New Delhi, May 17 () Over 60 per cent of Delhi's <keyword id="29537" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="sex-workers">sex workers</keyword> have returned to their home states due to loss of means of livelihood amid the coronavirus-induced lockdown that pushed many of them to the brink of starvation. The fear of contracting the deadly pathogen has kept customers away, leaving a debilitating impact on sex workers in the city. Kusum, who is president of the All India Network of Sex Workers (AINSW) - a group of sex workers that assists others with legal rights, health issues and social security across the country, said over 60 per cent of the <keyword id="9235839" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="sex-workers-In-delhi">sex workers in Delhi</keyword> have already left for their home states. "The 60 per cent population accounts for around 3,000 sex workers. According to government figures, a total of registered 5,000 sex workers reside in Delhi," Kusum said. She said they were forced to leave the city after enduring weeks of struggle for basic facilities like food and medicines. Shalini, one such worker, moved back to her village in Uttar Pradesh after living for eight years in Delhi. "I ran away from my abusive home in UP at the age of 18. I wanted to be an actress but got into sex trade to support myself," 26-year-old Shalini told . "After getting into this business (sex trade), at least I was not struggling for food, I was not on streets. But ever since the coronavirus outbreak and the lockdown, I have zero customers and money is drying up," she said. Another sex worker Rajni (name changed) said she and her four-year-old son have not eaten properly in the last two months. "When my son fainted out of weakness two weeks back I decided to move back. I have some relatives in UP who do not know what I do here. I will stay with them for some days before figuring out what to do next," she added. Sharmila (name changed) who grew up as an orphan on the streets of Kanpur became a sex worker in Delhi five years ago to make ends meet. "But now there is no food, no medicines and no customers. It is impossible to survive any longer in Delhi with the savings that I have. The social distancing is going to hit our business more than anything so there is no point staying here," Sharmila, who is planning to move back to Kanpur, said. Rajni, Sharmila and Shalini are residents of the Garstin Bastion Road, or more famously G B Road, and now renamed Swami Shradhanand Marg. There are around 100 brothels on the one-kilometre stretch housing approximately 1,500 sex workers. Activists fear that many of these women who were on medication for different diseases, including HIV-AIDS, will not be able to get proper treatment in their hometowns. "We feel all the work which we did in the past years for HIV and other diseases would be of no use. Many of them who escaped abusive homes can again become victims of domestic violence. There are many concerns but mostly we are worried about their health," Kusum said. She further said that similar migration of sex workers is taking place in other cities too. Amit Kumar, the national coordinator for the AINSW, said the GB Road has completely shut down and most of its residents have returned to their hometowns. "We were doing our best to provide dry ration, medicines, masks and sanitiser. We also gave them basic information on HIV treatment," he said. Kumar said many of the sex workers went to their homes during Holi but they did not return after that. India is currently under the biggest lockdown with around 1.3 billion people asked to stay home in view of the coronavirus pandemic. The nationwide lockdown was initially imposed from March 25 to April 14, but was later extended till May 17 to contain the spread of the deadly disease. The virus has so far claimed 2,872 lives and infected over 90,000 people in the country. UZM SNE

Lockdown: Over 60% of sex workers in Delhi return to their home states

India can add 17 days of additional delay to reaching the peak of novel coronavirus cases, and prevent 72 per cent of projected new cases by closing down its red light areas till a COVID-19 vaccine is developed, scientists say. Based on modelling studies, the researchers including those from Yale School of Medicine in the US, said closing down these places of sex work may reduce projected COVID-19 death toll increase in India by 63 per cent post the easing of lockdown measures. They said Indians are at a much lower risk of getting COVID-19 if red light areas are kept closed after the lockdown until an effective treatment or vaccine for COVID-19 is developed. The scientists said the findings have been shared with the Government of India, and with various state governments. They have recommended a continued closure of red-light areas beyond full nation-wide reopening. They believe this can reduce the number of cases by 72 per cent in a period of 45-days, and delay the peak of COVID-19 cases by 17 days. This delay, according to the researchers, will provide the government more time and opportunities to plan and execute measures to protect public health and economy, as India moves in Lockdown 4.0. There could be a 63 per cent reduction in the number of deaths in the first 60 days after the lockdown ends, if red-light areas are kept closed, the report said. According to the National Aids Control Organization (NACO), India has close to 6,37,500 <keyword id="29537" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="sex-workers">sex workers</keyword>, and over 5 lakh customers visit the red-light areas on a daily basis, the scientists noted in a release. Their research said that if the red-light areas start operating, the disease will spread extremely quickly and infect a very high percentage of sex workers and customers. The scientists said the high transmission rate is because social distancing is not possible in sexual interactions. Infected customers could spread the disease to lakhs of other citizens, the scientists warned. Hence they believe that these red light areas have a combination of factors that can create a major hotspot. This hotspot can create a large percentage of the disease spread after lockdown ends, the researchers said. The report highlights the impact of red-light areas across India, and in five Indian cities which are currently in the red-zone. These cities, the scientists said, account for some of the largest red-light areas in the country with large numbers of sex workers. If the red-light areas are kept closed, they said there can be a delay in the peak of COVID-19 cases by up to 12 days in Mumbai, 17 days in New Delhi, and 29 days in Pune. With the proposed intervention, Nagpur and Kolkata may also see a peak delay by 30 and 36 days respectively, the researchers said. According to the scientists, the measure may also reduce COVID-19 cases by a fifth in Mumbai, by 27 per cent in Pune, and 31 per cent in New Delhi. In Nagpur they said there may be 56 per cent reduction in the number of projected cases, and by 66 per cent in Kolkata over a 45-day period. COVID-19 deaths may reduce by 28 per cent in Mumbai, 38 per cent in New Delhi, and by 43 per cent in Pune, the scientists said. In the first 60 days, the number of estimated deaths may reduce by more than 60 per cent for Nagpur and in Kolkata, they added. "Our study findings show that there is a strong effect of the red-light area closures, especially immediately following the lockdown," said study co-author, Jefferey Townsend, Professor of Biostatistics at the Yale School of Medicine. According to Townsend, the purpose of the modelling exercises was not to predict what will happen in the future, but to understand the effect of the intervention on the future. Citing examples of other countries where similar interventions were implemented, the scientists said, strip clubs and <keyword id="6411868" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="brothels">brothels</keyword> were the only businesses that are delineated as indefinitely closed in Australia's reopening plan. They said Germany and the Netherlands have also closed their brothels to protect citizens from COVID-19. The scientists added that Japan did not close down red-light areas in time, and saw an "explosion" in cases because of a red light area which left local hospitals "overwhelmed". Speaking about the COVID-19 situation in India, co-author of the report, Sudhakar Nuti from the Harvard Medical School said, "The continued closure of red-light areas would build on the successes achieved by the government in lockdown." "Any effort in delaying the peak reduces the amount of stress on the medical system and potentially translates into lives saved," Nuti explained. "Preventing the potential surge in cases by red light areas reopening will protect gains made by the lockdown," he added. According to the scientists, the suggested intervention may help potentially save the lives of thousands of sex workers across India. They suggested measures to the government to address the health, safety, and well-being of sex workers in these areas. These include reliefs as part of the government's financial relief scheme for the poor during COVID-19, and investment in reintegrating sex workers into other occupations given the closure. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/uber-ride-in-gurgaon-of-driver-seat-in-plastic-goes-viral-on-tiktok-and-instagram/articleshow/75771489.cms">Video of an Uber ride is all the rage on TikTok and Instagram ⁠— the driver got himself a cockpit covered in plastic</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/at-least-24-migrant-workers-killed-and-36-injured-on-their-way-home-from-rajasthan/articleshow/75770823.cms">At least 24 migrant workers killed and 36 injured on their way home from Rajasthan</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/indian-women-dont-like-being-gig-workers/articleshow/75757460.cms">Indian women don’t like being gig workers ⁠— the potentially $455 billion industry has to woo them with fair pay to start with</a>

