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reason behind the dispute

                THE UNSETTLED DISPUTE 

By : Neha Shahab

The boundary dispute between Assam and Mizoram dates back nearly a century and a half. Monday, as firing on the inter-state boundary left at least six Assam policemen dead and over 50 individuals injured. Mizoram borders Assam’s Barak Valley, and both border Bangladesh. The boundary between the two states, which runs 165 km today, has a history dating back to the time when Mizoram was a district of Assam and known as Lushai Hills. Boundary demarcations in 1875 and 1933, particularly the second one, are at the heart of the dispute.
The 1875 demarcation, notified on August 20 that year, derived from the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR) Act, 1873. It differentiated Lushai Hills from the plains of Cachar in Assam’s Barak Valley. This was done in consultation with Mizo chiefs, and it became the basis for the Inner Line Reserve Forest demarcation in the Gazette two years later.

The 1933 demarcation marks a boundary between Lushai Hills and Manipur, beginning at the tri-junction of Lushai Hills, Cachar district and Manipur. The Mizos do not accept this demarcation on the ground that their chiefs were not consulted this time.

According to Mizo leaders, the only acceptable boundary is the Inner Line of 1875 on the southern frontier of Cachar, notified as per the BEFR Act. (This was subsequently revised in 1878 as it sought to demarcate the Lushai Hills frontier from the plains of Assam.

The dispute has been simmering since Mizoram became a Union Territory in 1972 and then a state in the 1980s. The two states signed an agreement that status quo should be maintained at no-man’s land set up in the boundaries. While alleged transgressions have often happened over the decades, skirmishes have happened very frequently in recent months.

While Assam sees its claimed boundary as transgressed, Mizoram cites unilateral moves by Assam inside Mizoram territory. It alleges that in June last year, Assam officials entered Mamit district and visited some farms; that miscreants entered Kolasib district and burnt down two farm huts; and that Assam officials visited the inter-state border between Vairengte (Mizoram) and Lailapur (Assam) and crossed the duty post manned by the CRPF. Mizoram claims that both Assam and Mizoram authorities have undertaken construction work at Buarchep village of Mizoram, and that the Home Ministry is aware of all these issues.

Last October, Assam Police officers allegedly visited Saihapui ‘V’ in Mizoram and threatened to blockade the inter-state highway. Later that month, the inter-state highway as well as the National Highway connecting the two states was blockaded by individuals at Lailapur in Assam. In November, bombs exploded at Upper Phainuam Lower Primary School in Mizoram. A peace meeting was held between the two states.

In recent months, several huts and small shops have been torched, and violent clashes have taken place on issues as petty as claims over betel nut cultivation, with plantations belonging to two residents of Mizoram allegedly set ablaze. There have been clashes between villagers of Lailapur and Vairengte, and between residents of Karimganj (Assam) and Mamiut (Mizoram).

CASTE SYSTEM IN INDIA IS A GREAT EVIL..

The Caste System is a major evil in Indian society.

Originally, India from its past had this caste system in the society. From the kings reign to till the current society, the caste system is in existence. Caste system, in the king’s era did not give rise to discriminations but the recent society made this a great way of discriminating This caste system, in present India, is misleading the society and its citizens towards bad decisions. It is forcing the people even to the things that should not be attempted.

During the king’s reign, the four-fold caste system was followed. The four castes were namely, Brahmins (teachers, intellectuals/priests), Kshatriyas (Warriors/rulers), Vaishyas (Traders, merchants), Shandra (Laborer’s) and the last category are untouchables (cobblers, street sweepers, larine cleaners etc.). According to Hindu Vedas, it is believed that the Brahmins originated from the head of Brahma, Vaishyas from the thigs of Brahma, Sudras from the feet of Brahma and kshatriyas from the hands of Brahma. That’s why Brahmins were given priority and importance, even treated as Guru.

This system coming to the present society is divided into OC Copen Category), OBC (other Backward classes/castes) SC(scheduled Castes), ST (Scheduled tribes). This present (or) recent division gave rise to discriminations and Conflicts in the society. The people who OC feel that they are great and treat the other classes as interiors. The reservations for the lower classes made the administration particularly in education worse..

If observed, the incidents that took place recently because of caste feeling in the people, made us think whether we are living in a human society, and is humanity. existing questions arise in our minds. If considered, a Situation that took place in Hyderabad A couple loved each other and got married, the girl belongs to upper caste and the boy was from lower caste. The girl’s father was not happy with his daughter’s marriage with a low caste boy .Up to what extent this caste feeling took him is, he brutally killed the poor boy as he belonged to the lower caste and married his daughter. This is where we feel, whether the humanity is existing or not.

