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Is plagiarism imbibed in us since birth?

Is plagiarism an accepted part of the education system in India? In other words, will cultural difference play a role in this? Well, as a writer, there are some measured parameters of plagiarism. The writer should describe his/her ideas or the concept without copying someone’s ideas or intellectual properties and if suppose, the ideas are conceived or copied out of someone’s intellectual property, then one must give them due to credit too. It doesn’t matter whosoever the source is. Taking acclaim for somebody else’s work is theft, whether you do it intentionally or by accident. This is what you will read everywhere when it comes to defining the term ‘plagiarism’.

Let’s go a little deep and think why this is imbibed in our minds and we don’t feel bad about copying or imitating anyone. Since birth, the social conditioning of mind plays a greater role. You are taught to call “BLACK” colour as black, you identify that colour because it’s termed and everyone calls the same. Suppose if a child disowns this conditioning and says that ‘no, for me this colour means RGB that is 255 per cent red, 255 per cent Green and 255 per cent blue’, or he may define that as something else, will we accept that child as normal or as above intellect?

No! We won’t because he is refusing to accept the conditioning, whosoever tries refusing these so-called protocols and parameters, we call them eccentric or lunatic. We are occupied and framed with typical thought process and lifestyle where we are made to believe that what my father thinks is a great thought and what my mother says or thinks is compulsory to follow. They cite examples of my elder sister or brother, who is blindly following so many such people of this society, whom he thinks is an idol. This is the birth of remote plagiarism in you.

Your name, your surname, your identity — everything is availed by so many before you are born but somewhere your parents forget to give credits to the possessor. We act, we think, we are influenced by many and act like many; rarely we realise that we are an independent individual.

Suppose, if you realise that you are independent and refuse to follow others, you are outcaste or awkward. Social conditioning comprises all of the messages and beliefs that you are programmed with over the years of your life. It comes from various sources. Due to Social Conditioning, we are grown with low self-esteem. Your mind is like raw clay and it absorbs everything that is in your environment. It doesn’t matter if you agree with what’s happening in your environment, it doesn’t matter if you HATE what’s happening, your mind will absorb whatever is in your environment and you will become more like your environment over time – and you have no choice in the matter.

This kills your self-confidence. Because rather than looking to who you are on the inside to determine your self worth, social conditioning drills you into the habit. Social conditioning, on the other hand, tells you that how you should live, how you should think, how you should be like, social conditioning also tells you that if another guy has some qualities, you should respect him and must try to follow his path.

The absolute key to having confidence is to define yourself based on your own standards, move through the world by your own compass and NOT by the standards of social conditioning. Average members in our society are a hypocrite and they unwantedly become the moral custodians of your life, you accept them or refuse but they are going to ruin your minds with their rules over your life and freedom.

Plagiarism is the beginning of these atrocities; you are asked to copy answers from the blackboard exactly as your teacher has written, then you copy answers from the brilliant student of your class, and you are compared with the child and asked to follow him/her; in rarest of the rare cases, you are asked to be yourself and be what you are.

Plagiarism on a different level is imbibed in you since birth. Students are the one fondest of plagiarising and they have their own reasons for it. First on the list is the lack of time. Students do not know how to manage time. They are not aware of the extent of work and put it off until the last minute lacking time for original work while others do not trust their own capability. Instead, they get insecure about the work of those professional ones. As they read the professional’s work, they think that they lack the knowledge to come up with as good as their work, and all students aim for a high grade. They tend to focus on what grade they will receive. They do not care whether they learn something from it. Others tell that not only they are doing it, but they are also tempted to do so since others still get a grade or are not punished by doing so without any effort.

Even those very responsible students tend to plagiarise also. It is because they are afraid of getting a low grade. For them, it is unfair that others will get a higher grade by plagiarising. It seems that their effort is useless. The students did not even find time to analyse their topic since their professor did not require a presentation of it. Students should put in mind that what’s more important is how they develop their own style of writing and how they understand the topic.

Dictionary definition of a particular word is plagiarism. Moreover, there are certain things for example — TOP TEN HACKERS in the world, there will be the same answer everywhere. Same names, same descriptions, and same information widely available, now whom to trust? Suppose if a writer refutes saying, ‘Oh suck! They are not the top ten, I don’t think they are extraordinary anyways’, readers or the community members will say, look how stupid is this person. When a hundred writers endorse these ten as the top then why she has to prove them wrong?

If I have to write about “Indira Gandhi” and I have not seen her, then I have to rely on the limited sources those who know her or those who have already written about her. The only difference that I can create is by modifying the existing info. A paraphrase does not always prevent plagiarism. You must change not only the word itself but also the structure of the sentence of the original without changing its content. Paraphrasing is also to lessen the quotations in your paper. It is also more advantageous to put the facts from other sources which you know will support your own ideas to make it more valid. Remember, even a small part copied without citation is plagiarism. You have committed plagiarism anytime you borrow from the original source.