India can avoid 72% of projected COVID-19 cases by closing brothels and red light areas

New Delhi, May 10 () A PIL has been filed in the Delhi High Court, seeking direction to the Centre and the AAP government to take steps for protection, social security and welfare measures, including food, accommodation and medicines, for sex workers and the LGBT community during the lockdown.The plea is scheduled to come up for hearing on Monday before a bench of justices Rajiv Sahai Endlaw and Sangita Dhingra Sehgal.The plea seeks effective measures to provide financial aid, food, shelter and medicines to sex workers and LGBT community members in Delhi to ensure their survival during the lockdown imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19 and to constitute a committee for rehabilitation of sex workers.Petitioner and advocate Anurag Chauhan said the PIL was filed for the welfare of sex workers and members of the LGBT community who do not have access to financial aid during the lockdown.The plea also seeks a direction to the authorities to take steps to exempt them from paying rent and also to set up a separate helpline to counsel them and address their problems during the period of the pandemic.The petitioner said he had given a representation to the Delhi chief minister and the lieutenant governor on May 2, highlighting the grievances of the sex workers and the members of the LGBT community but no steps were taken."There is no particulars or details found regarding grant of any financial aid and scheme to sex workers and LGBT community people by the Delhi government, despite exercise of due diligence by the petitioner and other people in the society," the plea said.It said the COVID-19 lockdown has adversely affected all sections of the society, be it rich or poor, and one such section was of sex workers, who are struggling everyday to survive as the present situation has led to a financial crisis and a lack of basic amenities for them. SKV HMP IJT

Lockdown: PIL in HC to take steps for protection, welfare of sex workers, LGBT members

The entire list and a brief profile of 'Delhi ke nirmata'⁠— the makers of Delhi felicitated at Kejriwal's oath taking ceremony

New Delhi, There is an extreme shortage of medical abortion drugs across the country, with acute crisis due to lack of stocks in Delhi, Punjab, <keyword id="20154" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="tamil-nadu">Tamil Nadu</keyword>, Haryana and <keyword id="6355554" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Madhya-Pradesh">Madhya Pradesh</keyword>, a study on Monday revealed. The study conducted by the Foundation for Reproductive Health Services on 1,500 chemists showed that merely one per cent of the chemists in Punjab, two per cent in Tamil Nadu and Haryana, 6.5 per cent in Madhya Pradesh and 34 per cent in Delhi have stocked the abortion drug. The state which fared best is Assam at 69.6 per cent. As per the study, the non-stocking of drugs seems to be linked with over-regulation by drug control authorities. About 79 per cent of chemists do not stock the drugs to avoid legal issues and excessive documentation requirements. Even in Assam, which has the highest stocking percentage, 58 per cent chemists report over-regulation of drugs. State-wise legal barriers continue to be a <keyword id="5636325" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="major-reason">major reason</keyword> for non-stocking of the abortion drugs, with 63 per cent chemists in Haryana, 40 per cent in Madhya Pradesh, 74 per cent in Punjab and 79 per cent in Tamil Nadu reporting so. FRHS Chief Executive Officer V.S Chandrashekar told IANS: "The main reason for not stocking drugs is over-regulation by local drug authorities. Even while it is a Schedule K drug and is even given to ASHA workers to distribute in communities, many retailers are not stocking them due to misconceptions and legal barriers." He added that medical abortion drugs are the most <keyword id="9732617" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="preferred-method">preferred method</keyword> with 81 per cent of abortions being administered through them and hence their lack of availability hinders women, who do not wish to opt for surgical abortion methods. "In the midst of the pandemic when movement of people is restricted and clinical methods of family planning are not adequately available, there is a dire need to ensure unrestricted access to drugs," said Chandrashekar, who is also the member of Pratigya Campaign Advisory Group. While the purpose of the study was to verify the availability of drugs, the findings also reveal that Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECP) are not being stocked by chemists in the state of Tamil Nadu. Only 3 per cent of the chemists surveyed in the state reported stocking ECPs and 90 per cent not stocking shared that the pills are banned in the state. Emergency Contraceptive Pills are non-prescription drugs and are also stocked and distributed by ASHAs under the National Family Planning Program. Not allowing chemists to stock ECP denies women of Tamil Nadu a safe and easy to use contraceptive choice. The primary reason for non-availability of MA drugs seems to be the incorrect understanding that medical abortion combipacks can be used for gender biased sex selection among regulatory officials.A Medical abortion combipacks is indicated for use only up to nine weeks while an ultrasound can detect the sex of the fetus at 13-14 weeks gestation. Chemists, however, do not seem to share this misconception, only about 10 per cent chemists across the states where the study was conducted, reported that MA drugs can be used for sex-selective termination of pregnancy. In Tamil Nadu however, 36 per cent have this misunderstanding. "The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare should clarify that MA drugs which are approved for use up to nine weeks in India cannot be used for sex selective termination of pregnancy. This will allow women to seek medical support and access drugs with a prescription," said Dr <keyword id="9732618" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="rashmi-ardey">Rashmi Ardey</keyword>, Clinical Services Director, FRHS India Scrutiny and over-regulation, leading to non-availability of MA drugs is a major cause of concern and is likely to result in millions of women being denied access to a safe abortion method. WHO in 2019, included MA drugs in its Core List of Essential Medicines, removing an earlier advisory which required medical supervision while taking the drugs. Removing unnecessary barriers in stocking of MA drugs will ensure that women are able to access the method of their choice. "Non availability of MA will push women to seek surgical abortion which can be cost intensive and can further widen the access gaps," said Debanjana Choudhuri, Senior Manager-Partnerships, FRHS India. The study recommends addressing misconceptions regarding medical abortion and gender-biased sex-selection; harmonising Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation approvals and the MTP Act, amending rules to allow MBBS Doctors to prescribe MA drugs increasing investments in safe abortion communication and providing support to women who access drugs by setting up toll-free helpline numbers.

Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, MP, TN are facing a shortage of abortion pills amid COVID-19 outbreak

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/49501868.cms" /><keyword id="6494550" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Dussehra">Dussehra</keyword>, the day when Lord Rama killed <keyword id="42776" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ravana">Ravana</keyword>, commemorates the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=triumph+of+good+over+evil">triumph of good over evil</a>. People celebrate it by burning effigies of ten-head Ravana, symbolizing burning of evil, greed, etc. However, Ravana is still alive today in various forms. Are they not Ravanas who carry out terror attacks, killing innocent people? Are they not Ravanas who <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=rape">rape</a>? Are they not Ravanas who divide and kill people in the name of religion? They are monsters of the present time and a threat to the mankind. They should be burnt too. 
 
While we burn effigies of Ravana this year to show that good will always prevail over bad, we must also burn effigies of at least ten evils of the society which are listed below: 
 1. <keyword id="6358165" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="terrorism">Terrorism</keyword>: It is a grave issue not only in India but world over. In India, at least 205 of the country’s 640 districts are affected by <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=terrorist+">terrorist</a> activities. Terror attacks caused 231 deaths alone in the year 2012 in India, compared to 11,098 terror-caused deaths worldwide, as per report by the State Department of the United States. So burn the effigies of terror groups this Dussehra. 
 2. <keyword id="6416731" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Communalism">Communalism</keyword>: Why do people construct religious or <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=ethnic+identity">ethnic identity</a>? Is there any benefit of inciting strife between people of different communities and stimulate communal violence. Why to kill people in the name of religion when it is written nowhere in any religious book to do so. Let’s burn it forever and be united in all odds. 
 3. <keyword id="39493" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Rape">Rape</keyword>: Recently, we were shocked by a spate of rape cases involving young children, one was about 2-year-old and the other was 5-year-old. It has been reported that the number of rape cases in India have been steadily rising over the past decade. This is because more women are coming out to report such incidents, which is a good sign. But why is it happening? Kill it! Burn it! 
 4. <keyword id="84827" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Road-rage">Road rage</keyword>: It can lead to altercations, assaults, and collisions that result into injuries and even deaths. According to a survey by the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Delhi+Traffic+Police">Delhi Traffic Police</a>, the city witnessed a rise in such cases because of the “worsening behaviour” of motorists. It says aggressive driving accounted for 25% of such cases, while continuous flashing of headlights accounted for 27%, persistent honking 25% and verbal insults and rude gestures accounted for 23%. Why are we losing our cool? It is time to think. 
 
5. Female foeticide: According to the 2011 census, the sex ratio in the 0 to 6 age group has increased from 102.4 males per 100 females in 1961, to 104.2 in 1980, to 107.5 in 2001, to 108.9 in 2011. However, it is within the normal range in eastern and southern Indian states, but significantly higher in Punjab, Haryana and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Jammu+%26+Kashmir">Jammu &amp; Kashmir</a>. It is crime to kill a female foetus, however it is continuing. 
 
6. Drug addiction: Around 2 million people use opiates drug and 62.6 million are alcohol users in India, according to a survey in 2004. The number of incidents of drug abuse among children is on rise. It goes beyond alcohol and tobacco, and often also involves <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=cocaine%2C+heroin+and+opium">cocaine, heroin and opium</a>. According to a 2012 survey by the government, boys aged between 15-19, shows that a shocking 28.6% reported tobacco use and 15% were addicted to alcohol. Girls aged 15-19 showed 5.5% used tobacco while 4% were addicted to alcohol. This is alarming! 
 
7. Domestic violence: Domestic abuse includes physical, emotional and sexual violence of any form. According to a National Family and Health survey in 2005, total lifetime prevalence of domestic violence was 33.5% and 8.5% for sexual violence among women aged 15-49. The instance of violence was reported to be lowest among Buddhist and Jain women, while highest among Muslim women in India. 
 8. <keyword id="6357490" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Human-trafficking">Human trafficking</keyword>: People are being illegally trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labour. Various NGOs estimate this problem affects 20 to 65 million Indians. Girls are trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced marriages, especially in areas where the sex ratio is low. Children are subjected to forced labour as factory workers, domestic servants, beggars, and agriculture workers, and also used as armed combatants by terrorist and insurgent groups. 
 9. Prostitution: Mumbai and <keyword id="6354925" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kolkata">Kolkata</keyword> have the country's largest brothel based sex industry, with over 100,000 sex workers in Mumbai alone. The Indian law bans the acts of trafficking, procuring, detaining, pimping, lending a premise for carrying on prostitution for running a brothel. However, the law aims to punish the exploiters such as madams, pimps, traffickers, customers, and other partners aiding the exploitative sex trade but not the prostitute. 
 
