Sulabh Swachh Bharat (Issue-8)

Vol-1 | Issue-8 | February 12, 2017 | Price ` 5/-

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

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sulabhswachhbharat.com

EMPOWERING THE NATION

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OFFBEAT

BIG HAPPY FAMILY A woman’s strong determination is illuminating many lives

RURAL INDIA

SUN IN THE NIGHT SKY Dharnai, a small village in Bihar, is making headlines for all the right reasons

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QUARTZ

FACE TO FACE

Parineeti talks about her new film, career, diet and health regime

SULABH BLESSED

BY SRI SRI

Snapshots The Ugly Indian is a group of people cleaning up Bengaluru Their model is being replicated in cities acrosss the country This growth is organic, as all such groups found TUI on social media

Sulabh family is blessed by the divine presence of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in Sulabh Gram SHARAD GUPTA

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T was a different experience for spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar as he came visiting Sulabh Gram, New Delhi on February 2. He evinced great interest in Sulabh technology and inspected everything himself.

Sri Sri seemed highly impressed with facilities at Sulabh of – right from twopit-pour-flush toilets, bio-gas plant, water ATM etc. converting human excreta into manure and bio-gas.

The renowned spiritual guru was welcomed at the Sulabh Gram by founder of Sulabh Sanitation and Social Reform Movement, Dr Bindeshwar Pathak and his wife Amola Pathak with garlands and shawl. This was followed by warm welcome extended by Mrs Usha Chaumar, President of Sulabh international who herself used to be a manual scavenger once. As she finished the welcome, atmosphere suddenly reverberated with mantras being recited by a group of erstwhile scavengers who have been

taught Sanskrit and trained as Hindu priests.

Sri Sri also met a group of widows from Vrindavan – who are being sustained and taken care of by Sulabh International.

After being welcomed by residents of Harmithla village which have been made 100 per cent defecation free, he met students of Sulabh International School.

He also inspected Sulabh dispensary.

FINANCE UNION BUDGET

THE BUDGET PROMISES ACCHE DIN The consolidated budget of 2017-18 tabled in the parliament has taken care of all the categories

Once the victim of male chauvinism herself, this 42-year-old widow has taken up the gun and runs a kangaroo court to tackle atrocities on women

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PRASANN PRANJAL

HE very first time the consolidated budget seems to be catering common man as well as rural India, farmers, poor and youth. Along with that, the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley presented his budget of 21.47 lakh crore for the financial year 2017-18 specially focused on infrastructure, financial sector, Digital India, and Public Service. While presenting the budget he discussed three main agendas named as TEC (Transform, Energy and Clean India) and said that the government will continue the financial reforms in order to strengthen the economic muscle of the country. It was the first time that the rail budget was also included in the union budget. This time the budget has not been classified into planned and not planned categories.

There is one more interesting thing about this budget is that this time the budget

He then embarked upon a guided tour to facilities available in the Sulabh. First port of call was the effluent treatment plant – where Guruji himself smelled the effluent water to check whether it indeed was odor free. Then he visited bio-gas plant which produced cooking gas from human excreta.

The gas also fires the hearth in the kitchen. It was an interesting sight to find ...Continued on Page 2

has been presented in the beginning of February that is about a month prior to its scheduled time.

FARMERS TAKE CENTRESTAGE

The union budget 2017-18 has historically set a target of rupees 10 lakh crore for agriculture loans. A dedicated fund for micro-irrigation will be established with initial corpus of Rs 5,000 crore for achieving the goal of “More crop per drop.” With this a long-term irrigation fund will be established with a corpus of Rs 40,000 crore. A model law on contract farming would be prepared and it will be sent to the states so that they can follow the same. A dairy processing and infrastructure fund for dairy development will be established with Rupees 8,000 crore corpus in three years in NABARD. NO POORER GRAM PANCHAYAT

The government will work on Antyodya mission and will liberate a million ...Continued on Page 2

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FEBRUARY 12, 2017

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SULABH BLESSED BY SRI SRI...

BUDGET PROMISES ACHHE DIN...

“The God is with you in your endeavor”

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RI SRI RAVI SHANKAR urged people to focus on toilets and sanitation to make society disease-free. Hygiene is an integral part of our Art of Living programme. There is nothing better than being self-motivated. A youth took a resolve and constructed 365 toilets in 20 days and made an entire village open defecation free. If youth takes a decision today, our country could be cleaned very soon,” he said.

On a visit to Sulabh campus in Delhi, he urged people in the rural areas to join hands in making India cleaner and open defecation-free.

“Dr Pathak is doing a yeoman’s job and I will give my blessings to him for greater success. You have created everything out of waste – running a motor to providing drinking water. The God is with you in

-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

your endeavor. Let the light spread across the world,” he said. Sulabh has been providing sanitation solutions to the poor across the country to support PM Narendra Modi’s “Swachhh Bharat” mission, and other urban development initiatives. He emphasized the need for more such movements to achieve the goal of total sanitation.

Speech of Dr Bindeshwar Pathak

“Your presence has given a complete meaning to my life”

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URUDEV has bestowed this earth with his divine presence. History has seen very people like him walking on this earth. The people who have gathered here are for his blessings. Yesterday, it was Janeu ceremony of my grandson. Also, four erstwhile scavenger girls, who were liberated

by Sulabh and are now part of extended Sulabh family got married in Tonk, Rajasthan yesterday. And today, I was supposed to attend this program here. I was afraid that if the flight gets late everything will go awry. At this moment, I remembered Gurudev and prayed for his blessings.

Fortunately, I finished off every work and reached here on time. It was due to Gurudev’s blessings that the flight was on time and I reached here are the right moment to receive his blessings.

Since the age of 25 years, I have been involved in this work. Finally, I got Gurudev’s blessings today. It was extremely difficult for me to do this work, especially since I was born in a Brahmin family. Today he blessed these 17-18 year old girls, who were involved in scavenging since the age of 7-8. Their life has transformed. John F

Sri Sri frying masala papads in bio-gas run Sulabh kitchen to check efficacy of the gas. The spiritual guru who has been improving spiritual health of millions of people worldwide, was apparently interested to see how Sulabh has been taking care of physical health of young girls by putting sanitary napkin dispensers in toilets of girls’ schools and also incinerators for used napkins.

He visited Sulabh laboratory, the epicenter of all Sulabh innovations.

Then he had a look at water ATMs which Sulabh has been installing in all such areas where potable water isn’t available easily. Sulabh provides such

Kennedy had said, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country”.

When I visited Gurudev’s ashram, I was extremely delighted. There were thousands of his disciples waiting for him, but he gave his precious time to me. He listened very intently to everything I had to say. Here we have eradicated arrogance; it is something which affects someone who had done good work. A rich aristocrat told US President Abraham Lincoln “Mr. Lincoln, you should not forget that your father used to make shoes for my family.” To this Lincoln replied, “Yes, he was a very good cobbler and I myself am. If you want to get your shoes stitched, send it to me. I will do it.” We should learn this kind of humility.

Those who are under Gurudev’s blessings learn these traits. What is Art of Living? It’s about how you can live properly, without arrogance, without anger. Gurudev, you came here, we are extremely pleased. My wife is here. Even though I have a family, I am leading a similar life to yours. I couldn’t devote enough time for my wife and my kids.

Today, your presence has given a complete meaning to my life. I wish your blessings are always there for Sulabh family.

clean water at a rate of Rs one per litre.

This was followed by a demonstration of Sulabh’s innovation – two-pit-pourflush toilets which don’t need more than one a half litres of water. Sri Sri himself poured water to see the effectiveness of the technology. Dr Pathak explained him the technology and how he conceived the idea. He also showed the Guru a model of toilets being built by Sulabh in villages. Sri Sri then had an extensive tour of Sulabh Toilet museum which showed the journey of toilets right from the beginning to its modern avtar. He profusely hailed Dr Pathak’s efforts to make toilets a movement.

households and 50,000 village panchayats from poverty line by 2019. The year also marks 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The available resources will also be utilized more effectively to ensure the annual growth and permanent livelihood among the deprived families under central micro plan. Rupees 187 223 crore and have been allocated for rural and allied sectors and 2,814 crore for Deen Dayal Gram Jyoti Yojana.

RECORD FUNDS FOR MGNREGA

Rupees 48000 crores have been allocated for MGNREGA under the budget provision 2017-18 this year as compare to 2016-17 which was rupees 38,500 crores.

By far this is the biggest amount allocated for MGNREGA funds in any budget.

A MILLION HOUSES WILL BE BUILT

The budget proposes to complete the construction of a million houses by 2019 for homeless and those living in thatched houses. The estimated budget of last year 2016-17 rupees has been increased from 15,000 crore to 23,000 crore in the budget 2017-18 under the rural housing scheme Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awas Yojana.

The allocation for Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) and Credit Support plan has been increased to more than triple.

HIGH SPEED INTERNET IN VILLAGES

Providing high speed internet to every village is the top priority in this budget.

As per the provisions in the budget more than 150000 Gram Panchayats will be provided optical fiber based high speed

‘AGENDA CENTERED ON TEC INDIA’ I am proud to present the first consolidated budget that includes the railway. Our agenda will be centered on TEC India or Transform, energies and clean India in order to provide radical change in the quality of life of our public. Our aim is to flow the power through the various a cross-section of society and particularly through the youth of India and end the corruption, black money and end the malpractices in the political financing system. We are especially focusing on the development of rural areas, basic infrastructure and spend as much as possible on the eradicating poverty. We will continue promoting investment and economic growth with the aim of poor and underprivileged’s benefit.

Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister

BUDGET OF THE FUTURE This is the budget of our future, the budget of the new generation, farmer’s budget, the budget of rural and urban development and entrepreneurship. It will ensure the pace of development in the country, create employment and double the income of farmers. It will bring a revolutionary change in the villages of our country, change the lifestyle of the rural population and change their financial condition upside down.

Narendra Modi, Prime Minister internet facility by the end of the year 2017-18. Rupees 10000 crore budget has been proposed for Bharat Net Pariyojana (Bharat Net Project). 155,000 kilometers of optical fiber lines have been laid under this project. Another mission will be initiated named as DigiGaon.

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT CENTRES

Many provisions have been made in this budget for women focusing on women empowerment. Mahila Shakti Kendras (women empowerment centres) will be established at 14 million ICDS Anganwadi centers in rural areas at a cost of Rs 500 crore. These centers will provide education for skills development, employment, digital literacy, health and nutrition, etc. for rural women.

Reiterating the scheme announced by the Prime Minister meant for pregnant women on 31 December 2016 the Finance Minister said that under a nationwide scheme for pregnant women a sum total of Rs. 6000 crore will be transferred to the bank accounts of those woman who deliver the baby in the hospitals and complete the vaccination programme. A sum of Rs. 1, 84,632 crore has been allocated for women and children welfare in this budget. Previously the allocated amount was 156 528 crore in the estimated budget for the year 2016-17.

NATIONAL TESTING AGENCY

The budget lays an emphasis on education at large. The government has propsed for

Snapshots Union Budget was presented one full month before scheduled date of February 28 This was done to have time to pass the entire budget before March 31 i.e. beginning of new financial year The Budget is being hailed as one of the most progressive and people-oriented one

FEBRUARY 12, 2017

RELIEF FOR THE AAM AADMI

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AX relief has been given to the common man. People earning from up to 2.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh are relieved in the budget. The tax has been reduced from the earlier rate of taxation of 10 percent to a mere 5 percent in the new budget for taxpayers between the annual incomes from 3 to 5 lakh. The tax liability of upto 5 million low-income taxpayers will be reduced to zero or 50 per cent of

their existing liability. To prevent a recurrence of the benefits to this group of beneficiaries the available relief on this tax belt will be reduced to Rs 2500 which is

establishing an autonomous and self- to 3.5 million youths of the country. The sustaining organisation National project costs rs. 4,000 crore. The finance Examinations Agency (National Testing minister said that the government has Agency) that will be responsible for proposed for increasing the number of conducting entrance exams for higher Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendra (Prime education. Through this CBSE, AICTE Minister Skill centers) to reach more than and other major institutions will be 600 districts across the country. Currently exempt from these administrative they are operated in 60 districts only. responsibilities so they can focus more on Apart from this 100 India International skill centres will be academic tasks. An annual established where advance knowledge evaluation training and foreign system will be introduced he Budget has language courses will be in all schools to measure This will help ‘the the results. In addition to at least some run. youth to foster job this special emphasis will benefit for every opportunities outside the be on education and curriculum flexibility by section of the country.’ Rupees 2,200 crore will be invested for promoting local society launching the next phase innovation and creativity of ‘Strive Yojna’ with the through material science. aim of improving the An online platform ‘Swayam’ has been proposed for teaching quality of vocational trainings at ITIs and minimum 350 subjects online using strengthening industrial apprenticeship. information technology. These subjects will be taught online by the best faculties. HEALTHY BUDGET The curriculum will enable the students To ensure a better health care in the to be connected virtually with the subject, country the government has also accessing best quality study materials, for introduced plans to eliminate maladies participation in debates, for taking like black fever and filariasis within 2017, leprosy by 2018 and measles by 2020. In examinations and academic grades. addition to that the government has proposed to establish two new AIIMS in EDUCATION INNOVATION FUND The University Grand Commission has Jharkhand and Gujarat. Drugs and been provided with Navonmesh Kosh Cosmetics Rules will be amended in (Innovation Fund) for higher and order to ensure availability of medicines secondary education reforms. Its aim is to at reasonable prices. Similarly, plans to ensure wider access, gender equality and reduce the infant mortality rate (IMR) improvement in the quality of education which was 39 in 2014, to 28 by 2019 and primarily in 3479 educationally backward reduce the maternal mortality rate blocks by encouraging local innovation. It (MMR) of 167 per cent from 2011-13 to 100 by the year 2018-20. will further focus on the 1.5 million sub health flexibility of the Multidimensional centers are proposed to curriculum for be converted into Health encouraging creativity in 1. Farmers and wellness centers. local innovation material. 2. Villagers 3. Youth Five thousand seats will be added in the medical ‘SANKALP’ FOR YOUTH 4. Poor line in order to ensure The ‘Sankalp’ programme 5. Infrastructure the availability of expert has been initiated with 6.

Financial Sector doctors to strengthen the objective of 7.

Digital India the second and third increasing employability Public Service levels of health care in among youth under 8.

Restrain on Expense the country. In addition which professional 9. of starting DNB courses training will be provided 10. Easy Tax

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only available for taxpayers with a maximum annual income of Rs 3.5 lakh. The combined effect of these measured would be that the tax liability for people with income upto Rs 3 lakh would be zero and the liability of those in the Rs 3 lakh to Rs 3.5 lakh bracket would be a mere Rs 2500. Now the tax on the bracket of Rs 2.5 to 5 lakh is 5 per cent and people earning between 50 lakh and 1 crore annually will have to pay a surcharge of 10%. There is also a new LIC pension plan for senior citizens for which annual returns are assured for eight years. in the large district hospitals, selected ESI hospitals, municipal hospitals and private hospitals will also be promoted to start DNB courses in order to encourage and strengthen higher education.

New rules will be devised in order to regulate the medical devices. These new rules will be in accordance with international rules, hence will attract investment in the sector. This will help in reducing the cost of these devices. India is the world’s largest supplier of generic medications. In terms of quantity India’s

shares in the global export of generic medicine is around 20 percent.

INFRASTRUCTURE

The budget allocated a record Rs 3.96 lakh crore for infrastructural development.

Such investments will increase economic activity and create employment opportunities within the country. A provision of Rs 2,41,387 crore is proposed for the transport sector including railway, road and shipping. The total capital expenditure for the development of railways in is estimated around Rs 131 000 crore in 2017-18. It also includes the Rs 55,000 crore provisions by the government. Another sum of Rs 64,000 crore has been allocated for the

Cover Story

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development of national highways in the country this year. This sum was Rs 57,676 crore last year.

CASH LIMITATIONS

Taking on the fight against corruption and black money, the Finance Minister of India, Arun Jaitley has proposed to restrict all cash transaction above Rs 3 lakh in this Budget. This restriction of cash transaction over a limit is being imposed on the recommendation of a special investigation team (SIT) on black money. The SIT recommended the prohibition of cash transactions above three lakhs suggesting such transactions should be declared illegal and punishable under the law.

TRIBAL DEVELOPMENT

The budget allocation for the welfare of Scheduled Castes and tribes was estimated around Rs 38,833 crore in fiscal year 2016-17, which has been increased to Rs 52,393 crore in the201718 budget. It is about 35 percent higher than the budget estimates 2016-17. This budget allocation is 35 percent more than the allocations last year. The allocation for schedule castes has increased to Rs 31,920 crore while the same is 4,195 for

other minorities. The government will start a results-based monitoring system to monitor the expenses in these areas.

SECURING RAILWAY

Rs 1,31,000 crore has been proposed for the development of railway in 2017-18. Rs 55,000 crore of which will be provided by the government. As compared to the 2,800 kilometers of new railway lines in 201617, the railway will lay down new lines of around 3,500 km this session. In view of the passengers’ safety, a national rail safety fund will be constituted along with a consolidated fund with over rupee one lakh over the time period of five years.

The government will set deadlines for the activities devised by these funds.

