Showing posts with label Observances. Show all posts
Feb 4, 2016
February 04 – World Cancer Day
Every year World Cancer Day (WCD) is being observed on 4 February across the world to raise awareness of cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment.
Currently, 8.2 million people die from cancer worldwide every year, out of which, 4 million people die prematurely (aged 30 to 69 years)
Cancer Facts – WHO
- There are more than 100 types of cancers; any part of the body can be affected.
- About 70% of all cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.
- Worldwide, the 5 most common types of cancer that kill men are (in order of frequency): lung, stomach, liver, colorectal and oesophagus.
- Worldwide, the 5 most common types of cancer that kill women are (in the order of frequency): breast, lung, stomach, colorectal and cervical. In many developing countries, cervical cancer is the most common cancer.
- Tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause of cancer in the world causing 22% of cancer deaths.
Jan 15, 2016
15 January: Indian Army Day
Indian Army Day is being observed every year on 15 January in India. This year it will be the 68th Indian Army Day.
Significance of Day: On this day in 1949, Lt. General (later Field Marshal) Kodandera Madappa Cariappa became the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army (of the independent India) by succeeding British Army General Roy Butcher (last British Commander-in-Chief of India.).
This day inspires the troops to continue to enrich the glorious traditions of the Indian Army with their dedication and sacrifice.
Events: It is celebrated every year at all the Army Command headquarters and national capital by organizing army parades including many other military shows.
Jan 4, 2016
4th January: World Braille Day
World Braille Day was observed across the world on 4 January 2016 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Louis Braille.
Observance of the day helps people to spread the importance of Braille language and also help people to produce works in this language to allow visually impaired people to read the works.
To commemorate this day several NGOs as well as other organizations come together to raise awareness about the apathy towards blind people and to help them be equal among rest of the people.
About Louis Braille
- Louis Braille, who was born in France on 4 January 1809, is credited for inventing the Braille script. The script helps the visually impaired people to read as well as write.
- Braille, who became blind after an accident at the age of 3, created a language based on the patterns of raised dots on paper.
- The dots could be felt and one can read anything that is unable to see.
- For writing in Braille script, people use slates and stylus and the writing technique remains the same as writing in print on paper. Presently, almost every of language including Computer languages has Braille versions.
Dec 25, 2015
25th December: National Good Governance Day
Earlier in December
2014, Union Government had announced that National ‘Good Governance Day’
will be observed on the birthday of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari
Vajpayee i.e. 25th December each year. It was announced by Prime
Minister Narendra Modi at the BJP Parliamentary Board meeting held New
Delhi.
Dec 24, 2015
December 24 – National Consumers
The enactment of this
Act was considered as a historic milestone in the consumer movement in
the country. This Act aims to provide consumers with effective
safeguards against different types of exploitation such as defective
goods, unsatisfactory services and unfair trade practices.
The day provides an unique opportunity to highlight the importance of the consumer movement and the need to make every consumer more aware of their rights and responsibilities.
The day provides an unique opportunity to highlight the importance of the consumer movement and the need to make every consumer more aware of their rights and responsibilities.
It should be also noted
that World Consumer Rights Day is observed on 15th March every year.
Some facts about Consumer Protection Act, 1986
It provides consumers with speedy and inexpensive redressal grievances mechanism and specific relief or award of compensation. It recognizes six of the eight rights of the consumer as provided in the UN charter. It envisages following rights of consumers (i) Right to Protection. (ii) Right of Information. (iii) Right of Choice. (iv) Right of Hearing. (v) Right of Redressal. (vi) Right of Education.
Some facts about Consumer Protection Act, 1986
It provides consumers with speedy and inexpensive redressal grievances mechanism and specific relief or award of compensation. It recognizes six of the eight rights of the consumer as provided in the UN charter. It envisages following rights of consumers (i) Right to Protection. (ii) Right of Information. (iii) Right of Choice. (iv) Right of Hearing. (v) Right of Redressal. (vi) Right of Education.
Dec 22, 2015
22nd December: National Mathematics Day
India on 22 December 2014 celebrated National Mathematics Day. The day is observed to commemorate the birth anniversary of great Indian Mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan.
This year, it will be the 128th birth anniversary of Srinivasa Ramanujan.
About Srinivasa Ramanujan
- Srinivasa Ramanujan was born on 22 December 1887 in Erode district of Tamil Nadu.
- He died on 26 April 1920
- Ramanujan did wonders in number theory, infinite series, mathematical analysis, and making formulas and equations.
- He compiled more than 3900 mathematical results and equations, and his discoveries namely Ramanujam Prime and Ramanujam theta inspired further research on the subject.
- He along with a British Mathematician Godfrey Harold Hardy discovered the smallest number represented as sum of two cubes 1729 which came to be known as Hardy-Ramanujan number.
- Ramanujan was said to be a natural genius, in the same league as mathematicians such as Euler and Gauss.
In 2011, Union Government had declared 22nd December as ‘National Mathematics Day’ to celebrate Ramanujan’s 125th birth anniversary. Government also had declared year 2012 as National Mathematics Year.
Dec 10, 2015
10 December: Human Rights Day
Human Rights Day is observed on December 10 every year. It commemorates the day on which, in 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In 1950, the Assembly passed resolution 423 (V), inviting all States and interested organizations to observe 10 December of each year as Human Rights Day.
