10 Skin Care Hacks for Oily Skin

Oily skin can be challenging. Oftentimes, you put on your makeup only to have it start melting away by the middle of the day. Ugh, what gives? It’s time to upgrade your skin care routine! The good news is, there are a few easy skin care hacks you can add to your arsenal to help make managing oily skin a little bit easier. Don’t let greasiness get you down! The following 10 skin care hacks are worth incorporating into your beauty routine if you have oily skin. It’s time to stock up on skin care products formulated for your skin type, like facial cleanser and moisturizer. Sayonara, excess shine. 

HACK #1: USE skin care PRODUCTS FORMULATED FOR oily skin

When it comes to your skin care routine, you should look for products formulated for your specific skin type—and that’s especially the case if you have oily skin. After all, if you had straight hair, you wouldn’t use shampoo and conditioner designed for curly strands, would you? Nope! As far as oily skin goes, you may be able to get away with using a lightweight moisturizer, whereas dry skin might need something heavier. Before you spend your hard-earned money on new skin care products, be sure to check the labels and see if they’re formulated for oily skin. Looking for the word “matte” is a good idea—matte skin care products (and makeup) can help to reduce the look of excess shine. 

HACK #2: CLEANSE WITH MICELLAR WATER

Micellar water is a French-favorite cleanser that’s finally starting to become buzzy stateside—and for good reason. Micellar water is powered by tiny micelles—oil molecules—that act as a magnet to lift dirt, oil, and makeup up and away from the skin. The best part about using a micellar water is that you don’t have to rinse it off—all you have to do is saturate a cotton pad with it and wipe the pad across your face! It’s that simple. If you have oily skin, try the L’Oréal Paris Micellar Cleansing Water Complete Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin, which purifies and mattifies. Cleansing should be the first step in your morning and evening skin care routine. You should especially focus on removing your makeup at night, since sleeping in it can lead to clogged pores, which can lead to breakouts. And that’s the last thing you want to deal with when you have oily skin, right? Since micellar water is so easy to use, keep a bottle on your night table (along with a pack of cotton rounds!) so that you can cleanse your complexion before bed, even when you’re too exhausted to haul yourself to the bathroom sink. If you have a little extra time to spare, consider adding the L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Purify & Mattify Cleanser to your skin care routine so that you can double cleanse. Designed to both cleanse skin and help absorb excess oil, you can expect a shine-free complexion post-wash.

HACK #3: TRY A WATER-BASED MOISTURIZER

Yes, you do need to use moisturizer if you have oily skin, so don’t skip out on this step! If you find many moisturizers to be too heavy, consider using a lightweight water-based one. In normal and oily skin, external factors like pollution, UV rays, and excessive cleansing can damage skin’s moisture barrier, causing loss of moisture and an increase in oil production. As a result, your complexion can end up looking overly shiny.

HACK #4: APPLY A PRIMER BEFORE MAKEUP

Do you always notice your makeup slipping and sliding halfway through the work day? It’s time to start using a primer before you apply your makeup! Primer can help make your makeup last longer and create a smooth base. The L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro Matte Lock Primer has a lightweight, silky formula that glides onto skin, helping to smooth lines, hide pores, and banish imperfections. Importantly for oily-skinned ladies, it has a matte finish! After finishing your skin care routine, apply the primer dot by dot and blend it in a gentle circular motion over your whole face or to targeted areas (under your eyes to smooth over fine lines, nose and cheeks to minimize the appearance of pores and blemishes, and your T-zone for a matte result). 

HACK #5: APPLY AN EYE AND LIP PRIMER, TOO

In addition to using a face primer before you put on foundation, consider using an eye makeup primer and lip primer as well if you want to avoid your eye shadow, eyeliner, or lipstick migrating to different areas of your face. They can help make your makeup stay put and also create an even canvas for application. If you don’t have these primers, you can use a little bit of foundation or concealer in a pinch to get the job done. 

HACK #6: STICK TO POWDER MAKEUP

Liquid and cream makeup often has a radiant finish—which can leave oily skin looking overly greasy. That’s why you should stick to powder formulas as much as you can.

HACK #7: FINISH OFF YOUR MAKEUP WITH A SETTING SPRAY

To help ensure your makeup stays put, spritz on a setting spray, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Spray & Set Makeup Extender Setting Spray. Shake the bottle well first. Then, holding it 8-10 inches away from your face, spray it in an X and T motion 4-6 times.

HACK #8: OR USE A SETTING POWDER

No one likes having to touch up their foundation midday. An alternative to makeup setting spray is translucent loose setting powder. Once you’re done applying all of your makeup, take a big fluffy makeup brush, dip it into the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro Sweep & Lock Loose Setting Face Powder (a little goes a long way!), and lightly dust it all over your face to help set your look. 

HACK #9: ADD A face MASK TO YOUR BEAUTY ROUTINE 

Go ahead and treat yourself! Using a face mask after a long day is the perfect way to unwind—and it could be just the thing your oily skin has been craving. Day after day, dirt, makeup, and excess oils can build up on the surface of your skin, leaving your complexion looking overly oily. Oftentimes, a cleanser isn’t enough to solve this issue. Enter the L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Mask Purify & Mattify Face Mask. It’s formulated with three types of clay (kaolin, montmorillonite, and Moroccan) and infused with eucalyptus leaf extract to help draw out the buildup of impurities, dirt, and oils and reduce the look of excess shine. To use, apply an even layer to clean, dry skin, leave the mask on for 10-15 minutes, then rinse off with water. Use three times a week for best results. Who needs a spa when you can get your Zen on in the comfort of your own home? And why not set the mood by lighting a few candles and playing some chill tunes? 

HACK #10: CARRY BLOTTING SHEETS IN YOUR PURSE

Sick of all that excess grease? Toss a pack of blotting sheets in your tote so that you can sop up excess shine whenever you need to. Blotting papers are great because they’re so slim. Have a night out planned? You can easily fit a pack of blotting sheets in a small clutch. Just lightly press one onto your face to help absorb the extra grease. They shouldn’t interfere with your makeup, so don’t worry!

