‍#Sponsored: Important Tips To Study In Australia

Australia is regarded as one of the most varied and friendliest countries across the globe. With over 1,100 schools and 22,000 courses to select from, Australia offers a varied choice of education possibilities for overseas students.

The Australian Qualifications Framework distinguishes the Australian education system from that of many other countries by providing primary, secondary, and post-secondary education (AQF). The AQF is a national strategy that lays out how qualifications at different levels of education are linked.

International students can pursue education at all levels, from elementary and secondary school to vocational education and training (VET), English language courses and higher education (including universities).
Higher education (universities) and vocational education and training are referred to as 'tertiary education’ in Australia (VET and TAFE colleges). Higher education and VET institutions are governed by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) (https://www.teqsa.gov.au/) and the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) respectively. These organizations are in charge of institution registration and re-registration, as well as course accreditation and re-accreditation.

Australia's laws support great education and protection for international students, regardless of what you're studying for or how long you're studying. National standards for international education and training providers are set by the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act of 2000 and the National Code of Practice for Registration Authorities & Providers of Education & Training to Overseas Students 2007 (National Code).

Before Studying in Australia, there are certain things one should be keeping in mind. Read through the following to explore the necessary steps that may be required before planning to study in Australia. 

You may be enthralled by the prospect of studying in Australia, having heard tales of cute animals, endless beaches and lengthy summers. While Australia has a lot to offer, shifting countries may be difficult. So it's worth planning ahead of time if you're going to be an international student.

There's a lot you should know about studying in Australia before you go. Some things you'll learn when you get there, but here are a few highlights to help you get ready for your new life in Australia.

A visa is required

To study in Australia, international students require a Student Visa (subclass 500). This allows you to study in Australia full-time and is valid for the duration of your program. You must have been accepted into a registered full-time course in Australia to be eligible for this visa.

You might require health insurance 

Unless you are a student from a country where the cost of international healthcare is paid by the government, you will need to purchase Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of your stay in Australia. This is a requirement of the student visa since it helps pay for any medical treatment that may be required during your period of stay.

In addition to meeting the criteria of your visa, OSHC may assist you in obtaining insurance to cover you in the event of an accident or injury.

Make an effort to improve your English skills 

It's always a good idea to brush up on your English abilities so you can keep up with your professors, especially if English isn't your first language. Try watching formal English-language television news and chat shows, reading books, or listening to podcasts (https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/general-english/audio-series/podcasts). Learn some Australian slang and have a good time. Even though they all speak English, Australians (or "Aussies" as they are known) have a wide range of terms (and accents).

Your educational institution's grading system may be different 

The grades in Australia are not the same as those in other nations. A first-class mark, for example, could be assessed with an HD (High Distinction) rather than an A or A+. If you're intending on finishing your course in your native country, find out how this may affect your grades.

Consider carefully where in Australia you want to study 

You can choose from a range of destinations for your study abroad vacation to Australia.It might be intriguing for you to study in the UK, but do you prefer to live in the city or on the outskirts of town? Do you want to spend all of your leisure time at the beach (that is something pretty much everywhere in Australia ), or do you prefer to go into "the bush"? Depending on what you study, certain regions may be better for you. Australia is where you’ve got to land.

If you're interested in marine biology, Queensland, which is home to the Great Barrier Reef, might be a suitable fit. If you're a business major, studying in Sydney might be a better option for you. Apart from Sydney, there are numerous possibilities in both large and small places. Consider attending events in Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne, or Canberra, to mention a few.

Australia is an expensive country

In comparison to many other nations, you may perceive Australia's cost of living to be quite excessive. It's a good idea to figure out what kind of weekly costs you'll have and how much each one will cost.

To get a student visa, you'll need to show that you can afford a minimum living cost of $19,830 per year, but you might end up spending more, especially if you plan on studying and living in one of the larger cities.

What Does It Cost to Study in Australia?

The cost of studying in Australia is determined by the institution and degree of study that you select. The table below illustrates the range of course expenses for various types of qualifications.

If you think you are ready to bear the expenses of studying abroad, it is suggested that rather than forcing your mind with the mainstream thought to study in the US, it would be far more attractive to be experiencing a whole different sphere of education from Australia.  

However, you might be able to work 

In term time, a student visa allows you to work up to 40 hours per fortnight, excluding any employment required as part of your degree. During the holidays, you can work full-time. However, you will not be able to work in Australia until your studies have commenced.

The public transportation system might be confusing 

Buses, trains, ferries, and trams make up Australia's public transportation system. International students are entitled to discounts on some or all of these in some, but not all, states.

Driving rules vary by state, while most will allow you to drive with a valid international driver's license — again, do your homework before you go. Keep in mind that we drive on the left side of the road in Australia.

The seasons are inverted! 

If you're traveling from a Northern Hemisphere location, such as Europe or the United States, you will notice that the season you left behind has changed. You'll need to pack for the Australian heat as if it was your winter. Furthermore, Australia operates in a separate time zone from the United States, so expect some jet lag when you arrive.

In fact, to experience an all-rounder of seasons and living an educational life amidst the beauty of mother nature, studying abroad in Sweden or Australia would make you a good choice. 

Australia is a hugely diversified country 

Although Australia's population is small in comparison to its size (approximately 23 million people), it is home to over 25% of the world's population. This is one of the reasons why there are a number of languages spoken here. English is the official language and is likely to be the language in which you will be expected to learn. 

Some of the meals may be odd to you 

You might be able to obtain some familiar flavors from home depending on where you study in Australia. Australia has a diverse cuisine scene to go along with its cosmopolitan society.