Generally, it is easy to find information about every topic on the Internet and most of us are dependent on online sources. Some are smart enough to modify the content and enhancing the new look to the original. However, when you are not smart, you have to be extra attentive about keeping track of the source of information and thoughts and about giving proper credit to the authors of the sources you use.

So, instead of looking at the point why it happened or in what circumstances this occurred, plagiarism is not accepted in anyways, but there is no check on these issues. Copying some senior’s project and submitting it is common in schools and even no one raises any objections against it; no one is made aware of the seriousness of this subject at the school level. Moreover, this is an easier method of completing every task and unknowingly done mistake.

Cases of plagiarism in India are not restricted to students but even authors, journalists, professors, film producers, music directors, lawyers while making drafts and documents and published researchers have been found guilty of this practice.

In the recent past, such acts are being practiced by the scientists and archaeologists too. There is no specific law or constitutional provisions to this issue. In maximum times, this happens out of an extreme passion for someone’s writing, you try to follow them, their style and remain one like. You cannot call it a culture, India has fewer cases of plagiarism. Look at USA and UK, there are so many high profile issues over plagiarism. No country can ever boast about not having plagiarism issues.


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29 mishaps in last 4 years; 35-year-old aircrafts still in use in IAF

Aircraft Crashes in Last 4 YearsIt is a matter of great relief that no casualty happened and the prompt action of an Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot saved his Jaguar fighter jet on Thursday. The pilot jettisoned the aircraft’s fuel tanks and small practice bombs after one of the engines failed due to a bird hit.

Indian-designed warplanes have so far not been up to the job. But more than seven years since a deal was signed to buy Rafale fighters from France, India is yet to receive these fighter planes. Some people say that it is not what India needs.

The Russian-made MiG jet is called the flying coffin. Seven years ago, India’s then defence minister A K Antony said in the Rajya Sabha that 482 of the 872 Russian-origin MiGs procured since 1966 had crashed from 1971-72 onwards. A total of 171 pilots, 39 civilians, eight service personnel and one aircrew lost their lives in these accidents. The causes of accidents were both human error and technical defects.

According to Hyderabad-based defence and aviation historian, KS Nair, said that 60 per cent of the Indian Air Force fleet is over 30 years old, because of which technical snag crashes happen regularly. Except for Sukhois, most of the fleet has ageing aircraft. The Indian Air Force has been using the same planes since the last 30-35 years. IAF claims that they have reconditioned all these aircraft but who is accountable for the numerous mishaps of these planes and the lives lost? In the last 4 years, 29 IAF planes crashed claiming 53 lives. Here is a list of most of the accidents involving Jaguar aircraft, MiG-21, AN-32, and Sukhoi Su-30 planes over the last decade:

AN-32 aircraft

June 10, 2009: One of the first AN-32 accidents reported was when an aircraft crashed in Arunachal Pradesh, killing all 13 people onboard. This incident is reportedly what prompted India to upgrade the aircraft in the air force.

July 22, 2016: In 2016, an aircraft travelling from Chennai to Port Blair went missing in July with 29 people onboard. However, after the search operations yielded no results, all the people were presumed dead and the search was called off.

June 3, 2019: All 13 personnel on board an AN-32 transport aircraft that crashed in a heavily forested mountainous area in Arunachal Pradesh on June 3 were killed.

An-32 Aircraft crashed, IAF aircraft crashed, Indian Air Force, Sukhoi Su-30, Jaguar aircraft, MiG-21, Mirage 2000, Indian aircraft crashes, Top Indian aircraft crash
AN-32 Crash: six bodies, remains of seven others were found in Arunachal Pradesh

Sukhoi Su-30 aircraft                                                                                                                  

April 30, 2009: An IAF pilot killed and another seriously injured in the first-ever Su-30 MKI fighter jet crash near Jaisalmer in Rajasthan.

November 30, 2009: A Sukhoi fighter jet crashed during a routine training sortie south-west of Pokhran firing ranges in Rajasthan. The two pilots, Wing Commander Srivastava, and Flight Lieutenant Arora, bailed out safely.

December 13, 2011: A Sukhoi jet crashed soon after taking off from Lohegaon airbase near Pune but both the pilots managed to bail out safely. The aircraft was on a routine mission.

February 19, 2013: A Sukhoi aircraft crashed in Jaisalmer but both the pilots bailed out safely. There was no loss of life or damage to property on the ground.

October 14, 2014: A Sukhoi jet crashed at a village near Pune. Both the pilot and the co-pilot were unharmed.

May 19, 2015: A Sukhoi fighter crashed at Laokhowa in Nagaon district of Assam with both the pilot and co-pilot ejecting safely. It was on a routine sortie from Tezpur Air Force station and lost radar connection and crashed thereafter.

March 15, 2017: A Sukhoi aircraft crashed in Rajasthan’s Barmer district, injuring three villagers. Both the pilots ejected safely from the plane.

June 27, 2018: A Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter jet has crashed near Nashik in Maharashtra on June 27, 2018.

