Kolkata: Recently, bears have been spotted at several houses in many districts in West Bengal. The incidents further alarm us about the man-animal conflicts taking place across the world because of the lessening of the inhabitants of wildlife animals.
If wild bears are venturing into human’s houses in Bengal, it is the herd of wild elephants doing similar in many cities in Jharkhand. Which led to damage of properties and on some occasions killing of villagers too.
Because of the man-animal conflicts, whether it is animals getting killed or caught while venturing into the concrete jungle or it is humans who get hurt or killed by the wild predators, it is the loss of nature and mankind.
We need to learn and adapt, how to co-exist with mother nature and its inhabitants. Then only we will be able to leave a better place for coming generations.
And it is not just the people, but governments and authorities should take necessary measures to help humans and animals live together.
The incidents also tell us about the climate crisis, which has been talked about a lot at international conferences, but a lot more needed to be done.
Watch our one-minute video story on the one of the most urgent issues of mankind, ‘man-animal conflicts.’
[dropcap]C[/dropcap]oronavirus pandemic has changed the world and the plans of almost every single individual on earth, in their respective lives. But the historic pandemic could not deter Ankit Arora, a solo cyclist, from continuing his journey. The 32-year-old chartered accountant, as well as journalist, is on an all-India tour on his bicycle for 1541 days now. In 2017, Ankit was 28-year-old he decided to leave his journalistic job and embarked on an all-India tour with hopes of making it to the Guinness World Records by traversing the country in 150 days. However, till date, despite the pandemic, he has visited 15 Indian states and eight Union Territories so far.
Sacrificed many things including girlfriends
In the last 5 years not only Ankit, the youngest brother among the three has stayed away from his family, but also had to end his relationship with his girlfriend. He fell in love once again while journeying, it did not last more than four months.
Opium smuggler and hair chopper
On two occasions, Ankit faced serious problems. First, when he had started cycling from Rajasthan. On entering Barmer area, some people took him as an opium smuggler as generally such bootleggers use a cycle for trafficking of narcotics. “Villagers thought I was smuggling opium. They checked my backpack to confirm that I wasn’t one. In Kashmir’s Sophia village, I was mistaken as the one who chops women’s hair. Because of this rumour, I was held by the locals and later I had to throw away my scissors,” the traveller said, while sharing his experiences with eNewsroom.
Built a self-sustaining village during the pandemic
When India was witnessing over one lakh Covid-19 cases in a day and there was a strict lockdown, nobody was allowed to move freely, then Ankit was in Krishnagiri building a self-sustaining village, with a family that he met during his travel.
“I met an army man’s family in TN, who believed in my model of a self-sustaining village. They brought the land and here I am helping them build the community village,” said Ankit.
Elaborating on the same he said, “In the last one year, I built a self-sustaining village in Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu near Bengaluru. A community where one can practice all sorts of arts, crafts, organic farming and build natural mud houses.”
Ankit further said, “I started organic farming and building mud – houses, using organic materials that were available locally like red mud and brown mud, jaggery, honey, egg yolk, an ancient tribal technique of house building. The homes enable cost-efficient thermal insulation, natural malleability while reducing their carbon footprint. All this I have learned during my journey and experiences with tribals and ancient wisdom of the country.”
Ankit Aroro cultivating crops in a village during his journey
“I also made a big-sized mud sofa. Plastic waste recycling techniques were used in building mud houses and sofas. Bottle bricks were designed using plastic bottles stuffed with packet wrappers, which resembled traditional bricks. Alcohol bottles collected from nearby rivers and Hogenakkal waterfalls were used for the construction. Natural termite repellents were created by combining water with holistic herbs like neem leaves, kadukai seeds, green chillies, garlic, turmeric and lime,” explained the self-sustaining village developer, in detail.
Ankit and other locals who helped him in the work named the village – Innisfree farm.
“On the farm, we now have two mud houses, two wooden and thatched houses, two dry toilets, one mud sofa, and two mega-sized ponds for rainwater harvesting. We are also using wooden, coconut and mud vessels in our kitchen which I have made from the waste wood and waste coconut shells. We are also practicing various art and craft with waste wood and coconut which includes making wooden chopping boards, coconut shell bowls, artistic face masks and earrings and that is also attracting the local villagers and ladies who are now interested to participate in these activities. We are now also growing our vegetables like spinach, tomatoes, green chilli, okra, bitter gourd and many fruit trees like mango, tamarind, jackfruit and are self-dependent on our vegetables and fruit supply,” said Ankit.
Today, Innisfree farm reuses 100% of their waste to power eco-toilets, kitchens, electricity and even fodder for the local animals. The farm is a beacon of the local community, providing employment as well as education to surrounding farmers. On the natural farm in Krishnagiri, we also train and teach people traditional art like Madhubani, Gond, Pichwai, and wall paintings. I help in making organic soaps, kitchen compost. I also learned how to make kokedama, the Japanese art of growing a plant. We are also making wooden cutlery, kitchen items and furniture from the waste coconut shells and waste wood from the villages. The villagers and youngsters are very keen to learn these practices.
On being asked if he has any stake in the village, he said, “No. I will only help families this one to build self-sustaining villages which will be interconnected. I will keep coming back as and when they need my help.”
Learning new things was more important than making records
Initially, Ankit wanted to make records, but later realized it did not permit him to stay longer and learn any new things, as he had to keep moving. So a change of plan happened and the journey which was supposed to end within a year, is still continuing.
