Category: social issues

FARMERS’ PROTEST: GOVERNMENT’S PLANS TO OPPRESS THE MOVEMENT TAKES A HIT WITH INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION POURING IN

Iron nails, rods, barbed wire, boulders, makeshift walls….. These are not the visuals from a war front. This is how the largest democratic government in the world is preparing the country capital to face its farmers. The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 was passed by the parliament followed by the approval of the President in September 2020. Since then, the farmers mainly from regions of Haryana and Punjab are protesting in the outskirts of New Delhi against the bill. Several rounds of discussions between the farmers and the government representatives have taken place but none of them was fruitful. The government had earlier offered to suspend the farmers’ bill as part of negotiations to end the protest but the farmers were loath as they demanded a complete abrogation. 

The protestors took hold of the major highways at Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri, thereby isolating the national capital. It is in the third month that the protest took a violent turn when protesters and police clashed after thousands of farmers entered Delhi as part of a massive tractor rally, on January 26th. Several injuries were reported and a protester lost his life during the commotion. The police used tear gas and water cannons along with brutal lathi-charge to oppress the rally. Media personals who reported the incidents in favour of the farmers were also arrested with sedition charges. The government has disconnected the fuel, power and water supplies to the protestors as part of oppressing the movement. The shutting down of the internet and the mobile networks by the government in and  around the protest sites in order to “ensure public safety” have further fueled up the rage among the farmers. 

To prevent the protestors from entering the city again, the government has deployed force at the capital borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and have begun blocking the area around the protests by placing large concrete slabs , spools of razor wire, heavy metal barricades , layers of stone boulders and embedding huge iron nails across the breadth of the roads leading to the protest sites. Only few selected vehicles are permitted to go beyond the barricading with media vehicles being strictly prohibited. With the movement gaining international attention and support as many notable faces from across the world vouched support for the farmers, it won’t be easy for the government to oppress the farmers agitation anymore. 

LOCKDOWN WIDENS THE VOID BETWIXT QUEER COMMUNITY AND SOCIETY

The past year was indeed a difficult time for the world owing to the COVID 19 pandemic and the lockdown imposed following it. Though the entire population got affected by this adverse conditions, there were certain minor communities and groups like the transgender community which had the bitter taste of it. There were active discussions and discourses on the impact of the lockdown on women facing domestic abuse, but the atrocities and adversities faced by the LGBTQ communities were the least spoken about. Being the have-nots of normal society, the life of the queer community in a pandemic affected locked down scenario was found to be the worst. 

The basic social liberties were always denied to the queer accounting to their physical and psychological divergence and aberant sexual orientation. They were neither included in the mainstream by the government nor had any access to public health care, education, steady job opportunities etc which along with the lack of support from their families resulted in the financial subsiding of the community. In many cases, staying home also became a potential danger to many, where they fell prey to violence from their family members or partner.

For a section whose normal daily life in itself is a hurdle, life in lockdown was nothing but catastrophic. While the majority of us worried about being confined into the comforts of our home during lock down, these destitutes were perturbed over losing the shade over their head. The Indian Hijra community who depended on the streets for their livelihood got literally ‘locked’ inside their residences with no basic supplies or access to money. As they were disdained from the ordinary jobs, street dancing, prostitution and begging were their only source of income and these ‘jobs’ required immense social interaction which was impossible during lockdown. The void between the society and queer community got widened with the imposition of lockdown and the already outlying community was pushed off to further disdain. The society along with the government should consider them at least as humans if not as citizens and take necessary measures for eradicating the stigma regarding the marginalized communities by making them a part of relief programs. 

BEHIND THE SCENES: A CONCEALED FACE OF THE FASHION INDUSTRY

The fashion-cosmetic industry is a multibillion-dollar consumer-focused ever-growing global enterprise that has become an indispensable part of our lives. Everyone has a fashion or cosmetic brand which is close to their heart, but are heedless of its dark side. Animals and animal materials are vastly used in the industry, but the barbaric processes behind this are often left unaddressed. Certain kinds of animals are overbred for the production of fashion products with animal materials resulting in the extreme use of resources and the production of organic and toxic waste. These animals are denied basic comforts of living where they are confined in abhorrent conditions with restricted space for movement, mere food and brutally slaughtered at the end. Certain exotic endangered species also fall into this wretched fate for fashion. When affected with diseases, these animals are often rejected medical care and are placed alive in plastic bags to die. 

