Day: July 20, 2020

The Future of Online Learning

Online learning is on the rise. A recent poll found that 46% of recent graduates took an online credit as part of their degree, while more people than ever are turning to hybrid courses that combine distance learning with traditional classroom methods. Many students are attracted to the flexibility of online learning and combine their studies with work or personal commitments. For others, distance learning is a less expensive alternative to traditional campus-based courses. A three-year undergraduate degree can cost up to $50,000, while postgraduate courses will set a student back around $5,000. And although prices for online learning course vary quite dramatically, comparable degrees cost around 50% less.

Online learning is on the rise. A recent poll found that 46% of recent graduates took an online credit as part of their degree, while more people than ever are turning to hybrid courses that combine distance learning with traditional classroom methods. Many students are attracted to the flexibility of online learning and combine their studies with work or personal commitments. For others, distance learning is a less expensive alternative to traditional campus-based courses. A three-year undergraduate degree can cost up to $50,000, while postgraduate courses will set a student back around $5,000. And although prices for online learning course vary quite dramatically, comparable degrees cost around 50% less.

Many experts believe online learning is the future of education. As technology becomes more widely available, an increasing number of students will gain access to the kind of knowledge that can vastly improve their career prospects, and maybe even the world. Online learning will enable students in developing countries to study subjects like coding, computing programming, and engineering, thus driving innovation all over the globe.

So given it’s rising popularity and revolutionary potential, here’s what you need to know about online learning.

The benefits of online learning

Online learning is about accessibility and inclusivity. It removes the physical barriers that prevent many people from fulfilling academic or career ambitions by allowing students to work from pretty much anywhere. Dr Irina Alvestad of the University of New Mexico-Los Alamost “Today, more students have multiple commitments, and they navigate to the flexibility of online courses. Students take UNM-LA classes from all over the world. I have had students in Vienna and in the Philippines, and students who are deployed with the military.”

Moreover, online learning can ensure all children receive a first-class education. Roxborough is a small town in New Zealand. At any one time, no more than 175 children are attending the local school. Because of the town’s small population, officials struggled to find teachers to fill the entire curriculum, meaning students were missing out on additional subjects that could broaden their horizons and lead to better future job prospects. So the school decided to embrace online learning. The school-board introduced a virtual learning center, which includes online lessons taught via video conferencing. Students meet up with their online tutor for an hour-long lecture, then work independently for another two hours in the learning center, which is equipped with online educational resources like study-guides, student forums, and interactive assignments.

The ‘blended learning’ approach is becoming popular in many other parts of the world. A recent report by the New Media Consortium found that hybrid courses are now the norm in schools, universities, and colleges. The report also stated that the trend is set to continue due to an ever more interconnected digital world and some major investment from big tech. A study funded by the Bill Gates foundation concluded blended learning in higher education produced higher academic achievement than exclusively face-to-face and online courses. Michael Barbour, director of doctoral studies for the Isabelle Farrington College of Education at Sacred Heart University, believes we are on He says, “There’s no question things are changing. One thing we can say is that the schools of tomorrow won’t look anything like the ones kids go to today.”

The realities of distance learning

Online learning creates plenty of opportunities, but there are some potential drawbacks which students considering it need to consider. Firstly, the huge amount of choice is a real benefit for students, but more choice also leads to a greater disparity in the quality of teaching methods, online resources, and student support.  A sure way to check any schools credibility is by their accreditation. For example, a high-quality online nursing degree by a UK provider will always be accredited by the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC). Any large governing body within an industry will often have links to approved courses on the website, making them an excellent starting point for any student looking for an accredited online course. Accreditation is also essential for your long-term career options. Most employers will accept an online degree, but accreditation is a sign that your course of study has prepared you for the realities of entering your new profession.

And while online learning offers the kind of flexibility many students are looking for, some can underestimate the impact of working without regular direction from tutors; others may feel isolated by spending long hours studying alone, especially if they are returning from a long break from formal education.

The majority of distance learning courses include some face-to-face time with other students and teachers, but it is still important to make an effort to connect with your fellow students via chat-rooms, forums, and even regular meet-ups. This will allow to bounce ideas off each other or just offer some much needed moral support.

The human side of virtual learning

Building a real-life network with fellow students and tutors is an essential part of any online course or degree. In fact, it’s often the difference between success and failure. Sebastian Thrun is a former professor of artificial intelligence at Stanford University and a pioneer of distance learning. His company Udacity provides online courses to help students gain skills for future industries, such as AI, coding, and nanotechnology. But despite the value of such courses, Thrun points out that only 34% of those who begin the courses see them through to the end. And that’s actually quite high when compared to other courses; many have drop-out rates as high as 95% When asked why so many people drop out of virtual learning programmes,“Solitary learning is hard. Many people run into an insurmountable technical challenge they cannot get past. Without the kind of personal attention that comes from more traditional forms of training, they become demoralised and give up.”

Thrun believes Udacity’s lower level of drop-out is directly linked to the social elements of the course. As well as more regular face-to-face contact with tutors, the Udacity courses often arrange social meet-ups and team building exercises, creating a real sense of community among the students. There’s also more human recognition, and usually from senior Udacity staff.  When a student passes an assignment, they receive congratulations and a thank-you from a ‘real-life’ human via Skype. Small things like this might not seem that important, but we generally feel a greater sense of achievement and self-worth when other people, rather than computers, validate our efforts.

The future of learning?

For many universities, providing online courses and hybrid learning will play an essential role in their long-term survival. Many students are put off by expensive course fees associated with full-time, campus-based courses. For others, studying full-time clashes with other important responsibilities, such as a current career or raising a young family. Subsequently, universities that offer online learning resources are encouraging more students to enroll in their institutions, including those who live in provincial areas or, in some cases, in a completely different country. Keeping up with consumer demand and changing technologies is essential for any large organization, and universities are no exception. In other words, online learning is not just here to stay; it is set to become an integral part of the future.

Moreover, schools and higher education institutions are already integrating online teaching methods into the classroom, including next-generation technologies like augmented reality, AI, and virtual reality. According to US tech company Nearpod, more than six million students have already experienced its VR-based lessons, which includes virtual field trips around famous historical sites like the Roman Coliseum. Meanwhile, Copenhagen-based company Labster is currently developing a series of VR products with Google that will allow science students to run virtual experiments. One project includes a VR game where a forensic science student can investigate a virtual crime scene and analyze the evidence they find.

Such developments inevitably lead to wilder forms of speculation, but it’s important to note schools and big tech are focusing on integration rather than wholesale replacement. In other words, ‘real-life’ teachers will still play a vital role in educating the next generation of students. In fact, they are absolutely essential. Guido Kovalskys is the chief executive and co-founder of Nearpod. “VR is an engaging tool, but within a 35-minute lesson plan, it might only be two or three minutes. Learning is a social experience. It is not only about learning content but learning to deal with others. Teachers play a really influential role.”

There will always be a place for traditional, classroom-based teaching method, but even these are becoming increasingly more integrated with online learning. And while it’s almost impossible to predict what directions technology will take us in, online learning is set to become a major part of learning institutions all around the world.

