Ujjain, May 20 (SocialNews.XYZ) Reality TV star Shefali Jariwala spent the early hours of Monday at the revered Mahakal temple here.

She attended the Bhasma Arati, which is the wake-up ritual for Lord Shiva, at the temple from 4 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The actress, who's also famous as the 'Kaanta Laga' girl, was seen sitting with hundreds of other devotees as the priests chanted shlokas in the background. She then poured milk on the Shivling.

Jariwala is now seen on the small screen in the show 'Shaitani Rasmein', where she plays Kapalika.

Taking to Instagram Stories, Jariwala dropped a series of photos from her visit to the temple. The pictures show her posing happily with her team and sharing the geo-tag of Kal Bhairav Temple, Ujjain.

Jariwala also gave mesmerising glimpses of early morning views of the temple and wrote "#jaimahakal". She also dropped a video from her car, where we can see her wearing a white floral suit and listening to Amit Trivedi's 'Jaikal Mahakal' from 'Goodbye', starring Amitabh Bachchan and Rashmika Mandanna.

The actress has been a part of reality shows such as 'Bigg Boss 13' and 'Nach Baliye' (seasons 5 and 7). She has also appeared in the web series 'Baby Come Naa'.

The Mahakal temple, incidentally, has become quite popular among entertainment personalities.

In the recent past, we have tracked visits to the temple by Ayushmann Khurrana, Karan Singh Grover, Aparna Dixit, Geetanjali Mishra and Yogesh Tripathi.

Source: IANS

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Thiruvananthapuram, May 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has sounded a red alert in Kerala's Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Alappuzha and Kottayam districts till May 20.

Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Ernakulam districts are placed under orange alert for the next few days.

The IMD has issued a Yellow alert in all other districts of Kerala except Kannur and Kozhikode.

A red alert indicates heavy to very heavy rainfall of over 20 cm in 24 hours while an Orange alert means very heavy rain (6 cm to 20 cm) while a yellow alert means 6- 11 cm rains.

The weather department has warned the fishermen against venturing into the sea till further notice due to the strong winds and rough sea conditions.

The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has predicted high tidal waves on Kerala and South Tamil Nadu coasts on Sunday. The agency said that waves measuring 0.4 metre to 1.2 metres are likely to occur on the Kerala coast and can lead to sea incursions.

The IMD in its alert also warned of the likelihood of thunderstorms with gusty winds that could touch a speed of 30-40 kmph in some places of the state between Sunday to May 22.

In the capital city of Thiruvananthapuram, several homes in low-lying areas are inundated with water in the heavy rains on Sunday morning.

Source: IANS

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Kochi, May 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) The producers of the hit Malayalam film ‘Manjummel Boys’ heaved a sigh of relief on Friday after the Kerala High Court put a stay on criminal proceedings against them in a cheating case.

The three producers of the film directed by Chidambaram S. Poduval -- Babu Shahir, Soubin Shahir, and Shawn Antony -- are accused in a case registered at the Maradu police station near here for various offences, including criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, cheating, and forgery.

The order was passed on a petition moved by Babu Shahir, who is one of the three partners in Parava Films LLP.

In November last year, these three producers entered into an investment agreement with a person named Siraj Hameed, who agreed to invest Rs 7 crore for the production of the film for a 40 per cent share of the net profit.

After the film became a hit, Hameed alleged that the producers failed to keep their word as he approached a commercial court, seeking action against the producers. The court issued an ex-parte order attaching the accounts of Parava Films.

After this, Hameed filed a criminal complaint alleging that the producers cheated also him.

However, after hearing the arguments on Friday, the Kerala High Court stayed the criminal proceedings against the producer trio.

The counsel appearing for petitioner Babu Shahir pointed out that the full revenues and expenses for the film haven't been settled yet, as it has only been two months since its release. Moreover, according to their agreement, Hameed would receive his share of profit only after all financial matters were settled.

It was also pointed out that Shahir has already paid Rs 50 lakh to Hameed and was ready to pay the due amount, but is unable to do so as their accounts were attached due to the earlier order passed by the commercial court.

Source: IANS

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Agra May 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) A new white marble structure in Agra that took 104 years to build is daily drawing hordes of spiritually inclined tourists.

The visitors often draw comparisons between the iconic Taj Mahal and the newly built mausoleum of the founder of the Radhasoami sect in Soami Bagh, located about 12 km away from the Taj Mahal.

The immaculate white marble structure has become a popular attraction for tourists exploring Agra. Many are in awe of the grandeur of the mausoleum and consider it a worthy rival to the Taj Mahal, adding to the architectural splendour of the city known for its Mughal monuments.

Unlike the Taj Mahal, which was completed in 22 years with the labour of thousands of skilled artisans and craftsmen in the 17th century under a medieval authoritarian regime, the construction of the Soami Bagh mausoleum spanned over a century. in an open society.

A devoted follower of the faith, Pramod Kumar mentioned that the construction of the mausoleum was a testament to the unwavering faith, fervour, and dedication of its creators, who were driven by their religious beliefs.

Resting on a foundation of 52 wells, the 193-foot tall structure, all in white marble from Makrana in Rajasthan, is undoubtedly one of the most ambitious projects in India.

The mausoleum is dedicated to the founder of the Radha Soami faith Param Purush Pooran Dhani Swamiji Maharaj. The grand mausoleum is situated in the Soami Bagh colony in Agra’s Dayalbagh area. Each day bus loads of tourists visit the mausoleum and express their admiration and awe at the exquisite craftsmanship on display. The entrance is free while the photography is not permitted.

Some minor additions are yet to be made. One can see scores of craftsmen at the workshop equipped with huge machines using state-of-the-art technology. “Now of course we have huge grinders, cutters, finishers, lorries, lifters, and all kinds of machines and computer technology, all of which were employed to advantage here, and the results show,” an official connected with the project said.

Already visitors have begun comparing the Soami Bagh mausoleum with the world heritage monument, the Taj Mahal which draws thousands of tourists from all over the world daily. The Taj Mahal houses the mausoleum of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal.

Officials who supervised the construction said, “It is a form of worship that has been going on and will go on relentlessly."

The Soami Bagh mausoleum stands amidst a colony of the followers of the Radha Soami faith. The faith has millions of followers in states like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Karnataka as well as foreign countries.

The original samadh was a simple white sandstone structure. In 1904, work began on a new design by an architect from Allahabad. Work was held up for a few years, but since 1922 to this day men have been toiling away, mostly by hand, at the enormous, highly decorated construction.

The artisans work with intense devotion. Some old men have spent all their lives on the site, as their fathers and grandfathers did before them, and as their sons and grandsons are now doing. These days the artisans have some machinery to help them, but their work is as painstaking as ever.

The architectural design of the building conforms to no particular style, modern or traditional, though in conception it is essentially oriental. An effort has been made to blend a variety of styles harmoniously.

However, the sponsors of Soami Bagh, literally the 'garden of the Lord', firmly deny any plans of rivalling the Taj.

The 31.4-foot gold-plated pinnacle is taller than that of the Taj Mahal and was mounted by a crane especially called from Delhi for this highly specialised job. It took years because marble stones of the desired size could not be found. Most of the marble for the mausoleum has come from Makrana and Jodhpur quarries in Rajasthan. The variegated mosaic stone is from Nowshera in Pakistan. Semi-precious stones for inlay work have been procured from riverbeds in central and southern India.

The construction process faced many problems, including difficulties in procuring the right quality of marble although quarries were taken on lease in Mount Abu and Udaipur areas. To add to the woes, construction work was affected time and again due to labour shortage, as a large number of skilled masons migrated to greener pastures in Gulf countries.