Animals are skinned alive for fur, feather, leather, wool, etc and are also subjected to various chemical experiments for the cosmetic industry. Millions of animals including unborn calves are skinned for the production of leather, a timeless trend of the fashion industry. These animals are treated ruthlessly where they reach the factories deprived of food, water and rest; are castrated and skinned alive by hanging upside down and eventually bled to death. Many believe that sheep are not harmed for the production of wool but on the contrary, they also have to undergo inhumane treatments like mulesing during the process. It is estimated that about 1 million sheep die from exposure to cold as the wool which is meant to protect them from the weather is sheared off in winter itself to meet the market demands. In Australia, a global leader in merino wool production, sheep are specifically bred to have wrinkled skin to increase wool production. But this makes their skin more prone to flystrike, a condition where the flies lay eggs in the skin folds and maggots eat the sheep alive. In order to prevent flystrike, mulesing, a practice in which huge pieces of skin are carved off the buttocks area is done. This process which causes great pain to the animal is carried out without anaesthesia. The sheep are sent to slaughterhouses once their wool production descends. Birds like parakeets, egrets, ostriches, and animals like mink, chinchillas, foxes, dogs, rabbits, cats etc caught for their feathers and fur also undergo the same fate. 

In order to ensure the safety of the customers, the companies of cosmetic and personal care products use animals to test their products. As the New England Anti-Vivisection Society (NEAVS) describes, animals are subject to “testing new drugs to infecting with diseases, poisoning for toxicity testing, burning skin, causing brain damage, implanting electrodes into the brain, maiming, blinding, and other painful and invasive procedures.” Mice, birds, rabbits, monkeys, dogs, and cats are the common victims of vivisection (live testing) and spend the majority of their lifetime inside cages of laboratories. The exposure to these chemicals have severe impacts on these animals.  Pain relievers are never provided and they always die or get killed at the end of each test. 

We should strive to help these animals to have a life instead of “trapping animals in bone-breaking steel traps, clubbing them to death, electrocuting them through the mouth or anus, breaking their necks and backs, skinning them alive”. A fashion industry without harming animals is always possible and we all share this responsibility as this world is theirs too.

Improving Your Public Speaking Skills

Heights? That’s fine. Flying? No problem. Speaking in public? Yikes! Just the thought of speaking in public – which is often described as one of the biggest (and most common) fears – can cause the palms of your hands to sweat. But there are many ways to deal with this anxiety and learn to deliver a memorable speech.

In the first part of this series, Mastering the Basics of Communication, I shared some tips for improving your communication skills. In the second part, I explored how I applied these strategies as you interacted with colleagues and supervisors at work. In the third and final part of this series, I give you tips on public speaking that will help reduce your anxiety, eliminate myths, and improve your performance.

Here are My Ten Steps to Public Speaking:

1. FEAR is common. GET READY AND GET READY!
Everyone feels the body’s response to heartbeat and trembling hands. Do not mix these feelings with the idea that you will do wrong or make a fool of yourself. Some sensors are fine. An adrenaline rush that makes you sweat and makes you alert and ready to give your best performance.

The best way to deal with anxiety is to prepare, prepare, and prepare. Take time to read your notes several times. When you are comfortable with things, get used to it – a lot. Voteotape yourself, or find a friend who will analyze your performance.

2. KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE. YOUR SPEECH IS FREE ABOUT THEM, NOT YOU.
Before you start making your message, consider who the message is. Learn as much about your audience as possible. This will help you determine the words you choose, the level of knowledge, the organizational pattern, and the motivating statement.

3. PLAN YOUR THINGS VERY HARD TO WORK TO ACHIEVE YOUR PURPOSE.
Create a framework for your speech. Write the title, general purpose, purpose, middle idea, and main points. Be sure to grab the attention of the audience for the first 30 seconds.

4. LOOK FOR THE ANSWER AND PRACTICE IT.
Keep the focus on the audience. Rate their response, adjust your message, and stay flexible. Delivering a canned speech will ensure that you lose the focus or confuse even the most dedicated audience.

5. ALLOW YOUR PERSONALITY TO BE OVERWHELMED.
Be yourself, don’t be a talking head — on any kind of communication. You will develop better credibility if your personality is bright, and your audience will trust what you say if they can see you as a real person.

6. USE Laughter, TELL STORIES, USE EFFECTIVE LANGUAGE.
Inject a funny anecdote into your presentation, and it will surely catch your audience. Audiences generally prefer a personal touch to a talk. The story can give you that.

