The Observer Edition 12, Volume 22

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The Observer An IIJNM publication

Some experts say there is no scientific evidence that backs the use of blue ray eyeglasses | P 2

Vol 22, Issue 12

Tuesday, November 8, 2022

@theweeklyobserver

Website: theweeklyobserver.in Epaper: https://issuu.com/ theweeklyobserver

Students and government bus corporations blame each other for accidents on BU campus | P 2

Physical stores hit as Govt’s indifference e-buying of gold rises to RTI has slowed disposal of appeals

Purchases at shops have plunged 30%

By Suryash Kumar

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By Vindhya Pabolu

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s more people are inclined to buy gold online, goldshop owners in Bengaluru have seen their sales drop over the past 12 months. The shop owners say the trend increased during the pandemic. Over the past five years, online gold purchases have increased by 50 per cent, Vikas Singh, MD and CEO, MMTC-PAMP, said in an interview with Outlook. Sampath Sunkara, owner of Laxmi Gold and Silver Ornaments, informed The Observer: “Our sales have dipped by 30 per cent since the pandemic and we are not able to reach our previous sales. Investing in online platforms for purchasing gold became popular among people. But what about the safety and quality of the gold? We can also provide them gold in the quantity that the customers want. We can give them the trust they need.” Ningachar H, owner of MHN Jewellers and Works, shared: “We have been in the gold business for the past 15 years. People are now buying gold online which I’m not able to understand. Some of our customers ask numerous questions before purchasing gold but then also they trust the online platforms a lot more.” According to data published by the World Gold Council, the online gold market in India is in its nascent stage, accounting

People nowadays are more inclined towards purchasing gold through online platforms | Credit:Vindhya Pabolu for just 1 to 2 per cent of overall gold sales. In the third quarter of 2019, only 17 per cent of gold jewellery purchases in cities and 3 per cent of purchases in rural areas were made online. People say purchasing digital gold is simpler than purchasing gold from physical stores. It can be bought on PhonePe, Jar and other online platforms. Dhanush S, a CA student, said: “Digital gold purchase is a lot easier compared to physical gold. We enjoy a lot of advantages like no interest rates and no wastage charges. I can sell the gold at the price it costs that day.” NVIDIA architect Athya Vinod Kumar said: “Online gold purchases give me more options than physical gold. I used to buy gold coins using the Reliance app. It’s easier for me to sell or to purchase by not stepping out.” Online platforms have begun to adopt methods that will make it easier for people to buy gold. Yashwant S, a product manager at a fintech startup, said:

Awareness about health cover is low in rural areas

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ural people of Bengaluru are mostly unaware of health insurance schemes provided by the government, reports Shruti Banerjee. The residents of Doddaballapur taluk in Bengaluru rural were not really interested in availing health insurance policies. While a few of them said that they had insurance cover, they knew little about it and were dependent on their agents. The insurance company officials say that lack of education is one of the primary reasons for not having insurance. Full report on page 3

“General people are found mostly investing in digital gold. Digital technology has played a crucial role. Over the years, people who invested in digital gold have increased. We are thinking of launching a new product based on online gold platforms.” Experts say digitalisation offers many advantages which is one of the reasons for the increase in digital gold purchases. Nakula Reddy, a retired head of the department of economics at Osmania University, shared: “Egold purchases definitely influence gold purchases in shops. It is something like purchasing goods from Amazon or Flipkart. The quantity of gold we order and buy through Amazon or online platfroms, to that extent the purchases from shops will go down. According to the World Gold Council, people in the 18-45 age group account for 70-80 per cent of online purchases for digital gold, while those over 45 account for 20 to 30 per cent. vindhya.p@iijnm.org

No scientific evidence backs use of blue ray eyeglasses

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pticians claim that blue ray emitted by digital gadgets is harmful. They say that wearing blue ray glasses can protect eyes.But experts are divided on these claims; reports Sneha TS. People have different experiences. Optometrist Dr. Gaurav C believes that blue rays are harmful to one‘s eyes and wearing blue ray glasses can help. The American Academy of Ophthalmology does not recommend blue ray glasses. There is no scientific evidence that light emitted by computer screens harms eyes. Full report on page 2

n increase in the pendency of applications has decreased the effectiveness of RTI as a tool to promote transparency and accountability. The Right to Information Act, enacted in 2005, promised to be a tool that helps people to ask the right questions, and strengthens democracy. But Satark Nagrik Sangathan’s Report on the Performance of Information Commission, 2021-22, highlights how the government’s apathy towards RTI has weakened it. As of June 30, 2022, the report says, that the Information Commissions of Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar and Odisha had 99,722, 44,482, 30,358, 21,346 and 19,832 appeals and complaints which were pending respectively.

In the 26th Information Commissions, the number of appeals and complaints that were pending on June 30, 2022, were 3.14 lakh. The 2019 report said that as of March 31 that year, a total of 2.18 lakh appeals or complaints were pending in the commissions. The number skyrocketed to 2.86 lakh as of June 30, 2021. The RTI Act prescribes a timeline of 30 to 45 days to dispose of the first appeal, although no timeline is in existence for disposing of the second appeal. Adesh G. Nashi, an advocate at the Karnataka High Court, said people are unaware of the mechanism to get information. “If the online process fails, people are unaware of how they can get information offline. They can go to different departments, pay the fees and get the information. Continued on page 3

News briefs Plea seeking worship of ‘Shivling’ adjourned A Varanasi court has adjourned to Nov. 14 hearing of a plea seeking worship of a claimed Shivling found in the Gyanvapi mosque premises. ANI

Pak police register FIR in Imran case

After the Supreme Court warned it would initiate suo motu proceedings if the Punjab police failed to register an FIR regard-

ing the assassination attempt on Imran Khan, the case was registered under terrorism charges. The Dawn

Mother tongue survey of 576 languages done

The government plans to set up a Web archive at the National Informatics Centre to preserve the originality of each indigenous mother tongue. The ministry has completed a mother tongue survey, of 576 languages and dialects across the country. The Hindu.


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The Observer Edition 12, Volume 22 by IIJNM Bangalore - Issuu