Latest news with #Mortality
Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
Assam makes strides in reducing Maternal Mortality, Infant Mortality and Under 5 Mortality ratios
Assam shows great improvement in reducing Maternal Mortality Ratio, Infant Mortality Rate and Under 5 Mortality Rate. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma shares the state's progress since 2001. Assam's MMR is now better than several other states. The state government will provide jobs and is working to boost the animal husbandry sector. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Guwahati: Assam has made promising strides towards reducing the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR), Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and the Under 5 Mortality Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said this on Thursday while adding that while the recent reports of Sample Registration System (SRS) published by the Office of the Registrar General of India the MMR of Assam has come down to said that historically, Assam recorded the highest Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in the country till the last SRS report of 2018-20. In 2001-03, the MMR in Assam was 490 per 1 lakh live births. At that time, the national MMR was 301.'The maternal health conditions were poor and the health infrastructure in the state was unable to provide necessary support to our mothers. In the last two decades, tremendous efforts have been undertaken, especially in the last 10 years, for which, significant improvement has been observed in reduction of maternal mortality,' the Chief Minister said adding that with the wholehearted efforts of Government of Assam in the last 20 years, the MMR has improved to 125 in 2020-22 from 490 in said that the Special Bulletin on Maternal Mortality in India 2020-22 was released in the month of June 2025. 'As per SRS 2020-22, MMR of Assam has come down to 125 with a further 42 points (25.1%) drop in MMR compared to 2019-21. This shows 70 points (36%) drop in MMR in just 2 years. No other States in the Country have shown such decline,' he said, adding that Assam's MMR is now better than Madhya Pradesh (159), Chhattisgarh (141), Uttar Pradesh (141) and Odisha (136) as per SRS 2020-22.'It is a great achievement for the State of Assam to bring such a great reduction of MMR even during the period of COVID pandemic,' he Chief Minister further added that it is not just MMR, but Infant Mortality rate also has improved tremendously. 'The IMR in 2005 in Assam was 68, way above the national IMR of 58, being one of the last states in the country. The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) of Assam improved to 36 as per SRS (2020). It has come down to 34 as per SRS (2021) and further down to 32 as per SRS (2022),' he said adding that in terms of IMR, Assam's performance is at par with Orissa (32) and better than Uttar Pradesh (38), Chattisgarh (38) and Madhya Pradesh (40).'From 68 in 2005, we have improved to 32 by 2020-22, almost reducing IMR to 1/3rd,'he said, adding that the Under 5 Mortality Rate (U5MR) was as high as 88 per 1000 live births in 2008. This has also come down from 40 (SRS 2020) to 37 (SRS 2021) and further down to 35 (SRS 2022), almost reducing to 1/3rd,' Sarma said.'Similarly, our neonatal mortality rate also has improved from 33 per 1000 live births in 2005 to 22 in 2020-22,' he said adding that improvement in health infrastructure, improvement in health Human Resources (HR), Motivated and incentivised ASHA(s) and grassroots workers, improved health service delivery and the social support programmes contributed towards this stated that nearly 40,000 youths would be provided government jobs in a single recruitment drive scheduled for 10 appointment letters were distributed to 443 Veterinary Field Assistants in the Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Department, 12 Tourism Development Officers in the Tourism Department, and 23 DIET Lecturers and 3 SCERT Assistant Directors in the rank of Assistant Professors under the Education Department. With the inclusion of these 481 appointments, the total number of government jobs secured under the present administration now stands at 1,20, expressed confidence that the State Government is well on course to reach a total of 1.60 lakh appointments by 10 October. He emphasised that the transparent nature of this recruitment process has not only upheld merit, but also played a vital role in fostering a more robust educational ecosystem across the his attention to the animal husbandry sector, the Chief Minister underscored its growing importance in the vision of a self-reliant Assam. He noted that, while this sector has increasingly become a pillar of the rural economy, Assam still lags behind other states in fully realising its potential. To address this, he stated that the government has partnered with the National Dairy Development Board to establish the North East Dairy and Foods Limited – an initiative aimed at producing, processing, and distributing 10 lakh litres of milk daily. He highlighted a series of infrastructural developments already underway to support this goal, including the setup of milk processing centres with one lakh litre capacities in Dhemaji, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, and Cachar, a 25,000 litre unit in Bajali, and a three lakh litre facility in Guwahati. He further mentioned that a new 1 lakh litre milk processing unit would also be established in Rani, near Guwahati by AMUL. These efforts, he affirmed, would serve as an incentive for farmers across Assam to expand stated that the state government would provide a subsidy of Rs. 5 per litre for milk brought in for processing. He added that the College of Veterinary Science, in collaboration with the National Dairy Development Board, is working to develop a new breed by crossbreeding Assam's indigenous Lakhimi cows with Gujarat's high-yielding Gir breed. Additionally, he shared that efforts are also underway to improve yield through artificial insemination. With these measures, he affirmed, the government aims to scale Assam's daily milk production to 15 lakh litres by livestock development, the Chief Minister emphasised the state's renewed focus on poultry and duck farming, noting that 90% of Assam's daily egg demand is currently met through imports. He observed that if merely 1,000 entrepreneurs' step forward, the state could achieve a daily production of one crore eggs within three years. Despite the Northeast hosting the country's largest pork market, he lamented the region's insufficient local production and stressed the government's commitment to addressing this gap. He also highlighted a national campaign to promote biogas and bio-CNG production, adding that efforts are underway to enable dairy enterprises to generate these from cattle dung - an initiative poised to offer farmers a valuable supplementary income stream.