While the Taj Mahal continues to remain the first choice of visitors who are fascinated by the romance and the structural grandeur of the imposing edifice, the spiritually inclined are turning to Soami Bagh which is both an architectural marvel and a centre for soul healing and solace.

The promoters of the project consider it wrong to compare it with any other building, but those who visit the mausoleum continue to wonder whether the Taj Mahal has a rival in Agra.

Source: IANS

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Lucknow, May 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) For the first time this season, the maximum temperature in the state crossed the 45-degree Celsius mark.

Kanpur was the hottest at 45.1 degrees Celsius on Thursday, while the temperature in Agra and Bundelkhand region remained between 43-45 degrees Celsius.

Due to favourable synoptic conditions and the increasing speed of hot Westerly Winds, there is a possibility of a gradual increase of 1-3 degrees Celsius in the temperature of the state during the next 3-4 days, due to which heatwave is likely to start from Friday and continue during the next fortnight of May.

Maximum and minimum temperatures in Lucknow on Friday will be around 43 degrees Celsius and 27 degrees Celsius respectively. The day temperature in the state capital soared to 42.4 degrees Celsius on Thursday, said Mohd Danish, Lucknow Meteorological (MeT) office in charge.

As per the state forecast, the weather is likely to remain dry over the state. The MeT Department has issued a warning of heatwave conditions very likely at isolated places over the state.

According to the state MeT department, the Bundelkhand region and districts bordering Delhi and Rajasthan will be swept by a heatwave on Friday. It will spread gradually to most parts of southeastern, central and northeast UP on Saturday.

The entire state, barring the Terai belt bordering Nepal, will reel under the heatwave on Sunday and Monday.

Temperatures are expected to increase gradually and touch or cross the 45 degrees Celsius mark on Sunday and Monday when Lucknow goes to polls in the fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections.

“Clear skies and dry hot winds blowing from the desert region of Rajasthan are responsible for the heatwave. Mercury levels will soar during this period. The state will also be lashed by dry hot westerly winds for the next five days,” said Mohammad Danish.

The southwest monsoon is likely to enter the South Andaman Sea on its normal date of May 19 and Kerala on May 31, one day before its normal date of June 1. Only after this, will the progress of the monsoon in the rest of India be determined.

Source: IANS

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Chennai, May 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Tamil Nadu Forest Department will soon conduct a survey of forest land damaged due to forest fires this year.

Senior officials of the department told IANS that the details regarding the survey, its duration, manpower and other support systems to be used are yet to be finalised.

According to the officials, since February 1, 2024, 217 forest fires have been reported from the state's forest ranges alone.

However, the Forest Survey of India (FSI) report says that forests in South India are much less prone to forest fires. The FSI said that generally, forests in southern parts of India are less prone to fires as the vegetation type is largely evergreen or semi-evergreen.

Yet, high aridity, above-normal day temperatures since January 2024, and clear sky conditions during early summer seasons were some of the contributory factors for the sudden spike in forest fire incidents reported from Tamil Nadu.

Even though there has been a spike in the number of forest fire cases, the Forest Department officials said that 97 per cent of these fires were extinguished within 24 hours.

According to the department, the Kodaikanal forest region reported the maximum number of forest fires followed by the Vellore region.

The Forest Department has also conducted several community awareness programmes to prevent incidents of forest fire.

The department has also opened district and state-level forest fire control centres and is monitoring the possibilities of forest fire incidents using IT and GIS mapping to reduce their intensity.

Source: IANS

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Imphal, May 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Manipur government has taken measures, including the allotment of grassland, to protect the state’s endangered 'polo ponies', which are a diminutive yet robust breed that holds special significance as the backbone of the sport of Polo, originating right here in the northeastern state.

Officials said the Manipur government has now allotted 30 acres of grassland to conserve the endangered species at Lamphelpat in Imphal West district.

Announcing the government’s latest step, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said in a post on X: “To protect the endangered Manipuri Pony, they are now being given a new home at the government allotted 30 acres of grassy fields at Lamphelpat, Imphal West, where they can freely roam and graze.

“The state government has been taking various measures to protect the Manipuri Pony, which is closely tied to the state’s history and culture. We gave the game of modern polo to the world, and considering the importance of this animal, their preservation requires support from the masses.

"I also appreciate the Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association for its initiative to save the precious yet endangered Manipuri Pony."

There are around 26 polo clubs in Manipur. One of them, the Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association, which was established in 2005 with 34 ponies, also functions as a stud farm for ponies.

Officials said as per the 20th Livestock Census conducted by the Manipur government, only 1,089 ponies remained in the state after the death of many horses in the last 16 years.

The Manipur government declared ponies as an endangered species in 2013 and since then, the numbers have plummeted from around 1,218 in 2007 to the current 1089, as per the Livestock Census conducted last year.

Despite concerted efforts by the state government to conserve these iconic animals, their population continues to dwindle due to various reasons, posing a grave challenge for the struggling pony owners.

Though the ponies are a source of great pride for the people of Manipur, the number of animals is gradually declining or inching towards extinction, with an annual decline of at least eight ponies, according to the census data.

Thangjam Basanta, the owner of 15 polo ponies, expressed his deep concern over the fast decline in numbers, attributing it to diverse factors with dwindling grazing grounds being the most critical.

"Like other states, there are no grazing grounds left in the urban and semi-urban areas of Manipur as they have been encroached upon by humans for so-called developmental projects and construction of houses. Where should one feed the ponies," asks Basanta, who is an avid polo player himself.

Though polo is considered a 'rich man's game' elsewhere in the country, in Manipur, it is predominantly played by the commoners, often coming from economically challenged backgrounds.

Most polo pony owners face substantial financial burdens, exacerbated by the absence of government schemes to aid in their upkeep.

“Revival of grazing and polo grounds is urgently needed to save the sport and the polo pony culture in Manipur,” emphasised Sarangthem Abung, a pony owner from Imphal West district, stressing the importance of government incentives for pony owners.

Located in Imphal, the iconic Hapta Kangjeibung, one of the world’s oldest polo courses and practice grounds, has been inaccessible to polo players since 2011 after it was converted into a fairground and for use by the political parties for large gatherings.

Both Basanta and Abung feel that Hapta Kangjeibung should be allowed to be used as a practice ground to rejuvenate the diminishing polo culture in the state.

The absence of government incentives compounds the financial challenges faced by the pony owners as they struggle to raise money for treatment, fodder supply, and stable maintenance of their trusted steeds.

Another accomplished polo player, Doren Singh, who owns 13 ponies, feels that any conservation policy must address the dearth of grazing and practice grounds.

He also called for government incentives for individual pony owners, akin to those provided to the polo clubs.

To lift the status of polo ponies, the Manipur government introduced the Manipur Pony Conservation and Development Policy in 2016, offering incentives to polo clubs.

Joint Director in the Directorate of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry, R.K. Khogendra Singh, attributed the decline of polo ponies to their underutilisation.

Emphasising that awareness, starting from the grassroots level, is imperative for pony conservation, Khogendra Singh said, "Preserving the Manipuri pony is not solely the obligation of the department, it is a collective responsibility. Comprehensive awareness needs to be instilled from the grassroots level by incorporating the pony's narrative into the school curriculum.”

Quoting last year’s Livestock Census data, the official said that Imphal West district has the highest number of ponies at 619, followed by Imphal East (266), Bishnupur (97), Tamenglong (75), and other districts.

According to the census, in 2007, the district-wise pony numbers were -- Imphal West (302), Thoubal (280), Senapati (229), Bishnupur (115), Churachandpur (85), Chandel (64), Tamenglong (54), Ukhrul (54), and Imphal East (35).

At that time, the overall count of ponies in the state stood at 1218.