“After having secured my position in the Limca Book of Records and India Book of records, I embarked on a bicycle journey through the length and breadth of the country. It has been over 1540 days now — I have seen half of India: covered 15 states in North, West, South and Central India, and 8 Union Territories. On the road, I discovered a new face of India — where organic farming flourished, an alternate education system enlightened young minds in creative ways and kindness was a way of life.”
The single mother community in a village, that Ankit reached by walking
Learned the art of life
“While pedaling across rural India, I engage in right from working with farmers to making wooden sculptures in Maharashtra and Bengaluru, weaving khadi shirts, making mud houses for villagers of a remote hamlet in Anantapur district, Nagpur and Tamil Nadu, making coconut shell cutlery and jewellery, learning natural farming and forest conversation from the tribals, learning Thanjavur art, Madhubani art, tribal gond art to learning the 400-year-old wooden toy making art in Etikoppaka, learning the rural arts — Kondapalli in Andhra Pradesh to making the musical instrument Veena in Nuzividu; my journey has connected me with people in more ways than one,” Ankit mentioned.
He continued, “My purpose now is to connect with communities and share the learnings I have received from farmers, tribals, weavers, potters, artists, sculptors, musicians, labourers, students, and urban families; with others like them.”
From exploring places to discovering communities
Ankit’s journey had begun with the target of visiting Indian states, but now he meets different communities, so when he finds a new community that is self-sustaining and has a different skill to offer to the 32-year-old traveller he stays on longer trying to learn new things These days, he spent most time at Krishnagiri, on the border of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. He has stayed here for over one and a half years now.
From solo cycling to walking
“Sometimes, I move on my feet too, without my bicycle. And discovered many communities while going to new places on foot. I discovered a single-mother community while walking only,” he pointed out.
Support from friends helped so far
You must require money from time to time like now you are in hospital, so how will you pay the medical bills? My friends help me with it. “They chip in to help me in these situations.”
Presently hospitalized, but will continue his journey
While talking, Ankit informed that he at present is hospitalized in Bengaluru to have his Irritable Bowel syndrome (ISB) problem resolved. He believes he developed the condition because of eating different foods at odd times during his journey. His liver is not in a good condition right now. He was even admitted in the ICU for ten days. He will be resuming his journey soon.
The cyclist needs support for his treatment. Please help him by donating on the link.
Delhi: Beedi is Sawdeshi, organic, no report claimed yet that it causes cancer but the implementation of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) amendments will further increase the grave unemployment situation in India, so there is a separate law needed for the Beedi industry. These were the views of the dignitaries present at the launch of the book on women beedi rollers.
Probably it was the first time that a cross-section of people met at national capital not only to launch a book on India’s women beedi workers—Study on Lack of Alternate Employment for Women Beedi Rollers but also to discuss the future of the Beedi industry since implementation of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) amendments will led to millions of beedi workers unemployed.
The evening which was dedicated to women beedi rollers was attended by Bharatiya Janata Party leaders including Minister of State for Labour & Employment Rameswar Teli, Rajya Sabha MP Sushil Modi, Trinamool Congress’ Saugata Roy and Dola Sen, Nationalist Congress Party’s leader and ex-minister Praful Patel, trade union leaders, activists and journalists. There were 25 Members of Parliament present on the occasion. And the discussion was moderated by senior journalist Priya Sehgal. But there were two other special guests too– one was Cuban Ambassador Simancas Marin and another were several women beedi workers.
पिछले 13 दिसंबर को ‘नारकोटिक ड्रग्स एंड साइकोट्रोपिक सब्सटेंस (संशोधन) विधेयक, 2021’ लोकसभा में पास किया गया. यह बिल व्यक्तिगत उपयोग के लिए सीमित मात्रा में ड्रग्स रखने की छूट देता है, ताकि साइकोट्रोपिक पदार्थ के निर्माण, परिवहन और खपत जैसे कुछ कार्यों में सहायता मिल सके.
वहीं, हाल के दिनों में नशीले पदार्थों के सेवन और उन्हें रखने के आरोप में हुई हाई-प्रोफाइल गिरफ्तारियों ने पूरे देश का ध्यान इस ओर खींचा है. यदि इस मामले में हाई-प्रोफाइल गिरफ्तारियां और जांच पड़ताल न हुई होतीं, तो नशीले पदार्थों के सेवन से जुड़ी खबरें कभी सुर्खियां न बटोर पातीं और इस तरह के विषय पर कभी गंभीर चर्चा नहीं होती.
देखा जाए तो भारत में सदियों से नशीले पदार्थों का सेवन होता रहा है, जैसे कि पारंपरिक रूप से नशीले पदार्थों का उपयोग दवाइयां बनाने के लिए तो किया ही जाता है, कभी-कभी और काफी हद तक यह कम मात्रा में स्वीकार्य होने से घरेलू कामकाज में भी इस्तेमाल होती है.
हालांकि, देखा जाए तो भारत संयुक्त राष्ट्र के उन 27 देशों शामिल है, जिन्होंने प्रतिबंधित पदार्थों की सूची से भांग को हटाने के लिए मतदान किया था. यह निर्णय वर्ष 2020 में ‘विश्व स्वास्थ्य संगठन’ (डब्ल्यूएचओ) द्वारा नशीले पदार्थों के बारे में की गई कुछ महत्त्वपूर्ण सिफारिशों की एक श्रृंखला के तहत लिया गया था.
हालांकि, भारत में वर्ष 1985 को कठोर ‘नारकोटिक ड्रग्स एंड साइकोट्रोपिक सब्सटेंस एक्ट’ (एनडीपीएस) में संशोधन के लिए कोई अनुवर्ती उपाय अब तक नहीं हुआ था. यहां तक कि भांग जैसे सबसे कम नशीले पदार्थ के रखने या उसकी खपत करने पर भी गंभीर सजा का प्रावधान था.