Kangaroo, lamingtons, Tim Tams, and (if you're feeling daring) Vegemite are all good options for a traditional taste of Australia.

Don't underestimate Australia's size

Australia has a vast landmass of 7.96 million km2. So, unless you have a lot of time and money to spare, it's quite doubtful that you'll be able to see all of our key sights and towns in one trip. Plan the things you truly want to visit and determine if your expectations are reasonable; this will help you avoid disappointment later on. 

If candidates can consider smaller countries like, studying from Hong Kong while reviewing the size and area, studying from Australia would anyday be a winning streak  with the upper hand. 

Knowing what to expect when studying in Australia will help alleviate any concern you may be experiencing about such a significant life decision. There'll be plenty to learn once you arrive, so pack your bags and prepare for education outside your university's walls.

Scholarships 

Many scholarships are available to students of various nationalities, but the requirements of each grant are specified by the institution or organization that is offering it. Applications must be sent directly to the scholarship giver, and you must contact the scholarship provider to find out if you are qualified for a scholarship.

Studying in Australia would be a journey worth experiencing. Once you walk out with that degree from Australia, you would see in yourself a new change, a person with a global outlook and brimming with self confidence. Not just will your life change, studying programmes from universities abroad can change your identity as an individual and shall be touching newer heights. #KhabarLive #hydnews

Extracurricular Activities To Do While Studying Gives Your CV A Great Boost

We intend to study abroad to gain that academic excellence and an edge over the others compared to students back in your own country. However, when you plan to study abroad and then work there, you need to stand out amongst the diversity of international students who already exist there to land that progressive and dream job.

Gaining academic excellence and knowledge should be your ultimate goal while going to study abroad. New language, new friends, new cuisine, new insights, and new learnings come along while learning with other students from diverse cultures. Well, there is something that you should add to your profile seriously while studying abroad consciously. Yes! It involves yourself in extracurricular activities. What does that mean?? Where can I find time for them? What exactly do I need to do? How will it help? Confused? Don't worry; this blog then is just for you. Read till the end to know about extracurricular activities to do while Studying Abroad and why. Get started.

Things to do while studying abroad that can give your CV a boost

We intend to study to gain academic excellence and an edge over the others compared to students back in your own country. 

However, when you plan to study abroad and then work there, you need to stand out amongst the diversity of international students who already exist there to land that progressive and dream job. So only academic achievements may not be enough all the time to make yourself stand out from others. So if you do want your CV to stand out once you graduate from university, get started with some extracurricular activities along with your study right away!

Do we understand that you must be thinking about these extracurricular activities that I need to take up? Well, they can be anything of your interest ranging from things like joining the university sports team, learning a new language, or becoming a peer mentor. It will add to your CV and display your existing skills and interests besides your academic achievements to the recruiter. It makes your personality attractive!

We would sincerely advise every student not to underestimate the importance of extracurricular activities on your CV. There is a lot of competition for picking up that dream job, so anything you can do in your free time that leads to developing new skills will surely help make your CV stand out from the rest! 

We bring you 10 extracurricular activities that you can think about and pick up based on your interest. However, more choices can be vast; take up anything substantial you feel will stand out in your CV!

1. Become a Volunteer

Volunteering is a great extracurricular activity to opt for. It allows you to give back to society and is rewarding as well. It proves to be an excellent addition to your CV that demonstrates to the recruiter that you have a good work ethic and possess good organizational skills, too, as you have juggled between volunteering and studying.

You can find some volunteering opportunities in the locality of your university or where you stay in case off-campus.

2. Join a sports team

Playing a sport is a great extracurricular activity. Playing a sport requires various skills that are recognized and appreciated by a recruiter. Well, you can play any sport, be it football or basketball, join a sports team and play for the team. You can find such opportunities within the university or even in your local area.

3. Join some societies.

Make an attempt to join any society, and it is going to shine on your CV. You can even boast about it to your recruiter, especially if it is a friendly society. You must be thinking, what kind of society should you be joining? Well, it can be related to your degree or future professional aspirations. You can even join a club that teaches you something completely new too! 

4. Be actively involved in events related to your university

Become an active member for all events related to the university. This involvement of your university activities will showcase to the employer that you are social, possess leadership skills, take the initiative, manage time, and be a good communicator. 

5. Part-time job

If you can finish your university or college work well in time and efficiently, then you can consider picking up a part-time job too. This will give definitely give your resume a boost because it showcases your time management and organization skills.

6. Peer mentor

Becoming a peer mentor if helping other students is your calling is a great extracurricular activity to try your hands on. Most of the universities have peer mentoring and tutoring schemes. In this, the second and third-year students support the first-year students to adjust to university life. You could be involved in taking the new students for a campus tour, addressing their queries over an email, and being there as a friend on campus for them.

7. Take up an internship

Internships are a great way to get into the industry's workspace that you will finally work in. It is an experience that teaches you a lot and gives you the practical experience of your theory learned.

Internships are a great extracurricular activity to add to your CV. It is because it shows your natural ambition and passion, as you have worked for free or for a negligible amount during your internship.

8. Get Political

Think what strikes a chord with you. Is it teaching someone free of cost or helping people with mental health issues. Identify the cause dear to your heart and join a political society or campaigning group to work towards that cause. You will surely come out with excellent leadership skills and an excellent addition to your CV.

9. Start your Vlog

Pick up a passion that is close to your heart, and you can start your Vlog on social media. This extracurricular will definitely showcase the commitment and education that you have towards things you enjoy to the recruiter. A great addition to your CV for sure, keeping in mind how the world is moving regarding social media.

