Is India Winning the War Against Rising Non-Communicable Diseases? The latest health statistics paint a concerning picture: diabetes, heart disease, and cancer rates are climbing, impacting millions across the country. From rural healthcare access to the burgeoning urban health crisis, challenges remain significant. This week, we delve into the crucial initiatives underway – government policies, technological advancements in telemedicine, and the rising role of preventative healthcare – that aim to address this national health emergency. Experts weigh in on the effectiveness of current strategies and the critical need for increased public awareness campaigns targeting lifestyle diseases. Are these efforts enough? Explore Abtak.com's in-depth coverage on healthcare in India and discover the vital information you need to protect your well-being and the future of public health. Stay informed; stay healthy.
Chandigarh: The second day of the National Conference of the Indian Association for Social Psychiatry (NCIASP 2025) concluded Saturday with a series of sessions, underscoring the critical role of social and cultural factors in mental health. The day's discussions highlighted the need for innovative and context-sensitive models of care in India.There were sessions on community mental health strategies and psychosocial interventions addressing contemporary challenges like migration, urban stress, and the impact of social change. A key highlight was the plenary lecture by Prof Swaranpreet Singh on cultural psychiatry. He captivated the audience with insights into how cultural frameworks influence the expression and treatment of mental illness, stressing that psychiatry cannot be separated from the social and cultural realities of patients.Following this, Dr Manoj Kumar's plenary on the social determinants of mental healthcare drew attention to the significant impact of poverty, education, gender, and access to resources on mental well-being.
Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 27 (PTI) Zumba dance, a high-energy fitness programme introduced in schools in Kerala by the General Education Department as part of its anti-drug campaign, is facing opposition from certain Muslim groups who argue that it goes against moral values. The programme was introduced in schools following a directive from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who stated that the dance -- which combines dance and aerobic movements performed to lively music -- would help reduce stress among schoolchildren and, in turn, counter the menace of drug abuse among young people. From this ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram, June 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) A day after a section of Muslim clerics raised objections to the Kerala government's decision to introduce Zumba -- a dance-based fitness programme -- in schools, the youth wings of both the CPI(M) and the Congress came out in strong support of the initiative, dismissing the controversy as unwarranted. State Education Minister V. Sivankutty also stood firmly behind the move. The fitness programme was rolled out earlier this month with the start of the new academic year. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, accompanied by family members, attended a la ...Read More >
New Delhi, Aug 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) Easing inflation and favourable monsoon boosted rural demand in India in the April-June period this year, outpacing urban consumption once again, according to a new report. According to the report by global research firm NielsenIQ, rural markets and small manufacturers propelled the packaged consumer goods sector in Q2 2025. Rural markets grew twice as fast as cities, as urban areas showed signs of recovery, particularly in smaller towns. According to the report, e-commerce also rose significantly, led by increased shopper penetration and spending, especia ...Read More >
Patna, October 28: With just two weeks left for the Bihar Assembly elections, the political battle in the state is heating up as the Opposition alliance, Mahagathbandhan, takes the lead by unveiling its manifesto titled "Bihar Ka Tejashwi Pran." The elections are scheduled for November 6 and 11, with vote counting on November 14. The ruling NDA, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the BJP, is yet to release its manifesto. The Mahagathbandhan's campaign, spearheaded by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, has focused on jobs, governance, and welfare schemes aimed at addressing unemployment and social ...Read More >
PNN Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], November 14: As part of its CSR initiative, CitiusTech, a global leader in healthcare technology, has launched a program to make quality healthcare accessible to underserved urban communities across 12 slums in Bengaluru and Hyderabad. The initiative is supported by DocOnline contributing medical expertise and healthcare services as the knowledge partner, and NGO SEED. The initiative focuses on capacity building, digital healthcare integration, and community empowerment--bridging healthcare gaps through affordable, high-quality services. At the heart of th ...Read More >