वाशिंगटन में भांग को वैध बनाने हुआ था मतदान
दूसरी तरफ, वैश्विक स्तर पर देखें तो वर्ष 2012 में, उरुग्वे मनोरंजक उद्देश्यों के लिए भांग के उपयोग को वैध बनाने वाला पहला देश बन गया.
इस कदम का उद्देश्य संगठित अपराध और भांग के व्यापार के बीच स्थापित संबंधों को सीधे राज्य की निगरानी में लाना बताया गया था. उसके बाद वर्ष 2012 को ही अमेरिका की राजधानी वाशिंगटन में भांग को वैध बनाने के लिए मतदान किया था. फिर अमेरिका का कोलोराडो भांग को वैध करने के मामले में वहां का पहला राज्य बन गया था.
महत्त्वपूर्ण बात यह रही कि अमेरिका के तत्कालीन राष्ट्रपति बराक ओबामा के नेतृत्व में इस ओर एक बड़ा कदम उठाया गया, जिसके अंतर्गत 50 अमेरिकी राज्यों में से 33 ने भांग के चिकित्सा उपयोग को वैध कर दिया था. इसी कड़ी में कनाडा ने भी मारिजुआना जैसे नशीले पदार्थ के उपयोग को वैध कर दिया था, जबकि कनाडा में मारिजुआना का चिकित्सा कामों में उपयोग वर्ष 2001 से कानूनी था.
भारत में भांग वैध करने की मांग क्यों
जब दुनिया के कई देश भांग को वैध बनाने से जुड़े निर्णय ले रहे थे, तब सवाल यह था कि भारत भांग के उपयोग को वैध क्यों नहीं बना रहा है? ऐसा इसलिए भी कि भांग और अफीम भारत में सदियों से न सिर्फ पाये जाते हैं, बल्कि उनका उपयोग किया जाता रहा है.
कई जानकारों के मुताबिक यदि भारत की परंपरागत संस्कृति और यहां की जीवनशैली देखें तो भांग को अवैध घोषित करने से पहले तक कभी इसे व्यसन के तौर पर नहीं देखा गया था. भारत में इसे प्राकृतिक रूप से पाए जाने वाले पौधों पर आधारित उत्पाद के तौर पर ही जाना गया, जिसका उपयोग संत मुनि करते रहे हैं. इसी के साथ यह आंकड़ा भी महत्त्वपूर्ण है कि लगभग 147 मिलियन लोग, जो दुनिया की आबादी का 2.5 प्रतिशत है, भांग का उपयोग मनोरंजन के लिए करते हैं.
उदाहरण के लिए, भांग के पकोड़े और भांग के साथ ठंडाई का सेवन करना लगभग एक अनुष्ठान है, यहां तक कि भंग को अवैध घोषित किए जाने के बावजूद होली जैसे कुछ त्योहारों के दौरान इसका उपयोग करना आम बात मानी जाती रही है. भांग और होली से जुड़े कई बॉलीवुड गाने आमतौर पर भारतीय परिवारों के बीच गुनगुनाए जाते रहे हैं. फिर शिवरात्रि जैसे धामिर्क उत्सव में भी भांग की अहम भूमिका रही है.
भांग और दूसरी नशीली चीजों में अंतर
हालांकि, इस पूरी बहस में यह बात भी उजागर हुई है कि भांग जैसी ‘सॉफ्ट’ नशीली चीज या दवा की तुलना कोकीन, हेरोइन और चरस जैसे भयंकर नशीले उत्पादों से नहीं होना चाहिए. वहीं, भांग और दूसरी नशीली चीजों में अंतर को निश्चित रूप से खींचा जाना चाहिए.
दूसरी तरफ, भारत के संदर्भ में यह बात दिलचस्प है कि वर्ष 1985 का ‘नारकोटिक ड्रग्स एंड साइकोट्रोपिक सब्सटेंस एक्ट’ भांग के पौधे के कुछ हिस्सों के उत्पादन, बिक्री और खपत को प्रतिबंधित करता है, लेकिन पत्तियां कहीं-कहीं परंपरागत तौर पर इस्तेमाल होती रही हैं. यहां तक कि जैसलमेर और पुष्कर जैसे शहरों में भी सरकार द्वारा स्वीकृत भांग की दुकान है. इसी तरह, वाराणसी में साल भर ऐसी 200 से अधिक दुकानें बताई जाती हैं.
धार्मिक तौर पर देखें तो कई बाबा और साधुओं (पवित्र पुरुषों) को सीधे भांग का सेवन करते हुए देखा जा सकता है. वे कई सार्वजनिक स्थानों पर भी चिलम के जरिए धूम्रपान करते हुए नजर आ जाते हैं.
अधिनियम में संशोधन की मांग पुरानी
इसी कड़ी में आगे देखें तो पटियाला के पूर्व सांसद डॉ धरमवीर गांधी लंबे समय से ‘गैर-सिंथेटिक’ एंटीऑक्सीडेंट के वैधीकरण की मांग कर रहे थे. वह लंबे समय से एनडीपीएस अधिनियम में संशोधन की पैरवी कर रहे थे. इसके पीछे उनकी दलील थी कि पारंपरिक और प्राकृतिक नशीले पदार्थों की सस्ती, विनियमित और चिकित्सकीय निगरानी की आपूर्ति के माध्यम से आम दवा उपयोगकर्ता को राहत मिलनी चाहिए.
