Friday gurgaon 27 march 2 april, 2015 by Friday Gurgaon

27 March-2 April 2015

Vol. 4 No. 32  Pages 16  ` 10

RNI No. HARENG/2011/39319, Postal Regn. No. GRG/35/2014-2017

Farmers Climate Changed { Abhishek Behl / FG } write to us at letters@fridaygurgaon

{ Barnali Dutta/FG } write to us at letters@fridaygurgaon

hen Gurgaon was built as India’s millennium city, it was meant to be a living paradise for its residents. In less than two decades the City has degenerated into a pollution quagmire, which is threatening the environment and even human lives. Delhi may have been in the spotlight for being the world's most polluted city, as per a recent urban air quality database released by the World Health Organisation, but Gurgaon is deinitely no better. Some recent igures on air and water pollution are quite worrisome. According to environmental data in the Numbeo website, the world’s largest database of user-contributed data about cities worldwide, the air pollution index in Gurgaon is at a high of over 74, drinking water pollution and inaccessibility is nearly 68, dissatisfaction with garbage disposal is over 78, everything that describes the

and potato will take a big hit. As per a survey conducted by the Haryana Agricultural University (HAU), this year wheat had been sown early or just in time in almost 70% of the 24.78 lakh hectares under wheat cultivation in the State. This crop has been the worst afected by the untime-

ly rains. HAU had predicted a bumper wheat crop this year. In Gurgaon district, wheat, mustard and vegetables have sufered badly. The orchards in Farukhnagar, Pataudi and other rural areas, which grow diferent fruits, are also likely to face a big loss of produce. Rakesh Sehrawat,

a progressive farmer of village Mankdola, whose family has won several awards for agriculture, rues the fact that there is no State insurance scheme for farmers that sufer because of natural calamities. "Farming is a risky business, and also needs high invesment if you

want better productivity. The government should therefore provide some risk cover. The compensation that will be given now is unlikely to cover even the basic cost," says Sehrawat. He takes the Friday Gurgaon team to his large Contd. on p 4

Toxic City city as dirty and untidy is also at a high of 79 and noise and light pollution too are at a high of 74. Given the high pollution indices, the purity and cleanliness of the environment is understandably

low. People are also none too happy with the disposal of garbage or the overall cleanliness of the City. A recent survey of people residing in Gurgaon has shown their high dissatisfaction

in terms of time spent outdoors - including in the City’s parks. Even green areas appear to ofer little solace against the all-pervading haze. According to Deeksha, a non-proit organisation Prakhar PaNDEY

he untimely rains and hailstorm across Haryana and many parts of India (except the South) have dented the conidence of the farming community as well as the State Agriculture department, which was in an upbeat mood after the success of the recent Agri Leadership Summit in Gurgaon. Neither technology nor the State apparatus has any solution to this problem. There has therefore been just the ‘routine’ announcement of compensation to farmers (directly and indirectly - as in waiver of power bills), which however is likely to take months to be paid out, after due ‘assessment.’ The net result of the untimely rainfall is that the wheat and Rabi crop output in the State is likely to fall by 15 to 25 per cent. In Gurgaon district also the production of wheat will go down, particularly in Pataudi block, and mustard

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working in the ield of environmental pollution and awareness, ‘the governmental apathy is a cause for concern’. Ms Rupali, a resident of Malibu Towne, is also very upset with how the issue of environmental pollution is being approached. “When a city grows, it is bound to come with attendant woes. But the authorities have to be alert,” she says. She agrees that people have to do their part as well. Some igures on pollution released by the Centre for Science & Environment (CSE) found a 24-hour average PM 2.5 (ine, respirable Particulate Matter) level to be almost 13 times the national safeguard standard. This is considered a serious threat to health. Being ultra ine, these particles can be easily lodged in human lungs and reduce their capacity over time. These are also linked to cardiac conditions, such as strokes and heart rhythm disorders. Contd. on p 7

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27 March-2 April 2015

RNI No. HARENG/2011/39319 Postal Regn. No. GRG/35/2014-2017 27 March-2 April 2015 Vol. 4 No. 32 

Editor:

Atul Sobti

Sr. Correspondent:

Abhishek Behl

Correspondent:

Barnali Dutta

Sr. Photographer:

Prakhar Pandey

Sr. Designer:

Amit Singh

Marketing Executive: Kumar Thakur Dy. Manager A/cs & Admin: Shiv Shankar Jha Editorial Office 108, Aap Ka Bazar, Gurudwara Road, Gurgaon-122001, Haryana Phone: +91 124 421 9092 Emails:

editor@fridaygurgaon.com letters@fridaygurgaon.com adsales@fridaygurgaon.com Friday Gurgaon (Weekly) edited, published and printed by Atul Sobti on behalf of Arap Media Ventures Pvt. Ltd. from 108, Aap Ka Bazar, Gurudwara Road, Gurgaon-122001, Haryana Printed at AGS Publication, D-67, Sector 6, Gautam Budh Nagar, NOIDA – 201301, Uttar Pradesh

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THE WEEK THAT WAS  BJP Party President Amit Shah, on a visit to the City, gives the State BJP a target of 50 lakh members; he claims that on an All India basis the Party now has close to 8 crore members.  Gurgaon MP and Union Minister of State Rao Inderjit Singh asks for a change in the proposed Metro route (Dwarka to IFFCO Chowk); he proposes that the link should cover ‘old’ Gurgaon and link back to HUDA City Centre via Shanker Chowk.  A CAG Report indicts Vadra and others in a land deal in Gurgaon.  NHAI confirms that it will revamp all exits and entries from/to NH8 by June 30th.  The State govt. says that it will probe the scrapping of the Reliance SEZ project and the waiver of a Rs 50 crores penalty.  Haryana Staff Selection Commission, which had been disbanded, is being reconstituted, for the selection of new Class II govt. employees.  To instill a feeling of greater security on the road among women, the State govt. asks all policemen to wear their uniforms while travelling on State buses.  2 Mega Food Parks are approved for Haryana (out of 17 nationally) – in Sonepat and Panipat.  A boy who shot his classmate at age 13 in 2007 in school, has now allegedly shot his friend in Sector 21; he had been remanded to a reformatory for a year.

