The Observer Edition 7, Volume 22

The Observer An IIJNM publication

Roadside dentists fix teeth under the name of social service at unclean streets of K.R Market | P 2

Vol 22, Issue 7

Thursday, October 13, 2022

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reastfeeding is the most effective way to ensure a newborn child’s well-being.

It depends on the principle of demand and supply. Dr Shagufta Parveen, a lactation support consultant, founder CEO of Herwellness and co-founder of The Birth Home, Midwifery care centre,

Observer interview spoke to The Observer about the ethics of donating and selling breast milk. Excerpts from an in-

terview: How long does a woman lactate?

How much excess milk can she produce?

There is no specific period of Dr.Shagufta Parveen time for women to lactate. Traditionally, women used to breastfeed their children for four to five years. Now, we have guidelines from the WHO that say a childbearing woman must breastfeed her child for two years. After that, it is a choice.

Sometimes, we can help a woman re-lactate after she stops breastfeeding her child. As long as a lactating woman is having nutritious food and a healthy mind, she can produce as much as her baby wants to consume.

Is it ethical to sell a 300- milllitre bottle of breast milk for Rs 4,500?

Commercializing human milk is wrong. Breastfeeding is the first step of a woman into motherhood, and selling it (her milk) is wrong.

The process of storing breast milk is costly, I agree; but if it doesn’t match the retail price of breast

milk, it is ethically incorrect.

Human milk banks and companies like Neolacta sell pasteurized breast milk. How good or bad is it for the baby who consumes it?

Pasteurization is a way to increase the shelf life of any product For this we pasteurize human milk. Even after following the regulations of pasteurization, certain nutrients and important components are lost.It can also be bad for the baby because he/she won’t be able to access all of the nutrients present in breast milk.

Continued on page 2

Alexandra St, Excessive intake of protein city’s 1st slow powder has cardiac risk street, is noisy and crowded ‘Intake of protein

By Arsha B S

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lexandra Street, off Richmond Road, the first slow street of Bengaluru, is not one anymore. Designated to be a slow street in February 2021, it is now filled with vehicles and street vendors. Shreya C Sam, a resident of the street, informed The Observer: “I am unaware of such a concept happening here. I do not see cyclists or a road designated only for pedestrians.”

Kishan Das, a security official of an apartment building on the street, said: “I have been here for two years and am not aware of something like that. If you want to take a walk or cycle, you need to go to the next street.”

Slow street is a concept that envisages making roads safe for pedestrians. In the slow streets, only pedestrians and cycles are allowed.

A slow street, which is mostly a residential area, is free of air and noise pollution.

Sandeep Anirudhan, convener of the Bengaluru Agenda for Mobility said: “We are raised to think that roads are only for vehicles.

But people matter more than vehicles. The roads are not only for the elite with vehicles. The idea of slow streets makes sure that the pedestrians are more important than vehicles.

Continued on page 3

should be only though food’

Epaper: https://issuu.com/ theweeklyobserver

News briefs SC delivers a split verdict on hijab ban The Supreme Court Thursday delivered a split verdict in the Karnataka hijab ban case with one of the judges upholding the March 15 high court order validating the ban and the other setting aside the HC ruling and calling wearing of the apparel a “matter of… choice”. Indian Express

ED files charge sheet against Rana Ayyub

The Enforcement Directorate has filed a charge sheet against journalist Rana Ayyub under the anti-money laundering law, alleging that she utilized publicly raised funds of Rs 2.69 crore for herself and also contravened the foreign contribution law.PTI

India to Canada: Stop Khalistan referendums

India has asked the Justin Trudeau government in Canada to stop the 'Khalistan referendums' by the proscribed terrorist organization 'Sikh for Justice' while ensuring that Canadian property is not used to promote violence against Indians.PTI

PM launches PMGSY in Himachal Pradesh

By Janani Srinivas

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xcessive use of protein powders could result in a person suffering a heart attack, doctors say. While a spoonful may seem healthy, not many people know the implications behind it.

