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Visually impaired kids perform adventure sports with ease
Barapatthar (Uttarakhand), July 2: A group of visually challenged kids amazed everyone with their grit and determination when they performed activities like rock climbing, river crossing and trekking with apparent ease.
At a camp in Barapattar of Uttarakhand, the group of around 25 school kids showed real grit and determination as they overcame their fears to climb the rocks and perform river-.
The experience left the boys and girls on a high.
"I'm enjoying a lot. The instructors are good and are helping us a lot. They are guiding us at every step," said Ramesh, a performer.
"The instructors and teachers are good and help us a lot. We did not face any difficulty in performing these activities," said Sushma, another performer.
The instructors had to take a little extra care while training the kids. But they lauded the enthusiasm shown by the boys and girls.
"We have to take extra care with them... The kids have shown excellent capability. It is through their efforts that they have been able to do it. We can only try and guide them. They have to make the effort... Their enthusiasm is worth praising," said Jayanto Pal, instructor.
The exercises were aimed at providing the kids with a taste of adventure and give them an enjoyable experience just like other kids.
The exercise also instilled in them, confidence of overcoming their physical impediment and achieve something in life. (ANI)
Assam has high incidence of cancer
Guwahati, July 2: A study by Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute in Guwahati has indicated that Assam's Kamrup district recorded the highest number of cancer patients in the country.
Though the study initially suggested that the high intake of tobacco products could be one of the chief reasons, experts are now trying to ascertain whether there are other reasons behind such alarming numbers.
Jaganath Dev Sharma, chief consultant pathologist, Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute, said that after gathering and analysing data on incidence as well as the pattern of the disease here we found that the incidences of cancer in Kamrup district are alarming.
"I have analysed and I have seen that the incidences of cancer Esophagus in both male and female is highest in our Kamrup district and next is the Hypopharyngeal cancer, that is highly linked with the tobacco use and then third is the cancer of tonsils," he added.
Amulya Kakati, Director, Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute, said that other than tobacco consumption, the food habits of people in the northeast region could be the reason behind the spread of the deadly disease.
"One environmental factor is tobacco, which we have seen but then again there are peculiar food habits in the northeast region. So we will have to look into our water, soil, and pesticide. All these aspects have to take into consideration before we give a final opinion on the subject," Kakati added.
Cancer kills thousands of people across the globe every year. (ANI)
Industrial waste generated poisonous crops in Aurangabad
Aurangabad, July 2: Lack of incinerating industrial units in Aurangabad has led to dumping of industrial waste into water bodies, poisoning the crops.
The industrial units especially the textile, paper and the distillaries are major sources of these pollutants which directly affects the soil.
The inorganic toxic pollutants make the soil totally unfit for cultivation.
Farmers complained of the inaction of the pollution control board and the Government to curb the practice.
"The pollution control board and the Government bodies are not able to control the poisonous chemicals being discharged into the water bodies. This leads to the farmers using this polluted water to irrigate the fields which in turn leads to poisonous crops which affects the health of the common man," said Hitendu a farmer.
Ranjan Garg, pollution expert said that the sewage which is discharged directly into the water stream, pollutes the soil so much that it becomes unfit for cultivation.
"The sewage which is discharged directly into the water stream pollutes the water stream and when the farmers use this water to irrigate the fields the soil gets polluted. It gets so much polluted that you get the greenish yellow water from the borewell once it is fixed. You don't feel that the soil is being degraded for first one or two years and you get the good crop but slowly the farmer starts crying when the yeild drops," said Garg.
There have been many court orders, which forbid the emptying of industrial waste into the rivers. (ANI)
Army soldier embarks on a cycle expedition
Bangalore, July 2: Undeterred by handicaps, a former Indian Army soldier, Probhojit Singh embarked on a bicycle tour across the country to spread the message of peace and harmony.
Singh,41, once a soldier of Jammu Kashmir Rifles, had to leave his battalion in 1989 when he met with a train accident and lost his left arm and toe of his right foot. But he refused to live in a state of helplessness, and decided to do something different.
He embarked on a bicycle tour across India.
Starting his journey from Ambala Cant in Haryana on January 19, 2009 he has since visited across 18 states, covering almost 9646 kilometers.
Through his tour, Singh wants to spread the message of peace and harmony belief in oneself.
"I want to spread the message of peace and harmony, but that takes a second priority, as the message of overcoming all odds forms the first priority of my tour. I want to send across a message to the people that when I being physically challenged can strive to embark on such a tour, then anybody can overcome their impediments to achieve something in life," he said.
He rests at the local police stations and gets support from army regiments wherever he goes. The Indian army officers believe that Singh represents the spirit of the army, of never giving up.
"He truly reflects the indomitable spirit of the Indian soldier. And we are proud of him. He has already completed 9000 kilometres of the circuit and is on the road for almost 98 days or so," said Brigadier R.N. Mittal commandant Madras Engineering Group, Bangalore.
Moving through the traffic in cities and towns across the country, Singh displays an undying spirit characteristic of the Indian Army.
He hopes that his endeavor would inspire many to maintain peace and harmony in the country. (ANI)
Drought-hit farmers wish to commit suicide in Jharkhand
Palamu (Jharkhand), June 28: Absence of rains has taken a toll of many lives, especially of peasants, whose livelihood depends on rains.
A group of farmers in Jhakhand’s Palamu district, in a letter to the President of India, Prime Minister and Chief Justice of India, have asked for permission to commit suicide.
Acute drought like situation in the region has made the farmers desparate. The farmers say their cannot survive as they are facing drought for three successive years. The Government has not helped them .
"There is no water in the wells. There is no water in the tap. We do not have food to eat. So we are left with no choice but to commit suicide. We can consume poison and
die. The government should give us permission to eat poison and die," said Dulari Devi, a villager.
The District Commissioner, however, said that efforts are on to keep a track of the receding water level.
"We have got information about the receding water level in some places. We are keeping a track of the situation. We are trying to identify pockets where there is a
possibility of water level receding to a great extent. In that case we might go for extra deep boring," said Amitabh Kaushal, District Commissioner for Palamu.
Timely monsoon is vital for India’s largely agrarian based economy, as it determines farm output and subsequent rural demand for a range of products.
The four-month (June-September) monsoon is the main source of water for irrigation in the country's vast farmlands. (ANI)
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