31-05-2003

Friends:

Yet another meeting of the Congress Chief Ministers Council has come and gone by. We have reviewed and reflected on our performance. We have renewed our commitment to the people through a reaffirmation of Congress Ka Haath, Garib Ke Saath.

A number of issues have emerged from our discussions, some of which relate to governance where we are in power and some concern us as a political party with the single-minded objective of defeating the forces of communalism. We will be following-up with you on all the important points that have been made. Let me this afternoon deal with some larger concerns.

Many of our chief ministers have spoken of the urgent need to have an effective ideological counter to the Saraswati Shishu Mandirs where the seeds of bigotry are first planted in young and impressionable minds. Some of our states have taken initiatives but these have to go well beyond government-run programmes. This has to become a movement, a peoples’ campaign.

Yesterday, I spoke about the need to enforce the law of the land without fear or favour to deal with all those who disturb social peace and harmony. I would like to emphasise this today as well. We must not waver in our determination to deal with religious fundamentalism of all kinds. We must and we will do all we can. At the same time, there is urgent need to amend existing laws like the Indian Penal Code and enforce some of them like the Representation of Peoples Act effectively to deal with the growing menace of communalism of all varieties. While political will is essential, I would also urge all of you to take the strictest action against those in the administration who are unable to control effectively communal tensions and their fall-outs. There should also be prompt and uniform compensation to all victims of communal violence

On matters relating to governance, we have gone over an extensive agenda.

I spoke yesterday of the need for expediting the completion of reliable surveys on BPL families. I would urge the chief ministers to ensure that this gets done in the next two months.

We have underscored the need for massive employment guarantee schemes but it is clear without the assistance of the central government, we will not be able to make the type of impact that is needed.

We have drawn attention to the proliferation, politicisation and fragmentation of all rural development schemes that have diluted their impact at the grassroots. The merging of DRDAs with zilla panchayats , the direct financing of PRIs/nagarpalikas and the augmentation of untied grants must all receive top priority.

We have recognised the imperative for agricultural diversification and value-addition, apart from the need to significantly step-up public investment in agriculture, irrigation and rural infrastructure.

We have recalled the need to make panchayats and nagarpalikas as vibrant institutions of self-government. It is now time for the simultaneous devolution of funds, functionaries and finances. The 16-point draft action programme should be adopted by all PCCs at state-level conventions before August 20, 2003.

Many of our chief ministers have spoken on mid-day meal schemes and how they can be further improved. We will take up this particular matter with the centre. Personally, I believe that midday meal schemes, if implemented well, will make a dramatic difference both to education and nutrition.

We have highlighted the criticality of the 3Es for the weaker sections of society—education, employment and empowerment. I commend the land distribution programmes of the type that have taken place in some of our states. We must also equip the weaker sections in the modern sector and technical skills. The strictest vigil must be maintained against atrocities on the weaker sections.

There has been a widespread appreciation of the self-help group approach that is so visibly transforming the lives of so many poor women across the country. I would urge the states to radically increase their efforts and targets for self-help groups.

On health, a number of our colleagues have spoken of the need to ensure that the infrastructure that has been created in rural areas functions effectively. Health insurance for the poor is a vast unmet need. Some of our states have launched new schemes in this area but clearly the scale needs to be expanded.

We have had a very substantive discussion on administrative reforms. What is needed now is not tinkering but systemic change. Political leadership is key to giving the administration a firm and clear sense of direction. We must the set the standards for transparency, accountability, probity and efficiency. Discretion and patronage must be minimised.

Enhancing investments in vital social sectors depends crucially on improvements in the fiscal position of states. And the fiscal position of states itself depends predominantly in the success of power sector reforms. The need for a vital national consensus on this has been pointed out by many of the chief ministers.

All of us have expressed our deep concern over the grim employment situation. This is a direct outcome of the policies of the central government. I hope that all our states will enact laws to protect workers in the unorganized sector and enhance their social security. This must become a political campaign as well.

It has been five years since we had the Pachmarhi conclave. Since then, we have had five meetings of the Congress Chief Ministers Council and a number of AICC sessions as well. But it is time for another exercise in self-introspection and brainstorming on fundamental political, economic and social issues. This is essential even as we prepare to fight the electoral battles ahead. We will be announcing the details of this conference shortly.