10. Casteism: A lot of problems in India can be attributed to casteism. Discrimination on the grounds of caste has led to social tremors and stealing someone's rights in a secular country like India. It affects the society by making people more exposed to prejudice, stereotyping and other things. These differences in rankings often cause disputes within the society. 
 
(Image: Indiatimes)

Have you burnt effigies of these 10 Ravanas this Dussehra?

<keyword id="2379" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="california" source="Orion">California</keyword> Governor <keyword id="173696" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="gavin-newsom" source="Orion">Gavin Newsom</keyword> on Monday declared a state of emergency due to the spread of the monkeypox virus in order to "bolster the state's vaccination efforts". "California is working urgently across all levels of government to slow the spread of monkeypox, leveraging our robust testing, contact tracing and community partnerships strengthened during the pandemic to ensure that those most at risk are our focus for vaccines, treatment and outreach," dpa news agency quoted <keyword id="173698" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="newsom" source="Orion">Newsom</keyword> as saying in statement on Monday. According to the latest update by the <keyword id="116293" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention" source="Orion">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</keyword> (CDC), California's overall monkeypox caseload currently stood at 827, the second highest after the worst-hit <keyword id="6355838" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="new-york" source="Orion">New York</keyword> state with 1,390 cases. California reported that 98.3 per cent of the positive monkeypox cases were confirmed in men, the majority of whom identify as part of the <keyword id="729067" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="lgbtq" source="Orion">LGBTQ</keyword> community. The virus is largely spreading among men who have sex with men as well as transgender and non-binary people. Newsom's proclamation makes it easier for the state to coordinate its response to the outbreak and allows EMS workers to administer vaccines. The Governor's office said California has distributed more than 25,000 doses of the vaccine out of a total of 61,000 doses received to date. The <keyword id="14015862" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="jynneos" source="Orion">Jynneos</keyword> vaccine in particular remains in short supply across the nation. The office said more than 30 facilities and providers across the state are offering treatment for monkeypox, though access to the antiviral prescription drug tecovirimat is also limited. "We'll continue to work with the federal government to secure more vaccines, raise awareness about reducing risk, and stand with the LGBTQ community fighting stigmatization," Newsom said. The symptoms of monkeypox are similar to smallpox, though usually milder. Those infected by the virus initially have a fever, aches, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion. Later they develop a rash, usually starting on the face and then spreading, turning into pus-filled sores before they fall off. SEE ALSO : <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/nirmala-sitharaman-says-indias-fundamentals-are-perfect-no-recession-stagflation-risk/articleshow/93288023.cms">Nirmala Sitharaman says India's fundamentals are perfect; no recession, stagflation risk</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/delhi-records-second-monkeypox-case-nationwide-tally-reaches-6/articleshow/93287694.cms">Delhi records second monkeypox case, nationwide tally reaches 6</a>

California declares state of emergency due to monkeypox outbreak

New Delhi, Apr 16 () The government must integrate concerns of the transgender community in all their policy and strategy for disaster mitigation in view of the coronavirus outbreak, NGOs have said.They also said the matter is particularly urgent as the community members are perceived to be at high risk of contracting the HIV and that many are possibly into substance use which is very harmful in the current situation.In an appeal to the government, the Centre for Advocacy and Research (CFAR), a non-profit organization, and its partner Sakha said transgenders must be included as a group in all policies and actions devised for disaster mitigation during the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.CFAR works for the rights of a cross section of marginalised communities such as the urban poor, girls, unorganised workers, transgenders and sexual minorities, single women, HIV-positive people and sex workers."Just when we were beginning to work systematically with the government and all key stakeholders to build a supportive policy framework and an enabling environment for social acceptance and inclusion of transgenders across services and entitlements, this pandemic has again brought to the forefront the high cost of social exclusion and gender inequality," CFAR Executive Director Akhila Sivadas said.Concurring with the concern of CFAR, Meera Parida, the co-founder of Sakha, said, "COVID-19 outbreak has pushed us back to those times when we were struggling to come to terms with our identity, get heard and save ourselves from life-threatening challenges like HIV."In the context of the raging novel coronavirus epidemic, she urged the government to integrate transgender concerns in all policy and strategy."As a transgender, one has to be more prepared to avert the risk of getting infected by coronavirus and this is particularly urgent as the group is perceived as being at high risk of contracting the HIV and that many are possibly into substance use, which is very harmful in the present context," Parida said. Transgender persons, she said, were struggling for basic necessities, and were worse off than others regarding their access to food and other essentials such as water and sanitation. UZM NSDNSD

COVID-19: Govt must integrate transgender concerns in all policy and strategy, say NGOs

