News Kashmir Magazine

Alarmingly enough, 9.4 million deaths each year, or 16.5% of all deaths can be attributed to  heart problems. If you are a shift worker, donating blood could be an easy way to reduce the risk of heart disease, says a study. The high incidence of heart disease seen in shift workers could be due to the tiredness resulting from the disruption to the body’s biological clock as jetlag has a severe effect on red blood cells.These effects can be counterbalanced by fresh, young red blood cells – making blood donations a potential therapy for shift workers, the findings showed.

Heart disease has an ugly face more die of heart disease than of AIDS and all cancers combined.

Worryingly, By 2020, heart disease will be the leading cause of death throughout the world.

“Blood donations in humans also stimulate the generation of new fresh erythrocytes. Therefore, blood donations on a regular basis might be a very simple measure to help decrease the cardiovascular risk in human shift workers,” said Margit Egg from University of Innsbruck in Austria.

 

The scientists worked on zebrafish (Danio rerio), a model organism which, like humans, is active during the day. The fish were subjected to alternate short (seven hour) and long (21 hour) days, resembling shift patterns common in industry

 

 

It was found that “jet-lagged” animals showed higher numbers of aged red blood cells, which accumulated in the blood vessels. “Normally there is a balance between newly produced red blood cells and old ones which are removed from the blood,” Egg noted. Old cells are less flexible and become stuck in the spleen and liver, where they are engulfed by white blood cells. Jetlag appears to disrupt this removal process. . Heart disease is the number one cause of death for both men and women in the United States, claiming approximately 1 million lives annually. So we should donate blood to save our heart.

We need to ensure proper diet and proper mechanisms to save human hearts from havoc.

In dramatic turn of events few days back, SPO, Adil Bashir, ran away with seven rifles and a pistol from the official residence of a PDP MLA , Aijaz Mir, from Jawahar Nagar area. This episode has created ripples in the security apparatus and goes on to prove how grave the nature of the overall situation in Kashmir is.

It has had its own repercussions. “Henceforth no unit/district SSP shall deploy any SPO for personal security officer (PSO) duties,” the order, issued by additional director general of police (ADGP) Munir Khan, said. Besides, Range DIGs have been asked to furnish list of all SPOs to the headquarters by October 5. “In case any SPO does not report back, honorarium may not be released and nominal roll of such SPOs be furnished to this headquarters so that their disengagement orders are issued,” reads the order,

On the otherhand, Khan said there were two reasons behind the move: to prevent accidental fire by these SPOs as they are not trained to shoot and to prevent any untoward incident like the one that occurred at Jawhar Nagar. On their part, the police have constituted a Special Investigation Team with superintendent of police South Srinagar as its head to investigate Jawahar Nagar case.

The SIT will investigate how the plan to loot weapons from the official residence of a legislator in Srinagar was executed by Adil Bashir, a resident of Zainapora Shopian, who has since joined Hizbul Mujahideen. Without a doubt the Arm loot at Jawahar Nagar by SPO proves the gravity of the situation .

Encouraging women entrepreneurs is the need of the hour in current times and same is being felt in India as women related issues have dominated the limelight in Indian discourse of late. Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme, (PMEGP), aimed at generating employment in rural and urban areas of the country, has helped women entrepreneurs set up 30,437 projects during 2016-17 and 2017-18 with financial assistance of over Rs. 85,305 lakh.  Pertinently, This was stated by the Minister of State (I/C) for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises(MSME) Giriraj Singh in a written reply in theLok Sabha today. Women entrepreneurs from the micro, small and medium sectors from Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, Odisha and Gujarat have been beneficiaries of the PMEGP. Under the scheme, the women entrepreneurs are provided 25% and 35% subsidies for the project set up in urban and rural areas respectively. For women beneficiaries, their contribution is 5% of the project cost while for general category it is 10%.The maximum cost of the project under PMEGP scheme is Rs.25.00 lakh for manufacturing sector units and Rs.10.00 lakh for units under service sector.

All round steps are needed and some are taken to encourage women in business.

Khadi and Village Industries Commission(KVIC) is also imparting training for skill development through 38 departmental and non-departmental training centresunder various disciplines.  During 2017-18, a total of 35955 women candidates were trained. The Minister further informed that the entrepreneurs, including women entrepreneurs, can sell their products through 8058 sales outlets run by Khadi Institutions including 7 departmental outlets of KVIC located at Mumbai, Kolkata, Ernakulum, Bhopal, Goa, Patna and Delhi.

Giriraj Singh said that under domestic fairs and exhibition component of Marketing Assistance and Technology Upgradation (MATU) scheme, 100% of the space rent is paid for SC/ST/Women/ NER/PH category MSE units limited to Rs.20,000. In the case of technology trade fairs and exhibitions the limit is Rs.50,000. Under international trade fairs and exhibitionscomponent of MATU scheme, 100% of the space rent is paid for SC/ST/Women/NER MSE units subject to maximum Rs.1.00 lakh.

