Have you read this book?

Something I Never Told YouSomething I Never Told You, published in the year 2019, written by Shravya Bhinder, who is one of the remarkable authors of romance genre of this era. This is a nonfictional event based on the life of two characters named Raunak and Adira. Raunak is an introvert guy who falls in love with Adira at the first sight when she comes to live as a PG at his grandma. But he finds it difficult to confess his feelings to Adira. On the other hand Adira is unaware about this and does not expect anything of this sort.

Raunak tries to gain confidence to speak out his thoughts to Adira, but is very nervous to do so. He keeps wondering about to say or not to say. Later one day it’s Adira’s birthday and he plans to gift her a silver bracelet as a present. Since it was so expensive he borrows money from one of his friends. but because of his nervousness he finds it difficult to face Adira. And since they were not friends so he thinks it would be quite awkward to do so. Hence, he secretly puts the present in her purse. when Adira finds the bracelet in her purse she is very surprised! She is curious who it would be and asks everyone in the party who it was. But will Raunak accept that it was he by expressing his feeling? Or by any chance will Adira come to know it was Raunak? what will happen next? If you have already read this novel, comment your opinion about the story. if want to read the entire story……

Real Equality

India Is Home To A Third Of World's Child Brides. Half Of India's Girls Get  Married Before 18

I read a quote somewhere a while back which I would like to put here before I start with my topic. The quote was by Diane Mariechild and it read, “A woman is a full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture, and transform”. Things are slowly getting for women. While many might disagree about this because there are, still so many atrocities and sufferings women go through to date but the rise of women in various aspects and platforms stands as evidence of the progress and growth of women.  

This article is about the most recent incident that occurred in the Lok Sabha. The passing of the historic bill increased the eligibility criteria of marriage for women from 18 to 21. Well according to what I feel is this was a necessary change that needed to be made as we are living in 2021 moving forward to 2022 and having so much progress and development then our thoughts about women getting the same kind of treatment as men cannot be stuck in the old generation. What did surprise me and got me thinking was how a bill, which was meant for the betterment of women, had presented contentment and at the same time managed to bring a sense of resentment in people. Shockingly more women seemed to be questioning the bill than men are. Before we get into this, first let us understand what exactly the bill exactly means.

INTRODUCTION OF THE BILL

Photo Gallery : Lok Sabha

A bill seeking to fix 21 years as the legal age for marriage for women came to be introduced by the Union Minister of India Mrs. Smriti Irani. This bill knows as the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment Bill) 2021. The bill aims to show and bring about a sense of equality among men and women by keeping the same age for marriage for both genders. This bill also seeks to amend the other seven laws that are quite personal as well. Those bills are the Indian Christian Marriage Act; the Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act; the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act; the Special Marriage Act; the Hindu Marriage Act; and the Foreign Marriage Act. The bill also aims to overpower all present working laws. This also included any kind of customs, usage, or practices that holds the parties responsible.  This brought about a lot of backlash from various opposition parties of the country and therefore this bill is present in the standing committee. The union minister also made an important point when she says and I quote “As a democracy, we are 75 years late in providing equal rights to men and women to enter into matrimony”. The union minister also made very important points when she brought out the fact that even in 2021 7% of the girls as young as 15 years are becoming pregnant and nearly 23% of girls have been married away even before the age of 18. This bill not only aims to bring this down but also brings about responsibility in both the parents and brings about an increase in nutrition and care for women. This bill is going to become effective 2 years from the dates it receives Presidential confirmation

Why it is being considered a decisive step?

Women all over the world have been fighting for their rights and equality for almost many decades now. Women have learned to struggle and sacrifice many things for their rights, equality, and importance in society from the very beginning and still have a long way to go. Therefore, when this bill was brought out in the Lok Sabha by a woman minister, I am sure this created a feeling of relief, joy, and happiness in the minds of all women.  This also created a sense of hope to keep moving forward and had a huge impact on women and their strength in a positive and supportive manner. The bill not only aims at making the physical life better for women but also the emotional mental part of their lives. Impactful things like this bill is a much necessary change that needs to be brought into society so that women are not expected to do things because they have reached a “certain age” which again is not decided by the women but all the other people that the small girl child is growing up with.

Why is there a sense of resentment?

