Residents irk as improper drainage causes waterlogging

Dhenkanal, a district which is nearly 80kms away from Bhubaneswar is surrounded by beautiful wild lives and forests but the residents of Dhenkanal is facing numerous problems including open garbage bins, coverless manholes, lack of sanitation, etc. Flies and mosquitoes are providing with some ambient humming every day due to which people are suffering from dengue. Besides, the water clogging near the main vegetable market is also a concern.

People eating fruits and vegetables of this place are falling ill. When people head out, they are bound to be affected by the uncleanliness around them and fall ill, especially the vendors and grocers. “We don’t have a proper drainage system. It was the recent rains that have made us realise our plight after a public works department channel full of sewage overflowed and the water has entered our shops”, the shopkeeper said.” “Proper drainage system comes under the jurisdiction of municipality and PWD. They have already asked the municipality chairperson to solve the issues and construct a new drain. However, it will take some time depending on the allotment of funds and nature of work”, says sub-collector.

Cambridge to slums, man enlightens hundreds!

Rakesh Satpathy, at his ‘free school for poor’ Cuttack, Odisha is imparting education to many children in the slum areas of Cuttack. He has rented a house in college square at Cuttack where he teaches these children every single day, for last 16 years. His pedagogy also involves paintings, drawings and many artistic skills that can help them to earn their livelihood so that they can be engaged and self-reliant. He was barely 20 years old when he started teaching to these slum kids. The sight of poor and illiterate kids, begging and choosing odd jobs for survival, being the victims of child labour and child abuse has made him come up with a thought of imparting free knowledge to those innocents across Cuttack.

His father had a government job but in 1992, due to some changes in the policies of the government, his job changed to the private sector. This job change led to several financial problems in the family. His salary was reduced to half. Rakesh was very keen to study science but due to lack of money, he chose to study arts in his graduation days. He used to go to coaching classes but was asked to leave the classes as he was unable to pay the fees. In order to get some money, he started working as a gardener in one of the nurseries. Since then, he wanted to do something for those kids who get deprived of the education.

After completing his education, he joined the Cambridge School as a part of his project named- “Social Service Project”. As a part of this project, he developed his idea of teaching to slum kids. Once, he saw a girl working at a restaurant who was very much interested in studies but due to several issues she was unable to go to school and study. Rakesh helped the girl to study commerce and become a Chartered Accountant. After this, he made a thought of opening a coaching centre for the slum kids where he will teach them without any disturbance. Now it has been 16 years since the coaching centre “Sambhavna” has started. He managed the funds by giving half of his salary for the schooling of these slum kids. This small initiative has grown up now. The faculty members from Ravenshaw University also visits the coaching centre and imparts free education.

According to him, “His ultimate goal is to impart free education everywhere so that nobody gets deprived of it. Knowledge is earned when you share it with others”. He has also worked as a social worker in orphanages, old age homes, etc.  As hard work never goes in vain, Rakesh is getting a tremendous response from the people of the slums. Many of them are now willing to educate and send their children to study rather than employing them for odd jobs. Many have gained profit from his teaching. His aim is to revolutionize education for as many poor children as he can.

 

17-year old Haryana girl scales Mount Kilimanjaro

A 17-year-old girl Shivangi Pathak from Haryana made India Proud after achieving another milestone in her life. She has added another feather to her cap by scaling Africa’s highest peak, “Mount Kilimanjaro”. Completing her mountain journey from the Marangu route in just three days, she lifted an Indian flag at the top of Africa’s highest point & tallest free-standing mountain in the world that stands at an imposing 5,895m.

Inspired from Arunima Sinha, the first Indian amputee to climb Mt. Everest, Pathak has a very special message for everyone i.e. “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” which she wants to share with every individual of the country  to make them aware that nothing is impossible and women can overcome every obstacle easily to achieve their goals.

With a view to sensitize and inspire women, She further says “Women can achieve anything if they desire. There is nothing that Indian Women can’t do. They are not the liability but they are the future of the country. Don’t stop on what you achieved but fight for more”.

Titled with “The eagle of Mountain”, she is also the youngest Indian to scale the world highest peak “ Mount Everest” from Nepal side. Haryana has been blatant for its skewed sex ratio and patriarchal mindset and so Shivangi wanted to blur this picture and make her hometown, Hisar & Haryana, a famous place all over the world. She has also conquered Stok Khangri, a 6,053-metre peak in Ladakh.

I wish you all the best in your future endeavours.

SEVEN WONDER PLACES

With the rapid growth of urbanisation and industries, the pollution is at peak. Urbanisation and industrialisation, both have created an acute imbalance in the environment.
But if you get to know about some of the places which are pollution free zones and are travel destinations, what would be your first reaction?

Ahan! You would definitely like to visit those places, free from pollution and full of peace. These destinations have somehow managed to keep themselves away from the growing pollution level with their efforts.
So, let’s turn to the other side of the story and throw a beam on some of those destinations. Let’s wrap the unwanted side and have a watch on the cities having a well-controlled pollution level,  is the green, clean and perfect place to breathe in.

Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh

The place is among the most prominent places in India with the purest air to breathe in. Although the place is an underrated tourist destination in Himachal Pradesh, if you are planning to spend your vacations in Shimla or Manali, visit Kinnaur instead, and nature will gift you a fresh stint of pure air.  Being a land of captivating valleys, and offering various adventure sports, Kinnaur totally deserves to be at the top of your basket.

