Latest news with #Udaan
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Malvi Malhotra on how yoga improves holistic well-being; says ‘It has helped me in my emotional, mental and physical wellbeing'
Every year, June 21 is celebrated as International Yoga Day to promote the many benefits of yoga for mind, body, and soul. For actress Malvi Malhotra, yoga is more than just a fitness routine—it's a way of life that nurtures her emotional, mental, and physical well-being. Malvi, who began her acting journey with the popular TV show Udaan, has remained consistent in her yoga practice over the years. Recently, as she underwent a demanding physical transformation for her upcoming Bollywood project, yoga once again became her strongest ally. Talking about her fitness journey, Malvi shared, 'Fitness has always had paramount importance in my life and when it comes to yoga, we all know how important it is when it comes to a 360-degree holistic approach towards well-being. I have always practiced yoga and I know how much it has helped me in my emotional, mental and physical wellbeing.' She added how yoga helped her achieve her body goals without extreme measures: 'Even now, when I needed a certain fitness transformation in my body to lose 5 kgs, I resorted to yoga itself. From different forms of yoga like power yoga and vinyasa that helped me burn a lot of calories to increasing my overall physical activity with a good diet to help me gradually build muscle, I have done everything that was needed on my part.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo Malvi further revealed her favorite poses, saying, 'My favourite asanas are Sukhasana, Padmasana, Vrikshasana, Natarajasana, and Paschimottanasana. I always start my day with Surya Namaskar followed by Phalakasana (plank pose) and Navasana (boat pose).' Wrapping up her message with positivity, she said, 'To sum things up, it's quite clear how much yoga has always been an important part of my life, irrespective of what my body goals are for that moment. I strongly recommend everyone to take out at least 30 minutes of their time in a day for yoga. Wishing everyone a very Happy International Yoga Day.'
Indian Express
a day ago
- Science
- Indian Express
Class XII board exam data for 2024 show science is no longer a boys' club
Data on 2024 Class XII board exams, released by the Ministry of Education, tell a story of quiet persistence: For the first time in a decade, more girls — 28.14 lakh — cleared the board exams in the science stream than in humanities — 27.24 lakh. These figures mark a powerful shift in academic and social dynamics. As an analysis of numbers from 25 school boards between 2010 and 2023 by this newspaper in September 2024 showed, only 38.2 per cent of students clearing science in 2010 were girls. By 2023, that number had climbed to 45.5 per cent, setting the stage for the 2024 breakthrough. The reversal of the long-standing gender tilt toward humanities is an affirmation that science — once seen as a male preserve — is being actively pursued by female students across the country. In a country aspiring to be a global leader in the knowledge economy, this is welcome news: Drawing on the scientific potential of half its population is not just desirable, it is essential. State-level results underscore the national picture. In Tamil Nadu, girls achieved a formidable 96.35 per cent science pass rate in 2024; in Jharkhand, Bihar and Odisha, girls outperformed boys. This reshaping of ambition and possibility has been facilitated by growing parental encouragement and good-faith policy interventions such as the Vigyan Jyoti scholarship schemes for girls from disadvantaged backgrounds, and the CBSE's Udaan initiative, that helps underprivileged girls prepare for engineering and medical entrance exams through mentoring and financial aid. What happens when more girls enter higher education in STEM? According to the All India Survey on Higher Education 2021-22, women now make up 52.1 per cent of all students in science disciplines across undergraduate, postgraduate, MPhil, and PhD levels. At the undergraduate level, they constitute a little over 51 per cent of the total enrolment. In medicine, women are at par with men; in engineering and technology — fields where they have traditionally been a sliver — their representation has risen considerably. These numbers point to a future workforce that is likely to be more diverse, representative, and arguably, more innovative. The promise of these numbers, however, will continue to come up against the shadow of unequal realities unless it is met with deeper investment in infrastructure, mentorship networks, employment opportunities and safe spaces to learn and to linger in. Girls from rural areas and low-income households still face immense barriers that cap their ambitions: Lack of resources; unavailability of laboratories and equipment; a private study space, or simply, the right to stay in school. If this moment is to make room for long-term change, it must ensure that STEM dreams that have gotten off the block are not stalled midway.
