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Malaria, Dengue Fever and Chikungunya can spoil the fun of the rains. Read on to find out how to keep your self safe from them.
Monsoons are arguably the best time of the year for a tropical country like ours, when seemingly barren stretches of land suddenly turn green and temperatures drop to a pleasant low. But the onset of rains also brings with it diseases -- some water-borne and others insect-borne.
Diseases spread by insects, particularly, have become more of a growing concern over the past decade or so and a number of people have been afflicted recently -- Chikungunya, Malaria and Dengue Fever are the most common among them. Here's more on each: |
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Chikungunya
Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne viral disease that was first detected in 1952 in Africa at a place called Makonde Plateau. Since its discovery, chikungunya virus outbreaks have occurred occasionally in Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia, and most recently in limited areas of Europe. The name "chikungunya" is derived from the Makonde word which means "that which bends up" in reference to the stooped posture of the sufferers with joint pain. It is a highly infective and disabling disease. In 2006, India reported more than 1.25 million suspected cases.
Causes
Chikungunya disease is a viral disease transmitted in humans by the bite of infected mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquito to be specific. These mosquitoes mainly reside in stagnated water and bite mainly during daylight hours with peak activity in the early morning and late afternoon. The virus is transmitted from one person to another by the bites of infected female mosquitoes.
Symptoms
Chikungunya symptoms include an abrupt onset of fever accompanied by debilitating joint pain. Other common symptoms include nausea, headache, muscle pain, fatigue and rash. As the disease shares some symptoms with dengue, it can be misdiagnosed in areas where dengue is common. Typically, the fever lasts for two days and then ends abruptly. However, other symptoms like joint pain, headache and insomnia may last for about 5 to 7 days.
Prevention and Treatment
There is no cure for chikungunya. Treatment is based on relieving the symptoms. Most patients recover fully from the disease, but in some cases joint pain may persist for weeks or months, or in some cases years.
Steps to prevent and control the disease primarily include reducing the number of water-filled container habitats that support breeding of the mosquitoes. Insect repellent, clothing which minimises skin exposure, and staying in areas with screens are some of the ways to protect during an outbreak.
Malaria
Malaria is an infectious disease caused by a parasite, Plasmodium, which infects red blood cells. The name "malaria" means "bad air" in Italian. In 2008, an estimated 247 million cases of malaria occurred worldwide and nearly one million people died - mostly young children in Africa. In India, there has been proportional reduction in the number of cases during the past 9 years. The numbers have come down from 2 million reported cases in 2000 to 1.53 million cases in 2009.
Causes
Malaria parasites are transmitted from one person to another by the anopheles mosquitoes, called "malaria vectors", which bite mainly between dusk and dawn. Five species of the plasmodium parasite can infect humans; the most serious forms of the disease are caused by P. falciparum. In many parts of the world, the parasites have developed resistance to a number of malaria medicines.
Symptoms
Symptoms of malaria appear between 7 to 15 days after the mosquito bite and include fever, headache, shaking chills, fatigue and vomiting. If not treated, malaria can quickly become life threatening by disrupting the blood supply to vital organs. The loss of red blood cells in malaria may cause anaemia and jaundice (yellow colouring of the skin and eyes).
Prevention and Treatment
Malaria is preventable and curable. Early diagnosis and treatment of malaria reduces disease, prevents deaths and contributes to reducing its transmission. The best available treatment, particularly for P. falciparum malaria, is artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT).
Mosquito eradication and prevention of mosquito bites is the primary method used to prevent the spread of disease.
Dengue Fever
Dengue fever pronounced, 'Den ghee' is a viral disease imitating flu. Dengue is found in tropical and sub-tropical climates worldwide, mostly in urban and semi-urban areas. According to WHO, about two fifths of the world's population is at risk from dengue and it is estimated that there may be 50 million dengue infections worldwide every year. Delhi and parts of North India always experience a large number of cases of Dengue.
