The efforts of Lucknow Municipal corporation to get Durga idols immersed inside the pits filled with water near river Gomti have not yielded results this year. But next year LMC bosses plan to involve all the Puja samiti’s for talks for eco friendly immersion of idols.
This year LMC had dug up pits at Jhule Lal Vatika, Mankameshwar van, Khatu Shyam Vatika behind Hanuman Setu Temple for immersion of DurgaIdols after Durga Puja.
“ This was done to control growing pollution in river Gomti as paints, varnish, thinner, are used in idols these things contain harmful components like Chromium and Cadmium which pollute the river in a bigway,” said additional municipal commissioner AC Sinha.
“ We called in a few Puja Samiti’s they agreed to cooperate with usbut due to old traditions and social pressures they must havepreferred to immerse the idols in the river,” said Sinha.
This time perhaps the efforts were too late said mayor Dinesh Sharma.He added, “ We must not loose heart as changes can’t be forced overnight, we must praise the efforts of LMC that it dug up pits foreco friendly immersion of idols. Atleast LMC officials dared to thinkprogressively, next time surely some idols would be immersed in these pits.”
“ Next year the effort would be to involve Puja Samiti’s into an awareness campaign earlier so that opinion of some religious bigwigs could be obtained. We can ask some big religious leaders who think alike on environmental issues to inspire the puja samitis to immerse the idols in the pits instead of river. But one thing is for sure that we will never force anyone for the task, as it’s the matter of faith, and tradition,” said Mayor.On the other side number of goddess Durga were immersed in riverGomti at the end of the Durga Puja festival on Monday. However, most of the Durga puja committees pleaded ignorance about anyeffort of LMC to immerse Durga Idols in pits filled with water. SudipSanyal, general secretary of La Touche Road Puja committee: “There wasno information at all. Neither LMC officials nor any other agency have contacted us.”BP Shah, a senior member of Aashiana Durga Puja committee said thatLMC might have called others not us. They never briefed us. Next time if we are called we will surely discuss the issues regarding immersion.”

Counter The Environment Change

THE result of environment change, such as the increasing number of unusual and extreme weather events like unusuall rains during the month of September and dry month of July and initial part of August this year in the state capital have forced the environment experts to put their thinking cap on. The sudden change in rain pattern is an indicator that how fast the climatic conditions are switching phases. The climate change phenomenon is already in evidence across the world and state of Uttar Pradesh is not an exception.
On one side world’s major polluters are trying to reach formulae to reduce emission- targets but it still has a long way to go. The damage to environment caused by western countries cannot be repaired easily, it would be years before the damage inflicted is reversed even partially.
Its vital for the states like uttar pradesh, which will be the worst affected by the consequences of climate change. Everyone knows that the state is poorly equipped to deal with these, climatic change process. Now there is urgent need to take steps to prepare for future.
The state population is expected to cross 25 crore in next 10 years. By that time requirements of water and food would be doubled. The state is already facing shortage of food and potable water, and one can see that the state would be extremely water-stressed in the days to come. It gives chill down the spine to think about the situation after 20 years, When the effects of global warming are factored in.
The state is currently facing a lower acreage of arable land provide for the food needs of a far larger population. But the if the climate change is allowed to take place more and more farmers would leave cultivation and flee for urban areas. Unfortunately, this frightening scenario does not seem to have dawned on our policymakers.
The state of Uttar Pradesh must prepare and apply effective safeguards against such an eventuality. The state must be prepared to take some tough measures include resolving contentious issues such as the construction of dams. Small- to medium-scale reservoirs may prove useful, safety of local ponds, local water bodies like lake, baolis, small wells, particularly in areas such prone to floods when Nepal discharges water from its dams during the rains. The eastern UP that experience good rains during the monsoons but are water short during other period of year these water bodies could be of use.
State can employ modern farming techniques and making it profitable for small-scale farmers to grow food crops, by enforcing environmental laws, curbing deforestation and preventing any further reduction in catchment areas.
It is ironic that heavy industries not only in India but in the world are collectively responsible for much of the historic emissions that have led to this fast-building environmental crisis, but fallout of huge industrialization process is brunt by farmers . Now it’s a challenge for the state like Uttar Pradesh to make a policy which is eco friendly that could meet the challenge of environment degradation by effectively utilising every possible resource. Or the state would be facing the threat of environmental disaster. Please counter the environment change before its too late.
artanupam@gmail.com