पंजाब और अन्य जगहों पर नशीले पदार्थों के खिलाफ लड़ाई में कामयाबी नहीं मिलने के पीछे एक वजह यह भी मानी जा रही थी कि सभी को एक ही श्रेणी में रख दिया गया है. सभी को समान रूप से खतरनाक और नशे की लत के रूप में देखा जाता है, जबकि उनमें स्पष्ट रूप अंतर होता है.
इन्हीं सब कारणों के आधार पर पता चलता हैं कि क्यों एनडीपीएस अधिनियम अपने घोषित लक्ष्यों को प्राप्त करने में विफल रहा है. इसके तहत हल्की नशीले पदार्थ का उपयोग करने या उसे रखने वाले को भी कड़ी से कड़ी सजा दी जाती है. वहीं, इस कानून को लागू कराने के लिए सरकार को बड़ी मात्रा में धन का निवेश भी करना पड़ता है.
बिल के समर्थन में तर्क
वहीं, इस बिल के पक्ष में कुछ जानकारों का मत है कि जैसे-जैसे आम आदमी के लिए मनोरंजक पदार्थ अनुपलब्ध होते गए, वैसे-वैसे बाजारों में नई, अधिक शक्तिशाली, नशे की लत और खतरनाक वैकल्पिक दवाओं की बाढ़ आ गई. उदाहरण के लिए, हेरोइन ने अफीम की जगह ले ली, वहीं कोकीन ने भांग की जगह ले ली.
‘विधि सेंटर फॉर लीगल पॉलिसी’ द्वारा वर्ष 2018 में किए गए एक अध्ययन में बताया गया है कि भारत में ड्रग्स के मामलों में ज्यादातर गिरफ्तारियां निजी उपभोग के लिए होती हैं. अध्ययन से पता चला है कि वर्ष 2018 में भारत में 81,778 लोगों को ‘नारकोटिक्स ड्रग्स एंड साइकोट्रोपिक सबस्टेंस’ (एनडीपीएस) अधिनियम के तहत गिरफ्तार किया गया था. इनमें से 59 प्रतिशत को निजी इस्तेमाल के लिए रखने के आरोप में गिरफ्तार किया गया था. इसी तरह, इनमें से 87 प्रतिशत ने भांग का इस्तेमाल किया था, जो के आमतौर पर कोकीन, हेरोइन और चरस जैसे अत्यधिक नशीले और हानिकारक पदार्थों में शामिल नहीं किया जा सकता है.
‘सामाजिक न्याय और अधिकारिता मंत्रालय’ द्वारा भारत में मादक द्रव्यों के सेवन के विस्तार और पैटर्न पर वर्ष 2019 के एक अध्ययन के अनुसार, भारत में लगभग तीन करोड़ लोग भांग का उपयोग करते हैं. यह भी कहा जा रहा है कि इन तीन करोड़ लोगों को जेल में डालने से कानूनी व्यवस्था पूरी तरह से चरमरा जाएगी. ऐसे में तर्क दिया जा रहा है कि भारत में एक बड़ी संख्या भांग का उपयोग करती है, दूसरा यह आसानी से भी उपलब्ध है, इसलिए यहां एक निश्चित मात्रा में भांग का उपभोग करने वाले व्यक्ति को अपराधी नहीं माना जाना चाहिए. यदि कानून का बेहतर उपयोग करना है तो इसे खतरनाक नशीले पदार्थों का सेवन करने वालों पर शिकंजा कसने तक केंद्रित रखना होगा.
Delhi: Beedi is Sawdeshi, organic, no report claimed yet that it causes cancer but the implementation of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) amendments will further increase the grave unemployment situation in India, so there is a separate law needed for the Beedi industry. These were the views of the dignitaries present at the launch of the book on women beedi rollers.
Probably it was the first time that a cross-section of people met at national capital not only to launch a book on India’s women beedi workers—Study on Lack of Alternate Employment for Women Beedi Rollers but also to discuss the future of the Beedi industry since implementation of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) amendments will unemployed millions of beedi workers.
The evening which was dedicated to women beedi rollers was attended by Bharatiya Janata Party leaders including Minister of State for Labour & Employment Rameswar Teli, Rajya Sabha MP Sushil Modi, Trinamool Congress’ Saugata Roy and Dola Sen, Nationalist Congress Party’s leader and ex-minister Praful Patel, trade union leaders, activists and journalists. There were 25 Members of Parliament present on the occasion. And the discussion was moderated by senior journalist Priya Sehgal. But there were two other special guests too– one was Cuban Ambassador Simancas Marin and another were several women beedi workers.
Beedi workers are the most marginalised people
One of the authors, Vibha Vasuki stated in detail about her research and mentioned that though Covid constraints could not permit her to study more workers’ lives the book touched all the aspects comprehensively.
The authors, Vibha Vasuki and Dr Siva Prasad | Courtesy: Beedi Livelihoods Matter/Twitter
Gives employment at remote areas of India
Former union minister and NCP leader Praful Patel highlighted the Beedi industry and its importance and also mentioned that his family was associated with the Beedi industry. “Beedi industry gives employment to people in remote and far-flung areas where there is no other source of work. It has more than 50 per cent labour component and money goes directly to the hands of people. Such industry needs governments support and neglect,” said Patel.
Why 27 per cent GST on a Swadeshi product?
Ashwani Mahajan, national co-convenor, Swadeshi Jagran Manch, who wrote forward in the book, talked straightforwardly. “Earlier there was no tax on beedi, neither excise duty nor sales tax applied on it. They reasoned that because it gives huge employment. It gets made in nine states and goes to the entire country, so beedi, sugar and textile used to be exempted. When GST was being implemented, he had thought either there will be no GST on beedis or it will be 5 per cent But highest GST has been charged on it,” rued Mahajan.
