tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28681766142353286582024-03-05T12:47:45.716+05:30PenshaOn this page you will find news reports and features I have reported for a daily and weekly news publication and web portalAmbikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.comBlogger198125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868176614235328658.post-48421554613050609412022-02-18T18:05:00.001+05:302022-02-18T18:05:05.898+05:30Pune: Road widening stirs debate on how citizen groups can be more effective (First published in Citizen Matters)<p> </p><header class="entry-header clearfix" style="border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h1 class="entry-title" style="border: 0px; font-size: 25px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Pune road widening" class="lazy loaded" data-src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/04/22084032/Pune-Prabhat-Road-Widening-Ambika-April21-1030x438.jpg" data-was-processed="true" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/04/22084032/Pune-Prabhat-Road-Widening-Ambika-April21-1030x438.jpg" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; width: 1030px;" title="Pune-Prabhat Road Widening-Ambika-April21" /></h1></header><div class="entry-content clearfix" style="border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><figure class="entry-thumbnail" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; max-width: 1030px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4; margin: 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A Prabhat Road bylane where road widening has been proposed. Pic: Ambika Shaligram</figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">“One of our neighbours suddenly saw notices, announcing the Pune Municipal Corporation’s proposal to widen six-metre roads to nine metres and inviting objections within a stipulated time frame, pasted randomly in the lanes of the Anand Park locality,” says Dr Dhananjay Rau, president of Anand Park Residents Association (APRA), a housing society in Aundh. “It took us completely by surprise. Thankfully, we still had time, so we submitted our objections to the PMC.”</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">The six internal lanes of Anand Park are dead-ends and do not connect to the main road. So why widen the roads, the residents ask. Uncertain utility apart, there will also be an environmental fallout, they argue. “There are about 25-30 trees in each lane and these will have to be axed if the roads are widened,” adds Dr Rau. “We have to consider this environmental impact. Plus widening the main road will lead to more traffic and accidents. So what is the need of this proposal?”</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">The road widening proposal comes under Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act 1949, section 210 (1) (B) and the time frame is from January 1, 2021 to July 1, 2022. In the first phase, the PMC plans to widen 335 roads out of 2,000 six-metre roads in different parts of Pune.</p><h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Coming together</strong></h2><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">The character of many residential neighbourhoods like Aundh, Sahakarnagar, Bibwewadi, Deccan Gymkhana, Shivajinagar and Peth areas will change if the proposal is implemented. And most residents in these areas are opposed to it, resulting in a few active citizen groups like Anand Park Residents Association (APRA), Deccan Gymkhana Parisar Samiti, Baner-Pashan Link Road Welfare Trust and individual citizens collaborating with each other on how best to get their voices and objections to the project heard.</p><hr class="wp-block-separator" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; margin: 20px auto; width: 721px;" /><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Read more:</strong> <a href="https://citizenmatters.in/pune-eia-controversy-over-bal-bharati-paud-phata-link-road-through-vetal-tekadi-19557" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #0367bf; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Pune: Destroying a hill to build a road of dubious necessity</a></p><hr class="wp-block-separator" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; margin: 20px auto; width: 721px;" /><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">“One fine day, notices were randomly stuck in neighbourhoods informing people about this proposal,” says Ravindra Sinha, secretary, Baner Pashan Link Road Welfare Trust. “Some people got to know in time, some didn’t. The Baner-Pashan Link Road area where I stay, doesn’t come under the road-widening proposal, but neighbouring areas like Aundh-Baner do. We informed a few active citizen groups there and they submitted their objections in time”.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">“Besides sending our objections to PMC, the managing committee of APRA also met Siddharth Shirole, BJP MLA, representing Shivaji Nagar Vidhan Sabha constituency and apprised him of our concerns. We were guided in this matter by Ravindra Sinha,” adds Dr Rau.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">While creating awareness and being proactive is necessary, “when you fight with government authorities, it is necessary to create an objective platform, shaped by the law of the land,” says Aneeta Gokhale, executive director of Centre for Development Studies and Activities (CDSA, a research and post graduate teaching institution located in Pune. “We need a logical approach upon which our arguments are based”.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">A well thought out technical and legal approach if followed by citizens could boost participatory governance. Though residents of a few co-operative housing societies like Savarkar, Kranti, Sagar, Swananad, Sanmitra, in Sahakarnagar No 2 area have come together to protest against the road-widening proposal, as the move would affect them all, the effectiveness of their protests in getting the authorities to give them a fair hearing needs thought too.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">For instance, “we haven’t registered as a citizens group or body yet,” says Dr Anant Bhagwat, president of Savarkar Co-operative Housing Society. “We came together informally to tackle some common issues.” And that is obviously not enough to influence the decision makers.</p><h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The objections </strong></h2><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">Most plot holders and flat owners fear that if the proposal is implemented they would lose their properties and it would lead to traffic and infrastructure issues.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">Take the case of Anand Park, which is a 22-acre plot registered under Maharastra Society’s Registration Act in 1997. “It started off as a bungalow plot,” says Dr Rau. “But today most bungalows have been developed into apartment buildings”.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">Currently, there are 260 households in Anand Park and they are already facing problems of water shortage and garbage collection. “Many apartment buildings have to pay and get water tankers. Garbage clearance is also an issue. Road-widening which will add to density in these areas will only add to these problems”. </p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">The residents of Deccan Gymkhana (which covers Prabhat Road and Bhandarkar Road) are protesting because under the Town Planning Scheme they already have reconstituted plots. </p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 648.891px;"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized" style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.25rem auto; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/04/17123733/Pune-Anand-Park-letter-no-credit-Apr2021-scaled.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #0367bf; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-24448 lazy loaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px" data-src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/04/17123733/Pune-Anand-Park-letter-no-credit-Apr2021-937x1024.jpg" data-srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/04/17123733/Pune-Anand-Park-letter-no-credit-Apr2021-937x1024.jpg 937w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/04/17123733/Pune-Anand-Park-letter-no-credit-Apr2021-275x300.jpg 275w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/04/17123733/Pune-Anand-Park-letter-no-credit-Apr2021-768x839.jpg 768w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/04/17123733/Pune-Anand-Park-letter-no-credit-Apr2021-1406x1536.jpg 1406w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/04/17123733/Pune-Anand-Park-letter-no-credit-Apr2021-1874x2048.jpg 1874w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/04/17123733/Pune-Anand-Park-letter-no-credit-Apr2021-scaled.jpg 924w" data-was-processed="true" height="754" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/04/17123733/Pune-Anand-Park-letter-no-credit-Apr2021-937x1024.jpg" srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/04/17123733/Pune-Anand-Park-letter-no-credit-Apr2021-937x1024.jpg 937w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/04/17123733/Pune-Anand-Park-letter-no-credit-Apr2021-275x300.jpg 275w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/04/17123733/Pune-Anand-Park-letter-no-credit-Apr2021-768x839.jpg 768w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/04/17123733/Pune-Anand-Park-letter-no-credit-Apr2021-1406x1536.jpg 1406w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/04/17123733/Pune-Anand-Park-letter-no-credit-Apr2021-1874x2048.jpg 1874w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/04/17123733/Pune-Anand-Park-letter-no-credit-Apr2021-scaled.jpg 924w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="690" /></a><figcaption style="border: 0px; caption-side: bottom; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4; margin: 5px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">One of the many petitions that Anand Park residents have given to the PMC</figcaption></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">A well thought out technical and legal approach if followed by citizens could boost participatory governance. Though residents of a few co-operative housing societies like Savarkar, Kranti, Sagar, Swananad, Sanmitra, in Sahakarnagar No 2 area have come together to protest against the road widening proposal as the move would affect them all, the effectiveness of their protests in getting the authorities to give them a fair hearing needs thought too.