Tamiflu on medical stores

Anupam Srivastava

LucknowOsetelemvir phosphate better known from its brand name Tamiflu willsoon be available at Schedule X medical shops in the state. Afterbanning the sale of Tami flu from the retail market the centre hasprepared a plan to make it available on schedule X counters amidstrict watch on physician, distributor and retailers.The decision regarding that was taken during the meeting of ministryof health government of India in New Delhi on September 3 in whichmedical suprintendent of Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute ofMedical Sceicnes participated.“ A consensus was reached in the meeting and union health ministerGhulam Nabi Azad endorsed the idea to make the tablets available onschedule x shops soon,” said medical superintendent SGPGIMS Dr AKBhat.The Centre has not permitted sale of Tamiflu in the retail market sofar apprehending its abuse, which can lead to the resistance to themedicine in swine flu cases.The medicine would be released as a Schedule X drugs, sales of whichare governed under the strict norms, like obtaining two sets ofprescriptions from a doctor and obtaining a special license for thedistributor and retailer said Bhat.There are only five 5-schedule X medical stores in the state and noschedule X medical store is present in whole Uttarakhand.Usually medical stores avoid having schedule X licence because thereis a lot of paper work involved in it.Presently psychotropic drugs for the treatment of epilepsy and relateddiseases are sold as Schedule-X medicines by the counters. Under this
the doctor writes two prescription the patient keeps one prescription,the second set is handed over to the retailer. The retailer maintainsa logbook on the sale of Schedule-X medicines.The authorities periodically check these documents. Bhat said during the meeting of experts recommendations given by thecentral and global health agencies, were also discussed.“ The medicine will be only given with a prescription. The chemistswill have to maintain his logbook and other records which will enablegovernment agencies to keep a track of the medicine supply and conductan audit of the sale of drug,” said Bhat

artanupam@gmail.com

Anupam Srivastava
The launch of first Islamic search engine is welcomed by the leadingMuslim clerics of state.imhalal.com the first Islamic search engine differentiates what netsites are Halal and what is Haram.A dutch company AZS media group has launched the search engine in themonth of September which is gaining popularity not only among theMuslims but also among the followers of other community.“Now Muslims can safely surf the net without having to face the uglysituation of striking into unambiguous or obscene material,” saidnoted Islamic Scholar and Naib Imam of Aishbagh Idgah Maulana KhalidRashi Firangi Mahali .”We welcome the concept of site which is useful for entire human race,if we have to create a good honest society we must put the bad sitesout of net, for which these sort of engines must be welcomed,” headded.“Today youths are often misguided by such sites, but with the Islamicsite with Islamic content there is no question of going wrong, I willappeal to the youths to adopt this search engine as in today's worldcount of hits decided about the popularity of sites or searchengines,” said Firangi Mahali.Imam of Teele Wali Masjid Maulana Fazlur Rehman Vaizi was happy withthe launch of Islamic Search engine. “Its human race protection enginenot Islamic search engine. We know how the youths are getting intohabit of watching bad things on net. This engine will bring youths toright kind of ideology and will help them grow in character,” saidVaizi. “The best thing about the search engine is that anyone who comes incontact with content of overt nature, the search engine will give a
'No' search advice. For valid things you get results like on any othersearch site,” said Vaizi.Noted Shia cleric Maulana Kable Jawwad was happy with the launch offirst Islamic search engine. “ I am not happy because its Islamicsearch engine but I am happy for the youths who were getting poorsites to watch. With the Islamic search engine now parents andstudents can ensure proper material watching.”“ I will recommend the schools to adopt this search engine as net is adouble edged sword if used rightly it will benefit us but if misusedit could spell a doom for anyone,” said Jawwad.
artanupam@gmail.com