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 A 25-year-old woman hangs herself in Berhampur village – the family alleges dowry harassment; a pub dancer hangs herself - the husband is booked on the basis of a suicide note.  A businessman is found dead, wrapped in a mattress and packed in a sack; his cousin is the prime suspect.  A cylinder blast in Ravi Nagar seriously injures 8 people; 2 (a man and a woman) later succumb to their injuries.  An auto overturns in Sector 18, leading to the death of a girl.  An American minor is allegedly raped by her South African Facebook friend; the culprit is absconding.  A man is held for raping his 12-yearold stepdaughter, in Surat Nagar.  A 15-year-old boy is tricked into sterilisation by an aid worker; he was told that he would be vaccinated.  About 20 people are booked after 2 groups clash over cash near Kherki Daula.  3 army officers, Gurgaon residents, are booked for road rage leading to the death of a person, in Pathankot.  A bus driver tries to run over a policeman who was stopping him, after he had refused to pay toll tax at Kherki Daula plaza.  An illegal mining accused is arrested after he thrashes a cop.  A traffic constable in an auto hits a retired sub-inspector going in a car, after a road conflict.  An auto is snatched at gunpoint from its driver, in Sushant Lok.  A tenth FIR is lodged against ex-Minister Sukhbir Kataria, in the ‘bogus votes’ scam.  A furniture godown and showroom near Atul Kataria Chowk are gutted – 20 fire tenders take an hour to tame the fire; an electronics parts factory in Udyog Vihar catches fire – which takes 2 hours to control.  Policemen seize a truck carrying 10 tonnes of sandalwood, valued at Rs 16 crores, near Subhash Chowk – the driver is caught, but the smuggler

flees.  3 people who had stolen a luxury bus and taken it to Mainpuri (UP), are caught in Sector 18.  Park View Residency, Palam Vihar RWA is caught up in a Rs 5 crores scam.  A woman’s jewellery is snatched after a spray makes her fall unconscious; an elderly man is similarly robbed of Rs 40,000; vandals snatch the chain of an ex-SC registrar and ex-Dist. Sessions Judge of Gurgaon, while she is at the Sheetla Mata Mandir; the chain of a police head constable’s wife is also snatched.  A 75-year-old man is duped of Rs 66.75 lakhs, by a fraud IRDA executive, while surrendering his insurance policies.  A person is duped of Rs 13 lakhs that he had given for a role in a film.  A Syndicate Bank branch is robbed; however, the robbers could not get to the cash.  A woman loses her gold bangles after she gives them to an impostor for polishing, in the Sadar Bazar area.  A placement company on Jharsa Road is booked for a Rs 44,000 job fraud.  An IT official is duped of Rs 27,000 by a false flat owner.  There are multiple cases of ATM fraud reported from across the City.  MCG prepares its draft Budget for 2015-16.  Councillors demand extension of ‘lal dora’ limits of the villages in Gurgaon, as now a majority of the population is staying outside this limit and civic amenities need to be provided to them (MCG works within ‘lal dora’ limits).  DHBVN promises to resolve power overload issues in colonies ahead of the s A 17-year-old local Gymnastics champ gets injured; the coach is accused of negligence.  Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is the Chief Guest at the MDI convocation.  A team from Amsterdam participates in the City’s Raahgiri on Sunday.

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Farmers Climate Changed

Rampal a farmer in his field in village Dhankote every village, and the compensation would be assessed by its oicials. With the State Agriculture minister exerting pressure for speedy compensation, the farmers are hopeful that the oicialdom will deliver the compensation soon. State oicials say that the damage in Gurgaon has been less extensive than that in other districts of the State. They also clarify that normally compensation is paid when the loss is more than 50 per cent. Farmer Rakesh Sehrawat does not agree, and says that the loss has been uniform across NCR, with farmers in neighbouring Delhi also facing trouble (for example, in Kanganhera, Nanakheri, Pandwalakhurd, Jhatikra, Bawana, Chandpur and Sultanpur villages in Outer Delhi, near Najafgarh and Bawana). Farmers say that the quality of produce is also going to be poor, and it is unlikely that this yield will get the right price. Sehrawat adds that prices of vegetables, which come from nearby NCR areas, have already shot up by 25 to 30 per cent. Traders in Gurgaon say that the arrival of fruits and vegetables has been slower in the last few days, which has led to rise in prices. The issue of price rise has already forced the Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia to direct the oicials of the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee to keep prices in check. It is being feared that while the untimely rain has hit fruits and vegetables in the short run, its long term impact would be on wheat, which will add to food inflation (which has started to moderate). In fact food inflation is set to rise across the country, as agricultural produce has also been severely hit in UP, Bihar, Maharashtra and Gujarat. Haryana Agriculture Minister Om Prakash Dhankhar, who

is known as a farmer leader, has said that the assessment of crop damage is being conducted across the State. There are reports that in some areas the losses are almost hundred per cent. "We will arrange the funds and provide maximum compensation to the farmers," the Minister has assured. Compensation is given to farmers through State and National Disaster Response Funds in the form of Agriculture input subsidies, wherever the crop loss is assessed to be higher than 50 per cent due to a notified natural calamity. For rain fed crops the rate of compensation is Rs 4,500 per hectare, for irrigated crops it is Rs 9,000 per hectare, and Rs 12,000 per hectare for perennial crops. There is also a provision for assistance re-

stricted to sown area where the crop loss is lower than 50 per cent. Farmers say that bracketing the compensation into less or more than 50 per cent will lead to unnecessary arguments and delays. Vashisht Goyal, a Gurgaon-based social activist, says that the government should take a considerate view of the plight of the farmers and pay compensation to all of them. More subsidies should also be given to them because of the losses, and water and power supply should be assured at cheap rates in rural areas. "How will the cities survive if farms do not produce adequate food?” he asks. BJP leaders say that the government has taken cognizance of the problems faced by the agriculturists in the State and would alleviate their sufferings soon. GL Sharma, State

Executive Member, BJP Haryana, says that the Agri Leadership Summit has helped to send the message to farmers that the BJP is pro-farmer and pro-agriculture. "The government has ordered an urgent assessment of the crop loss and the farmers will get their due compensation soon. Our government has also promised farm insurance, which will help to risk-proof the farmers," he asserts. Farmers like Rampal and Rakesh are keeping their fingers crossed. They know how the bureaucracy functions, and they are just hoping that this time, under the new dispensation, the State will deliver on its promises. Everyone is also now hoping that the recent improvement in the weather might help salvage some of the damaged crops.u

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hile the State of Haryana cies have and its civic not been infras able agenlike water, tructure, includ to provide adequ isting Gurgapower, sanitation ing basic ameni ate the previo on city and resideand roads to the ties exnts, the pendently us government decision to relent (of the NCR by Master Planni Board) pushlessly and indeng (2021, residents 2025, 2031) ahead with its of has The Maste even the new sectors most now left the ing more r Plans that were vulner than Real able. prepared apart from Estate alloca were noththe shorta gaon is ge of naturations. As a result, now l resour will probab being enveloped ces, Gurunending ly remain so for in a smoky haze decades), construction (and cupancy thanks to activity being low the despite The most and there pressing being few current octer table new buyers under the issue, however, . is that the which could City waindeed haveis getting danger ously low, disastrous consequences ,