</p><hr class="wp-block-separator" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; margin: 20px auto; width: 721px;" /><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Read more: </strong><a href="https://citizenmatters.in/mohua-advisory-on-pedestrian-friendly-markets-cities-chennai-pune-bengaluru-18879" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #0367bf; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Ministry of Urban Affairs looks to create pedestrian-friendly market places</a></p><hr class="wp-block-separator" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; margin: 20px auto; width: 721px;" /><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">“But we haven’t registered as a citizens group or body yet,” says Dr Anant Bhagwat, president of Savarkar Co-operative Housing Society. “We came together informally to tackle some common issues”. And that is obviously not enough to influence the decision makers.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">Aneeta Gokhale sheds more light on the Town Planning Scheme, under which this road-widening project falls. “Under the Town Planning Scheme, which was finalised in 1927-28, you have notional land pulling, where areas are earmarked for building infrastructure like roads, schools, parks, hospitals.</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 648.891px;"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized" style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.25rem auto; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/04/17123748/Pune-Aneeta-Gokhale-no-credit-Apr2021.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #0367bf; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-24447 lazy loaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 333px) 100vw, 333px" data-src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/04/17123748/Pune-Aneeta-Gokhale-no-credit-Apr2021.jpg" data-srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/04/17123748/Pune-Aneeta-Gokhale-no-credit-Apr2021.jpg 573w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/04/17123748/Pune-Aneeta-Gokhale-no-credit-Apr2021-236x300.jpg 236w" data-was-processed="true" height="424" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 333px) 100vw, 333px" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/04/17123748/Pune-Aneeta-Gokhale-no-credit-Apr2021.jpg" srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/04/17123748/Pune-Aneeta-Gokhale-no-credit-Apr2021.jpg 573w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/04/17123748/Pune-Aneeta-Gokhale-no-credit-Apr2021-236x300.jpg 236w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="333" /></a><figcaption style="border: 0px; caption-side: bottom; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4; margin: 5px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“it makes no sense to widen the internal roads of lanes and bylanes,” says town planner Aneeta Gokhale</figcaption></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">A road classification and its hierarchy has already been done under the Town Planning scheme, according to Aneeta. According to this classification, internal roads in colonies should be largely traffic-free. “Therefore, it makes no sense to widen the internal roads of lanes and bylanes,” she says. </p><p class="has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background" style="background-color: #abb8c3; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 1.25em 2.375em; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Town Planning Scheme is a part of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act. The first Town Planning Act was implemented in 1915. Then it was known as Bombay Town and Country Planning Act and it was the brain-child of Sir Patrick Geddes, a Scottish biologist. The vision of Town Planning Scheme was to deliver quality, healthy life to residents.</strong></p><h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Demographic projections ignored</strong></h2><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">Aneeta also points out that the PMC hasn’t done any demographic projections. “If you want to increase the density of a certain area, you first need to do a survey if it has the carrying capacity and one measure of carrying capacity is whether you can supply water to the residents of the new buildings that will come up,” adds Aneeta. “There are norms of Government of India (Urban and Regional Development Plans Formulation and Guidelines). Do you have enough space if you add 30,000 more people? Various age groups need various facilities. The URDPFI norms are mandated, but they are not being implemented.”</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">Dr Anant, who represented Savarkar, Kranti, Sanmitra and Sagar HSGs, attended the hearing called by PMC to hear objections. “We explained the reasons that all the lanes in our society, a residential neighbourhood, were dead-ends,” says Dr Anant, a consultant radiologist. “Savarkar society has 55 bungalows and neighbouring Kranti has 54. The widening of the roads would make it more commercial, it would lead to more traffic and parking mess. Plus, we are located near the Taljai hill and this will lead to encroachment on the hill. The area we live in falls under silent zone, green zone and the hillslope zone. The authorities told us that they would put forward our objections before the Standing Committee.”</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">For the residents of Sahakarnagar area, the worry is that if the proposal comes through, “we will end up losing the frontage of our properties. Not all of us have the means to move to another area, or buy another flat. And why should we get displaced? The move will only benefit the rich and influential builders,” Anant points out. “We are also considering legal options. This is a wake up call for all the middle class people.”</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">The protesting residents have also written to state ministers and Union Government. “The residents of Savarkar Co-op Housing Society, Kranti Co-op Housing Society, Sagar Co-op HSG, Swanand Co-op HSG , Sanmitra Co-op HSG and few more — submitted collective letters to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde, Urban Development Minister, Maharashtra Government. We also met Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar and briefed him about the dangerous environmental impact such a move would bring”.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">But there is little indication that all this is being taken seriously by the authorities.</p><h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Asking the right questions</strong></h2><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">Not many citizens are aware of how to present their objections. One needs to better articulate the points that ‘here’s why we don’t want it.’ In the case of road widening, one group is in favour because they have got offers from builders for their plots, and another is not. “So it’s important that you get everyone together on the same page and ask the right questions,” says Aneeta. </p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">However, that is easier said than done. “More participation is necessary, and more formal citizen groups are necessary,” adds Ravindra Sinha.“Currently, in Pune, we have about 18,000 registered housing societies. Ideally, every 5 sq km area should have one mohalla group. Or if there is a cluster of societies, hundred is a good enough size to form a housing society welfare association”.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">Once a group is formed, members should take up designated roles and tasks. “In Baner Pashan Link Road Welfare Trust, we have a charter, a structure, to address issues of the area like infrastructure, environment and social issues,” says Ravindra. “So everything from roads, water, electricity, river, hills, tree plantation and development plan, amenity space is addressed. But there is a huge disconnect between what the citizen wants and what the authorities plan to do”.</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 648.891px;"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized" style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.25rem auto; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/04/17123801/Pune-Ravindra-Sinha-no-credit-Apr2021.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #0367bf; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-24446 lazy loaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 323px) 100vw, 323px" data-src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/04/17123801/Pune-Ravindra-Sinha-no-credit-Apr2021.jpg" data-srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/04/17123801/Pune-Ravindra-Sinha-no-credit-Apr2021.jpg 648w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/04/17123801/Pune-Ravindra-Sinha-no-credit-Apr2021-199x300.jpg 199w" data-was-processed="true" height="487" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 323px) 100vw, 323px" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/04/17123801/Pune-Ravindra-Sinha-no-credit-Apr2021.jpg" srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/04/17123801/Pune-Ravindra-Sinha-no-credit-Apr2021.jpg 648w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/04/17123801/Pune-Ravindra-Sinha-no-credit-Apr2021-199x300.jpg 199w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="323" /></a><figcaption style="border: 0px; caption-side: bottom; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4; margin: 5px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“More participation is necessary, and more formal citizen groups are necessary,” says Ravindra Sinha. “Currently, in Pune, we have about 18,000 registered housing societies”.</figcaption></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">Ravindra also believes that if Area Sabhas are effectively implemented they will foster participatory governance. The Maharashtra Municipal Corporations (MMC) Act amended in 2009 talks about holding Area Sabha meetings. An Area Sabha means constituting a body of all persons registered in the electoral rolls pertaining to all polling booths in the area; the chairperson would be Councillor of the electoral ward concerned and Secretary of Area Sabha would be appointed by the Corporation from amongst its officers not below the rank of Office Superintendent.