10. Launch your podcast

This is also a new innovative extracurricular picking up nowadays. It does not require much, just a microphone, a phone, and an idea to make it unique. Identify your passion and start your own podcast. It's a tremendous extracurricular to add to your CV and implies the excellent communication skills you possess.

You may go to the best university and gain academic excellence, but when you begin to work in the real world, what is also required is a set of skills. Leadership, communication, teamwork, time management, organization are all skill sets that are a must in your workspace. Start early by indulging in various extracurricular activities while you study. Push your limits and explore. At the end of the day, it will add to your CV and help you stand out with employers. 

Remember, extracurricular activities are not only an excellent way to demonstrate your interests and individuality to the recruiters, but it also showcases to them that you have a range of valuable skills that you could apply to the job if selected. #KhabarLive #hydnews 

‍Sudden Surge Of 'Covid Cases' In Hyderabad, All Designated Hospitals Kept On High Alert

As the government opening up all sectors and allowing full freedom to the people to move about and go about their daily lives, several doctors have been expressing concern over the past few weeks that careless behaviour by people could well result in another spurt in cases leading to a third wave of Covid-19 in the state.

As a result, a sudden surge of Covid cases rose by 45 per cent overnight in Hyderabad city and the rest of the GHMC area with the health department saying that on Wednesday, 102 new Covid-19 cases were discovered in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation limits. On Tuesday, the department reported 70 new cases in GHMC area.

The last time 100 or more cases were reported in Hyderabad was on July 4 this year when 107 cases of Covid-19 were found. With the government eased up all sectors and allowing full openings to the people to move about and go normal lives, doctors expressed concern that careless behaviour by people could result in another spurt in cases leading to a third wave of Covid-19 in the state. And that is happened.

While Wednesday’s steep jump in Covid-19 cases in Hyderabad could be an isolated development, the sudden rise comes barely a week before all educational institutions are set to open fully in the city and the rest of the state. Now, it's a high time to government to take a call on the decision of reopening of schools again.

Meanwhile, the department said that two more people died from Covid-19 in the state taking the death toll so far to 3,864, while the 366 fresh cases on Wednesday took to 6,56,098, the overall cases.

Covid Aug 25 numbers
Fresh cases: 366
Deaths: 2
Tests done: 80,470
Active Cases: 6,295
Total Cases – 6,56,098
Total Deaths – 3,864

Highest New Cases – Name of district with a number of cases:
1. GHMC: 102                       
2. Karimnagar: 34               
3. Medchal Malkajgiri, Warangal Urban: 27      
4. Nalgonda: 24
5: Khammam: 19                

Experts says, this is the indication of third wave arrival in the state. Further, if the delta variant which is again making waves may add flavour to this surge. And seasonal diseases too act as catalysts to this too. The ultimate result of this warning signal have to wait and see. #KhabarLive #hydnews 

‍Covid Scare Still Looms On ‍Parents, Not In Favour Of Sending Children On Reopening Of Schools In Telangana

Though the Telangana government has decided to reopen all educational institutions from September 1, many parents are still not ready to send their children to schools.

Most of the parents, especially those of primary and secondary school students, are not willing to send their wards. They are not ready to take risks as the Covid-19 cases continue and vaccine for children is still not available.

The fear of their children contracting Covid may prompt the majority of parents not to send them for physical classes immediately but wait for a few weeks before making a decision.

The state government on Monday decided to reopen all educational institutions from KG to PG across the state from September 1. The decision was taken by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao at a meeting with education minister P. Sabitha Indra Reddy and senior officials.

With the health department officials stating in their report that Covid situation in the state is under control, the chief minister announced that all educational institutions including Angandwadis will be reopened.

The officials of the education department told the meeting that due to continued closure of educational institutions, students, especially school children, have come under psychological stress and this may have an impact on their future.

Keeping this in mind and after studying all aspects and after taking views of all, the chief minister decided that all educational institutions should be reopened with precautionary measures.
Some states including Andhra Pradesh have already reopened schools. The neighbouring state reopened schools a week ago.

However, on the day when the Telangana government took the decision to reopen all educational institutions, four students of a government-run school in Andhra Pradesh's Krishna district tested positive for Covid-19 in the random sample testing conducted on Monday. Some students of government schools in Guntur and Prakasam districts had also tested positive for Covid after reopening schools in the state on August 16.

The decision of the Telangana government to open all educational institutions has come under criticism from parents. "Instead of opening all institutions in one go, the government should have announced this in phases. Schools above eighth standard should be reopened first and if everything goes fine, physical classes can be resumed for others," said P. Mohan Reddy, whose son is a student of fifth class in a private school in Hyderabad.

The parents recalled that lack of proper planning had led to closure of schools within a few days after reopening in February.

After a gap of nearly 11 months, educational institutions in the state had reopened in February this year. However, due to the surge in Covid-19 cases during the second wave, they were shut down on March 24.

The media reports about experts warning a possible third wave playing up in parents' minds. "The experts have not ruled out a third wave. There were also reports that children may be the worst affected in the third wave. In such a situation, how can we take risks," asked Syed Ashfaq, whose three children are in primary and secondary schools.
While parents agree that continued closure of schools is taking a toll on children's psychological health, they want to wait for some more time to see how the pandemic situation evolves before taking a decision.

"There is still no vaccine for children. If they are fully immunized, parents may be ready to send them but at this juncture not many are willing," said Ayesha Fatima, a teacher at a private school.
She pointed out that when schools had reopened for Class 7 and above in February, the attendance was only 25-30 per cent.

