Uttar Pradesh tribals demand forest rights

Uttar Pradesh tribals demand forest rights

  Mon, 03/17/2008 - 15:09.                                             By Girish Kumar Dubey

• India
• Uttar Pradesh

Sonebhadra (UP), Mar 17: Around 10,000 tribals in Uttar Pradesh's Sonebhadra District have demanded land and forest rights to sustain themselves.

" We have no land to till and are facing hardships. How long this plight will continue?" asked Sursati, a tribal woman.

Eminent social worker Medha Patkar also addressed the rally.

Over seven thousand women protesters took part in the event.

Over 40 million people live in the country's resource rich forest areas -- which include protected wildlife reserves and dense woodlands -- eking out a meager living from simple farming, picking fruit and collecting honey.

For generations, they have had no legal entitlement over the land or the use of forest resources.

Fluorosis cripples villagers in Sonbhadra village in UP

Fluorosis cripples villagers in Sonbhadra village in UP

Submitted by Mohit Joshi on Sat, 12/22/2007 - 19:10

Sonbhadra (Uttar Pradesh), Dec 22: A large number of villagers of Sonbhadra village in Uttar Pradesh are suffering from fluorosis due to the excessive fluoride content in the ground water that these villages draw to drink.

They are facing the risk of becoming handicapped due to excessive fluorosis Chopan, Dudhi and Myorpur and Babhni Blocks. The excessive fluoride in water has given rise to several orthopaedic problems.

"Water is the main problem in our village. Earlier, we didn't have any hand pump or well in our village. People used to drink water from open streams and have consequently become victims of deformities and diseases, " said Shambhu Prasad Patel, a villager.

Majority of the affected persons have to work hard to earn their daily bread. With weak bones, none of them is able to toil.

Since the villages are isolated, these hapless rural folk have no easy access to public health services. With some of them forced to travel over 50 kilometres for a public health centre and a hospital.

Authorities of the State Health Department however claim that health camps are being set up for the villagers.

"This problem is prevalent in nine villages of three blocks of the district because of excessive fluoride content in water. We have provided every facility for the treatment of the people who are handicapped or are suffering from any disease due to water, " said Dr. Ganesh Prasad, Chief Medical Officer of Sonbhadra District.

Another grouse of the villagers is that the government is not showing any concern as not even ten percent of the affected and handicapped persons have been issued certificates that they are handicapped.

Villagers hope that the concerned officials in the administration will take effective steps to stem the rot.

Fluorosis is a condition caused by the excessive intake of fluorine and is commonly of two types - Skeletal Fluorosis and Dental Fluorosis. As the names suggest, it first affects the bones due to excessive accumulation of fluoride in bones and the latter affects the teeth. (ANI)

UP lawyers strike work in protest against serial blasts

UP lawyers strike work in protest against serial blasts

Submitted by ANI on Mon, 11/26/2007 - 19:13
          By Girish Kumar Dubey

Varanasi, Nov 26 : Lawyers in Uttar Pradesh struck work on Monday in protest against last week's serial bomb blasts in Lucknow, Varanasi and Faizabad.

"People here are sad, angry, and shocked. Like everywhere else, it is more so here because the blasts happened and people were killed. We will organise a mourning ceremony for the dead," said Rajmohan Tripathi, the President of the  District Bar Association.

The strike affected people visiting the courts for the hearing of their cases.

"The lawyers are on strike and I have travelled 300 kilometres for the hearing. I don't know if my case will be heard today or not," said Kamal Nain.

At least 15 people were killed and 80 injured in the blasts.

The explosions took place in and around court premises.
 
The Special Task Force, which is carrying out the investigation in the Friday's blast, have reportedly found traces of RDX at the blast sites.

The Uttar Pradesh police has released the sketches of two suspects whoever believed to be behind the blasts on Saturday.

The blasts came a week after the Uttar Pradesh police along with central security agencies busted a Jaish-e-Mohammed module, which wanted to target Rahul Gandhi. (ANI)

A Madarsa seeks to impart modern education,

*A Madarsa seeks to impart modern education,

                                                                                         By Girish Kumar Dubey,

New Kerala, January 26, 2006 http://newkerala.com/news.php?action=fullnews&id=95369

Varanasi: Madarsas, or the Islamic schools, have long been known for their religious syllabus around the world. But, a Madarsa in Varanasi , is offering lessons in patriotism and modern education to its students.

As India celebrates its 57th Republic Day, the loud voice of students in a Madarsa singing "Sare Jahan Se Achha" and "Vande Matram" makes one stop for a moment and take notice of the transformation taking place in the modern India.