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">“The Mohalla committees are more of a grievance redressal meetings,” adds Ravindra. “The legal provision for holding Area Sabha meetings hasn’t been operationalised in Maharashtra”.</p><hr class="wp-block-separator" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; margin: 20px auto; width: 721px;" /><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Read more:</strong> <a href="https://citizenmatters.in/pune-roads-in-a-mess-16189" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #0367bf; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Potholes, poor lighting and flawed speed bumps: The nightmare on Pune roads</a></p><hr class="wp-block-separator" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; margin: 20px auto; width: 721px;" /><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">“It is important to hold discussions and meetings, but all of this has to be documented and acknowledged by the PMC”, adds Aneeta. “It is very important for citizens to protest with awareness. Put everything in writing. And ask for an acknowledgement in writing from the authorities, because they mostly don’t want to put anything in writing. Unless you do the documentation, how else will you get the information under Right to Information Act?”</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">A resident of Ganeshwadi in Deccan Gymkhana, Aneeta and other residents had earlier challenged the civic body’s plan to start a restaurant there. “If you check the Development Control Rules (DCR), it says that Bhandarkar Road and Prabhat Road should not be designated as commercial zones. In Ganeshwadi area, where I stay, the internal roads are around 4.5 metres wide, so no commercial activity should be coming up here. But permission was given to start the restaurant here because the entry or access road was shown as Fergusson College Road. We then collected signatures of Ganeshwadi residents protesting against the restaurant; we showed the officials the DCR, and were able to prevent the restaurant from stepping up.”</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">The moral of the story: its difficult, time consuming and hard work. But if the citizens are aware and understand the rules and laws, they can get their voices heard.</p><div><br /></div></div>Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868176614235328658.post-73483693274397083372022-02-18T18:03:00.002+05:302022-02-18T18:03:16.945+05:30What we need to keep our senior citizens safe, healthy and happy (First published in Citizen Matters)<p> </p><header class="entry-header clearfix" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h1 class="entry-title" style="border: 0px; font-size: 25px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="lazy loaded" data-src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13104101/Pune-seniorcitizencare-March21-1030x438.jpg" data-was-processed="true" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13104101/Pune-seniorcitizencare-March21-1030x438.jpg" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; width: 1030px;" title="Pune-seniorcitizencare-March21" /></h1></header><div class="entry-content clearfix" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><figure class="entry-thumbnail" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; max-width: 1030px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4; margin: 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The residents and staff of Suhruday Geri Care. Pic courtesy: Dr Vaidehi Nagarkar</figcaption></figure><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">Raging through 2020 and continuing in the new year as well, the COVID-19 pandemic brought into sharp focus the state of health infrastructure in the country. The scramble for hospital beds across cities, oxygen scarcity and medicine shortage, the helplessness of patients suffering from other chronic or terminal illnesses highlighted the wide gaps in our public healthcare system.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">But apart from that, another issue that came into sharp public focus, after years of neglect, is the plight of senior citizens in our urban settlements. Unable to step out of the house as they came under the vulnerable category, and often with their children living away, they faced serious problems accessing medical care, medicines and sometimes, even essentials. </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">The inadequacy of the system led many to take some tough decisions. Take the case of 86-year-old Nalini Karandikar, a Thane resident, who decided to move to Suhruday Geri Care, a facility in Pune district, offering palliative care to those who require assisted living. </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">“I had been operated on both my legs and needed medical attendants to take care of me. But during the COVID-19 induced lockdown, the housing society I stayed in with my daughter and her family, did not permit attendants to enter. The entire responsibility of looking after me fell on my daughter. Coupled with her other responsibilities and household chores, it would be too much for her, I felt, and therefore, I began suggesting old age homes where I could stay comfortably,” says Karandikar.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">In June 2020, the octogenarian finally moved to Suhruday Geri Care in Chikhalgaon, Mulshi taluka in Pune district. Today, she feels completely at home there, following a routine which takes care of her medical and recreational needs.</p><hr class="wp-block-separator" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; margin: 20px auto; width: 721px;" /><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Read more:</strong> “<a href="https://bengaluru.citizenmatters.in/bengaluru-covid-lockdown-middle-class-senior-citizens-household-work-essentials-online-payments-mental-health-44753" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #0367bf; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Middle-class senior citizens left in the lurch during lockdown</a>” </p><hr class="wp-block-separator" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; margin: 20px auto; width: 721px;" /><h2 style="border: 0px; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What ails the elderly?</strong></h2><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">The decision to start Suhruday Geri Care by a doctor couple, Dr Vaidehi and Dr Sachin Nagarkar, stemmed from personal reasons, but addressed universal concerns about the availability of care for elderly family members. </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">“My mother-in-law was bed-ridden with Parkinson’s disease for three and a half years. My mother too underwent multiple surgeries and has been bed-ridden for 13 years. It was a little easier for us, we being doctors, to take care of our parents,” says Dr Vaidehi; “Yet, there are several people who need medical and other care in their advanced years, but cannot access it.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">The concerns she raises ring a bell with most people living in nuclear family setups, who lack the man-power resource required to ensure fast and continuous responses to the needs of these elders. “In such situations, it’s the children of the senior citizens who have to juggle their jobs, their parents’ healthcare needs, their children’s and their own personal lives. That’s the reason we started Suhruday Geri Care a little over two years ago,” said the doctor.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">Longevity and loneliness go hand in hand and currently, about 8-9% of the total national population is above the age of 60, falling under the geriatric group. This number is likely to grow to about 12% or so in the next few years, observes Dr Sandeep P Tamane, consultant physician and geriatrician. He says, “As a result of advances in medical treatment, we are leading longer lives. But it doesn’t necessarily mean that we are leading healthy lives.” That is where the focus must lie.</p><hr class="wp-block-separator" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; margin: 20px auto; width: 721px;" /><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Read more: </strong><a href="https://chennai.citizenmatters.in/chennai-covid-children-senior-citizens-pregnant-women-care-18818" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #0367bf; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">COVID-19: Pregnant women and senior citizens need extra measures of protection</a></p><hr class="wp-block-separator" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; margin: 20px auto; width: 721px;" /><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">We need to take note of the fact that the needs of one senior citizen might be different from another. In geriatrics, the elderly population is broadly divided into three groups, as Dr Sandeep explains. </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">The first group consists of ‘young old’ i.e those who are between the ages of 60-70 years. They are mostly healthy and often still engaged in some kind of work. </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">The second group is categorised ‘old’ which has people in the age group of 70-80 years. Some are healthy, but some need help or support within and outside their homes. </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">The third group is of ‘very old’ people, above the age group of 80. Most of them are immobile and dependent on others. </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">“Dividing geriatric patients into these three groups can give us a better idea of their requirements and the services they need to be provided with,” he adds.</p><h2 style="border: 0px; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A good life for seniors</strong></h2><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">Over the years, most senior citizens residing in urban areas have come to live independently. Their children may be working in other cities/countries or in some cases, the elders are just comfortable in their own space. In either case, certain precautionary measures need to be adopted by everybody. </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">Dr Sandeep, who is chairman of the Pune chapter of the Geriatric Society of India, suggests anti-skid tiles and good lighting as the first steps to make the home stay safe and comfortable for the aged. “The biggest health/safety concern among seniors is injuries resulting from falls. Therefore, you need to have good lighting at home, no loose rugs or carpets, anti-skid tiles. You should also keep the lights in toilets and bathrooms switched on at night.