Lack of clarity about online classes has also landed parents in a dilemma. While announcing re-opening of all educational institutions, the government did not clarify if online classes will continue for those students whose parents are not ready to send them for physical classes.
Most of the parents are of the view that the government should continue online classes till the threat of the pandemic is completely eliminated. #KhabarLive #hydnews

‍‍Is 'Third Wave' Of Covid Knocking On The Doors Of Telangana?

The harsh reality is the third wave is ready to knock the doors of Telangana State despite the end declaration of health officials.

The vigilant health machinery in the state seems busy to manipulate the numbers of Covid cases and instructing hospital staff to hide the actual details. And projecting the end of the second wave.

Though it cannot be said with certainty, a check at the ground level indicates that there is a mismatch between the official bulletin issued by the State Government and the situation in Gandhi Hospital and Telangana Institute of Medical Science (TIMS).

Officially the government claims that there are only 494 positive cases, but sources indicate that over 45 Covid cases are being reported every day in Gandhi Hospital.

As of now there are about 400 patients undergoing treatment. Similarly, in TIMS there are 65 patients and another 38 in King Koti hospital. The health bulletin also claims that there are only 76 positive cases in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits, but it is learnt that the private diagnostic centres have also reported an increase in positive cases.

Two villages Endapally and Maddutla, located in Velgatoor mandal have imposed certain restrictions on their own to prevent further spread of the virus. When asked about it, the Health authorities say that it is all in the hands of the people.

A third wave can be prevented or restricted if people strictly follow the health protocols. But it is not known if the Health department or the civic bodies were planning to take up any awareness campaign or not. People say that on one hand, the government had imposed restrictions on the number of participants in marriages and funerals but was doing nothing to control the number of people in public functions or even government meetings.

Many people are seen without masks but still no action is taken against them. They also alleged that neither the Health department nor the civic bodies had taken up any campaign on the need to use masks and follow social distancing. Not just that, there are reports in media and social media about the mutation of corona virus but no awareness on such issues is being created. #KhabarLive #hydnews

‍Bad Civic Amenities And ‍Narrow Roads Becomes A Nightmare For Goshamahal Redidents In Hyderabad

Bad civic amenities and narrow roads causing health issues, traffic congestion and many problems in the Goshamahal area in Hyderabad are giving a nightmare to locals and commuters.

The Nizam era roads, drainage system, nalas are still being continued and with no proper development plans for the area residents and especially the traders of Begum Bazar market are facing several difficulties.

The 400-year-old Goshamahal area has many narrow lanes connecting both the old city and the new city areas like Afzalgunj, Darussalam, Nampally, Moazzam Jahi Market, and Bahadurpura. The area is still underdeveloped. Everyday thousands of vehicles pass through Goshamahal and due to the narrow roads, there is a frequent traffic jam.

Speaking to #KhabarLive, Laxminarayan Rathi, a wholesale trader from Begum Bazar said, "Since Nizam period the road has not been widened in the area, though several representations were given to the civic authorities urging them to propose a new road plan for the area till now not even a single road plan has been taken up.

Thousands of people from districts visit the market and all lanes connecting Begum Bazar witness heavy traffic congestion." Many other parts of the Goshamahal constituency are facing the same issue, including Chudi Bazar, Maharajgunj, Siddiamber Bazar, Feelkhana.

Locals have been urging the authorities to take up the expansion of these roads for 30 years and widen the road from single lane to double lane but till now there is no response from the authorities. Moreover, Goshamahal constituency MLA T Raja Singh also demanded the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to release funds for the road development works, if not he said he will stage a dharna at GHMC head office.

Locals are demanding the GHMC to resolve the problems which they have been facing for several years.

A resident of Dhoolpet said, "Once the road is widened, even artisans will have a smooth way to transport idols and the market will have a new look." #KhabarLive #hydnews

‍‍Corona Killed More Than One Lakh in Telangana During 2020, MeeSeva RTI Reveal

The RTI Reveal the real face of the Telangana government on covid deaths counting the data. This reveal by a MeeSeva RTI as the entire data source to the governmental bodies.

A RTI reply from citizen helpline MeeSeva suggests potential Covid death undercounting in Telangana. State doesn’t call it a Covid death if patient has comorbidities. 

Telangana witnessed thousands of ‘excess deaths’ in 2020, as compared to the average annual fatalities in the four preceding pre-pandemic years, state government data obtained through an RTI query suggests.   

‘Excess deaths’ refer to the additional fatalities reported in a certain time period, as compared to the average number of deaths expected in that time based on trends witnessed in earlier years. 

In the context of Covid, excess deaths may convey pandemic fatalities that never made it to official records — for example, those that were categorised with a different cause — or patients of other grievous ailments who could not get requisite medical care as the healthcare system turned its focus to the novel coronavirus.
  
While the Telangana government acknowledges that there has been an increase in deaths in 2020 and 2021, as compared to previous years, it says they are yet to look into the matter since they’re “busy tackling the pandemic”.

According to data sourced by city-based activist Vijay Gopal from  ‘MeeSeva’ — a government-run citizen helpline that helps with issuing/applying for Aadhaar cards, ration cards etc, besides providing copies of birth, death certificates — Telangana witnessed at least 1,20,929 deaths in 2020. 

In comparison, the state of approximately 3.5 crore residents, recorded at least 79,097 deaths in 2019, 62,142 in 2018, 63,900 in 2017, and 48,849 in 2016, the data shows. The average thus derived comes to 63,497/year. 
At least 1,80,437 deaths were recorded between March 2020 and mid-June 2021, the RTI data further states.

