monetary policy meeting outcome.<br /><br />This enhancement is expected to further facilitate the delivery of various government schemes to the beneficiaries more efficiently, he said.<br /><br />The e-RUPI pre-paid digital voucher developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) was launched in August 2021, Das added.<br /><br /><strong>SEE ALSO: </strong><a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/education/news/icai-ca-final-exam-results-announced-heres-how-to-check/articleshow/89477021.cms">ICAI CA final exam results announced — Here’s how to check</a><br /><a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/international/news/two-indian-cities-are-in-global-top-10-of-the-most-congested-places-to-drive-through-take-a-guess/slidelist/89476030.cms">Two Indian cities are in global top 10 of the most congested places to drive through – Take a guess</a>

RBI proposes to raise limit on e-RUPI vouchers to ₹1 lakh

<ul><li>Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch a new digital payment solution called <keyword id="11766571" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="e-RUPI">e-RUPI</keyword>.</li><li>Banks will issue electronic vouchers for customers to redeem welfare benefits without having to share bank account details.</li><li>The <keyword id="11772195" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="e-voucher">e-voucher</keyword> solution has the potential to eliminate fraud and corruption.</li></ul>The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi will be launching 'e-RUPI', an electronic voucher-based digital payment solution at 4:30 p.m IST on Monday. <br /><br />The person-specific, and purpose-specific, payment solution is developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) on its Unified Payment Interface (UPI) platform in collaboration with the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the National Health Authority. <br /><br /><strong>What is e-RUPI?</strong><br /><br />According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, e-RUPI is a cashless and contactless digital payment e-voucher in the form of a QR code or SMS string delivered to the beneficiary's mobile phone. <br /><br />The e-voucher can be redeemed at the service provider without needing a card, digital payment app or internet banking service. <br /><br />The e-RUPI is a one-time payment mechanism that does not require any physical interface for transactions and is considered safe as it's prepaid in nature. <br /><br />It ensures that the payment to the service provider is made only after the transaction is completed without involving any intermediary.<br /><br /><strong>How is e-RUPI different from a virtual currency?</strong><br /><br />e-RUPI can be used to make payments to a specific person, for a specific purpose, and is not transferable. <br /><br />On the other hand, a virtual or digital currency is just like normal currency but in digital form and can be used for any transaction. <br /><br /><strong>How are these vouchers issued?</strong><br /><br />The vouchers will be issued by partner banks but the bank account details of the beneficiary are not needed. <br /><br />NPCI has built the e-RUPI system on its UPI platform and anyone who needs to issue the voucher would need to approach partner banks with issuing authority. <br /><br />Entities giving the e-RUPI voucher will have to submit the details of specific beneficiaries and the purpose of the payment to the banks. The beneficiary's identification will be based on their mobile number and name.<br /><br /><strong>What's the need for e-RUPI?</strong><br /><br />The Indian government says that e-RUPI is expected to ensure a leak-proof delivery of welfare services and minimise fraud and corruption. Since it removes the middlemen and there's no direct cash involved, it eliminates the possibility of the fund being used for a purpose other than intended. <br /><br />It can be used for delivering services under government welfare schemes like drugs and nutritional support under Mother and Child welfare schemes, TB eradication programmes, drugs and diagnostics under schemes like Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, fertiliser subsidies etc.<br /><br />Not only government schemes but the voucher can also be used by the private sector for employee welfare and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>SEE ALSO - <br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/windlas-biotech-to-raise-395-402-crore-through-public-listing-price-band-fixed-at-448-460/articleshow/84854594.cms">Windlas Biotech to raise ₹395-402 crore through public listing, price band fixed at ₹448-460</a><br /></strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/googles-sundar-pichai-has-teased-the-whitechapel-chipset/articleshow/84853916.cms"><strong>Google teases Whitechapel chipset that may power Google Pixel 6 devices</strong></a><br />

e-RUPI explained —  India’s new electronic voucher-based payment system to reduce leakage in welfare programmes

<keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>'s first homegrown Messenger RNA (mRNA) Covid19 vaccine, being developed by Pune-based Gennova Biopharmaceuticals, is currently under final clinical trials, <keyword id="2665691" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NITI-Aayog" source="Orion">NITI Aayog</keyword>'s Member, Health, Dr <keyword id="9781408" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="v-k-paul" source="Orion">V.K. Paul</keyword>, said on Thursday.<br /><br />Briefing the media, he said that they are hopeful that they will be able to use this vaccine soon.<br /><br />"We need mRNA platform because it has shown that vaccines developed on this platform, at least for Covid-19, have been effective worldwide," said Paul, adding that beyond Covid, this platform will continue to be important as an option for future for other diseases also for which vaccines have been elusive. He termed it as an great development.<br /><br />Indian Council of Medical Research Director General, Dr Balram Bhargava, said that this is another vaccine which really establishes that India is heading towards becoming a vaccine superpower.<br /><br />"Because large parts of the population are vaccinated, we are not seeing the disastrous third Covid surge in terms of hospitalisations and mortality," he said.<br /><br />About the ongoing pandemic situation, Dr Paul said that the world had learned a great deal about pandemic and the virus, but doesn't know everything.<br /><br />The world should remain united to fight this virus and should continue to use the tools that are at our disposal, he added.<br /><br />"Some states including Kerala, Mizoram, Himachal Pradesh are still reporting a large number of cases. We cannot lower our guard," he said<br /><br /><strong>SEE ALSO:<br /><a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/online-travel-booking-portal-cleartrip-to-increase-its-workforce-by-end-of-this-year/articleshow/89481099.cms">Online travel booking portal Cleartrip to increase its workforce by 400 by end of this year</a><br /></strong><a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/rbi-proposes-to-raise-limit-on-e-rupi-vouchers-to-1-lakh/articleshow/89480944.cms"><strong>RBI proposes to raise limit on e-RUPI vouchers to ₹1 lakh</strong></a><br />