Are Indian industries ready to be weaned away from China?

“Boycott China”, this is something we all have been hearing frequently since the last few weeks. This started after the dispute between China and India regarding the Himalyan border region of Ladakh. Due to this lives were lost, both Indian and Chinese soldiers died. Many Indian groups who supported Swadeshi came forward and appealed the citizens to cease the purchase of Chinese products. The idea is to effect the Chinese economy, making them realize that they can not just keep harming us while earning from us through goods and products. On 29th June the Indian government took a strong step against China by banning it’s 59 application. Some of the biggest names among them are TikTok, Shareit, Shein, UC Browser, We Chat, UC Browser etc. This didn’t end here, Indian citizens started raising their voice on boycotting Chinese products. Now people are not buying Made in China Products, there have been videos where people are seen destroying Chinese smartphones and other electronic devices.

This has led to the beginning of a war, between India and China. Large number of people are supporting this but this will also have an impact on India. Boycotting China will have impact on various sectors, be it goods, raw materials, import and export. This has to be thought practically. Do we have enough resources? Do we have enough manpower? Do we have that high technology? India imports more from China as compared to what it exports. From a small machine to a big tv, from toys to automobiles, from needle to hot water bottles, China controls majority of market as it provides the products in cheaper rate as compared to the India producers. So, why would a consumer buy the expensive product? Because of this China has control over majority of the market.

Let’s have a look at one of the sectors. Consumer durable goods, these are the goods which have a longer time span mostly 3 years, such as, Home Appliances, Consumer electronics etc. When we talk about smartphone industry the top brands in the market are Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, realme, controlling 72% of the market. Also, if we talk about Home Appliances, the product is made locally but the dependency on China for essential components varies from 25-70%. This is just one example but there are many others sectors which in one way or another are dependent on China.

Unless and until we develop an ecosystem for components it is impossible to reduce dependency on China overnight. It will take time and we will have to find an alternative which is available globally.

Thus initiating a trade war when Indian manufacturing ability is limited won’t help.

E-learning – Pros & Challenges

The global COVID-19 pandemic has triggered new ways of conducting the teaching-learning process online. For some this has been a small move but for others, this is a completely new way of education. Most nations have already initiated e-learning in their schools. Many schools in India have also adapted to the new normal of e-learning with varying degrees of success. Many progressive schools had already done a lot for the adoption of technology in their schools, which helped in quickly transitioning to a completely online delivery of teaching during the current crisis and with significant success. A recent survey conducted by us showed that more than 92% of students and parents were happy with the online delivery of lessons.

With the advent of Covid19, e-learning seems to be one of the safest and easiest ways to impart education for acquiring new skills, explore new career options, or for that matter new hobby development. E-learning is now applicable not only to learn academics but also to conduct extra-curricular activities for students, informative online sessions, online conferences, and webinars. The demand for e-learning has risen significantly and will continue doing so as society starts adapting to ‘social distancing’ post this pandemic. 

Information and communication tools (ICT), Web2.0 applications, and the impact these resources are having on education are rapidly creating new challenges for instructor and learners faced with learning online. Teaching and learning in an e-learning environment happens differently than in the traditional classroom and can present new challenges to instructors and learners participating in this online learning environment. There is a need in e-learning to identify the challenges and consider best practice solutions to ensure instructor and learner success in this new learning environment.

As with most teaching methods, e-learning also has its positives and negatives. Understanding these will help in creating strategies for more efficient delivery of the lessons and measuring its effectiveness.

Here are some, and in no way exhaustive, key pros and cons – 

Advantages:

  • Efficiency – E-learning offers a very efficient way to deliver lessons. Use of videos, sharing of resource links, serving assessment tests can all be done at the click of a button. Additionally, the lectures can be recorded and shared for reference with a wide range of audiences. It also allows for a much larger set of children to be taught. 
  • Affordability – E-learning is far more affordable as compared to physical learning. E-learning primarily eliminates 2 major cost points – real estate and transportation. The course or study material is all available online and you can access it as many times as you want.
  • Less absenteeism – There are fewer chances of students missing out on classes, as they can access easily anytime from the comfort of their home. 
  • Increased Access & Reach – E-learning can happen in any place, as long as there is a device and connectivity. A physical class requires the student to come to school but in this mode, the student can access lessons sitting anywhere in the world. 
  • Encourages shy kids – We have seen that many children who are usually withdrawn in a class environment, open up in the online classes. They are far more forthcoming with their questions and participation. This could be because of a comfortable home environment. 

Challenges:

  • Not appropriate for all – It is a well-known fact that students have a dominant learning style. Some a visual, some auditory, some kinesthetic, etc. E-learning which requires a child to sit in front of a device and understand the lesson, may not be suited to all learning styles.  
  • Focus Deficit – Some students tend to lose focus for a longer period during virtual lectures. Boredom occurs easily as there is a lack of face to face interaction. It becomes imperative for the teachers to keep their online sessions crisp and interactive enough to help students grasp everything.
  • Technology issues – While internet penetration has grown over the past 12 months in India, the current infrastructure, especially in smaller towns, can pose a problem. Any break in the data connectivity can cause a lack of continuity in the learning for the child, which can be detrimental. Additionally, if a child is technophobic, he may face difficulties in learning. 
  • Lack of social interaction – Human beings learn a lot by simply being around other human beings. Unfortunately, e-learning takes away all physical interactions that students and teachers might have on the school premises. It’s always better for students to be around other students to talk or discuss ideas, which is an essential part of learning. Peer learning certainly takes a hit. 
  • Teacher training – E-learning demands the teachers to be technology-friendly, which, unfortunately, is not the case always. Teachers need to invest more time in aligning themselves with the latest technology updates to ensure they can conduct their online classes seamlessly. 
  • Manage Screen time – health hazards of staring at a screen continuously for hours 

While all modes of learning have their benefits and drawbacks, after the current crisis, it is clear that some form of blended learning will evolve with e-learning forming a crucial part of the overall teaching-learning process.

e-Learning : Solutions

In order to understand the challenges associated with an e-learning environment it is important to define what the term e-learning means. Clark and Mayer help define e-learning as instruction delivered by any technological mode intended to promote learning (2011). Teaching and learning in an e-learning environment happens differently than in the traditional classroom and can present new challenges to instructors and learners participating in this online learning environment. Technology-assisted learning tools is quickly changing the face of education, transitioning the classroom only learning environment to an online only or blended online learning experience.

The possible challenges instructors and learners face in an e-learning environment must be considered in order to ensure learner success. Therefore, there are two roles in e-learning that must be considered when discussing ways to improve these challenges. The first is the instructor’s role and the second, the student’s role. Both roles include a transition away from traditional teacher-student relationships, roles, and responsibilities, to virtual space roles. However, it is the instructor’s primary roles within the learning environment, which will help overcome challenges, support, and sustain student success.