The worst thing is, people while electing their representative not all, but most of the people vote for the leader of their caste. This is a really sad thing being in a democratic country .Some political leaders also show partial bias on the people of their caste and wish to always favor them. The most dreadful thing is a party representing a particular Caste in India, it might be a regional party or national party. Even though many rules and laws were made, a kind of feeling in the people exists even to this day..

This caste system creates a lot of disturbances in the Society and gives rise to violence among the people. Like the above incident, continuously the same kind of incidents took place; one after the other, here and there in the Country. The politicians fight and criticize each other by naming their castes which makes the term democracy meaningless.

So, this caste system is the greatest evil that is misleading. people into bad thoughts and decisions. This should be eliminated (or removed (or) put an end to it, in order to establish peace in the country). According to Article 17 in the Indian constitution, the act of untouchability was prohibited. But, here and there in society, it is still in practice. Caste system in India is very rigid, and cannot be removed easily. If people are educated then some changes can be expected. But the bad news is even the educated people follow and believe the caste and act accordingly.

Finally, concluding that the caste system in India is a major evil in the society We cannot expect a model society. It cannot be removed easily from the minds of the people. so, a model society con peaceful society can be attained only through the complete eradication of the caste system.

Internet: The Global Village

 Modern technology and the internet has connected us all globally. We can easily watch a music video or film from another country or get updates about the international news within seconds. Be it the Olympics being held in Tokyo or an update from the WHO Headquarters in Geneva, we have access to everything through the internet. It has made us a part of the “Global Village”

“Global Village” was a term coined in 1964 by a media and communication theorist, Marshall McLuhan. McLuhan believed that with the emergence of new electronic media and technological advances, the whole world would be a part of the “Global Village”. He believed that there would be total involvement by each and every person. He called it “one world interconnected by an electronic nervous system.” The electric age will be the age of inclusiveness and deep personal involvement. 

Internet as the global village

On the internet everyone is the producer as well as the consumer of content. People are involved extensively by getting updates, sharing opinions and creating content. The Internet is used for information, education and entertainment. 

The Internet as the Global Village connects us with the world. It leads to cultural intermingling by breaking the cultural barrier and knowing more about cultures of other continents. This cultural impact can be negative or positive. It can lead to the shrinking as well as expanding of world culture. 

It also promotes unity and togetherness among different communities across the world. People express their solidarity or support to other countries through social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook,  Instagram etc. In the black lives matter movement last year, people across the globe united against racism and many used social media to show their protest. 


It has made the flow of information easier. We can receive constant updates across the globe without much effort, just by using the internet. Gone are the days when we had to wait for days to receive a letter. The internet helps in the process of communication across different countries. It is so simple to connect with people worldwide by using social media, calling, texting, video meetings etc. Especially during the pandemic, the world was connected to each other using the internet. 

It has also opened up new job opportunities. People can work from home for a company situated in a different country using the internet or work as a freelancer and have clients from different parts of the world. With the popularization of online meeting apps like Zoom and Google Meet, it has become easy to work virtually, no matter where the company is located. It has also helped in building a new form of trade to different countries. E-commerce has made it easy to buy things from different areas through online payment. 

Internet has connected us with the rest of the world and has built a global community which is similar to what is popularly termed as a Global Village. 


happiness

                 KEY TO HAPPINESS 

By : Neha Shahab 

Positive thinking is the idea that you can change your life by thinking positively about things. Positive thinking builds your skills , boots your health and improves your day to day work. Research shows that positive thinking really does have a scientific basis. You can’t change the world, but you can change how you perceive it and how you react to it. And that can change the way that you feel about yourself and others, which can in turn have a huge effect on your well being. 

Research shows that there are three very good ways to build positive thinking skills:

1. Meditation

People who meditate every day show more positive thinking than those who do not.

2. Writing

 write a blog focusing on positive experiences, or keep a diary.

3. Play

It’s important to make time for yourself to have fun.

Happy people, those with a positive outlook on life, are not just happier, but also seem to achieve much more.

THE QUEEN OF HERBS: TULSI

Tulsi is an aromatic member of the basil family (ocinum tenuiflorum or ocimum sanctum.)Sanskrit meaning of tulsai is the ‘incomparable one’.It is regarded as Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and the consort of Lord Vishnu. As per the Hindu calendar, the month of Kartik (October-November) is the best month to worship Tulsi as this month is loved by her. Tulsi is ceremonially married to Lord Vishnu annually on the 11th bright day of the month of Karttika in the lunar calendar. This ritual, called the ‘Tulsi Vivaha’ inaugurates the annual marriage season in India. Tulsi is worshiped in Hinduism.
Tulsi is known as the queen of herbs because there has been no herb which offers enormous healthy benefits as Tulsi. In Ayurveda Tulsi is considered as a tonic which retain youth and avoids ageing. The Hindi name for Basil is Tulsi. It is rich in phyto-nutrients. Tulsi contains minerals like vitamin A, beta carotene, potassium, iron, copper, manganese, magnesium. It is a stress buster and a mood elevator. Helps to reduce tension and anxiety. Tulsi is a tonic to heart. Tulsi has world’s best anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-biotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-allergic, anti -disease properties. Intake of Tulsi helps to fight more than 200 diseases like flu, dengue, fever, cough, cold, blood pressure, joint pain, allergy, swollen lungs, tiredness, vomiting, loss of appetite, etc. Everyone should eat Tulsi leaves and drink Tulsi tea everyday for a good health. 