Two things need to be understood by the readers. The sense of resentment has no connection with the opposition parties or their sentences of backlash. Here one is trying to understand the resentment or questions that lie in the common person’s mind. The second and the most important thing is that there is no resentment or sadness towards the bill or the aim behind the proposal of the bill. The resentment comes from a place of the bill not being enough to bring about change. There is so much more that needs to be done so that this bill has some value and establishment in society. This change and betterment should not just come from the urban sector but also the rural sector.

Child marriage is still predominant and present in societies, especially in small towns and villages. Girls are still considered a curse, a burden that needs to be cleared off before it is too late. Girls are married off even before they turn 18 and expect to look after household activities and chores from a very young age. Yes, things have gotten better at least to a small percentage concerning their education but they still have not been able to complete their education. The idea of being kept at home after they mature and at the same time making sure they leave their home is very perplexing and intriguing.

Both these sides make us question the very idea of equality, which is not just between men and women but also between women themselves. Yes, this bill does bring a sense of equality but true equality can only be achieved when more things are done to make women’s lives better. This change does not necessarily have to be as big as passing the bill; it could be as small bringing about awareness and taking small measures to make sure that every girl or woman whether she belongs to the urban society or the rural society has equal rights and opportunities like anybody else on the planet.

To conclude with a quote by Michelle Obama as she says and I quote “As women, we should stand up for ourselves. We must stand for each other. We must stand up for justice for all.”

References

  1. https://theprint.in/india/modi-govt-introduces-bill-to-increase-womens-marriage-age-to-21-years-in-lok-sabha/785232/

INTERNET

The Internet is a vast network that connects computers all over the world. Through the Internet, people can share information and communicate from anywhere with an Internet connection.In the present world without internet nothing will happen.INTERNET is a short form of Interconnected Network of all the Web Servers Worldwide. It is also called the World Wide Web or simply the Web.The Internet is used for many things, such as electronic mail, online chat, file transfer, and the interlinked web pages and other documents of the World Wide Web. The most used service on the Internet is the World Wide Web.Internet is a system that interconnects the different computer systems across the world. … The Internet system carries an extensive range of information resources and services including World Wide Web (WWW), telephony, electronic mail, etc. It uses standard internet protocols, such as TCP/IP and HTTP, etc.


Internet is a global network that connects billions of computers across the world with each other and to the World Wide Web. It uses standard internet protocol suite to connect billions of computer users worldwide. It is set up by using cables such as optical fibers and other wireless and networking technologies. At present, internet is the fastest mean of sending or exchanging information and data between computers across the world.

Advantages of the Internet:–


Instant Messaging: You can send messages or communicate to anyone using internet, such as email, voice chat, video conferencing, etc.


Get directions: Using GPS technology, you can get directions to almost every place in a city, country, etc. You can find restaurants, malls, or any other service near your location.


Online Shopping: It allows you to shop online such as you can be clothes, shoes, book movie tickets, railway tickets, flight tickets, and more.


Pay Bills: You can pay your bills online, such as electricity bills, gas bills, college fees, etc.


Online Banking: It allows you to use internet banking in which you can check your balance, receive or transfer money, get a statement, request cheque-book, etc.


Online Selling: You can sell your products or services online. It helps you reach more customers and thus increases your sales and profit.


Work from Home: In case you need to work from home, you can do it using a system with internet access. Today, many companies allow their employees to work from home.


Entertainment: You can listen to online music, watch videos or movies, play online games.


Cloud computing: It enables you to connect your computers and internet-enabled devices to cloud services such as cloud storage, cloud computing, etc.


Career building: You can search for jobs online on different job portals and send you CV through email if required.

Types of internet connections include:-

* DSL (digital subscriber line).


* cable broadband.


* fibre optic broadband.


* wireless or Wi-Fi broadband.


* satellite and mobile broadband.
dedicated leased line.

Disadvantages of the Internet:-

* Addiction, time-waster, and cause distraction.


* Bullying, trolls, stalkers, and crime

* Spam and advertising.


* Pornographic and violent images.


* Never being able to disconnect from work.


* Identity theft, hacking, viruses, and cheating.


* Affects focus and patience.