Let me in closing thank all of you for being here and making the deliberations so very meaningful. I invite you to join me in the Press Conference in the next room.

Analyze: No link between cancer and cellular towers
Children whose mothers lived around a mobile or portable tower while pregnant does not seem to have far more melanoma danger than others, says a new study.

British researchers analyzed 1397 instances of melanoma in youngsters up to four many years from 1999 to 2001 in the United Kingdom. Employing a national registry of births, the research authors identified 5588 then similar young children without having cancer malignancy.

Then they compared how far the moms of the young children lived in cellular mobile phone towers and signal strength of the towers.No substantial differences have been detected in between the two groups.

The study was funded by an independent entire body established to provide money for analysis on the outcomes of mobile mobile phones on well being. He also received funds from the department of well being in Britain and the telecommunications market.The examine was published Wednesday on the internet by the healthcare journal BMJ.

“It’s reassuring,” stated Elliot, professor of epidemiology and public wellness medicine at Imperial College London.”Dependent on our final results, individuals living around mobile or portable site need to not think about moving dependent on wellness factors.”

Since the study was conducted, several much more towers were definitely erected in Britain with the arrival of 3G technologies.The RF publicity from mobile telephone towers is much less than the publicity to mobile or portable mobile phones. Elliott and his colleagues estimated that a day of publicity to a tower is equal to 30 minutes of mobile telephone use. Even at these lower levels, some professionals are concerned about the influence on kids.

As mobile or portable mobile phones that extend its presence in the earth and become important for life from Africa to Asia to America, some have questioned regardless of whether the devices could lead to a health price.Last month published the outcomes of an extensive research on mobile mobile phones and cancer, which essentially ruled out a connection involving the two.

Some authorities say that concerns about cellular mobile phone towers have been made largely by their very own fears of the people, not by scientific information.

This site is not Libertarian but we know what we like about gambling and the experience of going into casinos. While we can all approve of regulations to keep gambling reasonably honest and fair, there comes a point when enough is enough with the lawmaking. Let’s take the issue of smoking as an example. Most of us probably believe the science linking tobacco with fatal diseases. Whether you smoke or draw in the smoke second-hand, the risks of cancer and heart disease are even admitted by the tobacco industry. So, on New Year, we all repeat our resolution not to start or to quit. It’s all down to us — a personal decision. If we do decide to smoke, this is a “victimless crime”. No-one is forcing us to do this and it should not be for the law to get involved in making any part of smoking a crime. There are no laws criminalising overeating even though the obese die younger, or threatening to put alcoholics in jail because they are damaging their livers. People own their own bodies and should be allowed to do what they want with it. So what do we make of all these laws banning or restricting smoking in public places? There are no federal laws. It all comes down to the lawmakers in each state. Some have fairly comprehensive laws restricting smoking in the workplace. Others go on to include some bars and restaurants. But, so far, most states have avoided any kind of restrictions on the operation of casinos. The consensus view has been to avoid anything that might reduce the revenue from gambling operations. As the recession has taken hold and the tax-take from conventional businesses has fallen, maintaining the flow on money into the state coffers has become even more important. So far, the need for money has outweighed the health concerns. After all, no-one forces people to go to a casino. If you are not a smoker and want to avoid passive smoking, do not go to a casino. Based on the experience in Atlantic City which went through a two-week ban on smoking, casino operators estimate their gross revenues would drop by more than one-third. Where would these gamblers go to play their favorite casino games? There are two obvious alternatives. The Tribal casinos stand outside state laws on smoking, and people can always stay home to gamble online. There are no laws to restrict what people do in the privacy of their own homes. We could also get into a kind of bidding war where some states with high costs on the healthcare front may clamp down on smoking only to find their own citizens drive into neighboring states to play there. That’s a double whammy because the lawmaking states lose tax revenue and still have the health costs of treating their citizens who fall ill because of their smoking. There should be federal legislation to replace this current patchwork of different laws. Health is a national priority. Washington should decide the limits on what people should do in public places. As it is, drinking and smoking goes with casino games just like turkey goes with Thanksgiving. Breaking the link is going to make one set of lawmakers really unpopular. Shall we bet on whether federal laws are introduced?