Causes
Dengie fever is transmitted by the bite of an Aedes mosquito infected with any one of the four dengue viruses. Mosquitoes generally acquire the virus while feeding on the blood of an infected person and symptoms appear 3 to 14 days after the infective bite. A potentially lethal complication called dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) was first recognised in the 1950s during dengue epidemics in the Philippines and Thailand. DHF mainly affects children and os the leading cause of hospitalisation and death.
Symptoms
* High fever (temperature can be as high as 104° F or 40° C)
* Severe Headache
* Pain behind the eyes
* Extreme weakness, loss of appetite, feeling of nausea
* Change in taste sensations in mouth
* Joint and muscle pain
* Rashes
* Swollen lymph nodes in the neck and groin
* DHF is characterised by high fever, often with enlargement of the liver, and in severe cases circulatory failure.
How to prevent the onset of insect-borne diseases
Each of these diseases requires specialised professional help to get cured. However, here are some tips to prevent the onset of these diseases:
* Wear clothing that can protect you from mosquitoes with minimum skin exposure.
* Apply creams or repellants that can protect you from mosquito bites.
* Avoid consumption of unclean water and food.
* Keep your house and surroundings clean because garbage breeds mosquitoes.
* To prevent the mosquitoes from breeding, do not allow the rain water to get accumulated in your surroundings.
* Spray kerosene on stagnant water bodies.
* If you notice any symptoms of any of these diseases, report to your physician immediately.
* Remember, the only way you can avoid a possible epidemic is by taking precautionary measures now. |
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A cheque is not a mere a piece of paper. It's imperative for you to know more to ensure that you don't end up losing your hard-earned money.
1. What is the difference between a bearer cheque and an A/c payee cheque?
A bearer cheque can be encashed over the counter by the person who presents it in the bank. However, in case of an A/c payee cheque, the money would be credited into the account of the person to whom the cheque is addressed. |
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2. What is a personalised cheque?
In a personalised cheque, your name would be written on the cheque leaf just below the space where you are supposed to sign it.
3. What is cheque stop payment?
In simple words, you can request your bank in writing to register stop payment instructions in respect of cheques issued or lost by you. A service charge may be debited to the account for this purpose.
4. What does dishonour of cheque mean? When does a cheque get dishonored?
When you make payment through a cheque to any individual, firm, institution, etc., the person to whom you give the cheque presents it in the bank in which he maintains an account. The bank sends the cheque for clearance and, once it is cleared, it honours the cheque and releases the payment to him.
However, the bank may not honour the cheque on certain grounds, such as if there are not enough funds in your account; your signature does not match on the cheque; there is a difference between the amount mentioned in words and figures; if the cheque is more than six months old, etc.
This means the concerned party will not receive the money and, additionally, you may have to pay cheque bounce charges to the bank. Under the provisions of Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, such dishonored cheques may attract punitive action.
Further, the bank reserves the right to take steps to get the account closed if it is observed that cheques drawn in the account have been frequently returned for want of funds in the account.
5. Is it important to maintain a list of payments made through cheques in the space provided in the cheque book?
Payment made by cheque is an effective way of ensuring that all your financial dealings are properly reflected in your bank account. A separate page, called a record slip, comes with your cheque book. It is like a blank passbook.
It is the place where you can write the details of what you do each time you use your account. Every time you put money in, take out cash, or write a cheque, make sure you note the details.
It's a good way for you to have a record of all your important financial transactions, such as buying a house, a car, etc.
The record slip also helps to ensure that no mistakes have been made by the bank in crediting or debiting your account.
6. Why is it important to write the date on a cheque?
Once you draw a cheque, it's valid only for six months. This means that the cheque can't be encashed after six months from the date mentioned on it. If you want to write a post-dated cheque, write the date only after which it can be encashed.
A cheque presented for collection six months after the date of issue of the cheque is treated as an 'out-of-date or stale' cheque.
7. Is it important to write the amount to be paid in figures as well as in words?
Yes, it's important to write the exact amount in figures as well as in words. This is to double check the amount to be paid. Banks may not honour a cheque if there is mismatch of the amount in figures and in words. |
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Many working people often shift their houses. For them, it is difficult to produce an address proof issued by Govt. with latest address. Our India post (post office) has come up with a solution.