04 Offbeat

FEBRUARY 12, 2017

CARE BAL KUTIR

Snapshots Bal Kutir was born in Anjina Rajagopal’s mind when she found an orphan 26 years ago She sacrificed her personal life, did not marry, for the sake of the orphaned, underprivileged kids Now her family has over 400 members, mostly doing well in life, 60 still staying with her

THE ROLLER COASTER OF JOURNEY

Its life and it’s not meant to be smooth.

Anjina do had to face a lot of trouble while meeting the needs of ‘Bal Kutir’.

After all she always ran a big family. She says, “Initially money was a big issue.

Baal Kutir was getting new members regularly. I was the only source of income. So, sometimes I use to have only 500 hundred in my account but still I ran this family. It was my kids who gave me the strength to fight for our survival.” In even her toughest time she never asked for money to anyone. She just accepted whatever came voluntarily.

Now few of my kids are earning their livelihood their own,” says the proud mother. Many children reared here are now working. All of them help their mummy financially.

ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY Anjina Rajagopal sacrificed her entire life in taking care of orphansed and underpriviledge children. Now she has a 400 member family in Noida...

PALLAVI VATSA

some fruit vendors thrashing a boy. She inquired and found that the child was a WAS standing in a prayer meeting homeless kid. Anjina brought him with 60 children around me. Their home. That was the day Anjina became eyes are glowing in the limited but a mother of a boy, Rajat. He is the bright light of diya. All of them are reason behind her shelter home, Baal singing the aarti. I am sharing time and kutir. space with the biggest family in the Rajat can’t hear neither can he speak, Noida. This family has 400 members. but with his gleaming face he will It’s a family with single parent, mother express all his emotions to you. When I Anjina Rajagopal. This is not a met him, first thing he did was to point traditional family with parents and their his finger towards Anjina, and bowed to wards. This family includes all those her. He didn’t speak but it felt as if he kids who are orphan, deprived, and had wanted to say, she is my mom, this is my no name and address. All of them call house and I am the elder brother of all Anjina, mummy. Anjina is not only their the kids here. When Rajat meet Anjina, mother but their father he was just 9, now he is too as she takes care of all 37 years. He is working the kids and their needs as a team leader with an he is not only too. organisation making their mother but jewellery boxes. His face RAJAT THE FIRST BOY their father too. was glowing with the This family started 26 glory of success, when he years back. Anjina was She takes care of was explaining me his returning home from her all their needs work through his office, when she saw gestures.

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EXTENDED FAMILY

Anjina sacrificed her life for the betterment of these needy kids. She picked a few kids from road; a few are from slums even police got few kids to her house. Likewise the family gets extended. It was the first time she got a girl in her house. Girls always mean extra care and responsibility. This is the reason behind gender imbalance in India. When, even parents don’t want a girl child. Anjina welcomed Meera with open arms and heart. Meera is now married and mother of two children.

She is staying in sector 41, Noida with her husband and kids. She says now, when I am mother of two children I understand how mummy would have managed so many of us. Now I respect and love her more than before”. Other than Meera six more girls got married and are now settled in their life. Right now Anjina has total 60 kids in her house. Including 40 girls and 20 boys, among them Anshika is the youngest; she is just 5 years old.

SECOND MOST IMPORTANT IS EDUCATION

After livelihood comes the number for proper education. Educating her children was another big issue for Anjina. She knew, finding school for the children of shelter home won’t be an easy task. So, she decided to have a school of her own. With a mission to give her kids a bright future, she Kept foundation of her school ‘Sai Sikhsa Sansthan’ in Wazipur, Noida. The school, which was started with just 80 children, has more than 400 children now. So far fifteen batches have completed their 10th standard from the school. Even the parents who can’t afford to send their kids to any other private School send their kids here.

They get subsidy on everything like books, copy, pen, pencil, etc.

EDUCATION IS THE KEY TO THE SUCCESS

Rajender came to Sai Kripa at the age of six. He completed his 10th class from Sai Sikhsa Sansthan, did his 12th from National Institute of open schooling.

Then he pursued his graduation in Hotel management. At present, he is working with an Italian restaurant in Gurugram. Whereas Puja is a doctor, she says: “I have seen doctors who demand a lot of money from their patients for treatment. There are poor

FEBRUARY 12, 2017

INTERVIEW

ANJINA RAJAGOPAL

“Whether, they are staying with us or with their family. They are still part of this family. This togetherness is my success.”

WHAT YOU WILL SAY ABOUT THE HARDSHIP OF EARLY DAYS? Of course early days were very difficult. I had to face financial problem.

Somehow, someone or

other kept helping me. It was kind people who kept me going. Without such generous people’s help all this was not possible.

IS THERE ANY KIND OF DIFFICULTY YOU ARE FACING RIGHT NOW? Now I don’t have any financial problem as such. We get grants, even my kids have started working they too help me. Many companies are willingly helping us. Since starting I am facing one constatnt problem that is space. Just need a bit mile on their bigger space, where I can have all my institutions faces motivates inside one campus. This me to keep going will really help me in keeping an eye everywhere.

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but it is our society who sees them as responsibility. Thet are not competing with boys in every field but are also ahead of them in many sectors and the gap is narrowing ith every passing day.

GROWING FAMILY IS MY SUCCESS HOW YOU FEEL AT THIS POINT OF TIME WITH SO MUCH OF HARD WORK AND STRUGGLE? It was a long journey. I started with one kid and right now I have 60 Kids in my house and many settled out. All these successful and happy kids give me lot of satisfaction. Smile on their faces motivates me to keep going. I will say I am satisfied as my children are happy and my family is growing.

Offbeat

Anjina with one of the kids of Bal Kutir

WHAT YOU WILL SAY ABOUT YOUR GIRLS? THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE EXTRA LIABILITY, HOW YOU MANAGE THEM? I am more concerned about Girls.

They naturally have got that motherly feeling in them, they take care of small kids automatically. It’s beautiful to have a daughter. I have more daughters in my house than boys. They add on beauty to house. Six girls till now have got married.

They never are liability rather advantage.

Its not the girls who are responsibility

WHAT SUCCESS MEAN TO YOU? My success means my growing kids. When I see them happy and flourishing I feel the success. Every child is still connected to me.

Whether, they are staying with us or with their family. They are still part of this family. This togetherness is my success. I feel success is not a stangnant but a continuous process, with passing time it changes.

NOW TECHNOLOGY HAS IMPROVED A LOT, HAS IT BRING ANY CHANGE IN YOUR LIFE? Of course, earlier it was difficult or near to impossible to find parents of the lost child. Now, because of advancement it has become easier for us. We send many lost kids back to their family.

Police helps us in it.

Children having a great time including food, martial arts training in Bal Kutir

people in our country who need low cost medication. So, I aspired to be doctor. Now I can treat my family my own.

THESE CONTRIBUTIONS ARE NOT LEAST

If you visit this place you can feel the essence of home here. Even the workers are working here from past 20 years.

They feel as if they are working for their own family. Here we meet Ram Prakash, he says this “place is my home, the kids played in my lap are now grownups.

Now, I cook for them. I love cooking for them. This is my only passion.” Before this, Ram Prakash use to drive an auto.

Anjina meet her near choura mod

too.” People working here are happy and (NOIDA) in the year 2007. She reserved satisfied.

Ram Prakash and his auto for one week.

“That week never ended and it will last FEW MORE STEPS FURTHER only with my death,” says Ram Prakash. Anjina is very happy with her work and Ram Prakash says “I left all my ill habits she has started vocational courses for while staying here like drinking. I growing Kids. She runs a bridge course too turned in to a pure Vaisnov”. Now he is for the kids who never stepped in to any old and can’t drive so, cooks for children school. “As it is not a regular course so, no staying in the kutir. norm for eligibility, no age Sevak lal is another bar nothing is needed to worker, he washes every join ‘Bal Sansar’. Children y mission is come to fill the gap; they one’s cloth. Apart from this he does some small learn and then join the to provide a work like getting stuff main stream. We feel proud better life to from shop and helping in when we see them working other house hold work. more and more independenly” says Mrs. He says, “I love washing Padmaja teacher in Bal poor kids cloth, it clean my heart Sansar.

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Apart from ‘Bal Sansar’ there is ‘Vatsalya vatika’ too, here children learn art, craft, theater and dance. This is for special kids, suffering from any kind of disability mental or physical. These courses are for marginalized section of society. Any poor kid interested in these things can join and learn here.

‘Sai vocational training’ is for the kid who can’t afford to go for professional courses. Those kids come here and learn skills like spoken English, tailoring, computer courses, beauty culture cooking and all. Anjina is happy with work performance. She has more plans in her mind. “My mission is to benefit more and more poor and helpless kids, so that they can have a better life. I want to keep nurturing life with difference”, she says.

06 Good News

FEBRUARY 12, 2017

NEWS IN BRIEF

ARMY COMPLAIN NUMBER

Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat himself will listen them

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FTER the a r m y ’s recent spat over soldiers’ posting their complains online, the army has decided to listen to their men.

It has set up a WhatsApp number for its soldiers to post their problems directly to Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat.

The move came after a series of videos were posted online by personnel from the army, IAF and central police forces regarding various conditions that they work under. The WhatsApp number to register complaints is - +91 9643300008.

DEENDAYAL THALI MP Chief Minister launches scheme at Rs 5 for the poor

NUTRITION CAMPAIGN MP is launching a full fledged program to tackle the issue of low weight children INDIA ABROAD NEWS SERVICE

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SPECIAL nutrition campaign will be launched from February in Madhya Pradesh. The campaign aims at improving the condition of the low weight children in the state. Minister for Women and Child Development Mrs. Archana Chitnis issued a directive to the department to identify low weight children in the entire state engaging anganwadi workers in the special campaign. She also instructed the authorities to make a special action plan for such identified children.

A directive was also issued to the collectors and commissioners to

BIHAR ELECTRICITY

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‘Deendayal Thali’ scheme will be launched from April this year for the poor in selected cities of Madhya Pradesh.

This was announced by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. As per the scheme, the poor will get tasty plateful meals at the rate of Rs. 5 per head.

CM also announced that a new law to give every citizen housing facility would be legislated to help the houseless and landless poor get housing facility. By 2018, at least 5 lakh housing units in urban areas and 8 lakh houses in rural areas would be constructed.

He said state government had been able to build a strong relationship between people and the government machinery.

Constitutional institutions had been strengthened. In the last 5 years, the state GDP had gone up by more than 10 percent.

Talking about activities of Department of Happiness he said that state witnessed Anandam from January 14 to 21 in rural areas during which people enjoyed rural sports at around 7500 places. Similarly, he said, ‘Anand sabha’ will be held at educational institutions and ‘Alp Viram’ program at government offices. Anandam program was about the joy of helping the needy.

NEWS IN BRIEF

MADHYA PRADESH NUTRITION

POWER-FULL BIHAR Efforts of the present govt made Bihar power surplus

initiate action at their level for negligence on the part of the department personnel in execution of the department’s plan for low weight children.

The minister announced that in order to encourage better works under the special nutrition campaign, awards will be given from aaganwadis to state level. The awards will be instituted in the name of Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya.

To ensure an effective campaign the minister has instructed that anganwadi workers and assistants should not be engaged in any other activities during the time of aaganwadis i.e. till 1.00 p.m. Also meetings should not be held on ‘mangal diwas’ and ‘gram swasthaya evam poshan diwas’ on Tuesday and Friday. Aaganwadi workers and assistants should pay attention completely on children. The assessment work of campaign will start from April 2017 and will be completed

by February 2018.

Efforts will be made to stop shifting of families of extreme low weight children by linking them with livelihood activities conducted by various departments.

Quick Glance Creation of Jharkhand had left Bihar a power deficient state Constant push by Nitish Govt at power generation bore fruits Now Bihar has become a power surplus state

SANJAY

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LECTRICITY is not a luxury but a necessity of the people of Bihar.

Recently, released data by the government of Bihar shows that production and distribution have remarkable growth in merely ten years. In addition to traditional source of electricity, government has started to open door for private sector to produce electricity. After Jharkhand division, state had entered in to ‘dark space.’

People used to joke that even in 21st century Bihar leads a life of medieval period. This was true too. Leave the villages; even the towns hardly got electric supply. But, this is changing as Bihar is becoming ‘Power-full’.

Presently, Bihar is consuming 3,800 hundred to 4,000 MW every day. While in 2005-06, it used to consume only 700 to 800 MW per day, informed Hare Ram Pandey, Director, Public Relations, Bihar State

Electricity Board. Further, he added that many projects are about to be completed.

Moreover, Government of Bihar has successfully renovated the Barauni and Kanti thermal power with the joint collaboration of NTPC. Some infrastructures are being installed in BUXAR and Aurangabad.

Recently, Tata Power Delhi Distribution has signed an MOU with the Bijhar government to install solar energy infrastructure in Patna.

FLOURISHING RAILWAY More funds are pouring in for Railways’ infrastructure

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HE central government is spending huge amount of money in order to modernize the railway infrastructure in the country. Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu told that the government is going to invest even more in railways this year as compared to the previous.

“Railways used to put Rs 30,000Rs 40,000 crore in a year into railway infrastructure...We increase the investment to Rs 1 lakh crore....almost Rs 3 lakh crore has been invested in the span of two-andhalf years,” he said.

These investments are additional to whatever the ministry allocates in the budget and by giving contracts to different agencies. These huge investments and new indirect tax regime Goods and Services Tax (GST) would help in spurring the economic growth of the country.

TELANGANA SKILL ACADEMIES

The two will create world class aero skills academy

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HE Telangana Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with French Aerocampus Aquitaine for setting up Aero Skill Academy in the state.

The MoU was signed by Jerome Verschave, General Manager, Aerocampus and Jayesh Ranjan, Secretary IT, Telangana. The scope of this partnership is to create a world-class aero skills academy in collaboration with academia and industry based in the state capital.

The official release said, “The project deliverables include identifying skill gaps, designing courses and enabling EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) and DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) certifications for the academy and its courses.”

The academy will offer specialised aeronautical courses in engineering, manufacturing and maintenance domains and shall offer long duration basic training programmes for young students and vocational training.

Good News

FEBRUARY 12, 2017

NEWS IN BRIEF

FINANCE DEPOSITS

BOOSTING MARINE PRODUCTION

JAN DHAN BOOM

Mariculture is seeing fresh impetus with new research

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Lot of people seem to have stashed their unaccounted money in these accounts PUNEET DUBEY

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AN DHAN accounts devised to help the poor of the country seems to be flourishing after the demonetisation move with a record high deposit of 74,610 crores according to the latest official data released by the Finance Ministry. Within a month of the November 8 announcement of high

Quick Glance Almost 75 thousand crores deposited in Jan Dhan accounts Most of these deposits made soon after demonetisation Income tax department to start investigations in such deposits

value notes demonetisation the deposits in Jan Dhan accounts surged registered a rise by nearly Rs 29,000 crore. As of 7 December, the total deposits in these accounts show a record high of Rs 74,610 crore on December 7.

The Income Tax Department has earlier reported that total deposits amounted to Rs 45,637 crore on November 9, the day from which Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes ceased to be legal tender, in a move designed by the government to eliminate black money, counterfeit currency and terror financing. As on the eighth day after the announcement, aggregate deposits in Jan Dhan accounts

had increased to Rs 64,252.15 crore, Parliament was told during the last winter session.

Deposits in Jan Dhan accounts have grown by more than 50 per cent since the demonetisation announcement. In a release early in December, the Finance Ministry said there has been a continuous fall in deposits, after an initial surge post November 8.

“As on December 21, deposits worth Rs 71,557.90 crore had been mobilsed under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)” and that this scheme for financial inclusion had succeeded in opening over 26 crore accounts.

SPORTS BADMINTON

N hopes to substantially increase the seed production of marine fishes the Union Minister of State Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Sudarshan Bhagat inaugurated the new Central Marine Fisheries Research I n s t i t u t e ’s (CMFRI); recirculating aquaculture s y s t e m (RAS) based at Vizhinjam Research Centre in Kerala.

Inaugurating the facility, Bhagat said farmer-friendly technologies should be developed to attract people into fish farming. He added, “In order to solve the issues in the fisheries sector following the decline in the availability fishes from the sea, steps should be taken to improve the facilities and technologies for boosting the fish production through alternative ways.”

According to CMFRI Director A.Gopalakrishnan, “Mariculture is the hope of future generation. CMFRI is focusing on research to enhance the mariculture activities through cage farming methods” he said adding that it would help to increase its blue economy.

KASHMIRI SHUTTLERS

EMPLOYING SERVICEMEN

Sports is essential for maintaining good health. These young Kashmiris are also using it for bonding and building nation SSB BUREAU

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PORTS and games are physical activities involves in skill development of competitive nature. Generally two or more groups compete against each other for the entertainment or win the prize. Sports activities for both, men and women are needed to be promoted as it enhances the physical, mental, financial health of the person. It plays various great roles in strengthening the nation by building the character and health of its citizens.

Sports bring speed and activeness to human’s way of acting.

Keeping this philosophy in mind a Sport Trust was formed 5 years ago by a group of likeminded people and was named as Sports Trust Of Displaced Kashmiris– the work of this trust was to hunt sports talents in various sporting activities and give them a platform where these kids could launch themselves and achieve bigger heights in life.