How To Manage Emotions

In my previous to previous article on thoughts and how it stimulates emotions I had put forward my view that no emotion exists without a reason. Its there because we think of a situation, a person or something in a particular way which kick starts our emotions accordingly.

I am a teenager and I suffer from unexplainable emotions sometimes. Thanks to the person who gave me the most brightest and the most practical solution to this issue. He is none other than Vex King.

Unlike thoughts, emotions CANNOT be controlled but are to understood. It is only after a thorough understanding of your feelings or emotions that you can conclude the root cause(the thoughts) which created it.

For example: Have you ever felt inferiority complex? The feeling which makes your confidence and belief shiver and which makes your mind the supreme critic of yourself.

How do you at all stop that kind of feeling? Its so common nowadays.

 

• The most important step to take before understanding why you feel the way you feel is to accept that you feel something negative crawling in you. Most of the people nowadays ignore their emotions by working and spending their time somehow. But that never ends the feelings. It just subjugates it and once the person is all by themselves before bed or even for a minute, those emotions swallow down his peace.

They say you cannot run from a truth and emotions are a truth. You cannot run from it. To fight it,you have to face it.

•Question It. (Asking such questions is not just helping you understand tour emotions better but helps you get a closer insight about your thought process, assumptions, perspectives)

Why do you feel emotions of anxiousness and panic? Why do you feel jealous and insecure in someone else’s presence? Why are you questioning your worth?

Because, you THINK and FEEL you are not enough. Somewhere you are so lost looking for validation and praises that even the minute criticism to receive makes your heart stop.

Because you feel what the other person possesses is much better than what you have as they get praised for it and your mind continuously reminds you how foolish you are for not being like them.

Its okay to feel this way. Half of the population of our race feels the similar nowadays.

Because our mind has no achievement to hold on to which it can spoil with ego(not an achievement which our pride can utilize). On further questioning you will find the answer. Just like when you have ego you can’t see anyone else but you, similarly when it breaks you see everyone else but you.  So, its not them who seems too good to be true, its your thoughts and emotions which cloud your awareness from knowing your own capabilities.

Its not our fault. We are so accustomed to feel empty and disposable after our ego is broken, we do not know who we are.

But if you choose to remain this way, it is your fault.

•Are they worth your energy?analyse & question the answers!After questioning and finding the answers to your emotions and understanding the reasons behind their presence, question the validity of the answers. Question the thoughts which made you feel in a particular way about the situation. Why did you think in that way?

Some questions for the given example situation of inferiority complex are as follows:

Can you be the person who, according to you, is better than you? (a rather negative perspective of someone being better than you)

Can you live your life being someone else? Pleasing everyone but you? Living like a puppet?

To which feature of them are you comparing yourself with? Do you know enough about that feature of yours? Have you ever tested it?

The list can go on… which, after a certain time will question your thoughts and changes it with positivity. Self introspection does wonders

•Realization:  This is the final step wherein the complete understanding of the emotions set in. Not only we become aware of the emotions but we have understood it by this stage and now its time to do the needful. With an understanding of your emotional state, now you can actually ‘move on’ in your life with a rather better understanding of yourself.

Emotions make us human. You can never be devoid of it but however, understanding your emotions cuts off the negative and self detoriating emotions and replaces them with calmness and a sense of freedom from the chaos.

 

 

 

 

 

NASA posts image of ‘Hand of God’, netizens are awestruck

NASA posts image of `Hand of God`, netizens are awestruck

Space is full of surprises and wonders. The beauty is unparalleled and sometimes we come across such a beauty that we can’t help but be mesmerised and ascribe some meaning to the resplendent celestial structure.

Trust NASA to send such pictures our way! The space agency regularly posts photos it clicks via its social media channels. And on of its photos has us go gaga again.

The image is of ‘Hand of God’. The photo shows a golden structure on the background of deep black of the space that has arranged itself to resemble a hand. And it would have been surprising if this would’ve got called anything but ‘hand of God’. The structure appears to pop out of nothingness, just like a Supreme Being wanting to convey his blessings and nothing more. Take a look at the image.

NASA explains that the golden structure is a nebula of energy and particles blown by a pulsar. The pulsar has been left behind after explosion of a star. This pulsar is known as PSR B1509-58. It is about 19 kilometres in diamters. Mind boggling thing is that it is spinning around itself 7 times per second. It is 17,000 lightyears away from Earth.

NASA posts image of ‘Hand of God’, netizens are awestruck

NASA posts image of `Hand of God`, netizens are awestruck

Space is full of surprises and wonders. The beauty is unparalleled and sometimes we come across such a beauty that we can’t help but be mesmerised and ascribe some meaning to the resplendent celestial structure.

Trust NASA to send such pictures our way! The space agency regularly posts photos it clicks via its social media channels. And on of its photos has us go gaga again.

The image is of ‘Hand of God’. The photo shows a golden structure on the background of deep black of the space that has arranged itself to resemble a hand. And it would have been surprising if this would’ve got called anything but ‘hand of God’. The structure appears to pop out of nothingness, just like a Supreme Being wanting to convey his blessings and nothing more. Take a look at the image.

NASA explains that the golden structure is a nebula of energy and particles blown by a pulsar. The pulsar has been left behind after explosion of a star. This pulsar is known as PSR B1509-58. It is about 19 kilometres in diamters. Mind boggling thing is that it is spinning around itself 7 times per second. It is 17,000 lightyears away from Earth.

Indian Military Academy

By: Astha Raghav. 

Indian Military Academy is yet another cradle of leadership. There are four main entries to get into IMA. In your final year of Graduation, you need to pass the Combined Defence Services Exams, clear the SSB, be medically fit and join IMA as a Direct Entry if you come in merit. The other entries are 10+2 Tech Entry where you apply after your 12th Exams. University Entry Scheme is for those of you who wish to apply for Army in Pre-Final/Final Year of Engineering. Those of you who have completed your BE/B Tech in notified streams can also join IMA in the Technical Graduate Course. The selection procedure is same as for IMA (Direct Entry) accepting that there are no written exams. The duration of training is 1 ½ years for IMA (DE), five years (one year at IMA and four year at Cadet Training Wings) for 10+2 TES (incl. one year after commissioning) and one year for all other entries.