7. Don’t read unless you have to. WORK FROM BEAUTY.
Reading from a script or slide breaks human communication. By keeping your focus on the audience, you are keeping your focus on yourself and your message. A short frame can work to speed up your memory and keep you working.

8. USE YOUR VOICE AND YOUR HANDS BY WORKING. OMIT GREAT DAYS.
Oral communication carries most of the message. Good delivery does not call for personal attention, but rather conveys the ideas of the speaker clearly and without interruption.

9. LOOK CAREFULLY AT THE BEGINNING, THEN CLOSE AT THE END OF THE VIEW.
Are you excited to hear a talk that starts with “Today I’ll talk to you in X”? Most people do not. Instead, use a shocking figure, an exciting anecdote, or a short quotation. Conclude your talk with a summary and a strong statement that your audience will definitely remember.

10. USE AIDS WISELY.
Too many can break direct contact with the audience, so use them sparingly. They should improve or clarify your content, or capture and retain the attention of your audience.

Exercise is not perfect
Good communication is not perfect, and no one is perfect. However, putting in the necessary time to prepare will help you to deliver a better talk. You may not be able to fully control your senses, but you can learn to control your emotions.

IMPACT OF PORN ON MODERN SOCIETY

We are living in the 21st century where the term ‘sex’ is considered as a taboo by our society. Since sex, a very basic human necessity, has been dealt so covertly, people ended up being hesitant to talk or discuss it openly in public. Sex education was included in the school curriculum as a result of relentless demands by the liberal and freethinking blocks of the society but has ended up more like a human biology and anatomy education rather than actual sex education. This has led to the scenario of people being poorly aware of the topic even after being taught about it.

Unlike a few years ago, with the advent of modern technologies like the internet, smartphone etc, porn has become a readily accessible material to everyone, especially teenagers. The lack of proper sex education and overexposure to pornographic contents set forth a complex scenario of our young generation mistaking the fantasies portrayed in porn for real. Porn often manipulates one’s idea of an ideal partner with unrealistic expectations which eventually leaves a considerable impact on our relationships with one another. As time passes, the enticing fantasies of porn drag one into the psychological traps of darker themes such as incest, rape, racial stereotypes, child porn etc. 

Though many studies and researches are yet to be conducted on the effects of porn and porn addiction, the report from the American Psychology Association provides us with a short insight into the topic. The annual traffic statistics of popular porn websites reported that an average Indian spent around eight minutes watching porn at a stretch. Another entrancing insight is that one-third of porn viewers are women and 48% are of the age group 18-24. Many consider porn as a private and harmless way through which people can enhance their sex life and relieve tension by releasing latent sexual energy. But watching porn regularly develops addictive behaviour resulting in an unhealthy lifestyle and broken relationships. The male-centric porn culture deceives its viewers into the devious mentality of objectifying women as mere sex tools to satisfy their urges. Porn drains love, respect and intimacy off a human being when he gets addicted to it and seeks for aggressive sex they’ve been exposed all their lives through porn. Lack of interest, sexual dissatisfaction, body image issues etc are a few among the list of relationship issues caused by porn addiction.

A revamping of the sex education imparted in schools by experts along with medical professionals, school managements and parents is essential to reduce the negative impacts of porn on teenagers to an extend. In addition to biology, sex education should consider the socio-psychological factors to ensure the eradication of taboo and reticence that persists regarding the topic. Setting a clear cut distinction between fact and fiction is necessary to prevent our children from having damaging unrealistic sexual fantasies. It is a natural instinct of teenagers to explore their sexuality and have sexual curiosity. Instead of blaming them for their sexual inclination and muffling the discussions regarding sex, timely guidance is what our society should provide our teenagers with.

Porn is a multi-billion dollar industry spread across the web which makes it nearly impossible to reduce or cut off the exposure to it. It’s just like any other commercial movie industry, a definite work of fiction with actors and directors producing contents for a targeted audience. One should realize that what porn showcases are an exaggerated product which is far from reality and attempts to imitate it in real life will result in issues with confidence and self-esteem. While you might learn a thing or two from watching porn or reading a sexy book, it shouldn’t be considered an alternative to sex education. A doctor or sex therapist should be the ones to be approached to clarify your queries rather than porn sites.