July 14, 2018: A Sukhoi Su-30MKI went missing while on a training mission near Tezpur, Assam. The aircraft’s wreckage was found three days later along with the black box. Both the pilots, Ft Lt Achudev and Sqn Ld D Pankaj were killed as they were unable to eject before the crash.

An-32 Aircraft crashed, IAF aircraft crashed, Indian Air Force, Sukhoi Su-30, Jaguar aircraft, MiG-21, Mirage 2000, Indian aircraft crashes, Top Indian aircraft crash
IAF personnel at Ojhar Air Force station rushed to the crash site. (Photo: ANI)

MiG aircraft

April 4, 2002: A MIG-21 crashed in Jodhpur district in Rajasthan. The pilot ejected safely.

May 3, 2002: At least seven people died when a MiG-21 crashed into a residential area in Punjab.

June 26, 2002: A MiG-27 caught fire on the runway at the military airport in Srinagar.

June 26, 2002: A Mig-23 fighter crashed in Punjab at the peak of India-Pakistan tensions but the Pilot ejected safely.

July 15, 2002: A MiG-21 aircraft caught fire in mid-air and crashed into a pond in a sparsely-populated village near Phansidewa in Darjeeling district in West Bengal. The pilot and a trainee pilot ejected and were rescued with minor injuries.

September 9, 2002: Two fighter planes of MiG-21 variant, which had been cleared for flying after being grounded for weeks, crashed in Haryana and Rajasthan. The pilots bailed out unhurt. One jet crashed in the fields on the outskirts of Chaurmaspur village near Ambala cantonment while another crashed in Shivpur in Pali district in Rajasthan.

April 4, 2003: Three women and a child on the ground were killed and five persons were injured, four of them seriously, after a Mig-23 fighter crashed in a residential area in Dashmesh Nagar locality in Ludhiana in Punjab.

April 7, 2003: A MiG-21 fighter jet crashed into a milk processing plant in Haryana, injuring at least three people.

June 4, 2003: A MiG-21 aircraft of Indian Air Force crashed shortly after take-off from Uttarlai Air Base in Rajasthan killing the pilot. Flight Lt AS Jamwal was killed after the aircraft caught fire and plunged into a nearby field in Barmer.

July 15, 2003: A twin-seater MiG-21 fighter-trainer crashed near Srinagar airbase. Both pilots — Wing Commander R Rastogi and Flight Lieutenant Ganesh — were killed. The jet hit the ground after it suffered the loss of power while trying to pull up from a low-flying position. This was the sixth IAF fighter and the fifth of the MiG series to crash in 2003.

March 8, 2018: An Indian Air Force’s MiG-21 crashed near Nal in Rajasthan, however, the pilot ejected safely. A court of inquiry was set up to investigate the cause of the accident. IAF spokesperson Group Captain Anupam Banerjee said initial inputs indicated that the likely cause was a bird which was hit after take off.

March 31, 2018: A MiG 27 aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed near Jodhpur in Rajasthan but the pilot ejected safely. The fighter jet had taken off from the Utarlai airforce base but the jet experienced engine problems leading to the crash at around 11.45 am in Sirohi district around 120 kilometres south of Jodhpur.

May 8, 2018: A MiG- 27 aircraft had crashed at Tantipara near Alipurduar town in West Bengal following a technical problem, killing two civilians on the ground though the pilot ejected safely. A court of inquiry was ordered.

January 28, 2019: A MiG 27 crashed near Jodhpur’s Banad area.

An-32 Aircraft crashed, IAF aircraft crashed, Indian Air Force, Sukhoi Su-30, Jaguar aircraft, MiG-21, Mirage 2000, Indian aircraft crashes, Top Indian aircraft crash
MIG-23 aircraft The wreckage of the MIG-23 aircraft that crashed at Balesar near Jodhpur.

Jaguar aircraft

June 5, 2018: Air Commodore Sanjay Chauhan passed away after his Jaguar fighter plane went down in the Mundra taluk of the Kutch region in northwestern Gujarat. This was the second alarming incident in the month of June 2018 with an Indian Air Force Jaguar.

June 8, 2018: An Indian Air Force’s ‘Jaguar’ developed a snag while landing and had a minor accident. The pilot was on a routine training mission from the Jamnagar Air Force base.

January 28, 2019: A Jaguar fighter of the Indian Air Force crashed in the Kushinagar district Uttar Pradesh. Though, the pilot was able to eject safely in time using his tactical expertise to land the plane away from the habitation nearby. A court of enquiry was ordered to investigate the accident, the Defence PRO in Lucknow said.

June 27, 2019: The prompt action of an Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot saved his Jaguar fighter jet on June 27. The pilot jettisoned the aircraft’s fuel tanks and small practice bombs after one of the engines failed due to a bird hit.

An-32 Aircraft crashed, IAF aircraft crashed, Indian Air Force, Sukhoi Su-30, Jaguar aircraft, MiG-21, Mirage 2000, Indian aircraft crashes, Top Indian aircraft crash
Air Force Jaguar crashes in Uttar Pradesh

Mirage 2000

February 1, 2019: A Mirage 2000 trainer aircraft, which was recently upgraded by the defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), crashed soon after taking off at the HAL airport resulting in the deaths of Sqn Ldr Siddartha Negi and Sqn Ldr Samir Abrol, both test pilots with the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE).