The IMA trains you to lead from the front. You are trained in all aspects of combat and tactics using technology and other modern tools and technologies.

The IMA has excellent facilities for all-round development. You can go for adventure sports like river rafting, Para jumping, rock climbing, trekking and mountaineering.

From the IMA, you’re commissioned as a “Lieutenant” in the Indian Army, to go out into the world and live up to the  IMA motto – “Valour & Wisdom”.

The Indian Military Academy (IMA) trains officers for the Indian Army. Located in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, it was established in 1932 following a recommendation by a military committee set up under the chairmanship of General (later Field Marshal) Sir Philip Chetwode. From a class of 40 male cadets in 1932, IMA now has a sanctioned capacity of 1,650. Cadets undergo a training course varying between 3 and 16 months depending on entry criteria. On completion of the course at IMA cadets are permanently commissioned into the army as Lieutenants.

The Academy, spread over 1,400 acres (5.7 km2), houses the Chetwode Hall, Khetarpal Auditorium, Somnath Stadium, Salaria Aquatic Centre, Hoshiar Singh Gymnasium and other facilities that facilitate the training of cadets. Cadets in IMA are organized into a regiment with four battalions of four companies each. The Academy’s mission, to train future military leaders of the Indian Army, goes hand in hand with the character building enshrined in the IMA honour code, warrior code and motto. Cadets take part in a variety of sports, adventure activities, physical training, drills, weapons training and leadership development activities.

The Academy’s alumni include six recipients of India’s highest military decoration, the Param Vir Chakra. Other achievements by alumni include 73 Military Crosses, 17 Ashoka Chakras, 84 Maha Vir Chakras and 41 Kirti Chakras. In 2017, Lieutenant Ummer Fayaz Parray was the 847th name to be engraved on the IMA War Memorial, which honours alumni of the Academy who have fallen in the course of action.

Up to 1 October 2019, the 87th Raising Day, over 61,000 gentleman cadets had graduated and over 3,000 foreign cadets from over 30 other states, including Afghanistan, Singapore, Zambia, and Malaysia, had attended IMA for pre-commission training. Alumni have gone on to become Chief and Vice-Chief of Army Staff, Olympians and politicians. Foreign alumni have also done well in their countries, going on to becomes chiefs of their respective militaries, prime ministers, presidents and politicians.

Thank You!

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami

 

By: Astha Raghav. 

Pushkar Singh Dhami (born 16 September 1975) is an Indian politician and member of the Bharatiya Janata Party serving as the 11th and the current Chief Minister of Uttarakhand.Dhami is a member of the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly from the Khatima constituency in Udham Singh Nagar district.

Dhami was born in a Kumaoni Rajput family in the Tundi village of Pithoragarh district.His ancestral village is Harkhola, Pithoragarh. His family moved to Tundi village where he studied till 5th standard after that they moved to Nagla Tarai Bhabar, Khatima. His father was in the army and retired as a Subedar.

He has graduated from Lucknow University in Human Resource Management & Industrial Relations and pursued LL.B from University of Lucknow. He has also served as an adviser and officer on special duty to now Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari when the latter became chief minister of Uttarakhand in 2001.

Dhami started his political career in the year 1990 with Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. He also served as the state president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha till 2008. During this time, he was credited for asserting the state government to reserve 70% of opportunities for the local youth in industries of the state.

On 3 July 2021, he was sworn-in as the 10th Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, after the resignation of Tirath Singh Rawat due to political crisis regarding his legitimacy to hold the post and assumed office on 4 July 2021. Pushkar Singh Dhami worked as a political adviser to former CM Bhagat Singh Koshyari. He became the youngest Chief Minister of Uttarakhand at the age of 45.

After Dhami took over as the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand in 2021, one of his 2015 tweets became viral on social media in which he shares his notional map of ‘Akhand Bharat’ which includes neighboring countries, but its erroneous stance was conspicuous as it omitted Ladakh and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The image of Bharat Mata was at the center of the saffron map, which carried the caption “Akhand Bharat — the desire of every Rashtrabhakt” (nationalist). 

Thank you!

Prevention of drug abuse

 By: Astha Raghav. 

Drug prevention programs are designed to provide the education and support necessary to diminish drug dependency in communities, schools and the workplace. Drug abuse prevention has become an important first step in informing specific individuals about the dangers of addiction, prevention techniques and where to find recovery help if it should be deemed necessary.

DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION – EDUCATION IS KEY

Drug abuse prevention begins with education, spreading the word regarding the dangers of drugs to oneself and to the community. These programs are just the beginning. The information provided is most effective when it is followed up with continued support. Drug prevention programs seek to involve the family, community or workplace in the prevention process. To be effective, communities need to sustain the progress. This often requires continued leadership and financial support.

IMPORTANT FACTS

Drug abuse has a pervasive effect on an entire community. Understanding drug use risk factors and spreading the word through prevention programs is the best defense against drug abuse.

  • Parental monitoring has been the most effective way to slow the expansion of drugs in family situations.
  • School drug prevention programs serve a valuable purpose in first time users aged 12-17.
  • Schools with strict compliance rules and counseling support have been successful at reducing usage.
  • The National Institute Against Drug Abuse (NIDA) has found that gains resulting from community drug prevention programs far outweigh the financial investment by the community.
  • Programs should make sure to address all aspects of drug abuse. This includes underage use of legal drugs such as alcohol and tobacco, illicit street drugs, inhalants and the inappropriate use of legal drugs such as prescription and over the counter drugs.
  • These programs must also be tailored to the specific needs of the audience. Having specialized programs for different genders, ages, cultures and ethnicities only make the programs more effective.