Despite the efforts of the Manipur Police proposing a mounted unit at every police station to increase pony numbers, progress has been hindered due to the prevailing situation in Manipur.

Among the northeastern states, distinct and pure horse breed is found only in Manipur.

The Manipuri Pony is acknowledged as one of the five indigenous equine breeds in India, alongside Marwari, Kathiawari, Zanskari, and Spiti.

(Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in)

Source: IANS

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Srinagar, May 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) Six people were injured on Wednesday in a leopard attack in J&K’s Budgam district after which the animal was killed.

Officials said that the leopard attacked people in the Nasrullahpora area of the district while they were working on the agricultural land.

“After the attack, the locals rushed to the spot and immediately took all the injured to a nearby hospital where doctors referred the injured to Srinagar for specialised treatment," officials said.

A wildlife department official said that the leopard was subsequently killed.

The man-animal conflict has been increasing in Kashmir ever since the shooting of wild animals was banned and encroachments by humans into animal habitats took place due to the increasing human population.

Source: IANS

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Chennai, May 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) The AIADMK has opposed the Stalin government's draft report on building new elephant corridors in Tamil Nadu by displacing people from the proposed areas.

“The proposed elephant corridor draft was released by the Tamil Nadu forest authorities without considering the problems of families who live in the corridor areas, and if it is implemented our farmers will have to shift from this area,” said AIADMK leader and Gudalur MLA, Pon Jayaseelan while speaking to IANS.

P.M. Manoharan, a farmer from Gudalur told IANS, “The proposed elephant corridor is going to create major problems for us. 37,856 houses would be affected if the forest department implements the draft.”

In the draft report, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department has listed 42 elephant corridors of which 31 are in Gudalur alone.

Pon Jayaseelan while speaking to IANS said, “We want the removal of all the places earmarked as elephant corridor in Gudalur. If the government is not relenting, we will undertake strong protests.”

He also said that political parties like the BJP, NTK and SDPI have agreed to join the protests in Gudalur.

It may be recalled that the people of Gudalur have raised black flags in front of their homes and business establishments to protest against the draft report.

However, Tamil Nadu forest department officials denied relocation of families to implement elephant corridors. The officials said that the elephant corridor would be a narrow stretch of land and that there would not be any hindrance for the families staying in the areas earmarked as elephant corridors.

Source: IANS

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Rotterdam (Netherlands), May 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) India has set up one of the largest pavilions at the World Hydrogen Summit 2024, being held here, to showcase the country's progress in the field of Green Hydrogen.

The India Pavilion, set up by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy is at the Summit and has been inaugurated by Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Bhupinder S. Bhalla on May 12.

The World Hydrogen Summit, being held in Rotterdam in Netherlands from May 13 to 15, is a prestigious event in the global green hydrogen ecosystem. Around 15,000 delegates from around the world are attending the Summit.

The Indian delegation headed by Bhalla also comprises officials from the Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and from private sector companies as well.

In addition to various government-government interactions, the summit provides a platform for Indian industry to engage with companies from around the globe.

India launched its National Green Hydrogen Mission in January 2023 with an overall outlay of Rs 19,744 crore and has set an ambitious target to achieve a green hydrogen production capacity of 5 million metric tonnes by end of 2030. Till date, the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy has awarded tenders for setting up of 412,000 tonnes of Green Hydrogen production capacity and 1,500 MW of electrolyser manufacturing capacity.

India has also notified scheme guidelines for use of Green Hydrogen in steel, transport/mobility and shipping sectors. The Department of Science and Technology has initiated Hydrogen Valley Innovation Clusters to foster innovation and promote Green Hydrogen ecosystem in India.

A dedicated portal for the National Green Hydrogen Mission has been launched recently, to serve as a one-stop location for information on the Mission and steps taken for the development of the green hydrogen ecosystem in India. The portal can be accessed here: https://nghm.mnre.gov.in/.

Source: IANS

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Lucknow, May 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) While the country speaks of women's rights, there is a political party that claims to fight for men's rights.

The party is called Mera Adhikar Rashtriya Dal (MARD) and was formed in 2009 by a group of men facing legal issues related to the Dowry Prohibition Act and the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act.

Since its inception, the party has contested seven elections, including the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from Varanasi and Lucknow, a by-election in Bangarmau in 2020, and Assembly election from Bareilly, Lucknow North, Bakshi Ka Talab (Lucknow), and Chauri Chaura in 2022.

However, their candidates performed poorly each time, forfeiting their deposit.

Despite these setbacks, MARD is ready for the 2024 general elections, with candidates vying for the Lok Sabha seats in Lucknow, Gorakhpur, and Ranchi.

One of their founders and party president Kapil Mohan Choudhary, who is contesting polls from the Lucknow Lok Sabha seat, is facing a dowry case since 1999 that remains unresolved after 25 years.

"I have two kids from my first marriage, both taken away by my ex-wife. Later, I was falsely accused in dowry and domestic violence cases. While fighting these cases in Lucknow, I met many others facing similar charges in similar situations," says 52-year-old Kapil.

"I got divorced, but the dowry case is still ongoing. To highlight men's rights, we formed a political party," says Kapil, who remarried in 2011.

The party's tagline is 'Mard ko dard hota hai' (Men feel the pain).

Party candidates Sonu Rai and Dhananjay Kumar are in the fray from the Gorakhpur and Ranchi constituencies, respectively.

The party 'MANifesto' has interesting promises, including a 'Ministry of Men's Welfare' and a 'National Commission for Men'.

They also aim to pass a 'Men's Safety Bill' to prevent unfair treatment of men due to laws favouring women and establish a 'Men's Power Line' to assist them with family issues.

The members also want to establish a 'Family Welfare Committee' to handle family issues, implementing laws for child custody after divorce and immediately "halting live-in relationships".

But are they open to women joining their party? "By all means," says Kapil.

"Our aim is to protect men's rights, not infringe on women's."

Source: IANS

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Los Angeles, May 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) They're going to need an even bigger dining room table, says 'Variety', as it reports that the winner of multiple Emmy, Golden Globe and BAFTA awards, and recently Oscar-nominated Paul Giamatti, is joining the cast of the third 'Downton Abbey' feature film.

Joely Richardson, Alessandro Nivola, celebrated stage actor Simon Russell Beale, last seen in 'Thor: Love & Thunder', and Arty Froushan will be giving Giamatti company in the film that is being written by 'Downton' creator and Oscar-winning 'Gosford Park' writer Julian Fellowes.

Giamatti, who was in the race for the Oscars for playing an ornery teacher in 'The Holdovers', is reprising his role as Harold Levinson, the brother of Elizabeth McGovern's Cora Grantham who lives in America. It is a part, 'Variety' notes, he played in the TV show that spawned the film franchise.

Cora Grantham is the American wife of the Earl of Grantham, the central character of the British period drama played by Hugh Bonneville.

There's word yet, according to 'Variety', on who Richardson, Nivola, Beale and Froushan will portray. Nor are there any details about the plot, but this being 'Downton Abbey', 'Variety' notes, you can expect silverware to be polished to a high gloss, tables set with military precision and a mad dash to find an adequate number of ladies' maids to service all the guests for this or that soiree.

'Downton Abbey' regulars -- McGovern, Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter, Phyllis Logan, Robert James-Collier, Joanne Froggatt, Allen Leech, Penelope Wilton, Lesley Nicol, Michael Fox, Raquel Cassidy, Brendan Coyle, Kevin Doyle, Harry Hadden-Paton, Sophie McShera and Douglas Reith -- will all return for the third film, 'Variety' adds.

Dominic West will also reprise his role as silent film star Guy Dexter from 'Downton Abbey: A New Era'.