UNICEF India has selected National Award-winning actor Keerthy Suresh as its new Celebrity Advocate, bringing her on board to support key issues affecting children, including mental health, equal opportunities, and overall well-being. Suresh, who works across Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi cinema, will collaborate with the organisation to highlight the challenges faced by children and adolescents and to promote interventions that ensure their healthy development. Her long-standing support fo ...Read More >
Winter pollution is increasingly harmful, posing serious physical and mental health risks. As air quality deteriorates, cities, particularly the capital, face heightened pollution levels, leading to stress and health complications. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is on the rise, especially among the young, while adults are experiencing worsened existing conditions. To combat the effects of pollution, it's essential to adopt mindful practices, stay hydrated, follow a skincare routine, keep indoor plants, and maintain regular exercise. These steps can improve well-being, reduce stress, and enh ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 3 (ANI): On the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the World Health Organisation (WHO) South-East Asia Region has called for amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities to foster an inclusive and sustainable future. WHO's Regional Director, Saima Wazed, stressed that empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring their active participation in all sectors is essential to addressing the barriers they face, particularly in healthcare and during humanitarian crises. Also Read | South Korea Unrest: Martial Law Troops Enter Nat ...Read More >
T'puram/Kozhikode: Education minister V Sivankutty said no one should dictate terms on what should be done in public schools. If anyone has any issues, they should discuss them with the govt. He stated that he would not accept any threat or warning from anyone regarding the Zumba row."There is an elected govt to decide on academic and non-academic matters in govt schools," Sivankutty told reporters in the capital.The govt is ready to have a discussion on the steps taken, but on issues commonly kn ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: Following the self-immolation of a college student in Balasore, the school and mass education department on Thursday issued a directive to all district education officers (DEO)s to strictly implement measures ensuring the safety of women employees at workplaces and to create a secure environment for students in schools.The department instructed that helpline numbers related to women's safety be prominently displayed in all schools, hostels, and govt offices. These include the women helpline - 181, child helpline - 1098, police emergency response - 112, and school student helpline ...Read More >
New Delhi, Oct 16 (PTI) Former President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday cautioned that rapid technological and environmental changes are creating new human rights challenges, particularly for workers in the informal sector and those facing climate-induced displacement. "Economic progress must always walk hand in hand with human dignity," he said, adding, "Climate change is no longer only an environmental concern and it is becoming a human rights imperative." Speaking at the 32nd Foundation Day of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the National Conference on Human Rights of Prison In ...Read More >
India will observe National Doctor's Day on July 1. The day acknowledges doctors' dedication. The 2025 theme is 'Behind the Mask: Who Heals the Healers?'. It highlights the mental health of doctors. The day commemorates Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy. He was a physician and former Chief Minister of West Bengal. Events will include ceremonies and campaigns. India marks National Doctor's Day on July 1 every year to recognise the tireless service, dedication, and compassion of the country's medical profess ...Read More >
Ramban (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], July 12 (ANI): Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Doda-Kishtwar-Ramban (DKR) range, Shridhar Patil, on Saturday said the BHAROSA initiative is aimed at building trust between women and the police. Speaking to ANI, DIG Patil explained that the program includes specially trained female officers posted at every police station to provide support and counselling, especially for victims of harassment and adolescents facing mental health challenges. 'The government is sensitive regarding women's security. The Doda-Kishtwar-Ramban area is very remote, and women ...Read More >