PROGRAMS FOR DRUG PREVENTION

As previously mentioned, drug prevention begins with education. This education can take place at a number of levels including:

  • Family Based Drug Prevention. The prevention of drug abuse should start inside the family unit as early as possible. There are many obvious benefits of home based drug prevention education including self-awareness, and the enhancement of parent-child communication skills and family bonding. Parental supervision and involvement are critical in adolescents. Parents must not only have a plan to educate their children on the dangers of drug use and abuse, but they must also establish and enforce family rules. This includes creating an effective system of monitoring their children’s activities.
  • School Based Drug Abuse Prevention Programs. Drug abuse prevention should be addressed as early as preschool. Preschool children can benefit from learning how to handle aggression, solve problems, and communicate better so that they can avoid putting themselves at risk for drug abuse later in life. Middle and high school programs should focus on peer relationships, communication, assertiveness, drug resistance skills and developing anti-drug attitudes. School based prevention programs should be repeated often for the best level of success.
  • Community Based Drug Abuse Prevention Programs. Communities that make an effort to come together in the fight against drugs are sure to make an impact in the prevention of drug abuse. There are many places to establish these prevention programs including schools, churches and community based clubs.
  • Thank you!

BENEFITS OF LEARNING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Aquisition of a different language in the globalized era is indeed beneficial. The world is in a phase where geographical mobility is quite simple and knowing a foreign language will help one to expand his/her horizons in the long run.

THE VARIOUS BENEFITS OF A LEARNING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE ARE AS FOLLOWS :

  • Enables easy travel – One will find it hassle free to travel across the globe by acquiring a new language. It will make traveling enthralling as one can easily interact with the locals of a particular place and learn about their culture, traditions, norms, etc.
  • Career Prospects – Companies that are willing to expand their business to other regions are constantly looking out for professionals having foreign language skills. Being multilingual can add up grace to one’s resume and open opportunities for pay hike and added incentives.
  • Boosts comprehension and listening skills – People having a vocabulary of more than 2 languages often end up working hard to distinguish sounds and pronounciations in different languages. The brain thus develops in such a way that it helps boost comprehension and listening skills in a person.
  • Deepens cultural knowledge – Language is a core cultural heritage of several nations. Thus, the best way to connect to the culture of others is by learning their language. By conversing in a nations’s mother tongue, we tend to comprehend their motives and cultural aspects in a much better manner. Studies have proven that this tends to nurture a sense of empathy amongst people. According to Karl Albrecht, “Learning another language is not only learning different words for the same things, but learning another way to think about thinks.”
  • Prevents Alzheimers/Dementia – Bilingual folks have a lesser chance of developing alzheimers/dementia. Knowing different languages strengthens the Cognitive Reserve of the brain. This in turn leads to a greater blood flow and increased activation of the neurons. Thus, it helps prevent brain related disorders.
  • Helps increase span of attention – Trying to learn a varied language helps exercise the brain functions in a precise manner. It challenges one to concentrate and improve problem solving skills. In this way, it enhances the memory and builds the ability of a person to learn vocabulary, problem solving and math in an easier way.
  • Recreational purpose – Linguaphiles (those who love words and languages) may try learning numerous languages as a part of their hobby. One can effortlessly read literature, watch shows without having to go through subtitles, write articles/blogs in the language that they have learnt. Thus, such language lovers can constructively utilise their time by indulging in such language related activities.
  • May help bind the world – An Arab proverb says, “learn a language and you’ll avoid a war.” Learning a new language helps understand other peoples culture. Hence, it will aid people to think rationally, logically and through a global perspective without prejudices or biases. This may in turn help prevent communal or ideological conflicts within the globe.

Marcel Proust has rightly quoted, “A language which we do not know is a fortress sealed.”

It is true that aquiring a new language opens doorways to golden opportunities in life. Multilingual people have a positive influence on their social, psychological and emotional development. Therefore, we can conclude that, learning a foreign language is truly beneficial in all terms.

Drug Abuse

By – Supriya

Drug abuse today is a major social problem which, though concerns with an individual’s deviation from the desired social conduct , in turn ,bit affects the society at large. It is a widespread and critical problem not only for the western countries today but has emerged as one of the major concerns of the Indian society as well. India, today, has not only become a key transit of drugs but also a large consumption centre. According to official figures , India has about 7.5 crore drug addicts and the number is going up significantly , especially in semi-urban and backward areas.The monthly drug sale in india varies between ₹100 crore to ₹ 125 crore. The use of illicit and prohibited drugs today is not just confined to street urchins and lower classes but is fast spreading to middle and upper class youths of the society.The term ‘ drug abuse’ refers to ‘ the use of illegal drug or the misuse of a legitimate drug in such a way that it results in physical or psychological harm.’ It includes smoking of ganja or hashish , intake of heroin , cocaine or LSD, or injecting morphine , or drinking alcohol etc. The word ‘addiction’ implies being physically dependent on a particular substance. It is a stage in which the body requires constant administration of the drug in order to remain functional and if the use is disrupted , the normal body functioning is interferred with this is the physical dependence upon drugs. Psychological dependence occurs when an individual relies on the drug for the feeling that it produces.Phrases like ‘ high on speed’,’trip’ or ‘ getting kicks’ are generally used by addicts and abusers.
A continuous intake of drugs results in an overpowering desire or compulsion to continue taking it and to obtain it by any means. This happens due to physical and psychological dependence upon the drug and it encourages a tendency to increase the dose or the frequency. Drugs are of various kinds such as alcohol , sedatives , stimulants,narcotics, hallucinogens and nicotine. Sedatives relax the nervous system which if given under medical supervision is used for curative purposes but can be misused by addicts. On the contrary, stimulants activate the nervous system. Caffeine and cocaine , popularly called ‘ pep- pills’ fall under this category. Narcotics are like sedatives which produce feelings of pleasure, strength , superiority, reduce hunger and lessen inhibitions. Opium, Marijuana, heroin (snack), morphine,pathedine, cocaine and cannabis such as charas, ganja and bhang are all narcotics. They are either smoked, sniffed or injected. Hallucinogens,as the name suggests,produce distortions of perception e.g., LSDs. Cigarettes,birds,cigars,snuffs,tobacco etc are Nicotines, the frequent use of which may cause heart attack , lung cancer or bronchitis. The most vulnerable part of society to drugs are the adolescents- the students in high schools and colleges. In order to merely try new and adventurous things , or under peer pressure or many a times imitating the actions of their favourite stars – children get caught into the vicious cycle of drug intake unknowingly and innocently . Gradually, they get habitual and what had initially started off as fun and adventure becomes their need and compulsion. By the time they realize , it is too late for them to break away without any outside help. The addiction becomes chronic because the adventurer starts hiding it due to parental fear and social stigma. Thus, the addict struggles all alone even if he/she wants to break free but fails in all his/her attempts.
To curb this menace, India has braced itself to face drug trafficking through innovative changes into laws and their enforcement. The Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic substances Act, with stringent provisions to curb this menace,envisages a minimum term of 10 years imprisonment extendable to 20 years and a fine of ₹1 lakh extendable to ₹2 lakh for the offenders. The Act has been amended by making provisions for the forfeiture of property derived from illicit drugs trafficking. Comprehensive strategy involving specific programmes to bring about an overall reduction in the use of drugs has been evolved by various government agencies and NGOs and is further supplemented by measures like education, counseling, treatment and rehabilitation programmes.