Economic Times
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
Ricky Gervais breaks records, reflects on free speech and launches comedy contest
Ricky Gervais performs on stage during his Mortality tour, following his record-setting Armageddon show at the Hollywood Bowl Ricky Gervais brings his new stand-up show Mortality to the Hollywood Bowl, continuing his long-standing tradition of using dark comedy to explore difficult topics. Known for mixing satire, brutal honesty, and humor about aging and death, Gervais previously broke a Guinness World Record at the venue in 2023 with his Armageddon tour. The current show continues this trajectory, leaning into his signature comedic style that provokes thought and laughter in equal measure. The Mortality tour incorporates commentary on life's final chapter, framed in a comedic format designed to engage audiences intellectually and emotionally. Gervais describes his approach as a 'magic trick,' built on formulaic misdirection that allows controversial topics to be explored through humor. The tour highlights his continued appeal among audiences willing to engage with challenging material delivered through carefully crafted jokes. Also read: Peacock's The Office Follow-Up Series: What we know about cast, plot and production team Gervais was recently honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, cementing his place in entertainment history. The recognition follows a career that includes acclaimed TV shows, international stand-up tours, and high-profile awards hosting gigs. Gervais, known for criticizing celebrity culture while working within it, acknowledged the irony of the recognition. He reflected on how being immortalized in Hollywood contrasts with his own minimalist lifestyle and desire to return home early. The ceremony was scheduled for the day before his Hollywood Bowl appearance, allowing him to optimize his time in Los Angeles and return home promptly, which he described as a personal priority. In addition to his tour and recent accolades, Gervais is promoting the Spirit of Comedy competition, a UK-based contest designed to spotlight emerging stand-up comedians. Sponsored by Dutch Barn Vodka, a brand Gervais co-owns, the contest offers the winner a chance to open for him at London's OVO Arena Wembley. Also read: Was it all joke? How stand-up comedy helped reelect TrumpThe collaboration with Dutch Barn Vodka stems from Gervais's interest in the company's ethical practices, including sustainability, vegan production, and fair labor. He emphasized that the initiative aligns with his personal values and allows him to give back to the comedy community. Gervais noted the contest's potential to support new talent while offering creative fulfillment on his part. Gervais continues to advocate for creative freedom in comedy, arguing that offense is often misattributed due to misunderstandings about the intended target of jokes. He stated that comedians are increasingly scrutinized for addressing taboo topics, but that satire remains essential for exploring societal norms. He distinguishes his work from political rhetoric by emphasizing that comedians create fiction to provoke laughter, not literal statements meant to harm. Gervais reiterated that audience members can choose to disengage rather than censor performers, framing comedy as an intellectual pursuit governed by structure and timing rather than ideology in an interview with The Los Angeles Times. Also read: Trump skips White House Correspondents' Dinner again; Watch journalist & celebs take over red carpet Gervais described the comedy process as mathematical, where structure and timing produce a reaction. He explained that the ability to provoke laughter, regardless of personal agreement with the punchline, is what defines a joke's success. For him, the only censorship should be personal choice, not imposed regulation.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Ricky Gervais breaks records, reflects on free speech and launches comedy contest
Ricky Gervais returns to Hollywood Bowl with new tour Mortality Ricky Gervais brings his new stand-up show Mortality to the Hollywood Bowl, continuing his long-standing tradition of using dark comedy to explore difficult topics. Known for mixing satire, brutal honesty, and humor about aging and death, Gervais previously broke a Guinness World Record at the venue in 2023 with his Armageddon tour. The current show continues this trajectory, leaning into his signature comedic style that provokes thought and laughter in equal measure. The Mortality tour incorporates commentary on life's final chapter, framed in a comedic format designed to engage audiences intellectually and emotionally. Gervais describes his approach as a 'magic trick,' built on formulaic misdirection that allows controversial topics to be explored through humor. The tour highlights his continued appeal among audiences willing to engage with challenging material delivered through carefully crafted jokes. Also read: Peacock's The Office Follow-Up Series: What we know about cast, plot and production team Comedian receives Hollywood Walk of Fame star Gervais was recently honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, cementing his place in entertainment history. The recognition follows a career that includes acclaimed TV shows, international stand-up tours, and high-profile awards hosting gigs. Gervais, known for criticizing celebrity culture while working