PaNDEY

wheat fields, where the crop can be seen bent and uneven, instead of standing straight. The farmers are in fact facing a double whammy: it costs double to harvest the damaged crop. In Dhankote village, Rampal, who oversees the labour that is harvesting the crop, tells Friday Gurgaon that the mustard crop has completely gone black and been rendered useless. "The cost of farming is increasing every day. Water, power, labour and fertilisers have become very costly, and the government also does not make these available at subsidised prices. The rates that we get for the produce are also less. Today only the middlemen are making money in agriculture," says Rampal. The farmers in Gurgaon want the State government to deliver on the promises made during the recent Agri Leadership Summit: like insurance for farmer’s fields and produce, an increase in farm loans, and the setting up of an agricultural produce dry port in the State. In addition, they also want the proposed Land Acquisition Bill to be fair and transparent, which they believe is not the case at present. Rajesh Yadav, an activist and landowner of Badshahpur village, which has been almost urbanised, says that whatever is happening in the name of compensation is a formality. "If the State government has announced Rs 10,000 compensation to every farmer, then they should pay it at the earliest. Putting the onus on a patwari who is sitting in his ofice, to assess the loss, is not the right way. Sarson, gehun, jo, chana and vegetables like gobhi, ghiya, touri and kheera have suffered badly," says Yadav. On land acquisition, he asks why farmers cannot become collaborators with the builders. "If a builder can get FAR for housing if his land comes in the way of proposed roads, then farmers should also get FAR if their land is acquired for roads and other infrastructure projects," says Yadav. Babu Lal, a senior Agriculture dept. oicial in Gurgaon, says that a survey has been carried out by the Department, to assess the loss, and a report has been sent to the government. He says s that the crop loss has been medium to extensive, and villages like Nurgarh, Mangwati, Brahmanpur and Jatauli in Pataudi and Farukhnagar block have sufered maximum loss. "Wheat and mustard have been afected more, and the vegetable produce will also sufer," he says. The Revenue department is also conducting a crop survey in

warn expert s. While ciety are discussing the authorities in (curre and ways to nt) tackle this civil sobusy buildin Gurgaon, the situation Real Estate apartments g more castles industry in the air. and comm up in the Thousands is new Gurga ercial complexes of tened GII on sector are comin g lines are by FG), while water,s (58 to 115 – yet to be power and chrisever, have set up. sewage Several already builders, are now ‘completed’ giving posses howtheir projec gross violati sion to ts, the author on of the rules, apartment buyersand ities. They , in with the ground collusion are still water for deviou is that the all their sly extrac of projects. ting will now water from these And be same illegal the irony water tanker sold to the haples tubewells s reside s (as the dream)! nts throug oicial supply h remains It was only a pipea chance plaza that visit to through brought this illegal the Kherki Doula tankers toll use and by constr sale of water uction compa nies, to the Prakhar

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C over S tory

27 March-2 April 2015

Contd. on p

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Epicentre Theatre Date: March 27 Time: 7:30pm Bonsai Solution (Eng/60mins) Director: Shantanu Anam, Writer: Aparajit Gupta, Producer: Aparajit Gupta Productions. Tickets at Rs. 300 available at the Venue. Suitable for 15 years & above. Theatre Date: March 28 Time: 7:30pm The Ramayana (Eng/150mins with an interval) Director: Gopal Sharman, Producer: Akshara Theatre. Ticket at Rs. 500, 350 & 250 available at the Venue. It is suitable for 12 years & above. Theatre Date: March 29 Time: 7:30pm Raag Droh (Hindi/100mins) Director: Bharti Sharma, Producer: Kshitij theatre group. Tickets at Rs. 250 & 150 available at

the Venue. Suitable for 12 years & above. Dance Date: March 30 Time: 7:00pm Fusion In Motion, an evening of various dance forms - Classical, Semi-Classical and Western - by students. Collaborator: Suryansh Kala Vatika Italy through the eyes of Italian female directors Date: March 31 Time: 6:00pm White Space (Italian/96mins/2009) Director: Francesca Comencini. Time: 7:45pm Cosmonaut (Italian/85mins/2009) Director: Susanna Nicchiarelli. Dance Date: April 2 Time: 7:30pm An evening of Kathak based dancedrama Shukuntala and Draupadi, choreographed by Lily Bhattacherjee and Sreya Chattopadhya. Collaborator: Swaranjali

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06 { Barnali Dutta/FG } write to us at letters@fridaygurgaon fter Ola Cabs it is now the turn of Ola Autos. This on-demand threewheeler commuter service, currently in service in Bengaluru, Chennai and Pune, was launched in Delhi NCR a few months back. As with cabs, the service is available via the Ola app (Android and iOS), and users have to pay the auto rickshaw driver directly – they cannot use Ola Money. Apart from the meter fare, the users will have to pay a Rs. 10 ‘convenience fee’. Although currently the Ola Autos are available only in limited numbers, the Company has positioned its service as something quite ‘diferent’ from the existing three-wheeler passenger service available in Delhi NCR. According to Company sources, a pilot project will assess the requirement before the Company expands its service. “Most importantly, we are here to ofer a safe alternative to commuters,” says a Company source, reinforcing a key customer requirement today. The Company is reportedly ofering basic training on etiquette to auto rickshaw drivers. Ola Cabs, the parent com-

C ivic/S ocial

27 March-2 April 2015

Autos now a click away pany, is learnt to be ofering each auto driver a minimum ‘salary’ of Rs. 10,000, and another Rs. 1,500 as mobile charges, per month. Priya Sharma, who works at a private irm and has availed this new service, says," I was not aware of this facility till recently. While suring the Internet I chanced upon the Ola Auto service. I normally hire a cab, but decided to try Ola Auto for a change. It was smooth and fast. The good thing also is that the rates are not too high.” Rishabh, a resident of U Block, too was delighted to ind a friendly auto service in the neighborhood. “I think it’s a great idea and should become more popular in due course,” he says. “Of course the drivers appear pleasant, but the Company should ensure that driver quality remains consistent, especially as demand picks up. They need to inspire conidence, especially among women,” he says. Ola Cabs are currently not allowed to ply in Delhi, following the issues related to the recent rape by a ‘Uber taxi driver’.

Interestingly, the Auto module of Ola works much like the transport department’s Pooch-O. However, unlike the free DIMTS app, Ola charges customers a fee of Rs 10 for providing ‘information’ on nearby auto rickshaws. Based on the GPS location of the three-wheelers that are registered with the Company, details are sent to customers, along with an estimated

time of arrival. According to Company sources, the autos are available for ‘immediate booking’ only. Commuters should thus ideally look for an auto about 10 minutes before they need a ride. The Company website says, ‘We have also decided to give Delhi autos a tech upgrade! Now get an auto right from the Ola app without having to step out to ind one. No haggling, no negotiation and no hassles. Pay by meter as per government mandated fares, in cash’. Ola follows Taxi For Sure, which had unveiled its auto rickshaw services in the middle of January and claims that it has already registered nearly 500 autos for its services. Taxi For Sure hopes to launch a detailed driver rating & feedback system soon. During the launch of the Auto service the Company had mentioned that it intends to leverage its technology prowess and operational excellence. It also intends to focus on customer delight and ensure that the Indian customer always has a safe, convenient

and economical commute solution. The Company, which works along with a non-proit organisation in Bengaluru, believes that its service will not only ensure better commuting experience for passengers, but will also create a secure livelihood for the auto rickshaw drivers - most of whom do not own the vehicle and are often prone to exploitation by the owners. “There are diferent kinds of autos now plying in the area - ‘Shared Autos’, ‘Yellow Autos’, ‘Pink Autos’… and now OLA Autos. The black multi-passenger shared autos are still predominant because of their easy availability. But the new services are catching up. After the Uber case we have stopped trusting taxi agencies. All agencies, especially the new ones, need to be more transparent. The level of vigilance, both by the authorities and the agencies, will need to signiicantly gear up, to help instill a higher level of conidence among the users. Auto drivers will have to be subjected to stricter checks,” says a regular auto user section of students of Sec 14 Girls Govt. College. It’s high time the public, especially women, is able to get a convenient, afordable and safe ride on the roads – as a rule, not an exception. u

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VLCC near you ormer Miss India World and ilm star Sayali Bhagat inaugurates the VLCC centre at Old Judicial Complex in Civil Lines, Gurgaon. Sayali said that this Centre would most appropriately serve the health and grooming needs of the people living in the area.