The aircraft was repaired by HAL and was in HAL airport for an acceptance test flight before reinduction. HAL, which has been upgrading the Mirage fleet under a contract from 2015, said: The Company has initiated an enquiry into the accident in coordination with the Indian Air Force.”

An-32 Aircraft crashed, IAF aircraft crashed, Indian Air Force, Sukhoi Su-30, Jaguar aircraft, MiG-21, Mirage 2000, Indian aircraft crashes, Top Indian aircraft crash
Mirage 2000 crashes in Rajasthan second mishap in 11 days

Will CPM, Congress and TMC join hands in West Bengal?

mamata banerjee, hannan mollah, somen mitra,cpm congress tmcAfter suffering severe drubbing in the Lok sabha election at the hands of the BJP, the TMC supremo and CM Mamata Banerjee is desperate to check the BJP at any cost. That is why for first time, Mamata Banerjee has openly asked for the help of her arch rivals the CPM and the Congress to defeat the BJP in West Bengal. But both parties have rejected her offer and said that only the TMC is responsible for rise of the saffron party in the state.

Earlier, on several occasions she had laid stress on an alliance with these parties at the national level but for the first time, she is ready to join hands with the CPM and the Congress at home. In the Assembly Mamata Banerjee said, “I have apprehensions that the BJP would change the Constitution of India. I think all of us, including the Left and Congress, should join hands to combat the BJP.”

TMC, CPM and Congress have no other options left

It is remarkable that the BJP won 18 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state and bagged 40.5 per cent vote share, a record jump of 23 per cent from the last general elections. In 2014 the BJP had won only two seats. Although the TMC managed to increase its vote share by four per cent, its seats came down to 22 from 34 in last general elections. The CPM, Congress and TMC had been together at the national level. Therefore, there is possibility that they may join hands in the state. At the same time, they have no other options left. West Bengal Assembly elections in West Bengal are due in 2021. Buoyed by major gains in the Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal, the BJP leadership is aiming for more than two-third majority in the assembly elections due in 2021 and also for early polls in the state.

CPM politburo member Hannan Mollah said, “We don’t need lessons from Mamata Banerjee on ways to fight the BJP. It is due to her policies that the BJP has gained ground in Bengal. She should first accept that it is due to her fault that the BJP has made inroads in Bengal.” Mollah said, “Before thinking anything on this line (on Mamata Banerjee’s call for joining hands), I think we need to strengthen our own party. She is a selfish leader. Did she speak to any Opposition leader ever in Bengal? She is doing this because she is helpless right now. We will wait and watch before making any commitment.”

Bengal Congress president Somen Mitra, said, “We are not here to run after her statements and suggestions. Her statement in the Assembly has no meaning. She said this out of her own interest. Before the Lok Sabha election, she made a statement that we are with the RSS. Later, she said that we have become a ‘sign board’ (lost relevance) in Bengal. Now, why does she want to join hands with the ‘sign board? She should speak clearly what exactly she means with her statement.”

Post-poll violence in West Bengal

After the Lok Sabha elections, violence erupted in West Bengal. Violence has been an integral part of Bengal politics. The TMC and the BJP workers clashed with each other. It must be noted that the political situation in West Bengal is so volatile that even a road-side quarrel between the BJP and TMC is capable to leading to lethal violence now. Recently, five people were killed over an argument about party flags in Sandeshkhali, around 70 km from Kolkata.

Most of the post-poll violence in Bengal has taken place in the North 24 Parganas district for two reasons. First, the district shares a border with Bangladesh and lends itself to Hindu-Muslim tension, with post-election communal polarisation playing the role of catalyst. In 2017, Basirhat city in the district had seen communal clashes. The second reason is Arjun Singh, the former TMC strong man who contested the Lok Sabha election on a BJP ticket and won the Barrackpore seat. Arjun Singh was the MLA from Bhatpara. For over two decades, he has been a key asset of the TMC. He held sway over the whole of the Barrackpore constituency because of his booth-level organisational skills and the support he had from the state’s Hindi speakers.

At present, the BJP’s cadres are a mishmash of former TMC, CPM and Congress workers. The recent election has shown that the BJP is as adept at using violence as the TMC or CPM. In such a situation, the strong emergence of the BJP has meant the addition of a new and volatile element into the mix polarisation.

Days after the Lok Sabha election results were declared, hundreds of councillors, also known corporators, from various municipalities, joined the BJP. About five TMC MLAs and one CPI(M) MLA also joined the BJP. They had perhaps sensed that the wind is now blowing away from Mamata. The BJP now claims that it has a majority in the municipalities of Nahihati, Bhatpara, Kachrapada, Bijpur, Bongaon and Darjeeling.

