RHINO POPULATION IN AFRICA

Rhino populations in Africa

                   Rhino populations in Africa are facing the "worst poaching crisis for decades," say conservationists.  Over the past three years, gangs are said to have killed more than 800 rhinos for their horns, which can fetch £22,000 per kilo on the black market.  Experts fear the rise in poaching could undermine recent efforts to stabilise black and white rhino populations. They called for greater co-operation between conservationists and law enforcement agencies.

           "Although good biological management and anti-poaching efforts have led to modest population gains for both species of African rhino, we are still very concerned," said Richard Emslie, a scientific officer for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Dr Emslie, a member of the IUCN's Species Survival Commission's (SSC) African Rhino Specialist Group (AfRSG), said the main threat was from the "increasing involvement of organised criminal poaching networks".  "Unless the rapid escalation in poaching in recent years can be halted, continental rhino numbers could once again start to decline," he warned.

            The Critically Endangered black rhino (Diceros bicornis), which is made up of four sub-species, currently has a population of 4,840 (up from 4,240 in 2007) spread across southern African nations.  The two sub-species of white rhino (Ceratotherium simum), which has a similar distribution as the black rhino, has a population in the region of 20,000 (up from 17,500 in 2007). Despite the high numbers, the white rhino is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN. This is a direct result of the high level of poaching, especially in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya.It is estimated that 333 rhinos were killed in South Africa alone last year, with a further 70 being shot dead so far this year.  Conservationists suspect that most of the illegally harvested rhino horn are destined for the traditional medicine markets of South-East Asia, and the growing demand and high prices are fuelling the sharp rise in poaching.

                They called for greater co-operation between the various parties involved in projecting the large mammals, including wildlife investigators and law enforcement agencies. Some initiatives, such as the establishment of a National Wildlife Crime Reduction Unit in South Africa, are bearing fruit in the shape of more arrests. But IUCN SSC chairman Simon Stuart said it was important for wildlife agencies to work closely with private and community [land owners].  "In South Africa, a large number of rhinos live on private land," Dr Stuart observed."Rhino management, including control of rhino horn stockpiles and security, needs to be improved and co-ordinated among rhino holders. "This is essential if we are going to face the poaching crisis [head-on]."

Prof. John Kurakar

MEDICAL CARE TO ELDER PEOPLE

                              FREE MEDICAL CARE TO ELDER PEOPLE                                    
                                           (Vayomithram to get 24 -hour helpline)

Accessing healthcare and hospitals is one of the major problem faced by the elderly people. Despite the availability of free health care, the elderly often find it difficult to get to the hospital because of  limited mobility and lack of support systems.
  A scheme to provide medical care to the elderly at the door step, started off by the government a month ago, has thus emerged as a major relief to their homes or who do not have any body to take them to the hospital.
  " Vayomithram, a project of Kerala social security Mission, intends to reach medical care to those above 65 years of age through a 24- hour help line. The project which is being implemented in all corporations and select Municipalities in the state, has been generating good response in the city.


  " The project has three components.One is the setting up of a 24 hour help desk and toll-free help line, which the elderly can call if they require some emergency medical need. The other two components are palliative care home visits and setting up of mobile health clinics".
   The palliative care home visits and mobile health clinics on pre-fixed days and as per pre-fixed routes are going on well. The toll free phone line and the 24-hour help desk is in the process of being set up, inside the city corporation office itself. An ambulance has also been  readied, which will be made available in case any elderly patient requires to be taken to the hospital.
  The NHRM has deployed junior public Health Nurses(JPHNs) with in the corporation area, who with the help of Accredited social Health Activists are been engaged in a survey of the elderly above 65 years in corporation area.



                                                                                                        Prof. John Kurakar

INVEST IN SOCIAL SECTORS- PRIME MINISTER

Invest in social sectors

        Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday,27^th,March,2011, urged Indian industry to invest in social sectors, pointing out there were many business opportunities in keeping a billion Indians well fed, healthy and educated and providing them employment would create one of the world's largest consumer markets.  Delivering the convocation address at the Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad, he said there were a number of areas in which industry can work on its own and in partnership with government to advance societal value in its own long-term interest. 'There is much that industry can do both through increased direct investment in education, health, skill development and rural and urban sanitation through corporate social responsibility programmes,' he said.

       'The pace of reform in India will depend on how far our policies meet the test of democratic consensus and take into account the vulnerabilities of different sections of our population. Companies undertaking greenfield projects cannot see their factories and units as oases, cut off from the needs and interests of the community around them. We need to work out more effective mechanisms and principles for the use of land and other resources that reconcile different interests,' he said. He said that 2011 marked the twentieth anniversary of the launch of economic reforms in India. 'I had the privilege of addressing the institute's convocation in 1994 in the early days of our reform process. The path was new; the challenges were formidable; the outcomes were uncertain. But our resolve was strong and our goals were clear,' he said.

          The prime minister said that the economic reforms of 1991 were aimed at unleashing the animal spirits of Indian enterprise and the well-springs of Indian creativity.  'Today, the success of the reforms is evident. We have long since left behind the era of modest savings, low investment and low growth. India is today among the world's fastest growing economies. Our savings and investment rates give us confidence that we can, with prudent policies and sound economic management, achieve sustained double-digit growth,' he added.   Expressing satisfaction at India's resilience to external economic shocks, he said that India was among the best performing economies during the recent economic crisis.  'Our foreign exchange reserves are substantial. Our industry and services sectors have modernized and diversified in an unprecedented manner. We are emerging as a global centre for information technology, research, development and innovation. India has gradually become one of the most preferred global destinations for foreign investors,' he added.

           The prime minister underlined that India's global competitiveness will depend on continued ability to produce top quality manpower at all levels of the knowledge pyramid in adequate numbers. 'The needs are enormous and the government will do its part to facilitate investment in these areas,' he added.

(From Manorma news)

Prof. John Kurakar