On the personal front, to control the drug abuse , children should be educated about drugs and their harmful effects from an early age. Here, roles of families , parents and teachers become very crucial. Healthy dialogue should be encouraged between adolescents and their parents or teachers. Merely observing June26 as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is not enough . All measures or compulsions – even punishment – to check the evil of drug addiction from spreading and paralyzing the society should be taken up.

THANKYOU

Women Empowerment: It’s Meaning and Why is It Important?

“I rise up my voice- not so I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard…we cannot succeed when half of us are held back.”

Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai

And that sentiment precisely outlines the basis of new age women empowerment. Discrimination against women is rampant all over the world even in this 21st century. Even though about 50% of the world’s population consists of women, but unfortunately most of them are denied basic rights education, freedom of speech, voting power and even independent identity.

In India, in theory, women enjoy a status of equality with the men as per constitutional and legal provisions. Arguably, our country has taken enormous strides towards inclusion of women with the fairer gender excelling in diverse fields, from literature to astrophysics to finance. But with headlines about dowry killing, female foeticides and domestic violence still making the newspapers, put a silent question mark behind the two words.

Meaning of Women Empowerment

If it is to be elucidated beyond the two self-explanatory words, ‘Women Empowerment’ refers to complete emancipation of women from socioeconomic shackles of dependancy and deprivations. Often made synonymous to gender equality, the term women empowerment encompasses a much larger set of principles that needs whole-hearted attention.

Empowerment of women would mean encouraging women to be self-reliant, economically independent, have positive self-esteem, generate confidence to face any difficult situation and incite active participation in various socio-political development endeavours. The growing conscience is to accept women as individuals capable of making rational and educated decisions about them as well as the society, increasing and improving the economic, political and legal strength of the women, to ensure equal-right as men, achieve internationally agreed goals for development and sustainability, and improve the quality of life for their families and communities.

The various facets of women empowerment that needs to be addressed for a rounded out development are listed as:

Human Rights & Individual Rights:

A woman has the right to express her thoughts and opinions freely, without any restriction. Individual empowerment may be achieved by imparting self-confidence to articulate and assert the power of independent decision making. Women should be aware of their rights and social positions that they are entitled to constitutionally.

Social Empowerment of Women:

The most critical aspect of social empowerment of women is the promotion of gender equity. Gender equality implies that in society women and men enjoy the same opportunities, outcomes, rights and obligations in all spheres of life.

Educational Empowerment of Women:

It means enabling women to grab the knowledge, skills and self-confidence necessary to participate fully in the development process. Giving preference to the girl child for educational opportunities is a start.

Economic Empowerment of Women:

It means reducing the financial dependence of women on their mate counterparts by making them a significant part of the human resources. A better quality of material life, within the family as well as for the overall society, can be achieved through promotion of sustainable livelihoods like cottage industries, small entrepreneurial efforts owned and managed by women.

Empowerment Through Legal Knowledge:

Not only does it suggest the provision of an effective legal structure which is supportive of women empowerment, there also is the need to spread awareness among women about their legal rights and laws preventing their exploitation. It means addressing the gaps between what the law prescribed and what actually occurs.

Political Empowerment of Women:

The existence of a political system encouraging the participation of women in the political decision-making process and in governance. Indian constitution has provided the bulwarks for gender equality in the country in the following articles:

Article 14: Equality before law “The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India Prohibition of discrimination on groups of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth”.

Article 16 (2): Equal opportunities “No citizen shall, on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, descent, place of birth, residence or any of them, be ineligible for, or discriminated against in respect or, any employment or office under the state”.

Article 23: Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour.

Article 39(a): The citizen, men & women equally have the right to an adequate means of livelihood.

Article 40 (after the 73rd Amendment): 1/3rd of seats in panchayats shall be reserved for women.

Article 42: State shall make provisions for just and humane working conditions & maternity relief.

Article 51 A (e): One of the duties of every citizen is to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of woman.

Government Laws and its subsequent amendments have seen larger inclusion of women with respect to their standing in the society and also there many acts which are preventing polygamy and bigamy, and their strict enforcements has to a large extent contributed towards lessening women exploitation. Various government schemes like Rastriya Mahila Kosh and STEP (Support to training cum Employment for women) have managed to bring financial development of rural women through self-sustainable employment. Also “Kanyashree” scheme which is in West Bengal, has been ranked 1st globally for women empowerment. The National Policy of Empowerment of Women (2001) is aimed at addressing all forms of violence against women including physical, mental and that arising from customs and traditions.

Why Woman Empowerment is Important?

A strong patriarchal society with deep-rooted socio-cultural values continues to affect the progress of women’s empowerment in the country. The need of the hour is an egalitarian society. Where there should be no place for gender superiority. Aim of government policies should be to identify and eliminate forces that are directed towards keeping the tradition of male dominance over its female counterpart alive.