Now you can get an Address proof along with your photo from India post. Since the ID proof is issued by India post which is a central government organization, it is similar to Govt ID cards like Driving license, Voters ID etc. It can be used for opening bank accounts, for getting telephone/internet connections etc. |
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The total cost for getting this ID card is Rs.250/ (Rs.10 for application and Rs.240/- processing fee).
Inform everybody. This is very useful
Postal Identity Card is issued under clause 63 of the Post Office Guide - Part I for the benefit of tourists, traveling representatives of firms and other members of the public who experience difficulty in establishing their identity in connection with postal transactions, e.g., receipt of registered and insured articles and payment of money orders in the post town through which they pass. These cards will be obtainable at any head post office by literate persons whose identity is well established in the locality in which they reside or who can be vouched for by substantial permanent residents known to the postmaster.
The card will contain a full description of its holder, his signature and photograph and will be current for a period of three years from the date of issue. After the expiry of the period of validity of the card, a fresh card will have to be applied for.
The use of these cards is entirely optional. Holders will ordinarily receive delivery of postal articles and payment of money orders on their presentation but in cases of doubt it will be open to postmasters to make such further enquiry as they may consider necessary to establish the identity of the applicants with the holders of the cards and to demand additional corroborative evidence of such identity.
In the event of the loss of a card, a duplicate will be issued to the holder on the conditions laid down in sub-clause (2) above besides paying the prescribed fee and on his giving a written declaration absolving the department from all responsibility in the event of the misuse of the original.
Cost:
Application fee for the card is Rs. 10/-.
Processing fee and card cost - Rs. 240/- to be paid at the time of submission of filled up application .In order to make the cards more attractive, Tamilnadu Circle is issuing these in the form of plastic cards like smart cards incorporating information like date of birth, telephone/mobile number and blood group in addition to the address of the person.
ONLINE APPLICATION FORM:
http://chennaipost.gov.in/PoAC_Application.pdf
Source: http://www.tamilnadupost.nic.in/psvc/adproof.htm |
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It’s a well-known fact that healthcare costs are on the rise and one has to provide for it. Mediclaim covers offered by general insurers are popular among customers to meet their healthcare expenses. But is it a perfect hedge? Is the size of the policy good enough to manage your entire family’s healthcare expenses? It’s more prudent to go for a family floater instead of opting for multiple policies for your family, especially in the case of younger families.
What is a family floater? |
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Family floater covers the family as a whole for a fixed sum assured. So if you take a policy of Rs 4 lakh, each member of your family (who is covered under the policy) can utilise the entire amount. It doesn’t mean the amount is split among the family members. Such policies are generally targeted at a family of two adults and two children. Although couples with no children or a single child can opt for a floater.
Can I cover my old parents under this scheme?
Most policies have 60 years as the upper limit. Hence it’s advisable to cover your spouse and children under this option.
What’s the advantage?
Saving on multiple premium cost is the biggest advantage. For example, if we take a family, with husband (38 years), wife (34 years) and two children (aged 8 & 6), the premium for a four-lakh policy works out to Rs 12,000. If this amount is split among four people, by opting for individual policies, the premium works out to around Rs 12,650. But the sum assured for each individual is much lower in that case.
What are the facts you should keep in mind?
A single claim by any one of the family members can exhaust the cover limit. As a result, other family members will have less or no coverage for the rest of the year. Secondly, the policy cannot be renewed if the senior most member crosses the maximum eligible age as mentioned in the policy. At this point of time, the rest of the family will have to go for a fresh policy. As a result, the premiums would be much higher for family members who have crossed 40 years of age. This logic also applies to children who cross the maximum age, which is 25 years in most policies. At this stage, a child has to opt for a separate policy. Like a regular policy, the renewal premium shall be calculated as per the age of the senior most insured member as covered under the policy. A loading may be charged on the premium in case there is a claim in the expiring policy. For instance, ICICI Lombard charges a loading of 10% for claims in the range of Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000 and it increases to 20% for claims in the range of Rs 50,000 to Rs 1,00,000, 50% for claims in the range of Rs 1,00,001 to Rs 2,00,000 and 75% for claims above Rs 2 lakh.