India's first mRNA COVID-19 vaccine under final trials, says Dr V.K. Paul

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Eating probiotic-packed foods boosts your <keyword id="12008980" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="gut-health" source="Orion">gut health</keyword> which can reduce bloating and gas.</li><li>Try fermented foods like kimchi, sauerkraut, and sourdough.</li></ul><p>Gut <keyword id="11894571" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="health" source="Orion">health</keyword> is an important part of overall wellness. </p><p>People with <a href="https://www.insider.com/probiotic-packed-meals-eat-for-gut-health-nutritionist-approved-2022-3">good gut health</a> tend to <a href="https://www.insider.com/probiotics">bloat less, have less gas, and have better mental health</a>.</p><p>Eating probiotic-packed foods like kimchi, sourdough, and kefir can help improve good bacteria in the gut, which can support immune health and aid digestion, <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/14598-probiotics">according to Cleveland Clinic.</a> Dietitian Sophie Medlin told Insider that foods like pickled vegetables and sauerkraut are probiotic-rich and good to incorporate into a <keyword id="11955817" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="vegan" source="Orion">vegan</keyword> diet.</p><h2>Breakfast </h2><h3>Kefir, oat, and berry smoothie</h3><div type="image" title="A berry oat smoothie" height="3237" width="4316" msid="90578508" hostid="261"></div><p>Kefir is a fermented milk drink, similar to yogurt but with a more sour taste. However, you can also get water-based kefir, which is vegan. Medlin suggests adding some to a smoothie with frozen berries, oats, and any plant-based milk.</p><p>"Although there isn't strong evidence that the bacteria in water kefir will reach the large bowel which is where we usually think of the benefits of probiotics occurring, they can still benefit the microbiome in our mouth and <br />esophagus," Medlin said.</p><h3>Sourdough with tofu and kimchi</h3><div type="image" title="Scrambled tofu on toast." height="3740" width="4987" msid="90578510" hostid="261"></div><p>Scrambled tofu is often served as a vegan alternative to scrambled eggs. Serve on top of sourdough with kimchee (Korean fermented cabbage) for a gut health boost.</p><p>"Sourdough toast has lots of probiotic bacteria and kimchi is a delicious spicy fermented cabbage, also high in probiotic bacteria and goes so well with scrambled tofu," Medlin said.</p><h2>Lunch</h2><h3>Salad with pickled vegetables</h3><div type="image" title="Pickled vegetables" height="3628" width="4837" msid="90578512" hostid="261"></div><p>Adding pickled vegetables to any meal is a great way to boost your gut health. Medlin recommends adding to a salad or serving as a side dish.</p><p>"Pickled carrots, cucumbers, radishes, and cauliflower are such a great probiotic rich snack or addition to a meal and they're so easy to make at home," she said. Try <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/quick_pickles_88178" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this easy recipe by Dr. Rupy Aujla for BBC Food.</a></p><h3>Jacket potato with sauerkraut</h3><div type="image" title="Sauerkraut" height="2808" width="3744" msid="90578514" hostid="261"></div><p>Sauerkraut (literally "sour cabbage") is traditional in Germany, often served with wurst (German sausage). But the pickled cabbage is a delicious and gut-healthy addition to any dish, Medlin said. She recommends adding sauerkraut to your favourite sandwich or as an extra topping to a jacket potato for a probiotic and taste boost.</p><p>"It is a delicious addition to lunch meals, lasts a long time in the fridge, and is great for boosting your probiotic intake," she said. You can buy it in jars or try making your own sauerkraut with <a href="https://thegutstuff.com/how-to/sauerkraut/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this easy recipe from The Gut Stuff. </a></p><h2>Dinner</h2><h3>Tempeh wrap with roasted vegetables and hummus</h3><div type="image" title="Tempeh wrap" height="4480" width="5973" msid="90578517" hostid="261"></div><p>Tempeh is traditional in Indonesia, and it's made of fermented soybeans and full of probiotics. Medlin recommends it as a meat substitute because it's packed with protein.