Simon Curtis is returning to direct after helming 2022's 'Downton Abbey: A New Era', while Gareth Neame, Fellowes and Liz Trubridge will produce the picture.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) On a campaign blitz in Bihar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday addressed election rallies in Hajipur, Muzaffarpur, and Saran districts.

Amid the high-decibel campaign, a touching video of PM Modi caught the attention of the people.

When PM Modi landed in Saran for a poll rally, he was greeted with chants of 'Vande Mataram' and 'Jai Shri Ram' by BJP the workers. Amid the enthusiastic reception accorded to the Prime Minister, a female BJP worker couldn’t control her emotions on seeing and meeting him in person.

Visibly moved over meeting PM Modi, the woman worker had tears of joy rolling down her cheeks.

Expressing her emotions, she conveyed to PM Modi that her "long-cherished dream has finally been realised".

In response, the Prime Minister Modi blessed her.

This heartfelt interaction between the PM and the BJP worker was captured on camera and has since then gone viral on social media.

Earlier, a similar touching moment was captured on camera during PM Modi’s rally in West Bengal's Hooghly, where his interaction with women BJP workers drew a lot of praise from the netizens.

In the video, the female workers were seen greeting PM Modi, with some even bowing down to touch his feet. The Prime Minister not only stopped them from doing so but also leaned over to greet them.

Source: IANS

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Hyderabad, May 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) A day after hectic campaigning in Telangana came to an end, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday took to their favourite sports to unwind.

While Revanth Reddy played football with some youth Congress leaders and students at the University of Hyderabad, Owaisi joined children near his house to play cricket.

The key leaders of the two parties spent some time relaxing, a day before polling in the Lok Sabha elections on Monday.

Sporting an "India Team A" T-shirt with his name printed on the back, the Chief Minister joined MLC Balmoor Venkat, Anil Kumar Yadav, Faheem Qureshi, NSUI leaders and university students.

"Until yesterday, the campaign for the Parliament election was head-on. While getting ready for public service again from tomorrow...played football with young players at the Central University ground. Telangana youth will be encouraged in sports to fly the Indian flag on international sports platforms," Revanth Reddy on Twitter.

The Chief Minister, who is also the state Congress chief, led his party’s campaign in Lok Sabha polls in the state by addressing 57 public meetings in less than a month.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) President Owaisi played gully cricket with children near his house in Shastripuram in the old city.

In a video circulated widely on social media, he is seen batting with the young boys bowling to him. The Hyderabad MP, who is seeking re-election for a fifth consecutive term, was busy in hectic campaigning till Saturday, walking through lanes and bylanes and addressing public meetings every day.

Source: IANS

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Lucknow, May 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) A new organisation called the Society of Acute Care and Trauma and Emergency Medicine (SACTEM), launched its activities with a Continuing Medical Education (CME) programme.

This is designed to address the growing challenge of managing critical medical emergencies.

To begin with, SACTEM is focusing on human rabies prevention and management.

Lokendra Gupta, founder of SACTEM, underscored the strain on major medical facilities due to a surge in patient load. To tackle this challenge, the society aims to train doctors in all 105 district hospitals across Uttar Pradesh.

Gupta said they would provide essential guidelines for road accident scenarios, including identifying red flags such as sleepiness, loss of consciousness, severe headache, vomiting, and numbness or weakness through seminars and online courses.

He has also announced SACTEM's collaboration with the state government on the ‘'Rabies Free Lucknow and Ayodhya' programme.

Omkar Bharti, an epidemiologist, has advised the audience that washing the wound with antiseptic soap or solution for at least 15 minutes before seeking medical attention can significantly reduce the risk of infection.

Joint director of SACTEM, Pankaj Saxena, emphasised that the initiative not only enhanced the clinical skills of the participants but also played a crucial role in promoting the importance of continuous medical education among emerging medical professionals.

Source: IANS

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Shillong, May 11 (SocialNews.XYZ) Idashisha Nongrang, a 1992 batch IPS officer coming from a tribal background, was on Saturday appointed the first woman Director General of Police (DGP) of Meghalaya.

Currently serving as the Director General of Civil Defence & Home Guard in Meghalaya, Nongrang will assume charge with effect from May 20, replacing L.R. Bishnoi who will retire on May 19, officials said.

The move follows a recommendation by the Empanelment Committee of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

Congratulating Nongrang, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma posted on X: “Heartiest congratulations to Smti Idashisha Nongrang, IPS, on her appointment as the new DGP. Breaking barriers and making history, she became the first tribal lady from our state to hold this position, a moment of immense pride for all of us. Wishing her all the best!”

The official communique in this regard read: “The Governor of Meghalaya is pleased to appoint Smti Idashisha Nongrang, IPS (RR:1992), Director General of Civil Defence & Home Guard, Meghalaya, as the Director General of Police (Head of Police Force), Meghalaya, in the Apex Scale of Pay (Level 17) in the Pay Matrix for a fixed period of 2 years with effect from May 20, 2024, to May 19, 2026.”

Source: IANS

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Guwahati, May 11 (SocialNews.XYZ) A suspected rhino poacher has been shot dead by forest guards in Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, officials said on Saturday.

Sonali Ghosh, Director of Kaziranga National Park told reporters: "We received intelligence inputs about the movement of some poachers and accordingly an ambush was set up in the Eralihool area of the park on Friday night."

According to her, during the wee hours on Saturday, a team of three or four rhino poachers tried to enter the park.

"As the security team was already deployed in the area, they retaliated and one suspected rhino poacher died in the encounter," Ghosh said.

The incident occurred around 3 a.m.

She also mentioned that the rest of the suspected poachers were successful in fleeing the area.

The Director further stated that they are investigating the incident and a drone party is sent to unearth further shreds of evidence.

Meanwhile, the identity of the suspected poacher is still unknown.

Source: IANS

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Bengaluru, May 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) Ankita Basappa Konnur, a student of Morarji Desai Residential School at Melligeri in Bagalkot district, topped the class 10 board examinations in Karnataka, scoring 625 out of 625 marks after the results were announced on Thursday.

Sharing the secret of her success, Ankita has advised students not to get addicted to social media platforms and to spend less time on them as they can prove to be a distraction from their studies.

Ankita expressed her desire to continue her studies in the Science stream and pursue a career as an IAS officer.

"The use of phones is not allowed in the hostel. I only watched YouTube for subject-related information. Consistency in studying, hard work, understanding concepts, smart work, and presenting answers in the examination effectively yielded these results," Ankita said.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed his heartfelt congratulations to Ankita for securing the first rank in the state.

"She is the only student to score 625 out of 625 marks. This achievement by a student of Morarji Desai Residential School will serve as an inspiration for children in the state. I hope she will become an asset to our land," Siddaramaiah said.

State BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra conveyed his best wishes to Ankita for her remarkable achievement.

As a Kannada medium student, her feat of scoring 625 out of 625 marks is sure to inspire future generations, he said.

Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President, D.K. Shivakumar, congratulated Ankita and her teachers, highlighting that she has proven that government school students are not inferior to anyone.

"Karnataka is proud of you and your school. I will meet you soon," he said.

Vinayak Mantur, Ankita's English teacher, said that Ankita began her preparation for Class 10 at the start of the academic year.

Even when she faced health problems, she came to school promptly and focused seriously on her studies.

"Ankita wasn't the type to study all day and night. She studied until 10.30 p.m. and woke up at 5:30 a.m. to resume her studies. She didn't engage in unnecessary chatting and utilised her free time to study Swami Vivekananda and works by science authors," Mantur said.

Source: IANS

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Chennai, May 9 (SocialNews.XYZ) In the wake of a Rottweiler dog attacking a five-year-old girl in Chennai, the Tamil Nadu Animal Husbandry Department on Thursday banned any import, breeding, or sale of 33 breeds of dogs that have been termed "dangerous" for people.

