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Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
HC temporarily restrains demolition 220 families' residences in Malegaon fort
MUMBAI: In a reprieve for 220 families residing in the Bhuikot Killa, the Malegaon fort, the Bombay high court on Friday restrained the revenue department from acting on demolition notices issued. The vacation bench of justice Gauri Godse and justice Somasekhar Sundaresan was hearing a petition filed by resident Mohammad Rajjab Khan, and other residents of the fort. According to the petition, the tourism and cultural affairs department of the state government issued a Government Resolution (GR) on January 20, instructing district collectors to remove all encroachments from the 47 forts protected by the Central Government and 62 forts protected by the archaeology department as per the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Rules, 1969. Following the GR, the Malegaon tehsildar issued eviction and demolition notices to the residents of the fort in March and April 2025, prompting them to approach the high court. Residents contended that they have been residing in the structures for 40 years and have necessary documents like electricity bills, house tax, water tax bills, ration cards etc. They added that an educational institute is running a school and a junior college at the fort's centre, and a separate girls' school is also located within the fort premises. These schools are using the open space in the fort as their playground. Demolition notices were issued to individual residents only, not these establishments, said the petitioners. Advocate Manisha Desai said a regular bench on May 8 granted protection to some residents after noting that schools and a gymkhana were functioning out of the fort area. The petitioner also claimed that the authorities turned a blind eye to several unauthorised structures within the fort and are selectively targeting the residents of the surrounding localities, falling outside the fort precinct. Desai also pointed out that the tehsildar passed fresh orders on May 26 for eviction and demolition of the residential structures. However, these were not served to the petitioners. Against this backdrop, the vacation bench restrained the revenue authorities from taking any coercive steps against the petitioners' structures. It also directed the additional government pleader Kavita N Solunke to take instruction as to whether the Tehsildar had passed any fresh orders for eviction and demolition and to file affidavits in reply to the petitions by June 10, when the petitions would come up for further hearing.
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Unprepared for another Covid: Defunct medical oxygen infrastructure
Unpreparedness : During the COVID-19 pandemic, India swiftly mobilised emergency medical oxygen infrastructure across the country. Plants and systems were rapidly commissioned to meet the unprecedented demand. However, whatever infrastructure was put up during the pandemic is now largely defunct, owing to lack of maintenance, fragmented operations, and insufficient regulatory clarity. No programs are drawn to train and upskill the healthcare professionals in operating and maintenance of PSA generators. As a result, many of these systems cannot deliver the required purity of medical oxygen— providing nothing more than compressed air. Over the last three years all of the generators have mostly neither be regularly operated nor serviced. Mock drills failed to restart this defunct machinery. This has led to a growing dilemma among the medical fraternity. Health Directors across all the Indian states unanimously acknowledge this concern. It signals an urgent need to reimagine how the nation prepares for future health emergencies for medical oxygen —especially in rural regions where the challenges are acute and critical. Two important lessons learnt from COVID – 1. The need to minimize the migration of patients from villages to cities. 2. Need to strengthen public healthcare infrastructure with innovative and India centric technologies to address the emerging challenges. Decentralization : Nearly 65 per cent of India's population resides in villages, where even now access to medical oxygen remains limited. Their availability at the right time and place can mean the difference between life and death. The lack of decentralized oxygen infrastructure forces patients to travel long distances to urban centres, often under dire circumstances. This not only worsens outcomes including exploitation but also places an unsustainable burden on territory hospitals which are mostly in cities. Adding medical oxygen generating capacities is not the solution. The nuance is in understanding that oxygen cylinders save more lives!! This justifies decentralization through commissioning containerised mobile PSA cylinder filling stations at every