The New Digital Divide

In education, the digital divide is most commonly defined as the gap between those students who have, do not have, and know how to use the internet and the information technologies that are currently transforming education (Bernard, 2011; Hall, 2013). According to Warschauer (2003), the “digital divide is marked not only by physical access to computers and connectivity but also by access to the additional resources that allow people to use technology well” (p. 6). Due to the affordability of many information technologies today the current meaning of digital divide is changing from having access, to knowing how to use the technologies (Bernard, 2011). In this way the digital divide still acts as a challenge for education and more specifically e-learning environments. In education the digital divide has, most recently, become more about closing the gap between using the resources appropriately to obtain quality educational outcomes than not having access to the technology (Warschauer, 2003; Bernard, 2011). The quality of learning outcomes, and more importantly the successful use of the expected technology resources, all hinge on the amount of experience and comfort level each learner has with these specific resource technologies (Warschauer, 2003).

One solution to this challenge is for the instructor to implement a learning environment that encourages collaboration. Providing learners with the opportunity to collaborate, share, and create will increase the learner’s use of various technologies, enhance their e-learning experience, and support self-directed and ongoing learning (Clark & Mayer, 2011; Li & Irby, 2008). During this time the instructor must consider the learner’s technological incompetence’s and accept various ability levels; willing to allow learners choice with the expected performance objectives given it results in the appropriate learning outcomes (Bernard, 2011). The learner should ask questions, seek additional information from credible sources, reflect often, and interact with other learners in academic discourse related to the online learning objectives. Having an online community where learners can collaborate in a safe and respected learning environment will help close the gap of the new digital divide, and in doing so helps to create a culture of digital natives conducive to effective e-learning (Warschauer, 2003; Li & Irby, 2008; Clark & Mayer, 2011).

Student Motivation

Although student motivation can only truly happen intrinsically, creating the right online environment where students want to learn and feel successful is the primary the responsibility of the instructor or course designer. According to Martin, in today’s online environments there is a lack of teacher presence, face-to-face (f2f) interaction, and tech support (2009). The most well planned and explicitly laid out online instructional environment is not enough to sustain learner interest or support intrinsic motivation. On the other hand learners new to an online learning environment typically lack the level of metacognition awareness, time management skills, and self-directed learning needed to be successful (Martin, 2009).

To promote student motivation the primary role falls to the teacher to anticipate and prevent motivational challenges unique to e-learning. One way this can be done is by increasing f2f interactions through a variety of technological modes (Martin, 2009). Online learning does not have to be isolated to merely email communication and web based only classroom interactions. Learners often have anxiety about learning online and need to feel connected, reassured, and safe to contribute in their new learning environments (Terry & Leppa, 2009; Hastie, Hung, Chen, & Kinshuk (2010). E-learning environments often lack a variety of communication options creating an unwelcoming online learning atmosphere (Terry & Leppa, 2009; Martin, 2009; Hastie et al., 2010), which only the instructor can control. To help alleviate student anxiety e-mentors should provide various and alternative ways of interacting and communicate through the use of such applications like Skype, chat forums, or discussion boards.

Course Design

Insufficient time spent on course development and design can be a huge contributing factor to poorly developed online learning experiences and a major challenge for e-learning instructors. According to Leanna Archambault (2010), the amount of time needed to design and implement a well design lesson, online, is an important consideration. Archambault indicated that instructors reported an increase in the amount of time they spent creating e-learning courses because of new content, new technologies, and new ways of engaging online learners.

One way to overcome the challenge of time developing an online course is for instructors to collaborate often within their e-learning professional communities. Collaborating with other instructors should be spent sharing, developing, and creating (Terry & Leppa, 2009; Hastie et al., 2010). This collaboration and discourse helps minimize the time spent planning and designing. A way to overcome the challenge of a well-developed overall course design should be addressed with the learner in mind and should include these overall course characteristics: (a) opportunities for learners to collaborate, (b) a well-established protocol for communicating, (c) clear performance expectations, and (d) opportunities for learners to chose the mode in which assignments are created and presented (Hastie et al., 2010).  In order for instructors and learners to be successful these characteristics are essential to the overall course design and e-learning environment.

Conclusion

With so many different ways to define e-learning and the educational approaches that can be taken in these learning environments, it is the conclusion of this author that e-learning is an innovative approach to learning. It is a holistic way of teaching and learning that meets the needs of today’s digital natives.  It is an environment made up of collaboration, choice, and an array of technological resources that supports a successful online learning experience. However, in order for learners to be successful in this learning environment the challenges to e-learning must be overcome with support and a best practice solutions. Instructors and learners must embrace the shift away from traditional classroom practices to an e-learning approach to education. Despite the fact that today’s learners are digital natives, the use of technology for e-learning can be overwhelming and provide student motivation challenges however, with the proper supports from instructors, learners can be successful within these e-learning environments. Finally, and probably the most important challenge for the instructor is to focus on the overall elements of a well-developed course. Developing a purposeful and well-defined online course, which supports the instructor and learner, means devoting the appropriate time and embedding the applicable course elements into the e-learning environment.

What is Ethnographic study?

Ethnographic study is a field study technique, where the researcher gets completely immersed in the lifestyle of the area or situation they are studying. It is nothing but a detailed study of a particular cultural group. The study was originally developed by anthropologists in order to study a society, group or culture in detail. Ethnographic research is also known as qualitative research. Ethnography proposes a study through direct natural observations of users in a natural environment rather than in a science laboratory. The main purpose of this study is to understand what is happening naturally in a particular setting. It provides the researcher an idea how the selected subjects view the outside world and how they interact with everything that surrounds them. Researcher collects data from a natural setting which includes a wide variety of variables. No attempt is made to regulate or control the variables in the selected setting as this can destroy or alter the phenomenon being studied. The length of the study is depended on the topic of the research which is being conducted. It can range from a couple of hours of observations to a several set of months.

The word ‘ethnography’ derived from the Greek words; ‘ethnos’ and ‘graphein’. Ethnos stands for people and graphein called writing. That is why ethnography is also called as ‘culture writing’. This study is one of the most distinctive features of anthropology (Scientific study of human, human behavior and societies in the past and present. Socio cultural anthropologists who conduct ethnographies are named as ethnographers. The important instrument used to gather information is the researcher itself. 

While conducting the study, these researchers live in that particular culture. They get engaged in the daily lifestyle of the people to be studied and observe the culture in detail. Information can be collected observations, interviews, questionnaires and document analysis. Thus, validity of this study is completely depended on the skill and quality of the researchers. Ethnographic studies can be expensive and time consuming at times as the researchers are stepping out from the comfortable laboratories to the field of process. One of the main benefits of ethnographic study is that, it helps to identify and analyze unexpected problems and issues. This is because, the researcher is completely immersed in the lives of people and their culture which is to be studied. Malinowski’s six years’ field work among the native people of Trobriand Island, published in 1922, Margaret Mead’s coming of age in Samoa were some of the famous ethnographic studies ever. Many journals publish ethnographic studies on a wide variety of topics. The Journal of Royal Anthropological Institute is one of the oldest among them, which has been publishing anthropological works since more than 150 years.