BITCOIN

Bitcoin is basically a computer file which is stored in a digital wallet app on a smartphone or computer. People can send Bitcoins or part of one to your digital wallet, and you can send Bitcoins to other people.You can buy Bitcoins using real money. You can sell things and let people pay you with Bitcoins.The money you put into Bitcoin is not safe from value fluctuations. Bitcoin is a volatile investment. If you’re looking for a “safe” investment with guaranteed returns, then don’t invest in Bitcoin

Bitcoin is the oldest cryptocurrency in the world. It is a digital currency that is often used to exchange value for goods and services. Bitcoins work on the principle of blockchain technology. Bitcoins can also be mined or produced using a massive computing system, complex technical process, and an active internet connection.People have traded in Bitcoin for over a decade now. Many companies have even started accepting Bitcoins as a payment method. The price of the coins has gone up substantially over the years.


In April 2018, the RBI had effectively banned cryptocurrency transactions via banks and e-wallets in the country. It was initially supported by the Supreme Court, though the top court later quashed the ban in March last year.Earlier this week, the government listed a bill titled The Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2021 that is aimed to provide a framework for creation of an official digital currency to be issued by the RBI and prohibit all existing private cryptocurrencies. Experts, however, believe that it would take some time for the country to bring any changes.


Bitcoin held at exchanges are vulnerable to theft through phishing, scamming, and hacking. As of December 2017, around 980,000 bitcoins have been stolen from cryptocurrency exchanges.The use of bitcoin by criminals has attracted the attention of financial regulators, legislative bodies, law enforcement, and the media.Bitcoin gained early notoriety for its use on the Silk Road.

MY FIRST LOVE STORY

 Truth and dare, a game which marks the beginning of our puberty. This game fascinated me as much as any other kid of 6th standard might be.

We were new to it. We were ready for it! However, I wasn’t sure of it. Instead of being excited, I was nervous!

Oh I almost forgot to introduce myself.

Hi, I am Steve, and this is how my first game of truth and dare changed my life.

We were in our 6th standard. One Saturday my friends and I were returning from school, when Kristin came up with the idea of playing truth and dare.

I was not up for it, as usual but somehow my friends forced me into it. I agreed to it, but hoped to reach our destination before the bottle rim pointed at me. I didn’t want to play! I was nervous!

Then there happened something, which made my life turn upside down! The bottle rim pointed at Susan, a friend of mine. Now Susan and I were just acquaintances. We never actually talked to each other. It was just a hi hello relationship for us.

Susan chose dare, and Kristin dared her to say I love you to any one of the three boys, Zayn, Austin or me. Back in that time, I was a big nerd who stayed away from girls. I don’t know why exactly but I didn’t have that confidence in me to talk to a girl, which is why I was really scared!

My heart started racing, I had butterflies in my stomach, my hands were almost sweating. Not that I was expecting to be the one whom Susan chose, but what if she did?

I have always found Susan pretty. She was not one of those girls who found ways to impress boys. Never in the many years of knowing her did I see any kind of make up on her. She was natural. She was sweet and from what I could assume, she had a heart of diamond and a smile worth millions of dollars!

I have always liked her because she was nothing like other girls. She was genuine. I always thought of talking to her but never had the confidence to do so! Oh God what if she chooses me!

Yes i know I am sounding a bit too extra, but the girl in question is her! The only girl with whom i wanted to talk and be friends with! My heart was sinking with every second, I had goose bumps and I felt a pressure putting itself upon me! This kills. This game sucks!

I was busy fighting my own thoughts when I caught Susan looking at me. Her eyes were not blinking. She stared at me, looked into my eyes. All of a sudden, I started feeling relaxed. Her eyes felt like heaven. Those beautiful pearl eyes, that beautiful, frightened face!

Her lips parted, a sigh left her mouth, and the words, “I love you” she uttered, with her eyes still fixed with mine. I couldn’t process what just happened. It was just a dare, but that moment felt something more!

A sudden hooting made us both look away when we reached her bus stop and she went away. I don’t know what had just happened. It was a great feeling. So beautiful and intense that i could still feel my heart pounding against my chest. But, the real question is, did she feel the same way I did?

Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

SCRAP POLICY 2021

The topic for today’s article is scrap policy in India. Now the question is what is meant by scrap? The answer to this is – to remove an unwanted covering or a top layer from something. Scrap consists of recyclable materials left over from product manufacturing and consumption, such as parts of vehicles, building supplies, and surplus materials.

Unlike waste, scrap has monetary value, especially recovered metals and non-metallic ,especially are also recovered for recycling. And the much -awaited draft policy on vehicle scrapping is finally out.