BJP takes control of the South Dinajpur Zilla Parishad in Bengal

According to reports, the BJP finally took control of the South Dinajpur Zilla Parishad in West Bengal from the TMC, after majority of its members, besides an MLA, switched sides. It is first time in the state. Veteran leader Biplab Mitra also joined the BJP. Biplab Mitra who was considered to be one of the architects of the Trinamool Congress in the district in north Bengal, was shunted out as the party’s district president after the Lok Sabha polls. Besides Biplab Mitra and 10 of the 18 members of South Dinajpur Zilla Parishad, TMC MLA Wilson Champramary joined the BJP in Delhi. Biplab Mitra said, “The TMC has become a party of arrogant autocratic leaders. I had built the party in the district from scratch from 1998 but I was made to feel like an outsider in the party. My hard work of so many years was not respected.”

Kamat Hotels helps restore Fani-ravaged Odisha’s lost greenery

Odisha Cyclone, Fani cyclone, odishaThe first severe cyclonic storm of the 2019 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, Fani has devastated Odisha causing huge loss to infrastructure and livelihood. Over 50 lakh trees in Balukhand Sanctuary on Puri-Konark Road Marine drive, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and the other parts of Odisha have been uprooted. With an objective to regain the greenery in urban and rural areas in Puri, Khordha, Cuttack and other severely affected districts of Odisha, one of India’s renowned hospitality chain Kamat Hotel India Ltd has taken the initiative of planting 10 lakh trees through seed balls to help rebuild the forest cover of the state.

Odisha, Cyclone faniThe seed balls are made from mud, organic compost, and seeds. The advantage of these seed balls is that it can be thrown anywhere where there is land to grow, provided that the soil isn’t too dry compact, or dense with other vegetation. Also, these seed balls are easy to plant as compared to saplings.

Talking about the initiative to give back the environment, Executive Chairman and Managing Director of Kamat Hotels India Ltd Dr. Vithal Venkatesh Kamat said, “We are dispatching 10 lakh seed balls from Mumbai alone to Odisha before the onset of the monsoon to ensure they bloom into magnificent trees. This is our way of giving back to Odisha, where we’ve operating Lotus Eco Beach Resort Konark, Mahodadhi Palace Puri & Vits Bhubaneshwar for the past 10 years. This is our home and we’ll try our best to rebuild its green cover.”

Odisha, Cyclone fani“On behalf of the people of Maharashtra, it’s our contribution to plant trees in Odisha, as One Nation One Family. We are grateful to all the school children, societies, NGOs and hotel guests who participated in this noble cause. All seeds are native to India and Odisha and will help birds and animals in the region as they are grass and fruit-bearing,” Kamat added.

Odisha, Cyclone faniThe cyclonic storm Fani originated from a tropical depression that formed west of Sumatra in the Indian Ocean on April 26. Vertical wind shear at first hindered the storm’s development, but conditions became more favourable on April 30. Fani rapidly intensified into an extremely severe cyclonic storm and reached its peak intensity on May 2, as a high-end extremely severe cyclonic storm and the equivalent of a high-end Category 4 major hurricane.

Video Courtesy: OTV

New ‘unprinting’ method will help with paper recycling and curb environmental cost

Unprinting method, printers,unprint,reprint
Image Courtesy : Youtube

Scientists have created a new way to erase black, blue, red and green toners from printed pages — an advance that may help recycle paper.

The method, developed by researchers at Rutgers University in the US, can work with the standard, coated paper used in home and office printers.

It uses pulses of light from a xenon lamp, and can erase black, blue, red and green toners without damaging the paper, according to the study published in the Journal of Cleaner Production.

“Our method makes it possible to unprint and then reprint on the same paper at least five times, which is typically as many times paper can be reused with conventional recycling,” said Rajiv Malhotra, an assistant professor at Rutgers University.

According to the research, conventional recycling of coated paper is a major contributor to climate change emissions, chemical pollution and energy use. Extending the life of paper while avoiding these recycling steps would yield significant environmental benefits.

“By eliminating the steps involved in conventional recycling, our unprinting method could reduce energy costs, pollution and greenhouse gas emissions,” said Malhotra.

The engineers’ next steps are to further refine the method by testing additional toner colours on a wider range of paper types.

Unprinting can be done with simple equipment and a wipe with a very small amount of benign alcohol, and the engineers are working to integrate unprinting with typical office and home printers.

FSSAI calls for visible labelling of high fat, sugar and salt contents on packaged foods

food safety.fssai,food safety and standards authority of india
Image Courtesy : Agency

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued draft regulations aiming to mandate packaged food companies to label high fat, sugar and salt contents in front of the package itself in red colour.

Alarmed by rising rates of obesity and diabetes, India has been planning rules from as early as two years ago, requiring food manufacturers to display fat, sugar and salt content on their labels and was also considering a nationwide “fat tax” on so-called “junk food”.

The food labels will also declare, per serve percentage contribution to RDA (recommended dietary allowance) on the front of the pack, the FSSAI said in a statement dated June 25.

The Economic Times newspaper earlier reported the move and said the food industry has expressed concerns over the proposed changes.