The Unheard Voices of Third Gender

Abstract


In spite of national and international protections, transsexuals have been a neglected community worldwide. Baring few countries, there is no recognition of their rights and are sometimes forced to lead animal survival life. Before Naz Foundation’s case, humiliation, torture and cruelty with the sexual minorities were mostly unnoticed in Indian society. In the said case some legal protections were recognized by the higher judiciary in India. In this research paper, I have tried to point out discrimination against this community in various way.

Introduction


Transgender is normally defined for people whose gender identification, gender expression or conduct does not conform to their organic sex. Transgender may also takes in men and women who do not now perceive with their intercourse assigned at beginning, which encompass hijras/eunuchs who, on this writ petition, describe themselves as “Third gender” and that they do no longer identify as either male or lady. Hijras aren\’t guys by a distinctive feature of anatomy look and psychologically, they\’re additionally now not ladies, even though they\’re like women without a lady duplicate organ and no menstruation.


In a landmark judgement of Supreme court of India , National Legal Services Authority vs. Union of India (dated 15 April 2014, AIR2014SC1863, the ‘Nalsa Judgement’), which declared transgender people to be a ‘third gender’, affirmed that the fundamental rights granted under the Constitution of India will be equally applicable to transgender people, and gave them the right to self-identification of their gender as male, female or third-gender. This judgement is a major step towards gender equality in India.Moreover, the court also held that because transgender people were treated as socially and economically backward classes, they will be granted reservations in admissions to educational institutions and jobs.
In the above Judgement(Nalsa) Supreme court, declared transgender individuals distinct from binary genders, as the ‘Third Gender’ under the Indian constitution and for the purposes of laws enacted by the parliament and state legislatures.

Non-recognition of the Third Gender in the Indian legal framework has resulted in systematic denial of equal protection of law and widespread socio-economic discrimination in society at large as well as in Indian workplaces. In the wake of the Nalsa Judgment, the Indian parliament recently enacted the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act,2019 (the ‘Act’).

‘Transgender’ as defined in the Act, refers to and includes all individuals whose gender does not conform or match with the gender assigned to them at birth and includes trans-man and trans-woman (whether or not they have undergone sex reassignment surgery (‘SRS’) and individuals with socio-cultural identities such as ‘kinner’, ‘hijra’, ‘aravani’ and ‘jogta’.

Discrimination of Transgenders on various grounds


l. Sex Discrimination

Action is taken against an individual because of stereotypical beliefs about the nature of men and women (about their appearance and behavior). The argument for a straightforward application of sex-based anti-discrimination law has been rejected in many cases. This fails to acknowledge that the transgender person has been singled out for adverse treatment based on a belief about his or her sex – namely, that he or she should not change his or her sex or express it in a different manner than cultural norms allow.

II. Disability Discrimination
Because of misperceptions and misunderstandings about disability laws, some people have expressed discomfort in pursuing legal protections for transgender people based on disability. The term ‘disability’ in anti-discrimination laws, however, is not used in the popular or colloquial sense, and is not limited to individuals who are significantly debilitated or who appear outwardly ill.

III. Sexual Orientation Discrimination
Transgender people are harassed because they are perceived to be gay. Assumptions about a person’s sexual orientation may often arise either because of clothing the person wears or because of their gender presentation, which may be subtler than a person’s attire.

IV. Discrimination in Employment/Education
Hijras find it extremely difficult to get suitable employment of their choice. Due to social discrimination in employment most of them are forced into sex work. Apart from the fact of social discrimination, the low levels of literacy in the community also ensure the social, economic and political powerlessness of the community.

V. Discrimination by the Police
Oppression by police turned out to be one of the major concerns of the gay, bisexual and transgender people.
Extortion: The police often stop gay/bisexual men in the cruising areas, threaten them saying we know what you are doing, take their names and addresses and extort money from them. No FIRs are recorded.
Illegal detention: The police in this case take people in for questioning and detain them in the lock up for periods of time varying from overnight to a few days. They do not file (FIR) and keep no documentary evidence of the person’s detention.
Abuse: The police often abuse the men using filthy language, beat them up and even subject them to sexual abuse.

VI. Discrimination in the Family
Some families, once they realize that their children are a transgender, they rather disown and send him/her away rather than encourage and be there for them. This is what makes them turn to other immoral activities knowing well that there is no longer family for them.

Law And Justice


The Supreme Court rulings on Section 377 (Naz Foundation vs. Government of NCT of Delhi and Others & Suresh Kumar Koushal and another vs. NAZ Foundation and Others) and transgender right document confusion of notion inside the judiciary. The conflicting judgments of the courtroom on homosexuality seen at the side of its enlightened ruling on transgender rights probable displays a sluggish evolution of liberal notion within higher Indian judiciary.The needs of the 21st century and the enlightened vision of the Indian Constitution, with its attention justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity assuring the distinction of the person, mandate a creative citing of the regulation.

Background


Section 377 of the IPC categorised consensual sexual intercourse between same sex people as an “unnatural offence” which is “against the order of nature”. It prescribed a punishment of 10 years imprisonment. The provision is a Victorian-era law, which survived into the 21st century. Interestingly, about 123 countries around the World have never penalized or have decriminalized homosexuality. Currently, 57 countries actively criminalize same-sex relations.

Naz Foundation (India) Trust challenged the constitutionality of Article 377 under Article 14, 15, 19 and 21 before the Delhi High Court.The Delhi High Court ruled in 2009 that Section 377 cannot be used to punish sex between two consenting adults – this violates the right to privacy and personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution. The Court held that classifying and targeting homosexuals violates the equal protection guarantee under Article 14 of the Constitution. Section 377 thus violated human dignity which forms the core of the Indian Constitution.

Several organizations and individuals challenged the Delhi High Court judgment in the Supreme Court. They argued that: the right to privacy does not include the right to commit any offence; decriminalizing homosexuality would be detrimental to the institution of marriage and would lure young people towards homosexual activities.

The Supreme Court reversed the Delhi High Court verdict in 2013 in it Suresh Koushal judgment and held that the decision of decriminalizing homosexuality can only be done by the Parliament and not the Court. It also held that Section 377 criminalises certain acts and not any particular class of people. It also alluded to the minuscule number of people who were members of the LGBTI community and the fact that only a fraction amongst them had been prosecuted under Section 377.

Several curative petitions were filed challenging the Supreme Court judgement. While the curative petitions against the Suresh Koushal judgment were pending, 5 individuals from the LGBTQ communities – noted Bharatnatyam dancer Navtej Singh Johar, restaurateurs Ritu Dalmia and Ayesha Kapur, hotelier Aman Nath and media person Sunil Mehra filed a fresh writ a petition for scrapping Section 377 IPC in so far as it criminalised consensual sex between same-sex individuals.

The Supreme Court on January 5, 2018, formed a constitution bench for hearing the challenge to Section 377 in a comprehensive manner.
The 5 judge bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar, Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, Justice R.F. Nariman and Justice Indu Malhotra heard the matter from July 10th, 2018.