WHO report is itself questionable
All India organizing secretary of Bharatiya Majdoor Sangh, B Surendran The World Health Organization (WHO), which reported that 12 lakhs people die every year from Tobacco in India, on whose basis COTPA is being amended, is itself questionable and we have asked in our court petition that let the data of every hospital, every block should be submitted by WHO then we will support it. He also mentioned that Beedi is organic and least nicotine gets used.
Cuba Cigar is the premium Cigar in the world
The Cuban Ambassador Marin who came to speak with a Cigar at his hand highlighted the Cigar industry in Cuba. He also said that there is similarity between the Beedi and Cigar industry as both have large numbers of women workers, besides being indigenous. He also mentioned that Cigar industry people had participated in the country’s independence movement.
One of the speakers Cuban Ambassador Simancas Marin delivering his speech | Courtesy: Beedi Livelihoods Matter/Twitter
There is a need to lobby for the Beedi industry
Senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sushil Modi while saying that it is a complicated matter pointed out that no government would like to do something which will unemployed lakhs of people. “I have been associated with GST implementation too. And many people from the Cigarette and other tobacco industry people met us with their grievances but I never met anybody from the Beedi industry. It needs a lobby. The lobby has a negative image in India, but in the United States, it is systemised.”
States should be consulted
MP and TMC trade union leader Dola Sen requested the union minister that for the welfare of the Beedi industry and its workers, states should be consulted by the center. During her speech, she gave a slogan, save the industry and save the workers.
Why an indigenous product, Beedi, not be promoted like a Cigar?
The book launch event began with the opening speech by author and journalist Rasheed Kidwai, who pointed out that it is not just a book release function but about the issue of the livelihood and welfare of 30 million people that to women, which and why a country like Cuba can showcase it cigar at a global platform. “Cigar brings fame, fortune and money to Cuba, but here we have a very indigenous thing which contributes 25 billion rupees to GDP, which is a very staggering amount, but getting step-motherly treatment.”
Minister’s assurance
After listening to all the speakers patiently, MoS Rameswar Tuli who himself claimed to be a labour said, “I know that no such meeting on beedi workers like this has taken place before. I have also learnt a lot after coming here. I will sure talk about it with our senior minister.”
On the occasion, Mysore Beedi Mazdoor Association issued a press communiqué which said that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, proposes to amend COTPA 2003. The Ministry has put a draft of the said Bill on their website for comments and views.
Most of the proposed amendments are directly going to affect the livelihood of 2.3 crore workers currently employed in the Beedi Industry. They have no alternative employment. Employing crores of workers overnight is highly improbable, considering the present rate of unemployment.
It is critical to segregate beedis from Cigarettes and Chewing Tobacco and to reformulate separate Rules for beedies under COTPA 2003 while finalizing the proposed amendments and saving this indigenous, high employment generating Swadeshi industry. In the interest of the livelihood of 85 Lakh Beedi Workers, 40 Lakh native Adivasis and Tribals engaged in Tendu leaves plucking, 30 Lakh Beedi Tobacco farmers and workers who are directly dependent on the industry COTPA amendments should not be applied to it.
Kolkata: On August 24, 2018, I was at Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, for interaction with Sangita Reddy, Joint MD of Apollo Hospitals. After our talks, I saw her in an important meeting with some of her staff members. They were discussing a critical issue. Without lines across her forehead, with a smile on her face, she solved the matter. Never did Sangita impose herself on subordinates. The officers went back to work with content. It was an example of good hospital management during the pre-Covid days.
Ever since the pandemic wreaked havoc, Sangita Reddy never lost patience. She took care of her hospital’s administration nationwide, ensured the best of healthcare for patients and produced a corona guide book that provided ample knowledge about the dreaded disease and how to cure it. Only recently when she suffered from corona, she underwent cocktail therapy to cure it. The dynamic mademoiselle in a series of tweets kept on conveying messages of encouragement that were appreciated.
Sangita Reddy is just one example of how someone manages hospital officers and healthcare with benevolence. There are umpteen other personalities like Dr Satendra Katoch, Dr G Chandrasekhar and Dr Sujit Kar Purkayastha who are enlightening people day to day about hospital management. However, their areas are limited to corporate hospitals which are large in size and stature. Dr Ranvir Guleria, Dr AK Rana Singh and Dr Subhasish Kamal Guha are bright hospital managers from government healthcare.
Like public relations, hospital management is gradually emerging as a new management tool. Many students are taking interest in it and are pursuing courses in the subject in various management institutes. Legendary physician of Kolkata late Dr Sital Ghosh defined hospital management rightly. According to him, hospital management encompasses every arena of a running hospital. From healthcare to marketing to finance issues dealing to maintain best of relations with patient parties, media and government form the core of hospital management felt Dr Sital Ghosh.
During his heydays, there were very few corporate hospitals. The true seeds of hospital management were sown much earlier in government hospitals. In all fairness, management in government hospitals is at a mammoth scale and more difficult than in corporate hospitals. Dr B Pratap Reddy an ex-top medical practitioner of Mahatma Gandhi Hospital of Hyderabad is suffering from cancer. Yet based on his vast experience, he agrees that government hospital management combines rigor, selfless caring mentality and understanding as well as solving the needs of countless. They include the medical fraternity of the hospital, ward boys and sweepers, attendants and the masses who flock to government medical centers for treatment. Throughout his career, Dr Reddy followed these norms.
