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COVID-19: Educational institutions to remain shut till May 5 in Bangladesh

Bangladesh lockdown

New Delhi (NVI): All educational institutions in Bangladesh will remain shut until May 5 in line with the government’s announcement of general holidays, aiming to prevent spread of coronavirus.

The total number of deaths from coronavirus continues to rise in Bangladesh as 7 more people have died in the last 24 hours, taking the total casualties in the country to 127, according to United News of Bangladesh.

Besides, a total number of 414 people tested positive for coronavirus during the period, raising the number of such cases in the country to 4,168.

In addition to this, many suspected coronavirus carriers are either showing less interest in undergoing tests or hiding information in fear of isolation and social stigma, health experts said warning that this tendency may jeopardise the government’s efforts to contain the pandemic.

Meanwhile, among the total positive cases tested in the last 24 hours, 46 people were tested positive in Kishoreganj, Jashore, Bogura and Moulvibazar districts.

Domestic violence cases surge in Kashmir amid lockdown: Police

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Reports of domestic violence have increased in Kashmir amid Covid-19 lockdown while theft-related cases have gone down than before, according to police.

Coronavirus has tightened its grip in the whole Jammu and Kashmir Union Territoritory ever since the first Covid case was reported from Srinagar on March 18.

As per figures available with women police station Rambagh in Srinagar, before the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic, it would receive normally 20 to 25 calls from women, girls and female students with regard to domestic violence, misbehavior by in-laws, beating and harassment. “We would also get calls regarding molestation and harassment from girls including college and university students,” an official at the police station disclosed.

He, however, said that though education institutions are closed, there is an obvious decline in harassment and molestation related complaints, but over the past one month, the number of complaints regarding domestic violence has gone up. “We are getting more than 30 calls where women complaint beating by husbands, intimidation and harassment by in-laws,” the official said.

He said that majority of calls are made from Srinagar, followed by South Kashmir’s Anantnag, and the north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

Former chairperson, Jammu and Kashmir Women’s Commission, Vasundra Patak Masoodi also said that she is getting a lot of calls from women in Kashmir who complain about domestic violence amid Covid-19 lockdown.

She said that she is getting a lot of distress calls from women in Kashmir complaining about domestic violence against them in one way or the other. “As there is lockdown in the valley like other parts of the country, the women have nowhere to go and they also cannot register their complaints anywhere,” she said.

“I try to counsel complainants over phone. What else can I do for now. It helps a little bit as they feel someone is there to listen to them. But this surely indicates a rise in domestic violence cases in Kashmir,” she said.

Shaista (name changed), a teacher by profession said:  “I have to give lectures online and my in-laws think I am home now and don’t have to do anything else, my in-laws want me to do every household chore. When I tell them I can’t do everything, I get bashing from my mother and father in law, which adds to my mental trauma.”

Senior Superintendent of Police, Srinagar, Haseeb Mughal told NVI that though there is a stringent lockdown in Srinagar, and elsewhere in Kashmir, it seems that women are not able to report their cases. “But the reports reaching us suggest that there is a spurt in domestic violence-related cases. Women are not able to report all cases,” he said. “At the same time, there is a significant dip in theft and burglary related cases.”

Interestingly, Jammu and Kashmir High Court division bench comprising Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Rajnesh Oswal have recently suggested certain measures to help women and ensure their safety during the lockdown.

Not only in Kashmir, but Domestic violence reports have surged globally in the wake of massive lockdowns imposed to contain the spread of the disease.

Earlier this month, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres had also urged governments across the world to include the protection of women in their response to the deadly novel coronavirus pandemic.

HRD Min releases Alternative Academic Calendar for students of Class 6-8

Quality education
Union Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’

New Delhi (NVI): In a bid to keep students learning during their stay at home due to COVID-19, the Ministry of Human Resource Development today launched an Alternative Academic Calendar for upper primary stage (Classes VI to VIII).

Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ released the academic calendar in New Delhi. This will enable students to engage meaningfully during the lockdown through educational activities at home with the help of their parents and teachers, the Ministry said.

The alternative academic calendars at primary and upper primary stage (Classes VI to VIII) have been developed by the NCERT under the guidance of the MHRD.

Earlier on April 16, the Alternative Academic Calendar for the primary stage was released.

Speaking on the occasion today, Pokhriyal said that this calendar provides guidelines to teachers on the use of various technological tools and social media tools available for imparting education in fun-filled, interesting ways, which can be used by learner, parents and teachers even while at home.

While preparing the calendar, the varying levels of access to tools like Mobile, Radio, Television, SMS and various social media, were taken into account, the Ministry said in a statement.