Women empowerment in its actually is synonymous with complete development of the society. An educated woman, with knowledge about health, hygiene, cleanliness is capable of creating a better disease-free environment for her family. A self-employed woman is capable of contributing not only to her family’s finances, but also contributes towards increment of the country’s overall GDP. And many things which can be achieved.

All we need is an organized approach from the Government and law enforcement agencies of the country focussed in the right direction that would rest only with the liberation of women from all forms of evil.

Stem cell therapy – the future of modern medicine.

Our bodies contain many specialized cells that carry out specific functions. These specialized cells are called differentiated cells. Stem cells are cells with the potential to develop into many different types of cells in the body. They act as a repair system for the body. They are unspecialized cells, so they cannot do specific functions in the body. It can create the potential for the cells to be used to grow replacement tissues. American development biologist James Thomson (1958), from the University of Wisconsin School of medicine, won the race to isolate and human embryonic stem cells. On November 6 1998, the ‘journal science’ published the results of Thompson’s research. It described how he used embryos from fro fertility clinics which were donated by couples who no longer needed them, and developed ways to extract stem cells and keep them reproducing indefinitely.

With the ability to develop into any one of the 220 cell types in the body, stem cells hold great promise for treating a host of debilitating illness, including diabetes, leukemia, Parkinson’s disease, heart disease, and spinal cord injury. They also provide scientists with models of human disease and a new ways of testing drugs more effectively in living organisms. But for all the hopes invested, progress has been slow. It has helped that stem cell research has been steeped in controversy, with different groups questing the ethics of harvesting stem cells from human embryos.

Stem cell therapy – Delhi, India

In 2007 Thomson and Shinya Yamanaka, from Kyoto university, Japan, both independently found a way to turn ordinary human skin cells into stem cells. Both groups used four genes to reprogram human skin cells. Their work is being heralded as an opportunity to overcome problems including the shortage of human embryonic stem cells and restrictions on U.S. federal funding for research.

How stem cell therapy works?

Researches grow stem cells in lab. These developed stem cells are manipulated to specialize into specific types of cells, such as heart muscle cells, blood cells or nerve cells. These manipulated specialized cells can be implanted into the heart muscle. The healthy implanted heart muscle could then contribute to repairing defective heart muscle. The first stem cell therapy was a bone marrow transplant performed by French oncologist Georges Mathew in 1958 on five workers at the Vinca nuclear institute in Yugoslavia who had been affected by a criticality accident.

Stem cell therapies have become very popular in recent years, as people are seeking the latest alternative treatments for their many conditions. Stem cell therapies are very expensive to pursue. Even simple joint injections can cost $1,000 and more advancement treatments can rise in cost up to $100,000 depending on the condition. Patients must do their research and ask as many questions as they can before financially committing to treatment. Since it is a life changing treatment, it will effectively cost high.

Future stem cell treatments

 The stem cell treatment can helps us curing various diseases in the future. But it is important not to overhype the potential of stem cells and to accurately communicate findings to the public. We must not allow the misleading of some people says that we can cure the untreatable diseases with stem cell treatments. However with more research and investment, I believe that stem cell therapy could transform disease outcomes of many patients.

“The regenerative medicine revolution is upon us. Like iron and steel to the industrial revolution, like the microchip to the tech revolution, stem cells will be the driving force of this next revolution.”   -Cade Hildreth

EXPORT PROCEDURE

 The selling
of goods outside the national borders is known as the process of exporting. Its
process is an extremely time taking one with a whopping 17 steps involved. Here
it goes.

 

1.RECEIPT
OF ENQUIRY AND SENDING QUOTATION

The buyer
firstly sends out enquiries to the prospective exporters regarding the goods
that he requires. As the exporter receives it, he replies to it through a
quotation or ‘Performa Invoice’ where all the details asked by the
importer about the goods are mentioned.

 

2.RECEIPT
OF ORDER

If the
importer is satisfied with all the details and is ready to import goods, he
places an order to the exporter either directly or through a middleman. This
order or indent contains all the information regarding the goods like quality,
quantity, price, date and time, mode of payment, packaging instructions and
more.

 

3.SECURING
A GUARANTEE FOR PAYMENT

The exporter
needs surety that his payment would be made safely by the importer and that he
is in a good financial position. To ensure this, the exporter demands a ‘Letter
of Credit’ (LOC) which is issued by the importer’s bank that guarantees that
the importer is in a good financial position to meet his payments.

 

4.EXPORT
LICENSE AND IEC NUMBER

After the
assurance of his payment, he must move on with the formalities of the
procedure. In India, an exporter must have an export license because exporting
is subject to the customs law. Also, he needs to obtain an ‘Import Export
Code’ (IEC) from the ‘Directorate General Foreign Trade’ (DGFT)
since this number is mentioned on almost every document.

 

5.PRE-SHIPMENT
FINANCE

After the
license has been received, the exporter moves to his banker to obtain
pre-shipment finance which is required for the procurement of raw materials for
the production and processing, packaging materials and transportation of goods.

 

6.PROCUREMENT
OF GOODS

After the
finance, the exporter either obtains raw materials for the production of the
goods as per demanded by the importer or simply purchase the goods from the
market to export.

 

7.PRE-SHIPMENT
INSPECTION

In India,
there is an ‘Export Quality Control and Inspection Act, 1963’ according
to which certain goods needs complete inspection before being exported. If the
exporters goods falls under this category then he has to inform the ‘Export
Inspection Agency’
(EIA) which inspects and ensures that the goods are as
per demanded by the importer. After this, they issue a ‘certificate of
inspection’
which has to be sent to the importer along with other
documents.

 

8.EXCISE
CLEARANCE

According to
the Central Excise Tariff Act, an excise duty must be paid by a manufacturer to
produce goods in the country. The exporter contacts the Excise Commissioner
regarding this and when the Commissioner is satisfied, he issues an excise
clearance. However, this duty is returned to the manufacturer if the goods are
supposed to be exported. This return is known as ‘duty drawback’.

 

9.CERTIFICATE
OF ORIGIN

There are
some tariff concessions allowed in some countries to export goods. In order to
obtain these benefits, the importer might ask for a ‘certificate of origin’ to
prove sure that the goods have been produced in the country from where they are
being imported.

