SULABH SWACHH BHARAT (Issue - 20)

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Delhi No. F. 2 (S-45) Press/ 2016

04

Vol-1 | Issue-20 | May 01-07, 2017 | Price ` 5/-

Good News Weekly for Rising India

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AWARDS

DR. PATHAK HONOURED

HERITAGE

A WAY OF LIFE

Industry body FICCI bestowed the Life Time Award for his dedicated work on sanitation and health

World Heritage Day under the aegis of UNESCO was celebrated in India

28

TRIBUTE

RUK JANA NAHIN...

The handsome actor will always be remebered for his fabulous roles in films

AVIATION UDAN

PM MODI FLAGS OFF UDAN

The Prime Minister launched the first such low cost flight for weaker sections of society from an air field at around 7,000 feet near Shimla INDIA ABROAD NEWS SERVICE

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RIME MINISTER Narendra Modi on April 27 flagged off the first Rs 2,500-an-hour flight from Shimla as part of an UDAN scheme that makes air travel accessible to lower middle class families. The scheme also plans to enhance connectivity with more airports in the country. The first regional flight under the Ude Deshka Aam Nagrik (UDAN)

scheme was flagged off between Shimla and Delhi from Jubbarhatti, the tabletop airport located 2,196 metres above sea level and 22 km from Shimla.

During his day-long visit to the Queen of Hills, which saw mild showers in the morning, Modi underscored the thrust on keeping the air fares within the reach of the ...Continued on Page 2

LAUNCH DICTIONARY

SULABH TO LAUNCH A

NEW HINDI DICTIONARY The unique tome will have all the words popular in English and other Indian languages SAURABH SINGH

A

new Hindi dictionary would be launched soon by Sulabh Sanitation and Social Reforms Movement. The dictionary would be unique in the sense that it will carry all

Quick Glance Poets, writers remember Dr Ramdhari Singh Dinkar Three awards were also conferred on the occasion Dr Pathak has been cleaning bodies through toilets as Dinkar cleaned soul

the words popular in English and other Indian languages.

The announcement was made by Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, Founder of Sulabh International at a programme held in New Delhi to pay tributes to noted poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar and remember his contribution to Hindi literature. The programme marked his 43rd death anniversary.

Besides, three awards were conferred on the occasion. Poet Sharada Prasad Saidpuri was conferred with the first Dinkar Sulabh Sahitya Samman for his contribution to Hindi literature and for promoting Dinkar’s work. ...Continued on Page 2

Poet Sharada Prasad Saidpuri being honoured with the first Dinkar Sulabh Sahitya Samman by Founder of Sulabh International, Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, former Union Minister Dr CP Thakur, former Governor of Sikkim Dr BP Singh and Chairman, National Book Trust, Baldeo Bhai Sharma

02 Hindi Dictionary ...Continued from Page 1

MAY 01-07, 2017

PM MODI FLAGS OFF UDAN

Quick Glance UDAN scheme opens up the skies to the weaker economic strata Certain percentage of seats available in specific flights The scheme takes forward Modi’s pet project on tourism

middle class. “My dream was to see a person who wears a ‘hawaichappal’ to fly on the ‘hawaijahaz’ or plane,” he said in his almost 20 minute address in Hindi.

Air India subsidiary Alliance Air, which will operate the Delhi¬Shimla flight, has put the fare at Rs 2,036.

He said the UDAN scheme caters to the aspirations of the people of India, making flights cheaper than taxi fare.

“The lives of the middle class are being transformed and their aspirations are increasing. Earlier, aviation was considered to be the domain of a select few. That has changed now,” Modi said.

The Prime Minister foresees Tier¬II and Tier¬III cities as “growth engines” with the country’s aviation sector filled with opportunities. “If aviation connectivity in Tier¬II and Tier¬III cities is enhanced in these places, it will be beneficial,” he said.

“We had the opportunity to frame a civil aviation policy, which caters to the aspirations of the people of India.

“The UDAN scheme is going to

...Continued from Page 1

help the tourism sector in Himachal Pradesh,” Modi said. Accompanied

by Himachal Governor Acharya Devvrat, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Union Ministers P. Ashok GajapathiRaju, Jayant Sinha and JP Nadda, Modi simultaneously flagged off the inaugural UDAN flights on the Kadapa-Hyderabad and NandedHyderabad sectors through video conferencing.

The scheme entails that certain percentage of the seats will be reserved for traveler from lower economic strata, who will only pay the basic fare of Rs 2,500. The other passengers will pay the commercial rates as applied by the airliner.

This also zeroes in on one of Modi’s now forgotten passion: promoting tourism. While he was Gujarat chief minister, he had promoted tourism for his state. He had in fact, started an altogether new festival, a mega-kite flying competition, and had promoted it by himself flying a kite.

With UDAN, Modi is reiterating his image as a common man, or even a poor man’s prime minister, and he hopes that more people from lower classes will get to see other parts of the country at a minuscule cost, so that better national integration happens seamlessly, as people from all parts of the country are exposed to people and cultures from the rest of the country.

Modi is

reiterating his image as a common man’s PM and hopes more people will get to see the country

SULABH TO LAUNCH A NEW HINDI DICTIONARY

Sulabh Sanitation Award was given to a vernacular newspaper and to a social activist, Sanjay Shukla, who hails from Betul district of Madhya Pradesh, for highlighting the issues related to sanitation.

Eminent poets, sanitation activists, politicians and other dignitaries attended the Dinkar Memorial Lecture on “Cleansing the Spirit and the Body”.

Former Sikkim Governor and noted scholar Balmiki Prasad Singh, called upon youngsters to follow the path of great poets like Dinkar who tried to ignite the young minds towards nationalism. BJP’s Vice President and Lok Sabha member C P Thakur termed Dinkar as a true nationalist who served the nation and society through his powerful writings.

Dr Bindeshwar Pathak underlined the unique relationship that exists between life and literature. The function was organized jointly by Dinkar Sulabh Sahitya Academy and Suabh International Social Service Organisation. In his presidential address, Dr Pathak, speaking at New Delhi’s Mavlankar Auditorium, said that Dinkar was a poet and writer of the intellectuals as well as the common man. For him the literary ‘form’ and style was not an end in itself; he wrote extensively about subjects and issues that concerned the common man in his daily grind.

Dr Pathak spoke about Dinkar, the author-poet of 33 poetry collections and 27 prose books, who was the recipient of the Padma Bhushan Award and the highest literary award in the country- the Gyanpeeth Award. Among Dinkar’s admirers, Dr Pathak said, were students, literature lovers, nationalists and political leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru.

Dinkar was the man who looked beyond caste and social categories and who wrote about the oppressed and women’s situation in society. Dr Pathak pointed out that his own organisation, Sulabh International, has for the past 43 years, followed a similar path in its social mission of working for the manual scavengers and the widows.

BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP Dr C.P. Thakur, extended thanks to Dr Pathak for his announcement plan to campaign for the strengthening of Hindi language throughout India. Thakur said that he and Dr Pathak hailed from the same

place, they knew each other well but then life took them away in different directions.

Dr Thakur did research on the disease ‘kala azar’ while Dr Pathak got involved in a different field.

Dr. Thakur said that where literature is concerned, a lot has been written in our country. Our past was very rich, he said, but still there is not much pride in our past, and the reason for this is a lack of interest caused due to a kind of mental slavery.

Dr Thakur believed that this was the reason for the limited progress the country has achieved even after independence. Therefore, he suggested that we should implant the idea of respect and pride in our children’s mind that we belong to a great nation. It will take a very long time for the world to write what has already been written by our forefathers, said Dr. Thakur.

He thanked Dr. Pathak for furthering the interest of Hindi literature.

This would naturally involve an equal share in spreading Dinkar’s thought and his writings.

Recollecting his meeting with Dinkar, Dr. Thakur said that he met Dinkar when the latter visited his house with J P. Dinkar liked to eat sweet ‘jale bis’, joked Dr Thakur, but they were not good for his health. He treated the poet for his ailment as he did other people. In Tirupati, a little before he passed away, Dinkar had participated in the early morning recitation of hymns. But the energy and the enthusiasm was not good for his medical condition. Dinkar collapsed while reciting the mantras, Dr Thakur recollected with deep emotion.

Baldeo Bhai Sharma , Chairman, National Book Trust, who was the Chief Guest for the evening, in a lighter vein wondered how could idea of taking literature and sanitation as co subjects in the same event, make sense to anyone.

He found it somewhat surprising that the two apparently diverse issues- sanitation and literature were being placed together on one and the same platform. But then he gleefully explained that both contribute to purification - while the toilets are places where we cleanse our bodily impurities, literature cleanses our inner impurities. Sharma asked why do

We have to

preserve the memory of Dinkar as the person who heralded the voice of nationalism in literature

MAY 01-07, 2017

we remember the great men in our lives?

Do we remember them merely for prosaic details like the date of their birth and death? The answer is obviously that history has meaning if only we learn something from it. The lessons from history should be remembered with all its details, he added. We have to preserve the memory of a person like Dinkar by remembering that he was the one who heralded the voice of nationalism.

The Vedas, written thousands of years ago, had imparted the lesson of nationalism. We are the children of the mother earth, we are not one existing in multiple universe, but exist in multiple forms in the one and single universe. The British, though credited with doing much for the development of the country, naturally did not teach us nationalism.

We should remember that we cannot progress if we do not understand the idea behind the idea of nationalism.

Remembering Dinkar was an important exercise because he was the symbol of nationalism and nationalistic sentiments, Sharma concluded.

Sharma, recalled Dinkar as one of the finest scholars of India. He said Dinkar was an Indian Hindi poet, essayist, patriot and academic, who is considered as one of the most important poets of modern Hindi literature. Dinkar was conferred with the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1959 for his work ‘Sanskriti ke Char Adhyaya’ and received Padma Bhushan in 1959 by the Government of India.

The Ex-Governer of Sikkim, B P Singh said, Dinkar was gifted not only as a writer but in everyday life too, he was a multi-faceted personality. Dinkar used to say that his real achievement in life was not the classics he wrote, but that he could help 24 young girls in getting them married. Dinkar was a man of original ideas but said that one should look back into our historical past, examine it, take inspiration from our ancestors, and then bring a change in society.

We should implant the idea of respect and pride in

Hindi Dictionary

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our children’s minds that we belong to a great nation

Dr Pathak speaking at the award function (Left); The awardees showing copies of the cheque of the amount accompanying their respective awards (Right)

Dinkar wanted Delhi to become the cultural centre of India, but for this it needed a cultural push, Singh said adding Dr Bindeshwar Pathak is doing exactly that by organising such programme and by working in this direction. Nehru certainly saw some special qualities in Dinkar; which is why he appointed him a member of the Rajya Sabha. Dinkar believed that whether a country is economically strong or not, it should remain strong in matters of people’s power. For Dinkar, poery was not an elitist pastime, it was not meant merely to be sung or to tickle the senses, but a reason to think and ponder about serious concerns in life.

The programme began with the traditional ritual of lighting the lamp, and was followed by the offering of flower-petals on the portrait of the poet Dr Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, by honoured guests and special invitees, as a mark of respect for the great writer.

Among the illustrious guests were Shri B P Singh, Ex Governer, Sikkim, Dr C P Thakur, eminent poet Pandit Suresh Neerav, and the journalist- poet Sharda Saidpuri, who was awarded at the function. Baldeo Bhai Sharma, Chairman, National Book Trust, was the chief guest.

The programme was also attended by students of literature, media persons and eminent contemporary writers.

The poets and writers regaled the audience with their own compositions and their poetic tributes to the great poet, Dinkar. Among these creative writers were Anil Bajpai from Hapur, Ram Varna Ojha from Gwalior, Charanjit Charan from Faridabad, Vijay Bhardwaj from Aligarh, Manoj Chauhan

neglecting the Hindi. In her own country, Hindi has been reduced to the position of a servant. We must try to bring Hindi on the international level.

He said that Bhagat Singh has not been given the due place that he deserved whereas people who were close to the government were given undue power.

Anil Bajpai from Hapur praised Dr Pathak for the work he has done for the society. He said that it was an honour to get an opportunity to read his poetry on such an important day and platform. In his poems full of humour, he said that today the children remember the film stars only when they are asked to name heroes. They do not know the real heroes of our country like Maharana Pratap and Shiva Ji. The poet from Moradabad, Saurabh Kant Sharma, appreciated Dr Pathak’s work in constructing Sulabh toilets all over the country. He said that terrorist has no country but the soldiers who die for their motherland are real heroes.

The programme ended on a note of pride for the work accomplished by our writers, leaders, and social workers to achieve freedom and happiness for the future generations. The audience was touched by the efforts made by Sulabh International, particularly Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, in setting an example of selfless work and dedication towards the common and deprived people of our country.

It was a special day that marked the beginning of a new sensitivity towards literature, commitment and service in the hearts of all those who attended the function. The impact of Dinkar’s writing really proved mightier than proverbial sword.

from Mainpuri, and Saurabh Kant Sharma from Moradabad. The wellknown actor Abhinav Chaturvedi from the popular TV serial of the 90s ‘Hum Log’ also came to grace the function.

Sharda Saidpuri, the poet of our time, who was honoured with the first Dinkar Award at this programme for his writings, began his speech with a few lines of poetry. He said that it was not he who should be given the award but someone like Dr C P Thakur. Dr. Thakur deserved the award because, in the true sense, he was the follower of the path paved by Dinkar.

Poet Vijay Bharadwaj began by paying respects to Dinkar and then sought Dr Pathak’s blessings, calling him a modern-day Dinkar. He said that our soldiers at the frontier become martyrs for the sake of the nation. A soldier works happily in 40 degree Celsius temperature but dies a thousand deaths when enemy’s flag is unfurled in Kashmir. We speak about not giving Kashmir to Pakistan but the Pakoccupied Kashmir too belongs to us.

Our soldiers do not need a certificate of bravery from anyone but there are some people among us who do not want to give soldiers their due.

Poet Charanjeet Charan from Faridabad paying his regards to Dinkar said that in the freedom struggle of India 7.5 lakh people sacrificed their lives but very little is written about them. He recited a poem euloging those who gave up their lives for the country.

He said that his poetry questions the traitors who betray the country.

Manoj Chauhan from Mainpuri expressed concern over the excessive use of English in everyday life by

04 Prestigious Award to Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak

MAY 01-07, 2017

FELICITATION

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD TO DR PATHAK Union Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu hands over the award instituted by ISC-FICCI & India Sanitation Coalition

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R. BINDESHWAR PATHAK, Founder, Sulabh Sanitation and Social Reform Movement, was bestowed with “Special Jury Award for Life Time Achievement” during ISCFICCI Sanitation Awards and India Sanitation Conclave by Union Minister of Railways Suresh Prabhu, in presence of Swami Chidanand Saraswati, Co-Founder, Global Interfaith WASH Alliance (GIWA) at FICCI Federation House in New Delhi on April 27.

In his acceptance speech, Dr. Pathak expressed his gratitude to the India Sanitation Coalition (ISC) and FICCI for considering him worthy of the Special Jury Award. He said,” I feel deeply indebted to the distinguished Jury led by Dr. R.A. Mashelkar, one of India’s eminent scientist and Padma Vibhushan awardee, and all other admirable dignitaries who are closely associated with the ISC-FICCI Sanitation Awards. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Pathak applauded the India Sanitation Coalition for its excellent initiative and commitment to achieve

a sustainable sanitation Urban Challenge and Dr Pathak speaking ecosystem and for Sanitation & Skills on the occasion organising India Development.

(Left); Dr Pathak Sanitation Conclave. He ISC (India receiving the award from Railway Minister shared a short account of Sanitation Coalition) Suresh Prabhu and his strivings and b ro u g ht all Swami Chidanand achievements in sanitation stakeholders in the Saraswati (Right) and social sectors with the field sanitation on one enlightened gathering. platform where they Agenda at the two-day could share Conclave were issues like Role of information, learn from others, Corporate Sector in Sanitation, partner and collaborate. It had Sanitation: The Business NGOs, donors, corporates, Opportunity, Changing Behaviour: foundations, trusts and government Role of Faith, Partnerships to address as partners, working together to Challenges in Rural Sanitation, The create a larger impact.

MAY 01-07, 2017

Labour Day

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LABOUR DAY SPECIAL ASSAM TEA GARDEN

SMALL TEA GROWERS GROW BIG IN ASSAM

They have their share of problems, yet have been contributing 29 per cent of tea produced in the state

Quick Glance Tea is the largest agro-based industry in Assam Small growers produce varieties including White, Oolong and Dhekhi In certain areas like drainage, manuring, etc. planters need training

RAJ KASHYAP

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EA has a long trajectory of development in Assam ever since it was discovered by Robert Bruce in the state in 1823. Now Assam is the largest tea producing state in the country contributing about 55 per cent of the total production. Besides the large estates, the contribution of the small tea growers in the state has been no less significant.

