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Time of India
26-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Lalrinpuii calls for efforts to combat drug abuse in Mizoram
Aizawl: Mizoram social welfare, women & child development minister Lalrinpuii on Monday said there is an urgent need to launch missions on demand reduction, supply reduction and harm reduction to combat the menace of drug addiction and abuse in Mizoram with coordinated efforts of all the stakeholders. Addressing a consultation meeting on drug and related issues especially under the Nasha Mukh Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) and the current war launched against drugs, Lalrinpuii underscored the need for aftercare treatment at de-addiction centres. She said the state govt is planning to use Jordan centre at Kolasib district bordering Assam as aftercare and de-addiction & rehabilitation centre for which a proposal has already been submitted. The minister said the Presbyterian and the Baptist churches have been approached to take over the Jordan centre and their response is being awaited. The minister emphasised the need for running systematic medical service, detoxification and reduction of cravings for drugs among the addicts and users in the de-addiction centres. Amendment to the accreditation rules and formulation of state drug policy is actively pursued, she said. Aizawl: Mizoram social welfare, women & child development minister Lalrinpuii on Monday said there is an urgent need to launch missions on demand reduction, supply reduction and harm reduction to combat the menace of drug addiction and abuse in Mizoram with coordinated efforts of all the stakeholders. Addressing a consultation meeting on drug and related issues especially under the Nasha Mukh Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) and the current war launched against drugs, Lalrinpuii underscored the need for aftercare treatment at de-addiction centres. She said the state govt is planning to use Jordan centre at Kolasib district bordering Assam as aftercare and de-addiction & rehabilitation centre for which a proposal has already been submitted. The minister said the Presbyterian and the Baptist churches have been approached to take over the Jordan centre and their response is being awaited. The minister emphasised the need for running systematic medical service, detoxification and reduction of cravings for drugs among the addicts and users in the de-addiction centres. Amendment to the accreditation rules and formulation of state drug policy is actively pursued, she said.
The Print
29-04-2025
- Science
- The Print
Charaka Samhita to Arthashastra, new NCERT Class 7 science book highlights India's scientific heritage
The book, released Saturday, includes references to Sanskrit terms such as 'grahan' for eclipse, mentions Arthashastra by Kautilya, and also highlights the launch of the government's Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) launched on 15 August, 2020. The new textbook, Curiosity, is among the latest set of books released by NCERT under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the new National Curriculum Framework (NCF), which stresses content 'rooted in the Indian and local context and ethos'. New Delhi: References in the Charaka Samhita, an ancient Ayurvedic text, reveal how early scholars forecast monsoon's arrival by tracking star specific patterns, demonstrating India's deep scientific roots. National Council of Educational Research and Training's (NCERT) newly released Class 7 science textbook showcases such contributions to India's rich scientific heritage. The previous Class 7 Science textbook, used until the 2024-25 academic year, did not include such references. However, the Class 6 textbook released by the council last year incorporated various references to India's scientific history. In the foreword of the book, NCERT Director Dinesh Prasad Saklani writes, 'The content attempts to integrate science subjects such as physics, chemistry, biology, and earth science with cross-cutting themes like environmental education, value education, inclusive education, and Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS).' Also read: Modi gives students and parents tips on exams, leadership & more during Pariksha Pe Charcha Highlighting India's ancient scientific knowledge Chapter 9, Life Processes in Animals, emphasises the long-recognised importance of digestion in maintaining good health. It references The Charaka Samhita, an ancient Ayurvedic text, which highlights the role of easily digestible foods and the judicious use of spices like ginger, black pepper, and cumin to enhance digestion. In Chapter 10, Life Processes of Plants, the book draws from the ancient Indian text Vrikshayurveda. 'The knowledge in the text seems to be based on practical experiences and patterns seen over time. These ideas were then systematically documented to guide farming practices. For instance, there are references to different methods of organic manure preparation, such as mixing water, barley, and various seeds, like green, black, and horse grams,' the textbook states. In Chapter 12, titled Earth, Moon, and the Sun, the book discusses how an eclipse is referred to as grahan in Sanskrit and many Indian languages. It also mentions that many ancient Indian astronomical texts provide calculations to predict eclipses. 'The best known and most referred text is the Surya Siddhanta, which is written in the classical Sanskrit poetry tradition in rhythmic shlokas,' it states. In the chapter Measurement of Time and Motion, the book explains how ancient India used both shadows and water clocks to measure time. It mentions that the earliest reference to shadow-based time measurement is found in the Arthashastra by Kautilya, written between the 2nd century BCE and 3rd century CE. 'An accurate expression for time in terms of the shadow of a vertical stick was given by Varahamihira around 530 CE,' it adds. It says that water clocks, described in texts such as the Arthasastra and Sardulakarnavadana, were initially unreliable due to decreasing flow rates as water levels dropped. 'This led to the development of the sinking bowl water clock, or Ghatika-yantra, which was first mentioned by Aryabhata and then in several astronomical texts later. Time was measured constantly with Ghatika-yantra at Buddhist monasteries, royal palaces, town squares, and each time the bowl sank, it was announced by drums, conch shells, or striking a gong,' the book states, adding that while the Ghatika-yantra was eventually replaced by pendulum clocks in the late 19th century, it continued to be used in religious places for rituals. Contributions of Indian Scientists The book highlights various Indian scientists and their invaluable contributions to science. For instance, it mentions Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray (P.C. Ray), who is regarded as the 'father of modern Indian chemistry'. 'Through his writings on the history of chemistry in India, he highlighted the achievements and expertise of ancient Indian scientists to the modern world. Ray, a social reformer, also advocated the use of the mother tongue as a medium of instruction in educational institutions,' the book says. It further references Varahamihira, the renowned astronomer and mathematician of the sixth century CE from Ujjaini (modern-day Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh). 'In his work Brihat Samhita, he gave methods for predicting seasonal rainfall. His predictions of seasonal rainfalls were based on factors, such as cloud formation, wind patterns, position of stars and the moon, and other natural phenomena,' the new NCERT book states. The book also mentions Rustom Hormusji Dastur (1896–1961), who studied the role of water, temperature, and light colour in the process of photosynthesis, as well as scientist Kamala Sohonie, whose work helped improve the nutritive values of plant foods. She also researched the sap of the coconut palm, developing a nutritious drink called Neera. In a chapter on Adolescence, which mentions the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, the book says that the programme was 'launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, aiming to spread awareness about substance abuse through the active participation of youth, women, and the community.' (Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri) Also read: India's education spending falls behind other SAARC nations' like Bhutan & Maldives, notes House panel