Welcome back to <a href="http://newsletter.businessinsider.com/join/10-things-in-politics">10 Things in Politics</a>. <a href="http://newsletter.businessinsider.com/join/10-things-in-politics">Sign up here to receive this newsletter</a>. Send tips to <a href="mailto:bgriffiths@insider.com">bgriffiths@insider.com</a> or tweet me at <a href="https://twitter.com/BrentGriffiths">@BrentGriffiths</a>.Here's what we're talking about:<ul><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/taliban-warn-consequences-if-us-extends-august-31-withdrawal-deadline-2021-8">Taliban warn of 'consequences' if the US extends its military presence in Afghanistan</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/6-ad-executives-on-how-to-win-over-the-vaccine-hesitant-2021-8">6 advertising executives on how to win over the vaccine hesitant</a></li><li><a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2021/08/23/pelosi-budget-package-showdown-506589">House Democrats are locked in a standoff over their $3.5 trillion spending plan</a></li></ul>With Phil Rosen.<hr />1. BIDEN'S LOOMING DECISION: President Joe Biden will have to run the gauntlet on his Afghanistan exit. He is mulling extending his self-imposed deadline for US forces to leave Kabul by August 31. An extension would be welcomed by many American allies, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uks-johnson-push-biden-afghan-deadline-extension-2021-08-23/">including the UK</a>, that have been pressing for such a decision. But the Taliban have threatened "consequences" if the US extends its longest war.Biden could make his decision as soon as today: <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2021/08/23/politics/afghanistan-kabul-airport-military-deadline/index.html">The Pentagon has told the White House it needs a quick decision</a>, given the amount of time it will take to withdraw the nearly 6,000 troops on the ground - and their equipment - after the civilian evacuations conclude, CNN reports.<ul><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/taliban-warn-consequences-if-us-extends-august-31-withdrawal-deadline-2021-8">The Taliban have drawn a red line</a>: "If the US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations - the answer is no. Or there would be consequences," a spokesman for the militant group told Sky News.</li></ul>An extension would also come amid security concerns: US troops are using alternative routes to the airport because of the threat posed by an Islamic State cell, CNN reports. <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/21/politics/kabul-airport-terror-warning/index.html">The Pentagon is aware that large crowds create a target for terrorist groups</a>. Violence is already occurring, as an Afghan officer <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kabul-airport-firefight-afghan-guards-gunmen-death-injuries-2021-8">was killed Monday in a firefight with "unknown attackers."</a><ul><li>But it could also leave Afghans who helped Americans out in the cold: Officials told The Washington Post that an extension would most likely focus on evacuating remaining Americans, not Afghans trying to flee. <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/biden-kabul-evacuations-extension-pressure/2021/08/23/c649f182-0425-11ec-ba15-9c4f59a60478_story.html">Access to the airport is already said to be largely if not entirely cut off to Afghans who worked for the US</a>.</li><li>Not extending the deadline poses its own problems: The House Intelligence Committee's chairman, Rep. Adam Schiff, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/schiff-says-its-unlikely-get-everyone-out-afghanistan-by-deadline-2021-8">told reporters on Monday that the US was unlikely to get everyone out in just a week</a>.</li></ul><a href="https://www.insider.com/crowds-at-kabul-airport-so-large-seen-from-space-satellite-2021-8">The crowds at the airport are so large they can be seen in satellite photos</a>.<hr />2. FDA approves COVID-19 vaccine for first time: The Food and Drug Administration issued full approval for Pfizer and BioNTech's shot, which will now be marketed under the brand name Comirnaty. Public-health officials, virologists, and legal experts think <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pfizer-covid-19-vaccine-gains-full-fda-approval-2021-8">full approval could help persuade more hesitant people to get vaccinated</a>.<ul><li>Key stat: A recent poll found 30% of adults said they would be more likely to be vaccinated if one of the three shots already used in the US received full FDA approval. <a href="https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/poll-finding/kff-covid-19-vaccine-monitor-june-2021/">That scenario has now happened</a>.</li></ul>The new "Mad Men" think they know how to sell the shot: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/6-ad-executives-on-how-to-win-over-the-vaccine-hesitant-2021-8">6 advertising executives on how to win over the vaccine hesitant</a>.WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-delta-variant-changed-course-of-pandemic-2021-8">How the Delta variant has changed the course of the pandemic</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-delta-variant-changed-course-of-pandemic-2021-8"><div type="image" title="Insider video" height="618" width="1174" msid="85591327" hostid="261"></div></a><ul><li>Fauci says COVID-19 can be brought under control by spring 2022: Dr. Anthony Fauci said on CNN that he misspoke during an earlier interview in which he said the US might not be able to get a grip on the pandemic until fall 2022. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fauci-covid-19-can-be-brought-under-control-spring-2022-2021-8">Medical experts say the longer people remain unvaccinated, the greater the chance another variant will arise</a>.</li></ul><hr />3. House Democrats are locked in a standoff over a major proposal: Speaker Nancy Pelosi sent lawmakers home after midnight after hours of negotiations with centrist Democrats failed to yield a deal to move forward on the party's massive $3.5 trillion spending plan, Politico reports. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, the de facto leader of the holdouts, had been moving toward cutting a deal with Pelosi, but five other lawmakers are still dug in. <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2021/08/23/pelosi-budget-package-showdown-506589">The latest on the internal drama over a massive part of Biden's agenda</a>.<hr /><div type="image" title="New York Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul speaks during a news conference the day after Governor Andrew Cuomo announced his resignation at the New York State Capitol, in Albany, New York, U.S., August 11, 2021." height="1664" width="2500" msid="85591329" hostid="261"></div>4. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/onlyfans-platform-alternatives-sex-work-entrepreneurs-2020-11"></a>Kathy Hochul is now governor of New York: Hochul was sworn in early Tuesday as the first woman to lead the Empire State, following Andrew Cuomo's decision to resign amid sexual-harassment allegations, The New York Times reports. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/24/nyregion/kathy-hochul-governor-ny.html">Hochul will have to juggle numerous pressing issues right away</a>.<ul><li>Cuomo reportedly tried to get rid of his dog: Staffers were asked whether they wanted Captain - a shepherd, Siberian, and malamute mix - the Times Union reports. A Cuomo representative denied the now-former governor tried to paw off his friend. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cuomo-dog-captain-left-behind-governor-mansion-moving-out-ny-2021-8">More on the dog days</a>.</li></ul><hr />5. Far-right host Alex Jones breaks with Trump over vaccines: Jones shamed former President Donald Trump for advising attendees of his rally in Alabama over the weekend to get vaccinated. "Maybe Trump's actually a dumbass," Jones said. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/far-right-talk-show-host-alex-jones-calls-trump-dumb-2021-8">Some people at the rally even booed Trump after his suggestion</a>.<hr />6. Vice President Kamala Harris issues major rebuke of China: Harris called out Beijing for its incursion into the South China Sea, saying during an address in Singapore that its actions there amounted to "coercion" and "intimidation," the Associated Press reports. The vice president is trying to use her trip through Southeast Asia to cement the US's commitment to its allies in the region. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-business-969fe25162023468754e57746d6da80d">Harris' comments come at a critical time for the White House</a>.<hr />7. Capitol Police finds shooting of rioter Ashley Babbitt was "lawful": The department's decision to formally close its investigation follows the Justice Department's determination that charges were not warranted, The Times reports. Babbitt was among a group of people who tried to push their way through the entrance to the Speaker's Lobby not far from where officers were evacuating lawmakers from the House chamber on January 6. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/23/us/politics/capitol-police-ashli-babbitt.html">More on the news</a>.<hr /><div type="image" title="Smog Tower in New Delhi" height="3666" width="4888" msid="85591331" hostid="261"></div>8. India installs its first "smog tower" consisting of 40 giant fans: The Indian capital of New Delhi opened the country's first "smog tower" in a bid to purify the air in the world's most polluted capital city, but experts aren't convinced it's effective. <a href="https://www.insider.com/new-delhi-first-smog-tower-40-giant-fans-filter-pollution-2021-8">Critics say the government should focus on reducing emissions instead of building smog towers</a>.<ul><li>Deadly heat waves have spurred the hiring of "chief heat officers" all over the world: From Miami to Athens, these new leadership positions are meant to guide tourists and citizens through extreme weather and explore new ways to cool cities down. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/heatwave-miami-athens-chief-heat-officers-climate-crisis-extreme-temperatures-2021-8">See the view from these "urban heat islands."</a></li></ul><hr />9. Sex workers are furious over OnlyFans' policy change: Insider checked in with three sex workers to discuss OnlyFans' new restrictions on sexually explicit content. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/onlyfans-sex-workers-on-adult-explicit-content-ban-2021-8">They shared how they'd adapt: "We'll find a way to survive this exodus," one said</a>.<ul><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/onlyfans-platform-alternatives-sex-work-entrepreneurs-2020-11">These are some of the alternatives they may turn to</a>.</li></ul><hr />10. Stop counting your steps. Instead, count your minutes: Doctors say you could more readily meet your health goals by focusing on daily movement rather than step count. Daily activity counters and avoiding a sedentary schedule can help keep you healthy and mobile. <a href="https://www.insider.com/minutes-moved-better-activity-target-than-steps-count-doctors-say-2021-8">The 10,000-steps-a-day rule is arbitrary</a>.<hr />Today's trivia question: Over the weekend, Harris <a href="https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/us-vice-president-kamala-harris-orchid-welcome-istana-official-visit-2130576">received an orchid named in her honor</a>. In her native California, the world's second-largest tree is named after which president? Email your guess and a suggested question to me at <a href="mailto:bgriffiths@insider.com">bgriffiths@insider.com</a>.<ul><li>Today's answer: Chuck Hagel, the former defense secretary and senator, was the only federal politician to receive a donation from Alex Trebek. The Nebraska Republican and the legendary "Jeopardy!" host <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/georgetownuniversity/7091100151">met when Hagel was CEO of the USO</a>. As for replacing Trebek, the former "Big Bang Theory" star Mayim Bialik <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/23/media/mayim-bialik-jeopardy/index.html">will be the show's first guest host after Mike Richards withdrew</a>.</li></ul>