The theme chosen for the year 2015 HRD is ‘Our Rights. Our Freedoms. Always’. It marks the launch of a 1 year campaign commemorating two international human rights treaties International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Both of the treaties were adopted in 1966.
Human rights facts and figures
In 2014, Amnesty International recorded and investigated human rights abuses in 160 countries and territories around the world. Here are some of the most shocking statistics uncovered:
- War crimes or other violations of the “laws of war” were carried out in at least 18 countries.
- Refugees and migrants were – and still are – at particular risk.
- More than 3,400 people drowned in the Mediterranean Sea in 2014. Armed groups committed abuses in 35 countries.
- Nearly three-quarters of governments, around 119 countries out of 160, arbitrarily restricted freedoms. 82% (131 out of 160) of countries tortured or otherwise ill-treated people.
Dec 3, 2015
3rd December: International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Every year 3rd December is the International Day of People with Disability/IDPwD. This is a day sanctioned by the United Nations and it celebrates progress by destroying barriers and opening doors for an inclusive society for all.
United Nations has estimated around one billion people are living with disabilities across the world and they are facing barriers of inclusion in many key aspects of society.
In 1992, United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) had passed a resolution 47/3 for annually observing 3rd December as International Day of Disabled Persons. It was originally called as International Day of Disabled Persons.
Nov 25, 2015
25th November: International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
Every year on 25th November is observed as International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (IDEVAW) across the world.
Important of Day: Raise awareness about violence against women and girls, end the violence against the women. Show that prevention is possible against violence of women.
Points to note
- On occasion of this day, hundreds of monuments across the world were lit in orange to galvanise support for global action to end violence against women and girls.
- The orange colour symbolise a bright and optimistic future to free from violence against women and girls and will help unify the large-scale social mobilisation.
- Prevention is the theme of this year’s UNiTE campaign of IDEVAW which would be a 16 days-long activism against gender-based violence till 10th December 2015 i.e. till International Human Rights Day.
Background: IDEVAW was commemorated in the memory of the Mirabal sisters who were three political activists from the Dominican Republic. They were brutally assassinated during the Rafael Trujillo dictatorship (1930-1961) in 1960.
Oct 31, 2015
October 31: Rashtriya Ekta Diwas
National Unity Day (Rashtriya Ekta Diwas) was observed across India on 31 October 2015 to commemorate the 140th birthday of Independent India’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Sardar Vallabhai Patel.
On this occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off Run for Unity at Rajpath in New Delhi. It was followed by similar marathons across different parts of Country to pay tribute to the efforts made by Sardar Patel to unite India.
Background
In October 2014, NDA Government led by PM Narendra Modi had declared 31 October as National Unity Day to mark the birth anniversary of country’s first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
About Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
- Born: 31 October, 1875 at Karamsand, Gujarat.
- He is known as the Iron Man of India or Bismarck of India and he is also remembered as the Patron Saint of India’s civil servants for establishing modern all-India services.
- By profession, he was a barrister and had successfully practiced law. Later he left law practice and joined the Indian national movement under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi.
- Sardar Vallabhai Patel played a key leadership role in organising peasant movements in Kheda, Borsad and Bardoli in Gujarat and promoted the Quit India Movement against the British Raj.
- His biggest contribution to India was his role in the integration of the over 500 princely states with India during 1947-49.
- He was the first Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of India.
- He is known as the Iron Man of India or Bismarck of India and he is also remembered as the Patron Saint of India’s civil servants for establishing modern all-India services.
Oct 17, 2015
17 October: International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
Every year 17 October is being observed as International Day for the Eradication of Poverty throughout the world.
Significance of Day: The Day seeks to promote awareness among people to eradicate poverty and destitution around the world particularly in developing countries.
2015 Theme: Building a sustainable future: Coming together to end poverty and discrimination.
The theme is a special one as it eradication of poverty is one of the 17 ambitious Sustainable Development Goals adopted in September 2015.
Background
Oct 11, 2015
11 October: International Day of Girl Child
Every year 11th October is being observed as International Day of the Girl Child (IDGC). This year it was fourth edition of this day after it was observed for first time in 2012.
Significance of Day: To recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world. The observation also increases awareness of gender inequality faced by girls worldwide based upon their gender and supports more opportunity for girls.
2015 theme: ‘The Power of the Adolescent Girl: Vision for 2030’.
This year’s theme focuses on adolescent girls and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) to be achieved by 2030. SDG has set 17 international targets including on gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.
The theme also highlights vulnerable demographic of adolescent girls facing social, economic and political barriers.
Oct 5, 2015
World Habitat Day observed on 5 October 2015
United Nations on 5 October 2015 celebrated World Habitat Day.
Significance of Day: It is observed on first Monday of October every year to generate awareness about the state of human settlements and the future of cities.
Theme for year 2015: Public Spaces for All. The theme aims to recognize good public spaces in order to enhance community cohesion and promote happiness, health and well-being of all citizens. It also seeks fostering investment, economic development and environmental sustainability.
About World Habitat Day
- United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) through Resolution 40/202 had established World Habitat Day in 1985. It was first celebrated in 1986.
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