GROPING WITHOUT ‘SKIN TO SKIN CONTACT’ – NOT A SEXUAL ASSAULT; SAYS BOMBAY HIGH COURT

The Bombay High Court is under negative spotlight recently following a verdict passed on a POCSO case. In the detailed copy of the judgement which has been made available lately, Justice Pushpa Ganediwala of the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has said that ‘skin to skin contact with sexual intent without penetration is necessary for the act to be considered as a sexual assault’. The ruling also said that ‘mere groping’ will not fall under sexual assault.

A complaint regarding the pursuant events was filed by the victim’s mother on 14th December 2016 at Gittikhadan Police Station in Nagpur. The complaint registered at the station is that “on the pretext of giving her [the minor] a guava in his house, Satish Ragde pressed her breast and attempted to remove her salwar.” The girl was found crying while the mother rescued her. She complained that the man attempted to silence her when she started to cry while disrobing.

The accused was charged with Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty); 363 (punishment for kidnapping); 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement) of the IPC; and Section 8 (punishment for sexual assault) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) by the police in the FIR. During the hearing, the special court added Section 361 (kidnapping from lawful guardianship) to the aforementioned charges. The accused was found guilty by the special court and was sentenced for 3 years of imprisonment with a fine of Rs.1500 in total. 

In pursuit of the appeal filed by Ragde at the High Court of Bombay, challenging the verdict passed by the special court, Justice Pushpa Ganediwala has acquitted him of Section 8 of the POCSO charges. The Court convicted him for minor charges of IPC, thereby cutting down his three years of imprisonment to one year. 

According to Section 8 of POSCO, ‘Whoever, with sexual intent touches the vagina, penis, anus or breast of the child or makes the child touch the vagina, penis, anus or breast of such person or any other person, or does any other act with sexual intent which involves physical contact without penetration is said to commit sexual assault.’ The High Court ruled out the POSCO charges by saying, “Considering the stringent nature of punishment provided for the offence, in the opinion of the court, stricter proof and serious allegations are required. The act of pressing of the breast of the child aged 12 years, in the absence of any specific detail as to whether the top was removed or whether he inserted his hand inside the top and pressed her breast, would not fall in the definition of sexual assault.”

This shocking verdict on sexual assault towards women and children has led to outrage across the country. The judicial system is turning a blind eye against its paramount concern of protecting its citizens through this judgement.

THE CURIOUS CASE OF MARITAL RAPES IN INDIA

Marital rape is the act of indulging in sexual intercourse without proper consent of the partner. People often mistake marital rape as an act of domestic violence or sexual abuse, although a lack of consent is enough in itself.  The right for sexual intercourse within the marriage was considered as a naturally consigned right of the spouse, historically. Many countries around the world have rightly classified non-consensual sexual intercourse as “rape”, yet countries including India regard this intimate assault a perfectly legal crime.

Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code propounds rape as all forms of sexual assault involving non-consensual intercourse with a woman. Yet the Exception 2 to Section 375 absolves the unwilling sexual intercourse between a husband and a wife over fifteen years of age from Section 375’s definition of “rape”. Thus the atrocities and abuses within the sacredness and sacrosanctity of marriage are legalized by the government under this section. This is a clear case of discrimination against female victims by the Indian criminal laws, just because they have been raped by their own husbands.

According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) reports, an average Indian woman is 17 times more likely to be subjected to sexual violence from her own husband than others. Such heinous acts go unreported due to the ineffectiveness of the existing laws. Though India is striving hard to empower its female population, it fails to ensure their safety even in the very basic social structure like family. The patriarchal social structure of India is the fundamental reason for the mortifying status of women in Indian society and the persisting ineffectiveness of laws protecting them.

NGOs for the empowerment of women and Constitutional experts are of the opinion that the Exception 2 to Section 375 is a clear violation of Article 14 and Article 21 and insists that its high time India criminalize marital rape and frame new laws for protecting women from intramarital violence. The equality and liberty rights assured for all citizens in Article 14  and Article 21 of the constitution are denied in exception 2 to section 375. Even the UN General Committee has recommended the Indian government to criminalize marital rape back in 2013. A large part of the British influenced Indian laws which need timely amendments remains untouched for the past 73 years since independence. No Indian government has, however, so far shown an active interest in remedying this problem. As a result, many of such primitive practices still exist in our society. 