This idea was floated by a sports enthusiast Sumit Kaul with the support

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of legends like Sanjeeva Chaudhary, who captained J&K Ranji team for 16 years, Shashi Kaul, a person who earned laurels at national level in Cricket and Badminton, Sushil Dhar a master who has played DDCA for many years – this trust could not have had been possible without the support of Mr Ajay Bhat CEO ….. and lately by Mr Abhin Kaul who through his energy and dynamism has taken this trust to a different level. Sports Trust of Displaced Kashmiri’s have been organizing Cricket tournaments under the flagship name KPL (Kashmir Premier League) and CPL (Chinar Premier League) since 5 years now – this league has given birth to lot of cricket talents namely Aman Zutshi, Aakash Raina, Abhinav Tufchi, Akash Tufchi, Rahul Mussa, the list goes on and on.

This year STDK organised KBL (Kashmir Badminton League) a tournament which was played within the Kashmiri Community, this tournament has given birth to a lots of

Himachal CM provides support to retired armymen

A young emerging badminton talent’s like Shehjar Chaudhary, Shirin Kaul, AaravDhar, Aarav Kaul, Vansh Raj Kaul, Aryan Nehru, AnujSher, Prajjwal Kaul, Gopal Mahaldar, Sandeep Moza. The tournament was designed in such a way that the ladies could also participate leaving behind the monotonous kitchen life style and play for fun and competitiveness – Manisha Makroo, Kanchan Kaul, Shiwani K. Bhan, Pratiba Kaul, Suchitra Miskeen, Shweta Sadhu are few of the participants.

STDK due to some reservations could hold sporting events in Delhi and NCR area only but now from this year STDK has planned to move further and organize such events in Jammu, Chandigarh, Pune, Jaipur and Bangalore. STDK is sure that this honest effort would get financial support from Government, Corporates and Sports loving Individuals.

R O U N D 1,400 exservicemen in the state have been provided jobs in the last four years while work on the war museum in the state is about to complete said the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.

“A total of 1,400 ex-servicemen have been provided jobs in the last four years and Rs 5.21 crore was spent to distribute grants under different bravery awards.

The war museum in Dharamsala is being constructed at a cost of Rs 9 crore,” he said while presiding over the Ex-Servicemen Kalyan Board’s meeting.

The state government is committed to settle issues related to serving and exservicemen, Singh said. A reservation of 15 per cent is, also, being given to retired soldiers, war widows and their wards in government jobs, he said.

08 Science & Technology TECHNOLOGY

FEBRUARY 12, 2017

FUTURE

Snapshots

TREADING THE TECHNO TRAIL

Technology is advancing at lightning fast speed with each passing year Recent advancements in technological world will have wider ramifications

The gap between physical and virtual world will come to an end in the time to come through digital mesh. The changes that are occurring in the field of digital industry will be beneficial at large for IT industries, business as well as the masses.

PRASANN PRANJAL

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WENTIETH century saw the technology as an intrusion in our lives, but by the end of it, it has been inextricably woven into our lives. It has been only two decades into the current century but it is almost impossible for us to imagine our lives without technology.

Technology is growing rapidly due to technological inventions, new innovation, artificial intelligence and the growing use of the Internet of Things (IOT).

Developing technologies will certainly make human lives much easier but at the same time they will raise our dependency on electronic devices and machines.

According to a Gartner report, the gap between

physical and virtual world will diminish to minimal, in the time to come through digital mesh. The requirement of smart machines will be on rise everyday in order to survive in the digital world. In today’s time, most of the organisations are on the way to digitalisation. Algorithmic business is attracting more and more takers. But, Information Technology (IT) needs to be upgraded for digital and algorithmic business. The changes that are occurring in the field of digital industry will be beneficial at large for IT industries, business as well as the masses.

Day is not very

far when people will depend on device for their daily needs

REVOLUTION IN DEVICE MESH Device mesh will see a rapid development in the time to come. Device mesh includes mobile devices,

wearable devices, consumer and home electronic devices, automotive devices, enviromental devices and other electronic devices. Electronic devices have become part and parcel of human life due to growing usage of technology. That day is not very far when people will completely depend on device for using different apps pertaining to information and knowledge, or communicating with people, communities and government or any work related to business or any other work.

After the mobile revolution the digital industry has used better sensors to expedite the manufacturing of devices focusing specifically on mobile users. The device works better due to these sensors, as it receives the information from wide gamut of sources. It is attracting lots of users. Be it the smart system at your office or smart home technology or any technology for that matter, everything is focused on devices. Every device works in isolation at present but later due to better sensors multiple functions will be done by using single device.

It can be better understood in the light of certain examples. Using single device will enable you to operate multiple devices simultaneously at home due to growing use of sensors. For example you will be able to operate refrigerator, TV, computer, car, bike and many other electronic appliances through your mobile only.

DEVICE KNOWS YOUR CHOICE Device mesh provides information as per the users’ interest based on their experiences anytime and anywhere.

Actually it is a process of maintaining continuity between device and the location. Hyper location technology is making users’ experience easier and smooth. The Hyper location technology enables the device to understand the choices and preferences of users.

For example if a user is looking for a

Every service will available at your fingertips with ultra modern devices

hotel with the device, it will immediately suggest him the same, based on his past experience in hotels visited carrying that device. The device pro-actively understands the user’s choice of hotels and also helps with directions. This device functions on the basis of physical elements and experience of the users such as the emotional state, habits, interests, social interactions, group dynamics, light, pressure, noise and atmosphere etc. It is different from the sensors used in smart phones these days.

THE ERA OF 3D PRINTS 3D printing technology has been in vogue for quite some time now but due to advance 3D printing technology, metal and alloys, carbon, fiber, glass, conductive ink, electronics, pharmaceutical and biological materials will also become very easy to print. 3D technology facilitates the making of difficult and complex structures as well as small things, even at home. One can make three-dimensional picture of any object, shape and structure and can print the same in 3D with the help of software on the computer. Apart from this, 3D scanner can scan the picture taken by 3D or any regular camera. The outcome will be 3 dimensional and in the exact shape.

The inbuilt new practical application in 3D printers will play a key role in the expansion of the functions in several sectors. It will also help many sectors right from aerospace, medical, automotive, energy and military sectors, to manufacture their own devices. It will help improve skills of students pursuing creative courses such as engineering and technology courses in testing and designing. It is expected to play important role in making electronic parts, engine parts, and food

3D printer can replicate the exact structure

FEBRUARY 12, 2017

Science & Technology

09

SCIENCE

The Brain device shown here can read your mind and order other devices to function

Advance Computing Architecture for faster computing

items. One of its crucial applications will be in the fields of bone, skin and organ transplant. The usage of 3D printable materials will grow even faster in the time to come. According to an estimate, its growing rate will be 64.1 % CGR (compound annual growth rate) by the year 2019.

devices, including smart Advisers will be able to make decisions and solve problems of all sorts without human intervention or guidelines. Google Now, Microsoft Cortana and Apple Siri and similar personal assistants, would emerge as autonomous agents. Presently smart machines follow only those directions which are installed or fed in their systems but soon they will be able to take decisions and work accordingly. They will also interact like real humans and will be able to read, write and understand. According to Gartner’s report, autonomous software will play very crucial role in the economy and daily life. Only those companies will survive in the business arena which will make such powerful software in the time to come.

ALL INFORMATION THROUGH ONE DEVICE There are many upcoming devices which will facilitate access to all kinds of information and data. Digital mesh will produce, use and transmit all sorts of information. It means you will be able to access every information that includes textual, audio and video information as well as sensory and contextual information through one device. Gartner predicts that by the year 2020 around 25 billion such devices will be manufactured which will give all sorts of information. Such devices will definitely make humans life easier but there are possibilities of them to be harmful as well.

INTELLIGENT MACHINES The Deep Neural Nets (DNN) in advance machine learning work beyond classic computing and information management and creates a system that functions independently between the input and output layer . The Deep Neural Nets is an advance form datasets of machine learning which makes the machine intelligent. The machine based on DNN hardware or software adapts the features and information around it very quickly. It enables the access to varied information at one time through single device. It also consists of various other features.

DEVICE WILL BE CONTROLLED THOUGH BRAIN Mind reading machine will be decoding several functions of human brain. This machine will be installed in an electronic device, so that the device will read the mind of its user and act accordingly.

According to IBM, very soon the consumer will be able to operate their electronic items through their brain instead of doing it manually. Not only this they will not require any password for the security. The gadget will understand what is going on in the user’s mind and will act accordingly.

For example if the user thinks of calling his friend or relative, the inbuilt mind reading machine in the mobile will sense the idea and dial the desired number.

SMART MACHINE WILL MAKE DECISION The smart machines will be capable of working independently through the machine learning technology. Smart machines such as robots, drones, selfdriving car, autonomous vehicles, virtual personal assistants (VPA), and other such FUTURE PLANS - The government of India will use Internet of things (IOT) for smart city projects.

- Lighting, traffic management, parking, water supply management, schools, hospitals and other facilities will be connected in the form of smart grid through IOT - 27 Billion devices will be connected worldwide with IOT by 2020 (according to India’s Department of Electronics & IT) - $ 300 billion business worldwide will be ready by 2020 IOT through IOT. - 2.7 Billion devices, will be connected through IOT in India by 2020 - 60% of Businessmen believe that smart machines will impact on business in a positive way.

Source- Gartner Report

be developed through efficient highpowered and ultra-Efficient neuromorphic Architectures. Through the use of Neuromorphic architecture technology FPGA and high efficient architecture, it will be possible to give more speed with high energy efficiency than one Teraflop with mimic Neuro biological systems. This system made by GPU and FPGA (Field Programmable Gate array) will work like human brain as it is used in smart machine.

The smart

machines will be capable of working independently

HACKING WON’T BE EASY Growth of digital business and algorithmic economy has led to rapid growth of hacker industry. The pace at which the hacker industry is rapidly expanding its territory can cause difficultly in the future for the digital industry.

Therefore for tackling the menace of hacking, institutions are planning to make maximum use of cloud-based service and are opening API to connect the system with customers and partners. IT leaders are coming up with better solution to deal with the problem of hacking .At the same time efforts are also being made to make the application effective enough so that it can easily protect itself and not fall into the trap of hacking. Digital industry will move fast towards adaptive security architecture in near future.

ADVANCED ARCHITECTURE FOR BETTER CONSTRUCTION Advanced Computing Architectures will be required for the security of Digital mash and Smart Machine, in the digital industry. Advance system architecture can

MESH APP WILL EXPAND Mesh app and service architecture give web scales performance, flexibility and abilities to the dynamic architecture and user experience enabling full expansion of the digital mesh.

EXPANSION ARE BASED ON IOT PLATFORMS Internet of Things (IOT) platforms is helpful for mesh app and service architecture. IOT platforms management provides the capacity to give the ways for building, managing and securing elements to security, integration and other Technology and provides the ability to establish the basis. IOT digital mesh ambient user experience has an important and essential part that enables it. IOT platforms are required for any work or IOT program.

WHAT IS IOT It is an acronym of Internet of Things. It is a next generation internet world. It is a medium that enables one device to control home appliances like refrigerator, washing machine, TV, computer, laptop, mobile, street light, traffic system and similar technologies and digital gadgets via internet. Everything depends upon the device and digital gadgets are operated with minimal human intervention.

10 Special Story WOMEN

FEBRUARY 12, 2017

MENSTRUAL HYGIENE

Snapshots

DAWNING OF A NEW PERIOD

Menstruation is a social stigma, especially in the rural India Maternal health is badly affected due to unhygienic menstrual practices

Maternal health is big concern for India. ‘Subah’ has killed two birds with one stone in Bundelkhand, improved menstrual hygiene and provided rural livelihood

SRAWAN SHUKLA/LUCKNOW

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UMAN (17), a college student in Mahoba district of parched Bundelkhand in Uttar Pradesh has a horrifying tale to share when she entered the puberty age four years ago.

The pain, agony and shock were compounded when her illiterate mother gave her a home-made unhygienic sanitary napkin. It was an old dirty cloth padded with sand to soak the blood when she encountered her first ‘period’ in life. She wasn’t very comfortable using this kind of sanitary napkin. But she hardly had any option to refuse than trying it out to avoid facing the shame.

Every morning she was advised to

change the sand till the period was over.

While she was yet to come out with shock of biological and physical changes taking place during puberty, she caught up with the urinary tract infection (UTI). Initially, she did not share the unbearable burning pain and sensation but when the fever went up to alarming level her poor parents had no choice than to take her to a government hospital.

Her parents, who could not afford Rs 10 to buy her a sanitary napkin, had to shell out Rs 500 for the UTI treatment. This is not a isolated case, almost all girls and women in all seven districts of backward, poorest and most illiterate region of Bundelkhand go with similar trauma every month.

Subah has metamorphosed rural girls Sometimes, a small beginning bodies. They are now more aware of makes a big impact in the society issues of health, hygiene, women ‘Subah’ has really metamorphosed empowerment and inequality rural girls into today’s urban plaguing their live. They do not women and empowered them hesitate in talking about their to remove stigma attached to rights and equality with their biological changes in their Pallavi Gupta, MD, Fifth Estate male counterparts.

Collaboration between district adminsitration and an NGO brought remarkable changes

started in Mahoba has yielded positive results and changed the lifestyle of girls and women in this region. It has successfully created awareness and addressed their health and hygiene issues by removing the stigma attached to their monthly menstrual cycle. A new dawn descended in the district on April 3, 2013 when a unit of making low-cost sanitary napkins for poor and downtrodden village girls and women was opened in Mahoba.

The then District Magistrate of Mahoba, Dr Kaajal studied and understood their pain and sufferings.

She roped in the NGO Fifth Estate and directed the Gram Panchayat Adhikari , Anil Sengar to go to Solana NTPC Sanitary Napkin Unit in Hapur district and make a business plan. But Sengar had to return empty handed as the Hapur unit became unviable and was closed down. But the lady DM did not give up. Sengar was sent to Coimbatore where such a unit was running. She sanctioned Rs 3.5 lakhs to buy the required machinery and other resources Since the literacy, health and hygiene to set up the sanitary napkin unit in is lowest and poverty is highest in this Mahoba.

But before she could realize her region, for centuries girls and women are using indigenous sanitary napkins dream, she was transferred. But since a made with dirty old cloth padded with social revolution was already brewing coal ash, sand, dry earth etc to cope up in the region for women upliftment with the mentrual cycles. During this and empowerment, the new DM Anuj period, they are virtually ostracized and Kumar Jha took up from where Dr disallowed to enter kitchen, take part in Kajaal left. He not only set up the first any religious or other ceremonies. The unit but took up a loan of Rs 4 lakhs social stigma attached to ‘mahawari’ from Khadi and Village Industries (peiod) is so strong in the region that Commission to set up another unit in they are treated as outcast and forced to Mahoba in less than a year. cut off from the outside The unit not only gave world for five days. This employment to women in social trauma ends when their the region but soon it period is over and they are revolution was brought a revolution in purified again to cast region. Initially, cost already brewing the aside their ‘impurities’. of a packet of 8 sanitary Due to health and napkins was put at Rs 10. up in the hygiene issues in girls inflation, it has now Bundelkhand With and women in this region, gone up to Rs 15 to 18 a 20 per cent of them pack of six, still much remain childless. Studies suggest that it cheaper than the ultra modern available was due to use of unhygienic ways in the market. Besides manufacturing during periods which affected their sanitary napkins, the units also produced sterility and fertility. Bundelkhand has maternity pads selling at Rs 48 for a only 835 / 1000 female-male ratio, one pack of six whereas the same was of the lowest in the country. available in the market for Rs 300-400.

But a silent revolution, which The demand for these low-cost

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FEBRUARY 12, 2017

Special Story

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GONDA CHILD LABOUR

LABOURING SOME LOVE

Child labour is a blot on the face of a progressive society. Team Gonda has come out with an initiative for rehabilitating the rescued child labourers, Sarvodaya Yojana

Snapshots Rehabilitating rescued child labourers is not an easy task

Rural women at work in the sanitary napkin unit at Mahoba

Team Gonda has found a unique way of rehabilitation Many other districts also want to replicate this model

Women are first trained for this work

sanitary and maternity products soon started coming from other districts of Bundelkhand and even from different parts of the state and outside.

The Tariff Commission of India and Akhilesh government also lauded efforts of DM Anuj Kumar Jha who was felicitated by both state and Central governments. The low-cost sanitary napkins were given the name of ‘subah’ (a new dawn).

Subah not only helped address their health and hygiene issues but empowered women financially. Over 100 women have so far been given employment in Mahoba alone. They earn Rs 3,000 to 3500 monthly plus a bonus of Rs 500 per month for working 23 days in a month.

The revolution may have started from Mahoba but soon it spread to other states. Village development officers from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Odisha, Bihar, Delhi, Haryana etc made a beeline to study and set-up units in rural and backward areas of their states.

How ‘Subah’ drastically changed the lifestyle of girls and women in Mahoba was better understood by UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav’s wife Dimple Yadav, MP from Kannauj. She asked Fifth Estate Managing Director Pallavi Gupta to draw up a plan for the entire state. Fifth Estate gave a presentation to the UP Chief Secretary in the presence of 20 Principal Secretaries and later to the Chief Minister and his wife.

‘Subah’ got wings and soon more units were opened in Kannauj and neighbouring Kanpur. The project has now been taken up to 65 districts and very soon more districts will also be joining in.

clothes, books and cycle for going to a tutor to prepare him for admission in a good school from this session,” says Saafiya, mother of Shadaab who has never been to school.