Dr G. Vivek, a cardiologist, informed The Observer: “When it is about protein powder, it depends on what kind of supplement is being consumed.

If the intake is on a higher level, there are chances of the person getting a heart attack, but this can only be proven after a full health checkup.”

Silky Mahajan, a nutritionist, said: “Trainers at gyms are not doctors, so protein powders are never advisable to consume unless you consult a doctor or nutritionist. Implications could be many after consumption, but the key requirement for any person should be carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and a proper protein diet.” If a person wishes to lead a healthy lifestyle, he/she should either consume protein powders moderately, or never consume at all.

Vignesh K, manager at cult.fit, a fitness centre chain, said: “Usu-

Website: theweeklyobserver.in

Seeking medical reports at gym can reduce the risk of heart attacks during work out sessions | P 3

‘Commercialization of breast milk is unethical’

By Yashaswini Sri

@theweeklyobserver

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana in Himachal Pradesh for upgrading 3,125 km of rural roads. He also laid foundation stones of the 48 MW Chanju-III hydro-electric project and the 30 MW Deothal Chanju hydro-electric project.PTI

12-day police custody for human sacrifice accused

Protein powder is beneficial but only in specific proportion | Credit:Janani Srinivas ally trainers never suggest people to consume any kind of supplements. The management has instructed clients, managers and trainers to refrain from recommending or consuming protein powders as it is harmful.”

Kritika Kristen, sales executive at Volt Fitness Club, said: “...we are aware of... protein powders affecting a person’s health. No supplements are issued unless it is prescribed by doctors or nutrition-

ists. The trainers here ensure that clients undergo a proper checkup and BMI so that the trainers are aware of the strengths and weaknesses of clients.”

Many people may opt for a diet that suits them, but it all depends over their choice.It also depends on their age and sex.Protein powder are benifical but only in specific proportions.

Continued on page 2

A court in Kochi granted Kerala police custody of the three accused in the sensational human sacrifice case, in which two women lost their lives, for detailed interrogation. The court granted 12 days custody to police as sought by it for collecting evidence and further investigation into the horrific crime. PTI

Britain will provide missiles for Ukraine

Britain says it will provide missiles for advanced NASAM antiaircraft systems that the Pentagon plans to send to Ukraine in coming weeks. Britan is sending aerial drones to gather information plus 18 more howitzer artillery gun said UK defence secretary on Thursday. AP

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HEALTH

Citizen’s Voice Why did Amazon get a clearance so late?

Amazon India will now operate 24/7 in the national capital. This decision of the government will boost employment generation and will create a favourable business environment in Delhi.It took three years for Amazon to get this permission showing the laidback attitude of the government.

Anchal Varma

Mushrooming of tech parks is worrisome

It bothers me when I see technology parks taking over real parks.

Bengaluru’s geographic location is unique. When I first moved here, it was like living in a hill station. The laidback culture of people here has been influenced by a hilly lifestyle of the past.

Aditya Raja

Bengaluru’s sports fans spoilt for choice

Last week, Bengaluru saw the return of the ISL to Kanteerva Stadium after nearly three years with BFC taking on NorthEast United. The energy was high throughout as the game reached a crescendo, thanks to a late winning goal. With the latest season of PKL starting in the indoor stadium next door, sports fans in the city are spoilt for choice.

Niyam Joshi

Our buses lack fire extinguishers

The Karnataka Motor Vehicle Act states there should be fire extinguishers in public transport. But while travelling around the city, I did not see them in buses. se the extinguisher. This is a matter of concern.

Ishan Rathi

‘Protein powder intake is up to our clients’ Continued from Page 1 uraj Raghuvanshi, center manager at Multi Fit, a fitness studio, said: “When it comes to protein supplements, it depends on the client’s wish. Basically, the whole scenario revolves around lifestyle. Usually for the ones who are going through a health condition, we suggest they go and get a medical checkup. Unless there is any instruction provided by health officials, the gym or its trainers do not suggest protein powders that could cause harm to health.”