 

10.RESERVATION
OF SHIPPING SPACE

The exporter
needs to apply at a shipping company to reserve a ship for the consignment.
After the application has been approved, the company issues a ‘shipping
order’
which is a document containing instructions for the captain of the
ship to deliver the specified goods after the customs clearance at the assigned
port.

 

11.PACKING
AND FORWARDING

A ‘packing
list
’ is a statement that contains the details of the number of packs being
shipped and the number of products in each pack. This list gives information
about the nature of the hoods being exported. After this, the exporter sends
the consignment to the port through road or railway. If railway is chosen as
the medium then, a ‘railway receipt’ (RR) is issued by the railway
authorities which is endorsed in the favor of the exporter’s agent who will
receive the goods from the railway station at the port.

 

12.INSURANCE
OF GOODS

The exporter
then gets the goods insured by an insurance company to protect them from any
damage or risk of loss due to the calamities of ocean during the
transportation.

 

13.CUSTOMS
CLEARANCE

For the
customs clearance, the exporter must prepare a ‘shipping bill’. This
bill is the main document on the basis of which the permission to export the
goods is granted by the customs office. After this bill, the port
superintendent is approached for ‘carting order’ which is an instruction
to the staff at the gate of the port to permit an entry of the cargo in the
dock.

 

14.MATE’S
RECEIPT

The goods
are then loaded on the ship and the captain of the ship or his mate (assistant)
issues a receipt to the port superintendent known as the ‘mate’s receipt’
which contains the information regarding the name of the ship, date of
shipment, description etc.. If the captain is not satisfied with the packaging
of the goods, then he may issue a ‘foul receipt’. The insurance company
may not bear the liability for the loss in case the exporter has received a
foul receipt.

 

15.ISSUANCE
OF BILL OF LADING

Next, the
exporter hands this receipt to the shipping company which then calculated the
freight charges and issues a ‘bill of lading’ which is a document that
serves as a proof that the shipping company has accepted the goods for carrying
it to the appointed port.

 

16.INVOICE
PREPARATION

After the
goods are exported, the exporter creates an invoice of the exported goods. This
invoice contains information regarding the quantity of the goods exported and
the amount to be paid by the importer for the delivery.

 

17.SECURING
PAYMENT

After the
goods are shipped, the importer is informed about it by the exporter. The
importer then needs to get the goods customs cleared in order to claim them for
which he needs various documents. These documents are sent to the importer by
the exporter’s banker only when the importer accepts the ‘bill of exchange’
which secures the payment of the goods.

 

The Right Way To Start The Conversation

The Right Way To Start The Conversation After You\'ve Matched With A Girl

The chances of you matching with a girl you liked are 50-50 (it’s way less considering the messed up algorithm and guys to girls ratio, but let’s remain motivated here). However, the real struggle starts after you get a match and get her to talk to you, be interested in you and actually agree to go on a date with you. Tough, but not impossible.The Right Way To Start The Conversation After You

Remember, first impressions do count and it can make or break your game. Here is how you should actually be breaking the ice with your match on a dating app to increase your odds from 50-50 at least 69%.

1. Replace Heys And Hellos With Something Creative

The Right Way To Start The Conversation After You

She must be getting the same old ‘hi’ and ‘hey, what’s up’ from a dozen other guys in her DMs and for you to stand out, you gotta do more than that. Instead of the boring greetings, scan her profile and see if you can use any reference of her favourite TV show or movie. If it’s Friends, you can never go wrong with “How you doin’?”

2. Ask About The Origin Of Her Name

The Right Way To Start The Conversation After You

This is one very simple and unique way to break the ice. You could simply text her ‘hey, interesting name. What does it mean?” That is, of course, her name isn’t too common and has an obvious meaning. 

In that case, you can ask her if she is named after someone. She would get excited to tell you the story of how she was named and you can take the convo further. 

3. If She’s A Pet Mom…

If you see a girl whose profile is filled with her pet, say a dog or a cat, you’ve hit a jackpot. However, you have to write the right opener. Just complimenting her furry friend won’t cut it. 

Send something like “You look cute!” And then, “and so does your hooman” in the next text. While the first text will make her yawn, the second one will get her all excited. And, it’s hella impressive.

4. Commenting On Her Photo

100+ Best Comments for Girls pic on Instagram - (Comment List)

There are profiles where you don’t find anything substantial or worthy of a conversation starter, but she’s cute and you need to impress her with your words. Don’t get all creepy complimenting her body or boring saying she looks beautiful. 

She will just say thanks and you’re stuck again. Instead, look for other things in her photos and talk about that. Shoot a question about where she is posing (works for travel pictures) or pay attention to her room to talk about anything you can find interesting.  

5. Make Her Giggle With Original Jokes

Why we laugh when we know it's wrong

A wise woman once said, “You can make a woman do anything, if you can make her laugh.” That was Marilyn Monroe who was probably out of most men’s league and that coming from her testifies that the way to a woman’s heart is through her funny bone. Tickle it with original, personal (not rude) and witty liners and texts. Create inside jokes once you have her attention. And, you will. 

pesticide

Pesticides are the gathering of synthetics or substance plans utilized in horticulture for shielding yields or crop items from the danger of nuisances, creepy crawlies, spices, weeds and organism etc. A significant number of these agrochemicals are accounted for to be cancer-causing in lab creatures. Epidemiological confirmations of cancer-causing impacts of a portion of the pesticides in creatures are additionally known. The pesticides are ordered into four gatherings viz., organochlorines, organophosphates, carbamates and various sort.

About forty five organochlorine, eight organophosphorus and similar number of cabamate pesticides have been reported to be carcinogenic experimental animals. The important organochlorines with sufficient or limited evidence for carcinogenicity to experimental animal as per the Intentional Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) evaluations are captan, carbon tetrachloride, chlorobenzilate, chlardane, chlordecone (kepone), chloroform, chlorothalonil, diallate (Avadox), 1,2-dibromo-3-chloro-propane, 1,2-dichloroethane, (edicofol), heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide, hexachlorobenzene, hexachlorobutadine, hexachloro cyclohexane, hexachloroethane, mirex, 1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, tetrachlorvinphos and toxaphene.

