By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, Mar 17: A 16-year old girl ran away from her home defying
her parents plans to get her married off and took shelter in a government
home to complete her on going Intermediate examination. She has great
ambition to become a responsible citizen- rather than succumbing to the
family traditions. The defiance is costing her too much. She took all the
examinations under the protection of the police.
Like any other teenager, Priyanka of Malkapuram goes to the college everyday to write her ongoing intermediate first year examinations. But she is accompanied by a policewoman on her way to college, and after the exam she goes home not to her family, but to a women’s' shelter. Not only have the police been aiding her in her ambition, she has also been given asylum in the woman and child welfare department until she completes her intermediate course.
It all began a few weeks ago, when Priyanka's parents sprung the news of
Marriage proposals to her. Determined to complete her education, Priyanka
bluntly refused marriage. But her parents were adamant, and allegedly beat
her up and decided to force her into an illegal alliance. Seeing no way
out, Priyanka made a bid to escape. She slipped out of her house one day
and went straight to the woman and child welfare department. She was
received by project director who is also the protection officer of those
women seek protection related to Domestic Violence.
“Though it’s not a clear cut case of domestic violence, we have to treat
it as one since the girl approached us seeking shelter saying she was
being harassed and forcing marriage on her . The girl is not interested in
a marriage as she wants to continue her education. As she is a minor and
sought help from us we sent her to a shelter where the regular domestic
violence victims are put up. We would support her till she becomes a
major, ” said woman and child welfare department project director A
Roberts.
He adds that the minor was determined to complete her studies and eke out
her own living. After she escaped from her home and started living at the
shelter home near Chinawaltair, the intermediate first year examinations
begun.
Fearing that her parents might take her away with them when she goes out
to write her exam from the examination center, Priyanka approached the III
town police seeking an escort . The police arranged a woman constable who
escorts her daily to the examination center. “I’m determined to study
further. I don’t want to get married at this age. I know the importance of
education. I will join some professional course at the graduation level,”
said Priyanka who would be completing her inter exams on Tuesday in a confident note. She wants to take up part time work to support her education. “I know what I have chose and it’s not easy also. But I am ready to take up this challenge.” she added.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Friday, May 9, 2008
Mustard can end heavy pollution
By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, May 7: The local scientists have found an
easy solution to contain pollution in the garbage. Studies conducted by
them revealed that the Indian mustard, a plant commonly found in
local environment can put an end to the heavy pollution caused by the
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) that piles up in tonnes in big cities and
large towns. In a process of finding wealth from the waste, a group of
environmentalists belonging to the city and West Bengal identified
Indian mustard, locally called as avalu for Phytoremediation of
MSW. Phytoremediation is a low-cost alternative and the systematic use
of plants for environmental contaminant treatment. The complexity
and diversity in composition of Municipal Solid Waste makes it one of the
most important urban sources of pollution, which was posing a major threat
to public health and the environment. It is estimated that the per capita
of MSW generated daily, in India ranges from about 100gm in small towns to
500 gm in large towns. Solid waste management has become a major
environmental issue in India. “The growth in MSW in our urban centers has
outpaced the population growth in recent years. This trend can be ascribed
to our changing lifestyles, food habits, and change in living standards.
The direct use of MSW as a source of organic manure is harmful since
It contains different toxic metals, harmful pathogens and many other
organic and inorganic pollutants that ultimately enter into the human food
chain through plant products” says Dr N Srinivas of Gitam university.
A group of environmentalists headed by Dr N Srinivas conducted some
scientific investigations on Visakhapatnam municipal waste. The group
finally identified a plant which is commonly available in the local
environment. The study group conducted several experiments on hyper
accumulator plant Indian mustard scientifically called as Brassica Juncea.