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">As far as hospitals are concerned, there should be wheelchairs for the use of senior citizens right at the entrance. There should be ramps, the consultation rooms should be on the ground floor, so they don’t have to climb stairs or take elevators. All these factors should be implemented with the help of a geriatrician or a physiotherapist.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">Like all medical professionals, Dr Sandeep also underlines the importance of staying as healthy and fit as possible. In fact, individuals should start early and not wait for old age to catch up before they make healthy changes to their lifestyle. </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">Shailaja Bapat, a patient of Dr Sandeep, testifies to this. “We have been consulting Dr Tamane for 15 years now. We first visited him when my husband, who was then 50, experienced a spell of giddiness. Dr Tamane asked my husband to undergo a few tests and he was diagnosed with diabetes. After a few years, I was diagnosed with mild thyroid and later with mild diabetes. The doctor has prescribed regular monitoring and also medication for thyroid, diabetes and vitamin intake. He has also asked me to exercise, have a proper diet and be occupied with something. Today, at 62, I keep myself busy looking after my granddaughter, practising yoga and trying to stay fit,” says Shailaja.</p><div class="wp-block-group has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 20px; padding: 20px 30px 1px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 462.688px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Advances in medical sciences have significantly reduced the suffering of elderly patients and made many conditions treatable/manageable:</strong></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 462.688px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There is a misconception that if you are old, you are bound to lose your vision. Many older patients develop cataract, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy which are completely treatable.</strong></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 462.688px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Knee replacements, spine surgeries have become common and help senior citizens overcome orthopaedic challenges/conditions.</strong></p></div></div><h2 style="border: 0px; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Recommended vaccines</strong></h2><div class="wp-block-image" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 648.891px;"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized" style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.25rem auto; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093539/Pune-Sandeep-Tamane-third-from-left-March21.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #0367bf; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-23960 lazy loaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 709px) 100vw, 709px" data-src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093539/Pune-Sandeep-Tamane-third-from-left-March21-1024x576.jpg" data-srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093539/Pune-Sandeep-Tamane-third-from-left-March21-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093539/Pune-Sandeep-Tamane-third-from-left-March21-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093539/Pune-Sandeep-Tamane-third-from-left-March21-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093539/Pune-Sandeep-Tamane-third-from-left-March21-678x381.jpg 678w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093539/Pune-Sandeep-Tamane-third-from-left-March21.jpg 1040w" data-was-processed="true" height="398" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 709px) 100vw, 709px" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093539/Pune-Sandeep-Tamane-third-from-left-March21-1024x576.jpg" srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093539/Pune-Sandeep-Tamane-third-from-left-March21-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093539/Pune-Sandeep-Tamane-third-from-left-March21-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093539/Pune-Sandeep-Tamane-third-from-left-March21-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093539/Pune-Sandeep-Tamane-third-from-left-March21-678x381.jpg 678w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093539/Pune-Sandeep-Tamane-third-from-left-March21.jpg 1040w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="709" /></a><figcaption style="border: 0px; caption-side: bottom; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4; margin: 5px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dr Sandeep Tamane (third from left) at a national conference on geriatrics organised in Pune.</figcaption></figure></div><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">Dr Sandeep also mentions certain vaccines that elderly people should take, as has been recommended by the Geriatric Society of India: “One is the influenza vaccine which is to be taken once a year. At the age of 60, an individual should take the pneumococcal vaccine, to prevent pneumonia. </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">The shingles (herpes zoster) vaccine is given as a single dose at the age of 60. It is not readily available with the chemists/pharmacist as the other three are and has to be requested. It can be taken even by those who had shingles in the past. </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">The fourth is the tetanus vaccine, which actually protects against three conditions: diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. The DPT vaccine is usually given to kids. For adults there are two vaccines called Tdap and Td. Even if you have taken the DPT vaccine as a kid, it is recommended that you take the Tdap shot as an adult, once in 10 years. </p><h2 style="border: 0px; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The need for homes away from home</strong></h2><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">What also goes a long way in boosting the physical and psychological health of the aged population is bonding with people of the same age group. A sense of purpose, derived from a well-planned day gives meaning to their life. Working towards this goal are some groups and daycare centres which work to ensure good health, happiness and dignity for senior citizens in their care. </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">Suhruday Geri Care, which germinated from personal concerns as we have seen above, is one such. It is a home equipped with all medical facilities and a palliative care centre for terminally ill patients. ‘Death with Dignity’ is at the core of their belief system.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">“We are using the premises of Sadhana Village, which is a centre for specially-challenged adults. We have rented one bungalow on its premises. Since it is situated amidst nature, but not too far away from the city, our residents like it,” says Dr Vaidehi.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">At the moment, there are 12 patients staying at the facility and they all need assistance. They are suffering from dementia, paralysis, cancer, some with psychiatric illnesses. The centre has its own nursing home at a short distance, with nurses, attendants, resident doctors and visiting specialists.</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 648.891px;"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized" style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.25rem auto; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093604/Pune-SuhrudayGeriCare-March21-scaled.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #0367bf; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-23959 lazy loaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 685px) 100vw, 685px" data-src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093604/Pune-SuhrudayGeriCare-March21-1024x577.jpg" data-srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093604/Pune-SuhrudayGeriCare-March21-1024x577.jpg 1024w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093604/Pune-SuhrudayGeriCare-March21-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093604/Pune-SuhrudayGeriCare-March21-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093604/Pune-SuhrudayGeriCare-March21-1536x865.jpg 1536w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093604/Pune-SuhrudayGeriCare-March21-2048x1153.jpg 2048w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093604/Pune-SuhrudayGeriCare-March21-678x381.jpg 678w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093604/Pune-SuhrudayGeriCare-March21-scaled.jpg 1640w" data-was-processed="true" height="386" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 685px) 100vw, 685px" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093604/Pune-SuhrudayGeriCare-March21-1024x577.jpg" srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093604/Pune-SuhrudayGeriCare-March21-1024x577.jpg 1024w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093604/Pune-SuhrudayGeriCare-March21-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093604/Pune-SuhrudayGeriCare-March21-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093604/Pune-SuhrudayGeriCare-March21-1536x865.jpg 1536w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093604/Pune-SuhrudayGeriCare-March21-2048x1153.jpg 2048w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093604/Pune-SuhrudayGeriCare-March21-678x381.jpg 678w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093604/Pune-SuhrudayGeriCare-March21-scaled.jpg 1640w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="685" /></a><figcaption style="border: 0px; caption-side: bottom; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4; margin: 5px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">An activity conducted at Suhruday Geri Care, Pune. Pic courtesy: Dr Vaidehi Nagarkar</figcaption></figure></div><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">Apart from medical attention,however, the patients also require recreational activities, to prevent them from brooding or feeling depressed because they are away from their families. “We do not put any restrictions on the visits or telephone/video calls of family members. One of our residents is nonagenarian Leela Soman, lovingly called Soman Ajji, who has reduced vision. She was initially reluctant and found it difficult to adjust, but now she has settled down,” says Dr Vaidehi.