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According to the CSE researchers, it is appalling that the Haryana State Pollution Board was not even monitoring the PM 2.5 levels in the area, despite the City being a business hub. There is no real time automatic air quality monitoring in Gurgaon, the researchers say. They add that Delhi may be trying to put in place various air pollution-combating policies, but there can be no improvement in the overall air quality unless other NCR cities like Gurgaon implement similar policies. “Air pollution has no borders. We need policies that treat NCR like a common air shed. Public transport needs to be urgently upgraded in all the cities," says Anumita Roy Chowdhury, head of CSE's clean air programme. During CSE's experiment in Gurgaon, the team covered IFFCO ChowkCyber Greens oice area- Sohna Road-Artemis Hospital- Amity International School- MedantaRajiv Chowk- Civil HospitalSadar Bazar-Udyog Vihar. The hourly average PM 2.5 level during peak evening hours at IFFCO Chowk was recorded at 996 microgram per cubic metre (mgcm). In the late evening, the PM 2.5 level crossed 1,094 mgcm at the Cyber Greens oice area. Even at the time when children go to school and people start their healthy morning walks, the air pollution levels were found to be quite high. Rathi,

Toxic City an oicial of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board, agrees that the unbridled growth in vehicles and vehicular traic in NCR and the poor adherence to emission norms has afected the environment in the area. “It is diicult to say which part of the City is more polluted than the other. But, on the whole, the situation is grim and we need tough measures to contain

this air pollution,” he says. The census data provided by CSE shows that Gurgaon has 232 cars and two-wheelers per 1,000 people (versus 172 in Chandigarh and 120 in Delhi. In Gurgaon, 43% of the households own two-wheelers and 33% own cars. There is a high proportion of diesel cars. “Once again, gross disregard of vehicle emission norms by

The haryana State pollution Control board claims that it maintains a continuous ambient air quality monitoring report, the latest being for the irst two weeks of March. Some of the key particles present in the air, comprising pM 2.5, Co (Carbon Monoxide), no (nitrogen Monoxide), no2 (nitrogen dioxide), o3 (ozone), So2 (Sulphur dioxide) are monitored.

KEEp YouR CiTY CLEAn uSE RECYCLEd wATER Avoid poLYThEnE bAGS

owners and drivers is leading to a rapid increase in air pollution,” says Nemi Chand, a trader in pollution check and garbage disposal equipment. “Further, the government department that installs the equipment and supervises the pollution checks of vehicles at various fuel stations, does not act strictly against violators,” he adds. Strangely, there were loads of protests by the Gurgaon small and medium industries when the Gurgaon pollution authorities had gone on an overdrive. Some of the measures introduced were thought to be very stringent. The industry’s grouse was also the excessive paperwork involved in getting approvals from the pollution control board. Some relaxations prakhar paNDEY

 Contd from p 1

have since been given, including the removal of penal measures on non-polluting industries. The pollution control board has also revised its classiication system. The colour-coded categories of red, orange and green - for highly, moderately, or nonpolluting industries respectively - have been tweaked slightly, while the selection criteria have been relaxed. The transport department (RTA) says that it makes sure that only BS3 and BS4 compliant cars get registered. "I believe that traic control needs to become much more active and strict in Gurgaon. Of course we conduct our regular check ups," says one of the oicials of the RTA department. The Haryana Pollution Control Board has issued a series of ‘Dos and Don’ts’, which start virtually from home: water conservation measures, discouraging the use of plastic bags, separation of dry and wet garbage, a check on sound pollution (such as lowering the volume of television sets) and conservation of electricity. The Board also wants to discourage the use of vehicles to places that are within walking distance, encourage utilisation of car pools by school children and oice goers, and wants you to check your vehicle's pollution periodically (and also maintain it well). These measures will not only reduce pollution, but also help keep the vehicles in better shape, feel Board oicials. Meanwhile, the dark cloud still hovers overhead. u

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27 March-2 April 2015

K id C orner

Ryan InteRnatIonal School, SectoR 40

Montessori Joy

yan International School, Sector 40 held its Montessori Graduation Ceremony - 'World of Joy' - at Epicenter. 381 Montessori students graduated to Class I. The students delivered many performances. The pick of the Show was the circus presented by the students of Montessori II. The Rock Band presented by the tiny tots of Montessori III was also highly appreciated. Awards were given to the achievers of Montessori I, II and III in various categories - academics, oratory skills, art and writing. Jacob Timothy Reddy and Rajat Saini were crowned as 'Ryan Prince' and Anvy Kapur and Nandini Kanwar as 'Ryan Princess' for the academic session 2014-15, for being the most outstanding students in every sphere.

Montessori Induction

Primary Induction

yan International School, Sector 40 organised an Induction Programme to welcome the new parents to the everextending Ryan family. The gathering was addressed by Dr. Roma Kumar, Senior Clinical Psychologist, Max Hospital, Gurgaon. She had an interactive session with parents and briefed them on effective parenting. The young Ryanites showcased an incredible dance performance on ‘Swachh Bharat’.

yan International School, Sector 40 organised an Induction Programme to welcome the parents of the new students. The School motto, 'Excellence in Education and All Round Development' was stressed. The Programme gave an insight on the School's practices and expectations. The School Head, Ms. Peeya Sharma apprised that the parents that the School is committed to inculcating good values in the children and for that the School follows the twelve Vision points of the Founder Chairman, Dr. Augustine F. Pinto.

Knowledge Quiz

yan International School, Sector 40 conducted an Inter House G.K. Quiz competition. The winners were Amaan Syed , Utkarsh Mishra and Aryan Kapoor of Mahatma Gandhi House. School Head Ms. Peeya Sharma congratulated the teams and motivated the students to be regularly updated with the latest happenings as this helps build agility of mind and self conidence.