Types of Basil 

There are various types of basil found all over the world. They are categorized into two groups- Holy Basil and Mediterranean Basil.

A. HOLY BASIL

It is also known as Tulsi and the most revered houseplant in India. It is associated with Ayurveda and Hindu religion as goddess of wealth, health and prosperity. The plants have strong medicinal properties compared to second group of species. This small herb is found all over India and is cultivated, worshiped in temples and houses of Hindus. There are 5 popular species of Holy Basil :-

Krishna Tulsi

It is said that Krishna Tulsi got its name because of the purple leaves as Lord Krishna’s skin color is dark according to the Vedas. Krishna Tulsi is also famous for its crispy and peppery taste.Purple Leaf Tulsi is also used to treat throat infections, respiratory system, nasal lesions, earache and skin diseases.

Rama Tulsi

It is also known as ‘Rama Tulsi’, Sri or Lakshmi Tulasi, Ocimum tenuiflorum, Ocimum sanctum. The Green Leaf Tulsi is known for its cooling, mellower taste. This variety of Tulsi is found in China, Brazil, Eastern Nepal, as well as in Bengal, Bihar, Chatgaon and the southern states of India.All the parts of the plant emit a strong aroma. Ram Tulsi has a characteristic fragrance. Crushing its leaves between the palms releases a stronger fragrance than other varieties of Tulsi.

Vana Tulsi 

It is native to India, Sri Lanka, Java and the northern and eastern parts of Africa. The scientific name of Vana Tulsi is Ocimum gratissimum. It can grow up to 2m high with highly aromatic and slightly hairy green leaves. The strong antioxidant activity of Vana Tulsi slows down the ageing process. Vana Tulsi is also known as African tulsi.

Kapoor Tulsi 

This type of tulsi has garnished its name due to the sweet fragrance that can keep insects and mosquitoes at bay. Kapoor tulsi is short in terms of heights and gets the most number of flowers among all different types of the tulsi plant. It is also called heavily flowered basil.

Amrita Tulsi 

Amrita means “immortality” in Sanskrit, and is sometimes translated as “nectar”- thus “nectar of immortality.”Amrita Tulsi also known as a tea basil, holy basil, or tulasi, is an aromatic plant in the family Lamiaceae which is native to the Indian subcontinent and widespread as a cultivated plant throughout the Southeast Asian tropics.Commonly used to make teas with a very pleasing aroma and taste. 

B.MEDITERRANEAN BASIL 

It is known as sweet basil and is the most popular variety of basil found all over the world including Asia, Europe, America and Africa. It is the most consumed herb worldwide . It is used in culinary preparations. Some of the Mediterranean basil are Sweet basil, Thai basil, Purple basil, American basil, lemon basil, African blue basil, Greek basil, Summer long basil, etc.

Morality in Rule of Law

                                                            (Photo: Thought and action)

Rule of Law is the fundamental principle which ensures good governance as well as individual rights and liberties. It says no one is above the law and every person living in a particular society is subject to the law of that society. All other notions associated with the rule of law must also be considered alongside it. It is a mechanism that encourage the equality of all citizens before the law. It also secures a non-arbitrary form of government, and specifically prevents the arbitrary use of power. In general, the rule of law implies that the creation of laws, their enforcement, and the relationships among legal rules are themselves legally regulated, so that no one including the most highly placed official is above the law.

Moralityis a concept that distinguishes right from wrong. It also talks about conduct that is considered acceptable or unacceptable in a particular society. The source of morality is usually considered to be natural law and God’s instructions through sacred documents.

Morals provide a basis for the development of law by virtue of justice, equity, good faith, and conscience. Morality plays an important role in making of law and its interpretation. Morals are an intrinsic part of the laws. In the ancient time morals and laws were considered as one and the same. In the current period though law and morality have several distinctions yet the same are not completely different or distinct. A relationship can be established between morality and law on three grounds: –

1)     morals as the basis of law

2)      morals as test of positive law

3)      morals as the end of law.