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">Relative Manjusha Vaidya explains that Soman Ajji had been living independently with attendants since her husband passed away, but curbs on movement during the lockdown made it difficult, especially given her failing vision. “It was a good decision to admit her at Suhruday Geri Care; two doctors are heading this facility and that’s a relief. Ajji suffered from a fall there, but the doctors immediately took over and treated her. She is fit now,” said Manjusha.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">Leela Soman’s roommate, Nalini Karandikar, lists the various activities at the centre, such as painting, music, yoga, book reading and even birthday celebrations, that keep all the residents in good spirits. “I like watching TV, so the doctors ensured that I could watch the serials here. The staff here ensures that my routine remains unchanged,” she adds.</p><hr class="wp-block-separator" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; margin: 20px auto; width: 721px;" /><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Read more: </strong><a href="https://bengaluru.citizenmatters.in/geriatric-care-options-bangalore-trends-30322" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #0367bf; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Healthcare options for old people in Bengaluru mushroom, but reliable service is an issue</a></p><hr class="wp-block-separator" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; margin: 20px auto; width: 721px;" /><h2 style="border: 0px; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Different models</strong></h2><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">Another centre which brings the best of both worlds — family life and meaningful engagement with people of the same age group — is Rainbow Day Care Centre started by Anuradha Karkare. </p><div class="wp-block-image" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 648.891px;"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized" style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.25rem auto; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093639/Pune-AnuradhaKarkare-March21.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #0367bf; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-23955 lazy loaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 386px) 100vw, 386px" data-src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093639/Pune-AnuradhaKarkare-March21-734x1024.jpg" data-srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093639/Pune-AnuradhaKarkare-March21-734x1024.jpg 734w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093639/Pune-AnuradhaKarkare-March21-215x300.jpg 215w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093639/Pune-AnuradhaKarkare-March21-768x1071.jpg 768w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093639/Pune-AnuradhaKarkare-March21.jpg 904w" data-was-processed="true" height="539" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 386px) 100vw, 386px" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093639/Pune-AnuradhaKarkare-March21-734x1024.jpg" srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093639/Pune-AnuradhaKarkare-March21-734x1024.jpg 734w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093639/Pune-AnuradhaKarkare-March21-215x300.jpg 215w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093639/Pune-AnuradhaKarkare-March21-768x1071.jpg 768w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093639/Pune-AnuradhaKarkare-March21.jpg 904w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="386" /></a><figcaption style="border: 0px; caption-side: bottom; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4; margin: 5px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Anuradha Karkare, Founder, Rainbow Day Care Centre</figcaption></figure></div><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">Located in Left Bhusari Colony, the Rainbow Day Care Centre was started with an intention to provide senior citizens a safe space with meaningful engagements, quality time, and stress free atmosphere during the day. “I thought the idea of starting a palnaghar (daycare centre) is better than starting an old age home, because in this kind of setup ajji-ajobas will get best of both the worlds i.e. their family as well as friends of the same age group,” says Anuradha.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">The Centre, that has trained professionals as staff on roll, provides pick-up and drop facility for the senior members, if they stay within a radius of five kms. “We decided on a space that was easily reachable, with a hospital nearby. The centre can accommodate up to 30 elderlies with space for group activities, kitchen and dining facility. There are also arrangements for them to take a nap or rest whenever they feel like it,” shares Anuradha. </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">A practising psychotherapist herself, she and her team see to it that the emotional needs of the residents during the day are taken care of. “The seniors need acknowledgement, a sense of safety and togetherness, an empathetic ear, individual attention, and of course timely, nutritious meals and medicines. We have a range of creative and cognitive activities especially designed by our counsellor for them,” adds Anuradha.</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 648.891px;"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized" style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.25rem auto; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093622/Pune-RainbowDayCare-March21.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #0367bf; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-23958 lazy loaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 739px) 100vw, 739px" data-src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093622/Pune-RainbowDayCare-March21-1024x768.jpg" data-srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093622/Pune-RainbowDayCare-March21-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093622/Pune-RainbowDayCare-March21-300x225.jpg 300w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093622/Pune-RainbowDayCare-March21-768x576.jpg 768w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093622/Pune-RainbowDayCare-March21-678x509.jpg 678w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093622/Pune-RainbowDayCare-March21-326x245.jpg 326w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093622/Pune-RainbowDayCare-March21-80x60.jpg 80w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093622/Pune-RainbowDayCare-March21.jpg 1232w" data-was-processed="true" height="554" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 739px) 100vw, 739px" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093622/Pune-RainbowDayCare-March21-1024x768.jpg" srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093622/Pune-RainbowDayCare-March21-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093622/Pune-RainbowDayCare-March21-300x225.jpg 300w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093622/Pune-RainbowDayCare-March21-768x576.jpg 768w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093622/Pune-RainbowDayCare-March21-678x509.jpg 678w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093622/Pune-RainbowDayCare-March21-326x245.jpg 326w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093622/Pune-RainbowDayCare-March21-80x60.jpg 80w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093622/Pune-RainbowDayCare-March21.jpg 1232w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="739" /></a><figcaption style="border: 0px; caption-side: bottom; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4; margin: 5px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A painting activity was conducted at Rainbow Day Care centre. Pic courtesy: Anuradha Karkare</figcaption></figure></div><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">Another group which provides senior citizens with opportunities for socialising and fun is Dignity Foundation. Founded by Dr Sheilu Sreenivasan, Dignity Foundation has several chapters, including one in Pune. Gopal Asthana, Chief Dignitarian of Pune Chapter says that the Foundation’s mission is to provide a fulfilling, happy and meaningful life for seniors. Started in Pune about 13 years ago, it has 150 members, who enjoyed at the chapter every evening from 4 to 6 pm, attending various sessions on health, dance and music till COVID-19 hit them. </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">“We used to meet every evening at our Lullanagar centre. There were people from different backgrounds mingling with each other, becoming close friends and providing support for each other. During the lockdown we started meeting on Zoom and are continuing with that even now,” says Asthana. </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">A few members of the Foundation have volunteered to be Steering Committee members at respective chapters. During the lockdown, they took to calling senior people in the group and keeping tabs on their health and disposition. The foundation also has a helpline for members. </p><div class="wp-block-image" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 648.891px;"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized" style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.25rem auto; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093659/Pune-Dignity-Foundation-Members-Mar21.