Medak: Telangana State BJP President N. Ramchander Rao on Friday appealed to the people to give the committed party an opportunity to meet the aspirations of the poor and downtrodden. Addressing a large gathering of party workers in Medak, the BJP chief remarked that citizens have experienced the rule of the BRS and the Congress party and have had bitter experiences with the deceitful practices of both. He urged people to support the BJP wholeheartedly in the upcoming local body elections as a way to teach the ruling Congress party a lesson for its unfulfilled promises. Rao emphasized that t ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: In an era when student safety has become an urgent concern, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi's proactive launch of the 'Shaktishree' initiative on Saturday evening appears not only timely but also visionary. The programme, unveiled in response to the recent tragic incident involving a girl student at FM College, Balasore, aims at the physical and mental empowerment of girl students -- striking a delicate yet determined balance between compassion and structural reform. According to experts, at its heart, Shaktishree is a forward-thinking approach to nurturing both the phys ...Read More >
New Delhi, Sep 29 (PTI) Over 200 million Indians have been diagnosed with mental health conditions but do not receive adequate care, leading to a treatment gap as high as 95 per cent in some areas, according to a mental health advocacy group. The India Mental Health Alliance (IMHA), an umbrella body of over 200 member organisations, which hosted its inaugural national convening on Monday here, highlighted that his impact goes beyond individuals to families, communities, and even affects the country's economy. According to the World Health Organisation, the estimated economic losses for India ...Read More >
Greater Noida: A 29-year-old MBBS doctor allegedly died by suicide by jumping from the 21st-floor balcony of a high-rise in Greater Noida on Monday afternoon, police said, adding no suicide note was recovered from the spot, but it was found that he was under psychiatric treatment. Police said the deceased, originally from Mathura, was residing at his sister's home in the Gaur City 2 high-rise in Greater Noida. He had stopped practising since 2023 after being diagnosed with some mental illness, said additional DCP (Central Noida) Savya Goel. "On Monday around 12.30 pm, when his sister and oth ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Hilti India, the global leader in providing innovative and cutting-edge construction solutions to the industry, has been recognized as one of India's Best Companies to Work For in 2025 under the Large Organizations category by Great Place to Work® (GPTW). This prestigious honour follows Hilti India's consistent track record of being certified a Great Place to Work® for the eighth consecutive year, reflecting the organization's continued focus on building a high-trust, high-performance workplace culture. Until last year, Hilti India was categorized under the mid-size companies brack ...Read More >
Lucknow, Sep 15 (PTI) The Uttar Pradesh government has launched a new initiative to strengthen women's health and improve wellbeing of families, an official statement issued here on Monday stated. Under the directions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the "Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar" campaign will be conducted statewide from September 17 to October 2, it said. As part of the campaign, health camps, nutrition awareness drives, and distribution of maternity benefits will be organised across Uttar Pradesh. The initiative aims to promote women's health, improve family well-being, and contrib ...Read More >
New Delhi: Former President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday cautioned that rapid technological and environmental changes are creating new human rights challenges, particularly for workers in the informal sector and those facing climate-induced displacement. "Economic progress must always walk hand in hand with human dignity," he said, adding, "Climate change is no longer only an environmental concern and it is becoming a human rights imperative." Speaking at the 32nd Foundation Day of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the National Conference on Human Rights of Prison Inmates, Kovin ...Read More >
Gurgaon: Two days after a law student died and his friend suffered critical injuries when a car knocked them down as they stood near railing on the service lane of Delhi-Jaipur highway in the early hours of Tuesday, a civil engineer was arrested on Thursday.Mohit (31), an employee of a private company in the city, told police that he got drowsy while driving. He is staying at a PG facility in Sector 14.The student who died, Harsh Singhal (25), was a resident of Om Nagar colony. His friend Abhishek Kumar (23), who is from Shanti Nagar in Sector 11, is undergoing treatment at a private hospital ...Read More >
Hyderabad - Synchrony is a leading consumer financial services company providing customers with innovative savings and premium credit solutions. Synchrony has been ranked #2 among India's Best Companies to Work For™ 2025 by Great Place to Work®, the global authority on workplace culture. This prestigious recognition, revealed at the awards ceremony on June 25, 2025, solidifies Synchrony's standing as a top employer of choice in India, underscoring its ongoing commitment to creating a high-trust, high-performance workplace culture that champions innovation, flexibility, and employee well-being. ...Read More >