Most of these families are poor and illiterate and have no means to send their (Top) Rescued child labourers with the district officials; (below) Shadaab at DM’s residence wards to school. Instead, children are forced to take up petty jobs once they SRAWAN SHUKLA/LUCKNOW in rural areas where children work in cross over the tender age of 10 for the fields and hazardous factories but also in livelihood of their families. Inspired by IFE of Shadaab Khan (14), a child urban areas where they are engaged as the DM’s wife Dr Neha Singh, Shadaab labour at the shop of a readymade domestic servants, shops, garages, too wants to become a doctor to serve garment, changed overnight. From restaurants and other odd jobs since they people in his village. “I will study hard to 11 hours a day, tedious duty at the shop to come ‘cheap’. become a doctor,” says Shadaab. “We The main aim of the scheme, which have a daughter and now she has a brother admission in school, nutritious food, decent clothes and tuition for studies. was named as Sarvodaya Yojana, is too,” says Dr Neha Singh.

This was made possible by a small rehabilitation of rescued child labours The DM tells that they have also initiative of Team Gonda which came out and improve social and economic developed a software to prepare with a unique scheme under which child conditions of their families so that the e-database and monitor the progress of labours rescued from the clutches of their child goes to the school and the family adopted child labourers. Their records of education, growth and employers are adopted by district officials becomes a part of the for their rehabilitation. mainstream society, claims health parameters would This idea was floated at a brainstorming Shameem Akhtar, Deputy be monitored every y son was quarter to ensure over-all session of the District labour committee Labour Commissioner of given sumptuous development of the meeting. “Once rescued, rehabilitation of Devipatan Mandal. adopted children. To child labours is the biggest challenge as After their rescue, food, new majority of them return to their petty officers, individuals and make adoption legally clothes, books tenable, it was linked to works again. “During the meeting an NGOs are identified for the posts of officers so officer threw the idea of their adoption by their adoption. A pilot and a cycle that studies of children district officials. The idea caught project was launched under remains unaffected even everyone’s attention and was discussed which nine child labours threadbare and we agreed to work out its were rescued and all of them were legally if they are transferred. “It was a humble modalities,” says Gonda’s District adopted by the officers working under beginning but was appreciated by all since Magistrate, Ashutosh Niranjan.

Team Gonda. The first child labour it involved a complete rehabilitation A study conducted by Campaign Shadaab (14) was adopted by the DM of package of child labourers and their families without putting any financial against Child Labour (CAC) reveals that Gonda, Ashutosh Niranjan himself. there are about 1.26 crore child labours in Significantly, Gonda has also been a burden on the state exchequer. The state the country and Uttar Pradesh accounted karmabhoomi of Nobel Laureate Kailsah government has also lauded Team for the highest number 20 per cent (19.27 Satyarthi who had rescued many child Gonda’s efforts and assured of all lakhs). The menace is not only prevalent labours in the district and those working support,“ claims Niranjan. The initiative in circus at tender age. by a DM and his team has caught the During one such operation, attention of others also. Many DMs of he was severely injured other district have also sent their labour when goons of a circus officers to study and replicate Sarvodaya Yojana in their districts. had roughed him up.

“The DM saheb and “We are presenting a paper at the his wife were very generous National Labour Meet in Bhopal on and courteous when they Sarvodaya Yojana and will also make a called Shadaab and us for a presentation to the Union Labour Ministry lunch at their residence. requesting Centre and other states to My son was given replicate it all over the country,” claims the sumptuous food, new Labour Commissioner R.P. Tiwari.

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12 Rural India

FEBRUARY 12, 2017

DHARNAI

SOLAR POWER Snapshots Dharnai village has become an inspiration for rest of India due to its unique efforts Solar power has spread its wings in every nook and cranny of the village It required collective efforts from the villagers, supplemented by Greenpeace

implementation in other villages of the state as well.

AWAITED GLOW

SUN IN THE NIGHT SKY The village that has lived in darkness for almost four decades is now gleaming with solar energy. And it all happened with the efforts of the local community SSB BUREAU

however, is on his Nishchay Yatra across Bihar. That is also how he stumbled on Dharnai. It is said that since the Dharnai is an excellent model of ideal panchayat, the Chief Minister is considering the demands. So if you hear of an international game taking place in the Dharnai sports stadium in the coming few years, don’t be shocked.

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AN you imagine a Panchayat asking the Chief Minister not for a playground but a stadium for their village kids to play?

Unbelievable but true. Dharnai is the village that has earned its reputation, after a victorious fight against the darkness in their village.

The entire village is powered by SOLAR VILLAGE solar energy and this model is the first Dharnai is the first village in Bihar to of its kind in the country. Thanks to this have adopted solar technology on such enlightening work in the village that a large scale. Today this village has its brought amusement to the Chief own power grid. The solar panels are Minister Nitish Kumar on his visit to everywhere in the village with white the Dharnai Panchayat of Jahanabad light bulbs on it. Around 100 Kw power District. The regional head of the area is produced in the village. 70 Kilowatt asked the Chief Minister to allot land electricity is reserved for household and other resources for purposes while the other various services in the 30 for irrigation. This is village. here were many the first village to produce The most important on this level villagers who had electricity of his demands were the and is the country’s first never seen an village with 24 hours construction of a stadium and converting the nearby electricity access through illuminated halt into a railway station. solar energy. electric bulb The Chief Minister Four micro grid power

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stations have been installed in the four divided clusters of the village named Bishunpur, Dharnai, Dharmati and Ditkoria. For the past few months electricity is being produced, distributed and utilised within the village. It is a successful model. Soon it will be handed over to the cluster village committee.

The grid hasn’t been handed over to the committee, yet it is the one presently looking after it. This is a pilot project for Bihar. This plant was established by the international environmentalist organisation Greenpeace. This plant costs up to Rs 1.75 crore.

The project is now expected to be proposed for

Dharnai falls in the Makhdumpur block of the Jahanabad district. It is situated on the Patna-Gaya main road along the National Highway 83. There is a railway halt on the other side of the road.

Barabar Hills, the rock-cut caves from Mauryan period are situated nearby and are world famous. Despite that, the village doesn’t have electricity for the last 35 years. Electricity did come to the village four decades ago, but the system failed within years. The electricity poles still stand tall in the village but there are neither electricity cables running over it not transformers. The village elders remember the time when electricity came to the village but the youngsters have only heard about such stories of electricity.

There were many women and girls in the village who had never seen an illuminated electric bulb or a rotating fan. Although there are some privileged families in the village who have installed solar panels in their houses for optional power supply but it took time for this to become a reality for the rest of the village. Most of the families in the village spent their nights in darkness for decades.

FEBRUARY 12, 2017

Power of community

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he entire project at Dharnai is community based. Every household has been provided electricity, collecting Rs 500 from each household. Soon electricity meters will be installed in their houses and they will be charged as per their electricity consumption. This will be done by the cluster committees.

The committee will be responsible for the security, operation, theft and employ salaries. The committee currently holds meetings every month.

There are 77 Dalit households in the village. None of them had any access to electricity. The cluster was really excited when there were talks of bringing electricity to the village. Today 44 of those households have electricity connection. Rest of the village is also in line for the service.

CHANGING PICTURE

Ashok Kumar is a large scale farmer in the village. He tells that it takes up to 100 hours of the diesel pump to complete the irrigation. We can’t say whether the solar pump will be as effective but it will at least help a little. Small farmers can take more advantage of these solar pumps.

Veena Kumari from the Harijan cluster is a fifth class student. She studies in the village government

BRIGHT NIGHTS

The village is now entirely illuminated through solar energy. It is divided into four clusters. Around 40 solar light pillars are installed in every street of all four clusters in the village. It illuminates the village with the white light of florescent tubes. There are a total of 450 households in the village. Currently 300 households have been connected to the grid. The proposal is to provide electricity to all of these houses. People are using electric bulbs, fans and are also charging their mobile phones.

Earlier they had to go to other villages or market to charge their phones.

Summers were a nightmare for the villagers as the temperature soared to more than 45 degree celsius.

There are also 75 OBC household in the village. 44 of them have been provided with a connection. There are more than 200 farmers who use diesel for farming purposes. There is a

NANOPARTICLES TO THE RESCUE

Nanoparticles are adding a new dimension to the fight against cancer cells DR. RAHUL KUMAR MISHRA

the consciousness of the scientists and compelled them to move on exploring anoparticles are tiny particles the potential of nontoxic nanoparticles which are far smaller than the to sensitize the immune cells to treat width of a single human hair. cancer.

In a new research, scientists have The important and tricky aspect of explored the potential of nanoparticles designing the nanoparticle to treat that can fight tumors by helping the cancer is vested in the fact that allowing body’s own immune system. the nanoparticles to cross the immune The experiments system isn’t easy. If the performed on mice nanoparticles are too revealed the interesting cells in the blood his high-energy big, and promising aspect of known as macrophages this nanoparticle-based form of oxygen swallow them up and cancer chemotherapy. proteins present in molecule rips the The nanoparticle-based the blood stream tend to apart nearby therapy not only wiped coat the large particles. out the originally targeted The scientists have biomolecules breast cancer tumors but found methods to metastases in other parts synthesize particles in of the body as well. The researchers are the size around 20-40 nanometers, a hopeful to begin the human clinical range best able to evade macrophages. trials with the new therapy in the next They also coated the nanoparticles few months. This strategy to kill the with a polyethylene glycol (a polymer cancer cells by the body’s own immune compound) shell, which helps them cells is relatively safer and more survive longer in blood circulation to effective than the traditional drugs. increase their effectiveness, decrease Immune sentries, commonly the dose dependency and enter target known as T cells, are commonly on the cells. Finally, very powerful lightsearch for suspicious looking targets, absorbing chlorine-based molecules such as harmful bacterial invaders and were incorporated inside the shell potential tumor cells. They sound the which activates the PEG-coated alarm if they encounter nanoparticles into any suspicious foreign tumor killers. material which induces a Once the designed cascade of molecular nanoparticles are pathways to provoke absorbed, the scientists other immune cells to shine a near-infrared mount a collective light source on the response. Tumor cells tumors. This light is play a trick to combat effectively absorbed by the immune response the chlorine molecules, and often over-express which then energize the checkpoint nearby oxygen molecules which halts molecules, creating a the immune system’s very sensitive, reactive search and destroy the and high-energy form whole work. of the oxygen molecule, known as To overcome this problem, singlet oxygen. pharmaceutical companies have This high-energy form of oxygen developed many different antibody molecule rips apart nearby proteins that halt these over-expressed biomolecules and kills the tumor cell. checkpoint molecules and empower The scientists were quite hopeful about the immune system to effectively target their discovery because such cancer the tumors. immunotherapy can add extra years to However, there is a problem with patients’ lives. current cancer drugs. These (The author cracked IIT-JEE and secured a position immunotherapy drugs are active in in the merit list. He did his PhD in Chemistry from Israel only 20% to 30% of patients. The and now he is pursuing research in antibacterial agents partial failure of these drugs stormed and industrially important chemicals)

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proposed plan to install 10 solar pumps of 3 horse power each. So far three of them have been successfully installed.

People are using those pumps for irrigation and every day activities.

There are many specialties of this project. All the solar panels are placed on the rooftops of the village houses hence utlising village lands properly.

Another is that the village has a plant with capacity up to 100 kw.

Interestingly, the village doesn’t have a building for the solar project instead rooms of Farmer Training Centre, community halls and PACS(Primary Agriculture Credit Societies) bhavan has been used for the purpose. The project is completely dependent on the community contribution and they themselves have to work for it. 30 percent of the total energy production is reserved for farming purposes. There is a separate grid for this purpose only.

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NANOPARTICLES CANCER DRUGS

school. She has never even stepped outside the village. She has never seen a light bulb or fan working. She used to study in the light of a reformed lamp (dhibri). Now there is electricity in her house. She is now able to study late at night thanks to

the solar power.

Long time resident of the village, Akhilesh Kumar tells earlier they were just living their life minding their own business but now the village is visible from miles away. The twinkling village has made a name for itself after they received the solar panels. The generation below the age of 35 had never seen electricity so far.

Pointing towards the Patna-Gaya rail line passing at the other end of the village, he tells that the villagers used to talk about the electric bulbs in the train when it used to pass during the nights. Now our village can be identified from miles away. The nearby villages still don’t have electricity, but our village stays illuminated.

New Research

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14 Health & Sanitation

FEBRUARY 12, 2017

NEWS IN BRIEF

NEWS IN BRIEF

EQUALITY FOR THE PATIENTS

WHAT’S THE SOLUTION?

HIV patients receive unfair treatment at the hopsitals

NGT has swung into action, asking for concrete solutions INDIA ABROAD NEWS SERVICE

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TTEMPTING to participate in cleaning of the country’s holy river Ganga, the NGT asked various stakeholders to suggest solutions for the river’s cleaning. The National Green Tribunal questioned if it is possible to intercept all the drains discharging grossly polluting sewage in the river, indicated to resort to other possible solutions. A total of 86 drains pollute the river by discharging effluents into it and its tributaries between Haridwar and Kanpur.

The tribunal ordered the stakeholders, which includes Union Water Resource and Ganga Rejuvenation Ministry, the Uttar Pradesh government and both central and state agencies to tell as of now how many drains meeting the Ganga and its tributaries will be diverted and the number of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) required to treat the effluent being discharged.

The NGT, posing several questions, also wanted to know that whether the plan to intercept all the drains is even possible at the first place and if not, then what is the solution.

According to a report published last year by Central Pollution Control Board, over 800 million litres per day (MLD) of untreated sewage coming from over 1,000 Seriously Polluting Industries (SPI) is poured into Ganga between Haridwar and Kanpur.

“Out of total 86 drains... which of the drain require interception and their effluent to be pumped to

A another drains... How many STPs are required and are operational... are those enough... if not then what is the solution,” a bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar asked the stakeholders.

Out of 86, about 30 storm drains flow directly into the river.The orders came a day after the Supreme Court transferred the 32-year old plea on cleaning the river Ganga to the Tribunal.

The NGT which is already hearing the matter partially said that from February 6 (next hearing) onwards, it will hear the case on day to day basis.

In a hearing in January, NGT had asked the stakeholders including Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board and Jal Nigam whether the STPs existing in the Segment B of Phase 1 (Haridwar to Unnao), are capable of treating effluents. The Tribunal also asked if it would be advisable to direct new construction of STP and Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs)

Quick Glance Drains along Ganga are main contributors to its pollution Sewage Treatment Plants are required to filter the dirty water NGT has prioritised this case and there will be daily hearing

and ordered the stakeholder to submit details on the issues till next hearing.

There are over 35 distilleries, 442 tanneries, 63 textile mills, 67 pulp and paper plants, and 28 chemical industries along the river stretch between Haridwar to Kanpur, which are needed to be checked upon and strictly managed by the authorities.

If the rules are not followed properly they need to be penalised accordingly.

At last we need to clean the pride of India which has such a huge history and belief attached to it.

notice has been issued to the Telangana government by the National Human Rights Commission over the alleged refusal of hospitals to treat a minor HIV patient citing non-availability of facilities. Accordingly, the state Chief Secretary has been asked to submit a report on the matter within six weeks.

The human rights body said the 14-year-old boy underwent treatment at Hyderabad’s Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) for two weeks. He was referred to Niloufer Hospital in that city for Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) since the facility is not available at the NIMS. However, the teenager was allegedly denied admission at Niloufer Hospital on the pretext it did not admit children over the age of 12. Thereafter, the boy was directed to the Osmania General Hospital (OGH), where too no help was forthcoming.

The NHRC said the case points towards lack of infrastructure and coordination among different government healthcare centers. “The boy, who could be under trauma due to AIDS, and his aged grandmother have suffered due to the callous and insensible attitude of the hospitals. Instead of initiating treatment, they made the boy and his grandmother run from one hospital to another in the name of jurisdiction and non-availability of different facilities,” the NHRC said.

HOSPITALS INFECTION

QUICK FIXING THE HOSPITAL BACTERIA A new method to detect hospital bacteria is out PUNEET DUBEY

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N analytical procedure has been developed by scientists that will help identify the bacterial species responsible for infections developing in hospital patients in just a few minutes. Developed by researchers from the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish

Academy of Sciences in Warsaw, the main role is played by innovative bioconjugates- - luminescent, magnetic

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microparticles coated with we should obtain from appropriately selected ndian hospitals pure bioconjugates, and bacteriophages.

The can easily determine are prone to detection whether the sample device used contains the bacteria we infection in the new are looking for, and if so, technique for in what concentration,” the identifying bacteria is a researchers noted in a paper published flow cytometer. in the journal Bioconjugate Chemistry.

“Measurement in the According to researchers, the cytometer typically takes identification of the bacteria can be about a minute. The result carried out in almost any hospital is a graph on which we see analysis laboratory and the waiting time how all the bioconjugates for the result is reduced to minutes. scatter the incident light Indian hospitals are quite prone to the and emit the fluorescence. hospital bacteria, which is responsible Since we know the signal, for different types of infections.