INFERTILITY AND THE IMPACT OF GADGETS

We live in a century where technology and gadgets are closely knitted to our everyday life and it is hard for us to imagine that the generations before our’s existed with near to zero exposure to the kind of technologies we have today. With the introduction of modern technologies, a significant change in the basic routine of people’s lives is clearly visible. Though these technologies are meant to make life easier and better, they do come with several drawbacks as well. Many aspects of the modern lifestyle have severe impacts upon our health both mentally as well as physically. 

While new technologies are introduced every day, simultaneous attempts are made by the researchers to understand its various health impacts. Of all the identified threats caused by the excessive use of technology, especially electronic gadgets, infertility stays high in the order followed by cancer, poor mental being etc. People often overlook the health consequences and carry these gadgets most of the time because of the convenience it provides. Many have a habit of scrolling through their phones right before they go to sleep. Apart from sleep deprivation, studies have revealed that this habit can cause far more shocking repercussions like reproductive disorders in both males and females.

According to studies, the electromagnetic radiations are transferred directly to the reproductive organs when cell phones are kept in trouser pockets for a longer period. Evening or late-night exposure to short-wavelength light(SWL) emitted from electronic gadgets and digital media devices can result in poor sperm quality, reducing sperm motility, sperm progressive motility and sperm concentration. The long-term exposure and its proximity affect the ovarian activity in women leading to infertility. The radiation from mobile phones affects one’s DNA destroying our cell’s natural ability to recover and might result in abortions.

Abstinence from electronic gadgets is not practical but their excessive use must be reduced. The people suffering from fertility issues must consider reducing the use of electronic gadgets. Cutting down the screen time helps one to avoid health consequences like sleep deprivation, fatigue, headache caused by the overexposure to digital gadgets. Pregnant women should limit their exposure to cell phones as it is known to affect the growth of the fetus. Exposure to EMF radiation / RF from laptops, cell phones, Wi-Fi and other personal devices are known to be key detriments to the mental health of a child in its pre-term and neonatal days.

Modern technologies and gadgets are invented to reduce physical efforts and make life easier and better for. The introduction of new technologies every day is revolutionising our world and lifestyle. But the comforts provided by these technologies should never be the ground for us to move away from our basic instincts. Exploiting these technologies without its proper and limited usage will be similar to digging our own grave.

TRUMP IMPEACHED; TRIAL TO START ON 20TH

For the second time, The United States President Donald Trump was impeached for “incitement of insurrection” by the House of Congress on 13th January 2021. President Trump was impeached for the first time last year on 18th December 2019, charged with “abuse of power and obstruction of congress”. However, in Feb 2020, the Senate voted to keep Donald Trump in office. Donald Trump became the first President in the history of The United States to be impeached twice.

The impeachment of Trump was carried out as an after effect of the Capitol Hill riot. On 5th and 6th of January 2020, the Trump supporters gathered at Washington D.C, supporting Trump’s false claim that the 2020 election had been “stolen” from him. The crowd was demanding the Congress to reject Joe Biden’s victory. In the morning of 6th January, Trump summoned the protestors to march to Capitol Hill and told them to “fight like hell to take back our country”. After marching to the Capitol and surmounting police barricades, the protesters became violent and broke into the building which ended up in total commotion. Five people including a police officer lost their lives and many were severely injured in the events. Trump denied the guards to control the riot initially but was forced to disperse the crowd and establish order thereafter.

Trump’s impassioned speech at the rally which exasperated the mob to stand against the federal establishment is the provenance of the impeachment charge against him by the House of Representatives. The power to hold a trial and further conviction rights resides with the US Senate, the upper chamber of the Federal system of US Government. A two-third majority of the Senate is necessary for the conviction of Trump through which the Democrats would be able to bar him from running for the President seat in future.

Trump’s trial by the Senate could start by January 20th, the day Joe Biden will be taking charge as the 46th President of the United States.  All eyes are on the capital city as it will be witnessing events which have never occurred in the history of the US.

KOCHI WATER METRO PROJECT; FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE COUNTRY NEARS COMPLETION

Kochi, the bustling commercial port city of Kerala is witnessing a massive infrastructural and transportational facelift with enormous investment and technological upgrade. The inland water transport system which once served as the backbone of Kochi connecting its Islands and eyots, faced a severe decline in the past decade as people started depending more on land transportation facilities. The increase in the number of private vehicles on road demanded a return back to water transport as it is more energy and cost efficient. The Kochi Water Metro Project is introduced as an alternative public transport system to reduce the traffic congestion in the city with minimal pollution, providing the population along the city’s shores easy access to the commercial centres.