However, experts said the actual figures could be different, even higher, because of how MeeSeva records data — the figures here convey the number of people who died in the stated period, but only those whose relatives approached MeeSeva for copies of their death certificates.  

The official Covid death toll for Telangana, which recorded its first case of the disease in March, was 1,544 as of 31 December. The number had risen to 3,831 by 10 August.

Reached for comment, the Telangana government denied undercounting of Covid deaths in the state. Telangana Director of Public Health G. Srinivas Rao said a Covid-infected individual’s death is only categorised as pandemic-related if the patient was otherwise healthy and without comorbidities. 

“There is no issue of underreporting. We report whatever has come to our notice. For any death to be officially counted as a Covid death, the person should not have any comorbidities and must be full healthy (say a 35- or a 45-year-old) and then if they’re infected and unfortunately succumb to the virus – only then we count it as a Covid death,” he said. “If the person is aged and has comorbidities, then we do not really consider it as one.”

Rao said the rise of deaths in 2020 and 2021 has come to the state’s notice but the department is yet to look into the issue since they’re “busy tackling the pandemic”.  

MeeSeva was launched as an online e-governance service in 1999, with one centre, by the then N. Chandrababu Naidu government of united Andhra Pradesh. In 2001, it was launched on a larger scale as a pilot project. 

As of now, there are about 4,500 MeeSeva centres in the state, according to state project manager Narasimha Rao Bajjuri from Telangana’s Electronic Services Delivery department.

A citizen usually obtains original death certificates from their local municipality. MeeSeva comes into the picture when the citizen wants a copy of the certificate for sundry purposes such as bank work etc, Gopal told #KhabarLive. 

This means that the number of deaths, as evidenced by MeeSeva data, just refers to the number of fatalities for which death certificate copies were sought, Gopal said. 

“Every death registered has a ‘unique death certificate number’ and that is the data we sought from MeeSeva via this RTI… It’s like, say, an Aadhaar number. So, all these death certificates issued are unique and there is no repetition of counts,” Gopal told #KhabarLive. 

Among other things, the data also reveals that, in the first six months of 2021, the state had already recorded 80,631 deaths. This is a figure higher than the annual toll of 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Allegations of undercountinting have dogged Telangana’s Covid data since the start of the pandemic.

In April this year, the Telangana High Court, hearing multiple petitions related to Covid, pulled up the state for apparently hiding the real death count and said there should be display boards at crematoria and burial grounds depicting the true picture. 

The same month, a group of doctors, led by Dr Lakshmi Lavanya Alapati, managing director of the American Institute of Diabetes and Endocrinology in Hyderabad, wrote to Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, urging him to increase testing and issue transparent health bulletins with real cases and death count.
Speaking to #KhabarLive, Alapati said “lapse in death reporting is a shame”. 

“It is a lot in Telangana — deaths are almost 10 times more than what they report as official state count. Even if the government thinks they will lose credibility, it is fine, but what they should do is rewrite the deaths that were not counted before to give us the real picture,” she added. #KhabarLive #hydnews

Dengue, Malaria And Viral Fever Cases Are On Rise In Hyderabad Hospitals

Congenial weather during the ongoing monsoon has started to cause a spurt in cases of dengue and viral fevers in Hyderabad and surrounding districts. Several cases reported in various private hospitals, nursing homes in Hyderabad last one week.

In the last one-week, cases of dengue have started to get reported in private nursing homes, clinics, speciality hospitals and Fever Hospital, Nallakunta in Hyderabad.

A majority of the patients are being presented with high grade fever, body aches, rashes, low back ache, nose bleeding, low platelet count, and quite often a drop in the blood pressure. At Fever Hospital, in the last one week, the authorities have also registered a slight bump in the number of dengue and viral fevers.

“This is the ideal season for mosquito breeding and that’s why cases of dengue and even viral fevers have started to get reported. At present cases are not alarming. However, there are dengue positive patients who are receiving treatment at Fever Hospital and this is the time for the community to take precautions,” says Superintendent, Fever Hospital, Dr K Shankar.

The seasonal diseases expert said that patients and their relatives should understand that platelet transfusion is needed only if the blood platelet count falls below 20,000. Dr Shankar was alluding to instances where every year relatives of dengue patients desperately look for blood platelets for transfusion.

“We have seen that private clinics and nursing homes unnecessarily prescribe blood transfusion even if patient has a platelet count of 80,000 or even 1,00,000. As a result, the families end-up incurring a lot of out of pocket expenditure while procuring platelets,” Dr Shankar said.

The most effective way to prevent dengue is not to allow mosquitoes to breed. Dengue is caused by a virus, which is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Unlike the Culex mosquito, which causes malaria, Aedes is a day time biter and breeds prodigiously in clean water collections like rain water, pools, water collected in tyres, coconut shells etc.

Since Aedes is a day time biter, taking mosquito precautions during nights will not prevent the spread of dengue infection, a major reason why public health care institutions often find it difficult to contain dengue, when compared to malaria.

“Dengue mosquitos bite during day time and people must be cautious. They should observe dry day once a week, preferably Friday and empty all the water collecting points. Individual homes, offices and commercial establishments must remove water from their air-coolers and other small containers at least once a week,” says Director of Public Health, Dr G Srinivas Rao. #KhabarLive #hydnews

‍‍‍Why 'Gulf Migration Corridor' At Crossroads In Telangana?

Equipping and empowering our migrants to deal with the complications that arise at various stages of migration is no more an option.

