THE HINDU

EDITORIAL Presents

7th September 2023

PREPARE FOR BANK (PO/ CLERK), SSC,UPSC,

State PSC, CAT,CTET,RAILWAY EXAMS,CDS,
TET, NDA/AIRFORCE, NET and all Govt. Exams
 VOCABULARY

1. Petulant: easily angered or annoyed, esp. in a rude way.

चड़ चड़ा
Synonyms: irascible, sulky
Antonyms: gregarious, jovial
Example: His petulant complaints about the rainy weather
annoyed everyone in the office.
2. Belligerent: wishing to fight or argu. लड़ाका
Synonyms: bellicose, pugnacious
Antonyms: pacific, amicable
Example: Sarah's belligerent attitude made it difficult to have a
peaceful conversation.
 VOCABULARY

3. Intimidatory: intended to make someone feel frightened or

threatened, usually in order to persuade them to do something that
you want them to do. धमकाने वाली
Synonyms: menacing, terrorising
Antonyms: reassuring, benevolent
Example: The teacher's intimidatory glare silenced the noisy
classroom.
4. Partisan: showing too much support for one person, group or
idea, especially without considering it carefully. पक्षपातपूणर्षि
Synonyms: prejudiced, biased
Antonyms: equitable, impartial
Example: The partisan supporters cheered loudly for their favorite
team at the stadium.
 VOCABULARY

5. Ascertain: to discover a fact; to make certain. सु नि चत करना

Synonyms: determine, establish
Antonyms: misinterpret, confound
Example: It's essential to ascertain the facts before making a
decision.
6. Flagging: warning or telling people about something that is
important or is a problem. सू चत करना
Synonyms: highlighting, distinguishing
Antonyms: trivialising, understating
Example: The software system was flagging potential security
threats.
 VOCABULARY

7. Underscore: to emphasise the importance something. बल दे ना

Synonyms: stress, accentuate
Antonyms: minimise, downplay
Example: It's essential to underscore safety measures when working
with chemicals.
8. Deleterious: in a way that is agreed or supported by everyone
in a group. सवर्षिसम्म त से
Synonyms: pernicious, baleful
Antonyms: anodyne, innocuous
Example: Excessive stress can lead to deleterious effects on
mental health.
 VOCABULARY

9. Imputation: a suggestion that someone is guilty of something or

has a particular bad quality. इलज़ाम
Synonyms: insinuation, ascription
Antonyms: exculpation, exoneration
Example: His imputation of dishonesty without evidence caused
tension in the office.
10. Painstaking: extremely careful and correct, and involving a
lot of effort. श्रमसाध्य
Synonyms: meticulous, diligent
Antonyms: slapdash, slipshod
Example: She painted the intricate design on the tiny figurine
with painstaking attention to detail.
 VOCABULARY

11. Affluent: having a lot of money or possessions; rich. धनी

Synonyms: opulent, wealthy
Antonyms: destitute, penurious
Example: Despite growing up in an affluent family, Mark valued
hard work and humility above all else.
12. Striking: very unusual or easily noticed, and therefore
attracting a lot of attention. ध्यान आक षर्षित करनेवाली
Synonyms: stunning, astounding
Antonyms: inconspicuous, imperceptible
Example: His striking resemblance to his father was uncanny.
 VOCABULARY

13. Dispelled: removed fears, doubts, and false ideas, usually by

proving them wrong or unnecessary. दूर करना
Synonyms: dissipated, allayed
Antonyms: aggravated, intensified
Example: The team's hard work dispelled any doubts about their
dedication to the project.
Idioms
14. A distant dream: a goal, aspiration, or desire that seems very
far away or unlikely to be achieved in the foreseeable future.
15. In letter and spirit: to follow both the literal wording (the
"letter") and the intended meaning or the underlying principles
(the "spirit") of a law, rule, agreement, or statement.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

Article for reading

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 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

The registration of a police case against editors representing the

Editors Guild of India (EGI) and the belligerent remarks of the
Manipur Chief Minister, N. Biren Singh, constitute a petulant and
intimidatory response to a report released by a fact-finding
committee of the EGI. The report’s focus was on media coverage
of the ethnic conflict that broke out early in May, and its main
conclusion was that there was one-sided coverage by
journalists during the conflict, but it also contained observations
and conclusions indicating that the State leadership was
partisan during the conflict. In a welcome move, the Supreme
Court of India has given interim protection from arrest to those
named in the first information report (FIR).
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

Mr. Singh has sought to justify the filing of an FIR under

sections relating to promoting enmity between two
communities and wounding religious feelings by claiming
that the three-member panel’s report is one-sided and may
provoke further violence. However, going beyond criticising
the report, he said its authors were “anti-state, anti-national
and anti-establishment” and claimed that he would not have
permitted them to visit the State had he known their purpose.
There is no justification for such intimidatory statements even
if Mr. Singh is entitled to disagree with the report. And there
can be no doubt that there is no need to prosecute anyone for
seeking answers and ascertaining facts about a prolonged
spell of violence and conflict.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