Kollam, Kerala

Kollam serves you with the beautiful beaches and placid backwaters. Nature serves you with a bout of fresh air as it is said to have one of the most outstanding qualities of air all over the world.

Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu

A swash of fresh yellow with the vibes of being an international place blend with Indianness, a pinch of spirituality and artistically beautiful, Pondicherry is much more than calling it just a destination. Having a handful of reasons for choosing Pondicherry to visit, the prime reason is its quality of air and water. The purity of air and water at the destination is the combined efforts of the local government, NGOs and the people residing there. Being the most popular tourist destination, Pondicherry is among the list of least polluted cities in India.

Hassan, Karnataka

Hassan is considered to be having 6times lesser pollution than Delhi and is also considered to be purer than most of the cities in the country.

Gangtok, Sikkim

Sikkim, situated at just a few kilometres away from the Chinese border, having destinations like Nathu La pass and the Tsomgo Lake near it. Various measures have been taken by the government to maintain its cleanliness as well as low levels of air and water pollution. Gangtok serves us with the pure air to breathe in, coming straight away to the Himalayas.

Madurai, Tamil Nadu

Madurai, known as the ‘Athens of the East’, is one of the most ancient cities of the country. It has a huge book of history, mythology, and culture associated with it since its existence. WHO listed the city in  “five least polluted cities in India” list. Constant efforts by the government, as well as local people, resulted the city at this place. Although in recent years, the number of vehicles increased gradually which resulted in rising level of air pollution but the city took several initiatives to cope with the problem. Setting an example for other cities of India, Madurai work constantly for the city’s ample dust.

Nagpur, Maharashtra

Nagpur is being recognised as one of the cleanest cities of India. Gradually rise in air  pollution is a major concern that the city needs to resolve in the coming few years. But it still maintains it’s rank among India’s greenest cities, with well- developed parks, gardens, and sufficient afforestation within the city. Nagpur also has good levels of accessibility to clean drinking water and very little noise pollution.

India is developing nation. Day by day it’s progressing, and emerging as a major game changer in the world. Hence, it’s sad that there are so few places that could make it to this list. However,  criticizing them is not the solution. We need to put efforts for nature and the community we belong to. Be a responsible citizen and give your efforts to make a strong nation,  Pause to think about the changes we can make in our day-to-day lives to decrease pollution levels. It is the only YOU who can bring the change so start it from yourself and be a part of this change, Be eco-friendly which is the need of the hour.

Trio sisters

​Taking an amiable pause from being in the limelight as the state with the shrill sex ratio in the country, Haryana is now being applauded for being the state of auspicious women in recent times. After the inspiring story of Phogat sisters of becoming international wrestlers recently stroke the silver screen with Dangal, three more sisters from Jhajjar district in Haryana have made the state proud by joining the Indian Army.
Preeti and Deepti Deshwal , and their cousin Mamta have joined the Indian Army Medical Corps as lieutenants.
According to a report in Rajasthan Patrika, No one in the family of Pratap Singh Deshwal has ever been a part of the Army till now. But when these three daughters of the house shows their interest towards Indian Army, the family supported them wholeheartedly.
Preeti and Deepti done their schooling  from Jyoti Prakash School, while their cousin, Mamta went to Himalayan School. The trio was selected in the Armed Forces Medical College in 2012 but went to different campuses. Preeti was trained in Kolkata, Deepti in Mumbai, and Mamta went to Pune.

The trio sisters graduated this year and have been perpetrained to different military hospitals across the country. Mamta will be stationed at Military hospital, Ranikhet, and Deepti will be stationed in Agra. Preeti will work for Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Ooty.
The accomplishments of the three young lieutenants prove that if girls are provided with the favourable opportunities and support, they are no less than boys. The credence goes to the girls’ resolution and their family’s support.
‌

A road less travelled by

I am soaked too deep into my affair with the hills, rivers,etc. I belongs to that category who loves taking the road less travelled by. I love to draw new experiences and cultures. I have an endless conversation with the locals and feels a constant urge to explore the beauty of the world. Everytime I embark a road to a wonderful hill top, a sound river, the fragrant Breeze, those scattered tiny huts and simplicity of people living on these hills or near to rivers, it brings a smile to my face unconsciously. I always let my hair play with the flirtations wind, while setting my eyes on the beauty of the place. Travelling with the curvaceous road, upon the hills with hanging clouds, over my head was like romancing with nature. This time I decided to chase the summer and went to Uttarakhand , at Rishikesh in the middle of hills and river. It gives me an immense pleasure to move around in those places. There was silent all the way. I felt the coldness of the place and was directly able to relate myself with the nature.The place ‘Rishikesh’ is magnificently beautiful. Starting from rafting in Ganga to enjoying the bathing in the running water of the river with the bright scorching heat of the sun. All comes in one package .

The place can be easily identified by the colour of the river, a musky brown in contrast to the sparkling clear water up- stream. Then , there is another place between the seashore and the hills.

The natural beauty of that place can’t be define in just few words. I was speechless at that moment seeing the glorious nature . Felt amazed, the place was so calm that it gives a sense of relief . The world seems so be end up peacefully at that moment.