</p><p>"It's so great with roasted vegetables or for making a salad satisfying," she said. "I also love it in wraps with salad and hummus. Medlin recommends <a href="https://frommybowl.com/easy-baked-tempeh/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this recipe for tasty crispy tempeh from Caitlin Shoemaker</a>.</p><h2>Drink</h2><h3>Kombucha</h3><div type="image" title="Kombucha" height="2576" width="3434" msid="90578519" hostid="261"></div><p>Kombucha is a drink that is traditionally made by fermenting tea, but it's widely available in many shops now.</p><p>"It is really refreshing as an extra bonus, it contains plant polyphenols which are also good for our gut health," Medlin said. If you want to try making your own, check out <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/kombucha_49471" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this recipe by Justine Pattison for BBC Food.</a></p>

5 vegan meals that are rich in gut-health boosting probiotics, dietitian approved

<ul><li><keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword>’s factories are reopening and that has led to job creation in July 2021, for the first time in 15 months.</li><li>New export orders showed an encouraging jump, according to the survey.</li><li>The <keyword id="122232" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Centre-for-Monitoring-Indian-Economy">Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy</keyword>, which releases weekly data, had also suggested some improvement in job creation in July.</li></ul>India’s factories are reopening and that has led to job creation in July 2021, for the first time in 15 months.<br /><br />The latest manufacturing purchasing manager’s index, compiled by IHS and Markit, shows that factory activity was at its highest in the last three months. This has led to a recovery, a marginal one, in hiring. This was the first time since March 2020 that India’s factories saw a net addition in <keyword id="11018" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jobs">jobs</keyword>.<br /><br /><div type="image" title="IHS Markit" msid="84969490" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;IHS Markit&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div><br />“Output rose at a robust pace, with over one-third of companies noting a monthly expansion in production, amid a rebound in new business and the easing of some local COVID-19 restrictions,” <keyword id="2835710" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pollyanna-De-Lima">Pollyanna De Lima</keyword>, Economics Associate Director at IHS Markit and author of the report, said.<br /><br />New export orders showed an encouraging jump, according to the survey. However, while production resumed, the cost of raw materials rose at a faster pace than the output.<br /><br />The Centre for Monitoring <keyword id="6356076" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-economy">Indian Economy</keyword>, which releases weekly data, had also suggested some improvement in job creation in July. “The July 2021 employment rate could end close to the March rate of 37.6 per cent. This is promising,” the report said. <br /><br /><div type="image" title="India&amp;#39;s employment rate" msid="84969646" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;India&amp;#39;s employment rate&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div><br />Not just that, the labour participation rate also improved to 41.1% in the week ended July 25 compared to 40% or lower in the preceding three months. There is a greater demand for jobs and most of this demand is being met, the CMIE report had added.<br /><br /><strong>SEE ALSO:<br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/e-rupi-the-e-voucher-solution-has-the-potential-to-eliminate-fraud-and-corruption/articleshow/84967798.cms">e-RUPI explained — India’s new electronic voucher-based payment system to reduce leakage in welfare programmes</a><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/nazara-is-building-up-esports-muscle-before-jio-dream11-and-others-attack/articleshow/84967452.cms">Nazara is building up esports muscle before Jio, Dream11 and others attack</a><br /></strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/policybazaar-ipo-all-you-need-to-know-the-details-of-sixth-largest-fintech-startup/articleshow/84967042.cms"><strong>All you need to know about the IPO from Policybazaar, India's sixth largest fintech startup</strong></a>