On 6th September, 2018 the five-judge Bench partially struck down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, decriminalising same-sex relations between consenting adults. LGBT individuals are now legally allowed to engage in consensual intercourse. The Court has upheld provisions in Section 377 that criminalise non-consensual acts or sexual acts performed on animals.
They found that Section 377 discriminates against individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity, violating Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution. Further, they ruled that Section 377 violates the rights to life, dignity and autonomy of personal choice under Article 21. Finally, they found that it inhibits an LGBT individual’s ability to fully realize their identity, by violating the right to freedom of expression under Article 19(1)(a).

Conclusion


These new laws alone won’t change the discrimination that many transgender people (often called hijra in India) face: many are excluded from mainstream employment and society – to the extent that some hospitals have reportedly refused to treat them – and are regularly harassed by police. It is however an important step in the right direction, because legal recognition can underpin greater social acceptance and community integration. The Supreme Court is also introducing quotas to increase the representation of transgender people in employment and education. Thus we need to change our mentality towards this community and give them respect and space.


Health benefits of ginger.

  1. Menstruation
    We recommend drinking ginger tea if you have cramps during your period. The warm water with ginger will ease the pain. A lot of research has been done into taking ginger pills during menstruation. This showed that ginger supplements actually helped reduce cramps. Water with ginger or ginger tea works to a lesser extent, so if you are looking for a natural solution for period cramps, ginger capsules may be the solution.
  2. Nausea
    Many doctors recommend water with ginger or ginger tea for patients who suffer from nausea during pregnancy or as a result of chemotherapy. Ginger helps to empty the stomach, making food flow to the intestines faster. This relieves nausea
  3. Reduces the risk of chronic diseases
    Thanks to its anti-inflammatory effect, ginger can drive pathogens from your body and prevent sickness. In addition, it protects your body against broken cells. For example, it can relieve arthritis.
  4. Weight loss
    Ginger water or smoothies containing ginger are often touted as detox drinks that can help you lose weight. Although further research is needed, ginger can help people lose weight. By drinking water with ginger instead of soft drinks or juice, you avoid a lot of calories. In addition, it hydrates your body.
  5. Blood sugar level
    Much research has been done on the relationship between ginger and blood sugar, especially for people with type 2 diabetes. However, even for people without diabetes, ginger can help maintain a balanced blood sugar level. This way you experience fewer peaks and dips in your energy.

‘Leadership’ in the times of epidemic

Let’s take up any project in an organization, especially Multinational Corporations, and try to understand the hierarchy levels in a team. Usually at the top, there is the delivery manager followed by project manager and then there is the team lead with all the assistant team members at the base of the hierarchy. On any normal day, the delivery manager is the one who is answerable to the client during the time of project going live or at the times of crisis. The project manager is answerable to the clients on a weekly basis with the team lead reporting to the project manager with all the milestones and progress reports. So to sum up, the work was usually into two fonts, managers who manages the entire group and is answerable to the client and the team lead who lead the team and reports to the managers. So this traditional way of doing business was going on until the pandemic hit the business.

For the past four months, we are working from home. We have forgotten what the boundary exactly looks like between office and home, with a little concern for privacy and social life. We are always trying to do ‘more’ and in a ‘better’ way and there are times, when we feel helpless, if and when we do not get the same amount of cooperation and assistance from our team lead or managers. Numerous articles are being published everywhere on how to improve effective communication in remote work but there is always a bit of communication gap, especially when we are unable to apprehend the non-verbal cues. It is at this time, when the managers should step down from being a manager to being a leader.

A leader is someone who acts a ring-bearer to a team member. He does not just say what to do, rather he works with him, side by side, to sail through the problem. Whenever a team member expresses a concern or some problem, instead of just providing a solution, he listens to it and deals with the situation with empathy. In fact, a team leader gives a solution by being a part of the solution. Having done a part time internship in such a culture, I have observed that the managers, even in remote scenario, tend to be stoic and still behaves in a very formal way. It is high time that the managers step down into the shoes of the leaders and lead the team through such a mind-wrecking situation, instead of just managing it.

As per my observation, a few ways by which the managers can put on a leadership cap are:

  1. A team huddle in the morning, discussing about the team progress and also providing a platform open for suggestions.
  2. Listen to pertinent problems of team members and deal with empathy, thus going over the notion of manager.
  3. Arrange for coffee break, once every half-month, and the discussions should be on the recent advancements and not just on news.
  4. Managers should be bit more personal rather than being formal.

Remote work calls for different measures and from the organizational perspective, managers putting on leadership cap will go a long way in building a sustainable and resilient organizational culture. If we take this as a parameter and compute the cost-benefit analysis, this approach will definitely improve the productivity and thus will create multi-fold productivity.

Be a leader.

Source: Self

Reinfection to COVID!

A fifty-year-old patient was tested positive at the beginning of July with mild symptoms of cough and sore throat. Three months after the previous infection he experienced many harsh symptoms including high fever, shortness of breath, and hypoxia. Two patients in New Jersey, for instance, appear to have contracted Covid-19 a second time almost two months after fully recovering from their first infection. Daniel Griffin, a physician and researcher at Columbia University in New York, recently described a case of presumed reinfection on the This Week in Virology podcast. It’s possible to get reinfected by the virus, the period of lasting may differ. An estimated 40 to 45 percent of people with Covid-19 may be asymptomatic, and others will have a mild illness with no lasting symptoms. But Nichols is one of many Covid-19 patients who are finding their recovery takes far longer than the two weeks the World Health Organization says people with mild cases can expect.

(The WHO says those with severe or critical cases can expect three to six weeks of recovery.)

A vaccine may not be enough to end the
pandemic?

“This is an extraordinary time we’re living in right now,” said Anna Durbin, a vaccine researcher and a professor of international health at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. “The pandemic is motivating a lot of [vaccine] efforts around the world.”One variable shaping effectiveness is how quickly the virus mutates. A faster rate of mutation would increase the chance that the vaccine would not generate a helpful immune response to the virus.
SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind Covid-19, is a single-stranded RNA virus. Such viruses are notorious for high mutation rates, but those mutations don’t necessarily occur in a way that would weaken protections from a vaccine. In fact, evidence seems to show that SARS-CoV-2 may have a relatively slow mutation rate for an RNA virus, increasing the chances that a vaccine would offer long-term protection. “On the other hand, the vaccines will likely induce immunity that is short-lived and incomplete, ” said Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

People’s Vaccine.

A pandemic needs international coordination. While researchers are sharing data about Covid-19 across boundaries, it’s not clear that nations agree on how to collaborate on making and distributing the vaccine. The US, for instance, has tried to lure vaccine developers to the country to make vaccines for limited US use. But the World Health Organization has called for sharing vaccine intellectual property free among companies and countries. Otherworld leaders have called for a people’s vaccine to Covid-19 to be made available to all countries free of charge.