The Guild sent a team to ascertain facts in response to

complaints that the media was playing a partisan role. There
was also a complaint from the Indian Army too that the media
coverage was “arousing passion and not letting sustainable
peace come in”. Besides flagging one-sided coverage, the
report also underscores that the Internet ban made matters
worse and had a deleterious impact on journalism. It reveals a
preference for self-censorship — so that the volatile situation
was not inflamed further — and reliance on the State
government for news. “This narrative under the N. Biren
Singh dispensation became a narrow ethnic one playing up to
the biases of the majority Meitei community,” it says.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

One may question whether such direct imputation of blame

on the government’s leadership is needed in a report on
media behaviour, but the conclusion also points to the
possibility that in conflict situations, partisan or ineffective
governance will be reflected in journalistic coverage too. On
the wider political canvas, there appears to be no significant
initiative to effect reconciliation between the two communities
locked in conflict in Manipur and to bring about lasting peace.
Meanwhile, it reflects poorly on the authorities if police cases
are used to silence fact-finding initiatives of civil society.
Summary:

The Editors Guild of India (EGI) faced police case registration after releasing a
report on one-sided media coverage during an ethnic conflict in Manipur,
prompting criticism from Chief Minister N. Biren Singh. The Supreme Court
provided interim protection to those named in the FIR, citing concerns over
potential violence. Singh labeled the report's authors as "anti-state" and
"anti-national," defending the FIR by claiming it could provoke further violence.
The report also highlighted the impact of an Internet ban on journalism and
media's reliance on the government. While critiquing government leadership in a
media report may be questioned, it underscores the link between governance
and media coverage during conflicts, revealing a lack of reconciliation efforts in
Manipur and raising concerns about silencing civil society fact-finding initiatives
through legal action.

The tone of the passage is critical and disapproving.

 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

Article for skimming

Bridging the
malnutrition gap, the
Bemetara way
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

It is often said that simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication.

Experience has taught us that simple things may not always be
easy, but are often the most effective solutions. In this light,
counselling people on eating and feeding practices along with
monitoring their progress can prove to be a game-changer. Over
the years, the government has made painstaking efforts to ensure
food security. Now, children have mid-day-meals in their schools
and people receive monthly rations through an ever-improving
Public Distribution System. Ready-to-eat packets and hot meals
are served to mothers and children at Anganwadi Centres (AWCs),
under the Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic
Nourishment (POSHAN) Abhiyaan.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

Further, various add-ons such as egg, banana, protein

powders, peanut chikki and jaggery are also being distributed
under various special State-specific schemes, an example
being the Mukhyamantri Suposhan Yojana in Chhattisgarh.
But, nutrition security is still a distant dream. People often
lack knowledge of proper eating and feeding practices. Myths
around food and increased accessibility to highly processed
food have compounded the problem. Nutrition counselling
can potentially be the answer to this problem. It is important
to note that “Jan Andolan”, or social and behaviour change
communication (SBCC), has been a facet of POSHAN
Abhiyaan. This includes bicycle rallies, plantation of Poshan
Vatikas, celebration of Poshan Maah, Poshan Pakhwaras and
Godh Bharaais.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

Different States have held various awareness programmes

under the SBCC. However, the concept of nutrition
counselling has yet to be properly institutionalised and
implemented uniformly across States. In fact, according to
the POSHAN Abhiyaan Progress Report, 2018, “A focused and
coherent SBCC Action Plan is essential to take the work of
POSHAN Abhiyaan forward.” Thus, there is a need for field
staff to be properly trained in nutritional counselling and
there is a need for it to be implemented, mandatorily and
uniformly, by States. Bemetara in Chhattisgarh is a puzzling
district in the context of its malnutrition status. Situated in the
fertile plains of Chhattisgarh, it is unaffected by Naxalite
activities and is agriculturally rich. Its inhabitants are also
relatively affluent.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

However, the number of Severe Acute Malnutritioned (SAM)

children there was as high as 3,299 in December 2022. This figure
bears a striking resemblance to the situation in tribal-dominated
and Naxal-affected districts such as Bastar. It points to the lack
of proper knowledge about feeding practices. The problem is not
about access but improper knowledge around when, how and
what to eat. This is why nutrition counselling combined with
robust monitoring was chosen as the modus operandi for this
area. Potth Laika Abhiyaan — which means “Healthy Child
Mission” (literal translation) in the Chhattisgarhi language — is a
nutrition counselling programme that is being implemented in 72
of the most affected AWCs in the Bemetara sub-division of
Bemetara district. It has the technical support of UNICEF,
Chhattisgarh.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