District headquarters. This will effectively maintain the supply chain logistics of medical oxygen cylinders up to the PHC level hospitals where required and beyond in their respective districts. These containerised plants will get seamlessly integrated with the existing infrastructure and also meet the demand for refilling of medical oxygen cylinders, without remaining idle and contributing to the state exchequer. Deregulation : The path to addressing the future challenges requires more than infrastructure—it requires regulatory reform in equal measure. Central Government has last month released new guidelines 'Medical Oxygen Management' however, a critical lacuna remains—Without provisions for mobile cylinder filling stations, such guidelines risk being disconnected from the practical challenges on the ground. There is an urgent need for the health ministry to put up a strong representation to the ministry of commerce and industry (under which the PESO regulates) to bring in suitable amendments and frame new guidelines to include Mobile containerised PSA captive oxygen generation plants, in keeping with the global practices. This is critical in building a resilient healthcare infrastructure for our country. Medical Oxygen Grid : The post-COVID era demands a fresh blueprint, one that can address the twin challenges of preparedness and last-mile delivery. To address this, CPDMED, TBI at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore has developed a comprehensive national level model focused on strengthening medical oxygen readiness and response across the country. At the heart of this initiative is the creation of a Medical Oxygen Grid —a decentralized system of containerised captive oxygen plants with inbuilt cylinder refilling stations, positioned at every district headquarters. Designed for a resilient plug-and-play use, such modular units can be swiftly integrated into existing healthcare infrastructure and in emergency moved to any secondary hospitals, filling a long-standing gap in India's emergency preparedness. Beyond civilian healthcare, the proposed grid has significant strategic importance. In times of war or natural calamities, this network can serve as a reliable support system for the defence forces and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) application. Skilling Programme : CPDMED has designed a comprehensive national level training programme for skilling and training healthcare professionals. It is offering a certified training progamme on its campus. Leveraging Technology : Our vision bridges this gap through technology and data driven tools. By leveraging geospatial mapping, IoT-based monitoring systems, hub and-spoke distribution models, and predictive analytics, the Medical Oxygen Grid can ensure real-time visibility, accountability, and responsiveness across the supply chain. This digital backbone will be key in transforming the way oxygen is produced, distributed, and consumed—district by district, facility by facility. We propose this National grid will be driven by a Toll-Free number that will ensure : ▪ Availability : 24x7x365 days ▪ Accessibility : Till the last village and the last patient at home. ▪ Accountability : ensuring correct volume, pressure and purity of oxygen. ▪ Affordability : at DPCO rates. India stands at a crossroads. The near defunct state of existing epidemic ready infrastructure is a wake-up call—not a failure, but a powerful reminder of the need to build smart, resilient, and sustainable systems. A decentralized, digitally empowered Medical Oxygen Grid offers not only a solution, but a national strategy to strengthen medical oxygen delivery, protect rural lives, and support national security. This article is written by Dr. Srinivas M Kandada, Principal Consultant & Head of Operations-CPDMED, IISc Bangalore (DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are solely of the author and does not necessarily subscribe to it. shall not be responsible for any damage caused to any person/organisation directly or indirectly)
New Indian Express
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Valmik Thapar: Tiger Man who gave his everything to wildlife
Tigers burned bright for Valmik Thapar, who passed away after losing his fight against cancer at the age of 73 on Saturday. For many people of a certain vintage, Thapar arrived in their drawing rooms near the end of the 20th century with his infectious energy and a rich drawl promising a "journey you will never forget". Mellifluous Ta da ri na played as the title rolled up — Land of the Tiger. The six-part BBC series would go on to transmit his passion for these "superb animals" to the world. It was a passion that had been ignited in the 1970s at the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve. Thapar had gone there, on a whim, at the age of "23-24". But when the "romantic" chanced upon tigers in that setting, the flames