The Project aims at developing 15 identified water routes that connect 10 islands benefitting over 1,00,000 people by improving their livelihoods. This socially inclusive water transport system is expected to cover a total span of 78 km with a fleet of 78 fast, electrically propelled hybrid ferries plying to 38 jetties. Specially designed environment-friendly and energy-efficient boats equipped with advanced technology will be commissioned for the project. The boat services will start from major jetties between every 10 to 20 minutes; navigational buoys and night navigational assistance will also be ensured. The terminals are designed to have state-of-the-art facilities including automated fare collection and turnstile system for passenger counting. Pontoons(floating jetties) that adapt during high tide and low tide are built to facilitate easy boarding and deboarding for physically challenged personals.

In addition to the ferry services, the project integrates the waterway system with the city’s other public transport system and also intends the development of areas around the waterways through commercial property development along with tourism initiatives. As the project aims to be environment friendly,  the management of waterweed and floating waste will also be taken care of.

The construction activities of the water metro under the supervision of KMRL (Kochi Metro Rail Limited) is progressing at a fast pace and the project is expected to be completed very soon. Almost 50 per cent of piling works of the high court boat jetty have been completed along with the construction of floating pontoons and other civil constructions. “Construction work on terminals at Vyttila and Kakkanad is in the final stage. Work is also progressing at Eloor, Cheranalloor, South Chittoor, Bolgatty, High Court, Vypeen, Mulavukad North, Paliyamthuruth and Kadamakkudy. Cochin Shipyard is expected to deliver the first boat soon,” a KMRL spokesperson said.

With the construction of the jetties at Kakkanad and Vyttila entering the final stage, the first ferry service under the water metro project is expected to be kick-started in this route in the upcoming months. The Cochin Shipyard has been delegated with the manufacturing of the specially designed ferries with different passenger capacities for the project. The water metro project is assumed to be completed within an expenditure limit of Rs.747 crore, excluding the land cost. Once the water metro project is completed, Kochi will become the first city in the country to have an integrated road, metro rail and water transport system under one roof.

WHY MENSTRUAL CUPS ARE A NEED OF THE DAY?

Menstruation is one of the most natural and healthy affairs of a woman’s life. Though we live in a modern society, menstruation is still considered as a taboo and menstrual hygiene is of great concern. Majority of the women have been depending on menstrual products like sanitary pads, tampons etc for decades without knowing the health hazards behind their use. 

Sanitary napkin is one of the most widely used feminine hygiene products due to its convenience in usage and availability at an affordable cost. This ‘easy to use’ product is not only a potential threat to the environment but also causes severe health problems. These sanitary pads are made up of 90 per cent plastic that is non-biodegradable and non-recyclable which makes it difficult to be disposed of. The chemicals that are added for increasing absorption and reducing the odour can cause significant impacts on one’s health. Over time, the BPA present in the sanitary napkins and tampons along with other chemicals can enter one’s body and increase the risk of cancer in reproductive organs. The deodorants and fragrances directly enter the bloodstream and interfere with the embryonic development thus affecting one’s fertility.

Tampons are equally or more dangerous than sanitary napkins. The strings and applicators of tampons are made from polyethylene and polypropylene which makes them non-biodegradable. Studies have shown that longtime use of highly absorbent tampons can cause bacterial infections leading to fatal conditions like toxic shock syndrome. The disposal of the sanitary wastes is a big crisis as an average person who menstruates throws away up to 200 kg of menstrual products in their lifetime and they end up in landfills, on beaches or polluting our oceans for decades.

Menstrual cups come as an alternative for various problems generated by sanitary napkins and tampons. Unlike other products which absorb the menstrual blood, menstrual cups instead collect the discharge. They are made of medical-grade silicone or rubber which makes them easy to clean and durable for more than 5 years. This reusability of the menstrual cup itself is its major advantage which enables it to be cost beneficiary and eco-friendly. The proper use of a menstrual cup can reduce the chances of period hassles, rashes, skin infections and allows more physical movements without leakage. It can collect almost double the amount of blood than any other method making it more convenient to be used while travelling. Menstrual cups are getting more popular in western countries accounting its reusability and comfort. Proper practice and maintenance of hygiene can reduce the chances of risk caused by menstrual cups. The benefits of menstrual cups over other products makes it clear that they are a sustainable alternative barring certain drawbacks.