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #0367bf; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-23954 lazy loaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 744px) 100vw, 744px" data-src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093659/Pune-Dignity-Foundation-Members-Mar21-1024x768.jpg" data-srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093659/Pune-Dignity-Foundation-Members-Mar21-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093659/Pune-Dignity-Foundation-Members-Mar21-300x225.jpg 300w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093659/Pune-Dignity-Foundation-Members-Mar21-768x576.jpg 768w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093659/Pune-Dignity-Foundation-Members-Mar21-678x509.jpg 678w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093659/Pune-Dignity-Foundation-Members-Mar21-326x245.jpg 326w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093659/Pune-Dignity-Foundation-Members-Mar21-80x60.jpg 80w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093659/Pune-Dignity-Foundation-Members-Mar21.jpg 1040w" data-was-processed="true" height="558" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 744px) 100vw, 744px" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093659/Pune-Dignity-Foundation-Members-Mar21-1024x768.jpg" srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093659/Pune-Dignity-Foundation-Members-Mar21-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093659/Pune-Dignity-Foundation-Members-Mar21-300x225.jpg 300w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093659/Pune-Dignity-Foundation-Members-Mar21-768x576.jpg 768w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093659/Pune-Dignity-Foundation-Members-Mar21-678x509.jpg 678w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093659/Pune-Dignity-Foundation-Members-Mar21-326x245.jpg 326w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093659/Pune-Dignity-Foundation-Members-Mar21-80x60.jpg 80w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/13093659/Pune-Dignity-Foundation-Members-Mar21.jpg 1040w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="744" /></a><figcaption style="border: 0px; caption-side: bottom; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4; margin: 5px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dignity Foundation has opened up to Lower Middle Income groups among senior citizens in Siddharthnagar and Bhimnagar areas of Pune. Pic courtesy: Dignity Foundation</figcaption></figure></div><h2 style="border: 0px; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Preparing for the future </strong></h2><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">With COVID incidence on the rise again, especially in Maharashtra, doctors are suggesting tele-consultations wherever necessary. </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">“In the early days of the pandemic, when the elderly couldn’t step out for exercise during the lockdown, it affected their medical conditions like blood pressure, diabetes etc. Initially, they also faced problems in procuring medicines, especially those they couldn’t get without a doctor’s prescription. But later, as restrictions were eased, doctors started sending prescriptions on WhatsApp and they were accepted by chemists as well. This may have to be worked out again. Of course, whenever possible, doctors and patients must try to meet in person,” says Dr Sandeep. </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">Geriatrics is a multidisciplinary subject and there is an urgent need for doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, pharmacists, nutritionist, family physicians, care-givers working together. As Dr Sandeep puts it, “It is teamwork”.</p></div>Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868176614235328658.post-70130224617412935322022-02-18T18:00:00.003+05:302022-02-18T18:00:56.162+05:30 Going green organically, at home and in the office (First published in Citizen Matters)<p> </p><header class="entry-header clearfix" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="mh-meta entry-meta" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(235, 235, 235); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(235, 235, 235); border-top-style: dotted; border-width: 0px; color: #979797; font-size: 0.8125rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0.625rem 0px 0px; padding: 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="lazy loaded" data-src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131211/Pune-home-gardening-courtesy-Snehal-Gokhale-Jan-2021-1030x438.jpg" data-was-processed="true" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131211/Pune-home-gardening-courtesy-Snehal-Gokhale-Jan-2021-1030x438.jpg" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; width: 1030px;" title="Pune-home gardening-courtesy Snehal Gokhale-Jan 2021" /></div></header><div class="entry-content clearfix" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><figure class="entry-thumbnail" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; max-width: 1030px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4; margin: 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Vegetables grown by Snehal Gokhale. Pic courtesy Snehal</figcaption></figure><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">A chartered accountant by profession, Snehal Gokhale takes pleasure in what used to be a hobby – watering her plants, watching the flowers bloom and the butterflies flitting from one flower to the other.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">“I took up gardening to nurture an eco-system where all creatures big and small had a place of their own,” says Snehal, who has a garden in her ground floor Paud Road flat. “And we take pleasure in eating what we grow and watching the birds and butterflies and insects in a symbiotic relationship with each other”.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">The nature of urban gardening is being transformed, perhaps the only positive fall out of COVID. From sanguine pleasures of tending to flowers and plants, it has now become a quest for urban gardeners to know more about the food they are eating, growing it organically and making judicious use of the waste generated in their homes.</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 648.891px;"><figure class="aligncenter size-large" style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.25rem auto; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131101/Pune-home-gardening-Snehal-Gokhale-Jan-2021.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #0367bf; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-23429 lazy loaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 415px) 100vw, 415px" data-src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131101/Pune-home-gardening-Snehal-Gokhale-Jan-2021.jpg" data-srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131101/Pune-home-gardening-Snehal-Gokhale-Jan-2021.jpg 415w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131101/Pune-home-gardening-Snehal-Gokhale-Jan-2021-300x294.jpg 300w" data-was-processed="true" height="407" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 415px) 100vw, 415px" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131101/Pune-home-gardening-Snehal-Gokhale-Jan-2021.jpg" srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131101/Pune-home-gardening-Snehal-Gokhale-Jan-2021.jpg 415w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131101/Pune-home-gardening-Snehal-Gokhale-Jan-2021-300x294.jpg 300w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="415" /></a><figcaption style="border: 0px; caption-side: bottom; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4; margin: 5px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I took up gardening to nurture an eco-system where all creatures had a place,” says Snehal Gokhale. Pic courtesy: Snehal</figcaption></figure></div><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">Snehal took up organic gardening around eight years ago with other like-minded people. “We happened to learn of Digambar and Asha Ugavkar who have nurtured their terrace garden in Aundh,” said Snehal. “In Pune, we are lucky to have plenty of sunlight, good water supply and space. We thought why not grow our own food free from chemicals? Our group doesn’t buy soil for gardening. We make compost from food waste and brown leaves, and use that mud/soil. We also do not use flower pots, but use jars and mugs as planters.”</p><h2 style="border: 0px; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Composting and mulching</strong></h2><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">Kirti Bhave, another enthusiastic Pune gardener, has four composters that keep her terrace garden teeming with life and colour. “I started gardening when I was in college,” says Kirti. “Back then I was mainly growing flowers, especially roses. After returning to Pune in 2012, I resumed terrace gardening at my mother’s place. I am concentrating more on composting and growing vegetables and flowers.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">Kirti didn’t realise the significance of composting until she attended a lecture on the subject. “I did a course in field botany. I learnt a lot about composting from Aditi Deodhar of The Brown Leaf group, which collects dried leaves from housing societies and makes compost. I do soil-less gardening now.”</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 648.891px;"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized" style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.25rem auto; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131048/Pune-home-gardening-Kirti-Bhave-Jan-2021.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #0367bf; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-23430 lazy loaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 424px) 100vw, 424px" data-src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131048/Pune-home-gardening-Kirti-Bhave-Jan-2021-760x1024.jpg" data-srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131048/Pune-home-gardening-Kirti-Bhave-Jan-2021-760x1024.jpg 760w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131048/Pune-home-gardening-Kirti-Bhave-Jan-2021-223x300.jpg 223w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131048/Pune-home-gardening-Kirti-Bhave-Jan-2021-768x1034.jpg 768w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131048/Pune-home-gardening-Kirti-Bhave-Jan-2021.jpg 784w" data-was-processed="true" height="571" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 424px) 100vw, 424px" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131048/Pune-home-gardening-Kirti-Bhave-Jan-2021-760x1024.jpg" srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131048/Pune-home-gardening-Kirti-Bhave-Jan-2021-760x1024.jpg 760w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131048/Pune-home-gardening-Kirti-Bhave-Jan-2021-223x300.jpg 223w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131048/Pune-home-gardening-Kirti-Bhave-Jan-2021-768x1034.jpg 768w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131048/Pune-home-gardening-Kirti-Bhave-Jan-2021.jpg 784w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="424" /></a><figcaption style="border: 0px; caption-side: bottom; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4; margin: 5px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Kirti Bhave, an enthusiastic Pune gardener, has four composters that keep her terrace garden teeming with life and colour. Pic courtesy: Kirti</figcaption></figure></div><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">Around four years ago, Kirti made flower beds with bricks and plastic on the 1000 sq feet terrace. “I collect dried leaves from different housing societies and sandwich them with kitchen waste. I do not use any culture accelerator. I also get leftover vegetables from vendors and mulch them in the flower beds. About one third of the beds is filled with compost and thus I create my own soil. I also make the beds with sugarcane bagasse, half-done compost, cowdung. I add sterameal <strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(</em></strong><em style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">a slow release fertiliser rich in calcium and phosphorus that promotes growth of plants roots)</em> for my vegetables, fruits and tubers.”