According to Stammer “jurisprudence depends much upon moral ideas as just law has a need of ethical doctrine for its complete realization. Positive law and just law correspond to positive morality and rationally grounded ethics. There’s no difference and if any, it is only the difference of manner in which the desire for justice present itself”.

H.L.A Hart believes that there are several relations between law and morals. He was of the view that a legal system must exhibit some specific conformity with morality or justice or must rest on a widely diffused conviction that there is a moral obligation to obey it.

Ronald Dworkin has argued that both laws and constitutions are unavoidably rooted in political and moral principles. The law is not derived logically from accepted true moral principles. Rather, it is established by legislatures that come to agreement on public rules that are shaped by a political consensus about right and wrong.

Rule of law prioritizes the supremacy of law whereas morality prioritizes the moral values and consciences of the subjects of the state. For instance, a man is under no duty to help a beggar or the distressed and can neglect his sick and old parents without the fear of any legal or penal consequences, but morality does not allow a person to do so as it amounted to undesirable conduct condemned by morals and ethics. There is a close relation between the rule of law and morality.  Morality complements the rule of law. But it is a casual relationship, as laws are not made out of moral principles, rather, they are established and shaped by a “legal consensus of right and wrong”. Even though morality is ultimately involved in making and modifying the law, it is never legally binding and does not have constitutional value.  Laws have a marginal origin from the morals and ethics derived in the society which initially monitored the conduct of people, but morality solely cannot be the basis on which law has been derived. An acceptable statement is that both morality as well as rule of law have adapted to the development of society. Sometimes what seems right from the morality point of view may be contrary when viewed from the point of rule of law.  For instance, when a person tries to feed a needy person, by means of theft solely for the purpose of feeding that needy person, morally the act may be justified yet the same may not be the case under rule of law. Because under the concept of rule of law, a person has committed. Therefore, morality has a marginal presence in rule of law whereas it is highly contradictory of the same.

Morality in Rule of Law with reference to H.L.A. Hart theory

Professor Herbert Lionel Adolphus Hart (H.L.A. Hart) is an influential legal professor. Hart revolutionized the methods of jurisprudence and the philosophy of law. He authored ‘The Concept of Law’ and made major contributions to political philosophy. Law can be analyzed in terms of rules which is largely based on Hart’s theory of law. According to him, rules are concerned not with what happens but with what is to be done. Rules are imperative or prescriptive rather than indicative or descriptive. Rules have a certain independence or self-legitimating character. Rules are different from commands. Commands normally call for one unique performance whereas rules have a general application and demands repeated activity. According to Hart, ‘Law consists of rules which are of broad application and non-optional character, but which are at the same time amenable to formalization, legislation and adjudication. According to Hart the law consists of primary and secondary rules. Primary rules are duty imposing rules on the citizens and have a legal sanction. Secondary rules are power conferring laws that describe how laws should be recognized, adjudicated or changed. Hart says these rules form the heart of the legal system.

Hart’s version of natural law is empirical. His position is based on a theory of human nature which believes in certain truisms. For example, Hart believes that one truism of human nature is that the overwhelming majority of human beings wish to survive. It means they would rather live than die. If one wish to survive, it is imperative that a society be developed which will help ensure survival. Hart believes there are five features of the human condition which sometimes work against survival, and the legal system must take these into account.  Hart believes that: –

  •      there is the feature of human vulnerability.
  • .     there is the Hobbesian notion of approximate equality.
  • .      human beings possess at best a limited altruism.
  • .      the concept of limited resources governs our actions.
  • .     the idea of limited understanding and strength of will is important to any society.
     Conclusion
    The fundamental principle which ensures good governance as well as individual rights and liberties is the rule of law under which no one is above the law and every person living in a particular society is subject to the law of that society.  Morality, on the other hand, is concept that distinguishes right from wrong and may refer to conduct that is considered acceptable or unacceptable in a particular society.  Coercion and sanction may be important considerations but not the basic elements to make law work. The law is meant to facilitate. It is mechanism that resolves conflicts of interest among individuals. This idea of law brings us to the concept of rule of law which aims to treat every individual equally, irrespective of social status. Under the rule of law, individuals are protected from the element of coercion. Another element of the rule of law is equality, which is often confused with generality. Laws are based on generality and bind everyone, not any singular group. But equality here means that every individual is subject to the same law and procedures and has the same rights. A close relation exists between the rule of law and morality, since morality complements the rule of law. But it should still be considered a casual relationship, as laws are not made out of moral principles, rather, they are established and shaped by a “legal consensus of right and wrong”. 

