CORPORATE CITIZEN CLAPS FOR ASSAM FOREST OFFICIALS AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT FOR DESTROYING NEARLY 2,500+ SEIZED RHINO HORNS IN A BID TO DISCOURAGE MYTHS THAT TRIGGER POACHING OF THE ENDANGERED ONE-HORNED RHINOCEROS (RHINOCEROS UNICORNIS)

The administration chose to burn one of the largest stockpiles of rhino horns amidst Vedic rituals in a public ceremony in Bokakhat, 240 km east of Guwahati. This was one of the largest anti-poaching drives of its kind in Asia and aptly earmarked World Rhino Day. Rhino horns weighing 1300 kg comprised of those seized in the past from poachers and illegal traders or recovered from dead rhinos in the state’s national parks and wildlife sanctuaries since 1979. These were burnt remotely using drones in six large pyres sending out a strong message that these rhino horns have no medicinal value and discouraged superstitions or myths surrounding their possession. Before destroying, experts had to verify each horn using scientific methods at the 12 treasuries that house them. The horns were cleaned, weighed, photographed, labelled with a unique barcode, their DNA samples extracted, packed, and sealed in the presence of witnesses. Assam CM, Hemant Biswa Sarma opposed the selling of the rhino horns and said, “The way we can’t sell seized drugs to earn revenue, the same way a government can’t earn money by selling rhino horns.” The CM’s reasoning also re-affirms the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 allowing the destruction of wildlife parts (including rhino horn) under Section 39 (3). Rhinoceros are listed in Schedule 1 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, as endangered animals and trading of rhino horns is banned internationally under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES). While 2,479 horns of the stockpile were destroyed, 50 more are associated with pending court cases and will be kept in state treasuries. The balance of 94 others will be preserved as exhibits for educational purposes. The measures have helped the one-horned rhinos to move up from the ”endangered” to ”vulnerable” category in IUCN’s red list of threatened species. As per the latest government data, the count of rhinos in Assam has risen by nearly 1,000 from 1,672 in 1999 to 2,605 in 2018 and is indeed laudable.

CORPORATE CITIZEN SLAPS THE EXISTING INEQUALITIES THAT LAY LOW EMPHASIS ON WOMEN’S HEALTH IN INDIA AND THE AVAILABILITY OF DISAGGREGATED DATA FOR MONITORING HEALTH PARAMETERS

The lack of appropriate monitoring tools prevent the drafting of suitable health policies ensuring equitable healthcare access to women. The latest World Health Organization (WHO) report indicates that the average life expectancy of women in India is a little over 60 years and the age within which they remain healthy without any form of disability, illness or injuries. As per WHO, 60 years is the lowest healthy life expectancy seen among 11 countries in Southeast Asia. The countries that have scored better than India are Sri Lanka, Thailand and the Maldives where the government health expenditure stands the highest. The estimated share of health expenditure in total government spending is the lowest in India (3.4%), Myanmar (3.5%) and Bangladesh (3%). Consequently, the out-of-pocket expenditure for people in these countries is remarkably high. People spend from their own savings around 63% in India, 76% in Myanmar and a mere 11% in Thailand. In such a scenario, another disturbing trend noticed amongst white collared working women in India is the health-related stigmas they face and their consequences on their social and professional lives. The findings of the study conducted by Emcure Pharmaceuticals jointly with Ipsos Research Private state that 90% of working women face a conflict of interest in juggling their family, personal and professional commitments. Women are not comfortable talking about health issues due to social taboos. While 86% of working women have observed their colleagues, relatives or friends drop out of the workforce, 59% of respondents cited health issues as the main reason for quitting jobs. The findings highlight that PCOS, breast cancer and endometriosis remain taboo topics. While 75% of working women said that their employers were taking initiatives to help address health issues, over 80% of respondents felt that their male colleagues lacked sensitivity around women’s health in the workplace. Namita Thapar, executive director, Emcure Pharmaceuticals said, “The study indicates that besides health issues, there are multiple professional and societal stereotypes women are exposed to, which can lead to stigmatisation, affecting their professional performance.”