According to the Animal Husbandry Department statement, the dog breeds that are banned are Tosa Inu, Fila Brasileiro, American Bulldog, Caucasian Shephard, Kangal Shepherd Dog, Terriers, Mastiffs, Tornjak, Cane Corso, Wolf Dogs, Akbash, Pitbull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Boerboel, Central Asian Shepherd Dog, South Russian Shepherd Dog, Japanese Tosa and Akita, Rottweiler, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Canaria, Moscow Guard, and Bandog.

It stated that the dogs in the above list should undergo sterilisation surgery immediately to prevent reproduction.

The Union Animal Husbandry Department has already recommended bans on various dog breeds, including Rottweilers, Pitbulls, American Bulldogs and others considered dangerous. It has directed the state governments and Union Territories to ensure that licenses are not given for the sale, breeding, and keeping as pets of such dogs that are dangerous to human lives.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 9 (SocialNews.XYZ) The portals of the holy Kedarnath Dham are set to open on Friday. While the preparations for the ceremonial opening of the temple are in full swing, the devotees have started assembling in large numbers in adjacent Sonprayag and Gaurikund, for the first darshan of the deity.

The portals will be thrown open for devotees at 7 AM morning on Friday (May 10).

One major highlight of this year’s opening ceremony is that the temple is being decorated with 20 quintals of flowers. The pictures of the decorated temple, as it surfaced on social media gave a mesmerising look.

Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) President Ajendra Ajay told newsmen that the flowers reached the holy temple via helicopters and the devotees are ecstatic and elated over such arrangements.

Earlier in the day, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami took to his X handle and welcomed the devotees to Kedarnath Dham.

"Hearty welcome and greetings to all the devotees in Shri Kedarnath Dham in Chardham Yatra-2024... Hail Lord Kedar!" the CM wrote.

Meanwhile, Lord Kedarnath’s Panchmukhi Doli left for Kedarnath Dham today while devotees and school children chanted mantras and showered flower petals. The district administration along with local shopkeepers welcomed the ‘Dev Doli’ on the Kedarnath pedestrian route.

The doors for Kedarnath Dham along with two other holy shrines Gangotri and Yamunotri will open on May 10 while the gates of Badrinath will open on May 12.

The Char Dham Yatra holds profound spiritual significance in Hinduism. The devotees get to chance to undertake the yatra from April-May to October-November. The Himalayan temple, visited by lakhs of people every year remains closed during the winters.

Source: IANS

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Kolkata, May 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) Air pollution poses a significant threat to the Sundarbans, a crucial mangrove ecosystem in West Bengal that protects the region from extreme weather, warns a recent study by leading environmental scientists

The study, titled "Acidity and oxidative potential of atmospheric aerosols over a remote mangrove ecosystem during the advection of anthropogenic plumes," and authored jointly by leading scientists from the Bose Institute, Kolkata, and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, has shown how huge amounts of pollutants, mainly enriched with black carbon or soot particles, arriving from not only Kolkata metropolis but the entire Indo-Gangetic Plain region, are significantly deteriorating Sundarbans' air quality, thus affecting its ecosystem.

In the study, old motors in local boats were identified as a major source of heavy toxic metals in the air.

According to Dr Abhinandan Ghosh from IIT Kanpur and one of the authors of the study, because of the low per capita income of the people of Sunderbans, they have to continue with their dependence on solid fuels like firewood or dung instead of shifting to cleaner fuels like liquid piped gas.

"The rampant use of kerosene lamps for domestic lighting is also very common in the Sundarbans. Additionally, it would be worth mentioning that the only medium of inter-island transport in the Sundarbans delta is diesel-driven boats or vessels, most of which run on low-efficiency engines," he added.

Study co-author, Professor Abhijit Chatterjee from the Department of Chemical Science of the Bose Institute, claimed that the study clearly shows that the transported and regionally emitted air pollutants have a significant effect on the ecology and biogeochemistry of the pristine environments of the Sundarbans mangrove ecosystem that need to be solved with utmost priority.

In the study, the authors have suggested 10-point recommendations to stop Sundarbans’s air quality and overall ecosystem degradation. The recommendations include solar energy promotion, wind energy utilisation, electric transportation, subsidised LPG, regulated tourism, banning diesel generators, banning of toxic shipments, closing down of pollutant factories, regulation of brick kilns and land use and strengthening of coastal regulations.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) Amid the high-voltage Lok Sabha elections in the country, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday launched an innovative campaign to bolster its presence on social media and woo a sizeable population of netizens with the Modi government’s development pitch.

Notably, the BJP has made a deliberate effort to make its poll plank development-centric with PM Narendra Modi often reiterating from public platforms that the past 10 years were just a ‘trailer’, and the real progress will begin now.

The 'Viksit Bharat 2047' goal envisioned by PM Modi is a step in this direction as his government has set a target of turning the nation into a developed country by 2047.

With three phases of elections over, the BJP in a bid to give a fresh fillip to its canvassing has launched an innovative campaign on social media -- 'The Appetiser vs The Main Course'.

With this, the party seeks to disseminate information via its social media handles that whatever happened from 2014 to 2024 was merely an ‘appetizer’, and the next few years will see another level of growth.

The posters showing the achievements have been categorised under ‘The ‘Appetiser’ section, while ‘The Main Course’ shows how the next phase of development will roll out under 'Modi 3.0'.

For example, the 'Appetiser' section shows that more than 2.8 crore people have benefitted from free electricity, while 'Main Course' says lakhs of people are about to get the benefits of free electricity under the PM Surya Ghar Yojana.

One poster claims that over 1 crore women have turned into ‘Lakhpati Didi’ under the Modi government, while the aim is to scale up this number to 3 crore Lakhpati Didis in the next few years.

Other prominent schemes that are set to see heightened activity and growth in the next few years include the Aysuhman Bharat, Mudra Yojana, Jan Aushadi Kendra, PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana, and more.

In a nutshell, ‘The Appetiser vs The Main Course’ campaign spotlights the nation’s achievements in the past 10 years, and highlights the potential areas for astronomical growth in the next few years.

Source: IANS

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Jaipur, May 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Rajasthan Government is all set to highlight the contribution of the desert state in the 1857 Revolt and plans to reach out to the UK Government to find the names of 24 freedom fighters who were killed in Pali District’s Auwa Village and who remain unsung till date, said officials.

The state government also plans to declare the places associated with the martyrs who rebelled against the British, as heritage villages and install their statues there.

This work has been assigned to Rajasthan Heritage Conservation and Promotion Authority.

Omkar Lakhawat, Chairman of the Authority said that in the Auwa case, the British had imposed death penalty on 24 revolutionaries and conducted a court martial of rebel soldiers, but the names of the 24 freedom fighters were never made public.

“Now we will raise this demand from the UK Government to make these names public,” he added.

The state government is searching for the records of the 24 freedom fighters who were blown up by cannons in Auwa Village during the revolution.

All related documents are being scrutinised in the Archaeological Survey of India archives as well as in England, going beyond borders.

As the UK Government did not reveal the names of these martyrs hence no information is available about their descendants, said officials.

In 1857, when the revolution was spreading across the country, Auwa in Pali District, triggered panic among the British due to its war acumen.

The tale of Thakur Khushal Singh as the commander of the revolutionaries still echoes in every corner of Auwa Village.

In 1857, a military rebellion started in Erinpura in Rajasthan and the rebel soldiers marched towards Delhi via Auwa to participate in the freedom struggle.

Thakur Kushal Singh gave shelter to the rebel soldiers and angered by this, the British army along with the Jodhpur army attacked Auwa.