of love were lit. Fateh Singh Rathore, the legendary former field director of the reserve, played a big role in nursing the affair along in the early days. Such was the magic that young Thapar, who had no experience with tigers or wildlife, never really came back from the place he would call "home" later. In fact, on my frequent visits to the place, I used to encounter him — either alone or in the company of Fateh Singh Rathore. Thapar would go on to succeed magnificently where it mattered: he made tigers popular among the masses. Through numerous books and films on wildlife, he helped the big cat to regain its lost glory. In a way, through them, he mobilised public support for the tigers. Even the titles of Thapar's books reflect his undying love for tigers. The Secret Life of Tigers, The Tiger's Destiny, Living With Tigers, and many more. In all, he wrote over twenty-five books — Tiger Fire: 500 Years of the Tigers in India was another — and made many documentary films, all of which will remain as vivid testaments. Famous dissenter The 'Tiger Man' of India, as he was often hailed, never shied away from taking pointed, non-conformist stands on issues concerning India's wildlife management. It did not matter whether the final analysis proved him right or wrong, he would not budge from his stated position. Recently, Thapar was among the first to put his foot down on the Central Government's ambitious programme to bring African cheetahs to India. "The project is doomed to fail; take it from me, cheetahs will not survive on Indian soil," he stressed repeatedly. Till the end, he remained a man of strong beliefs and did not mind crossing swords with authorities and fellow wildlife experts. Another interesting case in point was the Tiger Task Force, set up by the UPA Government in 2005, in the aftermath of Sariska Tiger Reserve losing all of its tigers to poachers. It was the first national park in India to attain this dubious distinction. One of the briefs of the taskforce was to suggest effective wildlife management in India's reserves to prevent a Sariska-like fiasco. Chaired by well-known environmentalist Sunita Narain, the committee in its final report suggested forging a stronger rapport between humans and wildlife in the forest areas. Thapar famously struck a dissenting note, scoffing at the taskforce's suggestion and dismissing it as "too optimistic". He instead advocated making certain areas of the forest sacrosanct for tigers and other wildlife, with no human interference. Be that as it may, even the most strident critics of Valmik Thapar swore by his undying passion for the Tigers. In that respect, he reminds me of another Tiger Man, and one no less important: Billy Arjan Singh. Billy's legendary association with Uttar Pradesh's Dudhwa Tiger Reserve finds an echo in Thapar's fascination with Ranthambore. The two of them had several things in common. Neither had any field experience, nor scientific training of any kind. Both courted controversies gleefully, but their imagination was fired by their passion for forests and wildlife. Both gave their everything to wildlife. It will always remain their abiding legacy. (Ajay Suri is a writer, photographer, documentary film-maker. He is also a journalist who won the Ramnath Goenka award for excellence in environment reporting.)
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Bird Flu confirmed in Gorakhpur: Chicken shops to be shut for 21 days
Gorakhpur: Bird flu has been confirmed in five localities of Gorakhpur, prompting authorities to shut all live bird markets across the city for the next 21 days. The decision follows laboratory confirmation of avian influenza strains H5N1 and H9N2 in poultry samples collected from the affected areas, Gorakhpur administration informed. Samples were taken from birds in Jhungia Bazar, Aluminium Factory area, Taramandal, Bhagat Chauraha, and Shaheed Ashfaqullah Khan Zoological Park. These were sent to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal, which confirmed the presence of the virus. In response, the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) has activated district-level rapid response teams. A control room has also been set up at the Sadar Veterinary Hospital under the supervision of Manish Chandra. Following the confirmation, additional municipal commissioner Nirankar Singh informed that as per Central Government guidelines, culling operations have begun within a 1-km radius of the infected zones. All live birds within this zone will be culled, and thorough disinfection drives are underway. The CVO has appealed to the public not to believe in rumours and to cooperate with the administration. Meanwhile, poultry samples from various farms sent to IVRI Izzatnagar, Bareilly, tested negative for bird flu. A total of 1,328 samples from Gorakhpur and 1,470 samples from the Gorakhpur-Basti division were tested during the surveillance exercise.