“It is a fact that many of us may not have internet facility in the mobile, or may not be able to use different social media tools- such as whatsapp, facebook, twitter, google etc, the calendar guides teachers to further guide parents and students through SMS on mobile phones or through voice call. Parents are expected to help elementary stage students to implement this Calendar,” Pokhriyal said.

The Minister added that very soon all the remaining classes i.e., IX to XII and subject areas will be covered under this calendar. This calendar will cater to the need of all children including Divyang children – link for Audio books, radio programmes, video programme will be included.

The calendar contains week-wise plan consisting of interesting and challenging activities, with reference to theme/chapter taken from syllabus or textbook. Most importantly, it maps the themes with the learning outcomes.

It also covers experiential learning activities such as Arts Education, Physical Exercises, yoga, pre-vocational skills, etc. This Calendar contains class-wise and subject-wise activities in tabular forms. This Calendar includes activities related to four languages as subject areas, i.e., Hindi English, Urdu and Sanskrit.

DA hike for central govt employees, pensioners suspended till Jul 2021

SDRF
Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): The Union Finance Ministry today announced freezing of Dearness Allowance (DA) to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to Central Government pensioners at current rates till July 2021, in the wake of the economic crisis arising in the country due to Covid-19 pandemic.

This means that the hiked DA and DR announced by the Central government for its employees and pensioners last month, will remain suspended till July 2021 in the wake of the current pandemic situation. Central government employees will continue to get the DA at current rates till July 2021.

“In view of the crisis arising out of COVID-19, it has been decided that the additional installment of dearness Allowance payable to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief to Central Government pensioners, due from 1st January 2020 shall not be paid,” the Ministry said in a statement today.

“As and when the decision to release the future installment of DA and DR due from 1st July 2021 is taken by the government, the rates of DA and DR as effective from 1st January 2020, 1st July 2020 and 1st January 2021 will be restored prospectively and will be subsumed in the cumulative revised rate effective from 1st July 2021,” the statement read.

However, both the DA and DR at current rates will continue to be paid, the Ministry said.

It also said that no arrears for the period from January 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021, will be paid.

Fact check: DoT not giving free internet during lockdown

Pakistan
(Representational Image)

New Delhi (NVI): Be warned, if you have received any message on your mobile that Department of Telecom (DoT) is providing free internet during the lockdown or till May 3. The Fact Check Unit of Press Information Bureau (PIB) today clarified that there is no such provision of free internet by DoT.

“The fake information in circulation has claimed that free internet is being provided to all by the Department to enable them to work from home, and can be availed by clicking on a given link,” the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said in an official statement.

PIB Fact Check has clarified that the claim is false and the link is fraudulent. Mobile phone users are advised to not click on such links or forward such messages.

In order to check the spread of fake news on social media and following observations of the Supreme Court, PIB has set up a dedicated unit to bust rumours getting viral on social media.

‘PIBFactCheck’ is a verified handle on Twitter that continuously monitors trending messages on social media platforms and conducts comprehensive review of its contents to bust fake news.

In another fact check, the Ministry of Home Affairs has clarified that media reports claiming penal action against company Directors and management if their employees test positive for COVID19 are false.

“The guidelines instead prescribe penalties if the offence occurs with consent, cognisance or negligence of employer,” I&B ministry said in a statement.

Covid-19: State-wise count of cases and deaths in India

New Delhi (NVI): As the country enters the ninth day of the extended lockdown, coronavirus cases keep on increasing, with total confirmed cases at 21,700 with 686 fatalities so far, according to the Union Health Ministry.

After the first confirmed case in India, which was reported on January 30 in Kerala, the virus has tightened its grip over the entire nation.

Total positive cases in different states/UTs:

Andhra Pradesh- 895
Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 18
Arunachal Pradesh- 1
Assam- 35
Bihar- 148
Chandigarh- 27
Chhattisgarh- 36
Delhi- 2,248
Gujarat- 2,407
Goa- 7
Haryana- 262
Himachal Pradesh- 40
Jammu and Kashmir- 407
Jharkhand- 49
Karnataka- 443
Kerala- 438
Ladakh- 18
Madhya Pradesh- 1,695
Maharashtra- 5,652
Manipur- 2
Meghalaya- 12
Mizoram- 1
Odisha- 83
Puducherry- 7
Punjab- 277
Rajasthan- 1,890
Tamil Nadu- 1,629
Telangana- 960
Tripura- 2
Uttarakhand- 46
Uttar Pradesh- 1,509
West Bengal- 456

State/UT wise total death toll in the country:

Andhra Pradesh- 27
Assam- 1
Bihar- 2
Delhi- 48
Gujarat- 103
Haryana- 3
Himachal Pradesh- 1
Jammu and Kashmir- 5
Jharkhand- 3
Karnataka- 17
Kerala- 3
Madhya Pradesh- 81
Maharashtra- 269
Meghalaya- 1
Odisha- 1
Punjab- 16
Rajasthan- 27
Tamil Nadu- 18
Telangana- 24
Uttar Pradesh- 21
West Bengal- 15

A total of 4,325 people have been cured or discharged from hospitals in India. There are around 16,689 active cases currently.