According to the environmentalist the mustard plant that was dropped in
the solid waste absorbed the high toxic metals that were present in the
waste. In Visakhapatnam every day about 600 to 700 tons of MSW is
generated. The MSW contains heavy metals particularly Zinc, Copper, Led,
Nickel. The sources of these metals in MSW were due to presence of
batteries, e-waste and other modern house hold items. The mustard plants
can be dropped in the solid waste dumping yards. After a few days these
plants can be removed from the yards and make into ashes. Later the ash
can be disposed. “Even though the present process of land filling of the
solid waste by the authorities is good in long run there is every chance
of ground and surface water contamination due to the presence of these
high toxic metals in MSW. And spilling just a small plant will ward off
the future threat of important urban sources of pollution, which was
posing a major threat to public health and the environment. Solid waste
management has become a serious environmental issue these days. And the
solution is a very simple. It is harvesting Indian mustard, which is very
easy and also economical,” said Srinivas.
Ends/SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, May 7: The local scientists have found an
easy solution to contain pollution in the garbage. Studies conducted by
them revealed that the Indian mustard, a plant commonly found in
local environment can put an end to the heavy pollution caused by the
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) that piles up in tonnes in big cities and
large towns. In a process of finding wealth from the waste, a group of
environmentalists belonging to the city and West Bengal identified
Indian mustard, locally called as avalu for Phytoremediation of
MSW. Phytoremediation is a low-cost alternative and the systematic use
of plants for environmental contaminant treatment. The complexity
and diversity in composition of Municipal Solid Waste makes it one of the
most important urban sources of pollution, which was posing a major threat
to public health and the environment. It is estimated that the per capita
of MSW generated daily, in India ranges from about 100gm in small towns to
500 gm in large towns. Solid waste management has become a major
environmental issue in India. “The growth in MSW in our urban centers has
outpaced the population growth in recent years. This trend can be ascribed
to our changing lifestyles, food habits, and change in living standards.
The direct use of MSW as a source of organic manure is harmful since
It contains different toxic metals, harmful pathogens and many other
organic and inorganic pollutants that ultimately enter into the human food
chain through plant products” says Dr N Srinivas of Gitam university.
A group of environmentalists headed by Dr N Srinivas conducted some
scientific investigations on Visakhapatnam municipal waste. The group
finally identified a plant which is commonly available in the local
environment. The study group conducted several experiments on hyper
accumulator plant Indian mustard scientifically called as Brassica Juncea.
According to the environmentalist the mustard plant that was dropped in
the solid waste absorbed the high toxic metals that were present in the
waste. In Visakhapatnam every day about 600 to 700 tons of MSW is
generated. The MSW contains heavy metals particularly Zinc, Copper, Led,
Nickel. The sources of these metals in MSW were due to presence of
batteries, e-waste and other modern house hold items. The mustard plants
can be dropped in the solid waste dumping yards. After a few days these
plants can be removed from the yards and make into ashes. Later the ash
can be disposed. “Even though the present process of land filling of the
solid waste by the authorities is good in long run there is every chance
of ground and surface water contamination due to the presence of these
high toxic metals in MSW. And spilling just a small plant will ward off
the future threat of important urban sources of pollution, which was
posing a major threat to public health and the environment. Solid waste
management has become a serious environmental issue these days. And the
solution is a very simple. It is harvesting Indian mustard, which is very
easy and also economical,” said Srinivas.
Ends/SNV Sudhir
Monday, May 5, 2008
Tribal finds herbal cure for convulsions
By SNV Sudhir
Chintapalli (Vizag Agency), Mar 6: A class IV employee at the regional
agricultural research station of the Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural
University (ANGRAU) here Korra Krishna Rao, 50, is no more an ordinary man.
