Hasiba Begum Amin
I am the National Convenor of SM dept of Congress, India's oldest political party. I started as a student activist and have worked in the fields of mental health, education and women empowerment.
Location India
Activity
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Hasiba Begum Amin made a comment
Hi. In Hasiba from India. I work as a national social media coordinator in India's oldest political party. Since I work in political digital communications, I'm interested to learn more about the history of politics and propaganda.
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Hasiba Begum Amin made a comment
The first entry in the timeline should be 1832 and not 1932.
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Absolutely! We must be open to evolving, editing and sometimes even re-editing our opinions and thoughts. It is all a part of the process. It only means we are growing.
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@TimilehinOgunyemi Identifying where you've gone wrong is the first step to fixing the problem. Now that you know where you were going wrong, you can let go of the issues and focus on purely communicating more effectively. So the experience taught you what not to do. Best wishes!
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But sometimes your opinion could be that a certain policy will fix a certain issue but evidence may prove that it does not. Then what do you do?
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Absolutely! Understanding your audience and framing your communication strategy accordingly is extremely important. And we are all humans beings at the end of that day and hence even little things like time of the day, mood, past experiences of the person, etc could make a difference.
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Why do think this happens?
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That's a very good example of the first point mentioned here - 'The world I see is not the same as the one you see.' The world the three-year-old sees is completely different from the world that you see and hence speaking from her perspective becomes key to effective communication.
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Connecting with your audience is one of the keys to good communication. Why do you think you weren't able to connect with people?
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Absolutely! Best wishes!
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That's great! Wish you the best!
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@OsakpolorEdiagbonya That is assuming your opinion and evidence findings are on the same page. There are also cases where people strongly believe that a certain policy can solve a certain problem but evidence shows otherwise, in that case how does the evidence 'garnish' the opinion?
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@OcheikwuAgbo Well, what if there's a contradiction in your opinion and the findings from your data for evidence?
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What if there is a contradiction in your opinion/ideological belief and the evidence? Let's say you very strongly believe that a certain policy could fix a certain problem. But during the evidence stage, you get data that shows otherwise, what do you do?
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But what if there is a contradiction between the opinion that you began with and the evidence that you now have at hand?
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Depends on many factors. For instance, how trustworthy is your data source, or maybe factors like how representative is your data? You could have two sets of data - one that is more accurate than the other and in that case, you'd treat each set differently.
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What do you think can be done to prevent this from happening?
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Absolutely. Confirmation bias can lead us to make ill-informed decisions. Which is why it becomes essential to view evidence from a neutral lens, keeping away personal ideologies and beliefs.
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Absolutely. Evidence should be used to understand the real issues.
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Working from the grassroots could help gather evidence. But how would you balance between your passion and the evidence?
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How will you ensure that you balance between your passion and the evidence?
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But how will you ensure you balance between your passion and evidence?
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Yes. A policy pitch which is backed by evidence tends to grab attention. Data makes the issue concrete and stories make it more real and human.
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Absolutely. Evidence adds weight to your policy. It makes the issue/reason for a policy that you're trying to put across more concrete and real.
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Interesting observation. The reason behind the need for evidence for one could be completely different from that of the other. It really depends on what it is that you are trying to do.
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How do you think this could be prevented from happening?
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The drivers of policy too play an extremely important role in the formulation of policies.
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Yes, you are right. What you're speaking of is extremely important to ensure that each and every citizen is taken into consideration while policies are being formulated.
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That's true. Which is why inclusivity in the process of policymaking becomes very important.
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Hasiba Begum Amin replied to Anana Ogbaro
Absolutely!
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Absolutely!
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Hasiba Begum Amin replied to Sana Ullah Babar
That's true. But there are also many stakeholders. The society as a whole, in the form of NGOs, experts, activists, media, etc are the ones that drive the policies in most cases.
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@AniManukyan is absolutely right @ChameeraWickramasinghe. Identifying people with a similar vision as your's, networking with them and establishing connections with them is generally a great booster of self-confidence. It will help reaffirm trust in your vision, or may change it entirely, either way is ok. Ultimately, you need to be absolutely sure of what you...
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That's a very noble idea, Anjinsen. Now start thinking about how exactly you'd work on turning the 'what should be done' into 'How would I do it'
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Hasiba Begum Amin replied to Safdar Hussain
Yes, hindrances shouldn't hold one back. However, it is also important to find the right time to work on the policy that you wish to see implemented while putting together a plan and a timeline based on availability and other factors.