Currently, most of the packaged food companies print nutrition details of the contents, including their recommended daily values, at the back of the package.

The president of the All India Food Processors’ Association (AIFPA), Subodh Jindal, told ET that the proposed FSSAI regulations were neither scientific nor practical.

“It is recommended that the authority should instead focus on awareness generation of consumer about balanced diet and suitability of different foods as per one’s lifestyle,” the paper quoted Jindal as saying.

Pros and cons of One Nation One Poll

One Nation One Poll 1The common man goes with the tide. Whatever the government imposes, they will bend. Why change the time tested arrangement. It is all a paradox, saving money and all. The citizens have to bear the expenditure anyway. It is all imagination. Priority to common mans’ needs are important. All other things can wait. Where is drinking water? Think of connecting rivers. More water is flowing into fruitless talks only.

Moral of the story is that the idea of simultaneous polls is a non-feasible one. I am also of the opinion that it is not a workable idea from the democratic point of view. Everything must not be seen from the economic prism as it is wrong. There can be many other options to enforce cost cuttings or savings or austerity.

The popular will of the general public is surely in favour of One Nation One Poll. It is only the politicians, who are in regional and minority parties doing protest for their own existence and crying wolf and making excuses like “federalism”   “constitution” etc. I think the government of the day is justified in heeding to the popular views of the public and go ahead with this proposal if it can push through democratically using whenever they gain the majority in both houses. Money and time can be saved from other unnecessary projects.

The foundation of our Constitution should not be shaken and probably reducing the number of days to one or two days of polling can be done instead of holding it for more than a month. It will only cause greater confusion and money can be saved from many other unnecessary programmes and projects. Elections are the foundations of our constitution and there is no point in breaking it down.

It would be best if we think of the expenditure incurred by parties in the recent past elections. In a country where most of the people are unaware of education the thought of one nation one election is not a cup of tea to them. Let us strive for a free, justifiable and ideological democracy to be taken place by any means for a brighter India.

One Nation One Poll is a good idea to reduce the cost of election and people will give more importance to the election. Save time and money, as well as Political speeches against divisive Parties.  One clear vote in each State and the Nation can work better. Till 1967 in almost all states Congress was the ruling party. So the electorate fund it easy to elect its representatives. Now caste and language are new factors which mostly are influencing the voters adversely.  Simultaneous elections are beneficial no doubt but it may be difficult to implement in this fouled environment.

Seems like a noble idea on paper. However, rather than concentrating on these type of issues, which needs a detailed examination and once it goes haywire for any reasons the whole system would be in the doldrums. Analysis and evaluations need not bring in a clear picture prior to its implementations. It is likely that there could be lots of merits. However, in the worst possibility, the government encounters irreparable damage which could be attributed to the ransacking of democracy getting things to revert to its original form would be hazardous.

GST and all can be fine-tuned in the course of time. However, these reforms are not that similar and it will reflect irreparable damages to the existing fabric of the democratic system. So better the government concentrates on more burning issues like unemployment and agriculture. The nation is facing burning problems; instead of opening a Pandora’s Box at this moment, let us concentrate only on development. Once such issues are resolved, people can’t feel sceptical and time would be ripe move on.

The proposal, if adopted, would have the following consequence: this will be a blow to democracy and federalism. More deeply, the founding pact of the Indian Union is based on federalism. It is the choice of the founding fathers of the Union. Of course, the Constitution of the Union can evolve because a Constitution is not a fixed text for eternity. What seems to be emerging through the announced project is the questioning of the founding pact that can lead to the destruction of the Union. It becomes more than necessary to have in mind what was said seventy years ago, on November 25, 1949, by B.R. Ambedkar at India’s Constituent Assembly for the last time. It is important to re-read this speech and especially to make it known to younger generations.


(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

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Letters to the Editor: 27 June, 2019

FEATURE LETTER DIARY 679x400 e1553672678487Modi unfit for PM’s post 

Who wanted Modi for a second term to rule the country? We have had enough of him and his false promises. Let him go to the Himalayas and meditate there now. Or let him go back to Gujarat and start selling tea once again in his hometown. He is not fit to be a Prime Minister.

Jubel D’Cruz

 

Has RBI become the puppet of the govt?

Viral Acharya’s exit as RBI deputy governor six months before his term ended does not come as a surprise. His body language and various interactions to the media clearly indicated he was on his way out. Former RBI governor Urjit Patel too put in his papers 9 months before his term ended. Raghuram Rajan before him was not taken seriously by the govt. Has RBI become the puppet of the government is a serious issue which needs to be debated across the country?

People at the helm resigning at a time when Indian economy is in the doldrums can’t be coincidence and is a serious matter which cannot be overlooked. Lakhs of crores of bank money have been siphoned off by fraudsters and nothing concrete is being done to trace that money. RBI Board has top qualified professionals who won’t toe the line of people in power which is the reason why we have so many exits at the top level. PM Modi should personally intervene and look at problems at RBI so that our Central Bank can function independently to streamline our economy.