THE LIFE PLANT : MORINGA

Moringa is derived from Latin word moringa oleifera. It is also known as subhanjana, sahajan, drumstick tree and life plant. It belongs to the family of Moringaceae. It is a handsome softwood tree, native of India, occurring wild in the sub Himalayan regions of Northern India and now grown worldwide in the tropics and sub-tropics. In India it is grown all over the subcontinent for its tender pods and also for its leaves and flowers.Flowering begins within the first six months after planting. In seasonally cool regions, flowering only occurs once a year in late Spring and early Summer (northern hemisphere between April and June, southern hemisphere between October and December). In more constant seasonal temperatures and with constant rainfall, flowering can happen twice or even all year-round. The pod of moringa is a very popular vegetable in South Indian cuisine and valued for their distinctly inviting flavour. The cultivation of moringa in India occurs mainly in the southern states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh as well as in central India also.
Moringa is considered to be a complete food in itself and is a nutritional powerhouse. It contains more than 92 nutrients and it is the one of the most important antioxidant on the earth. It has 46 types of Anti-Oxidants, 36 Anti-inflammatory and 18 Amino-acids 9 of which are essential Amino Acids. It is a natural Anti-ageing and said to cure about 300 diseases. It has all the vitamins such as vitamin A, B1, B3, B6, B7,C, D, E and K which are found in fruits and vegetables.
It is the most nutritious herb on earth.
It has:-
25 times more iron than spinach.
07 times more vitamin C than oranges.
15 times more potassium than bananas.
10 times more Vitamin A than carrots.
17 times more calcium than milk.
04 times more protein than eggs.

Benefits of Moringa 
1. Moringa is useful in reducing obesity and extra fats.
2. Moringa has high content of phosphorus in it which is beneficial for reducing extra calories.
3. Moringa helps in regulating metabolism.
4. It is beneficial for the problems related to digestion.
5. Moringa is beneficial in diseases like cholera, dysentery, jaundice,etc.
6. Intake of moringa provides relief in kidney and urinary bladder stones, by dissolving stones.
7. Moringa keeps the skin healthy and glowing. It purifies our blood because of which pimples do not come up on face.
8. Moringa keeps the hair healthy and prevents hair fall.
9. Moringa has high content of beta carotene, protein, amonio acids, iron, calcium, vitamin-B, and nutrients which prevents malnutrition.
10.Presence of calcium, copper and phosphorus in moringa helps in the treatment of diseases related to bones and teeth.
11.It helps to prevent anemia.
12. Moringa boost the immunity system which is effective in reducing the chances of having cold and flu.
13. Moringa regulates cholesterol and maintains sugar level.
14 .Moringa helps to give relief in heart related diseases, asthma, arthritis and infertility.
15 .Moringa is thought to be helpful in treating depression, anxiety, and fatigue.
Precautions
1.Pregnant women should not intake Moringa has it may lead to miscarriage. 
2.Likely unsafe for people with high blood pressure as Moringa makes blood thin.

THE INFLUENCE OF GENDER ROLES ON HEALTH SECTOR INCLUDING REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS

                                                                          (Photo: Singularity Hub)

  Men form one-third of a typical medical school’s population; Rest of the seats are all occupied by women. The pay gap in the healthcare sector is 25% higher than any other sector. Most women agree to work at low wages because of the financial crises they face. Gender inequality is leading to a shortage of healthcare workers in the sector. Women in India face “extensive gender discrimination” in access to healthcare. Gender inequality is leading to a shortage of healthcare workers in the sector because obviously only one-third of the seats were taken by men. 

Under the National Health Mission, the government has launched several schemes. The most important program launched by the government is Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi which provides financial assistance to the patients that are below poverty line and are suffering from life-threatening diseases.  Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana is a government-run health insurance program for the Indian poor. It aims to provide health insurance coverage to the unrecognized sector workers belonging to the below poverty line.  National AIDS Control Organization was set up so that every person living with HIV has access to quality care and is treated with dignity.  Anganwadi Workers and the ASHA workers are the grassroots level functionaries under the umbrella ICDS Scheme and the National Health Mission respectively.  Both these functionaries being closely connected with the rural and urban poor families, play a pivotal role in addressing their nutrition and health related problems/issues.

How the Government has failed them ?

·        Do not have regular salaries, partly because their work is supposed to be voluntary and part-time.

·        Even though the Code on Social Security, 2020 aims to include formal and informal sectors under a social safety net, it excludes several categories of workers, including ASHA and Anganwadi workers. The Code on Wages, too, has left this constituency out of its coverage, depriving employees of a fixed minimum wage.

·        “As per Modi government’s definition, Anganwadi and ASHA workers are not ‘workers’ but only ‘volunteers’, who do not receive any ‘wage’ but only an ‘honorarium’! So the principle of minimum wage would not apply to these scheme workers.”