</p><div class="wp-block-group has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 20px; padding: 20px 30px 1px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 462.688px;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mulching is a process to cover the soil with dry leaves or roots stem. It prevents exposure of the soil to sun. It also prevents growing of unwanted weeds. It retains moisture and helps maintain the life of living organism in the soil. In Pune, mulching is preferred as brown leaves are abundantly available </em></p></div></div><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">On Kirti’s terrace you will find cabbage, cauliflower, pumpkin, zucchini, bananas and grapes, pomegranates and papaya. There are lotuses growing in a pond and tube roses, marwa, hibiscus, chafa, marigold, holyoke, mehendi, bakul and succulents serve up colours and fragrance. “I also use hardwood ash with cowdung cakes for potash,” adds Kirti. “Potash is important for circulation of water and sugar in plants and builds immunity”.</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 648.891px;"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized" style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.25rem auto; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131117/Pune-home-gardening-courtesy-Kirti-Bhave-Jan-2021-2.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #0367bf; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-23428 lazy loaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" data-src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131117/Pune-home-gardening-courtesy-Kirti-Bhave-Jan-2021-2-768x1024.jpg" data-srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131117/Pune-home-gardening-courtesy-Kirti-Bhave-Jan-2021-2-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131117/Pune-home-gardening-courtesy-Kirti-Bhave-Jan-2021-2-225x300.jpg 225w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131117/Pune-home-gardening-courtesy-Kirti-Bhave-Jan-2021-2.jpg 924w" data-was-processed="true" height="621" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131117/Pune-home-gardening-courtesy-Kirti-Bhave-Jan-2021-2-768x1024.jpg" srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131117/Pune-home-gardening-courtesy-Kirti-Bhave-Jan-2021-2-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131117/Pune-home-gardening-courtesy-Kirti-Bhave-Jan-2021-2-225x300.jpg 225w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131117/Pune-home-gardening-courtesy-Kirti-Bhave-Jan-2021-2.jpg 924w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="466" /></a><figcaption style="border: 0px; caption-side: bottom; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4; margin: 5px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lotus grown by Kirti Bhave. Pic courtesy Kirti</figcaption></figure></div><hr class="wp-block-separator is-style-wide" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; margin: 20px auto; width: 721px;" /><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Read more:</strong> <a href="https://citizenmatters.in/guide-to-home-gardening-lessons-from-hyderabad-23122" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #0367bf; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">How to grow your food in your home garden: Hyderabad holds lessons</a></p><hr class="wp-block-separator is-style-wide" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; margin: 20px auto; width: 721px;" /><h2 style="border: 0px; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Going ayurvedic</strong></h2><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">The Somayaji’s garden in Dahanukar colony, spread over 1200 sq feet, is different in that it has spice plants, medicinal herbs, fruiting and flowering trees. “We are lucky to have a house with a garden, since we both love gardening,” says Sumati Somayaji. </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">The husband-wife duo are members of many gardening groups like Organic Gardening Group, The Brown Leaf and Sahavardhan, to name a few. One group is dedicated to conserving native trees. Members of Sustainable Earth Group or Deshivruksha Va Paryavaran Sanvardhan group go on ‘tree walks,’ locating local species, collecting their seeds and sowing them in by the sides of roads during the rains. Last year, the members decided to sow some seeds in Somayaji’s garden, out of which 10 saplings have survived.</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 648.891px;"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized" style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.25rem auto; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131033/Pune-home-gardening-courtesy-Somayaji-Jan-2021-3.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #0367bf; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-23431 lazy loaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 412px) 100vw, 412px" data-src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131033/Pune-home-gardening-courtesy-Somayaji-Jan-2021-3-472x1024.jpg" data-srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131033/Pune-home-gardening-courtesy-Somayaji-Jan-2021-3-472x1024.jpg 472w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131033/Pune-home-gardening-courtesy-Somayaji-Jan-2021-3-138x300.jpg 138w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131033/Pune-home-gardening-courtesy-Somayaji-Jan-2021-3.jpg 590w" data-was-processed="true" height="893" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 412px) 100vw, 412px" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131033/Pune-home-gardening-courtesy-Somayaji-Jan-2021-3-472x1024.jpg" srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131033/Pune-home-gardening-courtesy-Somayaji-Jan-2021-3-472x1024.jpg 472w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131033/Pune-home-gardening-courtesy-Somayaji-Jan-2021-3-138x300.jpg 138w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131033/Pune-home-gardening-courtesy-Somayaji-Jan-2021-3.jpg 590w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="412" /></a><figcaption style="border: 0px; caption-side: bottom; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4; margin: 5px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sumati Somayaji tending to her home garden. Pic courtesy: Sumati</figcaption></figure></div><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;"> “We believe in Ayurveda and these indigenous medicinal plants and herbs are a part of our heritage,” adds Sumati. “One leaf of Paanfuti consumed every morning can help dissolve kidney or gall stones. I suffered from gall bladder stones and within a month of eating these leaves I started feeling better. Stevia leaves can be a good alternative to sugar and helpful to diabetics. Haadjodi leaves can be used to treat broken bones.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">In their garden, the Somayajis have planted adulsa, shatawari, tulsi, vekhand, insulin, haadjodi, peppermint, lemon balm, basil, all vitamin and brahmi.</p><h2 style="border: 0px; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Becoming self-sufficient </strong></h2><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">All the people we spoke to expressed their hope to grow enough in their green patches to fulfil their needs. Snehal recently took up gardening on the terrace of her office in Narayan Peth apartment block. “Last March we decided to grow some of our kitchen requirements,” says Gokhale. “We also have poppy seeds, colassia leaves, maghai paan (betelnut leaves), spring onion, beetroot leaves for salad and fruits like lemon, papaya, kamrak. For pollination, we have kamalini and other aromatic plants”.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">At her Paud Road garden, Snehal gets a good yield of green leafy vegetables. Kirti, on the other hand, says that she is not yet self-sufficient in vegetables. While the Somayajis are able to meet most of their food requirements from their plants and trees.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">Suresh Bapat, another city gardener, went one step ahead and grew rice on the terrace of his bungalow in Mitramandal colony. The Bapat family had shifted here in 1973 and Suresh’s father planted fruit trees like mangoes, bananas around the house. Later Suresh and his wife, who did a course in kitchen garden, experimented and grew rice, leafy vegetables, medicinal plants etc on their 1,200 sq feet terrace.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">After the rainfall in 2007, one particular pit was slushy and muddy. So Suresh asked his employee in a fabrication workshop to get him some paddy crop. They told Suresh that this was not the way to grow rice, but Suresh was determined to find it out for himself. His gamble paid off and the Bapats went on to grow 10 kg of Indrayani rice every year.