If you wish to be featured in ‘Kid Corner’ (for publishing your school’s activities and achievements), please mail us at fridaygurgaongallery@gmail.com

K id C orner

27 March-2 April 2015

Orienting to a Vision

A A Spring in their step

FACEBO OK

tudents of Spring Blossom school in Palam Vihar celebrated the arrival of Spring by enjoying buggy rides on a horse driven cart. The young tinytots also participated in a cultural programme.

n Orientation programme for the new parents was held in Ryan International School, Sohna Road, in order to acquaint them with the School's curriculum, teaching methodologies and co-curricular activities. Principal Ms. Rashmi Prakash encouraged the parents to be enthusiastic partners in the education of their wards. The 12 point Vision of Dr. A.F. Pinto, Chairman of Ryan Group of Institutions was highlighted. Ms. Anju Dudeja, in charge of the Montessori section, provided information on in-house activities, inter school competitions and teaching techniques (including the use of technology).

After reading FG on paper or online, you can also comment on the various articles/stories, on FG Website www.fridaygurgaon.com

or on (FG) facebook www.facebook.com/fridaygurgaon

10 { Barnali Dutta/FG } write to us at letters@fridaygurgaon he Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) has just shared its Budget proposals. Not too many in the Councillor fraternity are happy, and neither are some sections of Gurgaon residents. The common perception seems to be that the priorities may be misplaced. The ‘lal dora’ area/ limit in villages could be a thorny issue. It is the (municipal) limit of the village, which was defined decades ago in revenue records. Today many (if not the majority) in Gurgaon’s villages live beyond this boundary. For some time now, some of the Councillors have been petitioning for an expansion of the demarcated service area of MCG. According to the Councillor of Ward 34, “Earlier the population in our village was just 4,000. Now it is over 15,000, with more than 12,000 living outside the ‘lal dora’ boundary. It is unfortunate that the State (through the MCG) refuses to serve those who have voted them to power.” The Budget expenditure proposals for the period 2015-16 seem to

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27 March-2 April 2015

The Municipal Budget indicate that the municipal authorities may not be willing to fund developmental activities beyond the ‘lal dora’. Further, there seems to have been little discussion, let alone prior scrutiny, of the Budget proposals with most of the Councillors. A copy of the Budget was given to each of the Councillors, including the Mayor team, earlier this week, but most have not even read it yet. Vimal Yadav, the Mayor of Gurgaon, tells FG that MCG needs to generate roughly Rs 1,500 crores to fund its programmes. He states that the Budget outlay for the period 201516 is almost double that of last year. He mentions that there were some key projects that required serious attention this year. “We have to work on three underpasses, which will require substantial capital outlay,” he says. He also believes that the development of basic infrastructure would be the irst priority and he also assures that the points highlighted by the Gurgaon Joint Commissioner, Police, Bharti Arora, would be actioned. He also admitted that the Chief Accounts Of-

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icer of MCG did meet him a few days ago. He is efusive about the importance of Gurgaon and declares that he would like to make Gurgaon the face of Haryana, as it has huge potential. However, in the same breath he laments the apathy of national agencies towards Gurgaon, which is afecting its development. The Mayor’s deputies, Yashpal Batra and Parminder Kataria, appeared dismayed at MCG’s proposals, which they believe do not relect suicient allocation of funds for citycentric services. According to several observers, the Budget proposals lack a sense of priority. While more funds have got allocated for things like books and periodicals, professional consultancy, establishment and ofice maintenance, the fund allocation for key civic infrastructure, such as water, sewerage and sanitation, has in fact been reduced. Thankfully there are some positives as well. MCG proposes to set aside a sum of nearly Rs 100 crores for ‘purchases’, of vehicles, and for the setting up of a solid waste management plant. The re-

C ivic/S ocial pair and maintenance of roads, and sewer and water pipelines, has been allocated Rs 146 crores. Other areas of expenditure pertain to the maintenance of ‘other assets’, including engineering, at Rs 408 crores. MCG hopes to fund its increased expenditure largely through stamp duty collection at Rs 712 crores, property tax at Rs 200 crores, income from investments at Rs 65 crores, advertisement tax Rs 48 crores, excise duty share of Rs 35 crores, development charges at Rs 127 crores and the CLU/TP scheme at Rs 163 crores. The Budget has remained silent on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pet subject, the ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.’ There is no separate allocation for this, though the investment on the solid waste plant could be an indirect allocation, believe observers. The Budget proposals probably failed to send the right signal to the people, by placing emphasis on oice and establishment expenditure. This is being seen as the MCG oicials’ keenness to operate from plush oices, rather than focusing on the plights of the common man. On the whole, MCG has estimated revenue of Rs 1,416 crores, while the expenditure budget is Rs 1,313 crores, leaving a small surplus of about Rs 100 crores. u

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S piritual

27 March-2 April 2015

Fame-Shame Balance

To be or not to be angry { Shobha Lidder }

{ Dr. Rajesh Bhola }

t is often diicult for us to draw the line between me and mine. We feel and act about certain things and people very much like we feel and act about ourselves. Our fame, our children and our work may be as dear to us as our bodies, and arouse the same feelings of pride, or the same acts of reprisal if attacked. In its widest possible sense, a man’s self is the sum total of all that he can call his: not only his body and his psychic powers, but his clothes and house, his wife and children, his ancestors and friends, his reputation and works, and his lands and bank accounts. The ‘possession’ of all of these things give him similar emotions. If they wax and prosper, he feels triumphant; if they wane and dwindle (or die away), he feels depressed – though not necessarily to the same degree for each person or thing. The body is an integral part of the material self within each of us, and certain parts of the body seem more intimately ours than the rest. Our immediate family too is a part of our self; when any member dies, we lose a part of us. A man’s social self is the recognition that he gets from his mates. We are not only gregarious animals, liking to be in the sight of our fellows, but we also have an innate propensity to get ourselves noticed - favorably of course - by our kind. If no one turned round when we entered, answered when we spoke or minded what we did, and instead acted as if we were nonexisting things, a deep despair, even rage, would well up in us. Inherently, innately we know when we are in balance. Of course we will have our ups and downs; we will be nice and mean, kind and cruel, or generous and stingy. But sometimes we can be fooled into thinking, either from our own experiences or from other people’s perceptions, that we are just onesided. We can become falsely proud, hiding our internal shame, or act as if shamed, hiding our internal pride. The moment we see only one side of ourselves, we become vulnerable. Fortunately, Nature throws up events to help us see both sides and to keep them balanced. While our mind maintains an inherent balance, our awareness sometimes misinterprets and overlooks it. What took maybe years or decades to build can be destroyed overnight. It is wiser to pursue sustainable achievement by maintaining a balanced orientation. Otherwise we may have to hide behind ‘celebrity walls’ or live in secluded locations to prevent the world from seeing the other side that we innately know is there. As Nietzsche said, if you can own your hero and your villain,

Anger is not my strength Anger is not my power Anger is not my rod of control Anger is not a master’s role Anger is not healthy Anger is rooted in irritability It reeks of frustration And spells of inner agitation Anger is never justiied However the stimuli is provoking And the nemesis is stoking The inner embers of conlagrations Human suffering is a state of mind, resulting from ignorance and lack of understanding. When spiritual understanding is lacking we resort to addictive behaviour, such as drug use, alcohol, gambling, smoking, drunk driving, lying and other risky habits and behaviour, to ill the void that we feel inside. Our immediate circle of companions is then limited to mostly other ‘wounded’ creatures that we hold dear, because of our shared pain. The common thread that holds us together also keeps us stuck in dysfunctional behaviour, perpetuating a cycle of even more pain and suffering.