Tea is the largest agro-based industry in Assam. Last year, small tea growers from the state exported around 13000 kilograms of tea to Canada, United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia which consisted of both the black and green varieties. Clearly, the graph has been rising for the past few years facilitated by a combination of many favourable factors. In the domestic market, Assam consumes approximately 30 per cent of the total tea produced by small growers. The tea consumed by the state’s consumers is mostly green tea.

Next to Assam is Bengal in terms of demand from these growers in the domestic market. Tea is sold to different

A major problem is the shortage of water supply to gardens, especially those located on the hill slopes

states like Kerala, Karnataka, Delhi and Mumbai by dealers in Bengal.

Small growers produce a range of varieties that include White, Oolong and Dhekhi made tea in gardens scattered in the eastern and the northern districts of the state, where Dibrugarh accounts for 30 per cent, Tinsukia 22 per cent, Jorhat 13 per cent, Golaghat 12 per cent and Sivasagar 11 per cent. Small growers contribute around 29 per cent of the total tea produced in Assam. However, due to the fact that most of these growers don’t have access to the financial support needed to set up their own tea factory, they sell their green leaves to bought-leaf factories owned by big companies. By the end of 2011, it was estimated that there were around 70,000 small growers in Assam.

Buoyed by the steady increase in demand, the All-Assam Small Tea Growers’ Association started an awareness campaign in 2012 among all

cultivators to focus on improving quality for better prices and resource persons were engaged from the Tea Board. The programme witnessed a week long quality awareness meet across the state and sharing of experiences by the planters.

Tea cultivation on small holding was initiated in 1930s in India beyond the traditional tracts of cultivation in Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu. By the 1960s and 1970s, the cultivation spread to the other tea producing states like Assam and West Bengal. In 1978, the Assam government took the initiative and encouraged the rural youths of the state to take up tea plantations in the homesteads and fallow land to improve their economic conditions. Since then, plantations in the small sector have shown a considerable expansion. Skilled manpower from the nearby plantation estates, a convenient market to sell in the tea estate factories and advantages of plantation crops over

the seasonal agriculture crops were some of the factors that helped in consolidation of the sector in the state. This phenomenon is described in the popular discourse as the most remarkable peopleoriented economic activity towards boosting the state’s economy and addressing the unemployment problem to an extent.

The success notwithstanding, there are many problems faced by small tea growers as revealed by the research carried out by scholars. In many areas, the unsuitable lands and marginal lands were utilized for tea cultivation which has affected the quality as well as productivity of the plantations. In many cases, production of green leaf from small tea growers is not matched with the demand of tea markets.

Small growers sell their green leaf tea to big tea estates factory through intermediaries.

The green leaf price varies from factory to factory and time to time within the same district.

Another important problem faced by small tea growers is the shortage of water supply to various gardens and especially in the gardens located in the hill slopes.

Research has also revealed that there are wide differences in the technology used between the trained and untrained small tea growers. There are certain areas like drainage, manuring, weed and pest control where the planters are in need of training to enhance the productivity.

Researchers have also cited ecological imbalance as a consequence of the emergence of the small gardens.

The bamboo plantation is many villages has been drastically reduced as also other commercial crops like orange, pineapple and sugarcane which have been replaced by tea cultivation. The traditional farming system of the area has also suffered due to the unsystematic growth of the small tea units. The indiscriminate uses of pesticides and agrochemicals have had an adverse impact on the rivers and the riverine population.

06 Trafficking

MAY 01-07, 2017

CONCERN HUMAN TRAFFICKING

FROM SURVIVOR TO PROSECUTOR School for Justice is helping survivors of human trafficking getting trained in law

Quick Glance Human trafficking is rising in India at an alarming rate of 25 per cent Some NGOs have started School for Justice to fight human trafficking The survivors would be educated in law to help them fight traffickers

ASHIMA

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S a 17 years old girl, Kusum studied much more than other girls of her village. But her education was cut short as she married a boy who sold her to a brothel three months after their wedding. Her future appeared completely dark.

Fortunately, Kusum escaped sex trafficking. And now she’s fighting back, by becoming a lawyer through a new programm. The School for Justice, which opened on April 6, educates survivors of sex trafficking to pursue careers in law. Eventually, these women plan to use their degrees to prosecute traffickers like the ones who abused them.

There are 19 women in the inaugural class, all between the ages of 19 and 26. They’ll take classes to prepare for law exams, and receive tutoring and mentoring to ensure success.

The entire programm is expected to take five to six years for each girl to complete. The women will graduate with law degrees, with a special focus on commercial sexual exploitation

cases. “These are real girls who have been through highly traumatising experiences and had lives that we could hardly imagine,” said Bas Korsten, one of the project’s founders adding “They are determined to succeed in their ambition to become lawyers, with the power to prosecute the criminals who once owned them.”

GENESIS OF SCHOOL FOR JUSTICE School for Justice is helping women who are Human Trafficking survivors to become lawyers thereby giving altogether a novel perspective to our ossified society. The study of law is like a dream for most of the students and unfortunately, a gigantic part of our society spends entire life waiting for justice. The policymakers have their own limitations. Certainly, it is commendable that the victim

becomes proficient in law and fights against the injustice thereby opening doors of justice for others too.

Eventually, these women plan to use their degrees to prosecute traffickers like the one who abused them. The school is the result of partnership with ‘Free a Girl Movement’ an international organisation that works to free girls from human trafficking. During their studies the women will live at the law school, with undisclosed name for security concerns SPIKE IN TRAFFICKING The latest report from the United States Department of State says human trafficking in India spiked at least 25 per cent last year. Every hour, four women and girls enter prostitution in India — three of them

The programme will take five years. The women will graduate with law degrees, with a special focus on commercial sexual exploitation cases

against their will.

There are a few contributing factors to the drastic increase in India’s human trafficking tragedy in 2016. Some of the factors include the 2015 earthquake in neighboring Nepal creating unstable situations, and traffickers growing more technologically advanced in their methods and document forgeries.

Most of the trafficking that comes to India funnels from Nepal and Bangladesh to the major cities.

Raju Sharma with Christian Aid Mission shares some scary statistics: “The current rate that we have in India, if this continues, by 2025 one out of every five Indian girl children will be a child prostitute…. Girls aged as young as 10 are trafficked, and mostly because of economic reasons.”

According to a global survey report, India has the largest population of modern slaves in the world, with more than 18 million people trapped as bonded labourers, forced beggars, sex workers and child servants.

The Global Slavery Index by human rights organisation Walk Free Foundation said the number was 1.4 per cent of India’s population.

JUDICIARY In the case of Human Trafficking and prostitution, rarely the human traffickers are convicted. The major reason is lack of evidence and dearth of lawyers who are proficient in dealing with sexual exploitation cases. In the year 2015, only 55 cases led to convictions throughout the entire country.

According to an estimate, 40 per cent of sex workers are trafficked children, mostly girls from ethnic minority and lower caste. It is a matter of apprehension that in several societies this crime is socially

MAY 01-07, 2017

Heart Touching

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LITTLE CONTRIBUTION

A LITTLE GIRL SHOWS THE WAY

A seventh grader donates her piggybank cash to build two toilets, setting a rare and heart warming example acceptable. Apparently, in India caste system is a pungent reality. It is quite infuriating to know that few castes exist just to be exploited by the upper caste. Human trafficking is a global issue but infelicitously in India it is a double whammy as the caste equation plays a major role.

The estimates show that most of the victims are women of lower caste. It is pivotal to extricate this menace right from its genesis. There should be substantial efforts for rehabilitation of the victims. Significantly, School for Justice is making them apprised of not just law but judiciary too.

SUCCESSFUL MOVE Probably, it will be too early to determine the success of this institution as it came in existence recently. However, to connote this initiative a success would not be a mere exaggeration as it is working in such social aspect that has been a simmering issue nationally and internationally. To step into the corridor of law as a victim and a lawyer is indeed commendable. It is a matter of dismay that the evils of Human trafficking, rape, prostitution is all against women. Our society and legal system somehow increases the courage of the criminals.

SOCIETY NEEDS TO BE TAUGHT Our country is going through transition leading to new dimensions of life with changing scenario and changing needs of people. This transition is also altering the forms of crime too. The atrocious crime of human trafficking starts from farflunged tribal regions and reaches to the metropolitan cities in its most venomous form. It is quite difficult to find a panacea however there are certain ways that could extricate this evil from our society. The need of the hour is to strengthen our laws and increase awareness in society. How can the right to live with dignity are destroyed by few powerful people? To cap it all School for Justice is training women to obliterate the illicit trade making them self-sufficient and enthusing courage and determination in them.

Quick Glance

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HILDREN of her age would scrimp and save their pocket money to buy storybooks, videogames or even a smart phone. But, 11-year-old Mondrita Chatterjee waits for her piggybank to swell so that she can build toilets for the poor and the needy, especially underprivileged children.

The Class VII student of Hill Top School, Jamshedpur, who had earned a pat from none other than the Chief Minister Raghubar Das for donating her savings for construction of toilets in a fringe village last year, has done it again. This time, her piggybank cash of Rs 19,000 has gifted two toilets to Tatanagar Satyayatan Mandir, an ashramcum-activity centre in Haludbani, Parsudih, for poor children. “I had accompanied my father for a heart check-up camp at the ashram, 10 km from the city, last December. I saw the place hosted extra-curricular activities such as yoga, dance and classical and instrumental music for children from nearby areas, but had no washroom. I knew what I had to do,” said Mondrita, a resident of Telco and daughter of Amitav Chatterjee who is director-cumcluster head of Meditrina Hospital in Adityapur. The seventh grader shared her idea with her parents who

A little girl breaks her piggybank to fund construction of two toilets She is supported by her family, friends and the Chief Minister She says that she was inspired by PM Modi’s Swachh Bharat dream

were as encouraging as ever. “They contributed to my piggybank as did relatives and acquaintances. My savings leaped to Rs 19,000 in April (this year),” Mondrita said.

With little help from Tata Technologies, which pitched in with Rs 9,000, her dream came true.

Construction work began earlier this month and the toilets, separate for boys and girls, were inaugurated on the Haludbani campus on Monday.

Rajesh Roy, a senior member of the ashram, said the toilets were decently large at 15 sq ft and were the best gift the 350-odd children at the centre - 60 per cent of them girls - could hope for.“Our students, particularly girls, are very happy.

Many of them skipped classes in the

absence of toilets. Now, they will not miss their dance and music lessons,” Roy said. Asked what inspired her to be such a hero, Mondrita said she had heard a speech on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Swachh Bharat dream in 2014 and had read in newspapers how schoolgirls were forced to quit studies owing to lack of toilets. “Something inside me told me I should help,” she recalled.

In December 2016, the chief minister conferred on her the title of Sanitation Champion at a statelevel conference for spending Rs 24,000 from her piggybank to construct toilets at Kendradih village in Chhota Govindpur, 7km from her residence in Telco. After her recent success, Mondrita is sure to become a role model for leaders and bureaucrats in a State that is still trailing in toilet coverage. Rural records of the Union Government’s Swachh Bharat Mission put the toilet coverage percentage in Jharkhand at a moderate 53.93.

TOILET TRANSGENDER

TRANSGENDERS TO GET FREEDOM TO CHOOSE TOILETS Central government has advised states to allow transgenders to use public toilets of their choice & do away discrimination and harassment faced by them PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

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HE recent Central Government guidelines on gender issues in sanitation, circulated to all state governments, contain a clause stipulating that members of the ‘third-gender’ should be allowed to use the facility of their

choice (men or women) in community or public toilets.

“SBM-G (Swachh Bharat MissionGramin) should make a conscious effort that they are recognised as equal citizens and users of toilets...where suitable, their support can be enlisted in engaging communities, and their efforts duly recognised and honoured

to break any stigma around them, and to enable them to use facilities without any embarrassment,” states the inclusivity clause in the guidelines.

Sarfaraz Khan, joint commissioner of health and solid waste management (SWM), BBMP, said his department would soon start working towards the implementing the guidelines.

08 Heritage

MAY 01-07, 2017

WORLD HERITAGE DAY

HERITAGE IS A WAY OF LIFE!

India’s heritage is not confined to a few monuments and natural signposts alone but it is also mirrored by society and its mores

ARUN TIWARI

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HE earthquake in Nepal gravely imperiled the royal palace in Kathmandu, the deluge in Uttarakhand badly affected Kedarnath, and the recent earthquake in the North East came as a warning of a catastrophe. Infelicitously, the political catastrophes every so often smeared our legacy of magnanimity and brotherhood. The Indo-Pak relations have harmed the legendary connotation that described Kashmir as heaven on earth. The consequence is manifest that they should be

The idea to celebrate World Yoga Day proposed by

India is a scintilla of hope that government seems to be interested in preserving our cultural heritage apprehensive about their legacies existence. Especially, the technical measures of its protection and conservation. However scientists have estimated that India will not remain untouched by natural disasters.

Interestingly, history is our legacy from the past what we live with

today and what we pass on to future generations. Our Cultural and Natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration. The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has undertaken the task to encourage the identification, protection and

Quick Glance There are 981 world heritage sites the world over Italy tops the list of world heritage spots and India is at seventh position 24 monuments and six natural sites put the country on heritage map

preservation of cultural and natural heritage.The idea behind this initiative of UNESCO is a conference on International Council ECOMOS in Tunisia. On 18th of April 1982, the idea of World Heritage Day was also

MAY 01-07, 2017

proposed that ultimately fulfilled the purpose. In the year 1983, UNESCO in its 22ndconvention nodded for its approval. As of now a total of 981 sites have been given the status of World Heritage. Around 44 world heritage sites are in danger. Significantly, Italy is on the top in the list of World Heritage. India is on the seventh place with 30 sites. Whereas, Germany has the crown of better maintenance, it is pivotal to note here that today, India has six natural sites and 24 cultural heritages sites which are included in the list of world heritage site. Ajanta caves and Agra fort came in the list quite early in the year 1983.

The recent places included in the list of World Heritage sites are Ranthambore nestling atop the mountains of Rajasthan, Amber, Jaisalmer and Gagron Fort. Taj Mahal, Lal Quila and Jantar Mantar,Qutub Minar, Humayun’s Tomb, Fatehpur Sikri, Ajanta Ellora Caves, Bhimbetka Rock Shelters, Temples of Khajuraho, Mahabalipuram, Sun temple of Konark, Chola Temple, Hampi in Karnataka, Churches of Goa, Stupas of Sanchi, Mahabodhi Temple at Bodhgaya, are prominent cultural places.

(Kanchipuram Vanya Udhan), Nanda Devi, and Valley of

Our cultural and natural heritage are both

irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration study subjects of their interests Flowers situated amidst magnificent mountains, and Keoladeo National Park are also included in the list.

Neelgiri in Tamilnadu and ShimlaKalka rail have the pride of being among world heritage. Mumbai had once famous Victoria Terminal railway station. Now it is known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Railway terminal.

The golden temple of Amritsar, Leh-Ladakh and Sarnath Buddhist temples, Western Bengal’s Bishnupur, Rani kivav (Queen’s step well) in Patan, Golkonda of Hyderabad, Mumbai’s Churchgate, Tomb of Sher Shah Suri in Sasaram, Kangra Valley Railway along with several silk producing regions are among 33 major Indian heritage sites that are in the waiting list. The list will be extended to 34 if Baltit Fort in Pakistan dominated Kashmir Gilgit-Balitastan is also included. UNESCO has made a separate category for heritage cities and has an organisation for this with

headquarters in Canada. No less than 233 countries are members of this organisation. Yet, not even a single city of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh finds a place in it.

Perhaps, heritage is more about the legacy of our forefathers their culture, magnanimity, morality, creativity and wisdom. Indian cultural heritage signifies ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’, and ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbhakam’, ‘Mother Nature’ Guru- pita, Gau, Ganga, Geeta, Gayatri are considered even today as crux of Hindu Culture and traditions. Here, preserving the legacy of Guru Granth Sahib, Bible, and Quran is not just about preserving the book. Certainly, it is more about passing on their wisdom to the next generation. The stress and tensions in our day to day lives and families manifest that we have forgotten some of our core values.