The non-judicious use of pesticides (improper selection, repeated application, substandard product, excessive dosage etc.) has been responsible for various ills. Most of these problems can be overcome through a proper pesticide selection. application, post-application care and monitoring to identify undesirable effects, corrective measures to overcome the defects, etc., the aspects which constitute the term pesticide management. During the Year 1994-1995, the global pesticide.

market stood at 27.8 million U.S. Dollars. It showed an increase of 10.1 per cent over the previous years. Pesticide sales across Western Europe revealed a rise of 12 per cent being the largest in France, Italy, Germany, and UK. The ever increasing use of different types of pesticides the world over has been associated with serious environmental problems. Still the fact remains that pesticides are basically poisonous it is also to be acknowledged that the global poverty and illiteracy levels are not likey to improve in the near future, thus ruling out the possibility of a judicious pesticide usage in the forseable future. The harmful effects of pesticides may thus be investable.

Harmful effects of pesticides: The salient harmful effects of pesticides include the contamination of the environment and food, feed and fibre, disruption of non-target organisms, pest resistance, pest resurgence, and so on. These defects have to be overcome while planning pesticide management strategies. Insecticide resistance occurs as a result of inappropriate and large scale use of pesticides particularly at sub-lethal doses, repeated application of the same pesticide or similar group of pesticides over a period of time as well as under dosing due to substandard pesticidal formulations. The situations, besides bringing drastic changes in the pest complex and crop environment, has culminated in outbreaks of several secondary pests. Even some minor ones have assumed the status of major pests.

A statistically significant increase in the pest population as a consequence of pesticide use, in spite of a good initial kill at the time of treatment, was called as “resurgence” or flare back. Evidences were also forthcoming that insecticide residues in host plants and insecticides applied at sub lethal doses simulated the reproduction and survival of phytophagous insects and mites, leading to pest resurgence.

In Asia the resurgence of brown plant hopper following insecticide application was reported in rice. In cotton, the use of synthetic pyrethroides to control boll worm enhanced the population of white fly, Bemisia tabaci. The key examples of pest resurgence in India are listed in Table 1. When insecticides or other pesticides are employed, the poison not only destroys the pest, but also has a serious impact on its natural enemies. In some cases, the destroyed natural enemies are important in controlling certain other pests also. When these natural enemies are eliminated; it may result in outbreak of pests that were previously not a problem in the target crop.

Toxicology and its effects

Toxicology deals with the science of poisons. Chemicals/substances which are toxic in nature are present in the environment and find their way to the organisms through food chain, contact or respiration. The lower doses of these chemicals get accumulated in the body tissues and impair the growth/function while their higher doses are lethal. The human environment gets affected through these chemicals when they become part of the food chain. Soil-water-plant-animal activities are resulting in environmental degradation in form of deforestation, erosion, silting up of reservoirs, wastelands, air, soil and water pollution and desertification. Changing land uses, faulty irrigation systems, excessive use of chemicals in agriculture are causing the problems of soil and water pollution, toxic residues in food items and resource degradation. This in turn affects land productivity and human health.

Technological development and economic growth have brought about a rapid increase in the production of a variety of chemicals including pesticides for use in agriculture, industry and public health. This has brought countless benefits to our society in a way to improve our living standards, food production and sanitation. These man-made chemicals while on one hand are beneficial, also cause hazards to men and environment. With increasing stress on industrial and agricultural expansion programmes, in both developed and developing countries, the environmental risks of these chemicals on animal and plant life are also increasing at threatening rate as more than 1000 new molecules are introduced into the environment every year. The emergence of these chemicals and their environmental consequences have lead to the evolution of new branch of science, generally known as environmental toxicology which include the hazardous effects that these toxins have on humans, other animals and plants.

The toxicological studies on these chemicals in different laboratories of the world have established the hazardous potential of carcinogenicity, mutagenicity and teratogencity of some of the commonly used chemicals in agriculture and industry. A few of them have also been found to cause injury to immune system causing immuno-toxicological problems leading to depleting competence of the living organisms to mount resistance to viral, bacterial and fungal infections, In fact, immunotoxicological processes may be a basis of well documented toxic and allergic hypersensitivities as well as a myriad of disease entities of unknown etiology including autoimmune disorders and malignancy.

The Challenge

Lester Brown of World Watch Institute in 1997 cautioned that all the basic indicators of food security, grain production per person, carry over stock of grain, area of croplands signal a tightening situation during 1990’s Growth in food production is slowing with the grown in demand, driven by population growth and the rising affluence continues to be strong. The population growth is a big challenge. Stabilizing climate means reducing carbon emissions and hence fossil fuel burning. Improving energy efficiency is equally important. Securing future food supplies will affect every facet of human existence from land use policy to water use policy. Environmental concerns will have over riding priority if a healthy human life is the goal. He further states that environmental disruption could disrupt the economic progress.

Human Life Style and Environment

Modern life style with sufficient food, comfort, luxury, leisure and changed cultural habits also introduces in the environment thousands of chemicals, machinery and equipment’s. The polluted surroundings are the bonus. In addition to disastrous effect on environment, the environmental pollutants may have direct effect on human health which may be again acute in the long term. The long term effect cannot be known immediately, it is expressed only after long time of the exposure and this is of great human concern. Long term health effect lead to induction of genetic damage and/or cancer caused by environmental pollutants associated with some of our modern life style. Here mutagenic and carcinogenic efficiencies of indoor pollutants like cigarette smoke (both main stream and side stream), smoke released during burning of mosquito repellents and radiations emitted from our housing materials and consumer goods are noteworthy.

Today, cancer has become the biggest “killer” after heart disease. It is well established that alteration in gene(s) of a normal cell i.e. mutation, is responsible for initiation of cancer thus cancer is genetical in origin and starts from somatic mutation. This is ample evidence that mutations in human somatic calls are indicators of cancer.