HEALTH MINISTRY WAVES GREEN FLAG TO COVID 19 VACCINES IN INDIA

It’s been almost a year since the first case of COVID 19 was reported in the country. Around one crore people have effectively recovered from the pandemic while almost one and a half lakh lost their lives to it. The government has taken diverse measures to bring the pandemic under control but the high contagiousness of the virus made it hard for them to repress its spread. Countries and organizations around the globe were actively engaged in developing COVID 19 vaccines since its inception in China. Russia was the first country to successfully conduct the trials and roll out the vaccine for its public.

India on its way to mass vaccinating the country has approved two different vaccines; COVISHILED, a variant of AZD1222 vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca manufactured by Serum Institute of India and  COVAXIN, manufactured by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), making them India’s first vaccines against the pandemic. Drug Control General of India (DCGI) VG Somani has granted permission for the restricted use of the vaccines and has confirmed the effectiveness of the vaccines on their trial runs. He said that “We’ll never approve anything if there is slightest of safety concern. The vaccines are 110 per cent safe” and also added that the COVISHIELD was found to have an efficiency rate of 70.42 per cent.  The Subject Expert Committee (SEC)  has reviewed Bharat Biotech’s data on “safety and immunogenicity” and gave permission for “restricted use in an emergency situation in the public interest” and has also recommended an accelerated approval of the request to Bharat Biotech International for phase-III trials of COVAXIN. The approval was given after India conducted a dry run across its states and union territories on Saturday as part of rehearsing the massive vaccination drive.

The Government is planning to vaccinate one crore healthcare workers belonging to both the private and public service sector as the initial step of the vaccination process. A digital platform named CoWIN has been introduced by the government, which will serve as a centralised system to record all details about the people to be vaccinated and helps in scaling and processing the vaccination drive. The second round of the vaccination drive will see the frontline and municipal workers of state and central service departments getting vaccinated. Using the latest electoral roll for Lok Sabha and Legislative assembly elections, people above 50 years of age will be identified and will form the third round of vaccination drive. People belonging to the geographical areas where the COVID infection is highly prevalent and people from high populated areas will also be vaccinated. The introduction of the COVID vaccines will be an added armour in India’s fight against the pandemic and the first step in bringing the country and its people back to normal life.

LIFE AFTER COVID: THE NEW NORMAL

The government of Kerala has decided to reopen schools, colleges and movie theatres in the state starting from the first week of January 2021 as the final phase of unlocking process of the lockdown imposed due to the COVID 19 pandemic. Schools and colleges were among those institutions which were closed down earlier in March 2020 even before the lockdown was declared and movie theatres were closed down when the Prime Minister affirmed a nationwide lockdown on 24th March 2020.

The reopening of schools on 1st of January strictly adhering to the COVID 19 protocols is the initial step towards unlocking in the education sector. With limited hours of functioning, the classes for 10th and 12th standard would begin with a restricted number of students. Only 50 per cent of students will be allowed at a time and in schools having more than 300 students, the number will be reduced to 25 per cent as per directions from the General Education Department. The school management is supposed to ensure safety by providing masks, sanitisers, soap, digital thermometer etc in the institutions. Social distancing has to be maintained and if necessary, the classes will be conducted in shifts. Each school should constitute a COVID-19 cell, chaired by the principal or headmaster. The cell should meet once a week to review the situation.

The colleges will be reopened for final year graduates, postgraduates and research scholars with a limited number of students similar to schools. Students, teachers and other staff with COVID-19 symptoms and those in quarantine should complete the days stipulated by the Health Department. The premises of the institution, furniture, stationery, staff room, water tank, kitchen, canteen, laboratory, library, and toilets should be disinfected before reopening. Each student is ensured to have five class hours in college as the government is putting efforts to compensate for the time lost owing to the pandemic. Online classes will be continued for the rest of the students.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has announced that the movie theatres can function from the 5th of January 2021 which was shut down for almost a year though film shootings have resumed in the state by June 2020. All COVID 19 restrictions issued by the health department have to be followed with a 50 per cent occupancy of seats. Stringent measures will be taken against the theatres violating the prescribed protocols. Fifty per cent occupancy, staggered show timings, social distancing, thermal screening, adequate protection gear for the staff, and compulsorily providing phone numbers for “contact tracing” were some of the changes that were called for.

Even though we’ve entered into the final phase of unlocking, the government is directing adequate safety measures to prevent another wave of the pandemic. The tourism, entertainment, sports and education sectors have started their path back to normal. With the COVID 19 vaccine expected to be made available in the next two weeks, the government is expecting things to get normal in the coming months.