The selfishness, callousness and disrespect in relationships are making

Heritage

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us atrocious towards our natural resources that will ultimately lead to our own destruction. The consequence will jeopardise our lives. Does government seems to be interested in passing on our culture of meditation, spirituality, Vedas, Ayurveda? Indeed, the idea to celebrate World Yoga Day proposed by India is a scintilla of hope that government seems to be interested in preserving our cultural heritage. Are we determined to protect Gau Ganga and take pride of being Indian? It is worth pondering over that the nations which cannot protect their cultural heritage lose their identity and esteem gradually. We certainly need to remember that by dint of gurukul, folk art, cultural institutions and Lok katha, India can retain its cultural heritage for decades. Moreover, the culture of touching the feet of parents, gram-guru and listening to lullabies in our grandmother’s lap is something we need to retain for the sake of our identity. Interestingly, the initiatives of President, Prime Minister and several ministers to make Hindi language indispensable is certainly a step ahead in this direction. Suffice is to say that we need to preserve our Ganga- Jamuni culture and protect it from disappearing.

10 Community Farming

MAY 01-07, 2017

COMMUNITY FARMING

THE CHANGE-AGENTS

A group of women tillers become landowners through micro-financing and cooperative farming Quick Glance Farm labour women took to saving Rs 20-30 a day in a bank account They lent Rs 20,000 to a needy farmer and tilled his land for two years They earned Rs 40,000 per annum from this and plan to buy more land

SRAWAN SHUKLA / LUCKNOW

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IRED of working in others’ field for survival, some women in Simaria village of Behraich district have come out with an innovative method to do community farming. Through this they not only have substantially increased their income and savings to marry off their daughters but have become owner of the land they use to till so far for others. They have also thrown gauntlet at their male counterparts to emulate them.

The idea for community farming was floated by Nazma (38) of Simaria village in Behraich district about 175 Kms from Lucknow. She was one among about 20 women of the same village who used to work in fields of others to earn a paltry Rs 100 to 120 a day. “One day I asked other women if we could spare and save Rs 20 to 30 a day and deposit it in the bank, within two to three years we will have sufficient money to have our own land to cultivate,” claims Nazma.

First other women did not agree as Rs 20-30 mean a lot to them for running their families. But Nazma kept hankering them. About a dozen women finally agreed. They would save Rs 20 per women and deposit the collection weekly in a jointly operated bank account. Soon remaining women also joined in and now they have a group of 20 women.

This unique experiment started in 2010 was named “Chameli Swayam Sahayata Group”. The group is without caste, creed and religious boundaries.

The challenge was accepted. The next morning saw them levelling the uneven field. They used organic fertiliser while turning the soil upside down

It has Muslim, Dalit, Backward and a few upper castes women as its members. In less than a year, they had over Rs 40,000 in their savings bank account.

As luck would have it. A farmer in the village urgently required Rs 20,000. He went to the bank and made several rounds to money-lenders for loan but they turned down his request. The reason was the land he wanted mortgage was partially barren and uneven and was not good for farming purposes.

“When we came to know about this, we first visited his land to check its condition and the soil. Since we all had good experience in farming by now, within minutes we got to know that the land can be made cultivable with little extra cost and labour.

Despite resistance from our husbands we decided to loan the farmer Rs 20,000 if he was ready to mortgage his land to the group for farming,” recalls Rajkumari (50).

The farmer happily agreed to their proposal. “We withdrew Rs 20,000 from our account and entered into an agreement with the famer that his land would be mortgaged with the group till he paid off the loaned amount with little interest,” says Rajkumari.

This made a new beginning for the Chameli Self-Help Group in 2014.

With land in their hands, the time and the opportunity had come their way to show that they can do farming better than their male counterparts.

Initially, village elders and farmers would laugh at them for entering into a loss-making deal. But the Chameli group members were confident about their mettle.

“The challenge was tough since farming was bit difficult and risky on the acquired land which was partially barren and uneven. Moreover, irrigating the land from a distant reservoir and other water sources was also a major problem,” points Nazariya, another member of the Chameli Group.

But the gang of 20 women had no time to dither. The challenge was accepted. The next morning saw all of them leveling the uneven field. Within ten days the land was leveled. They used organic fertilizer thrice while turning soil upside down. Water was bought from another farmer whose land was located next to him. The land was irrigated and made fertile for sowing the first crop.

“For the last two years we are having good yield from the same land which was described as useless by its

owner and other farmers. We are not earning good profit after selling part of the crop but are saving Rs 30,000 to 40,00 for the past two years to swell our saving bank account,” claims Sandhya (30), the youngest member of the Chameli Self-Help group.

“Our children now go to good schools and husbands also come and help in our field whenever they out of daily-wage jobs” claims Nazma.

Rahul Yadav, a local journalist, who visited the village to record their success story, said that he is amazed at their will power. “I had never ever thought that their innovation would someday become talk of the village and earn them so much respect that this group will be the most sought after whenever any farmer requires labourers in their fields. Now they own land and are planning to buy a piece of land once the farmer pays off their loans and takes back the mortgaged land,” claims Rahul.

Another journalist Azeem Mirza claims that he has apprised the Agriculture department officials and the District Magistrate about the community farming revolution started by the Chameli Self-help Group for replicating the same in other villages for women empowerment and improving their social and economic conditions.

“It is certainly a unique experiment and if such self-help groups are started in each Uttar Pradesh village, where agriculture is the main source of livelihood, there is no reason that it will not only a give a boost to agriculture sector but also socially and economically empower women in rural areas. The state government should come forward and help and reward these groups,” claims Dr Jitendra Chaturvedi of DEHAT (Development Association for Human Advacncement).

MAY 01-07, 2017

De-addiction

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DELHI POLICE DE-ADDICTION DRIVE

POLICE LAUNCHES DE-ADDICTION CENTRE In an innovative scheme Delhi police links street child de-addiction with Prime Minister’s Skill Development Progamme

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ELHI Police has taken an innovative step by linking the child drug addicts’ problem with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Skill Development Scheme. This campaign was started by the Delhi Police from--child rehabilitation centre Mukherjee Nagar. The aim is to equip the children of Child Rehabilitation Centre with such skills so that they are never go back to antisocial activities. They should lead a better life. To ensure that the training does not become boring and forced, the children of the rehabilitation centre are helped to study subjects of their interests. A child can be trained in computer, a carpentry, drawing or pottery. Another child gets training in bakery or in making jams and pickles etc.

This initiative started on the advice of Juvenile Justice Board six months long at the end of which the children will be given a certificate and would be brought in the mainstream of the society. The program has been titled ‘Make your future through your hands’.Number of drug addicts in Delhi is much higher as compared to other states. Apart from government hospitals many other hospitals have been started specifically for this.

Unfortunately, many children are not able to give up addiction. In

the rehabilitation centre run by the police, only those children are kept, who have been involved in some criminal activity.

The police feels that after being training in various skills, the children will remain away from social evils and addiction too would go down in them as desire to work rises.

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) recently presented a report on child drug addicts. It concluded that the government will have to take responsibility if street children have to be provided some relief.

The study covered about 70,000 street children afflicted with addictions like tobacco, paan, gutka, bidi cigarettes, liquor and heroine. At an age when they should be carrying a school bag, they were spending nights on roads and it is from here that took up these habits. Most of these children came far flung areas and were living in Delhi because of their addiction.

Most of these children were found at the railway station and bus terminals, loitering aimlessly, begging or picking rags. Such

Quick Glance Over 70,000 street children in Delhi found hooked to tobacco and drugs Delhi Police has set up a de-addiction centre for street children They would be imparted skill training to help them become self-reliant

children are being treated free of cost at present in five hospitals run by the Delhi Government. There are many private hospitals and clinics which have convinced parents to de-addict their wards within a year.

An officer in Delhi’s Drug Control Bureau said that the number of deaddiction centres are insufficient compared to the rate at which drug addiction is rising among children in Delhi. If these children are to be incorporated in the national mainstream then it is necessary to raise awareness at government and non-government levels regarding their speedy treatment.

The program has been started from the child rehabilitation centre in Mukherjee Nagar. The police has also linked this plan to

The children of the rehabilitation centre are helped to study subjects of their interests

the prime minister’s skill enhancement scheme.

Police officers believe that the children, who are trained under this scheme, would be drawn towards their skills and will be therefore compelled to give up their habit and addiction.

This is only the beginning. After the review of the initial face the scheme will be introduced on a wider scale in other areas of Delhi. While introducing the scheme in the Child Reform Home, the special Commissioner of Delhi Police Sanjay Singh said that the skills imparted to them at the Centre, would enable them to make a place for themselves in mainstream society not only at social level but also at the economic scale. The training will help them meet the expenses of their own needs and that of their family.

They should be able to pass on the good influence to other children as well. The Mukherjee Nagar centre trains the children in the ambitious program launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15, 2014 in his Independence Day speech from Red Fort. The program will run in two shifts. He said that until it is not taken up as a mission, the message will not reach every member of the society. Maarg Compusoft Pvt Limited has been made a partner in the scheme at the national level.

The scheme includes short term training, prior learning, special projects, skills and employment fair, placement and continuous supervision. Products like bread and other bakery items will be marketed in and around the area where they are being made. After receiving training in repairing mobile, these children can start unit that will help them take an important step in the direction of self-reliance.

Following Delhi police’s initiative the JJ board too has decided to extend the work to other slum areas.

12 Good News

MAY 01-07, 2017

AWARD ENVIRONMENT

GREEN HEROES SELECTED FROM WESTERN INDIA TERI and US Consulate, Mumbai, come together to award 10 environmental filmmakers

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HE Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and the US Consulate General, Mumbai, came together recently to gather stories of unsung Green Heroes from India’s western region. The festival gathered young filmmakers, photographers, video editors, writers and activists who can tell powerful stories of the individuals or communities who have done commendable work in protecting the environment in their neighborhoods or beyond.

The Green Heroes Film workshops travelled to five cities - Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Indore and Goa - reaching out to 135 young storytellers. From media colleges, NGOs and independent professionals, everyone shared a common zeal to make a great film that tells a great story. The twoday workshops included sessions on

cinematography, storyboarding and editing.

The programme produced 22 short films on Green Heroes, out of which 10 films have been shortlisted. These were Man for Wild by Amrut Singh, E-Waste Warrior by Kirti Lakhanpal, Lamkani Village by Dr Dhananjay Newadkar, Bavish by B a y l o n Gomes, Harit Nayak by Parag Rangnekar, Green Soil by Sunil and Priya Bhide, Paanch Pattiyon ka Mantra by Samaj Pragati Sahayog, Nature’s Saviors by Police Radio Training School, Bhagiratha Prayatna

by Pratibha Syntex Ltd and The Birdman of Chorao by Uday Mandrekar. Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan, who was present at the Green Heroes Film Festival expressed his concern over degradation of our environment and said that having more Green Heroes could ensure a bright future. “The greatest joy after watching these wonderful films is, that

If we have more Green Heroes like we saw today, the future is going to be bright, said film actor Abhishek Bachchan at the function

Snapshots Unsung environmental activists awarded by TERI and US Consulate in Mumbai Green Heroes Workshop travelled to five cities reaching out to 135 young storytellers Out of 22 films on Green Heroes, 10 were shortlisted for the award

if we have more such people making these films, if we have more Green Heroes like we saw today, the future is going to be bright,” Abhishek said.

Detailing his contribution to the organization, Abhishek said, “Me and my family have worked with TERI for several years. They do great work by not just spreading the word but also encouraging the youth.”

Expressing his concern for the environment and appreciation for the filmmakers, the “Guru” actor said: “A big problem towards the environment is everybody looks at themselves as an individual. And an individual in this vast sea of humanity, we are insignificant. But after seeing these 10 films you realize how significant that

even 1 per cent is.”

“I congratulate each and every person who has put his dedication behind this wonderful cause. Today you have proved to many people like me and those who watch this film that every drop, when comes together, makes an ocean.”

“I offer whatever assistance and support I can give in a limited capacity.

But after seeing these inspirational movies that you all have made today, I feel our future is very bright if we just carry on,” he added.”It’s my pleasure as an actor, as a producer and as a citizen of this wonderful earth that we inhabit, to know that I share and breathe the same air as some of you great people. I want media and people like you to encourage more people to make a difference. As we have seen today that even a small 3-minute film can change your life. I think we should spread that word and we should do whatever we can because the future does matter and the earth does matter,” the actor said.

Some other well-known who attended the event were veteran director Shyam Benegal, writer, journalist and news presenter Ravish Kumar, Pankaj Saxena and Co-Founder and Executive Director of Wizcraft International Sabbas Joseph.

MAY 01-07, 2017

Good News

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SHRAMDAAN WATER CONSERVATION

LOVE’S LABOUR NOT LOST

Newly-wed couple do shramdaan, or voluntary service to propagate the message of water conservation

Quick Glance The corporation is going to focus on the service sector from now Tourism, hospitality and healthcare are some of the key areas But it will also focus to improve upon the low quality of training

INDIA ABROAD NEWS SERVICE

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VERY drop of water is significant because it contributes in making of rivers and mighty oceans. Similarly, each individual, if s/he contributes the share of work to the world, there will be few problems on earth that can’t be solved. Dattatreya Yele has shown the way in a unique fashion.

A newly married couple in

Anbhulevadi village in Maharashtra began their new life in a unique way.

On their wedding day, the couple in their wedding attire, became paragon for fellow villagers. Their novel way of contributing for a cause was ‘Shramdaan’ to create a water body in parched areas of Western Maharashtra. Certainly, this proved to be a lesson for those who are not aware of day-to-day issues of the village or have been ignoring the problems deliberately.

Anbhulevadi village comes under Mand tehsil in Satara district. The village is inhabited by 310 houses with a population of 1,500. In this village the entire population is dependent on farming and is always in the throes of a water crisis.

Dattatreya Yele of this village got married on April 20 to Manisha Kisve of Laxmi Nagar. Interestingly, the slogan of Pani Bachao (Save

SOLAR POWR DUBAI

SUN TO POWER GAS STATION IN DUBAI

It is expected to massively reduce in carbon generation in future

INDIA ABROAD NEWS SERVICE

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UBAI has become the cynosure of all eyes in the middle east by a creative solution to pollution by harnessing the power of the sun in a unique way.

A government oil company in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has opened the country’s first solarpowered gas station in Dubai. The Dubai-owned Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) said on Wednesday that the service station on the city’s main Sheikh Zayed Road thoroughfare

is covered with solar panels that can generate up to 120 kilowatt hours.The company said that is about 30 per cent more energy than the station needs, so the excess power is directed back into the city’s electricity grid.“ENOC has always been a major enabler in the UAE energy sector and made significant contributions to the Emirate’s development drive,” said Saif Humaid Al Falasi, ENOC Group CEO. “The new development fits within the pioneering initiatives launched by ENOC nationwide over the past period in alignment with the government plans to make the emirate the smartest and the most sustainable in the world,” he added.

The service station is planned to reduce CO2 emissions by 195 million metric tonnes annually, and will wield a number of energy consumption reduction techniques.

Water) was mentioned even on the invitation card.

Manisha and Dattatreya set an example for others to emulate with their unique way of spreading awareness in this small village. It was a magnificent and unforgettable scenario when both of them contributed their labor remarkably by picking up a spade. They symbolically spread the message that it is pivotal to save water. They showed the importance of water by spreading the message that not even a drop of water should go waste.

They also indicated that we need not depend on the administration for the work that we can do ourselves.

The entire region is waiting for monsoon but before that, people want to plough the drought affected fields. So that there will be no obstruction for the water to flow smoothly.

The married couple’s ‘shramdaan’ led to zest in the entire village. Many people also contributed in their own ways. Manisha and Dattatreya’s unique effort has become a laudable step for others.

POLLUTION LAKE SAVING

SAVING THE BENGALURU LAKE

Thirty polluting units around Bengaluru Lake will be shut down INDIA ABROAD NEWS SERVICE

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ENGALURU was once known for its unique environment and cleanliness. But now the city’s pride, Bellandur Lake has becoms so polluted that froth from it jumps over to the flyover crossing it.

The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has ordered closure of 30 polluting industries around the Bellandur Lake in the city’s

south-east suburb for its restoration.

“Of the 30 units, six are around the lake and 24 in its catchment area, which have been operating without valid permits,” Board Chairman Lakshman told reporters here.

Some of the industries are engaged in printing, dying and servicing of automobiles.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on April 19 ordered the closure of all the 500 industries around the lake to clean it up of effluents, untreated sewer water and waste flowing into it from them and hundreds of houses and apartments in the vicinity. The tribunal bench, headed by Chairman Justice Swatanter Kumar, also banned dumping of municipal solid waste around the lake, and directed the civic authorities to charge a levy Rs 5 lakh from the offenders.