Health & Sanitation

FEBRUARY 12, 2017

HEALTH

POLICY

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NEWS IN BRIEF

REVOLUTIONISING HEALTH AAMCHI MEDICAL CAMP Delhi government is putting sustained efforts to build strong health infrastructure in the city

Mega health camp targeting low income group will be organised in Mumbai. It has potential to enter Guinness World Records PUNEET DUBEY

PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

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ELHI CM Arvind Kejriwal claimed that his government had brought a “revolution” in the education and health sectors. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader said his government’s first budget doubled the education budget and hiked the health budget by 50 per cent. Kejriwal said the expenditure incurred on health and education sectors is investment for the

Quick Glance Health and education most important sectors Mohalla Clinic is a revolutionary step for primary healthcare Around 1000 mohalla clinics are planned in next year

better future of the country.

Kejriwal added if all the governments in the country, including the Central government, decided to focus on education and health, development in the country would be rapid.

CM also said, “In the last two years we opened Mohalla Clinics in a lot of areas where free medical care is being provided. We have been focusing on primary health care,” he said.

“In the coming year, we will have 1,000 Mohalla Clinics and one will be able to find them within a radius of 2-3 kilometres.” he added

TRAINING HEALTH WORKERS

SMACKING THE QUACKS National Institute of Open Schooling will be training health workers on first aid and health, cleanliness awareness INDIA ABROAD NEWS SERVICE

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HE National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) has entered into partnership with Bihar Health Society to train rural health workers so that they can administer first aid and teach people about health, environment and cleanliness. The target is to train about four lakh people to make them multi-purpose health workers in the next five year, they said, adding the course would help people keep away from quacks.

Academic inputs would be provided by NIOS. The course would be run in 683 primary health centres of the state which comprise 534 PHCs and 149 first referral units, they said.

Bihar is the first state where this course has been launched, Regional Director of NIOS Sanjay Kumar Sinha

UMBAI will host the world’s biggest medical camp by gathering over 5,000 doctors and 20,000 paramedical staff and volunteers. The camp will hold programs screening several diseases related to liver, Ear-Nose-Throat, HIV and Cancer among others. The camp is being organised by city-based R.K. HIV Aids Research and Care Centre, which also said that free insurance worth Rs 6,000 crore will be distributed under the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Surakhsha Yojana (PMJSY) to three lakh people already registered for the camp.

The medical camp is being organised

Quick Glance Over 5,000 doctors are expected to participate Three lakh people have already registered for the camp Total of 50,000 spectacles will also be distributed

at Mumbai Metropolitian Region Development Authority (MMRDA) ground at Bandra Kurla Complex on Feb 19, 2017. The organisers have also tied up with 52 hospitals for free surgical procedures under government schemes.

“The low income group of society is deprived of several healthcare interventions due to poor economic conditions; we want to thus support the masses. A total of 50,000 spectacles will be distributed,” said Chairman of R.K. HIV AIDS Research & Care Centre Dharmendra Kumar. Kumar also said that they will try to get listed into the Guinness World Records through the initiative.

AWARD INDIAN TALENT

HONOUR DOWN UNDER

Order of Australia medal was given to three NRI medical professionals

said. Around 22,000 people have enrolled in different districts for the first academic session which would start from March, Sinha and chief of State Health a former President of Australian Indian Medical Graduates Association and also INDIA ABROAD NEWS SERVICE founded a community radio called Akashwani Sydney.

HREE Indian-origin medical Makhan Singh Khangure from Perth scholars were awarded Australia’s was given the award for his for significant highest civilian honour for their service to medicine in the field of contributions in the field of neuroradiology, and to medicine and work towards a range of professional hey were the community. medical associations.

Purushottam Sawrikar, Vijay Kumar, a nuclear recognised for a Sydney-based medical medicine specialist and a their service practitioner, received Order researcher, was given the of Australia medal for the award for his significant year 2017 in General division service to medical research category for his service to medicine, and in the disciplines of nuclear medicine to the Indian community. Sawrikar was and biology, and to the community.

T Society Bihar L B Singh said in a joint statement. A total of 1,916 applicants have so far enrolled themselves for the course in Samastipur so far, while Patna and Gaya have received 1,905 and 1,889 registrations respectively, the statement said.

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16

FEBRUARY 12, 2017

When my aim is “ right, when my goal is in sight, the winds favour me and I fly

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Arun Jaitley, Budget speech, 2017

PROMISES FOR

RURAL SECTOR FULFILLED

MANOJ MEHTA The author has been associated with print and TV journalism for last 30 years. He has a very keen eye for political affairs. He loves to follow all the individuals and events which make headlines

VIEW POINT

AN EXERCISE IN POLITICAL RIGHTEOUSNESS Union Budget was presented when five states were in in election mode. The FM lived upto expectation. His confidence emnates from demonetisation. It is expecting that the long term impact of demonetisation will lead to a course correction in country’s economy.

Finance Minister has opened coffers for agricuture and rural development sectors

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NE of the major sectors to have born the impact of demonetisation was agriculture. That was why everyone expected a bonanza for farmers in the Union Budget this time. And Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitely did not disappoint either. The last budget had promised income security for farmers and doubling their income by 2022. This budget is only a step in that direction. The steps announced by the Finance Minister include soil testing and issuing of soil health card to farmers to enable them to use fertilisers in a balanced manner, organic farming mission for restoring soil health and sustainability of agriculture, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana to reduce risk in crop production, e-national market for enabling farmers to access agricultural market and better price realisation for their produce.

These schemes will continue with greater efficiency and outreach this year.

Besides increased public investment in irrigation, especially for completing the incomplete irrigation projects, and provision for enhanced agricultural credit supply were made. Unfortunately, due to unfavorable climatic situations last two financial years, the benefits of all such initiatives by the government remained unrealised. The key positive features of the budget for this year is that it has allocated Rs. 1.87 thousand crore for agriculture and rural development, which is 24 percent higher than last year. Also, in order to promote private investment by farmers, the Budget has made an all-time high provision of Rs 10 lakh crore for agricultural credit this time. There is focus on increased institutional credit supply to farmers in unserviced areas, especially Eastern India. An effort will also be made to integrate primary agricultural co-operative credit societies with district co-operative banks, for which Rs 1900 crore has been allocated.

This is likely to improve the credit supply to farmers. Besides, the scope of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana will be increased and an enhanced allocation has been made for crop insurance.

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

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HIS budget was a historic in many sense. Not only did the government advanced the budget presentation to February 1st, it also altered the economic aspects of the budget presentation. The budget was to be presented at a time, when five states are caught up in the election fever.

Election Commission had already issued the budget related guidelines; it had mandated that government can’t announce any special scheme or provision which directly affects these states.

Government took these guidelines positively and used this occasion to display political righteousness, despite the charged up political atmosphere. The courageous step to make the political funding more transparent has augured well with the aam aadmi.

Government has made it mandatory to declare all political donations above Rs 2000. This, when seen in the aftermath of demonetisation, is like a double whammy for the

black money. This is surely going to smoothen the way for clean politics in India.

The figures from Economic Survey didn’t present a very rosy picture. GDP growth for the current fiscal 2016-17 is pegged to be at 6.5 percent, compare to 7.6 percent last fiscal.

Government has claimed that in the next fiscal it will catch up with the number. One of the major reasons behind government’s confidence is demonetisation. It is expecting that the long term impact of demonetisation will lead to a course correction in country’s economy. In last three months, a lot of water has flown under the bridge. Impetus on cashless economy is surely going to create strong linkages between the markets and the economy.

At this moment, government is trying to dissuade the fears of high inflation due to the provisions of Seventh Pay Commission.

Government is claiming that the fiscal deficit will also be well under

Courageous step to

make political funding more transparent has gone down well with the aam aadmi

FEBRUARY 12, 2017 control. It is also hoping for a revival in manufacturing, which saw a slump. A lot of government’s focus will be on generating new employment, which has been a painpoint for quite some time. This year’s budget is a veiled attempt to send a direct and clear message to the nation – everything is under control and the ‘achhe din’ are going to follow soon.

If we take a look at the major announcements by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, it is quite evident that government’s focus is on the rural India and the youth.

Income tax rate was cut to 5 percent for the individuals having income between Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. Earlier it was 10 percent.

In order to counter the expected Rs 15,000 crore loss due to this rate cut, government has placed a 10 percent surcharge on individual income above Rs 50 lakh and below Rs 1 crore. 15 percent surcharge on the income above Rs 1 crore will continue.

Government has been accused of ignoring the agricultural sector for last three years.

Consecutive droughts in last two years have stymied the agricultural growth, but last year’s good monsoon had rekindled the hope. Government is expecting the agricultural growth to exceed 4 percent this fiscal.

Government has

promised the nation that by 2019, at least one crore families will cross the poverty line Government has promised the nation that by 2019, at least one crore families will cross the poverty line to lead a better life.

It has also reiterated its resolve to double the agricultural income of farmers by 2022.

In this regard, government has announced that in next fiscal Rs 10 lakh crore will be provided as agricultural loans to the farmers.

Opposition has accused government of conveniently ignoring MNREGA. In this budget government has increased the MNREGA allocation to 48,000 crore from Rs 38,500 crore. This is highest ever allocation.

Prime Minister Modi had already announced the scheme to provide pregnant women financial aid of Rs 6000, which will be applicable across the country. The budget provided for construction of 1 crore new homes in next 2 years under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).

Fortunately, for the government didn’t get entangled in the complexities of numbers, due to the advancement of the budget presentation date. Even Election Commission won’t object to this smart move by government. Election results from the 5 states will be a good indicator of the impact and acceptance of government’s move by the public.

SHUBHAM RAI

The author is a graduate from BITS Pilani. He is presently pursuing PhD from TU Dresden, Germany

UPFRONT

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OR almost a year, I have been out of India to pursue my higher studies, first in Singapore and then in Germany. The most noticeable aspect in these countries is the structured systems and citizenry’s strict adherence to the norms. Not only norms, rules or regulation, people respect each other’s personal space and time. In these socalled developed countries, there is great sense of pride for one’s own time and other’s time. They have automated the processes to enable services for people.

Like, ATM machines are fully functional banks without any manual intervention.

Only important works requires human intervention which works on scheduled appointments. Being late is not entertained and punctuality is considered sacrosanct.

In Germany, people are given compulsory vocational training in which skills like carpentry, electrical work and masonry are taught. This creates a sense of value for labour in their mindsets.

Oped

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A LETTER FROM GERMANY

India is a land of opportunities, yet it misses out on talents due to poor life standards and messy systems here. We have lot of lessons to learn from Germany

Traffic management and road safety system are very efficient in Germany.

For getting a driving license, one has to get various kinds of certificates before the license is handed. One need to undergo first aid training, get eyesight correction certificate. Every process is automated and requires minimal effort.

Life and leisure is accorded high value in Germany. There is a system of work contract in place to ensure work-

life balance. 100% work contract is for 40 hours of week and you are paid accordingly. One can switch to 50% work hours or 75% work too.

People chose their contracts as per their availability and desire. This comes in quite handy in situations of baby care or medical issues. One thing which has always made me feel proud is that Indians are well reputed for their work ethics and they are considered hardworking and sharp people. In my university, one can find Indians in research in almost all the departments. Everyone misses their homeland a lot. But, they have gotten accustomed to the systematic and organised lifestyle here. It is high time, that we Indians should start working on setting systems in place and follow them without any exceptions. We are a nation of smart and persistent people; we need a mindset shift and systemic overhaul to follow structured processes and enhance our living standards.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR of a child. Thanks to the ‘Living Gandhian’, Chandrabhushan who is a torch bearer for these innocent lives and has lit the flame of education in their dark world. Our country needs more such people to join this noble cause.

Bharti, Patna

LITERACY WOES Dear Editor With reference to the story ‘Tamso Ma Jyotir Gamaya’ it is sad to know that in the 21st century India we still have a community where literacy is a farfetched dream. It is hard to believe that children of the Musahar community don’t even go to school.

It is a denial of fundamental rights

DARJEELING RAIL ROAD Dear Sir, With reference to the story in your ‘Good News’ segment, it’s good to know that Indian government has decided to conserve the Darjeeling rail road. We should value our pride and try our best to preserve the golden heritage of yesteryears. Conservation should become a part of our lifestyle; education related to conservation should be imbibed in the school system itself.

Danish, Delhi COLLECTORS’ COPY Dear Editor I saw you copy of Sulabh Swachh Bharat, Gandhi special. This copy is a collectors’ edition and worth keeping

in our book shelves. In this edition, your team has written on different aspects of Gandhi. In today’s world when youth are misunderstanding Gandhi’s philosophy as they don’t know read and understand him. In fact there is a sustained effort to paint Mahatma Gandhi ibn bad light. In such vitiated atmosphere your Gandhi Special Issue is like a whiff of fresh air.

These small stories can inspire them to read more on Gandhi. My special thanks to your team for keeping Gandhi alive among us.

Sushant Khosla, Jaipur HIS VALUES STILL RELEVANT Dear Sir In reference to the special edition on Gandhi. This issue was altogether really enlightening. It shed light upon various aspects of Gandhi, from the foreigner Gandhi who wasn’t even familiar with the country’s root problems to the Gandhi became Mahatma. Whatever the case, his values and teachings will forever stay with us.

Aruna Chauhan, Lucknow

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

18 Photo Feature The Divine Presence of Sri Sri FEBRUARY 12, 2017

The atmosphere at Sulabh Gram turned spiritual with the presence of revered Guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on February 2nd. He visited different facilities at the campus and was all praises for Sulabh’s efforts

Photographs by MONTU & JAIRAM 1

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1. Dr Pathak welcoming Sri Sri to Sulabh Gram 2. Widows of Vrindavan and liberated scavenger women greeting Sri Sri 3. Sri Sri lighting the biogas lamp 4. Inspecting the treated water 5. Dr Pathak explaining the process of biogas generation 6. Sri Sri frying papad at the biogas operated kitchen 7. Checking out the sanitary napkin dispenser 8. A visit to the Sulabh dispensary 9. Examining Sulabh Water ATM

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19 Ravi Sankar at Sulabh Gram FEBRUARY 12, 2017

Photo Feature

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10. Sri Sri inspecting the functioning of two-pit-pourflush toilet system 11,12. At the Sulabh Toilet Museum 13. Dr Pathak explaining the usage and importance of duck weed to Sri Sri 14. Sri Sri personally inspecting the instruments at Sulabh laboratory 15. Dr Pathak getting felicitated by Sr Sri 16. Sri Sri addressing the gathering 17. Signing the visior’s book

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20 Environment

FEBRUARY 12, 2017

NEWS IN BRIEF

DELHI

INDIAN-BRITISH PARTNERSHIP TO CHECK DELHI AIR POLLUTION

POLYTHENE BAN MP takes important step to curb pollution

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HE rising health problems linked with air pollution in Delhi will be tackled by Indo British researchers who have partnered for a project. In the

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LED DELHI LED bulb distribution has paced up in Delhi

WETLAND AWARENESS

New programs to create awareness about wetlands

World’s most polluted city sees a silver lining with a new joint project with British researchers in the offing PUNEET DUBEY

N an environmentalist move by the state government the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced a complete ban on polythene bags in the state from May 1.

“One of the prime obstacle in keeping cities clean, is the use of polythene, and that is the reason it will be banned from the month of May,” he said. Chouhan stated that instead of the polythene paper and cloth bags will be used adding on to this anybody caught using polythene will be punished.

He also mentioned that the state government has resolved to free the region from the social and environmental nuisance of open defecation.

NEWS IN BRIEF

AIR QUALITY

ASAP-Delhi project an integrated study of Air Pollutant Sources in the Delhi National Capital Region experts will measure airborne particulate matter and analyse the major causes of how the pollution is being generated.

“Air quality is one of the most important environmental challenges facing Delhi. This project will allow us to definitively quantify the contributions of different sources to fine particles in Delhi’s air -- a key step to solving

this problem,” Mukesh Khare, a professor at IIT Delhi, said in a statement.

With air pollution levels at times up to 30 times greater than those found in the UK, Delhi -- home to nearly 18 million people -was rated as the world’s most polluted city for ambient air pollution by the WHO in 2014.

Many Asian countries, including India, are seeing poor air quality in cities -- mainly fine and ultrafine particles.

“Some 46 million people live in and around Delhi and extremely high particulate matter levels are responsible for damaging citizens’ health and the environment, leaving many unable to work, which has significant economic implications for the region,” added William Bloss, Professor at the University of Birmingham.

The project will run for four years and will involve a series of field studies and follow-on analyses to determine the sources and processes responsible for airborne particulate matter in Delhi, linking with other projects funded in parallel to develop mitigation options.

Bloss stated that this partnership in Delhi chimes with Prime Minister Narenda Modi’s Smart Cities Mission to make India’s cities citizen-friendly and sustainable.

I

N an effort to increase the awareness of the general public towards conserving the wetlands Union Environment Ministry has announced to start a radio outreach marking the ‘World Wetlands Day-2017’.

Every year World Wetland Day is celebrated on February 2, adopted in 1971 by the Iranian city of Ramsar. The theme is ‘Wetlands for Disaster Risk Reduction’.

This theme has been selected to raise awareness about the vital role of healthy wetlands in reducing the impact of extreme events on communities and in helping to build resilience, the statement said.

The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), Chennai, which falls under the Environment Ministry, in partnership with a radio station will initiate a monthlong awareness campaign about wetlands conservation in five cities including Chennai, New Delhi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Thiruvanathapuram.

Union Environment Secretary Ajay Narayan Jha inaugurated a poster exhibition at the ministry to observe World Wetlands Day-2017.