Telangana, the 12th-most populated State in India as per the 2011 census, sends about 1.5 million of a total 8.8 million Indian expatriates to the Gulf. These labourers have played a crucial role in transforming the Gulf States from “camel to Cadillac”. Similarly, the Gulf migration has impacted the upward social and economic mobility of migrant households and strengthened Telangana’s economy through remittances they send home.

Northern Telangana, especially Karimnagar, Rajanna Sircilla, Nizamabad, Adilabad and Warangal districts, has witnessed widespread migration to Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Beginning from the second half of the 1980s, people from the Telangana region migrated to the Gulf as a response to the perpetual droughts, lack of irrigable water and the resultant agricultural distress, as well as the heightened naxalism and police encounters. The Gulf oil boom of the 1970s and the tremendous infrastructural development in the region spurred the demand for labour that acted as a pull factor. Since then, the migration of people of all ages, classes and skill levels from the Telangana region to the Gulf is uninterrupted.

Antilogy of Gulf Dreams

Poverty, unemployment, lack of opportunities, local entrepreneurial environment and debt from agriculture force many to seek jobs in Gulf countries. Expatriates from Telangana mostly work in low-paid, semi and low-skilled unorganised sectors of construction, retail, driving, sanitation and domestic work. A few work in the skilled sectors of care services, hospitality and hotel management as well.
Severe hardships they endure in the hostile terrains of Arab lands are yet to be studied and documented by academia and public intellectuals. They are the “precarious proletariat” in the true sense of the term coined by the renowned economist Thomas Piketty, working in 3D contractual jobs (“dirty, dangerous and difficult”) under the much-criticised kafala system in the alienated Gulf societies.

Stagnated wages are an ignored ill-face of blue-collar jobs in the Gulf. They live in overcrowded labour camps or so-called “bachelor” houses, taking up multiple jobs or overtime in arduous work environments with bare minimum facilities for sending some extra money home. They are deprived of social safety nets and labour rights.

Women domestic workers and caregivers who work in the least regulated environments of their sponsors’ houses are often subject to inhuman treatments, gender-based violence and exploitation.
Financial strains and resultant stress, uncertainties related to the temporary contract visa, emotions of loneliness for being away from the family for years together, and concerns about the wellbeing of the family left behind add to the vulnerability of these migrants. Many suffer from serious health problems, and the instances of death due to health complications and suicides are yet to be addressed in our public discourses on migration.

Today, the Gulf dream for many is shattering due to the changes in the tax system, nationalisation and labour quota policies intended to reduce expatriate labourers, such as the Nitaqat in Saudi Arabia. The Covid-19 pandemic has aggravated their sufferings, and many are facing the threat of job loss, over-work and reduced salaries or have already lost their jobs.

Return and Re-migration

Unlike the earlier waves of return migration during the Gulf War (1990s), the oil crisis and the economic depression (2000s), or the labour nationalisation (2010s), the pandemic-induced return is unprecedented. The prospect of re-migration is bleak, especially for the low-skilled, with Gulf labour markets moving forward with rigorous migrant labour reduction programmes as a response to the economic fragility, demographic transition and rising unemployment among natives. Parallelly, India is going through an alarming phase of rising unemployment and declining economic growth. It is in this context that these jobless migrants are returning, feeling dejected and disillusioned.

It is estimated that over 75,000 migrant workers in the Gulf from across Telangana are terminated from their jobs and hurriedly returned without procuring salary arrears and end-of-service benefits such as bonus, PF, gratuity, and so on. This serious issue of “wage theft” is not entirely a new pandemic-induced phenomenon, but several employers are taking undue advantage of the current situation. Hence, returning penniless and abashed, they are forced to borrow money or sell assets that they have hard-earned from the Gulf jobs for their sustenance and clearing off previous loans and debts.

Owing to the lack of alternative livelihood opportunities and a supportive reintegration and rehabilitation policy, many returnees, especially between 20 and 45 years age group, are left with no option other than to re-migrate to the Gulf. But, it is more difficult and expensive to re-migrate now due to the long waiting period for Covid-19 vaccines in India, ever-changing entry rules and travel bans in the Gulf, and uncertainty and diffidence around finding new employment or joining back in the earlier Gulf job.

Indian expatriates, including the Telugu people, are taking various transit routes via Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Armenia and Uzbekistan to enter the UAE, Saudi, Oman, and Kuwait as direct entry is barred to these countries. They spend around  Rs 1.5 lakh for these journeys, booking chartered flights, 14-day quarantine in transit countries and PCR tests before entering the final destination. Desperate to get back to the Gulf, these migrants take bank loans or borrow money from private lenders, further falling deep into the debt trap.  

Deceptive Agents, Issue of Trafficking

Even though the bona fide channel of migrating abroad for work is through recruitment agencies licensed by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), many approach or are approached by fraudulent agents to facilitate an easy path to the Gulf. The existence of only fewer than 25 registered agencies in the entire State of Telangana makes running an illicit recruiting and travel agency lucrative. The State government established the Telangana Overseas Manpower Company Ltd (TOMCOM) in 2016 to ensure safe, legal migration.

However, taking advantage of high demand from the unemployed and circumstances of those who wish to migrate, the nexus of fraudulent recruiting agents continue to thrive, bypassing all valid emigration procedures. They often dupe job seekers with visit visas or the notorious “free visas” instead of proper employment visas and “push” them through emigration procedures at the source and destinations.

The recent news reports of Telugu women trafficked by promising “high-paying” domestic worker and caregiving jobs in Arab households encapsulate the issue’s gravity. Widespread irregular practices exclude migrants from the official databases and make them susceptible to exploitation and abuse by recruiters, sponsors and/or employers. Their dubious immigration status and lack of proper documents also make it hard for the destination countries’ labour courts to issue legal directions and the Indian government to assist them if they land in any trouble.