14 Water Conservation

MAY 01-07, 2017

SAVING WATER

A CARTOONIST’S WATER MISSION

Award winning author and cartoonist Abid Surti has been on a mission to save every drop of water in his neighbourhood in Mumbai Quick Glance Abid Surti had seen his mother struggle to fetch water from public taps He stumbled upon in water conservation spotting a leaking tap at a friend’s place In a year he has fixed 414 taps free of cost saving 414000 litres water

“If one drop of water is

wasted every second, 1,000 liters goes down the drain every month. As image of 1,000 bottles of water flashes before my eyes, I can’t ignore it “ INDIRA SEAL

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BID SURTI is a National Awardwinning author, artist, cartoonist and playwright, best known for his cartoon strip ‘Dhabboo Ji’. But when asked about his biggest achievement in life he believes it is his non-governmental organisation — Drop Dead — which has saved billions of litres of water by fixing thousands of leaking taps.

This Sunday will be no different for the 77-year-old as he fixes leaking taps for free, in the Mira Road suburb where he lives, in Mumbai, India. Drop Dead, has just one employee, one volunteer and one inspiration — him. “Lots of water saved. Hundreds of people are made aware of the need to save water. And for all the hard work, we are sometimes offered free lunch,” he says. Surti started Drop Dead Foundation in 2007 after a leaking tap at a friend’s house bothered him so much that it became his cause.

“We are originally from Gujarat. During partition in 1947, everybody said that we have to leave for Pakistan, since we are Muslims. Initially we decided to leave, but after reaching Bombay, my father decided that whatever may come we will stay back in India, even if we had to die. My childhood was spent mostly in Bombay’s slums and on

pavements. To get a bucket full of water from the common tap, my mother had to stand in the queue early in the morning and often she had to fight for her share. This childhood memory kept on haunting me whenever I saw a leaking tap or bursting pipeline,” recalled Surti.

Once he went to a friend’s house and saw a leaking tap. When asked, his friend said that it is very difficult to get plumbers to do such a small job. After few months when he went back, the tap was still leaking, That made me think about taking this task. “I had read an article that if one drop of water is wasted every second, 1,000 liters goes down the drain every month. An image of 1,000 bottles of water flashed before my eyes, I couldn’t ignore it. Hence, the journey started,” he said.

It all started in 2007, coincidentally the international year of water. Every Sunday, the plumber, a volunteer, and Surti approach the secretary of a society. They put up posters on the ground floor or near the lift, with the tagline “Save Every Drop or Drop Dead”.

“Generally everybody agrees, since everyone understands the problem, but they consider it too minor or too expensive to take immediate attention. The words “Drop Dead” have a great impact on the tenants,” said Surti.

On Saturdays, they send pamphlets that explain what Drop Dead is to every home, so when he arrives on Sunday morning, he generally gets a warm welcome from the members of the housing society. “We cover a 6 story building in about 3 hours. We spend only 10 to 15 minutes travelling by car to reach a targeted building, but the rest of the time, we go house to house repairing leaky taps,” said Surti sitting at his home in Mumbai. Initially, the project was funded from his prize money of Rs 100,000 he received from the Hindi Sahitya Sansthan Award from the Uttar Pradesh government to kick off his mission. Later the 50, 000 rupees he received for the Gujarat Gaurav Award, was spent on this.

“Every Sunday, we spend around Rs. 600 on fixing taps. Mostly it’s the washer which is faulty, which we replace at our cost, which costs a mere 50 paisa if bought in wholesale.

If there are any other major replacements, we generally asked the owner of the house to get us spare parts and we do the job for free,” informed Surti. The plumber’s charges and the commute are the real cost of the social service. To raise money and to take this initiative to other places, he prints T-shirts with Drop Dead logos and sets up stalls at exhibitions. “I spend Rs 100 to get a T-shirt made. I ask the buyers to pay me anything

above Rs 100. Some pay Rs 110, some Rs 1,000! When you honestly set out to do good for others, the whole universe is there to back you. Not only that, God becomes your fund raiser. When my finances are about to dwindle, Allah pokes the right person and I receive a cheque without asking. This year, he asked Wipro which gave the Sparrow Award worth Rs.50,000 to Drop Dead,” he said.

Some well-wishers have helped them. An owner of a press printed pamphlets for free.

“I asked him to not be foolish. But the press proprietor was adamant. And of course, contributions from anyone with no strings attached are always welcome.”

In the first year alone, from February 2007 to 2008, they visited 1,666 houses on Mira Road, fixed 414 leaking taps free of charge, and saved about 4,14,000 liters of water. The response to Drop Dead has been unbelievable.

It’s picking up fast like jungle fire, not only in India but all over the globe. A television channel from Berlin gave a 10 minutes slot to Drop Dead, airing it in European countries.

“My popularity as an artist is our real strength. I want to remind people, that how busy or important you may be in life, it is equally important to pay attention to small things in our day-to-day lives which will ensure our tomorrow,” said Surti.

“I am sacrificing my Sunday mornings for this cause. It’s so simple, so easy for anyone to do it. And that is what I want to convey to all, especially to senior citizens: come out of the retirement cocoon, spend a couple of hours, just do it. If I can, you can,” he said.

On the immediate to do list of Surti is to hire an office space and more staff and a twowheeler for the plumber to respond to emergency leaks. But the major challenge is to spread the movement to other parts of the country, through local volunteers. He has already started motivating children with great success. The Cosmopolitan School of Mira Road and its staff members are committed to conserve water. Its 1000 plus students are considered by Surti considerers as his angels for carrying forward the message to save water by undertaking campaigns and putting up Drop Dead posters in their buildings.

MAY 01-07, 2017

ASSAM SUMMIT

GREEN GOLD BAMBOO SUMMIT

It is a major initiative towards achieving the target of harnessing the huge potential of the bamboo industry INDIA ABROAD NEWS SERVICE

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n a major initiative towards achieving the target of harnessing the huge potential of the bamboo industry in Assam, the Sarbananda Sonowal-led Assam government is organizing the first-ever Green Gold Bamboo Summit in Guwahati from April 27.

The summit, to be held under the aegis of Assam Industrial Development Corporation, saw participation of international and national level industry leaders, policy makers and stakeholders, in addition to local entrepreneurs and artisans.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Industry Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary will delineate the state government’s plans vis-à-vis the bamboo industry during the Summit.

“North East India in general and Assam in particular has immense

untapped potential in the bamboo sector. Bamboo is something that is intricately linked to our social and cultural practices, but its global business potential is immense in the current context and we need to tap it.

This summit, with participation from leaders from the bamboo technology sector, will be our government’s first step towards realizing this potential.

This will also be an important aspect

GUWAHATI TOURISM

DEVELOPING BATADRAVA THAN AS A TOURIST SPOT

An island chain had once stood up to 1,000 metres above the sea has over the years done underwater RAJ KASHYAP

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SSAM Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has stressed on developing Batadrava, the birth place of revered saint Srimanta Sankardev, as an ideal place of religious and cultural tourism and he asked the office bearers of Batadrava Than (monastry) to earmark the boundary of the Than and construct boundary walls.

Chairing a meeting of the office bearers of the committee of Batadrava Than in the conference room of the chief minister in Janata Bhawan, chief minister Sonowal said that the birth place of the saint will be developed and placed at the national and international tourist circuit. He also asked the committee to prepare a

blueprint and get it approved by an architect of international repute.

Referring to the Golden Temple of Amritsar, chief minister Sonowal said that the architectural beauty has made Golden Temple an attractive tourist destination. Similarly, a well thoughtout design and architecture is the need of the hour to make Batadrava

of the Make in Assam thrust of our government,” says the Chief Minister.

Industry Minister Patowary, adds, “The summit will bring on one platform top technologists and industry leaders from the sector.

The idea is to create linkages between them and our own bamboo cultivators and local industrialists so that we can leverage that to bring innovative bamboo product industries to Assam in the near future.”

No n - gover n m en t a l organization Care Luit in association with GreenGoldBamboo.com is the event execution partner of the summit, which will be a platform that will bring together relevant stakeholders to deliberate & discuss new ideas, new opportunities, new collaborations to enable Assam’s Bamboo Industry take the big leap.

“The event will showcase Bamboo as the ultimate business opportunity bringing all relevant influencers under one umbrella to draw the Bamboo dividend.As an organisation, our objective is to reach out to all sections of the society for betterment of lives.

Bamboo is a very important sector of

Quick Glance Batadrava is the birth place of revered saint Srimanta Sankardev Assam Government plans to develop it on a grand scale CM has asked for plans of trs new design and architecture

Than a must visit tourist destination.

Government will provide funds for the same as the State government will get in touch with the Cultural Affairs Ministry of the Central Government. He also said that funds will never be any dearth for developing Batadrava Than as an important tourist destination.

Sonowal also directed the Cultural Affairs Department and Nagaon District Administration to initiate arrangements for celebrating the birth anniversary of Late Gopinath Bordoloi at Gopinath Bordoloi Memorial Museum at Raha. He also said that adequate steps will also be taken to modernise the museum. He also asked the PWD (R) to broaden the road that leads to Batadrava and said that the road will be converted into national high way.

State News

15

Quick Glance Bamboo is freelly growing plan in most North Eastern states like Assam It is a major part of Assam’s economy hence called Green Gold Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the summit

our state, and we hope initiatives like this will help drive socio economic development,” says Kishor Jayanta Madhab, managing trustee of Care Luit.India has the second largest reserves of bamboo in the world, and much of this is in Northeastern India.

Leveraging this can spur gainful employment and income generation in Assam and the rest of the region, where bamboo is an intrinsic part of the local culture.

“The Summit is designed to witness Assam government leadership articulate its policy intent while industry representatives get to share their experience and gain from the emerging conversation. It will bring live innovative and interactive formats to make Bamboo top of the mind in terms of its use, relevance and influence,” says Raktim Das, founder of GreenGoldBamboo.com, India’s 1st Bamboo promotion Digital Media platform.

STATE NEWS IN BRIEF ASSAM

WOMEN AND CHILD NUTRITION

Maneka Gandhi meets Assam CM to discuss child nutrition

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nion Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi met Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to discuss women and child nutrition and animal protection issues.

Vowing to bring country’s nutrition scheme on track in Assam the Union Cabinet Minister and the Chief Minister discussed modalities to strengthen nutritional mechanism of women and children and provide nutritional food sachets in schools and other centres where women and children come and assemble.

16

MAY 01-07, 2017

Both optimists and “ pessimists contribute to

society. The optimist invents the aeroplane, the pessimist the parachute” George Bernard Shaw

SHARAD GUPTA A journalist with 30 years experience of working with various publications

VIEWPOINT

A GOOD BEGINNING IS HALF THE JOB DONE Through farm waiver and procurement of 80 lakh tonnes of wheat at MSP, UP Govt is taken steps in the right direction

GOOD TIMES

ON THE ANVIL

Indian Railways to introduce Ticket-on-demand by 2020

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OOD times for railway passengers are expected to come in 2020 when Indian Railway is expected to kick in ticket-on-demand service.

Gone will be days of long waiting lists and reservation against cancellation (RAC).

This would be possible because Dedicated Freight Corridor would be completed by then. Most goods train would shift to DFC, making way for introduction of new passenger trains. With approximately 5 per cent of Indian population travelling by railways at any given time, getting a confirmed reservation on a train had become a herculean task.

One doesn’t know yet whether recently introduced dynamic pricing will be persisted with or not though the system can come under heavy criticism of late.

In dynamic pricing, a ticket purchased long before scheduled departure will be much cheaper than the one purchased for the same destination, few hours before departure. The system has been running successfully in British and European Railways. But, in India it was not found to be a successful model since pricing often became so steep as to be close to the air fare. Train seats and berths were lying empty as people started preferring air travel. Indian Railway obviously incurred huge losses.

Editor-in-Chief

KUMAR DILIP Edited, Printed and Published by: Monika Jain on behalf of Sulabh Sanitation Mission Foundation, owned by Sulabh Sanitation Mission Foundation Printed at: The Indian Express Limited A - 8, Sector -7, NOIDA (UP) Published at: RZ - 83, Mahavir Enclave, Palam - Dabri Road, New Delhi - 110045 (India) Corporate Office: 819, Wave Silver Tower, Sector - 18, NOIDA (UP) Phone: +91-120-6500425 Email: editor@sulabhswachhbharat.com, ssbweekly@gmail.com

U

TTAR PRADESH Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath recently announced his decision to waive off outstanding loans of small and marginal farmers up to a maximum limit of Rs 1-lakh each. The decision would cost the state exchequer over Rs 36000 crore. Since Centre has refused to replenish the amount since such demand would start pouring in from other states as well, the UP Government has decided to float agri-bonds to meet the expenses.

Considering that more than two lakh farmers have committed suicide in the country in the past ten years, and almost 70 per cent of these suicides are related to mounting indebtedness, UP farm loan waiver is being considered a major decision - a big succour to hard pressed farming community.

At a time when farmers are increasingly sliding into a debt trap, the decision to waiveoff loans worth Rs 30,729-crore will definitely lessen the financial burden for 88.68 lakh small and marginal farmers. In addition, the state government will also write off Rs 5,630-crore of bank default, termed as Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) in banking parlance, belonging to 7 lakh farmers. These are the farmers whose assets would have been put up for auction in case the state government had not come to their rescue.

Adding both these categories of loan waivers, Rs 36,359-crore is the total amount that has been written-off. As per the government estimates, this will benefit 95.68 lakh of Uttar Pradesh’s 2.15 crore small and marginal farmers.

The political courage demonstrated to write-off such a huge amount, including loans taken from nationalized banks, has to be applauded.

More so at a time when policy makers are not keen to provide any loan waiver for the farming community. The State Bank of India chairperson Arundhati Bhattacharya has already lamented that farm loan waiver destroys ‘credit discipline’ making farmers habitual defaulters.

Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Phadanvis and Chief Minister of Punjab, Captain Amarinder Singh too have indicated contemplating a similar move. Governments of Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Odisha are under pressure to take a similar decision. A group of Tamil Nadu farmers staged a protracted agitation in Delhi.

So, there must be seriously wrong with the agriculture sector which is why farmers have been committing suicide not only in the parched parts but across the country including Punjab - considered o be the grain bowl of the country.

A number of studies have amply demonstrated that farmers’s average daily income in India is about Rs 100 or Rs 3000 per month. Just imagine! In this age of skyrocketing inflation, can somebody survive at this meagre amount. To worsen his agony is another fact that in most of the cases, farmers’ income from agriculture is less than the amount he gets from sale of his produce.

In simple words, agriculture is a loss making proposition for most of the farmers. That explains their decision to sell off their lands and either migrate to cities or turn a labourer in their own farms.

Considering the fact that almost 50 per cent of India’s population still sustains itself from agriculture, the crisis is of humongous proportions. And it needs to be addressed immediately and directly.

Loan waiver is an

instant pain-reliever.

But, for a sustained relief agri-produce needs to bought on mass scale on MSP

MAY 01-07, 2017

Narendra Modi

Government, fortunately, has been taking a number of steps to ease farmers’s agony Narendra Modi Government fortunately, has been taking a number of steps to ease farmers’s agony. First of them is to ensure that their income increases at least two folds in next couple of years. It has also brought in a crop insurance scheme meaning in case crop gets damaged due to vagaries of weather - whether due to hailstorm or a drought - the insurance company will compensate at least a part of the loss for which the crop had been insured.

It is a major step. Yet, more is likely to come. The direction has again been shown by the newly elected UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath. He announced to ensure procurement of 80 lakh tonnes of wheat through government agencies this year. This will make the farmers get a better price Minimum Support Price (MSP) announced by the government. Else, they have to sell their produce in local grain markets where wholesale traders buy the grain at much lower price than MSP and make a quick buck.

Last year, Food Corporation of India (FCI), APMCs, NABARD and other agencies could procure barely seven lakh tonnes wheat in U.P. Therefore, the target is steep and the chief minister will have to use entire resources at his command to meet the targets.

This is a trend setting decision. If UP Government succeeds in such huge procurement, farmers distress would be eased to a large extent. Besides, it would also pave the way for similar MSP for other crops as well whether its paddy, pulses or vegetables.

We have another example of pulses before us. The arhar Dal was being sold in retail market at way beyond Rs 200 per Kg last year. Reason was the disbalance of demand and supply ratio. Farmers had been growing major crops like wheat, paddy, gram, mustard and sugarcane. But, the last year’ crises prompted a large number of farmers to sow pulses. This year, in view of bumper production, prices have plummeted badly.