your saint and your sinner - your two sides – equally, you do not need Nature to get you back into balance. Those who cannot govern themselves attract events that then govern them. Do not be fooled by one-sided people. When you meet somebody that you look up to, you should know that you are probably being blind to his downsides. And do not be fooled by the mirror. See both the sides within yourself also. When I looked honestly and fully, I discovered that I had both the good and the bad within. I had been kind and cruel, generous and stingy, open and closed, considerate and inconsiderate, honest and dishonest, and sweet and bitter. There are as many social selves of a person as there are individuals who carry an image of him in their mind. He may show diferent sides of himself to diferent groups of individuals. Many a youth who is demure before his parents and teachers, swears like a pirate when among his friends. We parents do not show ourselves to our children as we do to our club companions, and behave very diferently with our employers as compared to our intimate friends. It is common to hear people discriminate between their diferent selves. For example – ‘As a man I pity you, but as an oicial I must

show you no mercy; as a politician I regard him as an ally, but as a moralist I loathe him’. What may be called ‘club opinion’ is one of the strongest social forces - the thief must not steal from other fellow thieves; the gambler must pay his gambling debts (though he pays no other debts to this world). The code of honour of fashionable society is full of permissions as well as vetoes - you must not lie in general, but you may lie as much as you please if asked about your relations with a lady; you must accept a challenge from an equal, but if challenged by an inferior you may scornfully ignore him. Shame is associated with the loss of respect from others and the eradication of self-respect. It even prohibits intimacy with God, because we feel unworthy. Unlike guilt, which is resolved by confession and repentance, shame becomes an identity. Shame torments you internally through your conscience and externally through condemnation by others. Shame moves into your life and establishes a base, resulting in what some psychologists call a ‘shamebased’ personality - meaning that every facet of your person is afected by the poison of shame. In the inal analysis, it matters not how much fame, fortune or success we achieve. The human condition remains the same, no matter who we are, where we live, what our economic and social status is, whether we are male or female, or what our religious preferences happen to be. We need to learn to cultivate endurance and indiference to both fame and shame. Only then will no one be able to hurt us. Only then will we truly be in balance.u Dr. Rajesh Bhola is President of Spastic Society of Gurgaon and is working for the cause of children with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, mental retardation and multiple disabilities for more than 30 years. He can be contacted at rabhola@yahoo.com

The adversary, the scalding situation Is no hallucination The insults, the hurt and the humiliation Are real I want the external factor to amend If he apologises, and mends his style I will be redeemed and healed In truth my anger is my emotion My own creation, it went out of control With my permission Such an awareness and admission to self Will help to accept, change concept That I am my own master I can mellow my anger factor It is a disaster to be a slave to anger Harbour rancour Burn in hell, remain unwell A constant victim of bio-chemicals That consume my sanity Ruin my equanimity If I can wield my emotion I will be my own benediction Feel peace, be stable So write your own story To be or not be angry. Shobha Lidder Writer, Journalist, Teacher, Trainer, Social Activist, Reiki Master, Pranic Healer

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27 March-2 April 2015

C omment

Life is One Big Cricket Match

EDITORIAL Atul Sobti

Many, especially in India, fail to get of the mark, and many others fall after scoring just a few runs. At Ten we are still tentative. At Twenty we set out to score. At Thirty it’s time to settle down…hopefully for a long innings. At Forty we feel fortiied, though there’s yet no time for any winks. At Fifty we take fresh guard. At Sixty we start playing a mature, senior innings. At Seventy our long vigil starts taking its toll; we sometimes have to retire hurt. At Eighty we’re principally there, though sometimes we ask for a crutch – or a ‘runner’. In the nervous Nineties we are content with singles – we are happy to take it one at a time. Not many become Centurions. Earlier, only folk from the developed countries could hit centuries – now many Indians are hitting them also. Tomorrow even double or even triple centuries could become the norm – with new equipment, technology and rules. u

27 March-2 April 2015

B on V ivant

Kandyan - Dancing in the Isles { Meenu Thakur Sankalp }

he beautiful island of Sri Lanka lost most of the last quarter of the twentieth century to a bloody civil war, and tourism took a big hit. The island nation’s cultural diversity is believed to be more than two thousand years old. The picturesque area of Kande Ude Rata (Central Hill region) was popularly referred to by the British as Kandy region. Kandy was home to the ancient kings of Sri Lanka. It is also popular for the magniicent Temple of the Tooth Relic, which is one of most revered Buddhist sites. Dances in Sri Lanka have been nurtured by the indigenous habitants for many centuries. The dance of the Kandy region acquired the patronage of the erstwhile Lankan rulers. There are three main styles of Classical dances in Sri Lanka - the Pahatha Rata Natum, which is known as the Classical dance of the Southern plains of Lanka; the Sabaragamuwa Natum; and the Uda Rata Natum which is translated as the dance of the Central hilly regions. Uda Rata Natum is popularly known as the Kandyan dance. Though originating from the Central regions, it has now spread all over the island country. The costumes worn by the dancers, the instruments played and the style of facial and body movements make this Dance unique. The growing popularity of Kandyan dance in the latter half of the twentieth century was due to the eforts of the legendary Chitrasena Dias, who modiied its movements. Chitrasena’s eforts broke through the caste barrier. The Kandyan dance had earlier, in feudal times, been performed only by men of a particular caste. The deep-rooted tribal connect of the Dance made it accessible only to men. Unfortunately, this Dance was driven to extinction by the British. After the independence of Sri Lanka (also known as Ceylon) from the British, the political set-up attempted to institutionalise and re-assert the Island’s past culture. Of the diferent stories attributed to the origin of Kandyan dance, two of them point towards India. It is believed that there was a ritual known as Kohomba (named after a Goddess of the same name), and that a king from a place called Malaya Rata (believed to be in India) brought

Naiyandi dance is performed on ceremonial occasions in temples – like the lighting of daily lamps and the preparation of ceremonial food. The dancers are dressed in white clothes, beads, turbans, silver chains and anklets. Uddekki is a dance that symbolises the hand drum of the Gods, and the dancer plays this drum and sings. The Pantheru dance, though a

this dance to Lanka. Another story speaks of three shamans who came to Sri Lanka from India, to cure a king who had been sufering from a dream of a violent leopard that had been let loose by the black magic of a queen. After the performance of the Kohomba Kankariya ceremony, the king was cured permanently. That made the local people of Kandy believe that the Dance was divine. Kandyan dance is also linked to temple worship. It is a key element of the Esala Perahera festival of Sri Lanka. There are also many variations of the Kandyan dance. The Ves dance, a sacred dance devoted to Goddess Kohomba, is marked by its show of athleticism and acrobatics, which can be compared with the whirling of Sui dervishes or the pirouettes of Kathak dancers. The ‘Ves’ (male) dancers wear a sacred headgear, which is supposed to be the property of Goddess Kohomba. The Ves dancers perform regularly at the Kankariya temple. The Naiyandi and Uddekki are more ceremonial in nature. The

victory dance, has subdued and subtle movements. It is performed to a tambourine and cymbals, and invokes a Goddess. Vannams, or songs of praise, have been adopted into the Kandyan dance. There are eighteen classical Vannam that have been attributed to an old saint, Ganithalankara. With the encouragement of an erstwhile ruler, King Sri Weeraparakrama