Places to visit in chhattisgarh; the rice bowl of India

Chitrakot Waterfall
Often termed as Niagara Falls of India, Chitrakot Waterfalls fascinates every visitor with its amazing beauty. It is located 38 km from Jagdalpur and remains the broadest waterfall in India. It is astonishing to see the water gushing down from a height of 96 ft with width above 1000 feet. People flock here for day picnics amidst ample of nature.

Kawardha Palace
This grand palace is sprawling over an area of 11 acres adorned with lovely garden. Made using Italian marbles and stones, the palace dates back to the 1930s. It beautifully underlines the local cultures of Chhattisgarh and has been transformed into a heritage hotel to offer a luxurious stay experience to the guests.

Achanakumar Wildlife Sanctuary
Nature devotees visiting Chhattisgarh cannot miss a visit to the Achanakumar Wildlife Sanctuary. Just 60 km from Bilaspur, the Sanctuary is home to numerous wild animals residing peacefully in its dense forest areas. Visit here and spot animals like tiger, bison, leopard, bear, sambar and hyena.

Kailash and Kutumsar Caves
Located in proximity to the Tiratgarh Waterfalls, Kailash and Kutumsar Caves have been ranked second in the list of longest natural caves on the planet. These caves, situated on a small hill, were found in 1993 and are known for creating astonishing musical sounds on the striking of hand. Some areas of the caves are even 2 kilometres deep and thus, entry is restricted there due to non-availability of oxygen.

Maitri Bagh
This garden was the outcome of collaboration between Indian and Russian governments. It was laid by Bhilai Steel Plant. Since then this zoo cum park has become a popular picnic spot. Visit here to explore serene lakes and musical fountains which are real feast for the eyes.

Bastar Palace
Another historic wonder of Chhattisgarh, Bastar Palace is a marvellous palace with unique architecture. The palace has numerous stories of bravery engraved in its walls. Visit here to explore interiors like beautiful artefacts and portraits belonging to the rulers of those times. Also, do try horse ride here which bestows a kingly feel.

Kanker Palace
Kanker Palace was originally raised in the 20th century. However, later in 1937 it was rebuilt to give it a new outlook. The palace flaunts a colonial architecture and its majestic surrounding landscapes add to its beauty. Visit here to partake in boat safaris and jeep safaris which impart great pleasure.

Bhoramdeo Temple
This is an ancient temple built between the 7th and 11th centuries. The temple is often termed as Khajuraho of Chhattisgarh due to its intricate construction which makes many jaws drop. The temple has a pleasing surrounding with Maikal Mountains nestling all around. Apart from spiritual structures, it also houses numerous erotic sculptures.

Food
Chhattisgarh is known for the production of abundance of staple food, including Rice, Bajra and Jawar. Thus, a meal in Chhattisgarh promises a great taste. Try Muthia (dumplings) made of rice batter seasoned with various spices. Aamat a kind of Sambhar is also loved by the locals due to its spicy mix of ingredients. Just like parathas in other Indian state, Chhattisgarh is known for its Chila, a delicious chapatti made with rice batter and Urad Daal. Also, when it comes to street food, Bhajia often remains popular among both locals and travellers alike. Those having sweet tooth can try Khurma made with milk and vermicillies.

Shopping
Due to various tribes located in Chhattisgarh, one can find a good range of tribal jewellery in the state. One can also pick Wooden objects, Bell metal items, Terracotta figurines, Stone statuettes and Cotton fabrics from here which are available in all local markets.

DEFINING NEW MEDIA

It is an irrefutable fact that the media that is used for communication have undergone myriads of changes and its ability in improvement never tends to end. The world has witnessed drastic changes in the development of media over the years. According to these drastic changes, the media can be categorized as traditional and new media. Traditional media also refers to the old media that incorporates linear model of communication. Even though this media is meant for a mass audience, it leaves less chance for interaction and feedback. New media are the ones that try to fix the drawbacks of traditional media.

            Digital media, online media, social media are some of the terms that are associated with New media. Basically these are the channels that uses internet to disseminate information and ideas. Digital media comprises of photos, videos, audios, text, graphs, charts, pictographs, animations, and links. Thus it can also be referred as ‘multimedia’. This wide variety of tools help in essential and effective communication. It began to establish when the text were put on to the internet instead of piled on paper as it was previously. Images were also taking its place soon after the text. Thus, the growth of new media happened in a short period of time. Today, it provides everything that a person needs to know. The information is transmitted virtually in these media. It seems magical to realize that the new media needs no physical effort to pass or transmit the information from one place to another. Everything is possible through the virtual world. It also incorporates multidimensional flow of communication. Unlike television or radio, new media not only provides required information but also give the users a chance to respond. New media provides free flow of information where a person is free to express his opinions or ideas. The only thing he/she needs is accessibility to internet. But there is a slight difference between digital and new media when it is observed deeply. Even though all these terms are similar in nature, the definition of new media can be explained in a different way. New media refers to the digital media where any individual has the freedom to access and edit the content. Thus new media can be called as an extension of digital media where any person can act as creator or a part of the content. Wikipedia can be considered as an example for new media. It is a famous website which is edited by common internet users.

            New media thus give the opportunity to not just access information digitally but also to actively participate in the content. It allows anyone, irrespective of their levels of education, to be the creator of digital content. Many social media such as youTube, Instagram, Facebook etc. can be considered as new media because they give the power to create content and edit the already existing content. New media do not include television programs, films, or paper based publications until they contain technologies that enable digital interactivity. One of the main benefits of new media is that, it is very much cost effective. Unlike traditional media, it doesn’t require much time and money for the production. Media like television radio and newspaper includes production, distribution, circulation which all are expensive. But in new media everything is done virtually. Another advantage of new media is the immediacy. With the improvement in technologies, people don’t have to wait to access the information he/she requires. It also help the people to find the data easily without any delay. The users can simply type the keywords about the topic that he/she wants to read. Unlike television and radio, the new media provides links and hyperlinks which help the users to know more about that particular content. Thus finding related articles has been way too simple in new media.

It is true that new media has changed the way a person receives the information. In the past decades, television, radio, newspapers were the only media used for receiving content. The number of channels were limited. Sharing information was also considered as a difficult task. Only the people who were experts in the media field were the main source of information. People do not participate in the creation of the programs. But today, the whole concept has been changed. With the arrival of new media, everyone became worthy to create and share information and ideas. People don’t even need to be educated about the topic. They are free to create content and share information on internet whether it is true or not. This freedom has badly affected the credibility of people on new media. Information perceived from new media are less likely to believe by the users compared to the traditional media since there is no control in the flow of communication in new media.

Interpersonal relations in an Organisation- Pros & Cons

Firstly lets understand what is interpersonal relationship.An interpersonal relationship can develop between any of the following:

  • Individuals working together in the same organization.
  • People working in the same team.
  • Relationship between a man and a woman (Love, Marriage).
  • Relationship with immediate family members and relatives.
  • Relationship of a child with his parents.
  • Relationship between friends.