India Today
3 days ago
- Health
- India Today
Women suffer as sanitary pad supply stops under Udaan scheme in Rajasthan's Dausa
In Rajasthan's Dausa district, women and adolescent girls are grappling with the absence of sanitary napkins under the 'Udaan' scheme, which was launched by the previous Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government. While the scheme has not been officially discontinued on paper, locals and Anganwadi workers say deliveries have stopped from August–September 2024, leaving rural beneficiaries without access to menstrual hygiene the 'Udaan' scheme, sanitary napkins are distributed free of cost through Anganwadis to girls and women aged 11 to 45 on a quarterly basis. The scheme was intended to promote menstrual hygiene and reduce school absenteeism among adolescent girls in villages. However, the current BJP-led government under Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, which came to power in December 2023, has been accused of showing indifference towards schemes started by the previous a ground report by India Today in Dausa, several women expressed frustration over the halted supplies. Keshpati Meena, a Saathin from Balaheda gram panchayat, said, 'It has been shut since August 2024, and we are facing a major problem. The girls are also suffering.' Another villager, Sheela, shared that when they inquired, the response was, 'Will give when they come.' Radha Sharma, the Anganwadi incharge in Balaheda, confirmed that napkins were last distributed on August 20, 2024. 'They've been distributed only thrice. Since September, we haven't received anything,' she women said the lack of sanitary napkins has led to health issues, including infections, as girls have been forced to resort to cloth during their periods. 'My daughter, who is 17, doesn't go to school once she starts her period,' said Hameedan Bano, a local resident. 'They say they will distribute when they get supplies. But when nothing is available, how will they?'advertisementIn Banswara and several other districts, the situation mirrors Dausa. Officials confirmed that sanitary napkin distribution has not taken place for over six months across much of the state. Deputy Director of Women Empowerment, Yugal Kishore Meena, told India Today, 'The last supply was in September. This is not just in Dausa. Procurement is done at the state level and then distributed to districts. We are in touch with the Directorate; RMS is the purchasing agency.'Critics claim this is part of a larger pattern. Since taking office, the Bhajanlal Sharma-led BJP government has either renamed or discontinued more than ten welfare schemes launched by the previous Congress government. These include changing the names of Chiranjeevi Health Insurance Scheme to Mukhyamantri Ayushman Arogya Yojana, Indira Rasoi to Annapoorna Rasoi, and Rajiv Gandhi Jal Swavalamban to Mukhyamantri Jal Swavalamban, among others. Other schemes, such as the Indira Smartphone Yojana and the Rajiv Gandhi Yuva Mitra programme, have reportedly been shelved Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra criticised the BJP government, saying, 'They have no intention of implementing the scheme on the ground.' In contrast, BJP state president Madan Rathore maintained, 'The Udaan scheme is ongoing. Sanitary napkins are being distributed.'For many women in rural Rajasthan, however, the gap between policy claims and ground reality continues to grow, especially when it comes to basic menstrual hygiene.
India.com
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
Fathers Day 2025: From Taare Zameen Pars Nandkishore Awasthi To Maharajas Vijay Sethupathi; How Role Of Father In Indian Cinema Has Evolved Over Time
Over the past decades, the portrayal of fathers in Indian cinema has undergone a dramatic transformation. From Aamir Khan's critically acclaimed directorial, 'Taare Zameen Par', to Maharaja as Vijay Sethupathi, as societal perceptions of masculinity in fatherhood have shifted, so have the cinematic depictions of fatherhood. This Father's Day let's reflect on the evolving idea of fatherhood in the cinematic landscape, the evolution which isn't just artistic but also changes through the societal expectations. In the past, Father figures in Bollywood, were often shown as authoritarian, and were largely portrayed as strict disciplinarians with emotionally distant personalities, who rarely express vulnerability, in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001), Amitabh Bachchan's character Yashvardhan Raichand valued authority over empathy, reflecting a common trend of that era. However, on the other hand, Nandkishore Awasthi, portrayed by Vipin Sharma marked a turning point as to how the audience and filmmakers began to critically engage with the emotional role of a father. In Taare Zameen Par, while Nandkishore did fit the role of strict and emotionally distant personalities, the film overall challenged the opposite, sparking conversations about empathy in fatherhood worldwide. Another haunting portrayal of fatherhood is seen in Udaan (2010), through the