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<ul><li>Around 550 women's issues experts from around the world were asked to rank the top 10 amongst the 193 United Nations member states.</li><li><keyword id="3658" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> came in first followed by <keyword id="6354541" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="afghanistan">Afghanistan</keyword>, <keyword id="6354913" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="syria">Syria</keyword>, Somalia and <keyword id="50996" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Saudi-Arabia">Saudi Arabia</keyword>.</li><li>Cases of crimes against women rose by nearly 40% to a staggering 338954 cases between 2012 and 2016. </li></ul> Another feather has been added to India’s cap of shame. The country topped the list of ‘10 most dangerous countries for women’, based on a survey by <a href="http://poll2018.trust.org/">Thomson Reuters Foundation</a>. <div type="image" title="top 10 dangerous countries for women" tempid="364831" msid="64752461" hostid="261"></div>

 Around 550 women's issues experts from around the world — that included academics, health workers, policy-makers and NGO workers, of which 43 are based in India — were asked to rank the top 10 amongst the 193 United Nations member states based on six main categories: healthcare, discrimination, cultural traditions, sexual violence, and human trafficking. Of these, India has managed to bag the first position in three categories - <ul><li>Cultural traditions that include acid attacks, <keyword id="6454554" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Female-genital-mutilation">female genital mutilation</keyword>, child marriage, forced marriage, stoning, physical abuse or mutilation as a form of punishment/retribution and female infanticide. </li><li>Sexual violence that includes rape as a weapon of war, domestic rape, rape by a stranger, the lack of access to justice in rape cases, sexual harassment and coercion into sex as a form of corruption.</li><li>Human trafficking that includes domestic servitude, forced labour, bonded labour, forced marriage and <keyword id="464950" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="sexual-slavery">sexual slavery</keyword>. </li></ul> 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">&quot;The way they look at girls. The way they check you out. The way they follow you. It&#39;s kind of disgusting.&quot; Women in India share their stories as our poll finds the country is the world&#39;s most dangerous for females. Read more on this here: <a href="https://t.co/0EoZ6E6Xrl">https://t.co/0EoZ6E6Xrl</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorseForWomen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorseForWomen</a> <a href="https://t.co/dAIBeAfo4l">pic.twitter.com/dAIBeAfo4l</a>&mdash; Thomson Reuters Foundation News (@AlertNet) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlertNet/status/1011402410898513921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2018</a></blockquote>

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 This survey is a repeat of the one conducted seven years ago, in 2011. The respondents at that time were asked to pick the top five countries that are dangerous for women in which India featured in the fourth position. This time, however, the nation has managed to surpass war-torn Afghanistan and Syria, Somalia and even Saudi Arabia, a country that granted women permission to drive just this week. <keyword id="3001" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pakistan">Pakistan</keyword>, India’s neighbour, has managed to wriggle out of the top 5 (good for them) and now holds the sixth position in this list. 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
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 What is perhaps truly disturbing is despite the outcry that followed the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-20863707">2012 Delhi gangrape</a> and the recent <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-43722714">Kathua</a> child rape incident and many more reports of crimes against women, there's little by way of noticeable moves from authorities. Though <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-21950197">new laws</a> have been brought into place and/or dated laws have been updated, big changes are yet to be seen on the ground. In fact, according to the <a href="http://ncrb.gov.in/StatPublications/CII/CII2016/pdfs/NEWPDFs/Crime%20in%20India%20-%202016%20Complete%20PDF%20291117.pdf">National Crime Records Bureau data</a>, from 2016, cases of crimes against women rose by nearly 40% to a staggering 338954 cases between 2012 and 2016.