He is now with all excitement after receiving an award from none other the
first citizen of the country president of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam for his
discovery of a medicine made with two herbs that cures epilepsy which the
modern medicine does not have a solution so far. Krishna Rao, belonging to
Nookadora tribe lives in a remote tribal hamlet of this Agency mandal. And
people living in hundreds of villages in the surrounding Agency mandals know
him very well. Daily people queue up in front of his house to take herbal
medicine from him. National Innovation Foundation (NIF) at Ahmedabad funded
by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research Institute, (CSIRI) a
government of India agency that encourages scientific innovations and
discoveries had selected Krishna Rao to honour with the Traditional
knowledge award for developing herbal healing practice to cure epilepsy at
its all India level convention held on Feb 11 and 12 at Delhi where
president of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam took part. It all happened when the
regional research station officials submitted a report to the Indian
Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) under its Network Project on Tribal
Crops (NPTC) that Krishna Rao was practicing the herbal healing and was
curing various diseases like epilepsy. NIF team which came to know about the
herbal cure for epilepsy thought it was an innovative discovery and honoured
him with the award.
"I don't know anything about this modern medicine. I just know the
medicinal plants that are available in the forest ranges of the Agency.
Many people come to me and I give them medicine and feel satisfied about
it" said Krishna Rao to this correspondent.
He says that the forest range in Vizag Agency is a treasure of many rare
medicinal plants which is known to very few people. He lists out that the medicinal plants
used in curing various diseases Neelavemu to control diabetes,
Sarpagandhi-Blood Pressure, Joint pains-Pakshi Kannu, Addasaramu-
Tuberculosis. He is more famous in giving medicine to melt stones
accumulated in human kidney. He gives powder made from konda pindi medicinal
plant to melt the stones. Most of the people approach him with the
complaints of diabetes, BP, stones in kidney and convulsions. But when asked
to name the herbs used to make medicine to cure epilepsy permanently,
Krishna Rao maintains silence and said that he will not disclose it as they
are applying to patent it. He adds that weekly once he goes to the hill
ranges in Dara konda, Gudem, Renthada, Pedavalasa, Borra and Anathagiri to
collect these herbs. He sometimes returns after two days once he goes to
collect these plants. He also takes care of the medicinal plants block at
the regional research station of the ANGRAU where around 200 medicinal pants
are being raised. When asked about how he got the knowledge of so many
medicinal plants, Krishna Rao says that at the age of 20 he was associated
with a Guruji for some years who taught him how to make medicines out of the
plants and which plant needed to be suggested according to the disease. He
said that he also learnt identifying the medicinal plant from him only. From
that day onwards he started giving medicines to ailing people who approach
him. "He's a unique man. One needs to appreciate him in curing so many
diseases who just studied till 5th standard. We feel very proud to be
associated with him. People from Vizag also come to him to take medicines. I
know him since 1996" senior scientist of the regional station PVK
Jagannadham, who did his M Tech at IIT Kharagpur. The senior scientist also
said that they have sent a detailed report to the director research at
ANGRAU about the discovery. He added that they would soon apply to patent
the medicine after holding discussions with the director. Jagannadham also
said that there are herbal medicines to cure diabetes and many others but
not to cure epilepsy which Krishna Rao discovered. Until 2002 Krishna Rao
was just a casual labour and later he was promoted as an agricultural
workman. The senior scientist said that samples of the medicine would also
be sent to Indian Medical Research Centre for validation after applying for
patent. "I still remember how my neighbours and people surrounding me used
to avoid me due to my convulsions. But now I'm happy I just took three doses
of medicine from Krishna Rao and got rid of the disease. Now I'm leading a
happy and comfortable life. Thanks to him" said Sattibabu of Chintapalli.
Meanwhile it was learnt that some people had pressurized Krishna Rao to sign
on some blank papers. Locals are suspecting that some people who came to
know about the discovery of the cure might have wanted to get the patent on
their name.
Chintapalli (Vizag Agency), Mar 6: A class IV employee at the regional
agricultural research station of the Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural
University (ANGRAU) here Korra Krishna Rao, 50, is no more an ordinary man.