S.N. Kabra

 

Sreedharan opposes free metro ride for women

It refers to metro-man E Sreedharan writing to Prime Minister rightly opposing proposed free metro-ride for women in Delhi Metro Rail Service (DMRC). Instead DMRC should concentrate more on providing better and extended metro-services in Delhi by operating metro-service round the clock especially including in Airport Express.

These extended services can be extended at intervals of half-an-hour in late non-peak night hours. System will provide cheaper, convenient and safe travel during night-hours, and is utmost necessary for Airport Express because of flights arriving and departing 24-hours a day. People have to spend so much in taxis that too with late-night charges. Loss in providing 24-hours a day metro-service can be partially compensated by abolishing fare-concession in non-peak hours.

Youngsters especially ladies do not vacate seats reserved for senior citizens. Special warning through display-boards and announcement inside metro-trains should be there against not voluntarily vacating seats reserved for senior citizens specially by young ladies who have separate reserved seats apart from a full metro-coach reserved for ladies. Senior citizens out of courteous avoid asking young ladies to vacate seats reserved for them. Fine should be imposed on youngsters including ladies not voluntarily vacating seats for senior citizens.

DMRC should change name of Yamuna-Bank station which confuses commoners very much. Otherwise also, every effort should be made to use Hindi names in Delhi as far as possible. Yamuna-Bank station can be renamed as Yamuna-Paar or some other Hindi name familiar with commoners. Present name otherwise also confuses as if some bank is named as Yamuna-Bank.

Madhu Agrawal


(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

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Save the Savior

Bengal doctors on strike, Doctors on strike, Mumbai doctors on strike
Image Courtesy: Twitter

In India, doctors have traditionally been regarded highly by society. The present impression of private business-mindedness of some in the profession has led to a poor image of doctors. However, one of the factors that contribute to this poor image of doctors is the sensationalisation of every news item, often ignoring information that would gloss over mundane details, exonerating a doctor in an incident of alleged medical negligence. There are many causes for the increase in violence against medical personnel, not restricted to a general increase in aggression in society as evidenced by incidents of road rage and other acts of violence witnessed in schools and colleges across India.

Violence against doctors and other medical practitioners in India has been reported as an increasing problem. On average, one in two doctors faces violence at hospitals. Violence is much more common in the healthcare industry compared to any other, taking up a variety of forms. There are many ways to reduce the potential for violence and total episodes. One of the most serious problems in worldwide healthcare, it needs to be addressed in a well-thought-out way.

Violence may stem from patient dissatisfaction with care, costs associated with insurance premiums, unrealistic expectations, and overworked and underpaid hospital staff, as well as the rising cost of health care due to the government’s inability to subsidize hospital operations. Lack of a third-party formal dispute resolution system in many hospitals has been suggested as a factor, and the acceptance of bribes or good-faith money in the form of red packets has been implicated. Media coverage and a lack of health literacy amongst the population are also some of the contributory factors.

Violence against doctors – Global Phenomenon

Violence against doctors and hospital is not only restricted to India but a global phenomenon. In the USA, between 1980 and 1990, over 100 healthcare workers died as a result of violence. Another survey conducted in 170 university hospitals revealed that 57% of all emergency room employees had been threatened with a weapon over a 5-year period before the survey. The main reason behind the violence is ignorance about disease and prognosis, lack of knowledge regarding medical science. Today mob mentality has become a predominant trait.

Among other causes of violence against doctors in India are the pathetic conditions in which patients are treated in government hospitals. There is overcrowding, long waiting time to meet doctors, absence of a congenial environment, multiple visits to get investigations done as well as consult doctors, sharing a bed by two and sometimes three patients, and poor hygiene and sanitation.

Causes of violence

There is a lack of communication and overwork leading to numerous patients and understaffing of doctors. The junior doctors mostly get attacked as first responders in a critical situation, because they lack training in proper communication. There is also a lack of surveillance, security, and restriction on movement of multiple attendants inside hospital premises. The government should be very transparent with lack of institutional/organisational policies and prepare action plans to deal with such violence.

There are various types of healthcare violence like verbal abuse, mobbing, threats, psychological harassment, physical violence, vandalism and cyber trolling.

Put an End – The solution

Aspects of patient-doctor communication such as ‘receiving an explanation for the occurrence of the symptom/ sign, likely duration of treatment and the lack of unmet expectations’ were found to be key predictors of patient satisfaction. Caregivers must be trained in breaking bad news, empathizing and communicating with their patients. Given the patient load, lack of time, gross deficiency of staff and other resources, these issues receive only lip service in India, especially in the government sector.

The relationship between a doctor and a patient is paternalistic where patients are still not considered equal partners by their caregivers. This at a time leads to arrogant behaviour, condescending attitude and use of jargon by doctors, which confuses the patient. This is an area where much emphasis needs to be laid especially during medical training. Doctors are taught clinical behaviour but not empathy. Effective patient-doctor communication has been shown to correlate with patient satisfaction with healthcare services.