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Business Standard
16 hours ago
- Health
- Business Standard
No Tobacco Day: Raising awareness about tobacco industry's deceptions
Every year, May 31 is marked as 'World No Tobacco Day' (WNTD). This year, WHO and public health champions from across the globe have come together for WNTD to raise awareness about the harmful tactics of the tobacco industry. The focus is on exposing the deceptive tactics used by the tobacco and nicotine industries to make their harmful products more appealing, particularly to youth. Recently, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare asked the organisers of the Indian Premier League (IPL) to stop showing ads that promote alcohol or tobacco, even indirectly. They also told sports officials to make sure that players, commentators, and others involved in the games don't support or promote such products. This directive came after parents shared concerns about children seeing these ads during major sports events. However, this year's IPL shows mixed results — the ads haven't completely stopped, but there are fewer tobacco ads now, and only a few celebrities are endorsing them. Focus on youth is important, as they are particularly at risk of nicotine addiction, often developing dependence even before regular use begins. Just one or two cigarettes can trigger cravings in adolescents. Smokeless tobacco poses an even greater risk, delivering more nicotine than cigarettes and making it harder to quit. As the body adapts, users need increasing amounts to feel the same effect, leading to addiction. India ranks second in global tobacco-related deaths, with nearly 1.4 million fatalities annually. There are almost 267 million tobacco users in India. Everyday more than 3,200 children and teens under 18 years smoke their first cigarette. According to Global Youth Tobacco Survey Fact Sheet India, 2019, 8.5 per cent of students (9.6 per cent of boys and 7.4 per cent of girls) currently used any tobacco product, which was 16.9 per cent in 2003. We as a country have been trying to regulate industry for a very long time. As early as in 1975, 'Cigarettes (Regulation of production, supply & distribution) Act, tried to regulate tobacco industry & mandated health warnings on cigarette packaging and advertisements. Then in 1990, the Central Government issued a directive for prohibiting smoking in public places, banned tobacco advertisements on national radio and TV channels, advised state governments to discourage sale of tobacco around educational institutions & mandated display of statutory health warning on chewing tobacco products. Similarly, in 2000, the central government banned tobacco and liquor advertisements on cable television under Cable Television Networks (Amendments) Act. 2003 was a landmark year when, The Cigarettes & Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade & Commerce, Production, Supply, and Distribution) Act, (COTPA, 2003) was enacted even before entering Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and it's coming into force. COTPA is a comprehensive law with 33 sections regulating various aspects of tobacco products from their advertisement to their trading and consumption. COTPA incorporated five important policies later adopted and recommended under FCTC i.e. prohibition of smoking in public places, ban on tobacco advertising and sponsorship, ban on sale to and by minors and within 100 yards of educational institutions, display of pictorial health warning labels, and content regulation of tobacco products. Continuing its efforts last year, The Tobacco-Free Youth Campaign 2.0, a 60-day nationwide initiative was launched by MoHFW to empower youth against tobacco use. This campaign which started on September 24, 2024, focused on increasing public awareness, improving compliance with the revised guidelines for Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI), strengthening the enforcement of tobacco control laws to limit youth access to tobacco, promoting tobacco free villages, and boosting social media outreach, using digital platforms to deliver strong messages about the harms of tobacco and the benefit of quitting to young people. Today, there are over 2,000 tobacco cessation centers, a national Tobacco Quitline (1800 11 2356) and many other community-based approaches for demand reduction which include Self Help material, support groups, individual counselling, quit contests, advocacy for smoke free worksites and schools, etc. As evident, there are many initiatives and challenges as well, related to this complex social issue. One real challenge which is related to the theme of this year is surrogate advertising and endorsements by the celebrities. Surrogate advertising is considered unethical and controversial because it misleads consumers and undermines public health regulations. Surrogate advertising is marketing practice where a brand promotes a product indirectly, which is restricted from advertising, by using another product or service that shares the brand's identity. For this to happen effectively, brand name, logo, colours, or overall aesthetic of the restricted product is used to promote a seemingly unrelated product. This technique subtly reinforces brand recall without directly advertising the prohibited substance. Gutkha companies, for instance, sell both gutkha and cardamom. But the advertisement on television is one about the latter. Surrogate ads work by using a type of learning called higher-order conditioning. An attractive ad for a harmless product (like elaichi) can make people want tobacco, even if tobacco isn't shown. This happens because the ad links positive feelings to the brand, which is also known for tobacco. Over time, people connect the good feelings from the ad to using tobacco in a similar way. In India, the Central Consumer Protection Authority issued guidelines in June 2022, to restrict this practice. The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has been actively discouraging public figures from featuring in advertisements that would legally necessitate a health warning. However, a survey conducted by 'Local Circles' highlights growing consumer dissatisfaction with the surrogate advertising post ban. Notably, 68 per cent of respondents reported that celebrities continue to appear in such ads, further exacerbating the public's frustration with misleading endorsements. Celebrities—especially actors—hold immense influence, and with that comes a unique opportunity to inspire positive change. When endorsing products, they have the option to support brands that align with values of health, safety, and social well-being. By using their platforms responsibly, celebrities can become powerful advocates for a better, more conscious society. And the good news? Many are already leading the way, showing that fame can fuel impact.