Management in government hospitals is surely more challenging than in corporate ones. Corporate hospitals are well structured and possess the best medical equipment and techniques. These cater to a wealthier class as the general public hospitals function with an elite class view.
Many of them are notorious for charging excessive rates from patients. This disturbs hospital patient relations and often leads to unpleasant situations. The West Bengal Clinical Establishment Act, 2017, has been successful in reigning corporate hospitals of the state.
Not that government hospitals don’t falter. Wrong treatment, neglect of patients, lack of timely approach by staff to deal with crisis ails many of our government hospitals. Besides, it is really difficult to get admission in government hospitals as the number of patients is far higher than the beds available.
The majority of patient parties cannot go for high-level government recommendations to admit patients to government hospitals. Not all hospitals of the government sectors are well equipped to tackle the critical disease.
The main differences between government and corporate hospital management are government hospitals cater to a larger target audience and face more crises. Frequent strikes by medical staff at government hospitals are a sign of wrong hospital management. Doctors and Paramedical staffs are very different segments compared to factory workers.
Medical personalities are manhandled by outsiders and also have grievances. They are going on strikes hamper daily healthcare badly. Patients remaining unattended are an unpardonable crime. Proper hospital management should tackle such issues amicably instead of stopping healthcare activities.
Like Apollo, Gangaram, CMC Vellore, AIIMS, Chandigarh PGIMER and SSKM are well equipped in every aspect. Management institutes having hospital courses should focus on specialties in the subject with proper distinguishing of activities in government and corporate hospitals.
Instead of flying kites of theories students should visit hospitals of both criteria for practical training. Hospital management has a glorious future that can give new dimensions to humanity as well. Reputed universities give recognition to hospital management courses in institutes based on the merits of the curriculum.
রাজ কাপুর গ্রেট রাশিয়ান সার্কাস ক্লাউনদের পর্যবেক্ষণ করে সার্কাস জোকারদের বিদ্বেষ এবং শারীরিক ভাষা অনুশীলন করেছিলেন। তিনি সবসময় অনুভব করেন যে তার নিজের মধ্যে একটি জোকার আছে। এটা অন্যদের হাসিয়েছে কিন্তু তার অন্তরে কাঁদিয়েছে। আশ্চর্যের কিছু নেই যে তিনি ভারতীয় সিনেমার সেরা সিরীয় কমেডিয়ান রয়ে গেছেন। তিনি একজন জন্মগত অভিনেতা ছিলেন।
যখন পরিচালক কিদার শর্মা সেটে তার সহকারী রাজ কাপুরকে চড় মারেন তখন তিনি তার চোখে জল দেখতে পান। রাজ কাপুর তার মুখে মেকআপ লাগিয়ে ক্যামেরার সামনে পারফর্ম করার কল্পনা করেছিলেন। তার মধ্যে থাকা অভিনেতাকে বুঝতে পেরে, কিদার শর্মা 1946 সালে নীল কমল-এ রাজ কাপুরকে একজন অভিনেতা হিসেবে পরিচয় করিয়ে দেন। তিনি শীঘ্রই ভারতীয় সিনেমার সর্বকনিষ্ঠ অভিনেতা, পরিচালক হয়ে ওঠেন।
40-এর দশকের শেষ থেকে 60-এর দশকের শেষ পর্যন্ত, দিলীপ কুমার, রাজ কাপুর এবং দেব আনন্দ ভারতীয় সিনেমার গ্র্যান্ড ট্রিনিটি তৈরি করেছিলেন। দিলীপ কুমার ছিলেন গ্র্যান্ড থিস্পিয়ান, রাজ কাপুর চিরন্তন ট্র্যাম্প, দেব আনন্দ চিরসবুজ রোমান্টিক। তিনজন একে অপরের প্রতি অব্যক্ত নৈতিকতা এবং নীরব শ্রদ্ধার একটি সেট ভাগ করে নিয়েছে।
তিনি একজন পরিচালকের চেয়ে ভালো অভিনেতা ছিলেন। ভি.শান্তরাম এবং সত্যজিৎ রায় উভয়েই জাগতে রাহো, তিসরি কাসাম এবং মেরা নাম জোকার দেখার পর এটি স্বীকার করেছেন। একজন পরিচালক হিসাবে, তিনি একজন চমৎকার প্রযুক্তিবিদ ছিলেন যিনি রোমান্টিক কোণে বেশ কিছু সামাজিকভাবে উদ্দেশ্যমূলক বিনোদনকে নির্দেশ করেছিলেন। বারসাত, আওয়ারা, শ্রী 420 এবং সঙ্গম এর সাক্ষ্য দেয়।
মানুষ হিসেবে তিনি গ্রাউন্ডেড ছিলেন। রাজ কাপুর ষাটের দশকে একটি সফরের সময় লন্ডনের একটি হোটেল রুমের মেঝেতে ঘুমানোর সিদ্ধান্ত নিয়েছিলেন। হোটেলের লোকজন একমত না হলেও তিনি তাদের বোঝান। শ্রী 420-এর সেটে, তিনি একজন টেকনিশিয়ানের সাথে তার দুপুরের খাবার ভাগাভাগি করেছিলেন যার কাছে খাবারের জন্য টাকা ছিল না।