We have a long way to go, says WHO on COVID-19

COVAX
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

New Delhi (NVI): As countries across the globe struggle to combat coronavirus, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that the problem is going to persist for a “long time”.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said there are “worrying upward trends” in early epidemics in parts of Africa and central and South America.

“Make no mistake, we have a long way to go. This virus will be with us for a long time,” he said at a virtual media briefing.

“Most countries are still in the early stages of their epidemic and some that were affected early in the pandemic are starting to see a resurgence in cases,” he said.

On the issue of US President Donald Trump announcing halt to funding of the WHO, Tedros expressed hope that the decision would be reconsidered.

“I hope the freezing of the funding will be reconsidered and the US will once again support WHO’s work and continue to save lives,” he said.

Trump last week alleged that the WHO had “covered up” on the coronavirus crisis and said the US would halt its funding to the tune of 400-500 dollars to the UN body.

The US President has said that the WHO had grossly mismanaged the crisis after first cases were detected in China in late December last year and that because of this, the entire world is suffering.

Tedros defended WHO’s handling of COVID-19, saying it declared a global emergency “early enough” on January 30 – its highest level of alert.

“I hope the US believes that this is an important investment, not just to help others but for the U.S. to stay safe also,” the WHO chief said.

World Book Day 2020 highlights utilising time in reading amid COVID-19

New Delhi (NVI): World Book Day is celebrated every year on April 23. This year, when the whole world is struggling to fight COVID-19 pandemic, everyone can utilise this lockdown period in reading books while staying put at home, UNESCO today said.

The day is marked to promote the enjoyment and importance of books and reading, celebrations take place all over the world to recognize the scope.

In 1995, The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) first decided that World Book and Copyright Day would be celebrated on April 23, to pay a world-wide tribute to books and authors on this date, encouraging everyone to access books.

Since the entire world is going through a state of pandemic due to COVID-19 virus, most educational institutions have gone into a shutdown. Yet the power of e-books, digitalisation, reading positive things, and gaining knowledge is the need of the hour.

Today, UNESCO and the international organizations stand up for creativity, diversity and equal access to knowledge, with the work across the board and maintenance through its own initiatives.

“As books are our major source of information, entertainment and comfort during the coronavirus pandemic-led lockdown, the power of books should be leveraged to combat isolation. Parents should read good books along with their children, this period should be used to produce reading habits in children,” UNESCO added.

This day also marks the anniversaries of prominent literary figures like William Shakespeare’s whose birth and death anniversary falls on this day, along with Miguel de Cervantes and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega’s death anniversary.

Coronavirus cases surge past 2.6 million worldwide

Coronavirus cases

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases have crossed 2.6 million worldwide as the cases increase rapidly, with the total number of fatalities crossing 1,83,400, according to John Hopkins University tally.

In the US, the number of infected cases has gone up to 8,42,600 with more than 46,000 deaths due to the contagion, as the country accounts for about a quarter of the total deaths.

Meanwhile, two pet cats in New York state have tested positive for the coronavirus, marking the first confirmed cases in companion animals in the US, federal officials said Wednesday.

In another development, certain states of the US like Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina and other states could reopen soon for businesses, according to media reports.

In addition to this, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) says there are “worrying upward trends” in early epidemics in parts of Africa and central and South America, warning that the “virus will be with us for a long time”.

(Read more for additional information on coronavirus and related topics)

South Korea’s economy has recorded its most severe contraction since the 2008 financial crisis as the coronavirus pandemic weighed on consumer demand and exports. Its economy shrank 1.4 per cent in the January-to-March period compared to the fourth quarter of 2019, according to an estimate released by the Bank of Korea.

China’s Health authorities have reported 10 new COVID-19 cases in mainland China, down from 30 a day earlier as the number of so-called imported cases involving travellers from overseas declined.

The total number of confirmed cases for mainland China now stands at 82,798. No new COVID-19 deaths were reported, leaving the toll unchanged at 4,632.

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