Hindu Kidney Muslim Man

Anupam Srivastava
A eight year old Hindu boy born with a siamese twin body without head and face saved the life of a 24 year old Muslim Youth by donating Kidney through "twin body kidney transplant".
Eight year old Kishan Patel son of a labourer was fighting with his destiny as he has an addtional pair of hands, leg , stomach attach to his body. His Father Vijay Patel approached number of doctors but he had no money to separate the additional portion from the body of his son.
Vijay carried his son to Sushrut Institute of Plastic Surgery (SIPS)Lucknow where he was provided free treatment by the institute.
Doctors during the pre operative evaluation found that that Kishan has a extra kidney functioning in his twin body, normally the specimen would have landed into a pathology or a museum but the doctors of the institute decided to use this kidney for the benefit of mankind.
The idea of doctors had some issues like ethical concerns, as this type of transplant was never described in medical literature.
On other side 24 year Shafiqur-rehman marketing manager with Bajaj Allianz was suffering from chronic kidney failure, he was undergoing weekly diagnosis for his survival but fate had something else in store for him. When his condition deteriorated he was hospitalised at SGPGIMS in March 2008.
The doctors from SIPS contacted department of urology SGPGIMS with the case history of Kishan. The doctors from SGPGIMS carried out the feasibility tests on number of patients but it matched with the Shafiqur-rehmans.
The surgery of Kishan was planned at SIPS which is located 22 kilometers away from SGPGIMS at the same time Shafiqur-rehman was prepared for transplantation he was anaesthetized in the operation theatre of urology department.
At SIPS doctors removed the extra kidney of Kishan packed in ice cold eurocollins organ preserving solution and was send to SGPGIMS under the police escort to avoid any sort of delay in way due to traffic jams. The traffic was coordinated by the police at main crossings like Parivaratn Chowk, Hazratganj, Raebareli road and Telibagh to ensure early delivery of kedney at SGPGIMS.
However the kidney were transplanted and Shaqur-rehman is a happy man today.

That is, the organ was removed from one of the twins and transplanted into another person. The surgery was performed by the urology department two months ago but was kept under warps for its confirmed success. Head of the urology department SGPGIMS Dr Rakesh Kapoor said, “ Shafiqur is a fit man today after two months of transplant.”
Shafiqur-rehman talking to Hindustan Times said, “ Now I want to do something for the Unity between Hindus and Muslim, although I am a muslim but with the help of Hindu Kidney. This proves everyone is made by one god name it Allah of Ishwar. I don’t have to spend sleepless nights due to pain, I am leading a normal life.”
Ikram-ul-Haq Siddiqui father of Shafiqur-rehman said, “ I will do what ever I can do for the family of Kishan, I had five sons earlier now I have six one of them is Kishan.”
Vijay father of Kishan said, “ We are Indians first before becoming Hindus or Muslims, if the kidney of my son can save the life of anyone then its great.”
Member of transplant team Dr Aneesh Srivastava said, “ The operation was typical as kidney was of an eight year old boy and recipient was a grown up man. But the body has accepted the kidney now and its functioning normally.”
artanupam@gmail.com

women rights and what they want

‘My husband beats me, he has the right...’LAKSHMI VALMIKI, a domestic help in Lucknow, says her husband Shankar beats her up almost everyday. She is used to it and does not mind it. Instead, she says: “He has the right to do anything with me. My parents are no more in this world. How can I leave my husband? Where will I go if he kicks me out?” Shocking, but Lakshmi isn’t the only one. A recent report of the National Family Health Survey 2005-06, says that 47 per cent women in Uttar Pradesh believe it is justifiable for their husbands to beat up them. But what comes as a surprise is that the number of men who subscribe to this view is less — 44 per cent. Nisha, an educated housewife, says she would initially protest whenever her husband beat her up. But now, she feels it’s better to live with a husband, no matter how he is, rather than to live alone. “The fate of single women is worse in a country like India,” she says. Renowned social worker Roop Rekha Verma says women do not know how to counter domestic violence. “They lack courage to withstand social stigma and instead, pocket their anger and remain silent.” Lucknow University professor Nishi Pandey warns against the patriarchal mindset, saying: “This is going to be detrimental for the next generation.” Head of the psychology department at the National Post Graduate College, P.K. Khatri says: “Justification of violence by women reflects the age old mindset of women in our society.” Professor Pallavi Bhatnagar, de partment of Psychology at Lucknow University, feels gender stereotype messages are recorded since childhood; there is a feeling of rejection in the girl child from the beginning, which makes her feel helpless and her ability to fight against spousal violence reduces. Psychiatrist Dr Prabhat Shithole says: “It’s a sort of disorder when an individual loses her self-esteem to the extent that she starts justifying her humiliation. There is no treatment except counseling and creating awareness about one’s rights.” Amod Kumar Srivastava, a lawyer in the family court, says: “Only 5 per cent of women gather the courage to go to court and seek justice, despite laws in place; and most of the laws are in favour of women. Still, social pressure stops them from approaching courts in cases of domestic violence.” artanupam@gmail.comBack