Relationship can also develop in a group (Relationship of students with their teacher, relationship of a religious guru with his disciples and so on)

Must have in an Interpersonal Relationship

  • Individuals in an interpersonal relationship must share common goals and objectives. They should have more or less similar interests and think on the same lines. It is always better if individuals come from similar backgrounds.
  • Individuals in an interpersonal relationship must respect each other’s views and opinions. A sense of trust is important.
  • Individuals must be attached to each other for a healthy interpersonal relationship.
  • Transparency plays a pivotal role in interpersonal relationship. It is important for an individual to be honest and transparent.

Lets look at the importance of interpersonal relations at the work place:

ICSE, ISC exam result 2020 to be announced tomorrow at 3 PM. All you need to know

ICSE, ISC Exam 2020 Result to be Declared Tomorrow at 3 PM | All You Need to Know

ICSE, ISC Exam 2020 Result: The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) on Thursday said that ICSE (class 10) and ICS (class 12) exams results will be declared tomorrow at 3 PM, on the official website ‘cisce.org’ and ‘results.cisce.org. All students who have appeared for the exams are advised to keep an eye on the website and check their results.

To check the results once they are out, follow this steps:

step 1-Visit the official website at https://www.cisce.org/

step 2-Go on the ‘Careers’ portal on the homepage.

Step 3: Now, click on the relevent exam link.

Step 4: Enter all the details asked including your roll number, click submit

Step 5: You result will now appear on the screen.

Step 6: Download and take a print-out for a future reference.

Icse result 2020, icse board result 2020, isc result 2020, isc board result 2020

To get results on SMS, students can send their Unique id to 09248082883 in this format: ‘ICSE/ISC (Unique ID)’.

Earlier in the day, the CISCE board reduced 25 per cent syllabus from this year’s curriculum in view of the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the latest notification issued by the ICSE Board, the decision to reduce the syllabi will be applicable for Class 9 to Class 12 students and has been taken to reduce the burden amid limited teaching via online classes. The CISCE stated that the reduced syllabus aims to cope with the loss of instructional hours due to the difficulties faced in the academia in the lockdown situation.

Why custodial deaths often go unpunished

By Karina Sharma

There are strong legal frameworks that protect the rights of the accused in police custody. But there are roadblocks to holding erring policemen accountable at every step

The brutality of the killings of Jayaraj and Bennicks in the Sathankulam police station in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, is of a piece with police high-handedness which thrives in a broken criminal justice system. The police, responsible for those in their custody, acted in criminal breach of their constitutional and statutory duty.

The murderous assault on the father-son duo took place despite a strong legal framework that protects the rights of an accused in custody. Examples are Article 21 and 22 of the Constitution of India, provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) relating to procedures of arrest and investigation, provisions of the Evidence Act relating to admissibility of evidence, and Supreme Court (SC) judgments like DK Basu vs State of West Bengal and Anesh Kumar vs State of Bihar.

One important safeguard is the medical examination of the arrestees, detailing injury marks if any. The medical officer’s report on Jayaraj and Bennicks recorded their injuries merely as “abrasions,” even though accounts suggest that both were bleeding profusely while in custody.

Another critical safeguard is that the police have to produce arrestees in court within 24 hours of the arrest, for the magistrate to ensure their legal rights are not violated. 

The presence of a lawyer during arrest reduces the possibility of physical harm and violation of the legal rights of the arrestees. In the absence of any mechanism, this constitutional right is often denied. For example, when lawyers went to the Sathankulam police station to meet Jayaraj and Bennicks, they were not allowed access.

In 2018, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)’s latest annual report recorded 70 deaths in police custody –12 were from Tamil Nadu, the second-highest after Gujarat, with 14 deaths.

The question is: Will the outrage and attention the Jayaraj and Bennicks case has garnered finally bring about accountability? Going by the past record, it seems unlikely. There are roadblocks at each stage from the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) against the police to their prosecution. In the Thoothukudi case, initially, two sub-inspectors, Balakrishnan and Raghu Ganesh, were suspended, and departmental proceedings initiated against them. This is the usual response in such cases, but things get complicated after this step.

As per Section 176 (1A) of CrPC, every case of custodial violence shall be investigated by a judicial magistrate. But the 2018 NCRB report shows that of the 70 cases of custodial death in the year, judicial enquiries were ordered in only 28. Charge-sheets were filed only against 13 police personnel –11 of them were from Gujarat, the state with the highest number of custodial deaths. In Tamil Nadu, no police personnel were arrested, let alone charge-sheeted.

In the Thoothukhudi killings, while an enquiry by the judicial magistrate has been initiated, the magistrate, in a letter to the Madras High Court, has alleged that the police is trying to intimidate them and destroy the evidence. This is a reflection of the impunity the police enjoys. Eventually, the Madras High Court had to intervene. As of now, the Crime Branch-Crime Investigation Department (CB-CID) of Tamil Nadu Police has taken over the case and the five policemen accused of torture have finally been arrested and sent to judicial custody. 

Furthermore, the absence of direct evidence in custodial death cases is another hurdle. The Supreme Court, in the State of MP vs Shyamsunder Trivedi judgment, observed that the police, bound by the “ties of brotherhood”, would prefer to remain silent rather than assist the court. To address this concern, the law commission recommended twice (in its 113th & 152nd report) the insertion of Section 114-B into the Indian Evidence Act 1972, which reverses the burden of proof. Which is, if there is evidence that the injury was caused during the custody, the court may presume that the police officer having custody of the person caused it. This recommendation has not yet been taken up by Parliament.

Another roadblock is that cases go on for a long time, and witnesses often turn hostile under pressure. Just last week, seven policemen from Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, were exonerated in the case of the custodial death of Pradeep Tomar. His minor son, who witnessed the torture, narrated how the police used electric shocks and stabbed him with screwdrivers. But the victim’s family eventually turned hostile, contradicting their claims in the FIR. Multiple law commission reports have recommended a victim protection legislation. In 2018, the SC, in fact, approved the Victim Protection Scheme in Mahendra Chawla v Union of India case. While the mechanism was long overdue, the effectiveness of its implementation remains uncertain, given that the scheme hinges on the threat assessment analysis formulated by the police.

To ensure accountability, all relevant agencies–the magistrate, the bar, and the medical practitioner–must follow their mandate scrupulously. They are collectively responsible for ensuring the constitutional rights of an arrestee, especially the right against torture. Their non-compliance in procedures coupled with complacency costs lives.

Be irrational, celebrate Pi day

Pi Approximation Day - 22 July

Mathematics is the branch of science that deals with the logic of shape, quantity and arrangement. Math is all around us, in everything we do.The founder of mathematics is considered to be as Pythagoras who gave the triangular concept or theorem. In the ancient 6th century B.C, the Greeks started the subject of mathematics only by the Pythagoras concepts. Later, Archimedes, a Greek mathematician, developed it and so he became the FATHER OF MATHEMATICS. Beginning in the 6th century BC with the Pythagoreans, the Ancient Greeks began a systematic study of mathematics as a subject in its own right with Greek mathematics. Around 300 BC, Euclid introduced the axiomatic method still used in mathematics today, consisting of definition, axiom, theorem and proof. The symbol for Pi has been in use for over 250 years. The symbol was introduced by William Jones, a Welsh mathematician, in 1706. The symbol was made popular by the mathematician Leonhard Euler.