Narendrasingha, Vannams became an integral part of the Kandyan dance. The Vannams are based on nature and animal life. The Hanumana Vannama and Gajaga Vannama, which depict the monkey and the elephant, are the most popular Vannam variations. The drumming in all the Kandyan styles is rhythmic and the drummers are dressed in traditional costumes and colourful turbans. The instruments used in Kandyan Dance are the Geta Beraya (drum), Thalampota (cymbals) and twin drums called Tammethama. The costumes of the Kandyan dance are unique, with the chest covered by a beautiful net. The dancers also wear anklets, beads, bangles and colourful costumes. The Ves costume’s sacred metallic headdress is supposed to be worn only after a religious ceremony (if one does not wish to fall ill). Over the past few decades the Kandyan dance has been embraced by women and new costumes have been designed for them. Consequently, the Dance now has more variety in its themes, choreography and music. The Kandyan dance could well become one of the most recognised Classical dances in South Asia.u The writer is a renowned Kuchipudi danseuse and choreographer

Licence to Learn - II { Ankur Mithal }

had thought my driving education was complete after my initial skirmishes in Gurgaon. But I was wrong…once again. In just a few weeks I have learnt lots more. Let me start by addressing the lament of many a road veteran today – the lack of any ‘road etiquette’ (like giving way, slowing down, using indicators and headlights etc.). They believe that not only is it not practised, the drivers of today do not even seem to be aware of any such etiquette or courtesies. I disagree. Not only are they known to the drivers of today, they actively practice them. To ensure that there is no ambiguity, their basic guidelines are: ‘Give way to traic on the right, when I am on the right: give way to traic on the left, when I am on the left; dip your headlights at night on an undivided stretch of road when you see my oncoming high beam vehicle; give way to downhill traic when I am going downhill; pedestrians or cyclists around a puddle of water on the road should scatter fast on seeing my oncoming car, as I like to splash through at high speed; give way to a

siren-blazing ambulance and to my car in its ‘wake’; you can double or triple-park your cars only alongside other cars that have followed me to a ‘No Parking’ zone (which includes all footpaths or sidewalks). If society has enabled you to earn the money to buy a car, it needs to provide for parking it as well. Further, to avoid being caught driving drunk, keep ‘paan’, cardamom, mint and other aromatic condiments handy. You can also eat and text while driving. Of course, not all can do this - it is an art.’ So, whose side are you on? Aren’t the new millennium rules cool? Go ahead, drive like a banshee. If you don’t know what banshee means, don’t worry…chances are that you drive like one anyway. Hire goons to shoo people out of the way of your car (while you sit inside wearing a white kurta-pyjama and a Gandhi cap). Have a Khan Market red beacon and siren installed in and on your car. Most importantly, never ever follow a traic rule simply because it makes sense and is the right thing to do and will make for a safer and more wholesome driving environment. We all have to shoulder such societal responsibilities from time to time. We cannot expect the authorities to take care of everything.u

W ellness

27 March-2 April 2015

Boosting Immunity

Health & Vitality... Naturally!

Key to preventing Tuberculosis

Harnessing Hormonal Health { Jaspal Bajwa }

ature has a wonderful way of letting us know when our mind-body complex is of-key. Some of the symptoms are: persistent fatigue, moodiness, sleep issues, unhealthy weight gain or loss, hair loss, inability to focus, blood sugar spikes, a low libido. All these are related to hormonal balance, which is key to helping us feel healthy and energised. Hormones are like chemical messengers in the body. Hormone-releasing glands (the Endocrine system) are spread throughout the body. These glands include the pineal, hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, par, thymus, adrenals, pancreas, ovaries and testicles. Hormones help regulate important life processes – such as reproduction, metabolism, sleep, blood pressure and heart rate. The endocrine system ‘thermostatically’ regulates hormone levels. Depletion of hormone-producing glands often leads to the onset of chronic diseases – for example, Type 2 Diabetes can be triggered by stressed out adrenals and a compromised pancreas. Heart disease, depression and cancers are also inluenced by a weakened Endocrine system. Excessive fatty tissues in the body can act like Endocrine organs, producing more oestrogen in the body. By maintaining a healthy weight, an over-stimulation and hence overproduction of certain hormones can be avoided. In sum, healthy Endocrine glands help ensure that the body gets adequate amounts of adrenalin, insulin, testosterone and oestrogen. Without these important hormones, our ability to handle stress, draw energy from food, bounce back swiftly and reproduce can be severely impacted. The thyroid is the largest Endocrine gland, and thyroid disease and inlammation can have a signiicant efect on the overall functioning of the Endocrine system. Along with an active lifestyle, diet is one of the best ways to inluence a healthy balance, resulting in a better ability to handle stress, ight of infections and improve the overall quality of life.

Tip of the Week It is important to curb the consumption of sugar, reined carbohydrates, alcohol, cafeine and dairy products, as all of these can wreak havoc on the Endocrine system. The body needs ‘real’, fresh food, which it intuitively knows how to process. On the contrary, ‘junk’ food products or hormone and antibiotic ridden meat products create chaos in the body. It is wise to buy organically grown produce. Eating plenty of fresh and lightly steamed vegetables is beneicial, as these contain minerals that prevent fatigue. While consumption of organ meats can be beneicial, this is conditional to having access to antibiotic free, hormone-free, range fed meats. Some traditional healing systems also use glandular extracts - especially those of adrenal, pituitary, thymus and pancreatic origin.