He is now with all excitement after receiving an award from none other the
first citizen of the country president of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam for his
discovery of a medicine made with two herbs that cures epilepsy which the
modern medicine does not have a solution so far. Krishna Rao, belonging to
Nookadora tribe lives in a remote tribal hamlet of this Agency mandal. And
people living in hundreds of villages in the surrounding Agency mandals know
him very well. Daily people queue up in front of his house to take herbal
medicine from him. National Innovation Foundation (NIF) at Ahmedabad funded
by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research Institute, (CSIRI) a
government of India agency that encourages scientific innovations and
discoveries had selected Krishna Rao to honour with the Traditional
knowledge award for developing herbal healing practice to cure epilepsy at
its all India level convention held on Feb 11 and 12 at Delhi where
president of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam took part. It all happened when the
regional research station officials submitted a report to the Indian
Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) under its Network Project on Tribal
Crops (NPTC) that Krishna Rao was practicing the herbal healing and was
curing various diseases like epilepsy. NIF team which came to know about the
herbal cure for epilepsy thought it was an innovative discovery and honoured
him with the award.
"I don't know anything about this modern medicine. I just know the
medicinal plants that are available in the forest ranges of the Agency.
Many people come to me and I give them medicine and feel satisfied about
it" said Krishna Rao to this correspondent.
He says that the forest range in Vizag Agency is a treasure of many rare
medicinal plants which is known to very few people. He lists out that the medicinal plants
used in curing various diseases Neelavemu to control diabetes,
Sarpagandhi-Blood Pressure, Joint pains-Pakshi Kannu, Addasaramu-
Tuberculosis. He is more famous in giving medicine to melt stones
accumulated in human kidney. He gives powder made from konda pindi medicinal
plant to melt the stones. Most of the people approach him with the
complaints of diabetes, BP, stones in kidney and convulsions. But when asked
to name the herbs used to make medicine to cure epilepsy permanently,
Krishna Rao maintains silence and said that he will not disclose it as they
are applying to patent it. He adds that weekly once he goes to the hill
ranges in Dara konda, Gudem, Renthada, Pedavalasa, Borra and Anathagiri to
collect these herbs. He sometimes returns after two days once he goes to
collect these plants. He also takes care of the medicinal plants block at
the regional research station of the ANGRAU where around 200 medicinal pants
are being raised. When asked about how he got the knowledge of so many
medicinal plants, Krishna Rao says that at the age of 20 he was associated
with a Guruji for some years who taught him how to make medicines out of the
plants and which plant needed to be suggested according to the disease. He
said that he also learnt identifying the medicinal plant from him only. From
that day onwards he started giving medicines to ailing people who approach
him. "He's a unique man. One needs to appreciate him in curing so many
diseases who just studied till 5th standard. We feel very proud to be
associated with him. People from Vizag also come to him to take medicines. I
know him since 1996" senior scientist of the regional station PVK
Jagannadham, who did his M Tech at IIT Kharagpur. The senior scientist also
said that they have sent a detailed report to the director research at
ANGRAU about the discovery. He added that they would soon apply to patent
the medicine after holding discussions with the director. Jagannadham also
said that there are herbal medicines to cure diabetes and many others but
not to cure epilepsy which Krishna Rao discovered. Until 2002 Krishna Rao
was just a casual labour and later he was promoted as an agricultural
workman. The senior scientist said that samples of the medicine would also
be sent to Indian Medical Research Centre for validation after applying for
patent. "I still remember how my neighbours and people surrounding me used
to avoid me due to my convulsions. But now I'm happy I just took three doses
of medicine from Krishna Rao and got rid of the disease. Now I'm leading a
happy and comfortable life. Thanks to him" said Sattibabu of Chintapalli.
Meanwhile it was learnt that some people had pressurized Krishna Rao to sign
on some blank papers. Locals are suspecting that some people who came to
know about the discovery of the cure might have wanted to get the patent on
their name.
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