within it, acknowledged the irony of the recognition. He reflected on how being immortalized in Hollywood contrasts with his own minimalist lifestyle and desire to return home early. The ceremony was scheduled for the day before his Hollywood Bowl appearance, allowing him to optimize his time in Los Angeles and return home promptly, which he described as a personal priority. Spirit of Comedy contest promotes emerging talent In addition to his tour and recent accolades, Gervais is promoting the Spirit of Comedy competition, a UK-based contest designed to spotlight emerging stand-up comedians. Sponsored by Dutch Barn Vodka, a brand Gervais co-owns, the contest offers the winner a chance to open for him at London's OVO Arena Wembley. Live Events Also read: Was it all joke? How stand-up comedy helped reelect Trump The collaboration with Dutch Barn Vodka stems from Gervais's interest in the company's ethical practices, including sustainability, vegan production, and fair labor. He emphasized that the initiative aligns with his personal values and allows him to give back to the comedy community. Gervais noted the contest's potential to support new talent while offering creative fulfillment on his part. Gervais defends free speech in comedy Gervais continues to advocate for creative freedom in comedy, arguing that offense is often misattributed due to misunderstandings about the intended target of jokes. He stated that comedians are increasingly scrutinized for addressing taboo topics, but that satire remains essential for exploring societal norms. He distinguishes his work from political rhetoric by emphasizing that comedians create fiction to provoke laughter, not literal statements meant to harm. Gervais reiterated that audience members can choose to disengage rather than censor performers, framing comedy as an intellectual pursuit governed by structure and timing rather than ideology in an interview with The Los Angeles Times. Also read: Trump skips White House Correspondents' Dinner again; Watch journalist & celebs take over red carpet Gervais described the comedy process as mathematical, where structure and timing produce a reaction. He explained that the ability to provoke laughter, regardless of personal agreement with the punchline, is what defines a joke's success. For him, the only censorship should be personal choice, not imposed regulation.
Hans India
28-05-2025
- Health
- Hans India
TN to open genetic disorder centres in Coimbatore, Madurai
Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Health Department, in collaboration with the National Health Mission (NHM), is in the process of establishing two state-of-the-art Centres of Excellence for the prevention, diagnosis, and management of genetic disorders in Coimbatore and Madurai. These upcoming centres are modelled after the existing and operational facility at the Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children (ICH) in Chennai. Officials confirmed that construction is underway and nearly 50 per cent of the infrastructure work has been completed. The government has earmarked Rs 8.19 crore to fund the creation of these specialised centres, which are expected to significantly enhance Tamil Nadu's capacity to manage genetic disorders that contribute to the state's Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Under-Five Mortality Rate (U5MR). 'These centres are being established with the vision of improving early diagnosis and care for children suffering from rare and complex genetic conditions,' said Dr S. Srinivasan, expert advisor for Child health at NHM-Tamil Nadu. 'The model at ICH in Chennai has proven successful, and we are now replicating it in government medical college hospitals in Coimbatore and Madurai,' said Srinivasan. The Centres of Excellence will cater to a wide spectrum of genetic and metabolic disorders. These include hemoglobinopathies like thalassemia and sickle cell anemia, chromosomal disorders, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), other neuromuscular conditions, lysosomal storage diseases (LSD), mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS), congenital adrenal hyperplasia, congenital hypothyroidism, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6PD) deficiency, and cystic fibrosis. 'These are often life-limiting conditions that need timely and advanced diagnostic tools for proper management,' Dr Srinivasan added. At the Chennai facility, high-end diagnostic equipment such as Tandem Mass Spectrometry (TMS) and Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) machines have already been installed and are operational. These tools allow for the comprehensive screening and diagnosis of rare genetic disorders. TMS, for instance, is used to detect inborn errors of metabolism (IEM), a group of rare disorders caused by enzyme deficiencies that prevent the body from properly converting food into energy. 'With these advanced technologies, we are able to not only diagnose but also offer targeted treatment solutions and genetic counselling to families,' said Dr Srinivasan. 'It marks a crucial step toward bringing precision medicine into the public health system,' he said. The centres in Coimbatore and Madurai are expected to be fully functional in the coming months. Once operational, they will play a pivotal role in addressing the burden of genetic disorders in the state, providing life-saving diagnostics and care to vulnerable children and their families.