"The best thing about this place is that members of both communities—Muslim and Hindu—are taking care of this Madarsa. Kids are being taught here about social and communal harmony," says Dr. Rajni Kant, Director, Human Welfare Association.

This Madarsa intends to prepare students who are able to compete with students of other schools of the country. Thus, it is not only teaching students national songs but also giving them modern education.

Interestingly, Hindus and Muslims are together running this Madarsa. Guardians are happy with the concept of Madarsa and they are confident that one day their kids will set an example to others.

"Our concentration is on to give modern education to children, according to the norms set by the Central and Uttar Pradesh Government. We want our children to become like A.P.J Abdul Kalam, who first became a scientist and then the President of the country, "says Mohammad Shakir Hussain, a parent.

"I wish to become a Doctor and want to serve my country. I have seen people dying of deadly diseases, I want to cure them," says Soni Bano, a student.

Madarasas are traditional educational institutions for the children of Muslims, especially for the poor children who can not afford to go to other schools.

But, in general, the main problem with Madarasa education has been that the students of these institutions cannot compete for mainstream jobs due to their obsolete study curriculum. All they can do is to aspire for jobs of imams and clerks in Wakf-run bodies.

Varanasi residents protest against theft at famous Vishwanath Temple

Varanasi residents protest against theft at famous Vishwanath Temple

                                                    By Girish Kumar Dubey

October 27, 2010

Residents of Varanasi took out a rally in protest against the administration's failure to prevent a robbery at the famous Vishwanath Temple.

Sources said that a week ago, a traditional Indian silver Trident was stolen from the temple despite tight security.

The residents said this incident was unacceptable as the temple administration spends huge amounts of money for its safety and security.

"If things are stolen from somewhere else, it is a different matter. Despite tight security here at the temple, a theft has occurred. Lot of money is being spent on safety and security measures of the temple. In spite of this, if 2.5 kilograms of silver trident is being stolen, then it is not just a matter of trident being stolen, it is stealing of a body part of the deity," said Avi Mukte Swaranand, a priest of the temple.

"Seven to eight days have passed, but the administration has not been able to find the thief or the trident. They have been unable to tell the people what steps are being taken in this matter, and therefore, it is natural for people to be angry," Swaranand added.

The residents have demanded that the police look into the matter with some urgency. (ANI)

Varanasi learn e-marketing to sell products

                                                                                      By Girish Kumar Dubey

On Thursday 2 December 2010, 12:01 AM

Varanasi, December 01 (ANI): Sari and carpet makers in Varanasi are all set to market their products through E-marketing programme.A voluntary forum named Human Welfare Society had taken the lead in training the small-scale weavers and sellers of the famed Banarasi Saris in internet operations and allied E-marketing techniques by conducting series of seminars.These seminar-cum-workshops are being organised in collaboration with Digital Improvement Foundation for Micro Manufacturers.

INDIA: Woman consumes 2 kilograms of sand every day in northern India

INDIA: Woman consumes 2 kilograms of sand every day in northern India

                                                                                             By Girish Kumar Dubey

A woman from Cholapur in Varanasi in Indias northern state of Uttar Pradesh is addicted to a rare habit of eating sand and she is continuing this practice for the past 40 years.
Krishnavati, who is 70 years old, was eating about 2 kilograms of sand daily along with her food for the past 40 years, which had become her habit.
I am eating sand for the past 40 years. There is my habit and there is no problem with me due to this, said Krishnavati.
The rare thing is that she did not have any problem in her stomach or with her health even after consuming this much amount of sand.
Initially, Krishnavatis family members were worried about her rare habit, thinking that it would cause serious illness to her.
But as she remained healthy, even they started encouraging her by bringing sand from market.
I have been noticing that she is eating about 2 kilograms of sand daily. Many times, she asked us to get her sand from shop.
She eats it and is not having any difficulty due to this. She is healthy even now, said Suryanath, Krishnavatis neighbour.
Doctors say that this is a psychological illness and need to be treated.
In our country, we consider everything unusual as miracle.
There is no such miracle in this case. This is well documented and is mentioned in books. During our MBBS (Master of Medicine and Master of Surgery) course also, we are taught about this. Its advanced studies are also done. This is a disease called Pica and its treatment should be done. As this lady is doing it for more than 30 years, the reason is psychological and should be treated by a psychologist, said Anurag Dixit, General Surgeon.
Pica is a disorder characterised by an appetite for non-nutritive substances like metal, hair, dirt, plastic and such things and is generally found in children and old age people.