তিনি মনেপ্রাণে একজন সত্যিকারের রোমান্টিক ছিলেন। যখন তিনি সুচিত্রা সেনের কাছে একটি আর.কে. প্রযোজনা, তিনি তার রুমের মেঝেতে স্ক্রিপ্ট বর্ণনা করতে বসেছিলেন। সুচিত্রা সেন বিনয়ের সাথে ছবিটি প্রত্যাখ্যান করেছিলেন এবং বিশ্রী বোধ করেছিলেন যে এই জাতীয় সেলিব্রিটি তার মেঝেতে বসতে পছন্দ করেছিলেন। পরে তিনি খুব কাছের লোকদের কাছে স্বীকার করেছিলেন যে রাজ কাপুর সত্যিই ডাউন টু আর্থ এবং একজন অপ্রত্যাশিত শ্রেণীর অভিনেতা।
তিনি যেভাবে হাসির সাথে কান্না মিশ্রিত করেছিলেন তা দুর্দান্ত ছিল। শোম্যান গোপীনাথ, আহা, শারদা, চালিয়া এবং চার দিল চার রাহেনের মতো অফবিট চরিত্রগুলি বেছে নিয়েছিলেন। রাজ কাপুরের সেরা দিকনির্দেশনামূলক উদ্যোগগুলি ছিল শ্রী 420 এবং মেরা নাম জোকার।
মেরা নাম জোকার ফ্লপ হওয়ার পর, রাজ কাপুর হৃদয় ভেঙে পড়েন এবং তিনি তাঁর পরিচালিত ছবিতে না দেখা দেওয়ার সিদ্ধান্ত নেন। তার পরবর্তী উদ্যোগগুলি ববি, সত্যম শিবম সুন্দরম এবং রাম তেরি গঙ্গা মাইলি বড় হিট ছিল কিন্তু তার আগের ক্লাসি স্পর্শের অভাব ছিল।
অভিনেতা-পরিচালকের মনস্তত্ত্ব ভালভাবে বুঝতে পেরেছিলেন কে এ আব্বাস। এটা খুব কমই জানা যায় যে রাজ কাপুর মনোজ কুমারকে মেরা নাম জোকারের প্রথমার্ধ আবার লেখার অনুমতি দিয়েছিলেন এবং আব্বাস স্ক্রিপ্ট কপি অনুমোদন করেছিলেন। ছন্দের সহজাত বোধের সাথে, তিনি এক দিল সউ আফসানে সুনো জি সুনো গানটিতে ধাপে ধাপে ওয়াহিদা রেহমানের সাথে মিল রেখে ভরতনাট্যম নাচিয়েছিলেন।
রাজ কাপুর সোভিয়েত ইউনিয়ন এবং পূর্ব ইউরোপে নায়ক-পূজিত ছিলেন। কমরেড মাও সে তুং-এর বহুবর্ষজীবী প্রিয় গান ছিল আওয়ারা হুন। তিনি টেবিল, পিয়ানো অ্যাকর্ডিয়ন এবং পিয়ানোর মতো অনেক বাদ্যযন্ত্র বাজাতে পারতেন।
তিনি কখনই অন্যদের ভালো কাজের জন্য প্রশংসা করতে ব্যর্থ হননি। ‘শোম্যান’ই প্রথম গুরু দত্তকে অভিনন্দন জানিয়েছিলেন পরবর্তী সাহেব বিউইন গুলামের জন্য। শুধুমাত্র রাজ কাপুরের মতো ব্যক্তিত্বই খোলাখুলিভাবে হাততালি দিতে পারেন এবং সুজাতার নূতনের প্রশংসা করতে পারেন, “ওয়াহ বাহ।”
Raj Kapoor practiced the antics and body language of circus jokers by observing the Great Russian circus clowns. He always felt he had a joker in himself. It made others laugh but cried in his inner self. No wonder he remains Indian cinema’s best sere comedian. He was a born actor.
When director Kidar Sharma slapped his assistant Raj Kapoor on the sets he noticed tears in his eyes. Raj Kapoor fancied putting makeup on his face and performing in front of the camera. Understanding the actor in him, Kidar Sharma introduced Raj Kapoor as an actor in Neel Kamal in 1946. He soon became the youngest actor, director of Indian cinema.
From the late 40s to the end of the 60s, Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand formed the grand trinity of Indian cinema. Dilip Kumar was the grand thespian, Raj Kapoor the eternal tramp, Dev Anand the evergreen romantic. The three shared a set of unspoken ethics and silent regard for each other.
He was a better actor than a director. Both V.Shantaram and Satyajit Ray acknowledged this after viewing Jagte Raho, Teesri Kasam and Mera Naam Joker. As a director, he was an excellent technician who directed several socially purposeful entertainers with romantic angles. Barsaat, Awara, Shree 420 and Sangam stand testimony to this.
As a human being, he was grounded. Raj Kapoor decided to sleep on the floors of a London hotel room during a visit in the 60s. Though the hotel people disagreed he convinced them. On the sets of Shree 420, he shared his lunch with a technician who did not have money to have food.
He was a true romantic at heart. When he approached Suchitra Sen to appear in an R.K. production, he sat on the floor of her room to narrate the script. Suchitra Sen politely refused the film and felt awkward that such a celebrity opted to sit on her floor. Later she confessed to very near ones that Raj Kapoor was truly down to earth and an unpredictable class actor.
The way he mingled laughter with tears was superb. The showman had opt for offbeat characters like Gopinath, Aah, Sharada, Chalia and Char Dil Char Rahen. Raj Kapoor’s best directional ventures according to him were Shree 420 and Mera Naam Joker.
After Mera Naam Joker getting flopped, Raj Kapoor was heartbroken and he decided not to appear in films directed by him. His later ventures Bobby, Satyam Shivam Sundaram and Ram Teri Ganga Maili were big hits but lacked his earlier classy touch.