India is now the most dangerous country for women: report

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/56f324a55124c96a538b456b-800/ap-nc-lawmakers-return-to-address-transgender-bathroom-measure.jpg" alt="Rep. Darren Jackson, D-Wake, speaks on the House floor as North Carolina lawmakers gather for a special session Wednesday, March 23, 2016 in Raleigh, N.C. Lawmakers will consider stopping a new Charlotte ordinance set to take effect April 1 that gives protections to transgender people to use the restroom of their gender identity. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)" border="0" /><a href="http://syndication.ap.org/AP.Distro.ContentBroker2/ContentBroker.aspx?contentid=0f3462e0ec594c27bc6b77dd0f6396bb&amp;iid=25cc1e4822cd49d78516fb178116f819&amp;rsn=0&amp;recordid=25cc1e4822cd49d78516fb178116f819&amp;filingId=4a91cea66ef24ed39e9f2762b68509df&amp;role=Preview&amp;reldt=2016-03-23T17:56:37&amp;media=Photo&amp;sz=44966&amp;dest=ak&amp;trF=NCGB107&amp;ofn=Transgender%2bRestrooms.JPEG&amp;fmt=jpg&amp;relativeUrl=jpg/2016/201603/23/0f3462e0ec594c27bc6b77dd0f6396bb.jpg&amp;s3Key=versions/preview-v00.jpg&amp;authToken=eNotjTsOwyAQRE8EWn5LKJBylgUsbRFjgVFc7OFDkSmmmTd60p6MLiSPzpgAOz4mkMIZDufRNlCthKR8sVFRQVIx1goHuoRE0rnuOwQna%2bbSz3swrbuP%2baY1%2bWxz1%2bTahi79I4s3bACdXN%2f8H7ZU%2bMrBatTWWP0KP7TVLdk%3d">syndication.ap.org</a>Rep. Darren Jackson, D-Wake, speaks on the House floor as North Carolina lawmakers gather for a special session Wednesday, March 23, 2016 in Raleigh, N.C.</div></div></div>North Carolina legislators decided to rein in local governments by approving a bill Wednesday that prevents cities and counties from passing their own anti-discrimination rules.The legislation, if enacted, would deal a blow to the LGBT movement after success with protections in cities across the country.The Republican-controlled General Assembly took action after the city of Charlotte recently approved a broad anti-discrimination measure that allows transgender people to use the restroom aligned with their gender identity.The Senate voted for the measure hours after the House had already passed it by a wide margin. The vote was 32-0 in the Senate, after Democratic senators walked out in protest, <a href="http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article67845317.html">according to The Charlotte Observer</a>. Legislators now will ask Gov. Pat McCrory, a Republican, to sign it into law. McCrory, the mayor of Charlotte for 14 years, has criticized the local ordinance but his office didn't immediately respond to questions about whether he will sign the bill into law.Just before 8 p.m. Wednesday, McCrory's office said the governor would likely approve the bill, <a href="http://wncn.com/2016/03/23/nc-general-assembly-debates-overruling-charlotte-transgender-ordinance/">according to WNCN</a>.Earlier this week, a top aide had concerns about the bill's scope - raising questions about what the governor's response will be.Republicans and their allies have said intervening is necessary to protect the safety of women and children. There have been arguments that any man - perhaps a sex offender - could enter a woman's restroom or locker room simply by calling himself transgender."It's common sense - biological men should not be in women's showers, locker rooms and bathrooms," said GOP Rep. Dean Arp of Monroe before the chamber voted 84-24 for the legislation after nearly three hours of debate.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table center"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/569043cce6183edf2e8b7e4d-917-688/gender-neutral-bathroom.jpg" alt="gender neutral bathroom" data-mce-source="REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson" data-mce-caption="A gender-neutral bathroom is seen at the University of California, Irvine in Irvine, California, September 30, 2014." />REUTERS/Lucy NicholsonA gender-neutral bathroom is seen at the University of California, Irvine in Irvine, California, September 30, 2014.</div></div></div>Representatives for gay rights groups said the legislation demonizes the community and espouses bogus claims about increasing the risk of sexual assaults. They say the bill will deny lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people essential protections needed to ensure they can get a hotel room, hail a taxi or dine at a restaurant without fear."Charlotte's law is not unusual, unique or radical," said Chris Sgro, executive director of Equality North Carolina. "A special session to deal with such an ordinance is radical, unique and unusual."GOP leaders scheduled the one-day session at the cost of $42,000 because Charlotte's ordinance was set to take effect April 1. Otherwise, the legislature wouldn't have returned until late April.The bill would bar local governments statewide from prohibiting discrimination in public places based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It directs all public schools, government agencies and public college campuses to require bathrooms or locker rooms be designated for use only by people based on their biological sex.Transgender people who have transitioned to the opposite sex wouldn't be affected if they get their birth certificate changed.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table center"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/532c92516bb3f7cd625b5572-3029-2272/north-carolina-pat-mccrory.jpg" alt="north carolina pat mcCrory" data-mce-source="Mike Theiler/Reuters" />Mike Theiler/Reuters</div></div></div>Democrats said the bill makes North Carolina less inclusive and interferes with local governments. They say the state could also risk billions in federal education dollars with the school policy."This is really not about bathrooms," said Democratic Rep. Rodney Moore of Charlotte. "This is about fear."Madeline Goss, a transgender woman from Raleigh, told a House committee she grew up in western North Carolina but had to leave because she was bullied mercilessly there. LGBT protections, Goss said, make it safer for her to live and allow her to the restroom where she feels most comfortable."I can't use the men's room. I won't go back to the men's room. It is unsafe for me there. People like me die in there," Goss said.Chloe Jefferson, 16, a private school student in Greenville, 85 miles east of Raleigh, told the committee she's worried without legislative action, girls would soon have males changing their clothes in front of them."I think everyone has the freedom to believe in what they want," Jefferson said. "But they shouldn't change the laws for a small number of students that punish and single out the rest of us."<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table center"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/56b082d55124c94b6f8b4567-800-544/india-top-court-refers-petition-on-gay-sex-to-a-bigger-bench.jpg" alt="A participant holds a rainbow coloured placard during Delhi Queer Pride Parade, an event promoting gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights, in New Delhi November 30, 2014. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi " data-mce-source="Thomson Reuters" data-mce-caption="A participant holds a rainbow coloured placard during Delhi Queer Pride Parade in New Delhi" />Thomson ReutersA participant holds a rainbow coloured placard during Delhi Queer Pride Parade in New Delhi</div></div></div>In a video, Democratic Attorney General Roy Cooper, who is running for governor against McCrory, called Wednesday's actions "shameful" and "unprecedented" and said they could hurt the state's economy.Russell Peck, the governor's campaign manager, in turn accused Cooper of supporting "forcing women and young girls to use the same restrooms and locker rooms as grown men."Legislation requiring transgender students to use bathrooms corresponding with their birth gender have failed recently. South Dakota's legislature failed to override Gov. Dennis Daugaard's veto and a similar bill in Tennessee bill died Tuesday.The North Carolina bill also would also make clear local governments can't require area businesses to pay workers above the current minimum wage, with some exceptions.___Associated Press writer Emery P. Dalesio contributed to this report.