The policy outlines the criteria for defining end -of-life vehicles and scrapping them. It also makes provision for scrapping facilities for safe disposal of waste and material recovery. This policy has only “advised” the state governments and the automobile industry to provide voluntary incentives to the owners of the vehicles.

This proposed policy seeks to phase out unit vehicles to reduce vehicular pollution, meet the climate commitments, improve road safety and fuel efficiency, formalise informal vehicle scrapping industry and recover low cost material for automotive, steel and electronics industry. The vehicle scrapping scheme is likely to usher in significant change and is expected to generate demands for new vehicles.

The policy says, commercial vehicles of more than 15 years and passenger vehicles of more than 20 years will have to be mandatorily scrapped if they don’t pass the fitness and emission tests. Vehicle owners who would voluntarily scrap their vehicles will get a rebate on road tax in the range of 15% to 25% and complete waiver of registration fees on the next vehicle purchase.

The government has envisaged investments worth Rs 10000 core for establishing vehicle fitness centers. Most likely scrapyards are to be established in the four zones and they will also supply scrap steel to automobile manufactures and other industries. The milestones set in the draft policy require the rules for fitness tests and scrapping to be in place by October 1, 2021. All government and PSU -owned vehicles older than 15 years will be scrapped by October 1, 2022. The same will be done for other vehicles by 2023 and 2024.

RECYCLING

Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects. The recovery of energy from waste materials is often included in this concept. The recyclability of a material depends on its ability to reacquire the properties it had in its original state. It is an alternative to “conventional” waste disposal that can save material and help lower greenhouse gas emissions. Recycling can prevent the waste of potentially useful materials and reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, thereby reducing: energy usage, air pollution (from incineration), and water pollution (from landfilling).

Recycling is a key component of modern waste reduction and is the third component of the “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle” waste hierarchy. Thus, recycling aims toward environmental sustainability by substituting raw material inputs into and redirecting waste outputs out of the economic system. There are some ISO standards related to recycling such as ISO 15270:2008 for plastics waste and ISO 14001:2015 for environmental management control of recycling practice.

Recyclable materials include many kinds of glass, paper, cardboard, metal, plastic, tires, textiles, batteries, and electronics. The composting or other reuse of biodegradable waste—such as food or garden waste—is also a form of recycling. Materials to be recycled are either delivered to a household recycling center or picked up from curbside bins, then sorted, cleaned, and reprocessed into new materials destined for manufacturing new products.

In the strictest sense, recycling of a material would produce a fresh supply of the same material—for example, used office paper would be converted into new office paper or used polystyrene foam into new polystyrene. This is accomplished when recycling certain types of materials, such as metal cans, becoming a can again and again, indefinitely, without losing purity in the product. However, this is often difficult or too expensive (compared with producing the same product from raw materials or other sources), so “recycling” of many products or materials involves their reuse in producing different materials (for example, paperboard) instead. Another form of recycling is the salvage of certain materials from complex products, either due to their intrinsic value (such as lead from car batteries, or gold from printed circuit boards), or due to their hazardous nature (e.g., removal and reuse of mercury from thermometers and thermostats).

Why is it important to recycle?

With the involvement and enthusiasm of people like you, recycling is back and so are thousands upon thousands of recycled products made from materials that would otherwise be piling up in our nation’s landfills. It makes a huge difference to our environment, our quality of life, and our country’s future.

Waste Generation Increases

In 2014, Americans generated about 258 million tons of trash and recycled 66.4 million tons and composted 23 million tons of this material, equivalent to a 34.6 percent recycling rate. On average, we recycled and composted 1.51 pounds of our individual waste generation of 4.44 pounds per person per day.

The state of the economy has a strong impact on consumption and waste generation. Waste generation increases during times of strong economic growth and decreases during times of economic decline. To learn more about waste generation in the US see the US EPA report Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: Facts and Figures.

This data is taken from Stanford University’s Recycling and Solid Waste Report 2016 and fed into the US EPA WAste Reduction Model (WARM).

Can recycling save energy?

Yes it can! Here’s some fun facts from CalRecycle to show you how!

If you look at the big picture of what it takes to create a product from scratch — to get the raw materials, transport them, process them and manufacture them — making goods with recycled material like paper, plastic, glass, and metal is a major energy saver.

Seattle economist Jeffrey Morris estimated that manufacturing one ton of office and computer paper with recycled paper stock can save nearly 3,000 kilowatt hours over the same ton of paper made with virgin wood products.