PRESENCE OF MICROPLASTICS IN ENVIRONMENT; A RISING CONCERN

Microplastics have become one of the greatest threats to the entire planet. Their presence has been identified from arctic snow to alpine soil in the deepest trenches of oceans. Scientists are yet to find out the impacts of microplastics in the human body but have recognized their intake by people both directly and indirectly through the food they have, the water they drink and the air they breathe.

Instead of biodegradation, plastic undergoes physical breakdown resulting in the formation of particles smaller than 5mm in size known as microplastics and particles having a diameter less than 0.001mm known as nanoplastics. Microplastics are usually discarded while washing synthetic clothes, vehicle tyres and emissions of plastic pellets from industries.

The existence of microplastics in the marine sediments and bottom-living creatures of the sea is a serious indication of the potential environmental hazards due to pollution. Once ingested by small creatures, the microplastics move through the food chain affecting the entire biodiversity and the exposure of wildlife to tiny particles of plastics can lead to infertility, inflammation, cancer etc. Studies on marine animals have reported an increasingly alarming rate of microplastics in every one of 50 marine mammals washed up on the shores. They have also been found in insects and birds. Apart from the identified health impacts on animals and marine life, very little is known about its health effects on humans.

The omnipresence of plastic in our environment is equally treacherous to humans even though its consequences are yet to be identified. Analysis of bottled drinking water across the globe conducted by WHO in 2018 has detected the potential risks of microplastic in 90% of the world’s most popular bottled water brands.

The studies conducted by WWF in 2019 shows that the average human eats around 2000 microplastics weakly and 90% of rainwater samples collected from various regions contain a considerable amount of microplastic in it. 

Reports on recent research conducted on deceased human organs have discovered the traces of numerous types of plastic in almost all major organs including kidney, lungs, liver etc and it also suggests that microplastics can persist in the human body. These harmful chemicals in plastic materials can cause adverse health imbalances including cancer, birth defects, developmental and reproductive issues, endocrine disruption, and compromised immunity.

The most shocking fact is that the microplastics have made their way into the human body, even in the placenta of several unborn children. Long term health hazards caused by extremely small particles of plastic in the placenta of the babies and their mothers is a serious concern. These particles are likely to have been consumed or breathed in by mothers that could carry chemicals that may upset the foetus’s developing immune system.

The inventions humans have made through the overexploitation of nature without taking the harmful effects into consideration now seems to bite back at them one by one as the maker of plastic seems to be made of plastic. It’s high time for us to respect nature and live within its bounds.

A Contentious call

Widespread chaos have been witnessed on the borders of the national capital since 26 November as a retaliation that came with the recently passed Farm Bills. The farmers of Punjab and Haryana are protesting against two Farm Bills passed by Rajya Sabha.

  • The Farmer’s Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill 2020, and
  • The Farmer’s (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020.


The Trade and Commerce Bill allows the farmers to sell their produce outside the monopoly cartel of Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) regulated markets providing the farmers with more choice regarding who to sell their produce.

The Empowerment and Protection Bill provides with a framework for contract farming enabling the farmers to strike a deal before the production happens. Inter-state or intra-state trade of farmers’ produce beyond physical premise of APMC Markets is also authorized.

The bills enables the farmers to bypass the Essential Commodities Act and vanquish the monopoly cartel of APMC Mandi and sell the produce irrespective of the boundaries and entering into contracts with businessman thus transferring the risk before the yield is produced. These Bills have made the farmer’s upset as they fear that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) that have been acting as a safety net since the Green Revolution might be snatched away.

Government procurements may also be affected due to the introduced reforms. If the government stops buying their produce only the big corporate will be available to sell and farmers show lack of faith in them. Many statements have been given by the government regarding the same but it did nothing assuage the unrest. Protests have taken form of dharnas, Raasta rook, demonstrations and even led to Bharat Band. Casualties are also reported during the protests but what is certain is that the farmers need a strong validation and reassuring statement from the government. Youth worldwide is also showcasing their support and many hashtags are used such as

#SpeakUpForFarmers, #tractor2twitter, #StandwithFarmersChallenge and many more.

A wave of uncertainty and fear is discerned among farmers. Many meetings are being held to bring in a solution. But a very important fact remains that the lack of communication, understanding and inclusion has led to the widespread protest and difficulties being faced by the farmers. A real or a misinformed fear, it is not small.