Vijayawada: Tripura Governor Nallu Indrasena Reddy stressed the importance of mental health as essential to the nation's progress while inaugurating the M.Phil Clinical Psychology and Professional Diploma in Clinical Psychology (PDCP) courses at Indlas Hospitals here on Monday. Speaking at the event, Indrasena Reddy stated that the vision of a Viksita Bharat (Developed India) is incomplete without ensuring the mental well-being of its citizens. Along with medical and health minister Y Satya Kumar Yadav, he handed over admission letters to students of the newly-launched courses. He also point ...Read More >
Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh government will organise a mega parent-teacher meeting (PTM) 2.0 on July 10. As many as 2,28,21,454 participants from 61,135 institutions, including government and private schools, are expected to take part in the mega PTM 2.0. The state government termed the meeting as a unique initiative to strengthen the school-parent relationship. Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh are scheduled to participate in the parent-teacher meet 2.0 at Puttaparthi. As a step towards community-driven schooling, the first edition of mega PTM was success ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], July 9 (ANI): Following the violent protest at Kerala University, a case has been registered against 27 activists of the ruling CPM's Students Federation of India (SFI), including its state secretary P S Sanjeev, who has been named the prime accused, police said. The case also names 1,000 identifiable protesters who have been accused of damaging public property, forcibly entering the university campus, and assaulting police and university staff, police said on Tuesday. Also Read | Nobel Peace Prize 2025: From Mahatma Gandhi to Jawaharlal Nehru, Check Full ...Read More >
Kolkata: The Kolkata Traffic Police is facing a new challenge in managing vehicle parking for the upcoming Shahid Diwas rally on Monday, as persistent rainfall threatens to render designated parking fields unusable. The fresh spell of rain on Friday, with more occasional rain predicted even on Saturday, has left cops worried as they believe the Maidan area can be filled with slush.The traffic department, which initially planned to utilise various fields across the city for parking buses and cars of parade attendees, is now frantically searching for alternative solutions on the main roads, stre ...Read More >
New Delhi: Traffic in central Delhi will be affected on Thursday as the traffic police has issued an advisory due to the Janmashtami and Tazia processions.According to police, the traffic movement in Paharganj is likely to be affected from 1.30pm in view of the shobha yatra for Janmashtami and the Tazia procession.The Janmashtami procession will start from Mandir Shri Banke Bihari Ji in Paharganj's Sangatrasan Bazar and pass through Desh Bandhu Gupta Road, Chuna Mandi, Main Bazar, Munja Chowk and Arakashan Road. The Tazia procession will start from Ajmeri Gate and proceed through Pul Paharganj ...Read More >
As Uganda joined the rest of the world to mark Global Handwashing Day, the government, in partnership with Dettol Uganda, renewed its commitment to promoting hygiene, dignity, and health in schools and communities. The call to action was made by Florence Nambozo, minister of state for Karamoja Affairs, during the celebrations and the official launch of phase II of the Dettol Hygiene Quest, a global education programme designed to equip young children with essential hygiene skills for life. Targ ...Read More >
Exams in India are more than dates on a calendar. They shape family conversations, influence classroom dynamics, and weigh heavily on a student's mental health. Yet, for decades, the education system has measured success primarily through marks, leaving little space to address emotional well-being or curiosity. Recognising this gap, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Pariksha Pe Charcha (PPC) in 2018, a programme designed to create a dialogue about exams, stress, and learning in a holistic way. PPC is not just a platform to ask questions. It is a space to rethink how students approach educ ...Read More >
Have a calm conversation with your parents, expressing your feelings for your boyfriend while being open about the current situation between the two of you. Sometimes, parents worry because they don't know the full picture, says rediffGURU Kanchan Rai. You can post your questions to rediffGURU Kanchan Rai HERE. Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com Are your parents worried about your marriage? What do you do when your parents disapprove of your relationship? Is it normal to have feelings for someone else while you are in a committed relationship? How to handle your emotions when you f ...Read More >