Thakur Kushal Singh beheaded Jodhpur Political Agent Captain Monck Mason and hung his head on the ramparts of Auwa Fort.

This enraged the British army and they destroyed the entire village with guns and cannons.

They even uprooted the statue of Sugali Mata and took it with them.

The state government will now rebuild the idol of Mata Sugali and install it, said officials.

The British also arrested many revolutionaries and rebel soldiers.

On January 24, 1858, a case of mutiny was registered against 120 soldiers but the 24 revolutionaries were kept in custody for one day.

The very next day, on January 25, 1858 the 24 freedom fighters were killed.

The history of the Auwa rebellion is quite inspiring as the army of Thakur Kushal Singh defeated the army of Maharaja Takht Singh of Jodhpur who fought along with the British and now the Rajasthan Government wants to honour these brave men by acknowledging their contribution and sacrifice.

Source: IANS

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Gurugram, May 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) A 54-year-old pav bhaji seller, who is contesting as an Independent candidate from the Gurugram Lok Sabha constituency, is set to fight the general elections for the fourth time.

Kusheshwar Bhagat, who hails from Bihar's Madhubani, has contested Lok Sabha elections thrice, and Assembly elections and Presidential polls twice each in his political career.

Bhagat has entered the electoral fray to defeat veteran leaders from other major parties and fix the poor education and health system in Gurugram.

Campaigning for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections has intensified in Haryana with 26 candidates in the fray from Gurugram this year.

Bhagat has been running a pav bhaji vendor in Gurugram's Sector-15 for 40 years.

He left Bihar to learn the art of making pav bhaji in Mumbai. Within five years, he came to Gurugram with his wife and three children and set up a food stall.

"The people of Gurugram Lok Sabha constituency now want change. This Lok Sabha election in the state has nine constituencies and there are 900 problems in each constituency, but there is no one to solve them," he said.

"People have lost their confidence in the leader, who has been ruling for 20 years. Now the public wants change, I am contesting elections only on public demand and will win by a margin of 12 lakh votes," he added.

Source: IANS

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Hyderabad, May 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Family members of former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Tuesday, and thanked him for conferring Bharat Ratna on the late leader.

Narasima Rao’s sons and daughters and grandchildren met the Prime Minister at the Raj Bhavan after he arrived here from Maharashtra on Tuesday evening.

PM Modi shared on X about his meeting with Narasimha Rao’s family, saying, “Upon reaching Hyderabad, had an excellent meeting with the family of our former PM, the respected scholar and statesman, Shri PV Narasimha Rao Garu. They thanked the Government of India for conferring the Bharat Ratna on Shri Narasimha Rao Garu."

“Our interaction was extensive and we talked about several subjects. The family members expressed joy on India’s progress in recent years. We also spoke about the richness of Indian culture and traditions,” the Prime Minister said.

Narasimha Rao’s sons P.V. Prabhakar Rao and daughter Vani Devi, who is a member of the Telangana Legislative Council and belongs to Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), were among those who met PM Modi.

Born in Vangara village in Telangana's Karimnagar district on June 28, 1921, Narasimha Rao served as the Prime Minister of India from 1991 to 1996.

He was the first Prime Minister from South India. He also had the distinction of being the first Prime Minister outside the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty to complete a full five-year term.

Often referred to as the 'Chanakya' of Indian politics, he is credited with initiating economic reforms during his term.

Source: IANS

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Chandigarh, May 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Kharga Corps, under the aegis of the Indian Army's Western Command, has completed Gagan Strike-II, a three-day joint exercise conducted at multiple locations in Punjab to refine processes and validate the employment of attack helicopters in support of mechanised operations in developed terrain, a defence statement said on Tuesday.

Western Command chief, Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Katiyar, along with Kharga Corps commander, Lt Gen Rahul R. Singh, complimented all ranks of the Kharga Corps, Army Aviation, and the Indian Air Force for their professional excellence and synergy of effort in the conduct of integrated operations, the statement said.

The exercise, incorporating Apache and ALH-WSI helicopters, unarmed aerial vehicles, and the Army's Special Forces, was aimed at validating and exercising various force multipliers in support of the ground offensive by the Strike Corps, along with live firing by helicopters as demanded by mechanised forces during offensive manoeuvres.

The exercise showcased high levels of synergy and jointmanship among the two services.

The focus was to practice centralised and decentralised attack helicopter missions duly supported by other force multipliers. Ground force commanders exercised the employment of aerial assets, including drones for enhanced situational awareness and destruction of mobile and static targets.

The exercise enabled formations and units of Western Command to execute joint operations, with seamless integration of all ground and aerial assets to achieve laid down objectives, the statement said.

Source: IANS

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Chennai, May 7( IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Tuesday felicitated Nivetha (20), the only trans woman to appear for and clear the Class 12 board examination in the state.

The Chief Minister felicitated Nivetha at his chamber in the presence of Minister for School Education, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, and Chief Secretary, Shiv Das Meena.

A total of 7,60,606 students appeared for the Class 12 board examination in the state this year.

Speaking to mediapersons, Nivetha said she also appeared for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate) or NEET on May 5 and is confident of clearing the test.

The trans woman also said that the Chief Minister has promised to extend all help for her education, adding that she came so far due to the support of her grandmothers - Shambavi and Anushee.

The Chief Minister also felicitated M..Chinnadurai, a victim of caste-related violence in Tirunelveli district in 2023, who cleared the Class 12 board exams this year.

Chinnadurai, an SC student, was attacked with sharp-edged weapons by three intermediate caste students in August 2023 in his hometown Nanguneri after he refused to buy cigarettes for them.

The issue became a major subject of discussion in Tamil Nadu, forcing the Chief Minister to intervene and shift Chinnadurai and his family members from the village.

Chinnadurai, who secured 496 out of 600 marks in the board exams in the commerce stream, told mediapersons that he wants to become a chartered accountant.

When asked about the attack on him in 2023, Chinnadurai said that such incidents should not be repeated as he urged everyone to remain united.

He also thanked Chief Minister Stalin for all the help extended to him during the crisis he went through.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, May 6 (SocialNews.XYZ)The viewers of 'Vanshaj' witnessed in the recent episodes that DJ (Mahir Pandhi) sets a trap to catch the person messing with his mind and making him believe in Yuvika’s ghost.

His plan proves successful as Yukti (Anjali Tatrari) becomes entangled in the DJ's trap, triggering alarms to sound.

In the upcoming episodes, DJ uncovers the mastermind behind the chaos and rushes to confront them. In the intense chase with Yukti, both of them end up on the terrace where DJ spots Yuvika.

However, suddenly, there’s a loud crash as the glass barrier in front of DJ shatters, causing him to collapse unconscious. In a race against time, Yukti urgently reaches for her dummy phone to call the doctor.

Meanwhile, DJ’s mother Gargi’s nerves are stretched to her limit making her overwhelmed with worry for DJ’s well-being.

It will be interesting to watch whether Yukti will succeed in getting Gargi and DJ to confess their brutal deed.

Talking about the sequence, Anjali said: "Yukti wants to make DJ and Gargi confess about their brutal deeds towards Yuvika and her family. Determined with this thought, Yuvika successfully manages to trick Gargi, but DJ proves to be tough to convince. However, the entire setup by Yukti to make DJ convinced about Yuvika’s ghost also fails when she gets caught in a messy trap by DJ."

"However, her luck shines when DJ falls unconscious, making Gargi worry about the entire situation and make an attempt to confess. The upcoming episodes will show how Yukti manages to outwit DJ while she gets caught in his trap," she added.

'Vanshaj' airs on Sony SAB.

Source: IANS

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Kolkata, May 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Indian Army has been playing a stellar role in weaning off the youth in Manipur from ethnic strife and nudging them towards positivity when things seem to be going wrong for the state.