A ton of soda cans made with recycled aluminum saves an amazing 21,000 kilowatt hours by reducing the virgin bauxite (bozite) ore that would have to be mined, shipped, and refined. That’s a 95% energy savings.

A ton of PET plastic containers made with recycled plastic conserves about 7,200 kilowatt hours.

The San Diego County Office of Education has figured out that recycling one glass bottle saves enough energy to light a 100 watt light bulb for four hours.

10 Simple Copywriting Tips

 

Over the last decade, the demand for good quality and reliable content has increased drastically. People are interested to know the reasons, information, and the background story behind their purchasing choice, be it an escape room/mystery room, a tourism package, any online product, or daily delivery services. Due to this rise in the need for effective and trustworthy source material on the internet, content writing and copywriting have climbed up the ladder of popularity and necessity in the professional market. 

Nowadays, more content and copywriting writers are required to fill the ever-growing need for creating persuasive and attractive content to get more customers to a company or brand. 

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As a result, many writers dream and aspire to become successful copywriters. Many people practice copywriting but are unable to get the fruits of their hard work. And some authors are too nervous and lack the right direction for beginning their career as content writers. Are you also aiming to become a copywriter and create impressive and high-quality content? Or are you working to hone your skills to produce content that would generate more clicks and traffic? To help you conquer your writer’s block and get better and progressive outcomes in your writing career, we are providing you with the 10 simple copywriting tips:   

1.      Have a refined heading 

Headings determine whether a reader would like to click on your content and go through with the entire post. To make it more appealing and hard to ignore, always start copywriting your articles with a killer heading. 

You don’t have to show off your vocabulary glory or classy writing knowledge here, just a clever and memorable title with do. It should reflect what you offer in your post and align with the customer’s search option. Add in some captivating words blended in it, and you’re done.    

2.      Research a lot in advance 

The importance of research in copywriting is unmatched. Some of the best copywriters are also excellent researchers and spend most of their time digging into new topics, researching, and drilling to find a perfect load of information. The more you research, the more chances you have to beat your writer’s block and experiment with new and interesting possibilities in your copywriting content.  

3.      Back up your statements 

Users look for validating and reliable content online that they can use as a reference later. And if you don’t back up your statements and words with references and necessary links, nobody will prefer to engage in your work. If you are providing results or facts from a survey or including any numerical or statement data, add the link to back it up. It will assure the readers that your words aren’t merely hypothetical and you are giving them good, honest, and beneficial content.   

4.      Make your content interesting 

If you ever feel falling short of ideas and stuck in a stagnant place, add interest in your copywriting to maintain the user-friendly touch. Add some fascinating narratives to make it appear more visually likable for everyone. And your unique character and method will do the rest. Interesting copywriting content is known to grab the attention of the audience, direct it towards something and influence their outlook on it. So, instead of being pushy and persuasive, try making your work stimulating.  

5.      Keep it simple 

When it comes to copywriting, sometimes it is better to keep it simple and easy to grasp for the audience. People prefer to micro-read and quickly scan through many articles these days because the symptom of attention deficiency is common in this era of digital dependence. But if your content and words are precise, concise, and simple to understand, the readers will find it easy to go through the whole post and not feel burdened to identify the real message behind it.  

6.      Focus on satisfying your readers 

Customer satisfaction is the pillar holding the marketing and content writing industry. Thus, focus on satisfying your readers. If you’re writing about baking the perfect rich and dark chocolate cake, add all the details and the best images to make the article more appealing and fun to read. 

Imagine it like this – somewhere in the world, a user will search for something, and your heading will attract them. To ensure they are happy and content with each of your words, Copywrite it accordingly to deliver the emotion. In the end, your customer will be satisfied and will not have to go back to the homepage of the search engine to look for another title.  

7.      Be a storyteller 

The art of storytelling or narrative helps capture the prospect of the reader. It will give them a reason to stay in and find what happens at the end. A good copywriter focuses on storytelling and giving the readers a hook appealing enough to keep them hungry to know more and stay until the end. 

Telling a story works because it helps people relate to the creator. And it forms an emotional link that tremendously helps in good copywriting and attracting more clients for your company or business.  

8.      Provide benefits 

You know the rules – if the audience won’t find benefits for themselves, they will not be appealed or swayed by the offer. Some of the best copywriting headlines focus on providing solutions and benefits to the users and paying attention to their sentiments. Easy to fix and include, this tip is quick to forge and mention in your copy. Thus, keep your work surrounded with advantageous deals and ideas for the clients to make them feel they are gaining something here.  