Proactive Approaches

Emigration is not often a joyous affair, even though most people migrate voluntarily to the Gulf land of plenty to materialise their dreams of becoming rich, buying land, building secure houses, and saving money for a better future for their family and children. It is necessary to equip and empower them to deal with the complications that may arise at all stages of migration.

Pre-departure orientation and skill training needs to be vigorously imparted to all aspirant migrants to provide them better bargaining power in the destinations, along with a detailed awareness programme on the available Centre and State-level welfare schemes. Likewise, empowering them digitally will equip them to resort to various government portals, like the MADAD, for grievance redressal and verification of the credibility of their visas.

Existing public mechanisms, including the Telangana State Skill Development Mission (TSSDM), National Academy of Construction (NAC) and Industrial Training Institutes (ITI), need to be roped in effectively for skilling and skill upgradation training for aspiring migrants to meet the latest labour and technology adaptation demands. The Institute of Driving Training and Research Centre (IDTRC) in Sircilla is a laudable initiative, which too can be roped in.

Similarly, those who have returned during the pandemic should be directed to register themselves with the SWADES portal of the government  of India to find job opportunities in Indian and foreign companies. There should be policies to incentivise returnees above the age of 50 to start micro, small and medium (MSME) businesses to better utilise their savings, skills, international exposure and experiences.

Migration related awareness creation should be TOMCOM’s top priority of the, along with skill development, training, and overseas recruitment. Operations of unregistered recruitment agencies need to be curbed to ensure safe, orderly and regular migration from the State. Migrant-specific welfare schemes that include migrant families and returnees to its fold need to be initiated at the Centre and State levels.

The scope of some of the existing schemes can be extended, for instance, the Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana, the emigrants’ insurance scheme launched in 2003, to cover deaths by diseases. There also needs to be a special fast-track arrangement in the State for the Gulf migrants to get Covid-19 vaccines to head back when the travel bans are lifted.

Emigration Bill, 2021

The proposed Draft Emigration Bill, 2021, requires further deliberations before passing to ground it on the realities and diversities of emigration of Indians abroad as well as their return and reintegration. Limited availability of data and the discrepancy of available statistics are major stumbling blocks in formulating evidence-based policies and their effective implementation. Hence, creating a consolidated database on migrants and returnees should be the priority of Central and State governments.

For instance, eMigrate initiative of the MEA records only 15 unregistered recruitment agencies in Telangana, which is a gross underestimation. A comparative understanding of best practices and the emigrant welfare programmes implemented by different States governments can be mutually beneficial, and the Telangana government should take formal initiatives and establish permanent bodies in institutionalising such exchanges between other State governments and their agencies like the NORKA in Kerala.

Indian embassies in the Gulf region need to be strengthened to ensure proactive interventions when our expatriates are in need, like providing legal aid or pro-bono lawyers for “wage theft” cases and filing claims on behalf of returned migrants in the Gulf labour courts. Likewise, considering the migrant numbers, initiatives to set up more consulates of the Gulf countries in different parts of the Telangana region can promptly address the issues faced by the migrants in the destination.

The crucial role of civil society and grassroots level organisations based in Telangana and the Gulf for the welfare of emigrants in normal and emergency situations should not be missed. Their advocacy prompted the MEA to roll back its recent circulars on minimum referral wage (MRW) reduction.

The Sircilla-based Telangana Gulf Joint Action Committee, Hyderabad-based Emigrants Welfare Forum, Gulf Telangana Welfare and Cultural Association, Pravasi Mitra Labour Union, and the Dubai-based Indian People’s Forum are a few to mention. The proactive intervention of KT Rama Rao, Minister of IT & NRI Affairs, and KR Suresh Reddy, MP from Telangana, is worth mentioning in the MRW issue.

Bheem Reddy Mandha, president of the Emigrants Welfare Forum, says, “Telangana migrants in the Gulf are sending about Rs 27,000 crore per annum as remittances, and it is, directly and indirectly, boosting the economy. The government should reciprocate by allocating Rs 500 crore in the annual Budget for the welfare of Gulf migrants and their left-behind families”. We should listen to our migrants and their needs, as it is our responsibility as a progressive society to extend solidarity to them during these testing times. #KhabarLive #hydnews

‍‍‍‍Why Medical Device Industry Beckons Investors In Telangana?

Despite the pandemic, many global med-tech companies brought COVID-specific product designs and specifications from the US to India to collaborate with Telangana manufacturers. The Telangana medical devices market is expected to grow from USD 11 billon to nearly USD 50 billion by 2025.

There is no doubt that Covid-19 has had severe implications on almost all sectors of the economy including the medical device industry. Although there was an all-round and immediate stimulus provided for Covid-related medical devices, the sector as a whole had to face loss of sales and revenue, at least for some duration.

According to the Medical Technology Association of India, because of Covid-induced de-prioritization and decline in elective surgical procedures and treatments, there was a 50 to 85 per cent fall in revenue during April-June quarter last year. The overwhelming disruption triggered by the pandemic had not only led to supply chain snags, but the increased cost of freight movement further hurt the industry. Given the Telangana manufacturers’ dependency on foreign components, this was a particularly critical factor.

However, notwithstanding these challenges, from the standpoint of investment, the Telangana medical device industry has remained vibrant and conducive to both foreign and domestic investment even during this period.