ResourcesChildcare resources can be hard to find. As a parent, the well-being and health of your children is always your top priority. Nonetheless with an ongoing and frequently prohibitive cost like childcare, money is also a problem in almost all instances. There may be dozens of childcare services which are being promoted in your speedy area, but that does not imply that any categorical one is best for you.

In order to determine what will best meet the requirements of you and your youngsters, you’ll need to further explore the varied options, finding the best fit for your schedule and way of life. There are a few possibilities.

Childcare Center
A childcare center is the most freely available option in most areas. Day-care centres are also regularly cheaper. You should expect to see a higher proportion of youngsters to adults, though all of the legal mandates of your state will need to be maintained. Before you explore childcare resources, know what those laws are. If you visit a daycare center that does not go along with these laws, stroll off. The safety of your youngsters is not really worth the risk.

In addition, keep in mind that being exposed to more youngsters can increase the aptitude for the dissemination of communicable illnesses. The best daycare centers are terribly aware and keep hygiene concerns at the very top of their minds.Licensed In-home CareThis option is a middle ground between the institutionalized day center and private care. In-home day care suppliers are customarily required to hold a license from the state in which they operate. Again, getting familiar with these axioms will be a large part of gathering your childcare resources.

Home day-care employees must maintain a smaller ratio of kids to adult care suppliers. These are usually run right out of a private home, so that the atmosphere is more relaxed and less like an establishment. Bother to carefully interview the provider. Many in-home daycare carers truly love kids and desire to offer nurturing and love. However , there are a couple that are mainly in the work for the money. Obviously, you may probably favour someone with a warm demeanor, who is at ease with your children.

Personal daycare provider there is more variation in this category than in any other. Childcare services can be supplied by any person, in any setting. Many moms and pops, for example, find a grandparent or aunt that can be found to provide care to their youngsters. Others may find a referral through a mutual friend or through church. Remember that caution should be maintained when employing a non-public care provider.

There is not licensing or coaching needs that are obligatory for many of these agreements. Don’t be scared to extensively interview and ask for references. If you’re working with family for your childcare resources, it can save both parties a large amount of difficulty to have a written payment agreement in place . The speediest way to alienate a relation from caring for your children is to neglect to pay as agreed on. Luckily , most non-public providers charge very cheap rates.

Depending on where you reside and what your local community has to offer, there may be other alternatives. Nevertheless these are the three commonest sorts of childcare resources that many parents will be selecting from. Each has their good points and bad points and alter in cost. Getting familiar with these options will help you select the best childcare services.

The year long fight over whether to pass a bill reforming the healthcare industry has just come to an end. President Obama has signed it into law. Now all we have to do is sit back and wait to see whether it will deliver a better and fairer service to more of the population. At this point, a little honesty is in order. The US healthcare service has been broken for some time and anything that improves it is to be welcomed. The GOP do, however, have legitimate concerns about cost. We are just starting to recover from a deep recession. Unemployment is still at a record high. Public debt is mounting as big government tries to keep the banks afloat and encourage business to start hiring again. So, if this reform pushes up debt, the cost may come to outweigh the benefits. The various supposedly independent government agencies claim the reforms will actually reduce public debt. Unfortunately, guessing what will happen in the future never produces reliable results. All we can do is wait and see.

One of the key selling points for reform has been the number of people without insurance. The Democrats have been standing up for social justice — the idea that the state should provide health care for the maximum number of people. Various numbers have been thrown around. There are apparently some 45 million uninsured adults. About 31 or 32 million of these people may now get some kind of coverage. Where do all these numbers come from and how reliable are they? We start of with the census. That is supposed to tell us how many people there are in the US so the government can make sensible plans to provide all the services and amenities they need. Unfortunately, the census data is now old and not completely reliable. Not everyone wants to be counted or, if cornered, not everyone tells the truth. But it does give us a starting point. We exclude children and seniors already in Medicare. This is the number of adults who could have health plans. The insurance companies report the number of policy holders and of those enrolled in employers’ plans. A subtraction sum gives us an estimate of the uninsured. So who will be entitled to coverage? Well, big government is expecting some 24 million people to buy coverage through the new insurance exchanges. A further 16 million are expected to join Medicaid. More children whose parents do not qualify for aid will join CHIP. Except no one actually knows for certain who these people are. The only clear cut assurance that has been given is to ensure illegal adult immigrants will not be allowed into the health market.