The word Karbala is not just a name of place or any simple concept  but a concept that fills our heart, mind with million emotions and eyes with billion tears , The martyrdom of Imam Hussain (as) in the Karbala has inspired entire humanity and world renowned  thinkers and leaders have taken this tragedy as an inspiration in their respective struggles of justice. The tragedy of Karbala took place some 49 years after the death of Prophet Mohammad [PBUH] in 61 Hijri (AD 680). Karbala and unprecedented heroic battle of Imam Hussain as finds no parallel in history and has inspired one and all. James Corne (Author of History of China) wrote –

“Hussain and his companions faced eight kinds of enemies. On the four sides the army of Yezid was their enemy which was ceaselessly raining arrows; the fifth foe was the sun of Arabia that was scorching the bodies; the sixth foe was the desert of Karbala the sands of which were scorching like a heated furnace; the seventh and eighth foes were the overpowering hunger and the unbearable thirst. Thus on those who fought with thousands of infidels in such conditions has ended bravado; on such a people no gallant (hero) can ever have pre-eminence.

 

 

African noted peace icon and leader Nelson Mandela wrote –“ I(Nelson Mandela) has spent more than 20 years in prison, then on one night I decided to surrender by signing all the terms and conditions of government. BUT suddenly I thought about Imam Hussain and Karbala movement and Imam Hussain give me strength to stand for right of freedom and liberation and I did.”

Battle of Karbala has inspired one and all.

 

Wular India’s largest fresh water lake is not just pride of Kashmir but entire India and it is located in North Kashmir’s Bandipore district in the Indian  state of Jammu and Kashmir. It is also one of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia and one of the most awesome  lake of world . As a matter of fact, The lake basin was formed as a result of tectonic activity and is fed by the Jhelum River. The lake’s size varies from 12 to 100 square miles (30 to 260 square kilometers), depending on the season.

Wular Lake is an important fish habitat, the main species being the Common carp (Cyprinus carpio), rosy barb (Barbus conchonius), mosquito fish (Gambusia affinis), Nemacheilus species, Crossocheilus latius, and various snowtrout [disambiguation needed] species in the genera Schizopyge and Schizothorax.

It is worth pointing out that Fish from Wular Lake make up a vital part  of the diet for innumerable  living on its shores and elsewhere in the Kashmir valley. It is also source of livelihood for thousands of families .

In recognition of its biological, hydrological and socio-economic values, the lake was included in 1986 as a Wetland of National Importance under the Wetlands Programme of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India for intensive conservation and management purposes.

However it continuously  faces environmental threats including the conversion of large parts of the lake’s catchment areas into agriculture land, pollution from fertilizers and animal wastes, hunting of waterfowl and migratory birds and weed infestation in the lake itself.

 

But the lake is facing dire threats from human greed and indifferent attitude of authorties. The pollution from fertilizers and animals as well as human wastes, the conversion of vast catchment into agriculture land and the hunting pressure on waterfowl and migratory birds are the biggest problems in the region.

According to experts, the current unattended bleak situation of Wular Lake can have catastrophic impacts on the overall natural beauty paradigm of Kashmir as the lake forms an important part of diverse beauty of Kashmir. Experienced voices state that if current situation continues Wular  lake would face great damage and thus all urge upon masses and authorities to save this precious jewel of Kashmir from further havoc.

 

Love or sexual orientation between Men and Men, Women and women have always remained a deeply controversial topic in human history. Homosexuality is not an offence in India and it is not a mental disorder, five Supreme Court judges declared today in a spectacular leap for gay rights in the country and a rainbow moment in its history. The Supreme Court overruled its own 2013 decision and partially struck down Section 377, a controversial British-era law that banned consensual gay sex. The ban is irrational, indefensible and manifestly arbitrary, the judges said. “Take me as I am,” said Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, toasting gay pride. “We have to bid adieu to prejudices and empower all citizens,” said Chief Justice Misra, reading out what he said was a consensus judgment. The judges also said: “Homosexuality not a mental disorder, treat LGBT without stigma.”Section 377, which is part of an 1861 law, bans “carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal” — which was interpreted to refer to homosexual sex..A part of that law still remains; non-consensual or consent obtained by force continues to be an offence, as will “carnal intercourse with children, animals and bestiality”.

The verdict is being cheered by millions across the country, far beyond the gay community, which has fought for decades for the right to be treated equally.The historic judgment acknowledged their struggle as it noted “158 years ago, the law deprived people of love.” The judges said: “Respect for individual choice is the essence of liberty; LGBT community possesses equal rights under the constitution.”

This verdict will have great relief for gays and lesbians living in India.

 

In an interesting development, social media gaint WhatasApp has rejected  Centre’s plea to trace origins of messages spreading rumours, cites privacy policy.The company’s spokesperson said people use the app for all kinds of sensitive conversations, including with their doctors, banks and families.

 

Facebook-owned messaging application WhatsApp on Thursday has indicated that it will not comply with the Indian government’s suggestion to trace the origins of messages that are used to spread false information, PTI reported quoting the company’s spokesperson. The company official cited its policy on end-to-end encryption as a reason for its stance on the matter.