Also a gender issue

·  Limited space for career progression is linked to low institutional recognition, demotivation, and curtailed opportunities for growth. ASHAs face sexual harassment by other health workers and community members, linked to their mobility and public profile. ASHAs have worked to further women’s interests, particularly in Chhattisgarh state where Mitanins(the name for ASHAs there) have mobilized protests against alcoholism, supported women’s collectives and taken action against gender based violence. ASHAs have begun taking action to mobilize their peers to reduce gender based violence. ASHAs have reported an increased sense of empowerment and personal growth, in part through their belief in the social value of their work.

     Gender as a social determinant of health

  •     The social determinants of health (SDH) are the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes. They are the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life. These forces and systems include economic policies and systems, development agendas, social norms, social policies and political systems.
  •          The SDH have an important influence on health inequities – the unfair and avoidable differences in health status seen within and between countries. In countries at all levels of income, health and illness follow a social gradient: the lower the socioeconomic position, the worse the health.
  •        The following list provides examples of the social determinants of health, which can influence health equity in positive and negative ways:

              1.Income and social protection

              2. Education

              3.Unemployment and Job security

  •      Research shows that the social determinants can be more important than health care or lifestyle choices in influencing health. For example, numerous studies suggest that SDH account for between 30-55% of health outcomes. In addition, estimates show that the contribution of sectors outside health to population health outcomes exceeds the contribution from the health sector.
  •     Addressing SDH appropriately is fundamental for improving health and reducing longstanding inequities in health, which requires action by all sectors and civil .
  •      Social determinants of health are conditions in the environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. Conditions (e.g., social, economic, and physical) in these various environments and settings (e.g., school, church, workplace, and neighborhood) have been referred to as “place.”
  •      In addition to the more material attributes of “place, ” the patterns of social engagement and sense of security and well-being are also affected by where people live. Resources that enhance quality of life can have a significant influence on population health outcomes. Examples of these resources include safe and affordable housing, access to education, public safety, availability of healthy foods, local emergency/health services and, environments free of life-threatening toxins.
     Reproductive rights in India
     Reproductive Rights are rights of individual to decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing and timing of children. It is individual’s right to decide whether to reproduce and have reproductive health. The Supreme Court of India and several state high courts have recognized the importance of reproductive rights and have observed that the denial of reproductive rights is violation of women’s fundamental and human rights.
     Courts have been at the forefront of expanding, protecting, and promoting reproductive rights. court through its various judgements from time to time has promoted and protected the reproductive rights of women. for instance, Puttaswamy judgment, Suchita Srivastava V. Chandigarh Administration, Navtej Singh Johar V. UOI. 
     
     Role of socio-physical environment in health care
     Social determinants of health are the conditions in the environment where people sustain, i.e. they born, live, learn etc., which affects the health, functioning and quality of life outcomes and risks. Health starts from our localities, our homes, schools, communities where it is also examined by our access to social and economic opportunities. So, social determinants of health are designed to identity ways to create social and physical environment that promote good health.

 




SUPERSTITIONS IN INDIA…

Superstitions lead people towards a kind of darkness, it takes people to wrong intensions. In the list of Indian evils, this superstitions is also a part. Superstitions were actually created and introduced by humans, especially some group of humans created these for  their daily survival and livelihood. Superstitions include many things. Luckily in our Indian constitution, some of them were abolished or removed like Untouchability. Here I am going to discuss some of them which I know and I’m going to relate them with some examples that I heard and I experienced. So, let’s start.

SUPERSTIONS AND EXAMPLES:

1. Firstly, I want to discuss about Amavasya. It is said that during Amavasya we should not start any new program or work. Now I’m going to relate with an example of My personal experience, It was said not to take me from my grandma’s home along with my mom when I was a child as it was Amavasya, as women spent some days after giving birth to child I and My mom were there for some days. But My father is against to all these things and he wantedly brought me and my mom from there. And the same thing he did was he has joined me in school for the first time on the day of Amavasya itself, but you know what, till now nothing bad happened to me and my family and I am in the protection of My God. So, it is proven wrong.

2.Let me share another one, When girls are on periods they are not allowed to pray God and go near God, that too in some communities and religions. Now an example relating to it, A girl went to a temple of Goddess Kali I suppose, and that statue is having blood in her mouth, and this girl asked her mother, mother it is said that girls who are on periods, they should not go to Temple and God, but why this Goddess is having blood in her mouth, she asked her mother and the mother was shocked and had no answer to it. Do you have answer for this? even I was surprised when I heard about this.