Put simply, none of the numbers you see in the news media can really be explained or justified. Everyone who wants access to affordable health insurance coverage will just have to stand up and agree to be counted. If they meet the criteria on income and do not have insurance provided by their employer, they are potentially eligible for assistance. If the healthcare costs can be controlled, more people will no doubt be brought into cheap health insurance plans. It will still be short of universal coverage but, in a capitalist country, we do not want anything so socialist. There must always be losers so the rest of us count as winners.

Any procedure in which needles or razor is used on a person holds more than a theoretical risk of HIV because of the possibility of contaminated blood on the instrument. However, the risk can be reduced or eliminated by sterilization routines. There are no documented cases in the U.S. by persons infected through tattoos and piercing.

Tattoo artist, Pierce, barbers and hairdressers, massages, manicures and pedicures Acupuncturist are all defined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as “personal service workers” (PSWs). PSWs CDC universal precautions to be consistent with those of health professionals designed to provide employees and customers to protect against HIV and other diseases transmitted through blood such as hepatitis B and C. The guidelines that all instruments that penetrate the skin, such as acupuncture, tattoo needles and may only be used once and discarded, or must be cleaned and sterilized after each use.

If you are concerned about the risks of these procedures should be discussed measures for infection control services. In the case of tattooing and acupuncture, ask your own fresh needles to assure sterility.

In California, a company offering personalized service regularly at the local level, so anyone who has additional concerns about the procedure, companies, you need to call for public health. The man performed without condom oral sex to another person. His partner broke into her mouth. He does not know the HIV status of their partner.

The virus is located? We do not know, because I do not know if it is infected.

Is there sufficient concentration? There was semen found in high concentrations.

HIV can be blood in it? If HIV were present, it can enter the body through the mucous membranes of the mouth to become infected, or through open wounds or cuts.

What is the level of risk? If your partner is HIV positive, there is no risk. On the other hand, if the partner is HIV positive, is it a potential risk due to the seed comes into contact with the mouth. Given that few cases of HIV transmission through oral sex is risk in this situation is relatively low.

When a person is very concerned about the incident, it is important to keep in mind that there is a risk but the risk is very high. If he believes that there is no risk and that they can continue practicing oral sex without protection, it is for him to know that, although the risk is low, still exists. There is strong evidence of this fact. In a study of 79 people with HIV can be found in the saliva of only one. This man had PCP, thrush and other mouth and throat injuries. This man also has the presence of virus in the saliva found 10,000 times less than in blood. For this study, we add evidence to the countless people who have had contact with the saliva of people with AIDS or other persons infected with HIV. That was in contact with kissing, sharing food, and many other resources. They can not find evidence that these activities are transferred the virus, although I have time. Recent findings suggest that saliva contains an enzyme that HIV kills.

Popping painkillers such as paracetamol on a regular basis can increase the danger of going deaf, new research has revealed. Taking paracetamol at least twice a week doubles the risk of mild to severe deafness before the age of 50. Other painkillers, including aspirin and ibuprofen, are also linked to hearing loss, the American researchers found. Led by scientists at Harvard University, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the US, the study, conducted over a period of 24 years, involved a total of 26,000 men, reports a newspaper. The results are due to be published in the March edition of an American journal. The study also involved researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, in Boston, Massachusetts, Vanderbilt University, in Nashville, Tennessee, and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary.

Sharon Curhan, of the department of medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said, “Regular use of analgesics, specifically aspirin, NSAIDs, and acetaminophen (paracetamol) might increase the risk of adult hearing loss, particularly in younger individuals. Given the high prevalence of regular analgesic use and the health and social implications of hearing impairment, this represents an important public health issue.” Crystal Rolfe, audiology specialist at the Royal National Institute for the Deaf, said, “Hearing loss can have a big impact on communication and many people are not aware of the effect it can have on their lives. If you are worried that the medication you are taking could be affecting your hearing, you should consult your doctor, who will discuss your concerns with you.” She added, “If you have any concerns about your hearing for whatever reason, you should ask for a hearing test – and the quicker you take action on the matter, the better.