 

The development follows a meeting between Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and WhatsApp Chief Executive Officer Chris Daniels in New Delhi on Tuesday. Prasad had said that they discussed solutions to technological challenges related to the messaging application in India and that he had asked the firm to appoint a grievance officer in India to tackle problems.

 

The company’s official said people use the app for all kinds of sensitive conversations, including with their doctors, banks and families. “Building traceability would undermine end-to-end encryption and the private nature of WhatsApp, creating the potential for serious misuse,” the spokesperson said. “WhatsApp will not weaken the privacy protections we provide. Our focus remains working closer with others in India to educate people about misinformation and help keep people safe.”

This is undoubtedly a far reaching development .

In what will draw the roadmap for many heated future discussions and researches the Buddhist Spiritual  leader Dalai Lama has claimed that India and Pakistan would have been one country had Pakistan’s founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah been made prime minister instead of Jawahar Lal Nehru.

The exiled Tibetan Buddhist religious leader made the remarks during a question and answer session at a student interaction at Goa Institute of Management.

“Mahatma Gandhi wanted to give the prime ministership to Jinnah. But Nehru refused. He was self-centred. He said, ‘I wanted to be prime minister’. India Pakistan would have been united (if Jinnah was made prime minister). Pandit Nehru is very experienced. But mistakes do happen,” Dalai Lama was quoted as having said by The Indian Express.

Dalai Lama chose Nehru’s “decision” to explain that “mistakes do happen” in reply to a student who asked him how can one be sure of the decisions one makes, and if they can avoid making mistakes.

On the otherhand of the spectrum, this will once again open the great Pandora box of debate around who is to be blamed for the partition . The4 politics around it is also expected to grow momentum with these latest controversial comments from Dalai Lama.

 

In a worrying development it is learnt ‘81% of total drug samples found substandard across state were lifted from Kashmir’.

 

Reports have indicated that the trade of substandard drugs is growing in Kashmir with each passing year, data compiled by drug and food control organization (DFCO) has shown.

Pertinently, In 2017-18, at least 69 samples of the total drugs and other healthcare consumables lifted for testing by the DFCO were found to be not of standard quality. “Out of these, only 13 samples were from Jammu division, whereas 51 (81 percent) samples were from markets and hospitals of Kashmir division. Four samples were from Leh and one from Kargil.”

 

These figures are part of data sourced from DFCO and points towards the growing menace of substandard drugs in Kashmir. As per the data, over 17 percent of total substandard drugs were part of hospital supplies.

It is a known fact that sub standard drugs have devastating impacts on health.

The list of the “not of standard quality” drugs include antibiotic injections from hospital supplies. Among these are Ceftrioxone injection and Cefoparazone injection. In addition, oral antibiotics such as Amocin CV were also found to have shortcomings vis-à-vis drug description requirements.

Surprisingly, iron and folic acid combination, supplied by JKMSCL in bulk for administering to expecting mothers and adolescent girls primarily have also failed quality tests.

Besides, life saving IV fluids and other injectables from open market are part of the not-of-standard quality list as well.

 

Against the 69 samples found substandard in 2017-18, only 33 had been red flagged in 2016-17. A year earlier in 2015-16, 35 samples had been reported to be substandard.

In the first quarter of 2018-19, 14 drugs have already been reported substandard by DFCO in Kashmir division alone.

In 2017, National Institute of Biologicals published the largest ever survey on the quality of drugs in India.

As per this report, 3.4 percent drugs in J&K were substandard, higher than the national average of 3 percent. The survey put J&K at a dismal 21st rank in terms of availability of quality drugs.

These facts need to considered and evil nipped in the bud.

 

Public sector is very vital  to economic progress of any nation, but in Kashmir the public sector has been hit badly due to varied reasons .  In our region , even the very important public health care and public education system are  in shambles. The Public Health Sector of the Jammu & Kashmir State, especially that of the Kashmir Valley is in mess. Most of the government owned hospitals are failing to meet the expectations and the needs of patients and rural health care is failing to impress . The desperate scenario pertaining to public health sector calls for the implementation of reformative measures.

Pertinently, poor performance of government schools despite being staffed with sufficient manpower  describes the status of our Education System. Just as the seven deadly sins correspond to weaknesses in human nature, the sins of public education are inherent in the nature of the existing system — that it is controlled, operated and funded by government.

Several studies  have suggested that   the state’s PSUs are doing so badly they have to depend on the government to pay employee salaries.

In order to encourage the development of small scale and medium-sized industries in the country, the Government of India had launched a national programme. Public sector has contributed to this programme by fostering the growth of ancillary industries and satellite planets. Such plants have been established around the major public sector undertakings. The need of having such industries and plants is direly felt in the state so as to tackle the grave problem of un-employment in the state. But what we have seen in the state of J&K is utter inefficiency while managing the public sector units.

We need to improve by leaps and bounds our public healthcare.