Indian factories added jobs for the first time in 15 months

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Authorities accused Disha Ravi, 21, of spreading a toolkit to support <keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="India">India</keyword>'s farmers' protest.</li><li>Delhi Police claimed Ravi shared the document with <keyword id="7425525" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Greta-Thunberg">Greta Thunberg</keyword>. </li><li>Ravi's arrest sparked global outrage as <keyword id="6354896" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="protests">protests</keyword> continue over new Indian agricultural laws.</li></ul><p>A 21-year-old <keyword id="6375923" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="climate">climate</keyword> activist was jailed in India after authorities accused her of circulating a document with information on how to support the <keyword id="828975" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="farmers-protests">farmers' protests</keyword>.</p><p>Disha Ravi's arrest comes after the document was shared on February 4 by climate activist Greta Thunberg, 18, who told her millions of Twitter followers they could use the toolkit "if you want to help."</p><p>The unsigned <a href="https://cryptpad.fr/pad/#/2/pad/view/ehTz+drfKPwi4fP5dn0mivwVCKhwNe7OD1YHDiBUj0Y/">document</a> has circulated on an encrypted website, but Indian authorities claimed in tweets Sunday that Ravi edited the toolkit. </p><p>Delhi Police confirmed Ravi's arrest in a tweet Sunday, claiming that she had shared the document with Thunberg. Police accused Ravi and collaborators of making the document to "spread disaffection against the Indian State."</p><p>Thousands of farmers in India have been protesting in New Delhi, the nation's capital, over new agricultural laws imposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government. Farmer unions have called the three laws, which were passed by India's Parliament in September 2020, "anti-farmer laws," as they would end protections that have "for decades protected them from the vagaries of the free market," <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/15/world/asia/climate-activist-jailed-india.html">The New York Times reported</a>.</p><p>The farmers' protests reached new <keyword id="6356001" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="international">international</keyword> attention when <a href="https://twitter.com/rihanna/status/1356625889602199552">Rihanna</a> shared a <a href="https://t.co/obmIlXhK9S?amp=1">CNN article</a> with her 101.8 million Twitter followers on February 2, writing, "why aren't we talking about this?! #FarmersProtest." <a href="https://t.co/obmIlXhK9S?amp=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"></a></p><p>Twitter said on February 10 that it had received "several separate blocking orders" from the Indian government to remove accounts of journalists, <keyword id="6355005" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="news">news</keyword> outlets, politicians, and political commentators who had supported the farmers' protest. The platform said it would not block those accounts, but that it had suspended 500 India-based accounts who were "engaging in clear examples of platform manipulation and spam," as <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/twitter-takes-down-accounts-india-farmers-protests-modi-pressure-2021-2">Insider's Isobel Asher Hamilton reported.</a></p><p><strong><div type="image" title="disha ravi india farmers protests" height="575" width="766" msid="80931513" hostid="261"></div></strong></p><p>Delhi Police claimed that the document was a call to "wage economic, social, cultural and regional war against India."</p><p>But the document's guidance only includes using certain hashtags on social media, contacting local representatives, signing petitions, and organizing or participating in the protests. </p><p>"This is not just about one country and its oppressed peoples, it's about common people across the world having the opportunity to be self-sufficient, feel secure about providing for their families, and live well," the document reads. </p><p>Several Indian politicians also denounced Ravi's arrest. Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi, called the arrest an "unprecedented attack on Democracy" in a Sunday tweet. "Supporting our farmers is not a crime," he said. Jairam Ramesh, a member of the Parliament of India, said he had "full solidarity" with Ravi. "This is unwarranted harassment and intimidation," he said of the arrest. </p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Jairam Ramesh  (@Jairam_Ramesh) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1360903091332251651?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2021</a></blockquote><p>The news of Ravi's arrest also sparked outrage worldwide. Poet Rupi Kaur said in a tweet that the "arrest is alarming and the world needs to pay attention." Meena Harris, an author and the niece of US Vice President Kamala Harris, told followers to "ask why activists are being targeted and silenced by the government." </p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Meena Harris  (@meenaharris) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1361012734477828098?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2021</a></blockquote><p>A Change.org <a href="https://www.change.org/p/prime-minister-of-india-immediately-release-disha-ravi-stop-targeting-india-s-youth-and-environmental-activists?recruiter=false&amp;utm_source=share_petition&amp;utm_medium=twitter&amp;utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&amp;utm_term=share_petition&amp;recruited_by_id=28a20b60-6f4f-11eb-a995-09af66ad4addeb-a995-09af66ad4add">petition</a> advocating for Ravi's release has reached more than 11,000 signatures as of Monday. </p>