Nature’s Wonder Food(s) of the Week: Foods to promote Hormonal Health

A good starting point is a diet based on a variety of whole foods, ideally fresh and plant based. A high ibre content helps with a feeling of fullness and helps lower insulin levels naturally. Consumption of antioxidant-rich foods, like seaweed, grape seed extract, herbs and spices can fuel a healthy sleep cycle. Vital nutrients include fat-soluble Vitamins A, D, E & K, B Complex and Vitamin C. Some of the important minerals are zinc, chromium, selenium, magnesium, manganese, copper and potassium. Essential fatty acids especially Omega 3 and 6 - are key. Amino acids, such as Alanine, Glycine & Dimethylglycine (DMG), and glutamic acid, are important too. Examples of natural foods that help build a healthy & balanced hormonal system are: Calcium, Vitamin A and Vitamin C rich foods: Carrots, broccoli, kale, parsley, turnip greens, collard greens, Swiss chard, egg yolk, oranges, grapefruit, cantaloupe, cherries, peppers and tomatoes Magnesium rich foods: Blackstrap molasses, sunlower seeds, whole grains, almonds, pecans, hazelnuts, oats, brown rice, millet, white and red beans, wild rice, beet greens, lentils, lima beans and peaches Manganese rich foods: wheat germ and bran, nuts (hazelnuts, pine nuts & pecans), mussels, oysters and clams, cocoa powder, dark chocolate, roasted pumpkin and squash seeds, lax seeds, sesame seeds and chili powder – as also cloves and safron Vitamin D (helps in the production of the thyroid hormone) rich foods: cod liver oil, organic eggs, fortiied foods, mushrooms and oily ish (apart from sunlight, of course) Selenium (aids the normal functioning of the thyroid) rich foods: organ meats, clams, grass-fed beef, pasture-raised pork, raw Brazil nuts, tuna, shrimp, sardines and wild-caught salmon Iodine (essential for making thyroid hormones) rich foods: kelp, cod, wild-caught salmon, sardines, sea vegetables, scallops, shrimp, whole grains and yogurt – and of course iodised salt Phytoestrogen rich foods (for helping to balance hormones) : lax seeds, sunlower seeds, bean sprouts, legumes such as garbanzo beans and peas; organic soya in moderate quantities (especially tofu, tempeh, miso and soya sauce) is also good. In addition, certain herbs are considered beneicial for strengthening the liver and restoring glandular balance. A few examples are: alfa-alfa, black cohosh, capsicum, black radish extract, burdock root, goldenseal, Irish moss, liquorice, lobelia, lycopene, mullein, parsley, red clover and Siberian ginseng. Similarly, organic cacao nibs and coconut oil help in maintaining thyroid health. Organic goji berry stimulates the pituitary and pineal glands and organic maca stimulates the hypothalamus and pituitary glands, which in turn help stimulate the libido and fertility.u For Education purposes only; always consult a Healthcare Practitioner for medical conditions

ndia has the highest burden of Tuberculosis (TB), with the World Health Organisation (WHO) citing that India accounts for a quarter of the world’s annual incidence of TB. Worldwide, Tuberculosis (TB) is second only to HIV/AIDS as the greatest killer from a single infectious agent. According to estimates of WHO, 9 million people fell ill with TB and 1.5 million died from the disease in 2013. Despite being curable, Tuberculosis remains endemic and threatening. Over 95% of TB deaths occur in low and middle-income countries like India, where the treatment fails to reach a large number of people. The decline in its incidence has been slow, and the emergence of drugresistant TB is a major concern. While a bulk of Tuberculosis infections in India are found in the economically weaker sections of the population, who live in crowded conditions and are often deprived of treatment, the disease also thrives within the urban upper class - especially in those with uncontrolled diabetes, HIV infection and low immunity (like cancer patients). A person living with HIV is about 26 to 31 times more likely to develop active TB, because HIV destroys the body’s immunity. This explains why TB is the cause for one fourth of all HIV-related deaths. Even the elderly that sufer from poor nutrition are susceptible. TB is a contagious infection that starts usually

How to minimise the risk and prevent infection: Eat healthy: Eat a balanced diet full of vegetables and fruits, to ensure an abundant supply of vitamins and minerals. Live a healthy lifestyle: A growing number of our present day concerns stem from lifestyle disorders. Living a sedentary life, lack of sun exposure and absence of physical exercise weaken the body and make it prone to illness. A proper control of diabetes is essential, to prevent the lowering of the immune status. Never ignore symptoms: Always report any symptoms that may indicate an infection. Persistent cough, recurrent fever, fatigue, weakness and loss of appetite or weight are symptoms that should never be ignored. Be cautious against infections: If you work in high-risk zones such as hospitals, you should be all the more cautious. Maintain high levels of personal hygiene, avoid close contact with the infected and follow infection control mechanisms. from the lungs, but may spread to other organs of the body. The TB bacteria may lie latent or dormant in the lungs and may take years to become active. Patients with latent bacteria do not spread the infection to others. However, those with active bacteria can spread the infection to people who come in contact with them. Those with pulmonary TB are contagious for 2-3 weeks after the start of treatment. The patient is advised to wear a mask for this period. A failure to complete the treatment results in drug resistance. Anti-Tuberculosis drug resistance arises due to improper use of drugs in drug-susceptible TB patients. Once the patient takes the drug for a period of time and then skips it without completing the course, the bacteria in his or her body develop resistance to this particular drug - this drug will now have no impact on the infection when consumed again. Essentially, drug resistance arises in areas with weak TB control programs. Accord-

27 March-2 April 2015

Jammed ‘Old’ Delhi Road

Toll & Jam-free NH8

prakhar paNDEY

ing to WHO, India had an estimated 63,000 cases of notiied Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDRTB) in 2010, the highest in the South East Asia region. Globally, in 2013, an estimated 480 000 people developed MDR-TB. On the recent World Tuberculosis Day, the doctors at Columbia Asia Hospitals, Gurgaon stressed that, while TB infection remains endemic in India, greater awareness, timely reporting of symptoms, timely treatment and completion of treatment can help prevent the spread of the disease. “In India the rates of infection are actually so high that the bacteria is prevalent in the air. This is why a large number of people here have latent bacteria. The bacteria remains passive inside the body as long as the body has strong resistance against it, and becomes active whenever (and for whatever reason) the body’s immunity levels plummet. That is why people with weakened immune systems have a much greater risk of falling ill with TB. A hurdle to its cure is that within a short time of the commencement of the treatment the patient begins to feel better and the symptoms are relieved to a great extent. The patient, feeling that he/she is cured, then tends to discontinue the treatment, often leading to a relapse with multi-drug-resistant TB, which is more virulent, diicult to treat and expensive,” said Dr Vivek Singh, Consultant Pulmonology, Columbia Asia Hospital, Gurgaon. “In urban areas many people can access only unregulated private practitioners, who have limited knowledge of the advances in the treatment of TB. The migrant population in cities needs a focused strategy for the detection and treatment of TB,” added Dr Singh. The good news is that TB is curable. It is a bacterial infection that can be cured with a 6-9 months treatment. “According to WHO, an estimated 37 million lives were saved through TB diagnosis and treatment between 2000 and 2013. However, while the number of TB infections and well as TB deaths is declining today, it is not at the rate we would like to see. Further, even in people who are able to get treated and recover from the disease, TB afects their quality of life and productivity for several months. It is very important that we continue to boost our immunity with a healthy balanced diet and physical exercise, to prevent any latent infections from turning active,” said Dr Vivek Singh. u

27 March-2 April 2015

G -Scape

Saffron in the City BJP Party Chief Amit Shah and the entire top leadership of the Party, including Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Party National Secretary & Incharge BJP Haryana Anil Jain, BJP State President Subash Barala, Union MoS Defence & Gurgaon MP Rao Inderjit Singh, and several other top leaders, came to Gurgaon to take stock of the membership drive that has been launched across the entire State. Amit Shah asked the Party men to ensure that the goals set by the leadership, for both the Party and the government, are achieved. The BJP President set an increased membership target of 50 lakhs for the State. Nationally, the Party claims that it has crossed the 8 crores membership mark.

Suresh Bhatt State BJP General Secretary, Haryana