The actor-director’s psychology was best understood by K A Abbas. It is rarely known that Raj Kapoor permitted Manoj Kumar to rewrite the first half of Mera Naam Joker and Abbas approved the script copy. With an inborn sense of rhythm, he had danced Bharatanatyam matching Waheeda Rehman step by step to the song Suno Ji Suno in Ek Dil Sau Afsane.
Raj Kapoor was hero-worshiped in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Comrade Mao Zse Tung’s perennial favorite song was Awara Hun. He could play many musical instruments like the table, piano accordion and piano.
He never failed to compliment others for their good work. The ‘showman’ was the first to congratulate Guru Dutt for the laters Saheb Biwin Gulam. Only a personality like Raj Kapoor could openly clap and praise Nutan in Sujata saying, “Wah Wah.”
Kolkata: The All India Trinamool Congress on Monday filed a privilege notice against former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi for his remarks against the Rajya Sabha.
A nominated member of Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of Indian Parliament, Ranjan Gogoi, in a recent interview to a news channel, said that he attends the house only when “he likes it,” and being an independent member, has the liberty to do so.
Since he joined the House in March 2020, Gogoi has only attended it six times. Monday was the seventh instance when he came to the Parliament. When asked by the interviewer about him joining the Rajya Sabha just four months after retiring as CJI, Gogoi said, “What is this magic about Rajya Sabha? I would have been better off in terms of pay, emoluments if I had been a chairman of a tribunal”.
TMCs MPs Jawhar Sircar and Mausam Noor moved the motion, arguing that the former CJI’s comments “undermine the dignity of the house”.
Justice Gogoi had told Sreenivasan Jain of NDTV while answering one of the questions during the interview.
“You ignore the fact that for one or two sessions, I had submitted a letter to the house saying due to Covid (on grounds of medical advice) I will not be attending the session. Until a little before the last Winter Session, you could enter the Rajya Sabha after only an RT-PCR and personally I did not feel comfortable going there. Social distancing norms have been enforced, they are not being observed. The sitting arrangements, I don’t find very comfortable. I go to the Rajya Sabha when I feel like, when I think there are matters of importance on which I should speak. I am a nominated member, not governed by any party whip. Therefore, whenever the bell rings for the party members to come, it does not bind me, I go there of my choice and come out on my choice… I am an independent member of the house,” Justice Gogoi said in the interview.
Delhi: The proposed amendment to the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) puts the livelihood of millions of women in jeopardy. The new insertion [Section 10A (3)] makes it mandatory for persons to obtain licenses, permissions and registrations for manufacturing, selling and distributing any tobacco product. This insertion, if implemented will be an extremely harsh measure for small vendors who do not have the competency or financial means to obtain such a license.
Tobacco products are mostly sold by small vendors and hawkers who have a small-scale set up for selling tobacco products. Most of the sale of beedis takes place from micro shops situated under trees and on pavements which will not be recognized by the municipalities or given licenses. Therefore, the entire sale of beedis will come to a grinding and abrupt halt. If the sale of beedis comes to a halt, then the entire beedi industry will come to a halt.
A study by Vibha Vasuki, a Human Rights Lawyer and Dr. Siva Prasad Rambhatla, Senior Professor of Social Anthropology titled, “A Study on the Status of Alternate Employment Schemes for Women Beedi Rollers” delves into the impact this COTPA amendment will have on millions of women beedi rollers in the country. The report says that until skill-building and alternative employment are provided on a large scale for their livelihood, beedi rolling is the only viable occupation for millions of women across India.
A press communique issued by the industry people informed that the book will be released on Tuesday, December 14, 2021 at India International Centre, New Delhi by Bhupender Yadav, Union Cabinet Minister for Labour and Employment, Environment, Forest and Climate change.
The event will be presided by Alejandro Simancas Marin, Cuban Ambassador. The Guests of Honour will be Rekha Sharma, Chairperson, National Commission for Women; Dr. Ashwani Mahajan, National Convener, Swadeshi Jagaran Manch, and B Surendran, All India Organising Secretary, Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh.
The study states, “Beedis dominate tobacco consumption in India. They are thin, hand-rolled cigarettes that are wrapped in a tendu leaf and filled with tobacco. About 7.7 per cent of adults in India smoke Beedis which have a market share of 85 per cent of all smoking products in India. Any anti-tobacco legislation largely impacts the Beedi industry.”
“The manufacturing process is highly labour intensive. The over hundred-year-old cottage industry employs workers in mostly the unorganized sector consisting mainly of home-based women workers from poor households. Ninety six per cent of the total Beedi workers are home-based while only four per cent work in factories. A majority (84 per cent) of home-based workers are women while only 16 per cent are men.”
It further mentioned, “As a member nation signatory to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), the Government of India is obligated to promote and provide suitable alternative livelihoods for tobacco workers, including Beedi Rollers.”
And pointed out, “Beedi workers are among the most marginalised communities in India. Despite legislation for their welfare, there is little evidence to suggest that much has been put into practice. There has been no allocation of welfare funds for beedi workers since 2017-18. Until skill-building and alternative employment are provided on a large scale for their livelihood, beedi rolling is the only viable occupation for millions of women across India.”
The study claims that since the passing of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) in 2003, there has been a decline in the beedi industry. The anti-tobacco legislations have made it harder for the beedi industry to survive causing a direct impact on the livelihood of beedi workers. There is little or no data to suggest that much has been done to provide alternative sustainable livelihood to beedi workers. If the COTPA Amendment Bill 2020 is brought into effect, it will severely impact the livelihood of billions of beedi workers in India.
It also emphasises the need for alternative skill development and employment for women beedi rollers who are dependent on the industry for their livelihood.