9.      Use examples 

Using examples helps in copywriting because it appears more credible and engaging. Suitable examples and stories to back up your testimony make your copy memorable and help it leave behind a long-lasting impression on the mind of the readers. It sets your work apart in the ocean of similar content published on the internet, and the specific details give it an upper edge for advertising your enterprise.  

10.  Emphasize the values and points 

Quite often, many writers deviate from the central theme of their posts and end up with messy and hard-to-come-across content. To avoid falling into this trap, focus on emphasizing the key points and values behind your copy and mention them at least three times in the whole article. By stressing the prospectus advantages and worth in your post, you can deliver better content and call your audience to take action in this direction. 

 

Conclusion 

Whether an amateur or a professional writer, you can still gain plenty from these easy and efficient copywriting tips. You can also include your formulae and alter them to suit your needs and hobby. But what counts as the soul of any writer’s career is their true purpose. Always remind yourself of the real reason behind being an author and picking up writing in your life. 

With your intentions crystal clear, you can easily reflect on your principles and work harder towards your aim. And that is the real way to become a good content creator. Now it’s your turn to make the best of the above ideas and excel in the copywriting industry. Have happy writing ahead! 

 

 

 

 

 

Is rice consumed by humans harmful for parrots?

There is a urban legend that goes – “consuming uncooked rice is harmful for a bird and can even lead to it’s death.” Out of fear of causing harm to flocks, people have stopped throwing rice at weddings. If you are a parrot owner who has been believing in this urban legend so far, it is time to get rid of this misconception and include rice to the diet of your feathered buddy! No one is quite sure how this myth emerged but there is no truth to this notion and on the factual side rice can be cosidered a tasty and nutritious dietary staple. The infamous myth of rice killing birds was based upon the faulty assertion that rice upon consumption consumes all the moisture in a bird’s stomach and henceforth expands and causes tearing, ultimately leading to it’s demise. But the fact is rice after soaking up moisture in a bird’s stomach will expand in a way that will lead to a healthy digestion.
However, the question of focus is – what kind of rice is more preferrable? Raw or cooked? Or how much quantity of rice should you feed your pet parrot?
Rice contains protein, Iron, thiamine, niacine and magnesium that promotes optimal physiological function in birds. Rice is also rice in carbs and helps in providing energy to birds. Technically, birds can be fed both raw and cooked rice. While parrots living in the wild habitat are most likely to consume uncooked rice, one can feed their pet parrot cooked rice. Infact, in many cases it has been observed that parrots after getting a taste of soft and starchy flavour of cooked rice have rejected raw rice. Furthermore, birds with small beaks find it difficult to consume and digest uncooked rice. It is extremely important to keep in mind that under no circumstances, one should feed their parrot fried rice since they can be detrimental to their health. Fried rice contains oil, salt and other ingredients which are unhealthy substances for birds. Excess salts can lead to hardening of arteries and cause heart problems that can be fatal for your parrot. Only pure rice without any additives is considered nutritious for birds. While rice is considered healthy, one shouldn’t force it upon their pets if they refuse to consume rice. Just like humans, your pet bird also has his/her own set of preferences. Therefore, it is advisable that you consult your vet before making any changes to your pet’s diet routine.

Photo by Caio on Pexels.com

Impact of Covid-19 on Indian Tourism

The lockdown imposed by the countries has shaken different economic sectors to its core and one of the most affected and devastated sector is tourism industry. According to the report of World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), 100.8 million people lost their jobs which is 31% of the total jobs in this sector due to Covid-19 pandemic. It contributed 10.3% to the global economic GDP which is expected to lower down by 31%. It restricted the movement of various modes of transports such as aviation, railways, buses etc. It has caused reduction in human activities which in turn has affected the hospitality sector that goes hand in hand with the tourism industry.


Talking of Indian Tourism Industry, it is one of the largest service sectors including transportation, hospitality, food and beverage and associated tourism products which is famous for it’s hospitality, welcome, cultural heritage, lifestyles, variety of food and varied geography. The foreigners are largely attracted with the heritage and religious buildings, coastal areas, beaches, temples and a lot many which are yet to be discovered. Apart from these natural sight-seeing, many associated activities are also created so that people coming to this place also give a look at these such as adventure sports. It fascinates the tourists and also give them an enriching and life time experience. It may look as a very side-lined activities but contributes hugely in the promotion of tourism industry in India.