Over-consumption of Protein powders can adversely affect a person’s heart activity.

Mohammad Faizulla, a resident of Bengaluru studying internal medicine in the US, said: “Protein supplements are injurious to health. If people wish to consume proteins, then it must be through the food that everyone eats, and not through artificial means.” janani.s@iijnm.org Read the complete story on: www.theweeklyobserver.in

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The Observer Thursday, October 13, 2022

In an unclean roadside area in K.R. Market, ‘dentists’ fix teeth ‘We are doing social service for 35 years’

By Hamsaveni N

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nqualified persons replace old teeth with new at the K.R. Market bus stand amid unhygienic conditions. They do the job with skills acquired from their fathers and grandfathers. These dental shops are located in an open, unclean area.

The water used in the process is not clean. The “doctors” don’t wear gloves. Their patients are from poor sections of society.

Alla Baksh, who owns a dental shop on the roadside, shared with The Observer he has been doing this for almost 35 years. “I learnt this skill from my father and it is now carried to my children.”

It was his father who started the business. “It is a social service that we are providing to people.

We charge very little from the patients. We have helped a lot of people get new teeth.”

Anwar, another person who does teeth-fixing, informed The Observer: “We do not give them any treatment. No filling of teeth, no removal, no trimming and no clipping. We ask them to get these done from professionals. We only replace new teeth in the space they already have.

We just charge them the product cost; the service is free.”

The tooth fixer charges Rs 300

The poor cannot afford dental treatment in government hospitals | Credit: Hamsaveni. N to fix teeth. “It depends on the patient and the number of teeth,” Alla Baksh shared.

Dr Kiran Singh, a dentist, informed The Observer: “The repercussions of teeth fixing can’t be detected very soon….I don’t know how good or bad these are. There will be a floating population who visit the place with no clear knowledge. It is about the cost for these patients. Ethically, I think these shops shouldn’t continue. If it is just RPDs (removable partial dentures) which have nothing to do with tissues, it is fine except for the matter of hygiene.”

Dr Harrison Michael, a dental surgeon, said: “There are two perspectives here. As a professional doctor, I see the negative side of it. They are just mechanically doing the treatment which in the

long term may not be good for the patients….The factors that a qualified dentist would take care of while providing this treatment is totally different from what a lay person does. It is not good for patients. Another perspective is that…if they are doing something harmful, people would not go there for the treatment.”

“We look at how much a customer can pay. Based on that, the customer can pay a certain amount. In this, they are receiving service and also the risks and benefits…. That is why these street dentists continue to exist.”

Dr Michael, who has seen these shops function, said that he doesn’t see the unhygienic conditions in which they function as something life-threatening. “The infection risk is not too high. I would

Commercialization of breast milk is a source of income B

Continued from page 1 reastfeeding creates a bond between the mother and the baby.

Will feeding milk from a woman who is not the baby’s mother have any psychological effect on it?

Through breastfeeding, a mother creates an environment of safety and security for her child.

Emotions play a vital role. Emotion and nutrition required for the child go hand in hand while breastfeeding. But when the situation of the child is adverse, where the baby is not surviving on formula and is in a dire need of milk, the mother has no option but to... use someone else’s milk.

If the donor has a minor health issue, will it impact a baby that consumes her milk?

Lactation banks perform health tests on woman who wants to donate breast milk. After the tests come promising, then they proceed to collect the donated breast milk. Pasteurization can help eliminate any existing bad ele-

Breastfeeding helps the mother and the child bond emotionally | Credit: Yashaswini Sri ments in the milk. It would (have an) impact if breast milk has any issues. I am not sure how companies like Neolacta do it.

We see western countries encouraging the commercialization of breast milk. Do you think our country will also normalize companies selling breast milk in the future?