BYE BADARPUR POWER PLANT

INVESTMENT ENERGY

I

N order to promote efficient use of power, Delhi’s power supplier company BSES in collaboration with Energy Efficient Services Ltd has distributed over 56 lakh LED bulbs in its area of operations. BSES, one of the three power companies in the country recently made this announcement.

“These will cumulatively lead to energy savings of a whopping over 124 million units per annum vis-a-vis CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps),” a BSES release said.

Around 37 lakh of these bulbs were bought by over six lakh consumers in BRPL’s area of South and West Delhi and around 20 lakh bulbs by over 3.37 lakh consumers in BYPL’s area of East and Central Delhi, it said. Under the scheme, a consumer can now buy 9 watt light emitting diode (LED) bulbs at a heavily subsidized price of Rs 65 each.

An LED bulb consumes 50 per cent less electricity than an equivalent CFL, and 85 per cent less than an equivalent incandescent bulb.

INVESTMENT FOR POWER CONSERVATION

Delhi government takes a welcome step

EESL will invest for energy efficiency in Andhra

INDIA ABROAD NEWS SERVICE

T

E

NERGY Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a company under the Ministry of Power, has signed multiple MoUs with the government of Andhra Pradesh entailing investment of Rs 24,700 crore for energy efficiency and solar projects in the state.

The execution of the projects will help the state reduce consumption of power and add over 80,000 jobs in the state. Andhra Pradesh was the first state to execute the UJALA programme for LED bulbs in 2015.

The EESL will continue to execute the programme in the state for three years, the company said in a statement.

The EESL will also install a 50,000 Solar Photo-Voltaic (PV) grid connected to agricultural pump sets in each DISCOM area.

It is acknowledged that irrigation needs are intermittent, between 200 to 250 days

in a year, leaving most of the days with additional power available. Solar PV gridconnected pump sets will bridge the gap and the surplus power may be fed back to the grid.

Several other projects will be executed by the EESL for the state government, including conversion of 500 governmentowned buildings into energy-efficient buildings over three years; installation and maintenance of energy efficient LED street lights in 1000 gram panchayats over 10 years; and replacement of over 10 lakh inefficient agricultural pump sets with energy efficient ones in three years.

AKING into note the rising pollution rate in the national capital, Delhi government has announced to shut down the Badarpur Thermal Power Plant until further notice.

The decision was taken by the Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain in a meeting with the Delhi Pollution Control Committee and the Environment Department.

The decision came after the Environment Pollution Control Authority asked Delhi government to extend the closure of the thermal plant, which is a major source of air pollution in the capital city.

The government statement on the decision said, “Directions have been issued by the DPCC to the Badarpur Thermal Power Plant for closure till further orders.”

The government in November last year issued directions for closure of all the units till January 31 due to “severe” ambient air pollution levels in Delhi experienced during the October-November period.

FEBRUARY 12, 2017

Environment

21

NEWS IN BRIEF

CLIMATE CHANGE PARIS AGREEMENT

PONG’S TRYST WITH THE RARE BIRDS

LEADING FROM THE FRONT

This winter recorded large number of migratory birds at the wetlands

India’s crucial role in climate change negotiations is being appreciated worldwide SAURABH SINGH

I

NDIA approved the ratification of the Doha Amendment that binds certain developed countries to reduce their emissions of Green House Gases (GHGs) till 2020. India’s move was an example for other nations, especially the first world, to check global warming.

The decision to meet the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol

Quick Glance Paris Agreement is a landmark achievement India ratified the Doha Amendment of of Kyoto Protocol India’s actions have received admiration from world leaders

ENERGY

was taken by the Union cabinet at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Kyoto Protocol, that was adopted in 1997 and came into force in February 2005, is an international agreement under United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which binds a certain group of “developed countries” (listed under Annexe-I) of its total 192 parties to reduce their emissions.

While the landmark Paris climate change agreement -- COP21, that entered into force in November 2016 (during COP22), is for the post-2020 period, the Kyoto Protocol is like the pre-2020 agenda to contain climate change.

“In view of the critical role played by India in securing international consensus on climate change issues, this decision further underlines India’s leadership, for the cause of environmental protection and climate justice,” an official statement said.

However, unlike the Paris Agreement, the Kyoto Protocol does not bind its “developing parties or counties” like India and China (based on the per capita emission) into any kind of obligation to reduce the emissions or set any targets. The targets are only applicable to the less than 40 countries listed in Annexe-I. The US, which amounts for about 17 per cent of global emissions (the highest), was among the first developed countries to oppose the Kyoto Protocol and has not signed it yet. Canada, following the US, has also withdrawn from the Protocol.

Under the Doha Amendment, which should’ve become operational on January 1, 2013, the obligated parties are required to work towards reducing the GHG emissions by at least 18 per cent below 1990 levels, till 2020. Parties are also supposed to report a revised list of the GHGs during second commitment period.

NEW TECHNOLOGY

REVOLUTION IN RENEWABLE ENERGY Renowned energy innovator has admired India’s role in renewable energy and predicted an important role by the country

Daniel G Nocera is the inventor of artificial leaf

INDIA ABROAD NEWS SERVICE

He believes India has a big role to play in energy sector

H

ARVARD chemist and energy innovator Daniel G. Nocera, inventor of the artificial leaf and co-creator of its bionic version, recently appreciated India’s efforts towards green energy and efficiency in an interview. He announced his plan to launch a pilot of the advanced technology in India with the assertion that a “renewable energy revolution will take place” in the country.

“I have no doubt about it. The revolution in renewable energy will happen in India.

When you look at places in the developed world like the US, you are looking backwards, meaning that’s what it used to be like (coal, oil and gas) and the emerging countries have a decision to take: Do they want to build something looking back or do they want to do something different,” Nocera told in an interview on the sidelines of SABIC (Symposium on Advanced Biological Inorganic Chemistry) 2017.

Nocera, currently the Patterson Rockwood

Quick Glance

India’s target of 100 GW solar power by 2022 is crucial

Professor of Energy in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Harvard University, invented the artificial leaf which used solar power to split water and make hydrogen fuel.

Because society isn’t set up to use hydrogen, to circumvent the problem of storing and using hydrogen, he and his team went one step further with the bionic leaf.

They made liquid fuel. The bionic leaf turns

sunlight into liquid fuel. It uses solar energy to split water molecules and hydrogen-eating bacteria to generate the fuel. The system churns out energy 10 times more efficiently than natural photosynthesis. Nocera collaborated with Pamela Silver of Harvard Medical School for the bionic version. The USP of the technology, which relies on unique catalysts that are biocompatible, is that it allows the use of any kind of water, even dirty water.

Envisioning a future where households will have rooftop bionic systems, Nocera believed it’s a tough call for India -- which has a 100 GW solar power target for 2022 -- to continue using fossil fuels to keep the economy growing or to set up a whole new infrastructure for renewables.

H

IMACHAL PRADESH’S Pong Dam wetlands saw more than 125,000 birds of 93 species this winter. For the first time, greater flamingoes, a common migratory species in India’s coastal areas, have been seen here. A total of 52,530 barheaded geese, the world’s highest-altitude migrant and a rare winter migrant in other Indian wetlands, were also recorded.

Bar-headed geese are regular winter visitors here.

Besides the bar-headed goose, the other largest influx is of the common coot (15,632), northern pintail (11,470), common teal (10,284), common pochard (8,746), little cormorants (6,434), tufted pochard (3,838), northern shoveller (2,350) and ruddy shelduck (1,900). Some of the other species which were recorded are the great crested grebe, graylag goose, red crested pochard, ferruginous pochard, common merganser, Eurasian spoonbill, Richard’s pipit, Blyth’s pipit and many species of larks.

The man-made Pong Dam wetlands, one of the largest such in the foothills of the Himalayas in the picturesque Kangra Valley, are located 250 km from state capital Shimla.

In 2013, a rare winter migrant, the whooper swan, was spotted here for the first time. Last census which was conducted at the Pong wetlands in February last year, recorded 105,000 birds of 87 species.

With the onset of winter, thousands of migratory birds from central and northern Asia start arriving in the Pong wetlands for their annual journey. The influx of birds can also be seen at swamps near Nagrota Suriyan, Budladha and Sansarpur Terrace. The bar-headed geese are regular and prominent winter visitors in the Pong Dam wetlands. A new record was created when a massive number of 71,800 of them were recorded in winter of 2015.

Many native birds like the red jungle fowl, large Indian parakeet, Indian cuckoo, bank myna, wood shrike, yellow-eyed babbler, black ibis, paradise flycatcher, crested lark and the crested bunting also inhabit Pong Wetlands.

Pong Dam wetlands occupies an area of at least 18,000 hectares and extend up to 30,000 hectares in the peak monsoon season. Within a radius of five kilometres, an area of about 20,000 hectares has been notified as a buffer zone dedicated to wildlife.

22 International

FEBRUARY 12, 2017

DENMARK CYCLING

Cyclists have a dedicated lane through the city traffic

Snapshots

sheer political will and strong Copenhagen has been voted as leadership are the reasons behind the the ‘Best city for cyclists’ and cycle revolution. “What really helped ‘World’s most inhabitable city’ was a very strong political leadership; that was mainly Ritt Bjerregaard [the City administration is aspiring former lord mayor], who had a to ensure that 50% of the dedicated and authentic interest in commute takes through cycles cycling,” he was quoted as saying in ‘The Guardian’. A new focus on urbanism and the new sustainability Indian cities have lot to learn from Copenhagen and agenda broke all the traditional nuances implement it in urban planning when it came to cycling. The city really is biking heaven for the cyclist in Copenhagen with over 390 kilometres of designated bike lanes. years of bicycle investments only Since 2005, 1 billion Danish kroner amount to half the cost of a single vehicle (£115m) have been invested in cycling bypass in the north of the city.” infrastructure. Several new bike and Experts argue that making the city pedestrian only- bridges such as more bicycle friendly pays you back Cykelslangen (the Cycle Snake) and the quadruple of the amount invested on recently opened Kissing Bridge, have bicycle infrastructure in terms of less made cycling an everyday affair. Morten hospitalization, lesser cases of heavy Kabell, the current injuries and road mayor of technical and accidents, less work environmental affairs, related sickness he city really is says that for him the absence etc. biking heaven for most important thing While economy has is to have “green one argument favoring the cyclist with over bicycles, transport system”. He health is 390 kilometres is striving for 50 % another. Cycling has a commutes to be made great association with of designated by bicycle. For him health. It is one of the bike lanes making City Hall and best ways for keeping Kongens Nytorv areas good health. For Copenhagen is world famous for its biking culture and car-free zone within a decade, is the example, cycling reduces the risk of agenda. Given that the number has serious medical conditions such as heart now officially the first Bike City in the World already gone up to 41 %, the goal does disease, some forms of cancer, high not seem lofty. blood pressure, obesity and the most His department recently invited common form of diabetes.

SFOORTI MISHRA first electric bicycle counter in 2009 that had free air pump and other facilities for suggestions from Copenhageners to As far as India is concerned there is OPENHAGEN, the capital of bicycle riders. identify areas where bike lanes are high enthusiasm in people for improved Denmark has set a new record.

It had a sensor line in the asphalt on missing, are too narrow, or are heavily city design and infrastructure for nonThere are more bicycles than the bike lane a few meters in front of the congested. In just 12 days more than ten motorized transport here. People want the cars plying on city roads. In the last counter which registered the cyclists thousand people shared their views on active transportation, better health and year, 35,080 more bikes have joined the and a SIM-card in the counters so the an online map. The data will be used to livability but it does not reflect in the daily roll, bringing the total number to information was automatically sent to develop Cycle Track Priority Plan for infrastructure. There are only a few 265,700, compared to 252,600 cars. the City of Copenhagen’s Center for 2017-2025 and will be tabled for the bicycle tracks. High speed vehicles are Last year, Copenhagen city has also Traffic. All this was done to promote the annual budget negotiations. other impediments. The speed limit in been voted as ‘Best city for cyclists’ and usage of bicycle over car.

The next step for Kabell is to provide most pedestrian and cycling-friendly ‘World’s most inhabitable city’.

The efforts of the city have started good alternatives to the cars. “We’re cities in the world is about 30kmph.

In 1970, there were 351,133 cars and paying off. Bicycle traffic has increased expanding the metro trains and investing Better infrastructure and strict 100,071 bikes. The municipality of by 68% in the last 20 years. The former in bike infrastructure. Give people enforcement of laws to prevent Copenhagen has been carrying out technical and environmental mayor, options and then slowly take away space encroachment of cycling lanes are the manual traffic counts at various city Klaus Bondam who is now head of the from cars and give it to bikes.” he says key to make the country bicycle friendly. centers since then. The city launched its Danish Cycling Federation says that a adding “It is cheaper too. The last 12 Mindset of people also needs an alteration. The fear that riding bicycle will turn them into nobody urges people to use cars and motor transports. The sight of a helmet and shorts clad cyclist on a fancy bike is still quite alien to many onlookers and motorists.

However few initiatives such as rented bicycle from certain metro stations and a few cycling lane show Delhi in good light but there is a harsh reality that according to a report a cyclist is killed every eight days on an average.

Copenhagen has set example by making it as bicycle paradise. Are other cities listening?

(Left) Cyclists waiting at traffic light in Copenhagen; (Right) Delhi’s own rent-a-cycle program at Vishwavidyalaya metro station

TWO WHEELS THRALL FOUR WHEELS

C

T

CASHLESS

an INITIATIVE by

DIGITAL PAYMENT The Future of Payments

BANEGA INDIA

DR. BINDESHWAR PATHAK

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS FOR VARIOUS MODES OF PAYMENT: Cards, USSD, AEPS, UPI, Wallets

www.cashlessbanegaindia.com

Founder, Sulabh Sanitation & Social Reform Movement

Transfer Funds to another Bank Account

types of POs

Dial *99# from your phone

PHYSICAL POS

Physical Card Swiping – PTSN with landline/GPRS enabled

Welcome to NUUP Enter 3 Letters of your bank’s short name or first 4 letters of your bank’s IFSC

Enter Your Option 1. Balance Enquiry 2. Mini Statement 3. Fund Transfer-MMID 4. Fund Transfer-A/c No. 5. Fund Transfer-Aadhar 6. Know MMID 7. Change M-PIN 8. Generate OTP

Enter Beneficiary Mobile No.

MPOS

types of cards & usage

Phone connected with external POS device through jack/Bluetooth

PREPAID CARDS

DEBIT CARDS

1. Pre-loaded from your bank account 2. Safe to use, limited amount of transaction 3. Can be recharged like mobile recharge

1. Linked to your bank account 2. Used to pay at shops, ATMs, wallets, micro-ATMs and online shopping

ussd based banking Can be used for payments upto Rs 5,000 per day per customer

V-POS

Phone connected with external POS device through jack/Bluetooth 1. Visit your branch to link mobile number and bank account

2. No need for separate MMID; You will get your Mobile Money Identifier (MMID) and Mobile PIN (MPIN) upon registration; Can be done at ATM or online also

3. Remember your MMID and MPIN

aadhaar enabled

bhim

Seed your account with your Aadhar number at bank or with the help of banking correspondent

Step-1: INSTALL BHIM APP and open Step-2: Select Language: English or Hindi Step-3: It will asks for permission, click Allow Step-4: Click on “let’s get started” Step-5: Verify your bank account registered mobile number Step-6: Enter a 4 digit pass-code you just received on your mobile and confirm Step-7: Select the bank account you want to use with this app BHIM APP Download process completes You are all set to send/receive money

You can do Account balance Aadhar to Aadhar fund transfer Cash withdrawal Cash deposit Purchase at Fair Price Shops with AEPS Now you can do many transactions at any AEPS point without any pin or password (AEPS points – Micro ATMs)

Go Cashless India!

e-wallets

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using wallets

UPI REGISTRATION

start using wallet to make payments

sign-up using mobile

load money using credit card or debit card or internet banking

DOWNLOAD ANY BANK’S APP OR 3RD PARTY APP

CHOOSE YOUR UNIQUE ID (BANK AC NO., IFSC CODE, AADHAR, MOBILE NO.) AS VIRTUAL PAYMENT ADDRESS (VPA)

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consumer downloads the app in smartphone

24 Unsung Heroes UNSUNG HEROES

FEBRUARY 12, 2017

VIJAYLAXMI SHARMA

SAVING THE GIRL CHILD It requires exemplary guts and courage to eradicate a social evil, as the story of Vijaylaxmi Sharma shows

R

AJASTHAN’S child sex ratio stands at abysmally low at 888 girls per 1000 boys, sixth lowest among all states and UTs. Child marriage is the raison d’être for this numbing statistic. In the hinterlands of the desert state, notorious for its

medieval attitude towards women, Vijaylaxmi Sharma, a 24 years old girl, is fighting the depraved custom of child marriage, single handedly. Sharma is from Jhorinda Bhojpura village of Phagi district, Rajasthan. “Here the marriage of girl child is decided even before she

is born. It’s wrong to snatch away the childhood of girls in the name of tradition,” says Sharma.

She was just 13 years old, when her fight started. Her family had fixed her marriage, but she revolted against the decision as she wanted to continue her education.