Covid affected this industry very badly which contributed to the global economy significantly and provided employment. Before the pandemic, it was flourishing day by day and touching new heights. The nationwide lockdown imposed by government of India restricted people to roam around freely and gather at one place to control the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2. It also suspended all tourist visas which is now changed time to time with different terms and conditions. The rules and regulations are now not that stringent but there are personal preferences and choices also which matter a lot. It largely depends that how people perceive of that place which they are yet to visit or are visiting. They may think like this that maybe the country they want to visit has lifted all the restrictions but that was the hub of the infection in past times. It was the most affected nation with the novel coronavirus and the healthcare services and system provided are also not that advanced. Also, people present and residing there are also not fully vaccinated which creates the chances of getting contracted with the virus. All these factors are summed up and creates fear in their mind and their fear does not allow them to visit that place.


This is may vary with other countries who have advanced healthcare services, fully vaccinated citizens and which was also not very badly affected with the virus but then there are people who don’t want to take any chances even the slightest one.


So, the conclusion which comes out from considering all the facets, it will not be wrong to say that tourism industry suffered badly. There are many people who lost their jobs, livelihood and much more in these difficult times which cannot be put into words. The suffrage of these people cannot be felt and articulated. Only they know the struggles which are happen to take place every day and the pain it causes. Apart from all these, there are also people who now fear to take a tour which is obvious also. The fear will not be vanished in a day or two. It will take time and so its revival largely depends upon the methods opted by their country officials and the country which they want to visit. It will take more time compared to other industries to restore its former glory.

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

Environmental issues harmful to human beings, animals and plants.They are environmental issues like pollution, deforestation, climate change, Ozone depletion, waste management.

MAJOR TYPES OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES:-

* Climate change

* Deforestation

* Ozone depletion

* Biodiversity Loss

* Acid rain

* Human overpopulation

* Global warming

CLIMATE CHANGE:-

Climate change is the long-term alteration of temperature and typical weather patterns in a place. It is both natural or artificial.But most of the it is because of humans.By burning of fossil fuels and natural gases like oil,coal which causes the release of green house gases leads to the alternation of climate.

DEFORESTATION:-

Deforestation is defined as removal of large amount of trees from forest and destroying agricultural lands for human deforestation is one of the major problem causes soil erosion,no rain, disturb water cycle and natural habitats.

OZONE DEPLETION:-

ozone depletion, gradual thinning of Earth’s ozone layer in the upper atmosphere caused by the release of chemical compounds containing gaseous chlorine or bromine from industry and other human activities.ozone depletion cause increase in uv radiation leads to skin cancer,eye cataracts,immune defeciency.It also affect plants growth and reduce agricultural productivity.In survey of 2020 17 percentage of ozone is destroyed.

BIODIVERSITY LOSS:-

Biodiversity loss includes the extinction of species worldwide, as well as the local reduction of species in a certain habitat, resulting in a loss of biological biodiversity loss is caused by habitat loss, invasive species,ove exploitation, climate change and global warming.some example for biodiversity loss is extinction of plants and animals.Redicing rate of amphibians are some examples.

ACID RAIN:-

Acid rain, or acid deposition, is a broad term that includes any form of precipitation with acidic components, such as sulfuric or nitric acid that fall to the ground from the atmosphere in wet or dry forms.Acid rain is caused due to the chemical reaction with sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides introduced in air.It pollutes air and soil.It have impact on soil, freshwater cause killing aquatic life forms.It cause corrosion of steel structures.

HUMAN OVERPOPULATION:-

Human overpopulation means that human population becoming very large.It is mainly in developing countries like India,china . Human overpopulation is because of birth rate is higher than that of death rate.Human overpopulation leads toenvironmental issues, silently aggravating the forces behind global warming, environmental pollution, habitat loss, the sixth mass extinction, intensive farming practices and the consumption of finite natural resources.

GLOBAL WARMING:-

The excess heat in the atmosphere which causes the rise in temperature is called global warming.Global warming is mainly caused by climate change, industries and the green house gases.It is serious threat to life on earth in the forms of widespread flooding and extreme weather.Reduce water supply, Decrease agricultural yields , rise in temperature and drought.It is harmful to all living organisms in the earth.