Los Angeles Times
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Ricky Gervais can offend you to death. He knows you'll still laugh. ‘It's a magic trick, it is a formula'
Ricky Gervais is living his best life right now. Even when he's busy talking about death. On Saturday his new tour, Mortality, arrives at the Hollywood Bowl, where thousands will hear him tackle hilariously macabre commentary about life — and the end of it — through his signature blend of dark humor, empathy and razor-sharp commentary. His last appearance at the Bowl in 2023 with Armageddon earned him a Guinness World Record for the highest-grossing single stand-up performance — so, no pressure. Gervais is also known for turning awkward pauses and brutal honesty into comedy gold, so it's only fitting that after such a long career full of accolades that he would also finally earn a coveted spot on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday. As Hollywood honors the man who's roasted its elite with such precision, to be roasted for eternity by the Hollywood sun sounds fitting. It's not all about receiving: Giving back matters to Gervais and he's doing that by helping spotlight the next wave of comedic talent through the Spirit of Comedy — a U.K. stand-up contest presented by Dutch Barn Vodka, which he happens to co-own. With a star on the Walk of Fame, a massive show at the Bowl, and a platform for rising comics, Gervais is fully owning his Hollywood moment. But he needs to be home by 6 p.m. You've spent your career pushing comedy boundaries, has there ever been a moment where you thought, 'Oh yeah, I'm going to have to defend this one?' Oh no, it all comes and goes. It's cyclic. People get nervous and that's just always been there from day one. People get worried and then I say, well, this is why it's OK. Sometimes it's an executive producer or a broadcaster who just wants some ammunition to defend it. Because sometimes, they don't know whether it's OK or not, they just don't want to get complaints. If I can go 'listen, this is why it's OK,' then they often trust me because I can defend it. It's not me sitting in the room going, 'what's the most offensive thing I could say to get the BBC burned down?' There's always a point to it. Offense often comes from people mistaking the subject of a joke with the actual target, and they're not usually the same. It sometimes feels like comedians, whose job it is to joke, are being held to a higher standard when it comes to what is 'offensive.' We're human, so we react to buzzwords and we're cautious of taboo subjects. That's why they're still taboo, because we're cautious of them. I do that on purpose as well, particularly with my stand-up where I talk about contentious issues and taboo subjects because I do want to take the audience to a place they haven't been before. I do want them to reflect on it, worry about it, think about it and then, I've got to misdirect them. It's like I take them by the hand through a scary forest but it's OK because they always laugh. If I were going out there and saying things that were really offensive, and no one was laughing, well, that would be odd. That's what politicians do. Politicians say awful things and they mean it, and no one laughs. Comedians say things they don't mean, everyone laughs and they get the same treatment. But you have to have free speech, and there's nothing you could say that someone somewhere won't be offended by. It's impossible so you shouldn't even try. I don't go out there and try to ruin the audience's evening, I go out there and I make a joke and it's crafted. We're human though and we take things personally, but you shouldn't because I think comedy is best as an intellectual pursuit. 'Comedy is best as an intellectual pursuit' sums you up because you're not careless. There's a formula to it all. Exactly. You should go 'well, that's a bad subject and I don't agree with the punchline, but does it work comedically?' It's a magic trick. It is a formula. You can't argue with chemistry. No one goes, well, I know I laughed, but I don't agree with it. Well, it did what it does. That's the joke and I'm not gonna change the joke or meaning. I think the only form of censorship, as an audience, is your right not to listen. You just don't have to watch. You can leave, not buy my stuff, not buy my tickets, and that's absolutely fine. You can turn your own TV off, but what you can't do is make other people turn their TV off. That's the difference. And then, people will complain about something you're doing in the privacy of your own home, even if they have to go up to their attic and stand on a stepladder