21-year-old activist accused of making farmers' protest toolkit and sharing it with Greta Thunberg arrested in India

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The past several months of the pandemic, economic recession, police shootings, and anti-racism protests have prompted <keyword id="6360288" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="College">college</keyword> voters to "really see what's at stake."</li><li>Some <keyword id="6359700" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="college-students">college students</keyword> are encouraging their Gen Z peers to vote through video calls, social media campaigns, phone banking — and for some young Republicans, even door-knocking.</li><li>College students could be a key <keyword id="43546" type="EVENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Voting">voting</keyword> bloc in the election: Seven in 10 students said they were "absolutely certain" they will vote in a Knight Foundation/ College Pulse survey.</li><li>Three college students in swing state <keyword id="6397385" type="LOCATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="north-carolina">North Carolina</keyword> told Business Insider how they're trying to convince their peers to vote.</li></ul><p>Roughly an hour's drive apart, two college students in North Carolina are trying to convince their peers to vote. Julian Woods and Chase Gaines are on different sides of the political spectrum — the former's a Democrat, the latter's a Republican. But they both know how crucial young voters could be this presidential election.</p><p>Woods is a sophomore at North Carolina A&amp;T State University, and Gaines is a junior at NC State. Although the pandemic upended campus life and they now spend more time swapping between Zoom screens than running to lectures, the past several months of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/5-charts-how-coronavirus-economic-fallout-compares-to-great-recession-2020-5">economic</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/covid-coronavirus-killed-1-million-people-worldwide-2020-9">public health</a> crises coupled with <a href="https://www.insider.com/jacob-blake-shooting-kenosha-protests-photos-2020-8">police shootings and anti-racism protests</a> have taught them more than a poli-sci 101 class ever could.</p><p>"I think young voters really see what's at stake," 19-year-old Woods told Business Insider.</p><h2>College students could be a crucial voting bloc this election</h2><div type="image" title="college voters register to vote colorado" height="1667" width="2500" msid="78524685" hostid="261"></div><p>College students have emerged as an increasingly engaged voting bloc. A little over 40% of students voted in the 2018 elections, leaping from the 19% who voted in 2014, according to a survey of 10 million college students <a href="https://idhe.tufts.edu/2018-nslve-data-portal">from Tufts University.</a></p><p>This election has made <keyword id="6358883" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="politics">politics</keyword> more palpable for college voters who are just starting out their lives as adults. A survey of 4,000 college students from the <a href="https://knightfoundation.org/reports/college-students-voting-and-the-covid-19-election/">Knight Foundation and College Pulse</a> conducted in August found that 71% of students said they were "absolutely certain" they will vote in the upcoming election.</p><p>"We have a direct stake in it because we're the generation that has to live with the repercussions," Rupi Jain told Business Insider. A senior at the University of North Carolina, Jain is busy leading the "Young Democrats" group. "We are the generation that's going to be impacted the most. It's not going to be the boomers, it's not going to be the older folks who are currently running — it's us."</p><p>For <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-top-states-which-could-decide-biden-trump-presidential-election-2020#north-carolina-2">a swing state like North Carolina,</a> votes from college students could be critical. As we near the <keyword id="7600569" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="2020-election">2020 election</keyword>, students are squeezing in time between courses to get their peers to vote.</p><p>"The fact that everything has been put out in the open for young people to see how government can directly impact your life is going to activate young voters," Woods said. "It's now our job as leaders, whether you're doing partisan work or nonpartisan work, to make sure folks are now registered, make sure folks are informed."</p><h2>College Republicans are canvassing in person and virtually, but young Democrats are entirely online</h2><div type="image" title="north carolina kamala harris biden college students" height="1785" width="2500" msid="78524686" hostid="261"></div><p>Gaines said that after <keyword id="6355005" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="news">news</keyword> that <a href="https://www.insider.com/white-house-staff-members-who-had-covid-19-2020-10">President Donald Trump and several key Republicans tested positive,</a> it's "business as usual" for his chapter of Young Republicans. They're continuing to canvass in-person.</p><p>Wilson said the Young Democrats have not been doing any in-person activities and that "there are no plans in the near future" to do so.</p><p>"We're not really doing a ton of in-person work because it's not safe, obviously," Jain told Business Insider.</p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-student-college-university-campus-vote-covid-coronavirus-democrats-2020-8">Campaigns have been skeptical</a> if they can still reach college voters in this election because most of their social and political hubs — the university campus — are now scattered across laptop screens of Zoom lectures. But Gen Z voters have mastered the Internet, from Zoom to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-and-trump-gen-z-tiktok-2020-9">TikTok</a>.