characters of Rohan Roy and his father Bhairav Singh, played by Rajat Barmecha and Ronit Roy respectively. Bhairav exemplifies dictatorial parenting taken to an extreme, harsh, abusive, and emotionally absent. His overbearing control and violence create a suffocating environment for Rohan, who aspires to be a writer. The contrast between Rohan's quiet resilience and Bhairav's oppressive dominance exposes the psychological. Another must-talk-about portrayal that can be added as an example is the role of Mahavir Singh Phogat, played by Aamir Khan in Dangal (2016), Mahavir Singh begins as a stereotypical father, training his daughters like wrestlers, yet his gradual transformation letting them lead on their own terms, showed complex dynamic between control and support. On the other hand is the character of Anirudh played by Sushant Singh Rajput in Chhichhore (2019). He is shown as a father struggling to connect with his son who attempts suicide due to academic pressure. Anirudh is someone who is willing to change his parenting approach using his own past to teach his kid. Cut to more recent portrayals of Vijay Sethupathi in Maharaja. It shows the bond between father and daughter, portraying a tender vulnerability rarely explored in older Indian cinema. Though societal perceptions of fatherhood will continue to evolve, cinema will undoubtedly remain a powerful mirror, reflecting, challenging, and reshaping how we understand what it truly means to be a father. Wishing all the fathers out there a very Happy Father's Day, may your journeys, struggles, and love continue to inspire both real and reel life.
Hindustan Times
14-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
NHRC orders Raj govt to submit report on Udaan scheme irregularities in 4 months
Jaipur: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Rajasthan government to submit a report within four months on alleged irregularities in the Udaan scheme, an initiative by the Women and Child Development (WCD) department that provided free sanitary napkins to girls and women. In a letter to the WCD secretary, the NHRC said the commission had received a complaint that the Rajasthan government's Udaan scheme has been non-functional since September 2024 due to administrative delays, and as a result, over 1.23 crore beneficiaries have been denied access to the essential service. 'This interruption poses a serious violation of women's fundamental rights to health, hygiene, and dignity. The allegation made in the complaint prima facie seems to be serious violations of the human rights of the victims,' the letter read. A bench of the NHRC, presided over by Justice Priyank Kanoongo, ordered the Rajasthan WCD department to 'get the allegations made in the complaint inquired into and submit a report within four weeks of receiving the Commission's notice.' According to officials from the WCD department, the Udaan scheme, which receives about ₹290 crore annually, has been completely halted since September 2024 due to a delay in the tender process between the Rajasthan Medical Services Corporation Limited (RMSCL) and the WCD. Under the scheme, launched in 2021, the Rajasthan government have distributed sanitary napkins to over 1.23 crore girls and women every month through 99,776 centres across the state. 'Each beneficiary receives 12 napkins per month,' an official from the WCD department said. The highest distribution was recorded at Anganwadi centres in 2023, which catered to 95.58 lakh women, followed by upper primary, secondary, and senior secondary schools with 23.05 lakh beneficiaries. Additionally, 2.38 lakh college students under the commissionerate of college education and 23,961 women under the department of Social Justice and Empowerment also received the benefit. Also Read: Scale up efforts on menstrual hygiene awareness in schools: Delhi HC HT reported in April that the WCD had written a letter to RMSCL saying, 'The last purchase order under the Udaan Scheme was issued by RMSCL in July 2024. Since then, no new supply orders have been issued by RMSCL to the respective beneficiaries. As a result, based on the estimated demand from July 2024 to March 2025, there has been no supply of sanitary napkins, leading to a nine-month supply gap.' 'Due to the lack of sufficient storage space at distribution centres and the risk of stock deterioration from oversupply beyond the beneficiaries' monthly needs, it has been decided to consider the possible supply gap from July 2024 to March 2025 as a reference point. Accordingly, keeping in view the earlier demand submitted by the department, it has been decided at the appropriate level to obtain the supply of sanitary napkins from RMSCL for the first schedule of the new financial year 2025–26, as per the departmental plan and district-level requirements,' it added. The department has initiated the process of collecting demand for the first schedule of the financial year 2025–26. The compiled demand will soon be provided to RMSCL so that purchase orders for FY 2025–26 can be issued based on the new demand under the departmental scheme.