Though MSP of arhar dal is over Rs 50 per Kg, lack of full procurement from FCI and other government agencies is forcing farmers to visit local wholesale traders who are paying them less than Rs 30-35 per Kg. Therefore, loan waiver is an instant painreliever. But, for a sustained relief to farmers, government needs to set up an elaborate network of buying farmers’ produce at reasonable MSP. A beginning has been made. Let’s hope, final solution too won’t be far away.

Oped

17

LOVING THE LABOUR

ROBIN KESHAW

The author is a graduate in Computer Science from BITS, Pilani. He is presently helping to settle a migrant community, focusing on their education needs

Though a laggard in enacted labour-related laws, India is fast improving by passing several laws for welfare of workers like Maternal Benefit (Amendment) Act

UPFRONT

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N June 21st last year, Ramesh and Deepan, entered a tank inside Anna University campus in Chennai, to seal the tank with rubber. This was to ensure prevention of leakage of air. When they were brought out of the tank, three hours later, their bodies didn’t move.

Both of them had died, due to prolonged exposure to lethal chemicals – silicone and toluene. Their employer, Kavimeena Rubber Products, a sub-contractor hired by Anna University, hadn’t provided them with any kind of safety gears or supervision to work in such toxic environment.

If you find this incident tragic, what happened next will make you ponder on the definition of tragedy. India has plethora of occupational safety laws, but legally none could decide the compensation given to the deceased. Factories Act was rendered useless as the

incident happened outside the manufacturing premises. Building And Other Construction Workers (Regulation Of Employment And Conditions Of Service) Act, 1996, didn’t come to the rescue as it requires more than ten workers for the Act to apply and Kavimeena Rubber Products fall outside the purview.

India is a laggard when it comes to labour related laws.

The number of workers in India is second only to China, more than 90% of which work in

unorganised sector. These are the most vulnerable lot of the society, as despite working in hazardous environment, laws don’t guarantee their protection. As per an ILO report, this substantially hampers their productivity and they are not able to channelise their energy to the maximum. Laws and policies are just one side of the coin.

Due to poor implementation, even the existing laws and policies do not benefit the right stakeholders.

However, India has shown some progress in recent times. A clause of having a crèche in the working unit, as per Maternal Benefit (Amendment) Act, is one such provision, which shows the humane side of the labour laws in India. More such efforts are needed especially in the field of child labour. There would be a day, when the dignity of labour is considered the driving point of employment in India.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Man’s life and times was really good. The front-page account of Dr Bindeshwar Pathak’s services that led to the liberation of manual scavengers is not only inspiring but also sets an example worth following. I sincerely hope that you would continue to bring to us such heart warming accounts in your subsequent or future issues.

Ravi Kumar, New Delhi

AN EXAMPLE WORTH FOLLOWING I find your journal so different from other run of the mill publications that I often look forward for its new issues.

The last issue’s book review of Metro

ADMIRABLE COP I really admire the railway cop Rekha Mishra who has been saving children who run away from home for one reason or the other and land up on Mumbai’s different railway stations. Your story in the last issue of your journal about Mishra saving over 400 such children in a year’s time is an eye opener about what a motivated police person can really do for the sake of such unfortunate

children. This can serve as a good lesson for other policemen.

I sincerely hope that you would continue to highlight such inspiring stories.

Rekha Srivastava, Patna DUBAI GURUDWARA The story about the free food provided to about 600 people by a Gurudwara in Dubai is, indeed, worth taking note of. This is more so since not only in Dubai but also the world over the members of Sikh faith provide food and succour to needy and indigent. To feed someone hungry is the noblest act that any person can think of.

Though community kitchens run at Gurudwaras are common but highlighting this is important as this can boost feelings of kindness and compassion among others.

Om Prakash, Kanpur

Please mail your opinion to - ssbweekly@gmail.com or Whatsapp at 9868807712

18 Photo Feature

MAY 01-07, 2017

Nocturnal Markets

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There are many things magically unique about Kolkata. One of them is the night markets, each selling a specific item, mostly on wholesale basis

Photos: SIPRA DAS 1

1,2, 3,4. Bengalis and fish mania: Patipukur, north Kolkata 5, 6. College Street coconuts

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MAY 01-07, 2017

Photo Feature

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7, 8. Old clothes market near MG Road 9. Kole Market enlivens at night 10, 11. Fruitful business at Sealdah, pun intended 10

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20 Health

MAY 01-07, 2017

HEALTH NEWS IN BRIEF

CANCER GENE

GENES AND SECOND CANCER Faulty genes, not just treatment side effects are to be blamed for double whammy among child cancer survivors

TRANS FAT

ARTIFICIAL TRANS FATS BAN GOOD FOR HEART With policy change that brings restrictions on artificial trans fats in the US, heart attack and stroke incidence can drop

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AKING artificial trans fats off the menu reduces hospitalisations for heart attack and stroke, suggests a study that examined what happened after several areas in New York restricted the fats’ use. The findings portend larger scale public health benefits after a nationwide ban on artificial trans fats begins in the United States in 2018.

Hospital admission rates for heart attacks declined 7.8 percent more in New York counties that restricted trans fats than in those counties that had not, researchers report online April 12 in JAMA Cardiology.

Heart disease causes one in every four deaths in the United States. Coronary heart disease, the most common kind, kills more than 370,000 people each year.

Past research finds that eating foods containing artificial trans fats, also called trans-fatty acids, increases the risk of coronary heart disease.

At least three years after the artificial trans fats restrictions took effect, admission rates for heart attacks and strokes combined dropped an additional 6.2 percent among residents of restricted counties versus nonrestricted counties. That means for every 100,000 people, there were 43 fewer heart attacks and strokes.

INDIA ABROAD NEWS SERVICE

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second cancer later in life is common for childhood cancer survivors. And scientists now have a sense of the role genes play when this happens. A project that mined the genetic data of a group of survivors finds that 11.5 percent carry mutations that increase the risk of a subsequent cancer, reports Science News.

Five-year survival rates for kids with cancer have grown to more than 80 percent. But “there are longterm consequences for having been diagnosed and treated for cancer as a child,” notes Robison.

Some survivors develop a later, second cancer due to the radiation or chemotherapy that treated the first cancer.

The researchers examined 3,007 survivors of pediatric cancer who routinely undergo medical evaluation at St. Jude. About a third had leukemia as children. By age 45, 29 percent of this group had developed new tumors, often in the skin, breast or thyroid.

The team cataloged each survivor’s DNA, and looked closely at 156 genes known as cancer predisposition genes.

Quick Glance Mutations increase the risk of recurrence of cancer among survivors Some survivors develop cancer due to radiation or chemotherapy Researchers have identified genes predisposed towards cancer

Of the survivors, 11.5 percent carried a problematic mutation in one of the 156 genes. Some genes on the list convey a higher risk than others, so the team looked further at a subset of 60 genes in which only one mutated copy in each cell is enough to cause disease. These 60 genes also have high penetrance, meaning that a mutated copy is highly likely to lead to a cancer.

Nearly 6 percent of the survivors had a problematic mutation in one of these 60 genes.

The research team also separated the survivors based on whether or not they had received radiation therapy as children. Close to 17 percent of survivors not exposed to radiation therapy had a problematic mutation in the subset of 60 genes. These survivors had an increased risk for any second cancer. Those with both a mutation in one of the 60 genes and radiation in their treatment history had a higher risk for specific kinds of second cancers: breast, thyroid or sarcomas, tumors in connective tissues.

AUTISM DIAGNOSIS

EARLY SIGNS OF AUTISM Biomarkers could aid diagnosis and lead to strategies for treatment. This is a possibility that new thinking in the field of neurosciences indicates, scientists assert INDIA ABROAD NEWS SERVICE

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OON after systems biologist Juergen Hahn published a paper describing a way to predict whether a child has autism from a blood sample, the notes from parents began arriving. “I have a bunch of parents writing me now who want to test their kids,” says Hahn, of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y. “I can’t do that.”

Quick Glance Scientists can now predict autism among children from a blood sample The analysis assigns a score based on the level of metabolites in blood Differences in the brain like size and growth patterns too is a give away

Currently, pediatricians, child psychologists and therapists rely on behavioral observations and questionnaires, measures with limitations. Barring genetic tests for a handful of rare mutations, there are no blood draws, brain scans or other biological tests that can reveal whether a child has — or will get — autism.

After a newly devised mathematical analysis assigned a score based on the level of metabolites in the blood, samples from people with autism (blue) were clearly distinguishable from samples from people without autism (red).

Researchers have turned up differences in the brain between people with and without autism, including size and growth patterns, connections between areas and brain cell behavior. But the variability in

autism symptoms — and causes — has prompted scientists to look beyond the brain in the search for biomarkers.

Hahn and colleagues developed a statistical tool that examined the relationships between 24 of these molecules. The statistical tool correctly called 97.6 percent of the children with autism and 96.1 percent of the children without. Just two of 83 children on the autism spectrum were misclassified as being neurotypical, and three of 76 children without autism were misclassified as being autistic. Compared with other methods described in the scientific literature, “the numbers we got out were very, very good,” Hahn says.

Other issues need to be resolved however, for greater accuracy.

MAY 01-07, 2017

BREAST CANCER REMOVING STIGMA

BREAST CANCER AND PSYCHO-ONCOLOGY Zest for life, spirituality and removing stigma are some of the things that can greatly help breast cancer survivors, find experts SSB BUREAU

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HERE is nothing glamorous about breast cancer, not when one spots a lump or abnormal skin on or around the breast, and definitely not when one reads about the seemingly invincible Hollywood powerhouse Angelina Jolie undergoing double mastectomy.

But remarkably in some patients, breast cancer spurs positivity.

Through a series of studies, experts at Bengaluru’s National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) delved into the domain of psychooncology to throw light on the need to understand the impact of cancer on one’s perspective to life, self,

EPIDEMIC CONTROL

EMPATHY CAN CHECK EPIDEMICS In times of disease outbreaks showing empathy for those affected helps in keeping them off work and saving others SSB BUREAU

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little empathy can go a long way toward ending infectious disease outbreaks. This is what researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology say. They used a networked variation of game theory to study how individual behaviour during an outbreak of influenza -- or other illness -- affects the progress of the disease, including how

Quick Glance Empathy can go a long way in checking infectious disease outbreak Networked variation of game theory used to study individual behaviour Study pitted theinterests of

susceptibles against those of sick

rapidly the outbreak dies out.

The research study pitted the self-interests of susceptible individuals against those of infected persons, and found that only if sick persons took precautions to avoid infecting others could the illness be eradicated.

Healthy people attempting to protect themselves couldn’t, by themselves, stop the disease from spreading. Among the key factors was empathy of infected persons. Public health initiatives against seasonal diseases like influenza tend to initially focus on immunization programs, which move individuals out of the “susceptible” category. Once an outbreak begins, health campaigns focus

Quick Glance A new branch of cancer treatment started being called psycho-oncology Need to understand the impact of cancer on one’s perspective to life Survivors experience positive changes known as post-traumatic growth

spirituality, and relationships.

A section of survivors, having overcome the battle with cancer, can experience positive changes commonly known as post-traumatic growth (PTG).

The most common theme among survivors is the increased appreciation for life and to live it to the fullest, to look after one’s needs and make oneself a priority. Another recurring theme revealed that the survivors felt stronger mentally and were confident that if one could survive cancer, one could survive anything in life. The breast cancer survivorship trajectory also threw up interesting results in terms of spirituality, which helped a section of survivors find strength while they wrestled with questions of life and death. In India, within the last five years, as of 2012, the estimated incidence rate was 145,000, morbidity rate was 70,000 and the prevalence rate was 397,000. on encouraging susceptible persons to take precautions such as hand-washing and avoiding infected people.

The success of those measures may depend on individual perceptions of how great the risk of infection might be, Eksin noted. The more awareness individuals have of infected persons around them, the more likely they are to protect themselves.

Perception can also affect the behaviour of infected individuals, who may be more likely to stay home from work or cover their cough, for instance, if they believe their presence could infect a significant number of people.

The empathy of sick persons becomes especially important toward the end of an outbreak, when the number of infected persons may be low, but still enough to sustain the illness.

In such situation, risk perception falls, leading susceptible people to reduce their precautions -- and sick people to feel less concerned about infecting others.While the research examined the results of individual actions during an outbreak, those individual decisions were actually related because individuals are part of a group.

Health

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HEALTH NEWS IN BRIEF KIDNEY

KIDNEY CARE TO BE A PRIORITY

Over 10 per cent people are afflicted with kidney ailments, most unware of their condition

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HE worst part of kidney patients is that most of them are unaware of their condition. With an estimated 10 per cent of people worldwide having chronic kidney disease (CKD), and about nine in 10 of them being unaware of their condition, health experts have called for making kidney health a priority in both developed and developing countries.

While CKD can affect anyone, people are at higher risk if they have any one or more of a number of risk factors: these include high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity smoking, being aged 60 years or over, having established cardiovascular disease, having a family history of kidney failure, and being from a high-risk ethnic group or having a history of acute kidney injury.

OBESITY IN CHILDREN

ROUTINE BEDTIME PROTECTS CHILDREN FROM OBESITY Study finds a regular routine prevents them from osesity

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OLLOWING routines from a very early age may have many benefits. A new research suggests that regular bedtimes, mealtimes and limited screen time may be linked to better emotional health in preschoolers, and that might lower their chances of obesity later.

Researchers evaluated three household routines when children were three years old -- regular bedtime, regular mealtime and whether or not parents limited television and video watching to an hour or less daily. The research included 10,955 children.

22 Sanitation

MAY 01-07, 2017

HEALTH NEWS IN BRIEF UTTARAKHAND

TRIVENDRA RAWAT JOINS CLEANLINESS DRIVE Uttarakhand Chief Minister takes up the broom and goes out to sweep the lanes in a temple town

MADHYA PRADESH OPEN DEFECATION FREE

MP DISTRICT BECOMES OPEN DEFECATION FREE As a result of an officer’s tireless efforts, Narsinghpur district in MP has become the first among open defecation free districts in the state INDIA ABROAD NEWS SERVICE

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TTARAKHAND Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat recently wielded the broom and began cleanliness work at the Kedar Ghat and many other lanes adjoining Uttarkashi’s Vishwanath temple.

On a trip to Uttarkashi, the Chief Minister urged people to spread awareness about the importance of cleanliness.

Rawat also exhorted people to partake in the ‘Swacch Bharat’ Mission started by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Earlier, he went to the temple and performed Puja for over an hour and took part in the Aarti.

He also began a cleanliness drive on the ghats of the Ganga river and said that under the ‘Namami Gange’ project of the Central Government, many medicinal herbs and plants would be planted on the banks of the river.

NCC

NAGA GIRLS JOIN CLEANLINESS DRIVE A girls’ unit of NCC campaigned to create awareness on SBM

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IRST Nagaland (G) Bn NCC under the aegis of NCC Group HQ, Kohima, the only girls unit in Nagaland covering 11 district of the State, observed Swachh Bharat Mission in entire Nagaland from April 12 to 24 in all institutions.

Approximately, 4000 NCC cadets participated and came out from their respective schools and colleges to join the cleanliness drive.

N the eve of Narsinghpur becoming opendefecation free, Chief Executive Officer Pratibha Pal continued her rounds of district that often include surprise monitoring visits to villages.”

There was much fanfare in south eastern Madhya Pradesh when this district became the first in the state to be declared open-defecation free. As the spotlight shone on the district, 280 kilometres from the capital Bhopal, its Chief Executive Officer Pratibha Pal was reluctant to be in the limelight. “Please remember that this is the result of the dedication and effort of our entire district team, under the leadership of the District Collector.

My predecessors had first turned Chawarpatha block in Narsinghpur open defecation free and so I thought why not the entire district,” said Pratibha, who is also the head of the Panchayat and Rural Development Department in the district.

On the eve of Narsinghpur becoming open-defecation free Pratibha continued her rounds of the district that often include surprise monitoring visits to villages to ascertain their open defecation free status. In Murgakheda Village 25 kilometers from the district headquarters Pratibha’s amicable nature was on display as she had a friendly chat with a group of children.

Once the children were comfortable in her presence she started to probe their knowledge on open defecation.

“Does anyone go out in the open to defecate,” she asked, to which heads moved rapidly in denial. “It can cause illness,” said nine-year-old Sita. “The flies sit on the faeces and then on

our food, contaminating it,” added ten-year-old Ashish. The children all happily announced that all the houses in their village have toilets, as do all the schools and that everyone is using them. Pratibha couldn’t help but smile as she invited everyone to give a round of applause for the “smart children”.