 

Greek Letters
source: math.tcd.ie

Pi (π) is the 16th letter of the Greek alphabet, and is used to represent the most widely known mathematical constant. By definition, pi is the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. The Egyptians calculated the area of a circle by a formula that gave the approximate value of 3.1605 for π. The first calculation of π was done by Archimedes of Syracuse (287–212 BC), one of the greatest mathematicians of the ancient world. We might not use it yourself every day, but Pi is used in most calculations for building and construction, quantum physics, communications, music theory, medical procedures, air travel, and space flight.

Pi Approximation Day is observed on July 22 (22/7 in the day/month format), since the fraction ​22⁄7 is a common approximation of π, which is accurate to two decimal places and dates from Archimedes.Throughout the history of mathematics, one of the most enduring challenges has been the calculation of the ratio between a circle’s circumference and diameter, which has come to be known by the Greek letter pi. From ancient Babylonia to the Middle Ages in Europe to the present day of supercomputers, mathematicians have been striving to calculate the mysterious number. They have searched for exact fractions, formulas, and, more recently, patterns in the long string of numbers starting with 3.14159 2653…, which is generally shortened to 3.14. Since the exact value of pi can never be calculated, we can never find the accurate area or circumference of a circle.

Some interesting facts about pi:

 1. Pi is an irrational number that is it is not possible to calculate Pi by dividing an integer by any other number.
2. Pi is a never-ending and never-repeating number.
3. The symbol of Pi has been in use for about 250 years.
4. As the value of Pi is never-ending so we can’t find the true circumference or area of a circle.
5. In Greek alphabets, Pi is the sixteenth letter and in English also p is the sixteenth letter.
6. Pi is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter.
7. In the 19th century, William Shanks calculated the first 707 digits of Pi by hand but unfortunately, he made a mistake after 527th place.
8. A Japanese scientist, breaking all the previous records, with the help of Hitachi SR 8000 which is a powerful computer found 1.24 trillion digits of Pi.
9. Pi is mentioned in the Bible.– In ancient times, Archimedes is the first person who studied about Pi.
10. Albert Einstein was born on Pi Day.
11. There are no zeros in the first 31 digits of Pi.
What Is Pi Day? Definition and Ways to Celebrate

Organic Farming

Organic farming is an alternative agricultural system which originated early in the 20th century in reaction to rapidly changing farming practices. Organic agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with adverse effects. Organic agriculture combines tradition, innovation and science to benefit the shared environment and promote fair relationships and a good quality of life for all involved. It is defined by the use of fertilizers of organic origin such as compost manure, green manure, and bone meal and places emphasis on techniques such as crop rotation and companion planting. Biological pest control, mixed cropping and the fostering of insect predators are encouraged. Organic standards are designed to allow the use of naturally occurring substances while prohibiting or strictly limiting synthetic substances. 

Advantages of organic farming

  Reasons for advocation of organic farming include advantages in sustainability, openness, self-sufficiency, autonomy/independence, health, food security, and food safety. Organic methods can increase farm productivity, repair decades of environmental damage and knit small farm families into more sustainable distribution networks leading to improved food security if they organize themselves in production, certification and marketing. During last few years an increasing number of farmers have shown lack of interest in farming and the people who used to cultivate are migrating to other areas. Organic farming is one way to promote either self-sufficiency or food security. Use of massive inputs of chemical fertilizers and toxic pesticides poisons the land and water heavily. The after-effects of this are severe environmental consequences, including loss of topsoil, decrease in soil fertility, surface and ground water contamination and loss of genetic diversity..                                                                                              

How is organic farming different from conventional farming?

 While conventional agriculture uses synthetic pesticides and water-soluble synthetically purified fertilizers, organic farmers are restricted by regulations to using natural pesticides and fertilizers. An example of a natural pesticide is pyrethrin, which is found naturally in the Chrysanthemum flower. The principal methods of organic farming include crop rotation, green manures and compost, biological pest control, and mechanical cultivation. These measures use the natural environment to enhance agricultural productivity: legumes are planted to fix nitrogen into the soil, natural insect predators are encouraged, crops are rotated to confuse pests and renew soil, and natural materials such as potassium bicarbonate and mulches are used to control disease and weeds. Genetically modified seeds and animals are excluded.

While organic is fundamentally different from conventional because of the use of carbon based fertilizers compared with highly soluble synthetic based fertilizers and biological pest control instead of synthetic pesticides, organic farming and large-scale conventional farming are not entirely mutually exclusive. Many of the methods developed for organic agriculture have been borrowed by more conventional agriculture. For example, Integrated Pest Management is a multifaceted strategy that uses various organic methods of pest control whenever possible, but in conventional farming could include synthetic pesticides only as a last resort.

Nutrient management in organic farming

In organic farming, it is important to constantly work to build a healthy soil that is rich in organic matter and has all the nutrients that the plants need. Several methods viz. green manuring, addition of manures and biofertilizers etc can be used to build up soil fertility. These organic sources not only add different nutrients to the soil but also help to prevent weeds and increase soil organic matter to feed soil microorganisms. Soil with high organic matter resists soil erosion, holds water better and thus requires less irrigation. Some natural minerals that are needed by the plants to grow and to improve the soil’s consistency can also be added. Soil amendments like lime are added to adjust the soil’s pH balance. However soil amendment and water should contain minimum heavy metals. Most of the organic fertilizers used are recycled by-products from other industries that would otherwise go to waste. Farmers also make compost from animal manures and mushroom compost. Before compost can be applied to the fields, it is heated and aged for at least two months, reaching and maintaining an internal temperature of 130°-140°F to kill unwanted bacteria and weed seeds. A number of organic fertilizers / amendments and bacterial and fungal biofertilizers can be used in organic farming depending upon availability and their suitability to crop. 

Limitations of organic farming

  • Proponents of organic farming have claimed that organic agriculture emphasizes closed nutrient cycles, biodiversity, and effective soil management providing the capacity to mitigate and even reverse the effects of climate change and that organic agriculture can decrease fossil fuel emissions
  • Nitrogen leaching, nitrous oxide emissions, ammonia emissions, eutrophication potential and acidification potential were higher for organic products. Excess nutrients in lakes, rivers, and groundwater can cause algal blooms, eutrophication, and subsequent dead zones. In addition, nitrates are harmful to aquatic organisms by themselves.
  • Organic farming requires 84% more land for an equivalent amount of harvest, mainly due to lack of nutrients but sometimes due to weeds, diseases or pests, lower yielding animals and land required for fertility building crops.While organic farming does not necessarily save land for wildlife habitats and forestry in all cases.
  • The variable nature of food production and handling makes it difficult to generalize results, and there is insufficient evidence to make claims that organic food is safer.