North Carolina lawmakers just dealt a massive blow to LGBT rights

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/50714298.cms" /> 
He’s a Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences. He’s also a Thomas W. Lamont University Professor, Professor of Economics and Philosophy at Harvard University, and was the Master of Trinity College, Cambridge until 2004. He’s none other than Mr. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Amartya+Sen">Amartya Sen</a>. 
 Business Insider caught up with this great economist at the Tata Steel <keyword id="911395" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Kolkata-Literary-Meet">Kolkata Literary Meet</keyword>, chatting gleefully with fellow Harvard Professor <keyword id="283200" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Sugata-Bose">Sugata Bose</keyword> about his latest book – <keyword id="3219241" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="The-Country-of-First-Boys">The Country of First Boys</keyword>. 
 
Over the next hour, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Amartya+Sen">Sen</a> offered valuable socio-economic lessons on several issues. These had significant remarkable relevance for modern India. While the 82 year old economist didn’t name any individual or political group, but it wasn’t impossible to connect the dots. 
 
Sex-specific abortions: 
More girls are born than boys everywhere in the world. All of the States in the East and South of India have birth ratio of girls in the European range. That goes all the way from Assam to Bengal to Orissa all the way to Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. However, all states in the north and west have lower than that. Sometimes considerably lower. In the case of Haryana and Delhi it will be in the 80s. That is quite dramatic. Some have gone even worse over the years. 
 
Connection between Sanskrit and Mathematics 
Indian mathematics didn’t flourish in the Vedic period as some nationalists tend to claim now. It flourished 4th-5th Century onwards and there was also quite clearly external impulse in it. I think Babylonian and Greek Mathematics came to India around that time. Then Indian mathematics took off in a dramatic way, and influenced not only India but what was the central area of intellectual excellence – the Middle East. 
 
The Arab and Iranian Mathematicians actually knew Sanskrit. Al-Khwarizmi, from whose name the word Algorithm, and from his book AlJjabr Wal-Muqābala the word Algebra is derived, he knew Sanskrit. 
 
There was a connection between Sanskrit and Mathematics as a conveyance, and I’ll be interested in both. 
 
Sanskrit used as tool for <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Intolerance">Intolerance</a> and Communal Animosity 
The Hindu-Muslim divide was cultivated around the 40s. It’s important to recognize that in Bengal Muslim League didn’t win an election until 1946, and by 1952 Bangladesh is agitating about language. 
 
It’s got nothing to do with Sanskrit, really. Sanskrit is also where you have the skeptical documents. It offers all of that. 
 
Most people who advocate Sanskrit don’t know the language. That makes it very easy for them not to read any of these. They don’t have to read, because they couldn’t. So I think it comes as a political thing. 
 
After my Nobel, India Today had an article saying a Westernized Indian gets a Nobel. I asked the Editor that I would like to talk with the author. I would like him to come to my hotel, and to argue on it. The only thing I insist on is that we talk in Sanskrit! 
 
The quest for ‘Nyay’ (Justice) over ‘Neeti’ (Principle) 
I think very often that distinction has been misunderstood. 
 
It’s not compromise It’s accepting something with a gamble, and the gamble is that you wnd up not making that progress at all. What can de done now should be done now. What cannot be done shouldn’t be forgotten. That is what you may call a ‘sequence planning’ rather than a ‘spot planning’. 
 
Small industry as a means of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Sustainable+development">Sustainable development</a> 
Has there been any example of a country which has proceeded to have fairly fast economic expansion without industrial development and by which I do mean industrial development? That would be a good example. 
 
That's not true of America, that's not true of Europe, of Japan, of China, of Korea, of Hong Kong or Singapore. It's not true of Latin America. I think one of the things I have to resist is an imagined that these things are wrong, and there are all kinds of wrong that there is an alternative that is much better. New things have been tried. 
 
I am very suspicious of taking people on what I would call for a ride on the ground that some imagined alternative would be much, much better. What is a country which has no large industry but still is very rich? 
 
Justice and Workers' Rights 
The <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=small+industries">small industries</a> are still there but the big industries have withdrawn. When I went to London first, I went by boat - not an adventurous boat, but by a ship - as I could not afford the airfare. In those days, there were 18 flights from Calcutta to London every week. Now there is not one. There is not a single flight to anywhere in Europe. You have to go to Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Bangkok or Singapore and then escape. But you can't go anywhere. 
 
I think that couldn't have been the intention to put so much focus on distribution and the workers' power and so on that you end up not having the industries and there is nowhere to demonstrate the workers' power because you haven't got the workers to demonstrate that with. Pragmatism is an essential approach to practical reasoning. 
 
Industrialization and Activism 
You can do very good <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=environmental+planning">environmental planning</a> along with a programme of industrial expansion. The conflict is not with the economic growth. The conflict is with the type of growth and care we take of the environment. 
 
So, the idea that any kind of attempt at having large industry must be combined with neglect of the environment, that actually is not a good way of thinking about it. Because there is no reason that must be the case. 
 
Revival of Humanities as a discipline 
There has been no decline within Humanities. There has been a shift away from Humanities to the Sciences. 
 
Tagore once complained about the lack of Science education. It could be certainly better, but scientific education has definitely progressed. Our best students and relatively smaller in number, and when there is competing priority they give priority to Science. Humanities tend to fall short. 
 
I think the IITs are good, and so are the likes of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. 
 
Image credit: Indiatimes

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Saikat Pyne

Full text of President Ram Nath Kovind's first address to the Parliament as the 17th Lok Sabha gets underway

BI India Bureau