The CEO’s ease of interaction with all types of people in the rural communities she serves has caught the attention of villagers from across the district as well as her colleagues who are keen to emulate her dedicated and down to earth approach. Despite Pratibha’s humbleness members of her team insist that she has played a pivotal role in the district achieving

open-defecation free status as part of the countrywide Swachh Bharat initiative. “It is her dedication and focus towards the Swachh Bharat goals, and personal involvement in the entire awareness and monitoring process that makes a huge difference.

Due to her attitude everyone involved in the campaign has developed a sense of team work and accountability,” said Rajesh Tiwari, Swachch Bharat Mission District Coordinator.

The entire district Panchayat machinery starts work at 4 am.

“Fleets of vehicles would head in all directions. The CEO personally led the efforts, remaining in the field for

Pratibha Pal continued her snap visits to the

villages, often very early in the morning, to step up the anti-open defecation campaign

Quick Glance Narsinghpur has become first district in MP to be declared open defecation free The person behind this CEO Pratibha Pal She is up at four in the morning to begin her days of inspections

hours together with us on most days of the week,” said Prabhat Kanoje, district renewable energy officer who also volunteers as a district mobilisation officer for the open defecation free campaign. While this required the CEO and team working over and above their usual working hours Pratibha took it in her stride. “By using technology we were able to keep up with our daily tasks. Since most of the time we were in field, the monitoring of all district Panchayat work and service delivery improved dramatically. My personal schedule was affected somewhat, but then we had decided to do this within a timeframe and on priority,” she said.

On one of her visits Pratibha Pal rushed down steep and rocky terrain to inspect a toilet in a villager’s backyard. After enquiring if the toilet is being used she asked the owner “Why did you construct the toilet here, it must be difficult to reach. Is it safe for you and children?” These tireless efforts, personal commitment and shared vision by the CEO uniquely sets the officer and her work apart and remain an inspiration to all, said UNICEF Madhya Pradesh Chief Michael Juma. “Due to her uniquely differentiated style of work in the district ‘Sanitation Champions’ have emerged, and as such have proactively facilitated communities to adopt safe sanitation practices by creating collective demand for behavioural change and putting systems in place to sustain open-defecation free,” he said.

Pratiba though is keen to reiterate that the credit goes to her team, and the leadership of her district collector and seniors officials which enabled her to lead the district to achieve its open defecation free status.

To sustain the momentum of an open defecation free environment and to advance the rights of children to survival in Narsinghpur district, then we must all embrace compelling WASH (Water, Sanitation and Health) behaviours that contribute to child survival and growth such as continuous toilet use, washing hands with soap, safe disposal of child’s excreta and use of safe drinking water at all times, said Michael.

MAY 01-07, 2017

GATES ON MODI

BILL GATES HAILS PM’S TOILETS FOR ALL MOVE Bill Gates has lauded Modi’s ‘Swachh Bharat’ mission in a blog, where a video ‘Talking Toilets’ too is being shared

Quick Glance Bill Gates says Modi has put spotlight on subject most shun talking about In 2014, just 42 per cent of Indians had access to hyienic toilets Gates has also presented a virtual reality video, ‘Talking Toilets’

SSB BUREAU

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HROUGH a series of studies, experts of Bill Gates, world’s richest man and cofounder of Microsoft, has applauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Swachh Bharat’ mission, saying that he has put a spotlight on a subject that most of us would rather not even think about. “So far, the progress is impressive. In 2014, when Clean India began, just 42 percent of Indians had

India’s Prime Minister

Narendra Modi has put a spotlight on a subject that most of us would rather not even think about — bill gates

Sanitation

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access to proper sanitation. Today 63 percent do. And the government has a detailed plan to finish the job by October 2, 2019, the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth. Officials know which states are on track and which are lagging behind, thanks to a robust reporting system that includes photographing and geo-tagging each newly installed toilet,” he added.

The results are there to see, said Gates and added, “The hard work is paying off. Today more than 30 percent of Indian villages have been declared free of open defecation, up from 8 percent in 2015.”

In the blog, Gates also presented a virtual reality video titled ‘Talking Toilets’ on the government’s project.

Gates further explains why the Prime Minister highlighted the subject, which he says most leaders would “rather not even think about”.

He also mentioned about an application that the government is working on with Google to combat the problem of convincing people to use the toilets, which he says is another hurdle in India’s fight towards Clean India.

Gates also showed his astonishment on how PM Modi managed to convince and deploy Bollywood and cricketers to come forward and talk of open defecation publicly to carry on campaigns and get rid of it.

RAJASTHAN SANITATION

RAJASTHAN AHEAD IN BUILDING TOILETS Rajasthan has made a significant stride in building toilets, but it has to go a long way to make the entire state open defecation free SSB BUREAU

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AJASTHAN has turned out to be leading in building toilets in rural areas. Yet, it is to go a long way to eradicate open defecation and meet the target for this in 2019 under the Swachh Bharat Mission, or SBM. The state has built 26.87 lakh individual toilets in rural areas under the SBM in 2016-17, as per

Quick Glance The state has built 26.87 lakh individual toilets in the villages The number of individual toilets has gone up to 54.783 lakh under SBM Kaurali district lags behind with only 40 % homes having toilets

the Union Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation. West Bengal comes after Rajasthan by constructing 23.08 lakh individual in the same period.

The number of individual toilets in Rajasthan has gone up to 54.83 lakh since the SBM was launched on October 2, 2014; the areas covered increased to 78% from 55% in the previous financial year. Six districts have been declared open defecation free (ODF) for having achieved 100% coverage under the SBM, but the state government’s aim is to make 10 more districts ODF by the fiscal year’s end. Though the number of ODF villages in the state has gone up to 19,629, Karauli district lags behind with only 39.73% households having access to toilets, shows the data. With nearly 22% households in the state still not having access to toilets, Rajasthan has its work cut out to achieve

the SBM’s target of becoming 100% ODF by 2019.

“The success of the entire state to attain ODF status will only be possible with the involvement of the whole community.

Churu district that became first ODF district in the state is an example,” said an SBM Gramin official.

The Centre has now made Aadhaar mandatory for those applying for the individual household latrine subsidy. The incentive is provided under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) administered by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation.

A subsidy is granted to rural households for construction of individual toilets by the Centre and the state government. Households under the below poverty line (BPL) category, or those owned by members of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes in the above poverty line (APL) category, small and marginal farmers, and households headed by women can avail of the subsidy.

The mission was introduced after Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged to make India open defecation free by 2019 during his Independence Day speech in 2014.

24 Science & Technology

MAY 01-07, 2017

AIDS VACCINE

DR RAHUL KUMAR MISHRA

A GLIMPSE OF HOPE An AIDS Vaccine is under trial and offers a bit of hope, as five patients show functional control over loss of immunity because of the virus

will inspire others to study the approach.

Search for AIDS vaccine has been The evidence did not going on for the past 30 years bowl over immunologist Daniel Douek of the Recently their efforts bore fruits when National Institute of Allergy their vaccine helped five patients and Infectious Diseases A wider trial is called for since US in Bethesda, Maryland, scientists call it “functional cure” however. “The results are encouraging, but it is difficult all had started treatment to gauge what the effect of the within 6 months after procedure actually was because of the becoming infected, uncontrolled nature of the study and which helped keep HIV the fact that the people who remain in their blood down to off [ARVs] are, nevertheless, viremic,” undetectable levels on Douek says. standard tests. (More But Mothe stresses that previous sensitive tests used solely “treatment interruption studies” in for research purposes can people who started ARVs soon after detect HIV in all infected becoming infected have found that people.) The researchers only 10% control their infections theorized this had limited for longer than 4 weeks. In this case, HIV’s ability to integrate 38% of the participants passed that into their chromosomes, leaving them milestone. Deeks agrees. “Should the with relatively small “reservoirs” of current trends persist, it is hard to infected cells. This, in turn, should argue that the vaccine strategy did not make it easier for them to contain the do something, but controlled studies virus if ARVs are stopped—especially are needed,” he says. with a helping hand from a vaccine.

HIV notoriously dodges After receiving a series of three immune attack—and preventive shots of the vaccine, the participants vaccination—by mutating. Deeks stopped taking ARVs. Within 4 weeks, and others believe the trial may have the virus came roaring back in eight of been partly successful because the them. The other five, however, have vaccine contains HIV genes that now gone between 6 and 28 weeks code for “highly conserved” internal without having to restart treatment. structures and enzymes that cannot Each of these “controllers” has had the change much without harming the virus become temporarily detectable virus. Before the vaccination, only at some point, but these “blips” 4% of the participants’ cytotoxic T have never gone above 2000 copies lymphocytes (a type of white blood per millilitre on two occasions—the cell that helps control infections) study’s criterion for restarting ARVs. specifically targeted these conserved Of more than 50 therapeutic proteins; after vaccination, that vaccine trials so far, this is the first jumped to 67%. one that has bolstered the immune “I’m pretty excited about this,” says system in a “meaningful” way, says Sharon Lewin, who heads the Peter Steven Deeks, an HIV/AIDS clinician Doherty Institute for Infection and and researcher at the University of Immunity in Melbourne, Australia.

California, San Francisco, who is “But there are lots of questions.” “cautiously optimistic” that the data Mothe and colleagues hope to answer them by continuing to monitor their participants and staging a larger, more rigorous trial of the concept soon.

Quick Glance

A

CCORDING to National AIDS Control Organisation of India, the prevalence of AIDS in the country in 2013 was 0.27, which is down from 0.41 in 2002.

While the National AIDS Control Organisation estimated that 2.39 million people live with HIV/AIDS in India in 2008–09, a more recent investigation by the Million Death Study Collaborators in the British Medical Journal (2010) estimates the population to be between 1.4–1.6 million people. It is demand of the hour to put the consciousness of the researchers to this horrifying issue to combat HIV/AIDS. Positive results from small clinical studies without control groups often get dismissed as anecdote, and for good reason: Many don’t pan out in more rigorous trials. But when a field suffers as much failure as the search for an AIDS vaccine has over the past 30 years, researchers sometimes celebrate glimpses of hope.

That’s what happened in Seattle, Washington, when scientists showed that a vaccine may have helped five people already infected with HIV to keep the virus in check—a “functional cure” as some call it. The results, which need to be confirmed in larger studies, suggest the vaccine may boost the immune system enough to allow infected people to drive down

HIV levels without taking drugs— although it’s not clear for how long.

“It’s the proof of concept that through therapeutic vaccination we can really re-educate our T cells to control the virus,” says Beatriz Mothe, a clinician at Irsi Caixa AIDS Research Institute in Barcelona, Spain, who presented the results here at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections. “This is the first time that we see this is possible in humans.”

Despite intensive efforts and massive investments, no vaccine to prevent HIV infection has yet proved itself and come to market.

Researchers have also tested socalled therapeutic vaccines, which aim to help infected people keep the virus at bay for months or even years without antiretroviral (ARV) drugs. Researchers tried that strategy with an HIV vaccine made by Tomáš Hanke of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.

The 13 participants in the study had taken ARVs on average for 3.2 years;

Positive results from small clinical studies

without control groups often get dismissed as anecdotal, and for good reason

(The author cracked IIT-JEE and secured a position in the merit list. He did his PhD in Chemistry from Israel and now he is pursuing research in antibacterial agents and industrially important chemicals)

MAY 01-07, 2017

Science & Technology

Quick Glance

ASTRONOMY DISCOVERY

SCIENTISTS FIND SUPER-EARTH

In a remarkable discovery scientists have found super-earth with signs of water that can well support life INDIA ABROAD NEWS SERVICE

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N international team of astronomers has discovered a so-called “super-Earth” that could contain liquid water, a situation that would make it a very good candidate for harbouring life. SuperEarth is a rocky, temperate planet orbiting a red dwarf star, Efe news agency reported.

In an article published on Wednesday in Nature magazine, the scientists say that the distant planet, dubbed LHS 1140b, is orbiting an M class red dwarf star a little smaller and dimmer than the Sun but the most common type of star in our galaxy.

The super-Earth and its parent star are located in the constellation Cetus, the Whale, 39 light years from the Sun, thus – relatively speaking – putting it in our galactic “neighbourhood,” according to Felipe Murgas, the coauthor of the study and a researcher with Spain’s Canary Islands Institute

of Astrophysics.

The study’s main author, Jason Dittmann, with the HarvardSmithsonian Centre for Astrophysics, said that this is the “most interesting” exoplanet that he’s seen in the last decade. The new planet was discovered thanks to the MEarth-South telescope network devoted exclusively to seeking out exoplanets. The MEarthSouth instruments enabled scientists

CLEANING AIR OF CARBON DIOXIDE

Artificial photosynthesis hit upon by scientists in the US can turn carbon dioxide into clean air, besides producing energy

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ESEARCHERS have found a way to trigger a process similar to photosynthesis in a synthetic material, turning greenhouse gases into clean air and producing energy – all at the same time.

to measure the planet’s diameter and, using the HARPS spectrograph at the LaSilla ESO Observatory in Chile, they also were able to measure its mass, density and orbital period.

According to the measurements, LHS 1140b has a diameter 1.4 times that of Earth and a mass 6.6 times that of our own planet. But more important than that are the climatological conditions, and its orbital distance from its star puts LHS 1140b in the “habitable zone” - thus meaning that the planet’s surface temperature allows water to exist in all three of its states: liquid, solid and as a gas. Whether there is actually water on the planet or not depends on the composition of its atmosphere and other factors, including the presence of a magnetic

Super-Earth is a rocky, temperate planet orbiting a red dwarf star The super-Earth is located about 39 light years from the Sun New planet was discovered from MEarth-South telescope network

field, such as the one Earth has, but the most important thing is for the planet to “fulfil the requirements to have water,” which means that it must be in its star’s habitable zone, Murgas said. Regarding the age of the planet, the authors of the study said that it probably formed in a manner similar to Earth and its star is probably 5 billion years old, about the same age as the Sun, although the age of M-class stars is hard to determine for a variety of factors, the Spanish researcher added.

In the coming decades, LHS 1140b is sure to be investigated much more intensively, an ongoing project for the powerful next-generation telescopes, including the James Webb instrument and the E-ELT device, which will be installed in Chile and – within a few years – will be able to study the system and try to detect its atmosphere, along with other characteristics.

Quick Glance

AIR PHOTOSYNTHESIS

INDIA ABROAD NEWS SERVICE

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The process has great potential for creating a technology that could significantly reduce carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas linked to climate change, while also creating a clean way to produce energy.

“This work is a breakthrough,” said one of the researchers Fernando Uribe-Romo, Assistant Professor at University of Central Florida in the US. The researchers created a way to trigger a chemical reaction in a synthetic material called Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOF) that breaks down carbon dioxide into harmless organic materials.

Think of it as an artificial photosynthesis process similar to the

A material discovered can trigger a process like photosynthetic The matter MOF breaks down CO2 into harmless organic materials The process generates oxygen and liberates solar energy

way plants convert carbon dioxide (CO2) and sunlight into food.

But instead of producing food, Uribe-Romo’s method produces solar fuel. The chemical reaction – detailed in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A – transformed the CO2 into two reduced forms of carbon formate and formamides (two kinds of solar fuel) and in the process cleaning the air.

“The idea would be to set up stations that capture large amounts of carbon dioxide, like next to a power plant. The gas would be sucked into the station, go through the process and recycle the greenhouse gases while producing energy that would be put back into the power plant,” he Uribe-Romo said.

Homeowners could purchase rooftop shingles made of the material, which would clean the air in their neighbourhood while producing energy that could be used to power their homes.

TECH CREATION

JAMUN’S DYE USED TO MAKE SOLAR CELLS Scientists at Roorkee IIT have discovered an inexpensive dye extracted from jamun

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CIENTISTS from IIT Roorkee have used the purple pigment jamun to make an inexpensive ‘sensitizer’ for Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs).

These natural sensitizers may replace expensive chemical dyes to make the solar cells. Researchers Soumitra Satapathi and Nipun Sawhney used anthocyanins from jamun using acidified ethanol. The carbonyl and hydroxyl groups on the anthocyanin molecule easily bind with titanium dioxide nanoparticles, which are used to make the photoanode – an important component of DSSCs.

26 Gender

MAY 01-07, 2017

WOMAN BUSINESS

PHONE ENABLED BUSINESS WOMEN Tribal women in Jharkhand move to economic self-reliance using smart-phones

Quick Glance Jharkhand is providing smart phones to tribal women’s selfhelp groups Members of the group are using these phones to sell products like pickles and snacks online Government is working to strengthen phone networks in the tribal backwoods

ANURAG DEY / SAHEBGANJ

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ER fingers move fast over the touch screen of her smart phone. Purnima Mahato, 35, from this tribal village in Jharkhand, has just discovered ease of doing business with her ubiquitous companion in an otherwise rocky entrepreneurial journey.