(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of AFTERNOON VOICE and AFTERNOON VOICE does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)

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Maharashtra slumps in ‘Beti Bachao’

 Girl-Child-Sex-Ratio-in-Maharashtra,sex ratio of girls
Image Used For Representation Purpose Only

There is no indication that sex determination and female foeticide have completely stopped in Maharashtra. The sex ratio at birth in the state has further declined from the base year 2014-16. Thus, Maharashtra has failed in PM Modi’s ambitious ‘Beti Bachao’ programme. The latest health ranking report of NITI Aayog has revealed it which is a matter of concern for a progressive state like Maharashtra.

The report says that the ratio of newborn girls per 1,000 boys went two points down. On the other hand, Maharashtra’s sex ratio based on registered births has been at 904 in 2016 and at 913 in 2017. In Mumbai, the Sex Ratio at Birth has shown a rise since 2013, when it was 930, to 937 in 2016 and 938 in 2017.

According to Census reports, Maharashtra’s general sex ratio declined from 934 in 1991 to 922 in 2001 but marginally rose to 929 in 2011. In contrast, India’s sex ratio increased from 927 in 1991 to 933 in 2011 and 940 in 2011. The Child Sex Ratio (CSR) (ratio of girls to boys between zero to six) fell from 946 in 1991 to 913 in 2001 and 894 in 2011 in the state, as against India’s 946 in 1991, 927 in 2001 and 919 in 2011.

On being asked about this, Congress spokesperson Hemlata Patil told Afternoon Voice, “The state government’s policy is responsible for the decline in Sex Ratio at Birth in Maharashtra. Sex determination is being done even today. The Chief Minister did not take any concrete step for saving girl children. The administration is not registering cases against guilty doctors and clinics.”

As per “Healthy States, Progressive India” titled report of NITI Aayog, there are surprises in the performances of states when it comes to sex ratio. The sex ratio at birth is now the highest in Chhattisgarh at 963, which has overtaken Kerala. Kerala’s sex ratio at birth has fallen from 967 to 959. However, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan have worsened. Haryana has the worst sex ratio at 832 although this is a slight improvement from 831. UP has also improved a bit from 879 to 882.

Socialist activist Dr. Kumar Saptarshi said, “People who are economically sound are more indulged in the practices of sex determination and female foeticide. This problem has spread in the rural areas of Maharashtra too. Due to social reasons, people opt for a male child. The common man thinks that they have to pay dowry if a girl is born in the family. Mass awareness programme should be conducted to stop female foeticide. ”

It is remarkable that Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) or the number of girls born for every 1000 boys born during a specific year is an important indicator and reflects the extent to which there is a reduction in the number of girl children born by sex-selective abortions. This indicator was only available for the category of larger states. The SRB is substantially lower in almost all larger states. There is a clear need for Maharashtra to effectively implement the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994 and take appropriate measures to promote the value of the girl child.

On the other hand, as per records of Maharashtra government, girl power is on the rise in Maharashtra. The state government’s birth registration figures reveal that more girls were born in 2017 compared with the two previous years. This is the second highest sex ratio since 2013. In 2016, the sex ratio at birth in the state was 904 girls per 1,000 boys, which improved to 913 for newborns in 2017. This is the highest in three years the figure for 2015 was 907, down from 914 in 2014. This sex ratio based on registered births was 900 five years ago.

A senior health department official said, “The civil registration system’s provisional figures show an upward trend for the sex ratio in 2017.” The report is based on the Civil Registration System (CRS) which records births and deaths under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969. “The figures suggest that the sex ratio has improved in districts like Wardha, Gadchiroli, Gondia, Nanded, and Jalna, while it has declined in Jalgaon, Yavatmal and Hingoli,” the official explained.

The highest increase in the birth of girls has been observed in Wardha where the ratio has surged by 243 points from 933 in 2016 to 1,176 in 2017, followed by Pune (63 points) from 845 to 908, Gadchiroli (55 points) from 945 to 1,000 and Buldhana (40 points) up from 877 to 917. However, the fall is visible in districts like Hingoli (92 points) where the sex ratio at birth is down from 919 to 827, Jalgaon (58 points from 922 in 2016 to 864 in 2017) and Bhandara, which saw a decline of 38 points from 956 to 918. In districts like Mumbai (937 in 2016 and 938 in 2017), Aurangabad (898 and 899), the rise has been marginal between 2016 and 2017, while the fall has been similarly minimal in Ratnagiri (927 and 926) and Solapur (883 and 882). “Considering the median population and its growth, we expect around 19 lakh births to be registered annually. Last year, we had about 18 lakh registered births translating into an over 90 per cent reporting efficiency,” the official said.

While 2017 recorded India’s second-highest sex ratio at birth in Maharashtra, some districts have shown a drastic fall in the number of girls. In 2013, the sex ratio at birth was just 900 which improved to 914 in 2014 but marginally dipped to 907 in 2015. The provisional birth registration figures for 2016 and 2017 stand at 904 and 913 respectively.