About Author
I am writing this article in behalf of Health and Beauty Secret. This website is give you complete guide for Beauty Care and Hair Care.

A little dab of rouge. A little smear of lipstick. A little swish of mascara. Now you look like a beauty queen! Wearing makeup can be fun. It can make you feel beautiful. When you feel the part, you usually act it! So what can be wrong with wearing makeup? Usually nothing. Here are some tips that will keep you both physically and mentally healthy.

Mentally healthy? Whatever could she mean? Keep in mind, makeup does not make you beautiful. It only enhances your beauty. Let’s face it, if you put makeup on a hamster, it’s going to look like a hamster. A funny hamster, but a hamster. Not something I would want to date. Some people can become dependent on makeup. I used to be like that. I would never go out it public without makeup on. I hardly ever let anyone see me without makeup even if I was home. When people did see me without makeup they would say, “Wow, I have never seen you without makeup!” What they meant was “Wow, I have never seen you without makeup!” What I heard was ” Girl you’re scaring me, go put your face on!” It’s not healthy to think that way. If you think makeup makes you pretty, it is because you are, with or without.

What about the physical health? Your skin needs to breathe! Even with today’s newest and lightest makeups available you still need to wash it off and let your skin breathe. Also keep in mind that makeup does not last long at all. Wearing makeup that you have had for a long time (yes even if your favorite lipstick has been discontinued) can be dangerous to your health. Molds and bacteria start to form on lipsticks, mascara and anything moist. Even powdered blushes and and eyeshadow can hold bacteria on them, once your brush or fingers have touched them. This can cause eye infections, skin disorders and even illness throughout your whole body. So make sure you replace them often. Moist makeup should be replaced every 1-3 months. Powders every 6 months.

So have fun with your makeup. Remember, less it more! Even if that little hottie down the street sees you without makeup, hold your head up high and remember, you’re beautiful baby!

Alcohol abuse is a very ambiguous term to define and you can not get a satisfactory answer of this. The boundary line between the two phase alcoholic and addiction to alcohol is very thin. You can not define this satisfactorily. It is individual and very personal. Anyone has a likeness to alcohol does not mean that he or she is an alcohol abuser. To different people it is different things and concrete answer should not be desired. But the common fact is that any kind of addiction must be having as a harming affect on the person.

Excessive use of alcohol, and causing problems or negative consequences can be referred as alcohol abuse. While it may not automatically mean addiction to alcohol, alcohol abuse remains as one of the topmost public health concerns facing our society today and is in fact, the most common substance that often causes chemical dependency. It has become so common that people sometimes ignore the limits and make it very easy thing to have drinking everyday. In social life and in personal life get hampered for this bad habit but people keep on ignoring this and do not take any action to counter this habit.

As it has been said that between alcohol abuse and alcoholic there is a fine difference and that is it is not necessary to become an alcohol abuse you have to be an alcoholic. In case of alcoholic the taker will be an alcohol dependent but in case of alcohol abuse the taker will may or may not be an alcoholic or alcohol dependent. In alcohol abuse, the intake of alcohol can occur often and in big quantities but may not often result to alcohol dependency. Alcoholism can be explained as a symptom in which the addict both physically and psychologically becomes dependent on alcohol. The person loses control over the frequency and amount of drinking. He feels a strong desire to have drunk all the time irrespective of time and place. Alcoholism is also marked with tolerance, a state where the amount of alcohol needed by the body to get the feeling of ‘high’ continually increases. Alcoholism is also chronic and may exhibit certain withdrawal symptoms.