Although it may seem counter-intuitive, the fact that foreign investment in the sector shot up by 98 per cent y-o-y in 2020, almost doubling in the year of the pandemic as compared to the previous year attests to the long-term robustness of the Indian medical device sector and the confidence that foreign players repose in the domestic economy.

In fact, in the last five years (2015-2020), the country has received USD 600 million with major investments coming from Singapore, United States, Japan and Europe. And among medical device categories that most attracted these investments have been equipment, instruments, consumables and implants.

In May last year, when the sector was navigating through the first phase of rough Covid waters, Japanese investors had displayed interest in setting up a manufacturing base for in vitro diagnostic device (IVD) and medical electronics in the country during their discussions with Association of Manufacturers of Medical Devices Of Telangana (AMeDT).

In fact, as part of the initiative, Telangana is eyeing 200 joint ventures with foreign investors for nearly USD 2 billion and above as well as with 50 MNCs for the same amount, apart from looking to forge 1200 technical collaborations with Telangana investors for nearly USD 5.7 billion. Similarly, a number of global med-tech companies did bring COVID-specific product designs and specifications from the US into India to collaborate with Telangana manufacturers.

And this confidence stems from the fact that the regulatory environment for medical devices sector in recent years has continued to evolve as more appealing and investor-friendly. Back in 2014, the government had recognized this sector as a sunrise sector under the Make-in-India campaign.

With the aim of encouraging all possible investment, the rules have allowed up to 100 per cent investments for both Greenfield and brownfield through automatic route into this sector.

Then in 2017, the Medical Devices Rules aligned the country’s regulatory structure with Global Harmonization Task Force (GHTF) guidelines stipulating a four-way risk-based classification of medical devices while also granting perpetual license to a manufacturer subject to fresh application and retention every five years.

From the foreign manufacturers’ standpoint, the 2017 rules did away with the erstwhile need for registration and now the appointment of a local authorized agent could facilitate imports into the country. Further, under the Medical Device Amendment Rules 2020 laying down mandatory registration with appropriate authority with different timelines for each class of equipment not only infuses transparency but also firms up quality assurance of the products.

In terms of the latter, the requirement for obtaining ISO 13485 certification further inspires confidence in the Indian medical device sector. Administratively speaking, the government established the National Medical Devices Promotion Council in 2018 with a view to further streamline and give directions to the domestic medical device sector.

Of course, this has to be evaluated against the increasingly unfavourable investment climate in other countries such as China in terms of raw material and labour costs, unfavourable trade policy, IP protection issues, low level of domestic technological base etc.

Foreign investor would do well to remember that the Atmanirbhar Bharat programme driving the self-sufficiency crusade of the government is not antithetical to foreign investment and holds tremendous opportunities for the latter.

From ever-increasing investment in medical device parks and clustering projects with the view to develop world class infrastructure and testing facilities to the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme allowing incentives on incremental sales on certain categories of medical devices, each of these offer prospects wherein foreign investors can also participate and reap dividends in the long term.

That the Indian Ambassador to the US cited the PLI scheme as one segment, among others, where US investors could contemplate investing demonstrates that India is actively seeking FDI into these domestic make-in-India programmes.

Furthermore, with med-tech and medical device startups making their presence felt along with several businesses reinventing themselves to manufacture Covid-related supplies in the last one year, this is another space where foreign investors can participate and indeed they have participated.

Along with telemedicine serving as one critical element driving the ‘healthcare revolution’ in the country, several new home-grown medical technology/device startups leveraging new-age technologies such as 3D printing, AI, smart sensors and robotics making hi-tech contactless health devices and many others – have attracted considerable amount of funds as foreign investment (and domestic investment) into their companies over the last one year or so. At present, there are an estimated 4000 health-tech startups operating in the country.

In all, the spirit of entrepreneurship displayed by Indian companies in recent times coupled with a proactive government making unprecedentedly high allocation to healthcare with its positive spill over effects for the medical device industry, spells a very bright future for this sunrise sector.

Investors, both foreign and domestic must not let go of this opportunity. Remember the Indian medical devices market is set to grow from USD 11 billon to nearly USD 50 billion by 2025. #KhabarLive #hydnews

Coronavirus Given Indian ‘Foodies’ Chance To Become Genuine ‘Food Lovers’

By Ahssanuddin Haseeb

The pandemic has bared the vulnerability of our food sources. This is one of our best shots to hit reset on what and how we eat.

Food is our most frequently indulged pleasure. Yet what’s on the plate goes beyond taste and texture. It’s about politics and culture. It’s about supply chains and climate change. It’s about nutrition and health outcomes. It’s about the working conditions and living standards of farmers. Sure, it’s about trendy pop-ups and exciting food trucks. But it’s also about crop-destroying cyclones and locust swarms.

#KhanaKhazana: 'How Corona Era Snatched My Joy Of Home-Delivered Food?'

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Cooking is an essential life skill, never quite cut through to me before these few months. It was almost as if another life began for me during the Corona lockdown.

The virus came into my life on a March afternoon. Wrapped in an app alert, it reached the gates of my adjacent society. The RWA (Residents Welfare Association) of mine sprung into action. The first casualties of this pandemic were those delivery boys. The gates of my society were locked. We were told only essentials will be delivered. But for a person whose kitchen has never seen more cooking than bread being toasted, what does that word 'essential' even mean? I found out, with a heavy heart, that it did not involve takeaway food.

Takeaway food, that came riding pillion on a bike and was delivered with the occasional smile, had come to be my sustenance in this big city. Zomato, Uber Eats, Swiggy, Foodpanda. The delivery apps were many. They all had one thing in common: the gift of choice. Cuisines, dishes, so much to choose from.

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