Sunday, 31 May 2015
indian life expectancy
If your child was born in the last couple of years, he or she is likely to live five years more than children born a decade ago.
Statistics released by the Union ministry of health and family welfare show that life expectancy in India has gone up by five years, from 62.3 years for males and 63.9 years for females in 2001-2005 to 67.3 years and 69.6 years respectively in 2011-2015. Experts attribute this jump — higher than that in the previous decade — to better immunization and nutrition, coupled with prevention and treatment of infectious diseases.
The World Health Organization defines life expectancy as "the average number of years a person is expected to live on the basis of the current mortality rates and prevalence distribution of health states in a population". In India, average life expectancy which used to be around 42 in 1960, steadily climbed to around 48 in 1980, 58.5 in 1990 and around 62s in 2000.
The overall health indicators have also shown significant improvement across the country in the past 10 years. Infant mortality ratio has come down to 42 in 2012 from 58 per 1,000 live births in the 2005. "Maternal mortality ratio has declined from 301 per 100,000 live births in 2001-03 to 212 in 2007-09," the health ministry said.
"A steady supply of food is the prime reason for increased life expectancy," says Dr George Thomas, editor of the Indian Journal of Medical Ethics. Since the time of Independence, famine has reduced dramatically in our country and people have a decent supply of nutrition. However, the real challenge lies in taking the numbers beyond this."
Disease control
Thomas pointed out that increasing life expectancy beyond 70 years would depend on environmental factors. "Supply of clean drinking water and better control of non-communicable diseases would play a major role. However, India is still grappling with communicable diseases," he said.
Dr S Balasubramanian, joint director of Tamil Nadu public health, said the increase shows health policies are in the right direction. "Earlier, people had more children, and the chances of all the kids getting a balanced diet were low. Family planning has helped. Childhood vaccination has checked epidemics and saved lives," he said. Life-threatening diseases like diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough have been eliminated completely. "India has also been recently declared a polio free nation, which is an added feather to the cap," he said.
Some experts still advocate caution. "With increased life expectancy, the disease burden would increase," said geriatrician Dr B Krishnaswamy. "Yes, we will live longer, but the big question is how healthy our lives would be," he said.
Statistics released by the Union ministry of health and family welfare show that life expectancy in India has gone up by five years, from 62.3 years for males and 63.9 years for females in 2001-2005 to 67.3 years and 69.6 years respectively in 2011-2015. Experts attribute this jump — higher than that in the previous decade — to better immunization and nutrition, coupled with prevention and treatment of infectious diseases.
The World Health Organization defines life expectancy as "the average number of years a person is expected to live on the basis of the current mortality rates and prevalence distribution of health states in a population". In India, average life expectancy which used to be around 42 in 1960, steadily climbed to around 48 in 1980, 58.5 in 1990 and around 62s in 2000.
The overall health indicators have also shown significant improvement across the country in the past 10 years. Infant mortality ratio has come down to 42 in 2012 from 58 per 1,000 live births in the 2005. "Maternal mortality ratio has declined from 301 per 100,000 live births in 2001-03 to 212 in 2007-09," the health ministry said.
"A steady supply of food is the prime reason for increased life expectancy," says Dr George Thomas, editor of the Indian Journal of Medical Ethics. Since the time of Independence, famine has reduced dramatically in our country and people have a decent supply of nutrition. However, the real challenge lies in taking the numbers beyond this."
Disease control
Thomas pointed out that increasing life expectancy beyond 70 years would depend on environmental factors. "Supply of clean drinking water and better control of non-communicable diseases would play a major role. However, India is still grappling with communicable diseases," he said.
Dr S Balasubramanian, joint director of Tamil Nadu public health, said the increase shows health policies are in the right direction. "Earlier, people had more children, and the chances of all the kids getting a balanced diet were low. Family planning has helped. Childhood vaccination has checked epidemics and saved lives," he said. Life-threatening diseases like diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough have been eliminated completely. "India has also been recently declared a polio free nation, which is an added feather to the cap," he said.
Some experts still advocate caution. "With increased life expectancy, the disease burden would increase," said geriatrician Dr B Krishnaswamy. "Yes, we will live longer, but the big question is how healthy our lives would be," he said.
Monday, 25 May 2015
Lifestyle in India
People & Lifestyle in India
India
is credibly the only country with the largest and most diverse mixture of
races. A spell-binding country where people of unlike communities and
religions live together in oneness. India is a very culturally diverse
country. People speak hundreds of different languages (18 major languages,
with English and Hindi as the official languages). But the beauty lies in
the fact that despite all the differences, people live with full harmony and
love depicting their varied cultures, traditions and dressing styles. In a country as dissimilar and complex as India , it is not astonishing to find that people here depict the rich glories of the past, the culture, traditions and values proportional to geographic locations and the various distinctive manners, habits and food that will always continue to be purely Indian. According to our rich past, a country like India has been invaded by armies, traders and migrants who brought with them their own habits, faiths, practices and honourings which have all added to the rich feel of Indian life and living.
From the gigantic Himalayas to the naturalized land of south, from the arid deserts of the west to the oozy deltas of the east, from the dry heat and cold of the central Plateau to the cool forest hills, Indian lifestyles clearly exalt the topography of its region. The food, clothing and habits of an Indian differ in accordance to the place of origin.
Indian
dressing is majorly influenced by the background and culture of the past.
Indians are well-known for their dressing style and stylish apparels worn by
men and women both. With the advancement in pace, and culture, Indian women
have altered themselves to be more modernistic and hep. Earlier women used
to wear traditional dresses and cover their heads with veil but with the
advancement they have also grown mature and changed themselves according to
time. The traditional Indian dress is the Sari which can be worn in many
ways. Indian dresses consist of several beautiful designs, which are also
worn by women of other national groups. The Salwar Kameej is the second most
popular dress and is attaining popularity fast with the younger generation.
Women also wear lehanga cholis etc. However, men in villages are still more comfortable in traditional attire like kurtas, lungis, dhotis and pyjamas. Indian fashion includes a wide range of designs for women, men, and children. The men in cities wear shirts and pants and live in a modernized manner.
However the dressing style of Indians has been influenced by the western. Yet they are purely Indian from inside. They have some traditional values which cannot be surpassed by anyone. Now too, the surname of an Indian is based on his caste or place of origin or his family occupation. Men are still believed to be the head of a family and are referred for all decisions though they no longer continue to be a single earner. Parents are looked upon with respect and regard. The values they have inculcated in their children can de exhibited the way they show respect and love towards their parents. Children are financially supported by their parents throughout their education. Inspite of being so westernised Indians believe that some lines should never be crossed.
Wednesday, 13 May 2015
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)