To get rid of this alcohol abuse you have to endure a long term process which requires patience and endurance. You can not find anything magical to cure your wound. What you can do is doing an earnest effort to make the Alcohol Treatment Program a success. In alcohol rehabilitation you can get the right boost up for making the effort a success. You have to be strong and willed and that only make your efforts a winner. You have to follow all the regimens of the alcohol rehabilitation properly. Any kind of allurements towards alcohol, any kind of exposure to such circumstance should be strictly avoided even after get freed from the alcohol rehabilitation. Following the alcohol treatment program and faith in your self not to be fall a victim of alcohol abuse ever again is the key of a normal life.

One of the most controversial aspects of healthcare reform is the inclusion of an individual and employer health insurance mandate. Proponents of the mandate claim that it will help defray the increased cost of bringing millions of uninsured Americans into the fold. Affordable health insurance is most easily achieved when insurers are able to spread the cost of coverage among the largest pool possible. Without a mandate, there is the possibility that younger, healthier individuals will not buy insurance–leaving only the sickest individuals in most need of medical care insured. That will make the cost of coverage more expensive. Congress has provided for subsidies that seek to make health insurance policies more affordable, which serve as the carrot to motivate that demographic. However, the government also needs a stick: hence the mandates, which levy fines against individuals making over a certain annual income that refuse to buy insurance.

Detractors believe that such mandates are unconscionable infringements on the free market and will hurt young adults. Some even think that a national health insurance mandate is unconstitutional, and a group of Republican attorney generals from several states plans to ramp up a legal challenge on that portion of the bill. The individual mandate in Massachusetts has seen mixed results; there have been some improvements in affordability, but some people have chosen to pay up to a thousand dollars in fines annually instead of buying coverage–believing it to be cheaper, and not thinking they will need health insurance anytime soon.

Despite those concerns, a mandate of some type is necessary to get health insurance companies on board; their cooperation is essential with the death of a public option. Since increased regulation will prevent them from denying coverage due to pre-existing conditions, they do not want people to delay buying coverage until they are already sick and need expensive medical care. Their business model is dependent on the majority of people paying years’ worth of premiums into the system while they are not using much care.

Hawaii has taken a different path. Since 1974, the state has mandated that all employers over a certain size provide their employees with health insurance. The House of Representatives and the Senate have proposed similar mandates, with tax credits and exceptions for small businesses. In fact, the Clinton administration’s healthcare reform efforts were inspired by the Hawaiian system. As a result, most residents have health insurance.

How has Hawaii’s system worked? It has been surprisingly successful. Health insurance is one of the least expensive purchases on the islands, although costs are generally higher for everything else because of shipping expenses. Premiums and co-payments are some of the lowest in the United States. Supporters of their system point to the mandate, which results in a higher rate of insured, as the cause of their affordable health insurance. Emergency rooms are left for true emergencies, as opposed to being destinations of last resort where uninsured Americans cannot be denied care. Instead, non-emergency conditions are dealt with at earlier stages and a lower cost by primary care doctors.

The cost of covering a larger population has not been passed on to the federal government, either. When it comes to Medicare, Hawaii is the state with the least costly Medicare beneficiaries on an individual basis, even though their lifespans are longer than the national average. This is partially due to better comprehensive care for their population prior to their Medicare eligibility. Affordable health insurance policies drive insurance companies to have a greater focus on preventative care and promote wellness among patients. Therefore, Hawaiians may enter old age healthier, with fewer chronic medical conditions. On the mainland, Medicare must often play catch-up.

Most importantly, the affordable health insurance mandate does not appear to have hurt the quality of health care. None other than famed conservative commentator (and healthcare reform opponent) Rush Limbaugh recently praised the care he recieved in a Hawaiian hospital after being rushed there with chest pains. While his fortune and celebrity status may have had an impact on the attention paid to him, that wouldn’t have mattered if they had old, outdated equipment and inferior physicians. Moreover, Limbaugh did not note any lengthy waiting lists; even if he had bypassed them himself due to his fame, surely he would have noticed if others had been waiting in the emergency room for a long time. It is possible that once the dust settles, the Hawaii system may be the best method for nationwide healthcare reform.

(Image: NJ Scott under CC 2.0)

About Author
Yamileth Medina is an up and coming expert on Health Insurance and Healthcare Reform. She aims to help people realize that they can find affordable health insurance right now. Yamileth lives in Miami, FL.