“Earth is like a pressure cooker it controls itself only to limit If it exceeds everything is destroyed”.

My recent visit at Kaziranga National Orchid and Biodiversity Park in Assam

On 15 December 2021, I had the opportunity to visit Kaziranga National Orchid and Biodiversity Park which is located in Golaghat district, Assam. Kaziranga is world famous for one horned rhino. It is known to all that tourists from different parts of the world visit the Kaziranga National Park to watch one horned rhino as well as many other animals’ and birds. Also pristine beauty can be seen in the place. Kaziranga is 230 Kilometres away from Guwahati and takes around 5 hours to reach by car. The surface road is very good. In Kaziranga there is an Orchid Park which is also an important place to visit as many things can be learned from the Orchid Park. In this article, a few points about the Orchid Park are highlighted so that readers can get an idea in this regard. Also those who are interested can take up research study. As already mentioned, the author visited the Orchid Park on 15 December 2021 and Mrs Sumitra Rabha local facilitator has explained each and every plant in general and special orchids in particular lucidly. It is pertinent to mention that Orchids in the world can be divided into two groups – monopodial or sympodial based on their habit of growth. Monopodial orchids such as Phalaenopsis, Renanthera and Vanda have a main stem which grows year after year as Cattleya, Cymbidium have a main Stem which terminates growth at the end of each season. A new shoot then grows from the base forming its own bulbous stem called pseudo-bulb which eventually flowers. The pseudo-bulb or thickened stem are very useful devices for the storage of food and water and function like bulbs. In addition to the epiphytic orchids, there are also ground orchids or terrestrial orchids which grow like ordinary plants with their roots in soil. Most of the temperate zone orchids are terrestrial and tropical orchids are epiphytes (orchidsasia.com/orcintro.htm). Orchids constitute 9 percent of our flora and are the largest botanical family of higher plants in India. It is estimated that about 1,300 species (140 genera) of orchids are found in India with Himalayas as their main home and others distributed in Eastern and Western Ghats. The following is the distribution of orchids’ species in different regions of India.
a) In North-Western Himalayas 200 species are found
b) In North-Eastern India 800 species are observed
c) In Western Ghats 300 species exist.
It is pertinent to mention here that in North-east India due to different climatic conditions the largest group of sub-tropical orchids are found. Some orchids endemic to Indian species are so ornamental and in demand that they have been over exploited. Some species in general like Arundina, Cymbidium, Coelogyne, Dendrobium, Paphiopedilum, Renanthera, and Vanda are almost extinct. The provisional list of 150 endangered plants of India includes many orchids like Acanthephippium sylhetense, Anoectochilussikkimensis, Aphyllorchis montana, Arachnanthe clarkei, Arundina graminifolio,Cymbidium macrorhizon, Dendrobium densiforum, Didiciea cunninghamii, Eriacrassicaulis, Galeola lindleyana, etc., (orchidsasia.com/orcintro.htm).
The Orchid Park in Kaziranga is spread over to an area of six acres located at Durgapur village in Golaghat district and is considered as the largest Orchid Park in the Northeast. In the Orchid Park, there are more than 500 varieties of wild orchids, 132 species of sour fruits and leafy vegetables, 46species of bamboo, 12 species of cane and many other plants. Some of the names of flowers/orchids which attracted me to mention here are in Assamese called ‘Baghar Dari’(Tiger beard) botanical name is Black Bat flower/Devil flower (this is simply flower not Orchid) and Dancing flower and some of the Orchids are Kopu phool (Assamese), botanical name is Rhynchostylis retusa (also called Foxtail Orchid). Kopu Phool/ Kopu flower (Foxtail Orchid) is the state flower of Assam. In addition, other varieties of Kopu Phools which can be seen in the Park are Aerides odorata (Assamese name -Bhato thuthiya kopu), Cymbium aloifolium (in Assamese Mota kopu) and Dendrobium aphyllum (Assamese name Halikithutia kopu). And some other botanical names of Orchids as observed in the Orchid Park are Coelogyne fimbriata, Phalaenopsis mannii, Phalaenopsis labbii, Phalaenopsis malipoensis, Eriabi flora etc.
So, I request the readers please visit Kaziranga National Park for watching the rhinos and other animals and birds, also visit Orchid Park.
I thank Thomas Cook Ltd which is an Indian travel agency, headquartered in Mumbai, for arranging the tour meticulously.