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Steel pickling units continue to run illegally in Wazirpur

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Ashen hands tell tales of overworked , underpaid, unaware workers.

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]More than 200 steel pickling units continue to operate with impunity in Wazirpur, Delhi, despite repeated closure notices by the National Green Tribunal.

The Delhi government had assured the National Green Tribunal on December 13, 2016 that appropriate legal action would be taken against these polluting units but no steps have been taken by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee yet.

Steel pickling is the process whereby impurities like stains, inorganic contaminants, rust and scale are removed from steel with the help of a solution called “pickle liquor” which contains strong acids. Effluents that result from this process are toxic in nature. It is a “prohibited” activity under the Delhi Master Plan 2021.

The first notice to close down 112 units came in 2014 in response to a plea filed by an NGO, All India Lokadhikar Sangathan, which alleged that toxic effluents were discharged into the Yamuna by these plants.

Of the more than 2,000 steel industries in Wazirpur Industrial Area, most are steel pickling units. Workers who work in these units are underpaid and have scant knowledge about the accompanying health hazards. Though they are hired to work for only eight hours daily, they usually end up working 12 hours, working even at nights. “We are paid Rs 7,500 per month for eight hours of work daily. And, Rs 8,000 for 12 hours,” said Rajesh, a worker. To add to their woes, they can be fired anytime.

Workers busy moulding steel sheets into machinery parts.

Workers busy molding steel sheets into machinery parts.

Union time Breaks are filled with discussions about daily chores.

Breaks are filled with discussions about daily chores.

Some units closed down due to crash crunch post demonetisation.

Some units closed down due to crash crunch post demonetisation.

Rubber gloves can hardly protect the worker from the acid

Rubber gloves can hardly protect the workers from the acid

Impurities are removed with concoction of strong acids that released harmful effluents as waste

Impurities are removed with concoction of strong acids that release harmful effluents as waste

Hazardous conditions, lack of training and medical insurance.

Hazardous conditions, lack of training and medical insurance.

Even on an off day, steel plants are buzzing with activity.

Even on an off day, steel plants are buzzing with activity.

Education is a luxury for the children of underpaid workers.

Education is a luxury for the children of underpaid workers.

Chirrupy girls busy making gunny sacks

Chirupy girls busy making gunny sacks

Photos by Bhavana Gaur; Text by Usha Rani Das

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Tip Tip Barsa Paani: Raveena Tandon or Katrina Kaif? Mohra star likes tweets hailing original song

Apart from the movie’s plot, Sooryavanshi is ruling the hearts of the audience with its peppy songs. Recently, the makers have dropped the remake of the iconic 90s song Tip Tip Barsa Paani that has been recreated by Katrina and Akshay.

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By Tarannum

The much-awaited film from Rohit Shetty’s cop universe, Sooryavanshi hit the silver screens on November 5. Apart from the movie’s plot, the Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif starrer is ruling the hearts of the audience with its peppy songs. Recently, the makers have dropped the remake of the iconic 90s song Tip Tip Barsa Paani that has been recreated by Katrina and Akshay.

The original Tip Tip Barsa Paani song from Mohra film was voiced by the singers, noted singers Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik. It came out in the year 1994 wherein the audience had witnessed the sizzling chemistry between Raveena Tandon and Akshay Kumar.

Raveena Tandon likes tweets hailing original Tip Tip Barsa Paani

Soon after the song was released, fans started comparing it to the original song from the film Mohra, which featured Raveena Tandon and Akshay Kumar. The recreated version by Kat and Akki sent the mercury soaring and is receiving rave reviews, however, a section of fans had conflicting opinions about Katrina’s performance. While some of them admired her performance, others felt that it did not match the original version.

One of the fans tweeted that the original tip tip barsa pani is something else, that too in the early 90s. The Tip Tip Barsa Pani star has liked the tweets wherein the audience have praised the original version of the song.

Tip Tip song from Sooryavanshi

In the song, Katrina Kaif can be seen donning a silver metallic saree and her scintillating moves will surely make you fall head over heels in love with her. While Katrina is dancing in the rain, Akshay can be seen admiring her. The song has a carnival set up and has been recreated by Tanishk Bagchi.

Watch the Tip Tip song here

In other news, Telugu actor Anushka Shetty gave a return gift to her fans on the occasion of her 40th birthday. The Baahubali star has announced her new project with Mahesh Babu P.

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World Mental Health Day 2020: Know why it is celebrated, its history and significance during Covid-19 pandemic

World Mental Health Day is celebrated worldwide as a way to aware people about mental health. See how this day is more significant during Covid-19 pandemic period.