3.This one is also the same thing, but a little different angle,  it is also said that girls at the time of their menses they are not supposed to touch anything or anyone in the house and in some aspects they are kept out of the house. To hear itself, it is so wired and disgusting, right? I don’t say that everyone will follow this, because, for example me and my family, we just don’t follow all this rubbish but most of the Indians especially some group of people belonging to a particular community and religion follow this. And coming to the example, recently I came to know about this in news, a old women who is in her menses was put out of the house as they don’t her, it was a forest kind of area, and at night while everyone was asleep, a snake entered her tent and bit her , then she was taken to hospital on their hands, I don’t understand why don’t you allow her inside instead of taking her to hospital after something bad has happen, at least then you have to touch her, right?. I felt very bad when I have seen this.

Yeah I have many more but I don’t have the examples to make things clear. To name some, a black cat should not come before us when we are going to start or do something, and some construct house according to some directions, do not sweep after sunset, do not cut nails at night, Wearing gemstones brings good fortune, Not To Sleep Facing The North, Broken Mirrors, Adding One Rupee To A Gift Sum, Twitching Eyes and many more like this. But I don’t say that all these are rubbish but some of these have scientific reasons, but making or implementing them very heavily in life may make us stupid’s. 

So, I say that some of these are really stupid and foolish. So, I don’t support and encourage those foolish things. And what’s your opinion. Feel free to comment and express.

New Regulations for Gold

Gold is not just an asset in India it holds significance in our culture. Being the symbol of the Goddess Lakshmi and considered to be auspicious.

It is part of several cultural and social events of Indian society. Not just bought on special occasions or passed down from several generations, but it also holds the great economical point. Being one of the most trusted investment all over the world even the RBI of India holds 695 tonnes of gold within it as a reserve.
The government of India had mandatory hallmarking for gold in 256 districts and plan to implement it all over India in the future.
What is a Hallmark?
It is series of marks made on the metal to clarify the content of the noble metals like gold, silver, etc.
In other words,s it lends credibility to the purity of gold. The Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS), in India, is the accreditation agency that certifies and Hallmark gold jewelry and other precious metals.

Other key terms related to gold-
Carat– It indicates the percentage of purity of the metal. Eg 24 carat means gold contains 100 pct gold. But to lend it some strength metal is mixed. Hence gold is about 18 -22 K only.
Stamp of BIS and year of the mark-
It is a triangle mark assure of purity with the year of hallmarking of jewelry.
Jewelry Identification mark-
BSI mark also carries jewellery stamps to Indicate that jewelry is certified. Its certification is cheap at Rs 2 per gram of gold.

Currently, this regulation is only imposed on jewelers having a turnover of above 40 Lakh only.

The Noises of Modern World

 While everyone is concerned about environmental issues like air pollution and deforestation, there is another issue that has arised in our modern civilization- Noise Pollution. The sound of machines during construction and most importantly the honking in traffic are all contributors of noise pollution. These loud noises have become a part of our daily life. 

Noise pollution is an undesirable sound which generates discomfort to the ears and interferes with our peace of mind. The urban population is the most affected because vehicles contribute the most to noise pollution. WHO describes it as the most hazardous pollution after air and water, and has also listed some of its impacts on health. Not only humans, it also affects the wildlife of land as well as the water bodies. 


Impact on health

Noise pollution has many negative implications on our health. Exposure to noise pollution can cause psychiatric disorders,  anxiety, hypertension, stress, hormonal dysfunction, nausea, changes in mood and makes the person argumentative. Its effect on health also depends on the duration of exposure. 

Extremely disturbing sounds created by the machines disrupt the peace of mind of the person. It can also affect the ear and in adverse conditions may also lead to hearing impairment. In a few cases, exposure to noise can also lead to cardiovascular diseases. 

Sleep disturbance is a major problem associated with noise pollution. Chronic disturbance in sleep such as difficulty in sleeping, frequent awakening, waking up too early etc.can impact the overall well being of a person. 

Not only health, but also our social behaviour gets impacted by it. It can lead to negative social behaviour because noise builds stress and annoyance. It impacts and changes our everyday behavior and causes aggressiveness and unfriendly behaviour. 

Ways to reduce noise pollution

First step is to stop honking unnecessarily on the road. Most of the noise pollution is caused by honking in the traffic. Avoid playing Radio or Television at an extremely high volume as it can cause noise pollution inside the house as well as in the nearby areas. Try to use appliances with a low noise and turn it off when not in use. 

Planting trees can help to reduce noise because they act as a natural barrier to sound. Some trees have the quality of absorbing sound from the surrounding. A study by the US Department of Energy Study report states that trees can cut the noise levels by 50%. Not only noise, the trees can help to curb other forms of pollution also. 

In the wake of modernization, we have replaced the positive sound of birds and trees swaying in the breeze with a loud morning alarm and honking in the traffic. Some minor steps can help us to reduce the noise around us and restore peace of mind.


