The Observer Volume 21 Issue 8

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The Observer An IIJNM publication

Some golu doll shops in Bengaluru see their sales fall in pandemic due to lack of online delivery | P 2 News briefs Lakhimpur: SC asks UP to give security to witnesses The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Uttar Pradesh government to expeditiously record the statements of all witnesses of the Lakhimpur violence case and directed it to grant security cover to the individuals. A Bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana wondered why there were only 23 eyewitnesses to the incident when the violence took place.

Disha Ravi case likely to be closed soon

The probe into the case against climate activist Disha Ravi, arrested in February by Delhi police in connection with an alleged toolkit on the farmer protests has hit a roadblock, with neither Google nor Zoom responding to queries by investigators. Ravi, arrested from her Bengaluru home on February 13 and released on bail on February 23, 10 days later by a Delhi court, was accused of being a “key conspirator” in the dissemination of the toolkit in the form of a Google document on the protests.

Ahmedabad, Lucknow are new IPL teams

At the auction to decide two new franchises in the IPL, Lucknow became the most-valued team ever, with Sanjiv Goenka-led RPSG Group buying it for Rs 7,090 crore. The Ahmedabad team was pocketed by one of the world’s leading sports investors, Irelia Company Pte Ltd (CVC Capital Partners), for Rs 5,625 crore.

Tawang sector sees increased patrolling

Even as Army officials have said that in the eastern sector there has only been a “marginal” increase in patrolling and China’ s People’s Liberation Army’s activities, data show that at least in the Tawang sector, the patrolling and visits by senior officers of People’s Liberation Army have seen a marked jump in 2020 and 2021 compared to years before

Nothing to do with payoff charge: Aryan Khan

Aryan Khan today denied any deal with anti-drugs agency officers or any connection with the allegations of a payoff involving Sameer Wankhede, the Narcotics Control Bureau Zonal Director; the officer leading the investigations against him and others in the drugs-on-cruise case.

Vol. 21, Issue 8

https://twitter.com/ observer_weekly Epaper: https://issuu.com/ theweeklyobserver/docs Website: http://www. theweeklyobserver.in

Tuesday, October 26, 2021

Social stigma preventing mothers from seeking professional help for post partum depression | P 3

Students apply to study abroad as countries open their borders But are worried about a third Covid wave By Simran Sharma

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ith the fear of pandemic fading, students are planning to study abroad, say immigration consultancies. The pandemic and lockdowns made many students step back from studying abroad. The removal of travel bans and Covid restrictions in most countries has resulted in students making a beeline for foreign universities. Tanisha Kannan, who is applying for Masters in International Relations at the London School of Economics, informed The Observer: “Due to Covid, all colleges were conducting online classes. I wasn’t interested in paying so much money just to do it home and not experience college life, so I didn’t go last year. I’ve applied again for next year as they have opened up and offline classes are guaranteed. With talk of a third wave of Covid-19 coming up and

Students are choosing to fly abroad despite lockdown uncertainities | Credit: Tina Freese some saying it’s already begun, I have wasted one year of mine and can’t do the same for the next year. So, despite whatever happens, I will have to continue with

my education, of course with safety and precaution in place.” Her parents would fund her education expenses abroad. Students are worried about the imposition of lockdowns due to the virus. Tushar Satish Ekar, who is studying at Coventry University, said: “By the time I had applied for the course, the second wave of Covid had just passed and the UK had already recovered from it.They opened their doors for international students, so I thought it’s not a bad idea to go.I am not scared of the virus but I’m worried that there might be another lockdown if a third wave comes, which means I would not be able to attend classes on campus.” Mahitha Owk, who is awaiting her visa, plans to join a college in the US in the coming year. “No one knows what is going to happen, but whatever has to,will take place so we have to accept it. If things go well, I’ll be there.” Many parents and students dislike the constant uncertainty. Tanisha’s mother, Judy said: “Since Tanisha is completely vaccinated, I do not have the fear of sending her abroad. I was a bit scared and unwilling to send her

when we were initially hit by the virus. I would not say I am skeptical now as I cannot let her take another gap year due to Covid. Her life has to go on.” Immigration consultancies have an interesting take — the number of students did not decline due to the pandemic. Sunayna Chhabra, a consultant with Y-Axis, said there was never a dip in the number of students going abroad. Ankur Sharma, also from YAxis, said: “The number of students going abroad for education increased in pandemic time. During the pandemic, other visas were taking longer, so many people started taking student visas instead, as they just take six to eight months to come.” Raksha, a Consultant at International Development Programme, Bengaluru, told a similar story. They have been getting around three lakh applications in a year for studies in Canada. “The number of student applications for studies abroad never really dipped during the pandemic as many students attended online classes and some got their admissions deferred.” ►Continued on page 3

Biomedical waste rose during the second wave of Covid pandemic

Sex ratio at birth has improved in Bengaluru

Disposable masks are major contributors

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By Swarali Bodas

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ace shields, PPE kits, and single-use face masks have added to the medical waste in Bengaluru hospitals after the Covid-19 outbreak. Disposable face masks are used widely and improper disposal of the same is a danger to the environment. M.A. Srinath, Vice President of Operations at Maridi Bio Industries Pvt Ltd, a waste management service in Bengaluru, informed The Observer: “The gov-

The hospital staff segregate waste according to guidlelines laid down by CPCB| Credit: Swarali Bodas ernment gave orders to separate Covid waste from day one. So general waste and Covid waste were

segregated from the beginning. (We) saw an almost 30% rise in this waste in the second wave….” There is a biomedical waste (BMW) room on every floor of The Bangalore Hospital. Nagamohan V, in charge of housekeeping shared: “There are seven floors and there is one BMW room on every floor. We sanitize it every day.” Masks are categorized as hazardous waste. “Disposable masks used by doctors, and hospital staff are contaminated and hence thrown in yellow bins.” Doctors follow the guidelines on disposable masks. Dr Anuja Dalvi said she prefers disposable masks to cloth masks as they are better for prevention against Covid and much more breathable. ►Continued on page 3

engaluru has taken a small step towards gender equality as the sex ratio at birth has improved over the years, reports Saumyangi Yadav. NFHS-5 data reveal that in the past four years, the sex ratio at birth in the city has stabilised. The reasons are government schemes promoting the birth of girls; better quality of education, more opportunities for girls; and a shift away from the orthodox norms and rules of the society. Female infanticide and foeticide cases in Karnataka have also decreased significantly over the past few years. The idea of “the man carrying the family’s lineage’’ is slowly fading, according to sociologist Nirupama Kumar. ►Details on page 2


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The Observer Volume 21 Issue 8 by IIJNM Bangalore - Issuu