Travelling long distances to market homemade pickles and papadum (a local snack) was always tough -- till she started using a smartphone.

She now circulates images with small write-ups about her products through platforms like WhatsApp to reach out to her customers before making deliveries to them. Payments to buy and sell are also made online.

“Ho Gaya (done),” she said, raising her head and pointing to the images of her products on her phone.

“Sold. The customer agreed. And it will be delivered by the evening,” Mahato said with a winning smile.

The wife of an agriculture labourer with four children is one of tens of thousands of tribal women in this state moving beyond the confines of their kitchens and household chores to become economically self-reliant.

Aimed at boosting the central government’s twin initiatives of “Digital India” and “less-cash

Modi, who launched the smart phone initiative here earlier this month, admitted it was “amazing and equally heartening” to see tribal women using mobile apps

economy”, as well as to nurture the rural economy, the Rural Development Department of the Jharkhand Government has doled out free smart phones to 100,000 “Sakhi Mandals” or self-help groups (SHGs) of women entrepreneurs.

Smart phones are given to SHG heads who train the women entrepreneurs. A SHG has 7-15 members each.The businesswomen, much like their urban counterparts, are increasingly reaping the benefits of the internet.

State Rural Development Minister Nilkanth Singh Munda said the smart phone initiative was aimed at further boosting the prospects of the Sakhi Mandal system, which has done “wonders” in boosting Jharkhand’s rural economy.

“The major aim is to encourage more and more digital transactions to achieve a less-cash economy, but at the same time none can deny the immense importance a smart phone

has acquired in modern times, especially for business,” Munda told IANS. “The 100,000 smart phones with free network will be handed out to the beneficiaries in the next two months and by 2019 we have plans to hand out 100,000 more smart phones to the SHGs.” He said the smart phone initiative will boost the government endeavours for socio-economic empowerment of women.

“Sakhi Mandalis have helped in streamlining women entrepreneurs and coupled with the smart phone initiative it will ensure that benefits of all the women welfare schemes, including the Tejaswini project, effectively reach the beneficiaries,” he said.

Funded by the World Bank, the Tejaswini project supports adolescent girls and young women between the ages of 14 and 24 to complete their secondary level education and help

them to acquire market-driven skill training.

Munda said that over a million women are members of the SHGs and are engaged in entrepreneurial endeavors like cattle-rearing, poultry farming, dairy products, edibles like jams, fruit squash, pickles, papadum, herbal juices and other household articles.

In fact, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who launched the smart phone initiative here earlier this month, admitted it was “amazing and equally heartening” to see tribal women using mobile apps with such efficiency.

Business interests aside, the women entrepreneurs are also enhancing their social connect with smartphones.

“It took time to learn how to operate a smartphone but now we are realising how important technology is for our daily life. It’s really amazing to see that just with a touch of a button you can make payments or reach out to buyers far away with your products,” Rina Tudu, an SHG head, told IANS. State Women and Child Development Minister Louis Marandi said the new initiative would also play a major role in women empowerment and security.

Marandi told IANS: “In time of any emergency or distress they can seek immediate help or even use them to record any wrong doing, or harassment.”

While both the government and the SHGs are betting big on the smart phones to change the life of rural Jharkhand, network issues owing to deficient infrastructural facilities is surely a concern.

However, Nilkanth Singh Munda asserted the government was working on improving the communication facilities.

MAY 01-07, 2017

TRIBE CHILD MARRIAGE

TRIBAL ‘NO’ TO CHILD MARRIAGE A village largely inhabited by tribals in Maharashtra has decided to end the evil of child marriage NIDHI JAMWAL / PALGHAR

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ummer vacations have just begun and 15-year-old Sangeeta Yashwant Chavan is excited to be home. A student of boarding school, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya at Sakri in Dhule district of Maharashtra meant for dropouts and never-enrolled tribal girls, Sangeeta plans to spend the vacation preparing for her eldest sister Savita’s marriage scheduled later this year.

The mere mention of word lagan (marriage) makes Savita’s face go red as she blushes uncontrollably. It is not common to come across a 19-year-old unmarried girl in tribal villages of Mokhada taluka (administrative block) in Palghar, which, apart from early child marriages, are notorious for malnutrition.

“Unlike Sangeeta, who just completed her 9th grade examinations, I dropped out of school after 7th grade. Our parents were poor and migrated every year.

In their absence, I had to look after my younger siblings,” says Savita, who has three younger sisters and two brothers. They belong to the Warli scheduled tribe and live in Shivali village of Mokhadataluka.

“But I feel fortunate that I was not pushed into an early marriage by my parents. I continue to help them in the fields and at home,” she told Village Square.in.

In Palghar, a tribal district carved out of Thane district of Maharashtra in 2014, it is common to marry off girls by the age of 15 years. Within a year, they become mothers. And, by the time they are Savita’s age, they already have two to three children.

However, slowly the wind of change is blowing through the tribal villages, opposing child marriage. Shivali is one such village. In 2014, the village council of Shivali passed a thehrav (resolution) against child marriage.

All its 175 families vowed not to marry their daughters before the age

of 18 years. Since then, no underage girl has been married in Shivali.

“Early marriage is a major social ill in adivasi areas such as Mokhada.

Linked to it are other problems, such as maternal mortality, stunting, malnourished children, malnutrition deaths, poverty, etc,” says Susheela Mahale from Aroehan, a Mokhadabased non-profit organisation that works on health, education, and livelihoods.

As per news reports, anywhere between 254 to 600 children died due to malnutrition last year in Palghar district of Maharashtra.

Mokhada was one of the worst affected talukas. According to the National Family Health Survey-4 (2015-16), 49.9 percent pregnant rural women (15-49 years) have anemia in Maharashtra. More than 38 percent rural children under the age of five are stunted. Another 26.1 percent, 40 percent and 9.4 percent

under-five rural children are wasted (weight-for-height), underweight (weight-for-age) and severely wasted, respectively. The state government is working on a programme to reduce maternal mortality in adivasi talukas.

“When a malnourished, anemic and stunted girl gets married by an age of 14-15 years and bears a child at 16 years, her child is also malnourished and extremely weak.

This pushes the adivasi girls into a vicious cycle, which is hard to break,” says Mahale. “An early marriage is a threat to both young mother and her child’s life.” Mahale, a resident of Jawhartaluka, was married at the age of 16 years. “I am now working with Aroehan to stop other adivasi girls from getting married at an early age,” says Mahale.

Aroehan, though its health programme, is working towards safe motherhood and reduced malnutrition in Mokhada and Jawhar talukas of Palghar. One of the important elements is to put an end to the practice of early marriage. “In order to educate adivasi girls and

Quick Glance In a tribal village near Palghar in women used to get married early This affected health of the women and affected their education The villagers collectively decided to do away with child marriages

The progress is slow, but efforts are bearing fruits.

Earlier, as soon as a girl in the village used to reach puberty, her parents would marry her off

Gender

27

women, we regularly hold mata baithak (mothers’ gathering) and kishori sabha (young girls’ meeting) in the villages. Apart from discussing issue of puberty, pregnancy and safe childbirth, we also talk about illeffects of early marriage,” informs Mahale. The progress is slow, but efforts are bearing fruits. “Earlier, as soon as a girl in our village used to hit puberty, her parents would marry her off. Girls never managed to study beyond class 7 (the Zila Parishad school at Shivali is till 7th class),” Bharti Raghunath Khetadi, a resident of Shivali, told VillageSquare.in. “But, since the passing of resolution against an early marriage, girls like Sangeeta are going to residential schools to pursue education. Some are learning tailoring whereas others want to become nurses,” says a proud Khetadi.

Take the case of Sangeeta. After completing her education in the local Zila Parishad (district council) school, she had to drop out for a year, but went back to school. “The year I completed class 7th in the local school, no seat was vacant in the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya at Sakri, about 8 km from our village. I waited for a year and my father ensured I got admission the next year,” says Sangeeta, whose elder sisters, Savita (19 years) and Kavita (17 years), studied till class 7. Four more girls from Shivali village study in the residential school at Sakri.

According to Khetadi, passing resolution against early marriage wasn’t an easy decision. “We personally visited people’s homes who were resisting the proposed resolution and explained how an early marriage translates into sickness and diseases, which leads to debt, migration, poverty and death,” reminisced Khetadi.

Those who still did not understand were informed that marriage below 18 years age was a crime and could lead to being jailed. Eventually, the entire village came together and passed the resolution in the Gram Sabha in 2014. Villagers claim the resolution has stopped early marriage of at least 45 young girls.

“We are glad our daughters are finally dreaming big,” Jagdish Balchandra Khupane of Shivali village quipped, “Better late than never.” Meanwhile, Sangeeta has her future plan of action ready. “After completing my graduation, I will join the police force. Marriage can wait,” she says smilingly. Her elder sisters, Savita and Kavita, admire her with pride.

28 Environment

MAY 01-07, 2017

NGT SHUTS POLLUTING UNITS ALONG GANGA These industries were primary source of pollution of Bagad drain, contained very high pollutants at certain stretches

INDIA ABROAD NEWS SERVICE

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HE National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Wednesday directed 13 polluting industries situated along tributary or major drain of the Ganga river to be shut down. The tribunal bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar gave directions following a report by a high-level committee that inspected the 13 industries dealing in various products, including chemicals and a power plant.

According to the report, the team inspected the industries along Gajraula and Babrala drain with source from Bagad river in the Upper Ganga region in Uttar Pradesh. The drains further meet the Ganga. “These industries were the primary source of pollution of Bagad drain, which was found dry at places and contained very high pollutants at certain stretches,” the bench said.

Drains are manmade channels or available naturally to carry stormwater to its disposal point -- the Ganga. The

A high level committee inspected the 13 industries along the drain dealing with chemicals & power The industries were dumping the effluents containg hazardous chemicals without treating them The industries could start operations only after filing an action plan of treating effluents

RINKING more than three cups of coffee a day may reduce prostate cancer risk by more than 50 per cent, show results of a study on 7,000 Italian men.

The findings were then validated in laboratory studies which suggested that the coffee substance caffeine might have some protective effect against cancer.

Scientists report they cured 18 critically-ill patients suffering malaria

light in a field still hotly debated to this day – the role of coffee, and specifically caffeine, in relation to prostate cancer.

A protective effect of the popular drink has already been suggested by some recent studies.

“In recent years we have seen a number of international studies on this

issue. But scientific evidence has been considered insufficient to draw conclusions. Moreover, in some cases results were contradictory,” first author of the paper George Pounis from I.R.C.C.S. Neuromed said.

For the study, about 7,000 men were observed for four years on average.

“By analysing their coffee consumption habits and comparing them with prostate cancer cases occurred over time, we saw a net reduction of risk, 53 per cent, in those who drank more than three cups a day,” Pounis said.

Then the researchers sought confirmation by testing the action of coffee extracts on prostate cancer cells in laboratory studies.

They tested, in particular, extracts containing caffeine or decaffeinated.

Only the first ones significantly reduced cancer cells proliferation – an effect that largely disappeared with decaffeinated extracts.

Drinking more than three cups of coffee a day may reduce prostate cancer risk by more than 50 per cent “The observations on cancer cells allow us to say that the beneficial effect observed among the 7,000 participants is most likely due to caffeine, rather than to the many other substances contained in coffee,” said Maria Benedetta Donati from Institute for Research, Hospitalisation and Health Care (I.R.C.C.S.) Neuromed in Pozzilli, Italy.

The study, published in the International Journal of Cancer, sheds

MALARIA CASES CURED

n a successful trial, scientists report they cured 18 critically-ill patients suffering from drug-resistant malaria with tablets made from dried leaves of the Chinese plant Artemisia annua.

The Dried Leaves Artemisia annua (DLA) trial, was carried out a clinic in the Democratic Republic of Congo by an international team lead by Pamela Weathers, professor of biology at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Massachusetts. The patients were originally treated without success using the WHO-recommended artemisininbased combination therapy (ACT) -- a blend of “artemisinin”, a chemical extracted from Artemisia annua, with one or more anti-malaria drugs.

COFFEE GOOD FOR HEALTHY LIFE INDIA ABROAD NEWS SERVICE

MALARIA CURE

committee report pointed out that the industries used fresh water for dilution, were dumping their effluents outside without treating a major part, and thus causing huge environmental and groundwater pollution.

The tribunal pointed out that the management and proper mechanism of handling the fly ash in the power plant was found missing.“All the 13 industries shall be shut down (till the next order)...

Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, state government and police shall ensure that water and electricity supply is disconnected,” the bench said.

“A complete report must be filed before the tribunal and provided to all the industries,” it directed.

These industries had been given two weeks to file objections to the order.

“Industries could submit action plan to become non-polluting, keeping in view the deficiencies noticed by the committee,” the bench said.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in a 2013 report asserted that Ganga river has a total of 138 drains that carry a discharge of 6,087 million litres per day in it.

Of all the drains, maximum are in West Bengal (54), following Uttar Pradesh (45), Bihar (25) and Uttarakhand (14). However, the drains from Uttar Pradesh carry the maximum discharge – 3,289 MLD.

COFFEE PLANTATION

D

AFRICA

Quick Glance

RIVER GANGA

INDIA ABROAD NEWS SERVICE

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MAY 01-07, 2017

Working Women

29

GROWTH WORKING WOMAN

NUMBER OF WORKING WOMEN GROWING IN INDIA Despite being not too high in global index, women are getting emancipated fast in the country

Quick Glance

SSB BUREAU

“M

Y observation is that the biological clock and career clock are in total conflict with each other.

When you have to have kids you have to build your career. Just as you are rising to middle management your kids need you because they are teenagers. They need you for the teenage years. And that’s the time your husband becomes a teenager too. So he needs you. They need you too. What do you do? And as you grow even more your parents need you because they are aging. So we are screwed”, said PEPSICO CEO Indra Nooyi on work-life balance debate at Aspen Ideas Festival. She was ranked 13th on Forbes’s Power Women list. She has shared her journey leading one of the world’s largest corporations while also trying to raise her two children and remain present for her family.

It is a matter of dismay that the participation of Indian women in work force fell 10 per cent in the past decade. According to a record of joint industry chamber Assocham Thought Arbitrage Research, India has lowest female labour force participation rate.

Further, Assocham points that there are certain primary reasons for low participation of women in the labour force like lack of access to higher education among women, dearth of opportunities to work.

Even lack of flexibility in working conditions tends to dissuade women from joining the labour force as they turn to their domestic duties.

Moreover, the Female Labour Force Participation (FLFP) rate among BRICS countries was found to be; China (64 percent), Brazil (59 percent), Russia (57 percent), South Africa (45 percent) and India (27 percent).

“I am a wife and mother of two; I get up each day at 4 in the morning right from cleaning to cooking, dropping kids to the school making sure everything is at the right place.

When I come back home from work

Female Labour Force Participation in India is only 27 per cent Tanzania has highest women workers at 88 as Syria has lowest at 14 per cent Women have to take care of career while taking care of their home too

A vast majority of India’s working women are

employed as farm helps, accounts for less than one in five employees in other sectors in the evening my ‘second shift’ begins. I call it work after work,” says Amrita who likes to be called as the warrior and organiser.

To reckon, only 27 per cent of Indian workforce is female quite below the world average of 50 per cent according to the World Bank.

Tanzania has the highest percentage of women in workforce at 88 per cent while Syria has the lowest at 14 per cent.

A vast majority of India’s working women are employed as helpers on farms, typically accounts for less than one in five employees in sectors outside agriculture. In transportation sector it is hard to find female workforce as their families shield their daughters from travelling alone and forbid them from activities that may make them work at night. Apparently, only 1 per cent of India’s transport sector consists of women. Notably, at least one in three employees working for global food chain in India is female.

Supriya Padmanabhan, the Managing Director at My Persona opines “I did take break when my son was a couple of years old. At that time I felt I was unable to do a good job at work and was not doing a great job at home either. The discontentment evaded my interest towards work.

However, later I started a business with my ex-colleague that evolved me gradually.

Nasscom the apex organisation of the IT and BPO services industry repots that it sees a major representation of women at the entry level than earlier at 51 per cent for the industry. Even the evolution of job roles from support to core jobs is growing for women at 2 per cent per year since 2012.

“Women need to be there, sit in front and raise their voices if they have to be heard. They do not necessarily need to be pleasant.