Developed countries might not have any problems with commercializing breast milk because they do not do it just for monetary purposes. In India, the situation is different. There would be instances where women from below poverty line would see this opportunity as a source of income. The more she produces breast milk, the more she needs to consume healthy, nutritious food and (take) proper sleep cycle. The two main hormones that help in the production of breast milk are prolactin and oxytocin. If the mother tries to produce more than she should, she will be in both nutrition and hormone deficient.

The joy of motherhood should be celebrated by breastfeeding, but selling it for a price destroys the nature of it. yashaswini.s@iijnm.org

say the process is not hygienic rather than it is infectious.”

Poor people don’t visit the Government Dental College and Research Centre, near K.R. Market, preferring to visit the dental shops. Asked about this, Dr Harrison explained: “It is purely the cost that is making people visit such shops. If they had the required money, they could have afforded to go to a dental hospital.”

Though there is a government dental hospital that charges minimal fees 100 meters away, the poor can’t afford treatment there.

Thus they go to roadside shops.

Dr Michael said: “Just because they learnt the skill without any cost, they are doing the service for free. ...if our doctors had learnt the skill without much investment, then they would have done the same kind of service. We’ve a lot of loopholes in our medical system when it comes to education.

Our education system can only improve if the government starts supporting medical education.”

“These kinds of setups have been going from generations to generations… Although the factor of cost affects many, I think these shops should not continue and we should have some qualified doctors to treat people.”

The Observer attempted to speak with a patient who visited one of these roadside dentists, he mumbled something and walked away after his treatment. Meanwhile, the other patients who were visiting these roadside dentists refused to speak. hamsaveni.n@iijnm.org

Quiz 1.Which animal is called the ‘old man of the sea’?

2.Which country has the same flag as of US? 3.Name the author from whom the term Sadism originates?

4.When did the fall of Constantinople occur?

5. How many national associations are members of FIFA? Answers on Page 3

Around the city Kashmiriyat Kashmir Crafts Show, 10:30 AM to 7:30 PM, Thurs 13th Oct- Sat 15th Oct, Bangalore International Center, Domlur, Free Entry Puncturewala Tattoo Festival, 12 PM to 7 PM, Sat 15th Oct - Sun 16th Oct, Indiranagar, Free Entry Horn OK Please Food Festival, 12 AM to 11 PM, Sat 15th October - Sun 16th October, Nagvara, Free Entry The Indian Cacao & Craft Chocolate Festival, 11 AM onwards, Sat 12th Nov - Sun 13th Nov, Bengaluru International Center, Domlur, INR 110.

CITY

The Observer Thursday, October 13, 2022

To curb heart attack risk, gyms seek clients’ medical reports They get people to gradually build stamina

By Ahona Roy

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A well designed workout plan by the gym trainers can go a long way in preventing heart attacks | Credit: Ahona Roy surgeries. After the fitness analy- manager at Gold’s Gym. A majorsis, the trainers decide what kind ity of the people come here for of training the clients need to do. weight loss. There are fitness If they have pre-existing medical managers and fitness trainers in issues, the client needs to get a different categories present. clearance letter from a physician.

Chetan Yadav, the owner of “Based on their advice, we de- Muscle World gym, said their sign the workout. Workout is for clients need to get checkups and everyone,” said Abhinandan, the blood tests done before they start

DUG-UP COMMERCIAL STREET WORRIES WALKERS

People trip and fall as a dug-up portion of the crowded Commercial Street awaits repair. A shop owner on the road informed The Observer: "I did patch work. I see at 10 to 15 people tripping and falling down. We are fed up of complaining." | Credit: Hamsaveni.N

Church Street to be a potential slow street Continued from Page 1 He added, “It is the responsibility of residents to come together and make this possible. We cannot rely only on authorities to make everything happen. If the residents of the area want it, they can make anything possible.Even though there is a system in place, it is not very effective.The BBMP or the DULT do not check on these areas as they should be doing.”

Alexandra Street is today like just another street in Bengaluru.

It faces traffic congestion and is filled with vehicles honking, especially during the evening.