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Hasiba Begum Amin replied to Ibrahim Yusuf
That's absolutely right Ibrahim. And that's why it also becomes important to speak to those around you about what you believe is the problem, why you think so, and how you think it can be fixed. To get those around you interested in what it is that you are doing. You may even find people who will join hands with you along the way.
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When I picture a 19th century women - I think of corset clad beautiful women with no control of their lives.
Most of my perception comes from various art forms - paintings and movies particularly
I don't think it's a 100% accurate. I'm sure their lives were much more than that -
Hasiba Begum Amin replied to Sandra Ukatu
@SandraUkatu Yes, absolutely! You can be passionate about many things in life.
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Hasiba Begum Amin made a comment
Thank You :)
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Hasiba Begum Amin made a comment
Drafting my policy proposal and a pitch which I will use to reach out to potential collaborators
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To me, the most important aspects are that of keeping a time scale and having a predefined means of measuring success or failure. It is extremely important to set deadlines for self to function effectively.
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Hasiba Begum Amin made a comment
I want to end the stigma attached to mental disorder and ensure that every Indian is made aware of what mental disorder is, the importance of mental healthcare and the current situation in the country.
It's all part of making a better world.
People across the country, irrespective of socio-economic factors will be more open about mental health issues and... -
Being a person with mobility impairments, she understood how access is limited sometimes because we tend to forget those who are 'missing from the room'. It was great how when she was leading the campaign, she ensured that accessibility was maximum and each and everyone could participate.
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Hasiba Begum Amin replied to Hasiba Begum Amin
@NnamdiCollinsK.Enenwali That's really bad. It's very similar here in India. The suicide rate, specially among the young,is one of the highest in the world. People aren't able to cope with mental health issues and it leads to them ending their lives. All it takes is being aware that nothing is wrong with them and having someone to talk to.
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Hasiba Begum Amin made a comment
Considering the fact that the change I want to happen requires govt intervention, stakeholders who have influence but aren't engaged as yet become the most important stakeholders for me right now. I must interact with them more and try and increase their engagement.
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Hasiba Begum Amin replied to Hasiba Begum Amin
My personal experience, mixed with my work experience in the political field, the passion that drives me and having worked with lawmakers I think makes me the best person to work in this field.
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Hasiba Begum Amin made a comment
I started suffering from anxiety which led to panic attacks back in college. Due to lack of awareness, I didn't even understand what was wrong with me. I never had the courage to confide in my parents due to stigma attached but spoke to some friends. Most told me that it was all in my head and nothing was wrong with me. Some even thought I was just trying to...
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Hasiba Begum Amin made a comment
Knowledge, skill, passion and experience.
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Hasiba Begum Amin made a comment
I think aligning with someone in position of authority may be of great use for me right now considering India is already going through a mental health crisis but isn't aware of it yet. Aligning with someone powerful, convincing them of the epidemic and then proposing policy might actually be of great use.
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Hasiba Begum Amin made a comment
I think each of the tactics is extremely important. But I personally feel forming strong coalitions is of great importance specially when acting as a pressure group.
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I think the biggest barrier faced was the lack of information on the subject matter that existed which led to a vacuum of knowledge which got filled by misinformation. Misinformation can be really dangerous. This ignorance by the masses needed to be addressed. They overcame this barrier by understanding the issue and the desperate need to address it. They...
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Maybe not. But always when are where possible it should be.
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Hasiba Begum Amin made a comment
I found the concept of policy window really interesting. How we need to look out for that window which could be just about anything for people to be open to change. And how critically evaluating own policy is really important.
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Hasiba Begum Amin made a comment
While both are valuable, I would definitely go for observation over experimenting. Considering I'm working on mental health awareness, stigma related to mental illness and mental illness, ethics becomes a very important factor for me to take this decision.
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Hasiba Begum Amin made a comment
I will require both - quantitative data such as rate of suicides in the country over the years, number of people suffering from mental illness and number of people who are open about it. A survey on whether people think there's a stigma around it or not. Also data to understand the impact of socio economic conditions on mental health and on stigma around...
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Hasiba Begum Amin made a comment
In the first case how FDR was absolutely convinced that he was doing the right thing despite all the opposition is very interesting. He could've easily given in to the pressure or just doubted his own actions but he believed in what he was doing and stuck with it. Very interesting.
In case two, how a policy meant to solve a problem only created a larger...
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Hasiba Begum Amin made a comment
Evidence and data are also important in the final stage to understand the impact of the policy.