Hence family floater is an economical option that is more beneficial for a family with younger members, with the oldest member being 45 years of age, helping them in the long run. |
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Filing tax returns is an essential task for anyone whose income crosses the basic exemption limit. In order to minimize the tax impact on your income, tax planning is essential and for the same, it is essential to keep a track of the latest developments as it will help you plan your investments wisely.
The direct tax code which is in the proposal stages will replace the Income Tax Act come April, 2011, and hence, it is key to understand what the proposed changes are, and how it will impact you, the salaried individual. Following is a synopsis of the various changes announced. |
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Tax slabs
This is an area that has not been touched upon in the revised discussion paper released on the July 15. However, the draft version of the DTC announced in August 2009 has proposed the following changes
The threshold level of income exempt from tax was proposed to be raised to Rs 2,00,000 from Rs. 1,60,000 currently
Income between Rs 5,00,000 and Rs 10 lakh (Rs 1 million) to attract 10% tax
Income between Rs 10 lakh (Rs 1 million) and Rs 25 lakh (Rs 2.5 million) to be taxed at 20%
It remains to be seen what the final take of the Central Board of Direct taxes would be to assess the impact.
Insurance
Insurance maturity proceeds are currently tax free in the hands of the individual. In the earlier draft of the DTC released in August 2009, it was proposed that maturity benefits on insurance products should be taxed.
However, the recent version of the DTC has done away with it, but has specifically mentioned that the tax benefit will be only for 'pure' insurance plans. This implies that investment products such as ULIPs and endowment plans will come under the EET regime and hence be taxed. However the document does not specify what 'pure' insurance plans include, leaving some sort of ambiguity.
If implemented, it will be applicable to products bought after April 1, 2011. This will reduce the popularity of investment products which currently occupy a significant portion of business for insurance companies.
Equities and equity oriented Mutual Funds
Long term capital gains has been introduced with long term gains to be added to the income and taxed at the marginal rate of return post a deduction on the gains, the percentage of the deduction is yet to be announced. The deduction will be tax free. Also the definition of long term has been changed to at least one year after the financial year in which investment has been made. So if any investment is made on June 10, 2010, for it to qualify as long term, it has to be held at least till March 31, 2012.
Short term capital gains is proposed to be added to income and taxed at the marginal rate of tax depending on the income slab, as against the current method of a flat rate of 15 per cent being charged.
These changes if implemented will be beneficial to short term investors in the lower income bracket while long term investors stand to lose, as their gains which were once tax free, will now be taxed.
Housing
Tax deduction on interest paid for self occupied homes has been reinstated. This means individuals can continue to claim a tax deduction up to Rs 1,50,000 on this front.
Definition of short term gains has been revised from 1 year to 3 years. The tax treatment for short term gains continue to remain the same i.e. it will be added to your income and the marginal tax rate will be charged.
However, in case of long term gains, there is a change where in gains will be added to the income after indexation against the earlier method where a flat rate of 20% was charged.
For rental income, gross rent will continue to be calculated on an actual basis which will simplify things for individuals who plan to let out their house.
Retirement products
• EEE treatment for retirement products has been reinstated which means that withdrawal from Government Provident Fund, Public Provident Fund, recognised Provident funds and the pension scheme offered by PFRDA, will no longer be taxed. |
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However, in order to ensure that the long term saving objective is achieved; rules for contribution as well as withdrawal will be made uniform. For an individual, building a corpus for a secure retirement, there couldn't be better news.
• Compensation received under the Voluntary Retirement Scheme, amount of gratuity received on death or retirement and amount received on encashment of leave at the time of superannuation will be exempt from tax subject to specified monetary limits. This is a big positive for employees because they will have more money at their disposal.
The discussion paper released is not comprehensive in sense as there is no clarity on certain aspects such as tax slabs, definition of pure life insurance products among other things. However, if you go by the announcements proposed, if the same are implemented, it would result in several noteworthy changes for individuals which will take effect while filing returns for the financial year 2011-12. |
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