Act or React

Anupam Srivastava As the country's politicians were at loggerheads against each other during the elections in various states, Some of them were fighting for Marathi Asmita in Mumbai, they never knew on November 26 a barbaric attack was being planned by terrorists to hit the Indian economy. Crime and terror are not new to the country. In the last decade-and-a-half, we've had around 100 blasts and terror attacks. It seems we have became immune to such incidents or become insensitive to such incidents. But take my words I have seen nothing to match the scale and suffering of what happened on 'a Wednesday'. I have been in Mumbai for many years, a lively and energetic city and politicians knew that its on the radar of terrorists but no one bothered. And Mumbai paid the price for being economic capital of country once again. The blood bath by terrorist claimed more than 130 lives and the count is still on.Sitting in Lucknow we cannot think of the woes of Mumbaikars who will surely take a long time for one to recover from the turn of events. Being a journalist I can't stay away from television since the time I returned home from the office on Wednesday. It was all unfolding on television. I was worried for my brother who works for a MNC in Mumbai, he left Taj after meeting a client a few hours earlier. I I made franatic phone calls to him, once I had talked to him I was relaxed. But think of those who were not able to make contact with their loved ones. Round-the-clock Reality TV was keeping me update of the events in Mumbai, the mentality of channels for bringing in round the clock reality images resulted in the deaths of some policemen because the terrorists positioned themselves at different places to attack the police officials entering the hotel, but the channels never bothered for the state of security forces and kept on airing feeds about the 'strategy' adopted by the security forces in order to boost the ratings of their channel. It was strange see 'exclusive' word being used rather liberally by many anchors. one channel even was able to establish contact with the terrorists holding a group of people hostage at Oberoi. After some irrelevant questions answer session the line was cut off and exclusive stuff followed, 'Insane' was the reaction. What makes me sad is those people talking big about the Asmita were nowhere. No one came out console the families of dead. I develop cold feet when I think about the families who have lost near and dear ones to this mindless mayhem , my salute to the Jawans of police, the guests and employees at the hotels and the person on the street who were victim of the barbaric act. Think of the girl who was scheduled to get married next Monday to a man shot dead at Cafe Leopold, to all those who never returned home after a hard day's work. I specially want the people who always defend terrorists at various platforms on the name of human rights to speak some words on the bedlam.. Will they take the responsibility of such an attack and continue to defend the terror suspects mindlessly, will they keep on raising question marks over the encounters in the country creating a confusion in the minds. This time instead of coming up with vague excuses it's the time to react for the government because time of action has gone. If we don't react in time then we will be left with nothing as the terrorists will know that our government is neither able to act or react. It's the test of Manmohan, Sonia, Advani, Rajnath that how they express solidarity in fight against terror instead of accusing each other for the growing incidents of terror.We have heard enough of Kandhar, Babri demolition, Mumbai blasts, and now this mayhem now we want a hit at the terror base if you are not able to do so then give opportunity to someone who has the courage to take fight to the enemy camp. Knowing Mumbaikars I am sure they will stage a comeback and will get on with the day-to-day work. It was heartening to see some of the enterprises, several shops and restaurants opened despite the attack. The small trading activities of Bhelpuriwallah kept the spirits of big business houses on a high. Its for the Government to learn from this and upgrade our intelligence and security systems so that such attacks in future could be thwarted. Hit them hard before they hit you or they will eat you like a pie, please come over the attitude to please certain sections of society, try to defend your country. If you don't have country then where will you go to contest elections?artanupam@gmail.com