One of the success stories has been that of Tamphasana Devi from the otherwise tranquil Saitapur village under the Kumbi gram panchayat.

Tamphasana took up the sport of wushu at the age of 10 and aimed to make it big at the national and international levels. Her initial training was supported by the state government. However, challenges emerged due to the change in the socio-political situation since May 3, 2023, when ethnic violence hit the state.

“The Indian Army recognised her talent and sponsored her training with financial assistance, nutritional support, and access to top-notch training facilities from November 2023. After that, Tamphasana embarked on a rigorous journey, honing her skills under the guidance of the Indian Army.

"Her perseverance bore fruit as she began clinching medals at various levels in the 52 kg category. She won a bronze in the East Zone Games held in Guwahati in January 2024, followed by another bronze in the Khelo India Senior National Women’s Wushu League held at Ranchi in February, and a gold in the North Eastern Games held in Nagaland in March,” said a senior official of the Army’s Eastern Command.

“Tamphasana has now moved beyond mere participation to coaching, in her bid to nurture the next generation of talent. Drawing from her experience, she mentors aspiring athletes, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds. Her dedication to empowering young athletes reflects the ethos of the Army's support for nation-building and fostering a brighter future,” the official added.

Tamphasana stands as a beacon of inspiration, not just in Manipur, but across India, symbolising the indomitable spirit of the Northeastern youth and the transformative impact of the Indian Army.

Her journey exemplifies the power of determination, perseverance, and the crucial role of support systems in realising dreams amid adversity. Through her story, she continues to inspire millions, transcending boundaries and instilling hope in aspiring children, even amid the ongoing strife in the state.

“There has to be a unified sports command structure to enhance sports infrastructure and promote peace in states like Manipur, Mizoram, and Nagaland. The stakeholders, including the Sports Authority of India (SAI), state sports associations, etc., must emphasise the urgent need for such a structure.

"This initiative should aim to organise national and international events throughout the year. Such efforts will not only elevate the region's sporting prowess, but also contribute significantly to regional peace, projecting a tranquil scenario within the next five years,” said Col Partha Pratim Barik, Secretary, Directorate of Ex-Servicemen Affairs, Government of West Bengal.

Col Barik served in the Northeastern states for 15 years.

Source: IANS

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Lucknow, May 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) With mercury touching 42.5 degrees Celsius, the UP Health department has intensified its awareness campaign against heatwave with videos, audio messages and posters at public places across the city.

Dr Manoj Agrawal, chief medical officer of Lucknow, said, “We have told all hospitals, community health centres and primary health centres to keep stock of medicine for patients in case of heat stroke. But public awareness is even significant as heat stroke is preventable.”

Cold rooms, cold packs, ORS packs, clean drinking water via water cooler and clothes to do cold sponging have been made available at health centres. All patients with heat stroke will be attended to immediately, said the doctor.

On Sunday Lucknow recorded 42.5 degrees Celsius day temperature, the highest this season till now. The Meteorological Department has said that in the coming days, the temperature will likely be over 40 degrees Celsius. Maximum relative humidity was recorded at 53 per cent.

“In rural areas, people are involved in celebrations that are held during daytime. They need to ensure proper precaution against the heat wave while they travel during the day,” said Dr Agrawal.

The health department and the administration held a meeting with traders’ associations and industrial associations, where the associations have assured free-of-cost water kiosks at several places in the city and awareness campaigns. Apart from this, the Lucknow metro and state bus stations will also install water kiosks. Messages for avoiding the heatwave have been put up via posters at public places and even inside metro coaches.

“We have prepared hospitals and health centres, but people should also take precautions to avoid heat stroke,” said Dr Agrawal.

Source: IANS

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Ahmedabad, May 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Gujarat State Hotel Association and the Federation of Gujarat State Chemists and Druggists Association have announced special discounts for voters who exercise their franchise during the May 7 Lok Sabha polls in the state.

In a move aimed to encourage people to vote, the hotels and chemists associated with the two associations will be offering a discount of 7 to 10 per cent on food and medicine bills across the state.

"This move aims not only to encourage more people to participate in the electoral process but also to celebrate the essence of democracy. By combining civic duty with hospitality, we hope to create a positive and engaging atmosphere on election day," said a member of the state Hotel Association.

Voting for 25 out of 26 Lok Sabha seats in the state is slated for May 7. BJP's Surat candidate Mukesh Dalal secured victory unopposed after all rival candidates withdrew their nominations.

Source: IANS

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Agartala, May 5 (SocialNews.XYZ) After being illegally kept and severely neglected for several weeks, an ailing elephant ‘Pratima’ and her calf ‘Manik Lal’ in Tripura sent for intensive treatment and care in ‘Vantara’ in Gujarat after the persistent intervention of an ardent animal lover and PETA India.

‘Go Green and Help Stray Animals’ organisation General Secretary Kuntala Sinha said that after witnessing a viral social media post, she went to the house of the ailing elephant’s owner in north Tripura’s Kailashahar and found that the 52-year old elephant was critically ill and needs serious and long-time medical treatments.

“I approached the Tripura Forest and Wildlife Department but they initially did not respond properly. Then I approached PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) India, and MP Maneka Sanjay Gandhi,” Sinha told IANS.

Sinha said that she through her lawyer Paramita Sen also approached the Tripura High Court for its intervention.

“After High Court’s and Maneka Gandhi’s intervention, the Tripura Forest Department officials became active. The High Court directed the Forest Department to take appropriate steps for the ailing elephant’s medical treatment,” said Sinha, a devoted animal lover.

In the meantime, she approached the ‘Vantara’ authority, which quickly sent a three-member team to Kailashahar (under Unakoti district) and after a series of consultations with all concerned including the elephant owner, the Jumbo and her calf was taken to ‘Vantara’ in Gujarat’s Jamnagar earlier this week for intensive medical treatment and care.

'Vantara', an ambitious wildlife preservation project launched by Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani’s younger son Anant Ambani, is all set to become the world’s largest zoo and rehabilitation centre.

PETA sources said that enquiries revealed that ‘Pratima’ and her calf were being kept illegally by an individual at Kailashahar in northern Tripura.

“Veterinary examination revealed that Pratima was emaciated and had sustained multiple abscesses on her body. Her left foreleg was swollen, and she was unable to bear weight on it and was limping. She also had sustained multiple injuries to her abdomen and was suffering from a lack of muscle mass that had caused her backbone to become arched,” a PETA statement said.

In consideration of her significant long-term veterinary needs and her calf’s bond with and reliance on her, the elephants are now en route to the state-of-the-art elephant hospital at ‘Vantara’.

“PETA India thanks the Tripura Forest Department and the high power committee of the court for their prompt action in arranging specialised veterinary care for this elephant and for making sure that the mother-calf bond was not broken by separating the pair,” said PETA India Director of Advocacy Projects Khushboo Gupta.

“PETA India is so happy that neglected Pratima and her beloved calf will finally find refuge under the care of experts at Vantara.”

The PETA statement said that the individual who was keeping ‘Pratima’ and her calf did not have an ownership certificate for the elephants in violation of Section 42 of The Wild Life (Protection) Act (WPA), 1972, thereby making the possession of the animal illegal under Section 51 of the WPA, 1972.

Captive elephants like 'Pratima' are typically controlled with weapons and kept chained on concrete.

“Elephants used for logging, rides, ceremonies, and other purposes become frustrated and sometimes lash out and kill mahouts or other humans. Vantara does not use weapons on or chain the elephants it houses,” PETA stated.

(Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in)

Source: IANS

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New York, May 4 (SocialNews.XYZ) The inspiring stories of India’s elected women representatives of the Panchayati Raj institutions resonated in the hallowed halls of the United Nations Headquarters as three iconic grassroots leaders took the centre stage on Friday at the Side Event titled 'Localising the SDGs: Women in Local Governance in India Lead the Way'.

Supriya Das Datta from Tripura, Kunuku Hema Kumari from Andhra Pradesh, and Neeru Yadav from Rajasthan shared their experiences and innovations in local governance and advancing the localisation of sustainable development goals (SDGs) in many thematic areas.

These ranged from combating child marriages to promoting health, education, livelihood opportunities, and environmental sustainability.

The trio exemplified the transformative power of grassroots leadership as they articulated the challenges and struggles they faced and overcame in their journey of leadership.

The Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations and the Ministry of Panchayati Raj jointly organised the Side Event in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) at the UN Headquarters Secretariat Building in New York.

Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj set the tone for the event, highlighting India’s unique Panchayati Raj system as a beacon of decentralised power and direct democracy that facilitates active people’s participation.

With more than 1.4 million elected women representatives, India’s journey with the Panchayati Raj system is a narrative of empowerment, inclusion, and progress, particularly highlighting the strides made in women’s leadership, she said.

Ambassador Kamboj also emphasised the meticulous alignment of local planning processes with the SDGs, with a special focus on addressing women’s issues.

Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary in the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, said that empowering women at the grassroots level is playing a pivotal role in the advancement of India.

He also highlighted the innovative approaches taken by the Panchayati Raj institutions in leveraging technology for development and policy interventions to ensure economic empowerment, citing examples like the 'Drone Didi' and 'Lakhpati Didi' initiatives of the Central government.

The event witnessed keynote speakers including Deputy Permanent Representative of Norway to the United Nations, Andreas Lovold, and representatives from UNFPA, including Pio Smith, UNFPA Asia Pacific Regional Director.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 3 (SocialNews.XYZ) ‘Mothers Against Vaping’, a united front of concerned mothers combatting the promotion of new-age tobacco devices such as e-cigarettes, vapes, electronic nicotine delivery systems, heat-not-burn products, e-hookahs and similar devices among Indian children and youth, on Friday, announced that Dutee Chand, national sprint champion and Olympian will be supporting and endorsing their crucial mission.

Dutee Chand is a sprinter and Indian national champion in the women's 100 metres event. She is a national record holder and a two-time Olympian. She scripted history in 2019 at the World Universiade in Naples when she became the first Indian to clinch gold in a 100-metre race at a global event.

Chand has joined a distinguished group of sports icons and influential role models including Baichung Bhutia, Deepa Malik and Neha Dhupia who have been supporting Mothers Against Vaping in their efforts against the scourge of vaping among youth.

Dutee Chand’s endorsement will be significant in the fight against vaping. As a prominent sports figure, Dutee Chand’s endorsement stands to greatly amplify the work being done by Mothers Against Vaping. This collaboration highlights the critical importance of addressing the health crisis among children and youth and also emphasises the necessity of proactive measures to raise awareness and implement concrete steps for their protection against the harmful effects of new-age tobacco electronic devices. Chand’s support and involvement will shine a powerful spotlight on the issue and raise its awareness, visibility and impact.

Dutee Chand, speaking about the need to highlight the devastating impact of vaping and e-cigarettes on the lives of children, said: “Today, we are sprinting ahead as a sporting nation. From athletics to chess, it is thrilling to see the rise of talented youngsters in diverse sports fields. But issues like harmful vaping habits among youngsters are setting us back. So, it is important that we speak out against this trend. I am proud to give my support to Mothers Against Vaping, who are fighting this battle in a consistent manner.”

“Children deserve to pursue their dreams, play and build their futures free from harmful distractions like vaping. Engaging in such habits can derail their paths and jeopardise their aspirations. It is crucial for children, parents, teachers and society as a whole to understand the serious consequences of vaping and take proactive steps to eradicate this menace from our communities and the lives of our children,” added Chand.

The prevalence of vaping brings with it a multitude of health risks, one of the most concerning one being the emergence of lung injuries such as EVALI (E-cigarette or Vaping Product Use-Associated Lung Injury). Contrary to popular belief, the notion that vapours emitted from modern tobacco devices are harmless has been debunked by evidence. Studies have revealed the presence of harmful substances like nicotine and diacetyl, both of which have been directly linked to severe lung injuries and other health complications.

The devastating impact of vaping-related illnesses was clearly evident during the 2019 EVALI outbreak in the United States, which disproportionately affected teenagers and young adults. This epidemic led to numerous hospitalisations, leaving many survivors with enduring lung damage and pulmonary dysfunction, highlighting the urgent need for awareness and prevention efforts. Moreover, the dangers associated with these new-age electronic tobacco devices extend to devices overheating, explosions and also environmental pollution.

As per Mothers Against Vaping, the alarming surge in addiction among children to new-age tobacco devices is largely attributed to the aggressive tactics employed by multinational tobacco companies. These companies are actively seeking to establish and expand their market base by targeting vulnerable youth and cultivating future consumers. Utilising a variety of strategic approaches, these corporations engage in widespread social media advertising campaigns to glamourise and normalise the use of electronic devices. Moreover, they continuously innovate by designing and launching new electronic products featuring sleek technology and captivating aesthetics. They entice young consumers with flavours like Candy Floss, Marshmallow or Strawberry. This disturbing trend poses a significant risk of addiction, as e-cigarettes and similar devices often serve as gateway substances, potentially leading users towards more harmful substances such as cocaine and heroin.

There are various countries which have banned vaping, including India, Australia, Singapore, Thailand, Argentina, Japan and Brazil. In India, vaping devices and e-cigarettes were banned under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA) 2019, which comprehensively addresses all aspects of their production, distribution, and advertising. The government's decision to enact this ban was prompted by growing concerns over the addictive nature of these products and their detrimental impact on health, especially those of the youth.

In response to the urgent concern posed by the proliferation of new-age tobacco devices, Mothers Against Vaping has been dedicated to raising awareness and illuminating the troubling reality associated with these products. The group is actively seeking support and action from influential figures, parents, educators, influencers and policymakers. The overarching goal is to create an environment where these modern devices are excluded from our society, ensuring that they are entirely out of reach for children and youngsters.

Source: IANS

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Ahmedabad, May 3 (SocialNews.XYZ) Severe heatwave was prevailing across Gujarat and the Meteorological Department said that the conditions will persist with forecasts indicating hotter days ahead.

A yellow alert has been activated for the next four days till May 8, signalling temperatures to soar above 41 degrees Celsius. Surendranagar is currently enduring the brunt, recording the highest temperature in the state at 42 degrees.

The extended forecast suggests that the state will continue to experience intense heat for at least the next 10 days.

Temperatures may even surpass 43 degrees this month, potentially reaching up to 45 degrees in some urban areas. Regions like Saurashtra, Kutch, and South Gujarat are specifically predicted to face heatwave conditions.

Temperature readings across various cities illustrate the severity of the heat.

Ahmedabad has registered 41.4 degrees, closely followed by Bhuj and Amreli at 40.6 degrees. Rajkot and Gandhinagar are not far behind, recording temperatures of 40.3 and 40.2 degrees, respectively. Lesser but still high temperatures are noted in other parts of the state, with Chhotaudepur at 39.8 degrees, Vadodara at 39.6 degrees, and Deesa at 38.6 degrees.

The Meteorological Department has urged the public to take necessary precautions to mitigate the effects of the heat and to stay informed through regular updates.

A yellow alert signifies that severe weather conditions are currently present and could potentially worsen, disrupting daily activities. This warning encourages residents to be vigilant and prepared for changes that could affect safety and routine.

Source: IANS

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