</p><p>Now that Woods typically no longer has to "be at" classes at a certain time, he'll usually try to get started on his coursework around 11 a.m. When the English major is not busy writing papers or looking for summer internships, you can find him in virtual board meetings planning virtual town halls.</p><p>"Sometimes you can kind of feel the Zoom fatigue," Woods said.</p><p>He said he's had to get creative with engaging his peers who might be lying in bed or who turn their camera off when they're in a virtual town hall. Now, whenever he organizes a Zoom speaker event he blasts music as people hop on the call to avoid the dreaded "awkward couple of first few moments."</p><p>Apart from dropping off sample ballots and early voting schedules around campus, Jain's group's efforts are mostly virtual, as well. They host weekly phone banks, virtual speaker events, and make social media posts to encourage voter registration.</p><p>Zoom is their meeting venue and Slack is their workspace.</p><div type="image" title="UNC Young Democrats" height="855" width="1141" msid="78524687" hostid="261"></div><p>Gaines has been canvassing both virtually and in-person for Republican candidates during the pandemic.</p><p>"We wear a mask, gloves. We step six feet back. We knock on someone's door," Gaines said. "Democrats in 2018 were knocking on doors. This year, I don't think they've knocked on any doors."</p><p>Gaines saw the difference in campaign strategy as a sign of an "enthusiasm gap."</p><p>Devonte Wilson, the president of the Young Democrats of North Carolina, told Business Insider that they are focusing on text and phone banking, "since that is the safest and most effective way to reach all of our voters this year."</p><p>North Carolina has more than 219,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and at least 3,637 deaths from the disease, <a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/region/us/north-carolina">according to Johns Hopkins University</a>.</p><p>In a <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/22/voters-to-trump-biden-dont-come-knocking-on-our-doors-419585">Politico/Morning Consult poll released last month</a>, 63% of voters nationwide said they "feel apprehensive about encountering canvassers outside their door."</p><h2>Why they do it</h2><p>Woods said the pandemic has acted as a wake-up call for his peers that "things that I kind of take for granted" like healthcare and education are "actually very much impacted by the folks who are in office."</p><p>"For juniors and seniors who are going to be graduating or folks who just graduated in May, they're realizing that this economy is not working as we know it can," Woods said.</p><p>Dubbed the "class of COVID-19," college students and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-internships-cancelled-college-student-job-2020-3">recent graduates are struggling to secure internship and job opportunities</a> in the pandemic.</p><p>One of the most important issues for Gaines is law enforcement "to protect our people and protect our communities."</p><p>Calling for "<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trumps-team-wont-pay-police-bills-touts-law-enforcement-support-2020-7">law and order</a>" is a common refrain among many Republicans, especially Trump, since demonstrations protesting police brutality and racism swept the nation after Minneapolis police killed George Floyd in May.</p><p>"Here in Raleigh, we've had a few protesting that turned into riots in the past," Gaines said. He noted that a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cvs-closes-some-stores-looting-protests-2020-6">CVS</a> "right down the street" was burned down.</p><p>While many conservatives have called for expanding police presence in response to protests, many progressives have <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/defunding-the-police-what-others-may-do-better-2020-6">advocated for the defunding of police,</a> arguing that more community investment and other ways of interventions including medical and social workers would handle situations like mental health crises more safely.</p><p>"I just want to see our people ... to have a conversation with one another and not be in a heated fight or be mad at whole monoliths of law enforcement," Gaines said. "I think it gets dangerous. I think people need to be able to talk to one another."</p><p>With fewer than 30 days until the election, Gaines, Woods, and Jain will be "Zoom"-ing and calling their peers. Before their classes break at the end of November, they have one big assignment: getting their peers to vote.</p><ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-student-college-university-campus-vote-covid-coronavirus-democrats-2020-8">Biden campaign desperate for digital access to students as college campuses remain closed and students don't know where they'll be on Election Day</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/american-voters-suburbs-are-changing-election-expectations-2020-9">The suburbs have changed a lot since 2016. They could be the determining factor between Biden or Trump.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/suburban-women-housewives-voters-trump-challenging-election">'I made a horrible mistake': Suburban women are rallying against Trump and slamming his belief that they'll vote for him</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-2020-voting-trends-2019-8">80% of Gen Z college students say they're voting in 2020 — and they've singled out student debt as their biggest concern</a></li></ul>