Here, ground-level staff from the Health and Women and Child
Development departments have been well trained on how to
provide nutrition counselling in the region. Every Friday, the
parents of the targeted SAM and Medium Acute
Malnutritioned (MAM) children are summoned and
counselled. They are taught in simple Chhattisgarhi language
the importance and the constituents of “Tiranga Bhojan” (a
balanced diet), the need to wash hands regularly and many
other tips in order to lead a healthy lifestyle. Many harmful
dietary myths and superstitions are dispelled as well. The
progress of the targeted children is being monitored. Local
leaders such as sarpanchs, panchayat sachivs and religious
heads have also participated in the counselling sessions.
Door-to-door visits to the houses of targeted children are also
done to monitor their progress.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

As a result of the simple mantra of nutrition counselling along

with regular monitoring and evaluation, as many as 53.77% of
targeted children were brought out of malnutrition by the
Potth Laika Abhiyaan, in a span of nine months, i.e., from
December 2022 to July, 2023 — 599 out of 1,114 children.
Further, 61.5% of MAM children and 14.67% of SAM children
have been brought out of malnutrition. These figures are both
encouraging and statistically significant. When comparing
this with a random control group of 20 AWCs where this
mission was not being implemented, only 30.6% children
were taken out of malnutrition. That is, 33.8% MAM children
and zero SAM children were taken out of malnutrition. This
shows a total increase of 23% over and above the control
group, which is very encouraging.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

Further, while providing meals requires elaborate budgeting

and the risk of leakages, this mission is a zero cost one,
requiring no more than a few training sessions and regular
monitoring. Thus, it has shown itself to be cost effective as
well. From the experiences highlighted, there is no doubt that
this model needs to be replicated on a larger scale across
districts and States. Providing food to the poor needs to be
supported with nutrition counselling and monitoring in order
to truly accelerate the eradication of malnutrition. It is only
when this simple but impactful strategy of nutrition
counselling is followed both in letter and spirit, that India can
move closer towards achieving the ambitious yet noble dream
of a “Kuposhan Mukt Bharat”.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

Today's Descriptive Question

Write an essay of 200 words highlighting the

benefits as well as the drawbacks of the increased
reliance on technology.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

Rising air pollution poses severe implications for our

environment, public health, and overall quality of life. Firstly,
it contributes to global warming, exacerbating climate
change by releasing greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide
and methane. This leads to more extreme weather events
and rising sea levels. Moreover, air pollution is a significant
threat to public health, causing respiratory diseases, heart
problems, and even premature deaths. Children and the
elderly are particularly vulnerable.

To combat air pollution, several measures can be

implemented. First, stricter emission standards for vehicles
and industrial facilities are essential. Encouraging the
adoption of electric vehicles and promoting public
transportation can reduce vehicular emissions.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

Additionally, investing in renewable energy sources such as

wind and solar power can cut down on fossil fuel combustion.
Implementing green building practices and reducing energy
consumption in homes and businesses can also help.

Furthermore, public awareness campaigns and education on

air quality can encourage individuals to reduce their carbon
footprint through actions like carpooling, using
energy-efficient appliances, and supporting clean energy
initiatives. Governments, industries, and citizens must work
together to address this critical issue and create a cleaner
and healthier future for all.
Please write a letter to the manager of a bank, complaining about the frequent
inappropriate responses from the bank staff to the requests of the customers.

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, PIN Code]
[Date]
Date
[Bank Name]
[branch Address]
[City, State, PIN Code]
Subject: Inappropriate response from bank staff
Dear Sir/ Ma’am
I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to express my concern about the recurring
issue of inappropriate responses from your bank staff.

On multiple occasions, I have encountered unhelpful and dismissive behavior when making
simple requests. This not only reflects poorly on the bank's reputation but also leaves
customers frustrated and dissatisfied.

I urge you to address this problem promptly by providing additional training to your staff on
customer service etiquette. Improving the overall customer experience is crucial for retaining
loyal clients and maintaining the bank's integrity.

Your attention to this matter is greatly appreciated.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Name]
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

Match the words with their meanings.

Column A Column B

Evoked to prevent something from succeeding

Throttle not safe or certain; dangerous

Precarious pleasant or acceptable to somebody

Palatable total, or expressed in a clear and certain way

Unequivocal brought a feeling, a memory or an image into your

mind
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

VOCABULARY FOR ALL

1. Petulant: a
2. Belligerent:
3. Intimidatory:
4. Partisan:
5. Ascertain:
6. Flagging:
7. Underscores:
8. Deleterious:
9. Imputation:
10. Painstaking:
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DAILY EDITORIAL BY
NIMISHA BANSAL