-The Hindu Business Line The National Seed Association of India (NSAI), which represents top seed companies in the country, on Wednesday suggested some changes in the proposed Seed Bill 2019, including a more scientific definition of transgenic variety, enhanced farmer rights on seeds and enlisting the services of private firms for evaluating new varieties before seed registration. In letters written to Indian Council of Agricultural Research - Director General (ICAR) Trilochan Mahapatra...
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The country has miles to go in reducing maternal deaths
A high maternal mortality ratio (MMRatio) indicates low status of women in the society apart from poor functioning of the health services delivery system. Recently released data by the Sample Registration System (SRS) bulletin indicates that for the country as a whole the MMRatio has steadily declined from 398.0 in 1997-98 to 122.0 in 2015-17, which is a fall by -69.3 percent. Table-1 shows that India's MMRatio was 398.0 in 1997-98,...
More »The drop in the maternal mortality ratio is just the first step
-The Telegraph Policymakers need to look at women’s reproductive health comprehensively Light seems to have finally appeared at the end of a long, dark tunnel for India. According to the latest Sample Registration System report, the maternal mortality ratio has declined by eight points between 2014-16 and 2015-17. In real numbers, 2,000 deaths have been averted per year in this period. One of the reasons behind this success is the increased access...
More »Can we prevent rural suicides? Yes, it is possible, says a recent WHO-FAO publication
Almost one in every five suicides in the world is committed by self-poisoning with pesticide, which mostly occur in rural, agricultural areas of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), states a new publication entitled 'Preventing Suicide: A resource for pesticide registrars and regulators'. Published jointly by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the booklet says that the adoption of green revolution technology...
More »Merchandise exports affected by global slowdown but not export of services
Is it the case that the global economic downturn instead of shrinking domestic demand has affected our economy more? If the aforesaid statement is true, then ideally the trade related data should indicate improvement in our imports and deceleration in the country's exports. However, that is not the case and we get a mixed picture. A press release by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry dated 13th September, 2019 shows...
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