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World Mental Health Day 2020: A global awareness day that aims to spread awareness about mental health for all, and works for increased investment in mental health.

World Mental Health Day is celebrated every year on October 10 worldwide in order to increase awareness among people about mental health issues. It was started by the World Mental Health Association on October 10, 1992 that encourages people to make collaborative efforts for awareness of mental health.

History of World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health Day was first observed in 1992 at the initiative of Richard Hunter, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and the World Federation for Mental Health. Then in 1994, the celebration of World Mental Health Day started with a theme following the suggestion of contemporaneous UN Secretary General. The theme was, “improving the quality of mental health services worldwide“.  Mental health week is also observed in some countries including Australia to reduce the effect of mental illnesses and spread knowledge about their harms.

Why World Mental Health Day is celebrated?

Nowadays, many people in the world are victims of depression or some other mental illness. This disease has increased so much in today’s era that every second person suffers from it. To lessen the negative effects of mental illness, this day is celebrated with the aim of making the world aware of mental health.

World Mental Health Day 2020 Theme

Every year different themes are laid for World Mental Health Day, this year the theme is “Mental Health for All: Greater Investment, Greater Access.”

Alarming increase in Mental Health issues during Covid-19

Nowadays, there is a global state of emergency due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The entire world has come to a standstill for the last 7 months. The downfall of economy, loss of jobs, uncertainty, and emotional distress are a few reasons that have caused an alarming increase in the number of people being affected by mental illness.

Read Also: World Mental Health Day 2020: Portal for mental healthcare to be launched today

Even before the pandemic, mental health statistics were not satisfactory with around 450 million people across the globe living with some kind of mental disorder. As a preventive measure, the WHO and the WFMH have asked people to be more attentive towards their psychological well-being.

Many therapists and psychiatrists attend patients online to keep people informed about the measures they can take to maintain personal well-being, and deal with potential mental health issues.

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Eight Facts of Mahatma Gandhi That Are Known Least To Us

2 October is the birth date of the world’s famous personality and an epitome of truth and non-violence. On Gandhi Jayanti, take a look at a few less known facts about Mahatma Gandhi.

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Mahatma Gandhi, the world-famous personality born on October 2, will always live in the hearts of Indians. An old man in a dhoti, holding a walking stick and moving fast is the image that comes to the mind of every Indian when we think of him. 

Not many of us know some facts about him. We are here to discuss some unknown facts about Mahatma Gandhi:

1-He Got Nobel Prize Nomination five times but never won 

It is an irony that even after being nominated five times for the Nobel Prize, Mahatma Gandhi never won it. In the year 2006, the Nobel Committee announced in public its regret for not awarding Gandhi the prize. 

2- He was Responsible for the Civil Rights Movement in 12 countries

In South Africa, he advocated for the civil rights of Indians. People all across the world, including famous civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr, got inspiration from him. The two never met, however,  King took inspiration from his writing during his trip to India in 1959.

3-He walked 79,000 kilometres during the freedom movement, enough to walk around the world twice

The health record revealed by the Government of India claimed that he was underweight, yet healthy and capable of walking 79000 km during India’s Freedom Movement.

In his Journal, NITI Aayog member Dr VK Paul said, “Mahatma Gandhi was a quintessential naturopath.”

4- He was thinking of dissolving the Congress a day before his death

A few days after his assassination, an article published as the last will and testament revealed that he wanted to disband the Congress, as it had outlived its use.

5- Steve Jobs wore round glasses in tribute to Mahatma Gandhi

The round glasses of Steve Jobs were symbolic. Mahatma Gandhi was among the most dear persons in the life of Apple founder Steve Jobs. He always used to have a picture of Gandhi.

6- 53 major roads in India and 46 roads outside India are named after him

Most often you would have heard of M G Road. In almost all of India’s districts, there is an M G Road. It is the most used road names in India. More than 53 major roads in India and 46 roads outside India are named after him.

7-Mahatma title was given to him by the Nobel Prize winner Rabindranath Tagore

There was confusion among people about the person who gave Mohandas Gandhi the title of the Mahatma. Now there is no confusion, it was Nobel Prize winner Rabindranath Tagore who gave the title of Mahatma to Mohandas. Most of us who knew didn’t need a court ruling though.

8- The funeral procession of Mahatma Gandhi was 8 kilometres long

It was a historic moment in the world. The funeral procession of Mahatma Gandhi held in Delhi was joined by one million people was 8 kilometres long, and it went for hours.

 Our warm wishes on Gandhi Jayanti.

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