and look through binoculars to see it. They will find it. People sometimes seek out the offense and that's actually where people can get addicted to being offended. They like it, it makes them feel alive. The news even picks up Twitter! They say, 'Oh, fans weren't happy!' Three fans weren't happy. Tweets making headlines is why we can't have nice things. I wanted to ask about the Spirit of Comedy contest, where the winner gets to open for you at OVO Arena Wembley. How did all of this happen? I know, it's mad! I've never done anything like this before and I've turned down loads of things, but this co-ownership with [the show's sponsor] Dutch Barn Vodka is different. When we met, we first bonded about the company being really ethical. It was sustainable, it was recyclable, they used British apples, they were vegan, they paid their workers really well—they were really trying to be good, and I like that. They said they wanted me to make it famous, make it a global brand, and that I could do the advertising, which really interested me. I do all of my own trailers, I write all my own stuff, so that was exciting creatively. What a great nut to crack. The business side of it sort of came last, but it all made sense too. The main thing about it was I felt I could sleep at night, and I could still have fun. That's all I really cared about. The contest was actually all Dutch Barn's idea and when they were asked about the contest they said something like, 'Well, we know Ricky's not going to last forever.' Maybe they're finding my replacement? How cruel and ironic would that be? Well, at least you can go down knowing you broke a record at the Hollywood Bowl. Yes! It was two years ago, and I just put out a tweet because it broke the record for a single gig. I don't know why I'm doing it again. I did it once, it was frightening, I broke the world record and it was great. Why would I do it again? Because we love you in L.A. and it's been too long. That's why. I haven't been avoiding it, it's just a long way so I try to do as much as I can while I'm there. I sort of work out of London now and also, it gets harder with jet lag. I'm 63! Jet lag lasts about a week now! Everything is worse, isn't it? I'm offered really cool things every day, flying around the world and I just think, is it better than me sitting on the couch with my cat and my girlfriend watching Netflix? No. It has nothing to do with anything else other than how valuable your time is and how you wanna spend it. Is that why you named your tour 'Mortality'? Are you planning? Sort of. There's a joke in there where I sort of talk about getting old, looking back and all the things that are going wrong which are funny. The reason I started doing one word, sort of academic-style titles, was that I was sarcastically making fun of the pomposity of some comedians who think they're doing lectures. That's where it started when I was pricking that bubble of comedians who think they're changing the world. I've kept up the one-word thing, but also, mortality, it's a scary subject so already the audience is going, is Mortality gonna be funny? Yeah, it's funny! I'm the one dying. Sit back and laugh. From sitting to kneeling, it's fitting — and a bit ironic — that someone who roasted Hollywood so memorably is now being cemented into its history with a star on the Walk of Fame. Well, that's funny because the first time they told me I got it I said, 'Oh? Do I have to get down on all fours on the concrete? I'll never get up! I've also got bad skin!' I had all of those thoughts, but I'm doing it the day before the Hollywood Bowl so I can kill two birds with one stone. It's all about getting home on the couch by 6 p.m. This life, you know what I mean? You started kind of late, but you did earn this comfortable life. And maybe 6 p.m. is the new midnight. When I grew up, I was good at school, I went to college, then I was a failed pop star, and I never had money. Really, I never had any money. I think I was about 37 years old when I started doing this, and I just grabbed a hold of it. I thought, this is a really lucky second bite of the cherry. You better not screw this one up. So, I did work really hard, but in saying that, what does this sound like? 'I work really hard in a room writing while drinking cappuccino.' Some people are hiding behind a wall getting shot at! My dad was a laborer for 60 years! It's funny to say that, because now, I'm glad I was born poor. It's not something that I talk about much, but I am sort of proud of myself. I didn't have a penny, and no one gave me anything. It might be luck, but I still feel like I beat the system.