ADDICTION


ADDICTION

Addiction is one of the complex diseases which affects the brain. A person who is exposed to a huge amount of stress gets addicted to consuming substances or looks for the methods that gives him or her the required relief. It is the compulsion of the individual to engage in the specific activity. It leads to harmful sequences  individual’s health and affects his mental state. 

Addiction is said to be the chronic disease which affects the brain and people struggling from this are unable to control their actions and sensible decisions at last which becomes very dangerous to them.


SUBSTANCE RELATED ADDICTION

Tobacco, alcohol, Street drugs(illegally sold drugs that are taken for non-medicinal uses), Prescription drugs(medicinal drugs that are misused

BEHAIOR RELATED ADDICTION

Gambling, Eating, The Internet, Video Games, Work and Sex.


ALCOHOLISM

Alcoholism is also known as alcohol dependence. It is a dabbling addictive disorder.In most of the individuals, it starts with the social drinking which eventually leads to the heavier alcohol consumption. Ethyl Alcohol or ethanol is an intoxicating ingredient found in beer, wine and liquor. It is produced by the fermentation of yeast, sugar and starch. It is a depressant that affects the CNS.

SYMPTOMS

Drinking alone, not able to remember the time, hiding alcohol, need of large quantity of alcohol to feel the effect, nausea, swelling, shaking when not drinking.

EFFECTS

It leads to mental Illness, depression and suicidal thoughts. One of the main reason of alcohol is, it starts inflame the liver and leads to liver cirrhosis. Only a healthy liver is able to regenerate its own cells, the affected liver is unable to regenerate and it becomes damaged. It is able to replace its new cells.


SMOKING CIGARETTES

Nicotine is the one of the most frequently used addictive drugs and the leading disease which causes disability and death in India. 

EFFECTS ON LUNGS

Smoking causes destruction of small hairs present in the upper respiratory truck, which is the trachea. By destruction of this, chemical substances enter into the body, causing infection, cough and lung cancer. It also increases the risk of Crohn’s diseases and formation of gall diseases.

Other effects includes, blood vessel damage in the legs, eyes and loss of eyesight. Smoking causes cancer in the oral cavity, pharynx and bladder.

These are some of the harmful effects which affect the human body due to addiction. 


TREATMENT OF ADDICTION

It involves the management of alcoholism and drug abuse.The Government and Non-Government Organizations in our country which have rehabilitation centres to treat and counsel the drug addicts and alcoholics by means of medical and psychological approaches.

BIO GEO CHEMICAL CYCLE

 

 BIO GEO CHEMICAL CYCLE

We live in the environment where there are both biotic and abiotic components. Abiotic components are the air, water, light and temperature. Biotic is the living components which include human beings. This kind of ecological complex is called as the ecosystem. It deals with the relationships between the organisms and ecology. Thus, the interaction is both dependent on the ecology.


WATER CYCLE

Water is the important source of all living beings. Oceans are the biggest storehouses of water as they evaporate for the formation of clouds. The evaporation process is also due by rivers, lakes and ponds. Condensation is a process in which the watervapour converts to rain. Now the rain water flows and fills all the water resources. 

A huge amount of water is recycled directly without the involvement of biotic components. The sun’s heat and wind movement help to evaporate water from the exposed surface of the oceans. So, the rivers and lakes act as a reservoir here, which finally collects water to the oceans.


NITROGEN CYCLE

Living organism requires both proteins and nucleic acids for their survival. The atmosphere consists of 78 percent of ammonia and plants and animals can only use in the form of ammonia, nitrates or amino acids. This conversion is called the nitrogen cycle. 

The steps involve Nitrogen fixation, assimilation, Ammonification, Nitrification and Denitrification.

Nitrogen fixation is done by Nitrogen fixing bacteria and algae that converts ammonia into nitrates. Nitrogen Assimilation is done by Nitrates that are absorbed by plants are utilized for making organic matter such as proteins and nucleic acids. The process of urea, uric acid, which is released by amines and ammonia is released by the action of bacteria or fungi and it is called ammonification. Ammonia is then converted to nitrites, it is called as Nitrification and then denitrification occurs by reducing nitrate ions into gaseous nitrogen which returns to the atmosphere.


CARBON CYCLE

All living organisms are made up of carbon. The atmospheric carbon dioxide enters into the living world followed by photosynthesis and the carbon is passed. Carbon dioxide is returned back to the atmosphere through the decomposition of dead organic materials and volcanic activities.


OXYGEN CYCLE

Oxygen is important for respiration which contributes 20% of the air in the atmosphere. Enters into the living world through respiration and produces energy. 


Now-a-days we get climatic changes quickly due to the change in one of these cycles. Burning fossil fuels, using limestone for making concrete and more things. If any one of the cycle is disrupted it would be really difficult for the humans. It is purely our responsibility to save the nature!