How college students in swing state North Carolina are trying to convince their peers to vote for Biden or Trump

<p><a href="https://instagram.com/rupikaur_/">An artist called Ruki Kaur</a> posted a photo on Instagram that shows a patch of period blood. It captures the 22-year-old fully clothed on a bed, facing away from the camera, during menstruation. Soon after, Instagram removed the image and told Kaur that it didn't follow its <a href="https://help.instagram.com/477434105621119/">"Community Guidelines."</a></p><div><div><iframe src="//instagram.com/p/0prtdPnA4w/embed/" width="658" height="" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowtransparency="true"></iframe></div></div><p><strong><br /></strong><a href="http://www.rupikaur.com/post/114575952705/rupikaur-thank-you-instagram-for-providing-me">You can see the original picture here.</a></p><p>After the first picture was removed, Kaur posted it again, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/rupikaurpoetry/photos/a.523823527711928.1073741828.513614775399470/821302664630678/?type=1&amp;theater">which Instagram again removed</a>.&#xa0;</p><div><div><iframe src="//instagram.com/p/0ovWwJHA6f/embed/" width="658" height="" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowtransparency="true"></iframe></div></div><p><span><br>After Instagram deleted the picture for a second time, Kaur took to other social media avenues to publish the image, <span>Vice Motherboard notes. Kaur published a long statement on&#xa0;</span></br></span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/rupikaurpoetry/photos/a.523823527711928.1073741828.513614775399470/821302664630678/?type=1&amp;theater">Facebook (which owns Instagram)</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/rupikaurpoetry/photos/a.523823527711928.1073741828.513614775399470/821302664630678/?type=1&amp;theater">&#xa0;and</a>&#xa0;<a href="http://www.rupikaur.com/post/114555496690/thank-you-instagram-for-providing-me-with-the">Tumblr to explain the purpose of the photo</a> to&#xa0;"demystify the period and make something that is innate 'normal' again."</p><p>She writes:</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">Thank you @instagram for providing me with the exact response my work was created to critique. you deleted a photo of a woman who is fully covered and menstruating stating that it goes against community guidelines when your guidelines outline that it is nothing but acceptable. the girl is fully clothed. the photo is mine. it is not attacking a certain group. nor is it spam. and because it does not break those guidelines i will repost it again.</p><p>Kaur is a visual artist and published poet with <a href="https://twitter.com/rupikaur_">thousands of fans and followers.</a> Many rallied behind her when she reported that Instagram had taken her art down without a seemingly valid reason. <span></span>The post is part of a project called "period," which challenges social stigma around women and periods.</p><p>Supporters of Kaur <a href="https://twitter.com/rupikaur_">point out</a> that Instagram <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/27/rupi-kaur-period-instagram_n_6954898.html?ncid=edlinkushpmg00000030">regularly displays women in bikinis and "sexy selfies,"</a> yet decides to remove images of women going through what they do every month.</p><div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Instagram welcomes pictures of women in bikinis and lingerie, but a period stain? Forbidden! <a href="http://t.co/vxXj0wkUY7">http://t.co/vxXj0wkUY7</a> <a href="http://t.co/kMTnJ89n5H">pic.twitter.com/kMTnJ89n5H</a></p>- Salon.com  (@Salon) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/581531928479838208">March 27, 2015</a></blockquote><script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div></div><div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>All women have periods, whether Instagram likes it or not. <a href="http://t.co/2BhSH4MGqD">http://t.co/2BhSH4MGqD</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/rupikaur_">@rupikaur_</a> <a href="http://t.co/0pchFdOnT1">pic.twitter.com/0pchFdOnT1</a></p>- Leili Bazargan  (@Leilibazargan) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/581526730269032449">March 27, 2015</a></blockquote><script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div></div><p><a href="http://motherboard.vice.com/read/instagram-is-sorry-it-accidentally-removed-a-photo-of-menstrual-blood-twice?utm_source=mbtwitter">Motherboard reports that Instagram</a><span>&#xa0;</span><span>removed the photo because it was "flagged" by another user and taken down in error. In turn,&#xa0;</span>Instagram has now apologised to Kaur and restored the picture:<strong><br><br /></br></strong></p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/551a7c7cdd089503118b4633-496-371/kaur.png" border="0" alt="Kaur"><p class="source"><span><a href="http://www.rupikaur.com/">Rupi Kaur/Instagram</a></span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">&#xa0;</span></span></p><p>But the issue is still upsetting. Kaur says that the "objectification and sexualisation" of women are okay, yet a vital part that helps "make humankind a possibility" is too explicit for Instagram.<a href="http://motherboard.vice.com/read/instagram-is-sorry-it-accidentally-removed-a-photo-of-menstrual-blood-twice?utm_source=mbtwitter"><br /></a></p><p>Today, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/mar/30/social-media-protecting-men-periods-breast-milk-body-hair">Jessica Valenti on the Guardian highlighted the hypocrisy of the situation</a>: "Breasts in barely-there bikinis are good, but breasts with babies attached them are questionable. Women wearing next to nothing is commonplace, but if you're over a size 10 your account may be banned."</p><p>It doesn't make sense for social media to "protect men" from breast milk and periods when there is constant flow of beach snaps and models in skimpy outfits.</p><p>"The broader message to women couldn't be clearer: SeXXXy images are appropriate, but images of women's bodies doing normal women body things are not," Valenti adds. "Or, to put a more crass point on it: Only pictures of women who men want to f---, please."</p><p><a href="http://www.rupikaur.com/">You can see Kaur's project and full statement here</a>.<a href="http://www.rupikaur.com/"></a>&#xa0;The image is now published on Instagram.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/jen-selter-belfies-instagram-background-kim-kardashian-butt-selfie-2015-2">Forget Kim Kardashian - the 'butt selfie' queen of Instagram is a 21-year-old from Long Island</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="4yYmk2czojuTR5jCduGtnG0enYdapsNF" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', '4yYmk2czojuTR5jCduGtnG0enYdapsNF',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

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