Few days later, an incident in her neighborhood changed her life, forever. Her friend, Mamta Bagaria was just 8, when she was married off. Five years later, she got pregnant. Mamta’s indisposed body couldn’t bear the trauma of childbirth and she passed away at an innocuous age of 13. Sharma’s life went topsy-turvy after the incident and she took a pledge to fight against the menace of child marriage.

Till date, Sharma has prevented more than 25 child marriages in her village and vicinity. Her modus operandi is quite simple, although it requires exemplary courage. As soon as she receives a lead about the prospect of a girl child marriage, she reaches out to the family. She cites the health benefits and long term detrimental impact of child marriage to convince the family. She takes the child bride-to-be in

It’s wrong to snatch

away the childhood of girls in the name of tradition confidence. This is no easy task and takes her multiple visits to even make headway.

There are times when valid reasoning and argument don’t work with the family members. That is when she has to resort to police complain and societal pressure.

Sharma has received ample support from the police machinery in the past.

The path of good actions is always strewn with difficulties. Sharma has to bear the jibes, abuses, boycott and sometimes even death threats.

Sometimes, the disgruntled people also throw stones at her house and scribble on village walls to malign her. Her father has to personally wipe off such slanders.

But, all this hardly deters her. In fact, she confides that this resistance and protest motivates her to work even harder. “I wouldn’t be strong enough without this opposition. It fuels my courage,” she admits. Uprooting the social evil of child marriage won’t take much time if our society has more heroes like Sharma.

NEWSMAKERS

MEENAKSHI MARTIAL AMMA

EYEING THE FAME LV Prasad Eye Institute needs no introduction and neither does its founder GN Rao. His feats were recently recognised by a renowned medical body the field of eye care. The award was introduced in year 1999. Since then, 55 scientists and physicists have been included in the ophthalmology Hall of Fame.

G.N Rao is the founder and GULLAPALLI NAGESWARA RAO president of L. V Prasad OCTOR Gullapalli N Eye Institute. He is being honoured Rao was included in the for the contribution of his eye American Society of Cataract care institute in the prevention and Refractive Surgery’s (ASCRC) blindness globally. Rao has also prestigious Ophthalmology Hall of been honoured by the American Fame in 2017. He was honoured for Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) the NDIA Hall of has famenever in thebeen ASCRS shortannual of child for his contribution in prevention meeting prodigies. in LosAt Angeles an age on when May 6th. most of blindness. He established the The of the honour youngsters of inclusion are busy in theclicking Hall L.V Prasad Eye Institute as a nonofInstagram fame is awarded pictures to andtheforwarding people profit medical institution for eyes with Whatsapp outstanding messages, contribution Rohan Suriinhas in 1986-87.

D I

Women are considered weak for martial arts. At 76, Meenakshi Amma is proving all of them wrong

MEENAKSHI RAGHAVAN

“L

EARNING Kalari boosts the selfconfidence but it should not be used to attack anyone. Assaults against women have increased these days. They can learn Kalari for their self defense.” says, Meenakshi Amma. She is an expert in Kalaripayattu, a form of martial art in Kerala and now a Padma Shri awardee. “I dedicate all of this to my mentor and husband V V Raghavan, who showed me the world of Kalaripayattu.” Amma adds.

76 years old Meenakshi Raghavan, fondly called Meenakshi Amma, is India’s oldest Kalaripayattu exponent. Even at this age, her hits and blocks, continues to amaze people. She has been training this art to the students in Vatakara, Kozhikode. She has students from all age groups; not only kids but their parents also join her classes. Every year, around 150 students learn the martial arts in her school, Kadathanadan Kalari Sangam.

Remembering her early life she says, “I was

seven when my father brought me to guru Raghavan for learning Kalaripayattu. With Kalaripayattu, I used to practice classical dance too. When I reached 17, I got married to my guru only.” While saying this she makes it clear that her marriage was not a love marriage but it was arranged by parents. After her marriage she left practicing dance and continued with Kalaripayattu. “In my time, not many women used to opt for martial arts. Now, situation has completely changed. One third of my students are women,” she adds.

At Kadathanadan Kalari Sangam, caste, creed and gender are no bars. Whoever has the passion to learn this art is welcome.

Amma starts the course in June which ends in September every year, during the monsoon season. Classes are held three times a day, where they teach the northern style of Kalaripayattu.

There is no fee system in her institute. They still follow the age old system of guru dakshina.

Disciples can give according to their capacity and wish.

FEBRUARY 12, 2017

L I F E

I S

STORY OF CLEANLINESS

27

WHEN TOILETS MAKE HEADLINES

S P A R K L I N G TOURISM

EXCLUSIVE

GOSSIP JUNCTION

32

28

SOHA TURNED WRITER

SMALL AND BEAUTIFUL

Khan Khana Khan Khan Nahi pug payalon ki yeh madhur run-Jhun Kisi alharh jawani ka nashila kah kaha bhi yeh nahi Gumsum si lahar jaise machlati dekh poonam ka rupahla chand Jaise dwar par bajati madhur Shahnaiyon ko sun dulhan madhosh hoti, Ki yeh Khan Khana Khan ki madhurtam dhwani Ubharti jo rajat ke gol sikkon se.

Pratham Abhisaar ke mridugeet se badh kar surilee hai

RE-DISCOVERY OLD AGE COINS

THE STORY OF COINS

A Hindi poet has thus described the value of coins in his own romaticised style

W

A peep into interesting journey of currency from its initial days....

Snapshot Trade saw barter sysrtem being replaced by currency From metal coins to leather coins and now paper currency Colored notes came into existence in 1932

SANJIV E don’t know exactly when coins came in to

coronate the forehead of civilisation. In search of it, when we trace back, we guess it must be somewhere during the Harappa and Mohenjodaro civilizations. A few scholars believe the history of coins is related to the discovery of metals. While baking the pottery, gigantic pitchers and terracotta pots did not get broken.

They don’t break even if we throw it or toss it, people guessed it is made up of some other material. A few made metallic noise. People understood there is some other material which is rare and distinct. In due course it got its name metal. Then the art of engraving on metals developed.

As a result in the whole world the barter system came in to existence which changed the metal in to weight and thus the coin became a symbol of power.

While ascending the throne every monarch launched his own coin.

Emperors changed, coins changed, language changed, style changed.

Sometimes golden coins, sometimes silver coins, sometimes coin of different

other metals.

After Mohenjo-daro the coin of Ashoka are found in abundance. Kublai Khan (1260-1264) the grandson of Genghis Khan had also launched coin in his own name. The greatest turmoil regarding the coins is related to Muhammad bin Tughluq (1324-1351). Tughluq, the lunatic as he is known, came to know about the golden and silver Chinese coins and decided to propagate his own set of coins. His administration started working on introduction of new coins. Due to lack of administrative experience, they faced real shortage of gold. Then Tughluq ordered to switch the material to bronze and copper. He kept its value equivalent to gold and silver coins. This was obviously a stupid move, bereft of any economic sense. Then people of his kingdom started making brass and copper coins at home only. They started exchanging the same with gold and silver coin from the king’s treasury.

First, all these brass and copper coins were sub standard and trumpery. Second, because of this licensed loot, the king’s treasury got exhausted and frauds became rich. This created a big turmoil in the kingdom. Tired with all this chaos in 1333, Tughluq banned its usage.

It is said after being defeated by Sher Shah, Humayun jumped into Ganga.

There, a bhisti (water carrier) saved his life. As a reward for his noble deed, he was made king for one day. During this one day itself, he launched leather coins,

Number of metals have been used to mint coins including Gold, Silver, Copper besides others

26 Story of Coins

and between these coins gold plate ware attached. In the short span of one day itself, the bhisti couldn’t refrain himself from launching his own coins, even though the coins were made up of leather.

After this ‘sikka chalana’ became a phrase for the power which is still in vogue. Even today, coins and asharfees (golden coins) are found while digging the old walls, mounds and ruins. But the kind of coins we use now were first launched by Shershah Suri. Their weight was 11.66 gm with the purity of 91.7 percent silver.

In 19th century silver’s supply was reduced and it was not easily available.

Now, gold got upper hand and became the standard of economy. In those days rupee got divided, as 11.34 gram silver turned in to 16 aanas or 64 paise and 192 pies. Till now it was in FPS System (British system), later it turned in to CGS system (a variant of metric system). In India and Pakistan this change took place in 1857 whereas in Srilanka it happened in 1869. Now our one silver rupee turned in to 100 paise and not 64 copper paise like eariler.

Each particular empire and princely estates got their own coin. Due to diversity and competition, the value of coins kept changing. All of them were putting efforts to maintain value of their coin. Credit to replace metal coins with paper currency goes to British. For the first time in India, in 1773, General Bank of Bengal and Bihar launched the first

QUARTZ FEBRUARY 12, 2017

The kind of rupee we use today, was first launched by

Shershah Suri. Its weight was 11.66 gm with the purity of 91.7 percent silver paper currency. Later on ‘Bank of Bombay’ and ‘Bank of Madras’ received the right of launching currency in their own circle by a charter.

Bank of Bengal had been established as bank of Calcutta with a capital of 50 lakh rupees in 1806. The value of the notes 100, 250 and 500 including the name of the bank were imprinted on the currency in Urdu, Bangla and Devnagari scripts also. In 1861, Indian Government received its monopoly rights to print its own currencies and notes of presidency banks got null and void. Printing notes was not an easy task. Every process has to be well structured, controlled by disciplined mint master, controller and auditor general. These currencies of British India had the picture of Queen Victoria imprinted on it. These currencies had the value of 10, 20, 50, 100 and 1000 rupees.

The currencies of Rs 5, 10, 50 and 100 were canceled during 1903 and 1911.

Due to the impact of First World War, in 1917, for the first time currency with the face of king was imprinted. Currency of one rupee, two rupees and 8 annas were printed. In 1923, currency notes of 10 rupees were printed.

Colored notes came into existence in 1932 and were printed in Nasik security press. Reserve bank of India launched its office in Calcutta and on first April 1935, opened its branches in Madras, Bombay, Rangoon and Kanpur. In the history of currency, 1938 was a very important year.

That year for the first time currencies of rupees 5, 10, 100 and 10,000 were launched with picture of George VI imprinted on it.

During the Second World War different phases war were evolved includes currency also. Lest Japan could launch fake notes, so water mark and security thread were added to the currencies. As our nation got independence the Ashoka’s pillar and its lions replaced British king.

Then came Mahatma Gandhi and till date he is dominating our currency, along with it the capitulums of wheat, dams, hydro electric plants or different symbols of development are being imprinted. During 1954 currencies of 1000, 5000, 10,000 were launched, big currencies but again replaced by small.

In the history of coins cockleboat (kaudi) had its basic importance during tenure of time (hundred years ago). The minimum unit cockleboat was the symbol

of Goddess Laxmi (the goddess of wealth). So many cockleboat would comprised a paisa. Thus ascending journey of tiny mini coins we would reach the top of rupee. The idea of naming a person , 3 kaudi, 5 kaudi, 6 kaudi was to see him being rich man. In the kid’s girdles and necklaces were equipped with pierced coin and cockleboat. I formed a cockleboat during play And threw it in to holy Ganges thus the coin found its root in zoology and by the novel purchased with cockleboats (novelist Vimal Mitra) with literature.

Time to time the pictures of Rabindra Nath Tagore(150th birth anniversary) Motilal Nehru, Reserve Bank of India and other memorial signs were imprinted.

Queen Victoria was imprinted in 1862.

Our first coin after independence came in to existence in 1950.

As much we turn the coins its dimension goes on spilling far and wide.

We can say that the coins are the basic points of graph to know the main sources of history, ‘History and Archaeology’ the book of Guacharo Mule and the museum of New Delhi and many more light houses we have. But, still we are far away from reaching the culminating point.

Coins- Time is the only decisive factor whether the coins right or fake, but exception is always there. Usually it has been seen that fake coins have ousted the good coin.

True to speak all have tossed coins, head or tail is their fate.

FEBRUARY 12, 2017

Story of Toilet

27

EFFORTS CLEANLINESS

WHEN TOILETS MAKE HEADLINES

Stories are pouring in from all parts of the country of strenuos efforts of individuals as well as of the community, in getting toilets constructed in their houses to avoid shame and accidents.

Snapshot Earlier people used to feel ashamed to talk of toilets Shame of open defecation has changed the attitude People are wagering all savings to get toilets in their homes

T

SANJAY TRIPATHI

HERE was a time when people hesitated to talk about a subject like toilet. But now the time has changed. Today the same people of the country not only are aware of the issue but also love it. In fact, films are made on this very subject for example Toilet-Ek Prem Katha.

People are building toilets in their houses in order to save families and relationships. They even sue people to the court for not building toilet in the house. The biggest thing that has happened is the impact of PM Narendra Modi’s appeal on children and youth.

The girl commandoes comprising of 20 girls from Padkibhat village situated at Balod-Durg Marg in Chhattisgarh are collecting money to build a public toilet there so that they can save women and girls of the village from shame. They go door to door in order to raise funds of rupees 30,000. Out of it 12000 rupees have been collected so far. These girls age from 14 to 18 years and study at school or colleges.

A resident of Khandwa district Madhya Pradesh, 68 year old Uma Bai vested all her happiness in her granddaughters. She did not feel good in her house after her husband died but the atmosphere used to be light when her granddaughters visited her. Slowly they stopped coming to her house. Uma Bai has four daughters, two of them have been married in Khandwa

children of Neemach district of Madhya Pradesh are playing very important role in Swachh Bharat Mission. Instead of asking for chocolates and candies from their parents they ask them to build toilet in their houses. These children also conduct rallies in various villages as a part of Jan Jagriti Abhiyan initiated by the state administration.

The invocation of Swachh Bharat speech

by PM Modi has become a national district. When asked about the reason for movement gradually. How can Bihar not coming home, elder daughter Urmila’s remain untouched from the effect? Phool daughters Jagriti and Gudiya replied they Kumari from Sanjhauli block of district will not come to visit her until she builds Bikramganj gave her Mangalsutra for toilet in her house. The answer pinched mortgage and built the toilet in order to Uma Bai. The very next day she applied make Sanjhauli block open defecation in Gram Panchayat for building toilet. She free. Saroj Kumari of Udaypur panchayat borrowed money and constructed toilet. and Vibhed Paswan are to be mentioned As soon as she received rupees 12000 as specially in it. Her husband died from inducement money snake bite on his way to for making toilet fields for defecation. The ibhed writes songs accident shattered her to under Swachh Bharat Mission she returned core therefore she on this subject and the the money to started encouraging sings them in public people for building toilet. everyone.

Let’s look at what in order to spread She shared her story with happened in Gwalior. the villagers and asked aware Marriage prospects them to build toilet if of young aboriginal they wanted to see their Imrat were discussed husbands and children in the family. But he firmly said that he alive. Vibhed Paswan is another crusader will not marry unless toilet is built in his in this line. He is has found a different idea house. He was already not happy with the of spreading awareness on building and fact that woman in his family used to go using toilet. He writes songs on this out in the fields to answer the nature’s call subject and sings them in public in order and after his marriage there was possibility to make people aware of the importance that his wife would also face the same of sanitation. problem. Therefore he clearly said no to The issue has also been a matter of court marriage. He dug the pit for toilet by case. A woman sued her mother in law at himself but could not do anything beyond Panipat Haryana as she was refusing to that due to his bad financial conditions. build toilet in her house. Originally from Looking at the firmness of the bridegroom Dallepur Bijnaur Phulo married out of the marriage was postponed and new love to Rajesh a resident of Khatikan auspicious date was finalized. Toilet township at Panipat 17 years ago. Rajesh’s construction work is presently on in his mother accepted their marriage three house. years back only and brought her daughter You will be surprised to learn that in law and granddaughters home. Phulo

V

dug pit in her house for building toilet in order to avoid the problem of young girls going for open defecation. But her mother in law Sunehri did not support in the cause. She had to face a lawsuit filed by Phulo with help of women security officer in September. Sunehri had to agree with her for building the toilet. The incident clearly indicates the level of awareness and seriousness among the masses on sanitation.

Neetu Singh, a resident of Basavanpur village15 km away from Sidharth Nagar district headquarters in Uttar Pradesh informs about the latest and advance techniques of agriculture. Now she has also extended her support for Swachhta Mission. She spreads awareness in her district about diseases that are born due to lack of sanitation. She communicates even more with those who have toilets in their home but don’t use them. Now the village has more than 50 toilets in it. It has been possible due to her incessant efforts.

Sapna Tomar was shattered from an incident that happened Nunhera village of district Dholpur in Rajasthan. She took a pledge that she will remain barefoot until every house in the village builds toilet. Sapna’s friend was going to fields for defecation when two men forced themselves on her and raped her. That day she resolute that she would not let her fellow women go for open defecation. It is due to her staunch belief that 62 families have built toilets in their home.

Pramod Wagh of Rajasthan is a barber by profession. He has coined a different idea so that every house has toilet under Swachh Bharat Mission. He is open to a unique offer for those who use toilets. As per the offer he will shave them for absolutely free of charge for a year. He also intervenes when he sees some one defecating openly.

Women of Morena district Madhya Pradesh are conducting a different campaign to prevent people for open defecation. These women take away the pot of those who go for open defecation.

The district administration is also supporting these women.

The tinsel town also has laid its creativity in the subject. Superstar Akshay Kumar is shooting for a slapstick Toilet - Ek Prem Katha with actress Bhumi Pednekar in the lead role. The film is directed by Neeraj Pandey.