Department of Urban Land Transport (DULT) authorities in August 2022 conducted a public outreach programme to create awareness about slow streets.

Considering the traffic and driving culture of Bengaluru, they urged residents to list their areas to be potential slow streets. Slow streets, they said, would help make the city’s residential areas less noisy and congested.

The Observer made multiple efforts to contact DULT officials, but they were unavailable to comment.

The Church Street, perpendicular to MG Road, is another potential slow street. There were multiple campaigns by non-profit organizations like the Council for Active Mobility, to make Church Street

Wonders of the World

Colosseum, Rome One of the major tourist attractions of Rome, the Colosseum is indeed one of the iconic 7 wonders of the world. Constructed mainly of sand and concrete, Colosseum is the largest surviving amphitheatre in the world.

Built during the time between 70 AD to 72 AD by the famous Emperor Vespasian, Colosseum is much famed as the Flavian Amphitheatre that continues to charm the travellers today.

Did You Know?

According to Time, it would cost the average person $18.3 million to make a real-life replica of the Darth Vader that features a voice modifier, breathing apparatus, prosthetic limbs, and an augmented reality filter.

Tweetcasm Don’t know why entrepreneurs have to give TED talks and stuff to prove that they’re successful, when they can just eat Rajnigandha instead.

Sapan Verma (@sapanv)

Quiz answers 1. The otter 2. Liberia 3. Marquis de Sade 4. 29 May 1453 5. 211

yms in Bengaluru cityare getting their clients to produce medical reports to reduce the possibility of them suffering heart attack during and after workouts.

According to cardiologist T.R. Raghu, extreme workout routines have the most possibility of causing heart attacks. Oneshould gradually build one’s stamina through planning instead of following a random extreme workout plan. An unhealthy lifestyle as well as pre-existing heart problems and hereditary factors might contribute to heart attacks during extreme workout sessions.

Gold’s Gym has 700 current members. Once clients enrol, the gym has a small fitness assessment. There are questionnaires through which trainers try to analyse if clients have pre-existing conditions or have undergone

training. If a client has a pre-existing heart problem, he is put through exercises that gradually build stamina.

Hemanth Gowda, a trainer at Golden Arrow Fitness Gym, shared: “If they have any major issues, we find out those things.”

He gave the example of asthma or shortness of breath. Before starting a heavy lifting regime, they ask their clients whether they had suffered any injuries.

Abhirao, a gym client at J Fitness, said he was required to produce a blood test report to the gym. They wanted to know his blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

Only after these readings are obtained, the gym trainer would design his workout regime.

Actor Puneeth Rajkumar died last year following an excessive workout. Dr Rao informed The Times of India that the actor showed no symptoms except excessive sweating. Only when an ECG was done did it emerge that he had suffered a cardiac arrest.

A proper workout plan designed by the gym trainers according to the client’s stamina, food habits and medical condition can go a long way in preventing heart attacks. ahona.r@iijnm.org

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Weather Street vendors crowd the foot path of the street |Credit: Arsha BS a slow street. Paths exclusive for cyclists and pedestrians have been introduced, but they are occupied by vendors.

Slow streets is encouraged in Bengaluru to make areas, especially residential areas safer for the pedestrians. It will help the children and senior citizens to take a walk safely.

The slow street concept could come in practice only in selected areas. While the city has very few areas that could be slow streets, residents and officials need to make sure that the existing slow streets remain that way. arsha.s@iijnm.org

Maximum Temp : 28°C Minimum Temp : 20°C Humidity : 82%

The Observer Produced by the Print students of the Indian Institute of Journalism & New Media at Nityananda Nagar, Kumbalgodu, Kengeri hobli, Bengaluru 560074.

Editor: Hamsaveni. N News Editor: Arsha B S Copy editors: Ahona Roy, Yashaswini Sri, Priya Pathak Photo editor: Janani Srinivas Other IIJNM publications l The Beat magazine l CityCast l The SoftCopy