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Hasiba Begum Amin made a comment
At stage two where various perspectives are being analysed is where I think I have the greatest capacity to influence the development of policy.
Evidence and data would play a very important role while discussing and developing policy in step 2 by analysing case studies of solutions to the problem being addressed elsewhere. But it will play the most...
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Hasiba Begum Amin made a comment
There is sufficient evidence to show that India is undergoing a mental health crisis, and that there isn't enough work being done. WHO has declared us as the most depressed country in the world. We have a negligible mental health workforce and as a citizen who has travelled across the country, there's enough evidence to support that there's a stigma attached...
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Hasiba Begum Amin made a comment
Policy: To end stigma around mental illness by increasing awareness and accessibility.
Hypothesis: Introduction of counselling cells and a course in curriculum of all educational institutions will help create awareness and curb the stigma to quite an extent.
Assumption: Young student have the power to influence three generations - the one above them...
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Hasiba Begum Amin made a comment
I think each of the reasons given was compelling. For policymakers to understand why they need to revise the current policy. When we choose to challenge the status quo and bring change, the policymakers much atleast know why it's important. Without knowing why expecting them to bring about change will be futile. Evidence strengthen argument, human stories...
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Hasiba Begum Amin made a comment
Mental illness is an epidemic in India. As per WHO, we are the most depressed country in the world.
I'm passionate about creating awareness about mental well-being, against the stigma attached with mental illness and work to bridge the gaps existing towards good mental health.
The policy that I'd like to work on is one that views mental healthcare on...
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Hasiba Begum Amin made a comment
A similarity in all was that everyone is driven with a passion to solve existing problems in their respective society. They also have a clear understanding of what their end goal is.
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Hasiba Begum Amin made a comment
I agree with the previous comment. What's most interesting is how there's so many stakeholders involved and how a combined effort from each one plays a major role in shaping policy. Policy changes challenge the status quo and hence having those impacted by such change convinced that it's for the greater good is extremely import. Media too plays a very...
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Education is of utmost importance. It helps all understand beyond what they see. For everyone to understand issues across sectors, education plays a role. The more we educate the more will be find people ready to work towards other goals as well. And it has a dominoes effect. Every person that is educated, further educates in some form or the other.
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Hasiba Begum Amin replied to AYODEJI IPOOLA
I felt the same. I think policy as a set of guidelines or objectives to drive time-bound change is a very interesting way of putting it.
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Hasiba Begum Amin made a comment
Mahatma Gandhi! He lead change with purpose. He was so passionate about freeing his country that he was ready to give his life for it. He had a plan in mind and managed to inspire and influence thousands. He did all of this without picking any arms and led a revolution with just non-violence. He was so clear with his passion, purpose and ideals and never...
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I am confident of steps 2 and 3. It's the 'how' where I find myself stuck. I am sure I can do it, ability wise and I'm happy to acquire knowledge in order to fill the gaps. But first I need to figure out what steps it would take to get to working towards the change I want to bring. Once that's sorted, I'll have to figure out the resources aspect.
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Hasiba Begum Amin made a comment
India stands at a potential mental illness epidemic. According to the WHO, we are the most depressed country in the world. I'm passionate about bringing universal access to mental healthcare and elimination of the stigma attached with mental illness.
I am also passionate about universal access to education & the fight against discrimination, particularly...
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Hasiba Begum Amin made a comment
Hi. I'm Hasiba from India. As a country with over 50% of it's population under the age of 35, I believe it's the responsibility of the youth to drive sustainable change. I want to acquire knowledge of tools and means that can be used to drive such sustainable change.
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Hasiba Begum Amin made a comment
I think it's mostly about control. When nothing else around you seems to be under control - family breaking apart, downspiraling financials, death, etc, eating or not, seems to be the one thing you still have control over. Losing pounds gives that instant joy and feeling of accomplishment.
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I grew up being super concerned about my body weight and shape and often hoped and prayed for an ideal body. However, as I grew up I learnt to be confident and happy as I am and that has been very helpful.
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Shocking results.
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Hasiba Begum Amin made a comment
Good mental health is when one is at peace with themselves and in control of their thoughts, emotions and feelings and aware of all that they're going through and able to deal with it sensibly and respond appropriately.
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Hasiba Begum Amin made a comment
Hello. My name is Hasiba. I'm from Goa, India. The reason I decided to join this course is because my country stands at a mental health epidemic. According to the WHO, India is the most depressed country in the world. But mental health still seems ignored here. There's a great stigma attached to mental health issues. I want to learn more about how mental...