They need to be professional,” says Sita Narayanswamy, Advertising and Marketing Professional.

She says further, “Women, I believe, have an advantage. We are more perceptive, we have an understanding of the other person’s point of view and ego does not always come in between.

These innate skills as a woman can be of an immense help in the professional space.”

The infelicity lies in the fact as Sheryl Sandberg says, still tend to sit around the fringes rather than joining in at the “big table”.

National Sample Survey data shows that 31 per cent of women who spend most of their time performing domestic duties would like some kind of job. The proportion of educated rural women who want to work is even higher, as 50 per cent would like a job apart from their domestic work.

If all women who expressed their desire to work do so, the female Labor Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) in India will rise 21 percentage points to reach 78 per cent.

The Operation Blackboard initiative was launched in the 1980s, thereby a 50% quota for women teachers also came in. Since then, the education sector has grown to employ the most women outside of agriculture.

On talking about women at workplace, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “If the capacity of women is built, and they are linked with the development process, then the development of any country is speeded exponentially,” Current initiatives such as skill India, Make in India and new gender based quotas from corporate boards to police force is a scintilla of hope for involving greater number of women in workforce.

30 International

MAY 01-07, 2017

UK INVENTION

INVENTION TO REPLACE THE TOILET BRUSH Gloucestershire-based Kam Mistry wants to raise millions of pounds for charity if he reaches his Kickstarter funding target for the Shiffter, which aims to make cleaning toilets ‘less disgusting’

Quick Glance Inventor Kam Mistry felt cleaning toilets with a brush is not something most people like He invented Shiffter, which is essentially a water jet placed next to the toilet and used when needed Kam Mistry says the technology will use much less bleach, toilet cleaner and water and is is an eco-solution

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HE idea is a simple one – instead of using a toilet brush to clean the loo, you use a jet of water.

Gloucestershire-based inventor and entrepreneur, Kam Mistry, has come up with a water-powered contraption, the Shiffter, in the evenings and weekends around his day job. “Let’s face it, does anyone enjoy using a toilet brush?

Does anyone like picking up a used one? This product isn’t rocket science, however, it has the potential to become commonplace in hundreds of millions of homes across the globe,” he said.

The Shiffter is designed to replace the toilet brush and bleach, Mistry says.

It is filled with water and sits next to the toilet, and can be used to jet wash the bowl clean. “The feedback from everyone who has seen it has been great as they can immediately see how it will make a currently unpleasant chore much easier and cleaner. It’s also more friendly to the environment as you end up using less bleach, toilet cleaner and water,” he adds. One of the challenges for Mistry was in explaining and promoting his invention. Obviously

talking about cleaning poo from a toilet bowl is something that we generally don’t discuss at the dinner table, he says, which is why most people are put off by a video demonstration. No one wants to watch a movie of something so personal, Mistry says, prompting him to turn to chocolate spread and animation to demonstrate the Shiffter.

“For obvious reasons, cleaning toilets isn’t something we talk about on a daily basis, and the same goes for illnesses related to digestive and intestinal disorders such as colitis, Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome and bowel cancer – to name but a few,” he says. “Millions of people’s daily lives are blighted by such conditions but we don’t talk about them, so I’m hoping that giving 20 per cent of profits from the product to related good causes will change people’s

“I am hoping that giving 20 per cent of the profits to good causes will change mindsets

MONGOLIA LIVESTOCK

CLIMATE-STRESSED COUNTRY’S GREEN STEP Modernising Mongolia’s livestock industry offers a more sustainable economic future than mining, says Mercy Corps SSB BUREAU

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ONGOLIA should diversify its economy in the face of climate change and other stresses, as reliance on mining at the expense of its livestock industry has put people at risk of commodity price shocks and rising

unemployment, an international aid group said. Ramesh Singh, Mongolia director for Mercy Corps, said strengthening rural livestock markets and establishing centres of economic activity outside the over-stretched capital would enrich the nation’s coffers, provide work for young people, and boost the country’s resilience.Mongolia has struggled with

an economic crisis since 2016 due to government over-spending and declining revenues from its exports, which include copper and coal. “We have reached a tipping point,” said Singh.

Youth unemployment, climate change and heavy urbanisation in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar are key issues that must be tackled, he added. A Mercy Corps report says the mining sector employs only 3.6 per cent of Mongolia’s total workforce.

perspective and understanding about gut-related illnesses. It’s about providing an opportunity to be more open about these issues which can be extremely demoralising.”

Mistry is already in discussions with charities, including Crohn’s and Colitis UK, about their potential involvement, and is hoping to raise large amounts of money for charities from the sale of the patent-pending product (patent application 1613313.4).

“With over a billion households in the world, the market is huge, and don’t forget that many homes have more than one toilet. On top of that, there are toilets in hotel rooms and businesses too.

The potential is enormous, especially if the patent application is successful,” he adds. According to patent attorney and partner at Wynne-Jones IP, Vicki Strachan, the inventions IP makes it easy to market. “Whilst it’s a relatively simple idea, its functional design features, name and branding – including the commitment to raising money for good causes – are all factors that increase the Shiffter’s potential for success,” she says.

“Whilst Kam intends to initially give 20 per cent of profits to good causes, he wants that figure to rise as sales improve over time, so the potential to raise tens if not hundreds of millions of pounds for related good causes is very real, if he can reach his funding target to go into production.”

Mistry is currently in pre-production mode, hoping to raise a crowdfunding target of £50,000 by May 2nd to mass produce the Shiffter.

“Government and development partners realised that it was a big mistake to focus solely on a single sector,” said Singh, noting how a 17 percent growth rate in 2012 has nosedived to a projected 1.4 percent in 2017.Meanwhile, around 30 percent of Mongolia’s 3 million people live off herding horses, goats, sheep, camels, yaks and other cattle, according to the World Bank, and meat is the primary source of food for the population.

Those unable to make ends meet in rural areas - especially young people working in low-paid animal husbandry or unpaid family jobs - usually move to the capital. There, many end up living in “ger districts”, makeshift neighbourhoods named after Mongolia’s traditional yurt dwellings, where pollution, poverty and domestic violence are rife, aid agencies in the arid country say.

MAY 01-07, 2017

Quick Glance Vinod Khanna started his career in 1968 with a break given by late Sunil Dutt in “Man Ka Meet’ 1971 was a watershed in his career when he played metier roles in ‘Mere Apne’ and ‘Mera Gaon Mera Desh’ His last film was ‘Dilwaale’ starring Shah Rukh and Kajol in 2015, after ‘Dabang’ with Salman Khan

TRIBUTE VINOD KHANNA

RUK JANA NAHIN…

Bernard Morin The tall, muscularly built handsome hunk who played all kinds of roles, from a dacoit to stern police officers, will never pass into oblivion

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E came into prominence playing an angry young man in a 1970s classic, and one of his last major appearances was as an angry implacable father in a 2010 blockbuster. But whatever role Vinod Khanna played good, bad, or even supporting – he would inevitably make his presence felt. Can you think of any other Bollywood hero who won applause for beating up Amitabh Bachchan on screen?

He entered Bollywood as a villain, but with his imposing height and physique, crowned with a sculpted but expressive face and discernible intensity, he was not fated to remain one for long. Given a break by Sunil Dutt in “Man ka Meet” (1968), Khanna showed his métier in 1970, playing a dedicated police officer in both “Mastana” and “Sachaa Jhuthaa”.

The year 1971 was a watershed: He appeared in a dozen films, including the highly acclaimed “Mere Apne”

where, as Shyamu, he stood his ground against a bombastic Shatrughan Sinha, while displaying the vulnerability of the ‘angry young man’ in that pensive song, “Koi hota jisko apna...” He went on to play another police inspector in the Shammi Kapoor-starrer “JaaneAnjane”, and then a vicious dacoit Jabbar Singh in “Mera Gaon, Mera Desh” facing Dharmendra.

That year also saw him in his first role as hero in “Hum Tum aur Woh”, while his role as Shyamu figured as footage in Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s “Guddi”, about a young girl’s infatuation with the film industry.

The next role that bought him to prominence was as a military officer on the run after killing his wife’s paramour in “Achanak” (1973), one

of the Bollywood adaptations of the infamous Nanavati case of a naval officer who murdered for infidelity.

TURN AROUND There was no looking back. Usually cast as a police officer or a criminal, he proved he could display a softer side too as he did in “Imtihaan” (1974), playing an idealistic college professor trying to reform a group of unruly students. The song “RukJaana Nahi” is again memorable.

Appearing in some of the most famous Hindi films, Khanna always left his mark, whether by himself or against established or upcoming stars like Shammi Kapoor, Rajesh Khanna, Dharmendra, Shashi Kapoor, Jeetendra, Amitabh Bachchan and

Khanna had only won one Filmfare Award (As Best Supporting Actor) but was conferred a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999

Tribute

31

Feroz Khan down to Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan.

Even in songs not picturised on him, he stands out take “Haal kya hai dilonka” in “Anokhi Ada” (1973), or “Dil to Hai Dil” in “Muqaddar ka Sikandar” (1978).

In the first part of his career, he went on to essay some particularly memorable roles as the stern, dutiful police inspector Amar in “Amar Akbar Anthony” (1977) where he thrashed up an irreverent Anthony, played by Amitabh but unbent towards the end to appear as a cheery, one-man band in the climatic “Honi ko anhoni kar de”, as con-artist Ajay in “Hera Pheri” (1976), again opposite Amitabh, another Amar, but on the other side of the law; in “Qurbani” (1980) where he eventually lives up to the film’s name; as a workaholic railway engineer in “The Burning Train” (1980) and an understanding doctor in reincarnation love story “Kudrat” (1981), where he did not let Raaj Kumar and Rajesh Khanna eclipse him.

SPIRITUAL TRIP Khanna, who had become a disciple of godman Rajneesh in the mid-1970s, then took a five year break, notwithstanding he was at the peak of his career. He moved to the godman’s ashram in the US where he reportedly was also a dish-washer and gardener.

He returned to Bollywood in 1987, where his career took off again. Mostly seen in action films, usually in his trademark police inspector role, he paired well with Meenakshi Seshadri in “Satyamev Jayate” and Dimple Kapadia in “Insaaf” (both 1987).

But what signalled his comeback in full vigour was Feroz Khan-helmed “Dayavan” (1988), where he played a crime don and shared a sparkling chemistry with Madhuri Dixit (sharing a long kiss and the sensuous “Aaj Phir Tum Pe”). He did well with Madhuri in “Maha-Sangram” (1990) also a film noted for Gulshan Grover in a positive role. His other notable performances included those in “Chandni” (1989), “Lekin” (1990) and “Jurm” (1990).

Khanna, who had only won one Filmfare Award (for best supporting actor), despite being nominated twice as best actor and once more as best supporting actor), was conferred a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999.

After this, along with his flourishing political career, which saw him rise to Minister of State for External Affairs in the Atal Behari Vajpayee government, his output slackened.

But he never abandoned the film industry, holding his own against Salman in the “Dabangg” series.

His last film was “Dilwaale”, starring Shah Rukh and Kajol, in 2015.

32 Unsung Heroes

MAY 01-07, 2017

UNSUNG HEROES SUKHVIR KAUR

A LIGHTHOUSE IN PUNJAB

From fighting social evils to installing solar lights, here’s how a Punjab village woman sarpanch won a national award

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tiny little village, Doburji, about 35km from Ludhiana in Punjab has quietly been turning itself into a haven for people.

Not only have the 1450 residents been fighting actively against social evils such as drug menace and female foeticide, they have also focused on making technological advances so the village can comfortably exist in the 21st century. The village has solar lights, clean ponds, and its roads are mostly concrete, thanks to the efforts of all involved. Efforts are also being made to use water which gets collected in the pond for farming.

Perhaps that’s why the village has

panchayat by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 24 at a national-level function in Lucknow.

One of the reasons as to why the village, which has a population of just 1,450, has developed so much in the recent times is said to be its Sarpanch, Sukhvir Kaur, a 39-yearold woman.

After having been elected in 2013 from the seat reserved for women

been endowed with Panchayat Sashaktikaran Puraskar, a national award that recognises work done by Panchayats across the country. The award will be presented to the village

Panchayat

Sashaktikaran Puraskar recognises work done by the Panchayats across the country

candidates only, Sukhvir, who has a Masters degree in English, swiftly implemented a number of developmental projects and hit the ground running. She also ensured that medical camps were organised on a regular basis. Besides plays and fairs are also organized on ‘Save The Girl Child’, and ‘Stay Away From Drugs’. Girls of the village are honoured frequently for their achievements. Now the population of girls in the village is more than that of boys.

Sukhvir and her family are not done with their efforts to modernise the village. Soon, with money raised from NRIs from the village, they are planning to buy an ambulance that will cater to the medical emergencies to anyone from the village. The panchayat ensures fogging in the village at regular intervals to curb vector-borne diseases such as dengue, malaria, and chikungunya. Medical camps are organized in the village There are also plans underway to install water purifiers in every household. Sukhvir proudly claims that nearly 90% of the development projects, she had planned after being elected, have already been completed.

N EWSMAKERS

PRAFULLA SAMANTARA

GREEN NOBEL

Prafulla Samantara led a protracted legal battle to protect the indigenous Dongria Kondh tribe’s land rights

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RAFULLA SAMANTARA, has been single-handedly rallying Dongria Kondh tribals - indigenous to Odisha’s Niyamgiri Hills - into blocking multi-national conglomerate Vedanta from bauxite mining in the region. His 12-years struggle has now been recognized with prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize

being bestowed on him.

The prize, also known as Green Nobel prize, was announced in San Francisco last week.

Samantara’s Lok Shakti Abhiyan, a civil rights organisation, was at the forefront of the protests in Niyamgiri in Lanjigarh district where Sterlite Industries, a subsidiary of Vedanta Alumina, was planning to set up mining operations in a joint venture with stateowned Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC).

He had filed a petition with the Supreme Court against the project which involved demolition of 7 square km of Niyamgiri hill, considered sacred by the Dongariya Kondh tribe inhabiting the area. Samantara had succeeded in his mission in 2010 itself when Environment Ministry denied clearance to the project. In April 2013, the given a chance by the Supreme Court, all 12 tribal village councils unanimously voted against the mine. In August 2015, Vedanta announced the closure of the aluminium refinery. He is among the six people selected for the award from contenders across the world. Other awardees are - Mark Lopez (US), Uroš Macerl (Slovenia), Rodrigo Tot (Guatemala), Rodrigue Katembo (Democratic Republic of Congo) and Wendy Bowman (Australia). Previous Indian winners of this prize are Medha Patkar, M C Mehta, Rashida Bee and Champa Shukla.

for 10 minutes on a regular ATHS could be a basis and that is how I only scourge for many but take few seconds to solve all the is a child’s play for calculations requiring 1 to 5 13-year-old Aditi Sharma who digits. Not only have my can perform complex calculation skills got sharper mathematical calculations in and faster, my learning a matter of seconds. And she speed has also gone up loves playing with many fold,” Aditi said... mathematical problems more Two other students than toys and dolls that Daksh Agarwal and mnost he age do.

Anish Roy Chowdhary, ADITI SHARMA Aditi emerged as who stood first and the winner of the the second runners‘listening competition’ up, received cash in the 12th State level prizes of Rs 3,100 Abacus and Mental and Rs 2,100 A r i t h m e t i c respectively.

13 old Aditi performs Championship held “UCMAS is an complex mathematical international concept here recently, where 60 students aged between calculations before you developed from 5-13 years showcased ‘ Z h u s u a n could write it on paper Methodology’ for brain their calculation skills using UCMAS, an development of ABACUS arithmetic technique. She was children of age group 5-13 years. “It awarded with a trophy and a cash prize of effectively activates children’s latent Rs 5,100. Aditi orally solved calculations mental power and develops mental and from one-digit to four- digit numbers up creative skills and a photographic to 100 rows at a speed “faster than one memory resulting in self-reliance and takes to write on paper”. “I take an hour- self confidence,” Rajeev Garg, organiser long class and practice it back at home of the championship, said.

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A HUMAN COMPUTER!

Joint Commissioner of Police (Licensing) Delhi No. F. 2 (S-45) Press/ 2016 VOLUME - 1, ISSUE - 20 Printed by Monika Jain, Published by Monika Jain on behalf of SULABH SANITATION MISSION FOUNDATION and Printed at The Indian Express Ltd., A-8, Sector-7, NOIDA (U.P.) and Published from RZ 83, Mahavir Enclave, Palam-Dabri Road, New Delhi – 110 045. Editor Monika Jain