Toilets in houses have become as important as Temples these days.

28 International Countries QUARTZ

Beautiful & FEBRUARY 12, 2017

TOURISM NATIONS

Small They are tiny specs on earth. Some of them smaller than our neighbourhood colonies.

Yet, they are spectacularly beautiful. Full of snow and mountains or ocean and its wonders. A look at smallest inhabited islands in the world. Compiled

by Pallavi Vatsa

1

VATICAN CITY 0.44 SQ KM

It is a country within the capital city of Italy. It’s a country within Rome the capital city of Italy.

Total area acquired by Vatican is just 0.44 sq km. Its total population is only 800. Out of it 450 are Vatican citizens rest 350 is residing here with permission and without citizenship. The main language of Vatican is Latin. The whole country is beautiful. On one side of the country is the Tiber River while another part is beautified by the ancient Vatican Hill. Tourist enjoys the several villas built during pre-Christian times. It is the home of biggest church in the world – St. Peter’s Basilica, and holds some of the most significant art works of the Renaissance such as The Pieta and the Creation of Adam.

2

MONACO 2 SQ KM

It is the second smallest country of the world with a population of over 36,000. It is located on the French Riviera. It is home to the largest number of millionaires and billionaires per capita in the world. It is known for its gambling and luxury goods and services industry. It shares border from three sides with France and one side by the Mediterranean Sea. Most popular annual event is the Formula 1 race.

4

TUVALU 26 SQ KM

Tuvalu is located in the Pacific Ocean, north east of Australia. The Funafuti atoll has some of the best natural sights, and includes reefs, the gorgeous lagoon, channel, parts of the ocean and islands habitats. Its diversity in marine life makes it an excellent place for scuba diving or snorkelling.

3

NAURU 21 SQ KM

An island nation located on the east side of Australia. Its total area is 21 square kms. Nauru is a small island nation in Oceania, located in the South Pacific Ocean. It is the smallest independent republic in the world. It has some great beaches, and coral reefs of astonishing beauty. Water activities like diving and fishing are great sources of entertainmen. Anibare Bay is the best beach of Nauru. You can enjoy the best panoramas of Nauru while visiting the beautiful Anibare Bay. Activities to be enjoyed in Anibare Bay are surfing & swimming but you should be very careful as strong surf and underwater current often take surfers by surprise in the Anibare bay of Nauru.

5

SAN MARINO 61 SQ KM

Surrounded completely by Italy, San Marino is also known as the Most Serene Republic of San Marino. It is called the oldest surviving sovereign state in the world. It is also one of the wealthiest in terms of GDP per capita. A number of small villages set on peaks and surmounted by castles.

FEBRUARY 12, 2017

International Countries

6

29

LIECHTENSTEIN 160 SQ KM

A German-speaking country, this is the only nation in the world to be completely located in the Alps. Located between Switzerland and Austria, Liechtenstein is the richest country in the world by GDP per capita.

The country is without an airport. You must go through Switzerland’s Zurich Airport to reach here. It is mainly mountainous, making it a winter sport destination. It is not overly crowded, so the pristine natural scenery remains intact. Visitors are treated to some of the best views of Vaduz and the Rhine from an altitude of 1600 meters. The stunning scenery and reasonable prices are a treat for seasoned skiers, Stunning castles; historic sites, royal heritage and pristine nature await those visiting this Alpine state. Liechtenstein is ready for visitors any time of the year.

7

SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS 261 SQ KM

8

MALDIVES 300 SQ KM

Maldives is the smallest country in Asia. There are over 1,192 coral islands spread over 90,000 sq km, making it one of the world’s most dispersed countries.

The Maldives has a vibrant tourism economy due to its famous white sand beaches and crystal blue waters. The best time to visit the Maldives is May to November. Although you’ll experience some rain during the southwestern monsoon that occurs at this time, you’ll have the least company and best prices at the resorts.

9

The Mother Colony of the West Indies, these two islands were the first to be occupied by Europeans. The islands also provide fantastic diving sites due to abundant marine life. A major sugar exporter for centuries, the large plantations are now beautiful estates that have been converted into hotels and resorts. Lush and luxuriant, the exotic tropical island nation of St Kitts and Nevis is a romantic paradise. St Kitts’ wonderful beaches remain relatively crowd-free, and nature lovers delight in seeing lava formations, tropical forest and lagoons and underwater marvels while snorkelling or diving. Among more than 200 historical sites, former plantation homes now offer elegant accommodation. Eco-rambles, bio-tours and climbing are Nevis attractions. Hire cars or mopeds on-island and catch ferries between the two.

MALTA 316 SQ KM

Malta is another island country, however, its located in the Mediterranean Sea. Three major islands make up the Republic of Malta: Gozo, Comino, and the largest, Malta.

This small country has a population of over 450,000 inhabitants, making it one of the most densely populated countries in the world. People from all over the world come to Malta for its sunny weather, attractive beaches, over 7,000 years of intriguing history, and a still vibrant nightlife. Apart from its beautiful beaches and pleasant weather this country is also famous for its great historical and cultural significance. You can found most remarkable prehistoric sites over here. If you visit Malta don’t forget to visit ‘hypogeum’. It is underground structure located in Paola town of Malta. It was estimated to be built around 5000 year back, witnessing the prehistoric era of this country.

10

GRENADA 344 SQ KM

An island nation in the Caribbean, Grenada is also known as “The Island of Spice.” The world’s largest producer of nutmeg and mace crops, this nation located northwest of Trinidad and Tobago was colonized by the French from 1649 to 1763, which explains the very strong influence of French tradition and culture in the country. A popular tourist destination, you’ll find French-influenced architecture and art all around the island, with cricket as the most popular sport. The underwater sculpture garden is very interesting. The artistic display which is entirely underwater excites everyone.

30 Untold Stories

FEBRUARY 12, 2017

UNTOLD STORIES RAZIA SULTAN

MEMORABLE FILM

RAZIA SULTAN

An insight into what all went behind the scene into making this classic film

ASHIM CHAKRAVARTY

Y

he left no stone unturned to see that all the technicalities are catered in picturisating of the film. People still talk about the Muhurat of the film which was shot at the Kamalistan studio and its making thereafter.

‘FLOP BUT A VALUABLE BIOPIC’ The film made in 1983 contained lot of secrets. Released in December 1983, it was produced by Kamal Amrohi.

Critic then said, ‘This film has been the biggest flop of a great producer.’ The public has rejected the film outrightly.

But still in context to Indian cinema this film still remains to be a valuable one. Like his previous film ‘Pakeezah’,

SNAKES USED TO ENTER TENTS Razia Sultan took seven years to ciomplete making its budget shoot up to Rs 5 Crore which at that time was considered too big. Hema Malini still talks about this film as she has many cherished memories. She says that she did her best to put life into her character.

For instance during the filming of the desert scene they encountered many snakes, scorpions and other poisonous reptiles which used entered their tents. They had specially engaged 4-5 snake charmers to catch these reptiles. “There are many more such experiences and instances because of which I cannot my forget my character and the film Razia Sultan”, she says.

ESTERYEARS dream girl Hema Malini surprised everyone by announcing that she would like to remake the film Razia Sultan casting her daughter Esha Deol. It is a different thing that this project has been rolled under the carpet for now. Hema says that Razia Sultan was completed in seven years yet there were many drawbacks in the script, which she now wants to rectify and produce a remake but because of her busy schedule she has not been able to take out time for this.

IMPRESSIVE DIALOGUES The love story of the Empress of DelhiRazia Sultan and that of her Abyssinian slave Yakut forms an important and interesting chapter of history. Kamal Sahab has made it more historical by giving it a touch on celluloid. Actually the dialect was so complex that public could not understand it. Kamal Amrohi wanted to make the film very authentic pertaining to that era and he was so engulfed in doing all this that he forgot what public wants. Be it Mughal-e-Azam or Pakeezah the dialogues written in urdu were par excellence and too good but in Razia Sultan he gave it a different twist. Such elaborate dialogues did not go well with the love story that Razia Sultan was. The film is remembered and liked because of its grand scale and grandeur.

DHARMENDRA DIDN’T COMMIT Hema Malini’s popularity was on declinin when Razia Sultan was released. As far as Kamal Amrohi was concerned he was on the seventh heaven with the success of Pakeezah.

That is why he wanted to complete Razia Sultan at the earliest.

It is in the nature of Kamal saheb that he likes to shoot from two different angles for the entire film and so he planned the shooting schedule in such a way that the entire movie could be completed and released within two years. He had finalized the dates of all the actors prior to the muhurat shot of the film, but because of the indifferent attitude of Dharmender and Hema Malini the film was completed in more than five years.

There were three conditions that were put before Dharmender by Kamal Amrohi - firstly he will devote 10 days for the shooting of the film every month, secondly he will be on time for the shoot, thirdly he will not talk anything about the film professionally during its production. But alas inspite of putting all this before Dharmender with due respect, he was not able to abide by it thus resulting in a delay of

the shooting schedule.

FILM WAS SHOT BY 4 CAMERAS Kamal Sahebs’ Razia Sultan left all the other films behind as far as splendor is concerned. Every precaution was taken to frame the shots in a splendid and spectacular way. Especially the way the war scenes have been picturised about 50 kms from Jaipur in a village called Tala are still a delight to the eyes of the film lovers.

Thousands of fire balls were made for the war which was to take place in the night. 50 feet long 50 wooden towers were erected on which the armies of Razia Sultan positioned themselves to attack the enemies. 7000 costumes, 4000 swords and equal No of spears, shields, bows and arrows , horses and camels were all gathered on a war footing. Kamal Saheb was unhappy as he had demanded 1500 horses and 500 camels. But he got only 800 horses and 200 camels which was far below his expectations. The entire war scene was shot with the help of four cameras by renowned camera man R D Mathur.

ACCIDENTS GALORE Leave apart small accidents but there were also incidents wherein people avoided major accidents by the skin of their teeth. There is a scene in the film wherein Razia Sultan passes through the desert with her convoy and gets engulfed in the desert storm.

This was filmed 8 kms from Jaisalmer in the Rann wherein high powered Fans and generators were installed.

The villagers had warned in advance that apart from the fear of snakes and scorpions there is also the terror of nomads. With the help of electric fans the scene of a storm was created and it baffled the horses and camels and Kamal Saheb picturised the whole scene frame by frame.

These are one of the few reasons that inspite of failure of the film financially it is still considered to be a classic.

No doubt the music was not as good as that of Pakeezah as music director Khayyam was not able to derive much out of it.

Heavily accented dialogues were beyond the audience

FEBRUARY 12, 2017

Interview

31

FACE TO FACE WITH

Parineeti Chopra

“I Practice

dancing

whenever I get time”

Her film “Meri Pyaari Bindu” scheduled to be released in May this year is in its completion stage. The promotional activities of the film will also start soon. Excerpts of her interview to Ashim Chakravarty Why is it that every time Manish Sharma comes to your rescue?

There is no doubt that Manish has been very helpful to me, otherwise I would have continued as the Media Manager of Yash Raj films. It was he who took the initiative and decided to cast me in his film. From that time he has been helping me. He is also the producer of my film Meri Pyari Bindu.

But he is not directing this film ?

This film is being directed by Akshay Rai. Ayushman Khurana is my hero.

It is a comedy and I am doing the title role. You can understand how important the film is for me.

This film is also being done under the aegis of Yash Raj Films?

Most of my films are released under the Yash Raj banner. I have done only ‘Hansi to Phansi’ with Karan Johar. I am dedicated and committed to them YRF. Had it not been for them, I would not have been working in bollywood.

Why do you get irritated when asked about your friendship with Manish?

I respect Manish Sharma like I respect Aditya Chopra. Manish is the only person in my life whom I look up to and can call him at any point of time day or night.

Initially Shraddha Kapoor was cast against Ajay Devgan in ‘Golmaal-4’?

Yes, but now I am doing this film.

I am fortunate enough, happy and appreciate that Ajay had called me.

The ‘start to finish ‘ shooting of this film will commence soon.

Heroines like Alia Bhatt and Shraddha Kapoor has progressed tremendously, leaving you far behind?

Please don’t compare me with them.

I am doing my best. They have their own style of working. It would not be out of place to mention that my chemistry with all my co-stars is too good. If I happen to work with Alia and Shraddha in the near future, I will prove your notion wrong.

Are you doing a film with Sushant Singh Rajput?

The shooting of the film will commence shortly, but first I will complete my film ‘Golmaal-4’.

You have maintained your physique quite well ?

It has never been a problem for me to control my weight. Even after consuming too much of junk food, I still control my weight by doing workouts. When I was questioned about my posture and my looks a few

Boldness is the need of the hour. I lost many endorsements due to lack of it. Boldness is very much needed

days back, it was then that I decided that I will keep my weight under control.

But you are bold in your looks ?

It is the need of the hour. In the absence of which I lost many endorsements.

On top of that even my friends wanted me to look bold and pressurized me to give a new shape to my body. ‘Boldness is very much needed’.

Do you believe that your flop films compelled you to change your looks ?

One cannot guarantee you a hit film by the changing of your looks. There are two factors which attributed to this change - one it was the need of the hour and secondly my character in the film ‘Meri Pyari Bindu’ demanded it.

It is said that you objected working with Ayushman Khurana ?

It is all correct. Ayushman is a very good friend of mine. I don’t get involved in such unscrupulous talks.

This was totally decided upon by Yashraj and Manish. Let me tell you that I and Ayushman are doing another film together.

Are you a hard core foodie ?

Yes it’s true. I don’t think about calories while eating. For me taste is of prime importance. I need to satisfy my taste buds. It is not necessary I eat the food which is liked by all. I also enjoy different kind of soups just to

rejuvenate myself and to change my mood. I also love making soups. My chef is too good. I sometimes give him a break by cooking myself. For instance this time it was quite cold in Mumbai. When the crew members were busy sipping a cup of coffee just to keep themselves warm, leaving aside fruit juices, I was busy enjoying my tomato soup, to get warmth.

How do you maintain your diet plan?

If I have to shoot late then I prefer to get out of bed by 9 am. First of all I take a glass of lime water. Two eggs and a glass of juice of citrus fruit is what I have for my breakfast. Dry fruits are also my favourite.I sometimes prefer eggs and toast also. I prefer eating home made food at lunch. I love dal and rice. I am a hard core nonvegetarian and chicken is my favourite.

Vegetables also constitute a part of my food especially green vegetables.

What is your exercise routine ?

My dancing hobby helps me to keep my weight under control. Whenever I over eat, I spend 30 mins to 1 hour in dancing. I believe that dancing is another form of exercise. I have knowledge of both the Indian classical and western dance forms. That’s why whenever I get time , I lock myself in my room and start dancing even on light music.

32

QUARTZ

FEBRUARY 12, 2017

Director Imran

J U N C T I O N

After flopped career as a hero, IMRAN KHAN has decided to follow his maamu jaan Aamir Khan and started working on a script as a director. To write the script for his debut film as a director, Imran roped in writer Ayesha DeVitre who won acclaim with film Kapoor & Sons. For his new bug, Imran gives the reason that he always wanted to be a director. Acting just happened by chance, direction was his first love. It is in his blood as his grandfather Nasir Hussain, uncle Mansoor and Aamir all have created magic. So fans will have lot of expectations from him as well.

Return of Rani After motherhood, RANI MUKERJI is all set to make a comeback in the Bollywood.

Being wife of Yashraj Films head Aditya Chopra, Rani got many offers but none impressed her enough. So Rani looked up to Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Though Sanjay suggested her a role, Rani politely turned it down because she had already played similar roles. Pradeep Sarkar is Rani’s next hope. She has done films like Mardaani and Laga Chunri Main Daag with him. Meanwhile, Rani has been getting in shape for a comeback.

All is not well

Soha turned Writer Actress SOHA ALI KHAN has turned writer with her memoirs. Soha will come out with her debut book this year which will be a collection of humorous, and sometimes bizarre, stories on her life as a royal princess and a ‘moderately famous’ celebrity, as she likes to call herself. Penguin India will publish her debut book “The Perils of Being Moderately Famous”. Soha says, “I do love to read and I do that quite well (510 words a minute), so it can’t be much harder to write, right?

I also have some time on my hands. I can use this time creatively to pen down memories, some insights from what surely must be a life less ordinary. I am a princess after all”. Soha, who studied modern history at Balliol College, Oxford and earned a Masters’ degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics is very confident about her new role.

Director VISHAL BHARDWAJ had a difficult time working with Shahid Kapoor and Kangana Ranaut together. All is not well between the two.

Shahid and Kangana. Shahid has refused to share the stage with Kangana during promotions.

So Saif Ali Khan will be seen with her for promotions. Even on popular chat show Koffee with Karan, it will be Saif making an appearance with Kangana Ranaut.

Fascinated by Indian Names Noted singer PHARRELL WILLIAMS who sang ‘Happy’ is happy to be a father. His model turn actress’s wife Helen Lasichanh gave birth to triplets!

They were married in 2013 and already have one eight-year-old son named Rocket. “Indians name their children after a force so we named him after a man-made machine that was meant to go up, meant to ascend.” Now what names he will choose for his triplets ?

Joint Commissioner of Police (Licensing) Delhi No. F. 2 (S-45) Press/ 2016 VOLUME - 1, ISSUE - 8 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