India downgraded to ‘partly free’ nation
Watchdog links slip to treatment of minorities, critics and journalists
India was downgraded to “partly free” for the first time since 1997 in an annual ranking of democracies by the US-government funded research group Freedom House, which cited worsening civil rights under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The world’s largest democracy slipped in rankings this year because of continuing discrimination against its Muslim citizens and increased harassment of government critics and journalists, according to the ‘Freedom in the World’ report released by the Washington-based organisation.
Discriminatory policies
The report cited “a multiyear pattern in which the government and its allies have presided over rising violence and discriminatory policies.” It listed several events in 2020 like riots in Delhi, use of sedition laws against critics and hardships endured by migrant workers after Modi announced a sudden lockdown to control the coronavirus pandemic.
India was among 73 nations downgraded for declines in political rights and civil liberties.
The report, which ranks
210 nations, found that states designated “Not Free” have reached the highest since 2006. India’s status change means less that than 20 per cent of the world’s people now live in a “free” country — the smallest proportion since 1995, the report said. The changes in India since Modi took charge in 2014 “form part of a broader shift in the international balance between democracy and authoritarianism, with authoritarians generally enjoying impunity for their abuses and seizing new opportunities to consolidate power or crush dissent,” the report said.
Freedom House was formally established in New York in 1941 to promote American involvement in World War II and the fight against fascism, according to its website.
Mubadala Health will extend its cover to 67,000 beneficiaries as part of a new deal with Abu Dhabi Pension Fund. This includes both civilian pensioners as well as those who served in the military, all of whom will gain access to top-notch health care services.
The cover also extends to “first-degree” relatives as well as beneficiaries of deceased pensioners. The benefits include priority bookings, second opinions and access to special offers from Mubadala health partners.
With shared facilities and resources, we can coordinate on treatment plans for the ADPF pensioners to deliver a seamless patient journey personalised to their needs.”
Hasan Jasem Al Nowais | CEO of Mubadala Health
Mubadala Investment Company has said it will bring six of its medical assets into an integrated network for specialised care.
“With shared facilities and resources, we can coordinate on treatment plans for the ADPF pensioners to deliver a seamless patient journey personalised to their needs,” said Hasan Jasem Al Nowais, CEO of Mubadala Health.
Consultations
This will apply to consultations at Abu Dhabi Telemedicine Centre, Amana Healthcare, Capital Health Screening Centre, Healthpoint, Imperial College London Diabetes Centre, and National Reference Laboratory, alongside Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.
“Our diverse partners cover a full spectrum of health care services, offering care with a local understanding of the specific needs of our patient population,” Al Nowais said.