</p><hr class="wp-block-separator is-style-wide" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; margin: 20px auto; width: 721px;" /><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Read more:</strong> <a href="https://citizenmatters.in/mangaluru-school-children-urban-farming-experiment-using-discarded-refrigerators-15126" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #0367bf; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Turning fridges to agricultural fields: Mangalore school kids’ unique urban farming experiment</a></p><hr class="wp-block-separator is-style-wide" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; margin: 20px auto; width: 721px;" /><h2 style="border: 0px; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sustainable practice</strong></h2><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">The benefits from urban farming can be many, besides getting fresh produce. But those wanting to get into it need to be mindful of not overusing natural resources. “We are applying principles of rainwater harvesting in our garden,” said Sunita. “We store water used for cleaning utensils, vegetables, grains and dregs of the water filter and re-use it for the plants and trees. We have been making compost and manure and that also results in less requirement of water. We have been putting aside leftover food, fruit peels, foodgrains gone bad in making manure. We have made use of coconut husks, powder them and use them for potted plants. We make brooms from coconut fronds.” </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">Snehal too believes in reusing home-generated waste. Food waste from her office is utilised in the terrace garden. Plus, she and her husband have been making chemical-free pesticides. </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">“We sprinkle gomutra, or onion water, ginger-garlic paste or neem oil+water on the plants,” said Snehal. “We ferment cooked rice in water for seven days and spray it on hibiscus plant. Banana peels soaked overnight in water can also be a good manure.” </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">In addition Snehal and members of Organic Gardening Group have been taking classes, webinars, holding demonstrations on composting. They also invite experts to speak on gardening innovations and giving tips to beginners. </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">Kirti’s advice to beginners is to be careful of overwatering, a mistake that she committed often. Kirti’s other challenge is tackling proliferation of snails in her garden. “I have used plastic sheets as layer for the brick beds and since they retain moisture, the number of snails grow overnight. The other challenge is of sunlight. Some trees, vines which require more sunlight don’t get enough of it because I have planted them in the wrong section.”</p><h2 style="border: 0px; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The PMC-Sahavardhan initiative</strong></h2><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">Based on the principles of community farming, especially in urban areas, Sahavardhan believes in the motto, ‘Alone I Cannot; Together We Can’. Currently, active as a WhatsApp group comprising 800 members, Sahavardhan was formed in 2019 to bring together people who were interested in growing their food organically, but had no space of their own.</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 648.891px;"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized" style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.25rem auto; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131016/Pune-home-gardening-Sahavardhan-Group-Jan-2021.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #0367bf; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-23432 lazy loaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 455px) 100vw, 455px" data-src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131016/Pune-home-gardening-Sahavardhan-Group-Jan-2021-1024x768.jpg" data-srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131016/Pune-home-gardening-Sahavardhan-Group-Jan-2021-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131016/Pune-home-gardening-Sahavardhan-Group-Jan-2021-300x225.jpg 300w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131016/Pune-home-gardening-Sahavardhan-Group-Jan-2021-768x576.jpg 768w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131016/Pune-home-gardening-Sahavardhan-Group-Jan-2021-678x509.jpg 678w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131016/Pune-home-gardening-Sahavardhan-Group-Jan-2021-326x245.jpg 326w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131016/Pune-home-gardening-Sahavardhan-Group-Jan-2021-80x60.jpg 80w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131016/Pune-home-gardening-Sahavardhan-Group-Jan-2021.jpg 1232w" data-was-processed="true" height="341" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 455px) 100vw, 455px" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131016/Pune-home-gardening-Sahavardhan-Group-Jan-2021-1024x768.jpg" srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131016/Pune-home-gardening-Sahavardhan-Group-Jan-2021-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131016/Pune-home-gardening-Sahavardhan-Group-Jan-2021-300x225.jpg 300w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131016/Pune-home-gardening-Sahavardhan-Group-Jan-2021-768x576.jpg 768w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131016/Pune-home-gardening-Sahavardhan-Group-Jan-2021-678x509.jpg 678w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131016/Pune-home-gardening-Sahavardhan-Group-Jan-2021-326x245.jpg 326w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131016/Pune-home-gardening-Sahavardhan-Group-Jan-2021-80x60.jpg 80w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27131016/Pune-home-gardening-Sahavardhan-Group-Jan-2021.jpg 1232w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="455" /></a><figcaption style="border: 0px; caption-side: bottom; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4; margin: 5px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sahavardhan group volunteers and Saurabh Rao, former PMC chairman, at the terrace garden at Ghole Road ward office. Pic courtesy Sahavardhan group</figcaption></figure></div><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">In July 2019, the group had met to brainstorm over how to acquire spaces for community gardening. The meeting was also attended by the area representative of the Pune Municipal Corporation. </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">“She said the PMC was looking for citizen participation because they were participating in Swacch Bharat Mission and wanted to improve their rating,” said Ram Datar, CEO of Circulogix Inc, a US-based start-up now settled in Pune.<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">“They wanted suggestions on how to improve it. I suggested using green roof concept for the PMC buildings, where they would offer us a space for free and we would raise a garden on without any charges. They liked the idea”.</p><hr class="wp-block-separator is-style-wide" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; margin: 20px auto; width: 721px;" /><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Read more: </strong><a href="https://chennai.citizenmatters.in/resilient-chennai-urban-horticulture-rooftop-garden-project-17792" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #0367bf; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">A garden on every roof: Help the Patchai Madi project turn Chennai into India’s urban farming capital</a></p><hr class="wp-block-separator is-style-wide" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; margin: 20px auto; width: 721px;" /><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">The municipal body agreed to provide water and electricity while the Sahavardhan team which then comprised 21 volunteers decided to re-use old material. </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">“The PMC said we could use confiscated material like crates (from roadside vendors) and cocopeat which they generate from coconut gardens,” said Ram Datar. “They also gave us the compost from the various facilities they have. We also asked them for slurry from the restaurant businesses (the waste food rots and thus becomes slurry. The PMC processes it on-site or they take it away from the city). We used all of that to create our own compost. The Sahavardhan volunteers contributed to buy seeds, saplings, shade net etc. We were given three weeks deadline and we finished the work in time for October 2, Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary”. </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">The project named Swawalamban 1 (Self-reliance1) was executed on the terrace of the Ghole Road ward office. The Sahavardhan members planted 800 saplings but had to discontinue their work because of Covid-19. “We had a meeting with the PMC staff and gave away all the vegetables (75kg) to them. The saplings were also given away to the staff so that they could grow them in their homes,” adds Datar.</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 648.891px;"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized" style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.25rem auto; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27130936/Pune-terrace-garden-courtesy-Snehal-Gokhale-Jan-2021.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #0367bf; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-23433 lazy loaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 470px) 100vw, 470px" data-src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27130936/Pune-terrace-garden-courtesy-Snehal-Gokhale-Jan-2021-768x1024.jpg" data-srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27130936/Pune-terrace-garden-courtesy-Snehal-Gokhale-Jan-2021-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27130936/Pune-terrace-garden-courtesy-Snehal-Gokhale-Jan-2021-225x300.jpg 225w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27130936/Pune-terrace-garden-courtesy-Snehal-Gokhale-Jan-2021.jpg 780w" data-was-processed="true" height="627" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 470px) 100vw, 470px" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27130936/Pune-terrace-garden-courtesy-Snehal-Gokhale-Jan-2021-768x1024.jpg" srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27130936/Pune-terrace-garden-courtesy-Snehal-Gokhale-Jan-2021-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27130936/Pune-terrace-garden-courtesy-Snehal-Gokhale-Jan-2021-225x300.jpg 225w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/27130936/Pune-terrace-garden-courtesy-Snehal-Gokhale-Jan-2021.jpg 780w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="470" /></a><figcaption style="border: 0px; caption-side: bottom; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4; margin: 5px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A visitor at the terrace garden of Ghole Road ward office. Pic courtesty Sahavardhan group</figcaption></figure></div><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">Another terrace garden was started at Baner-Aundh ward office and named Swawalamban 2. There Sahavrdhan grew around 650 plants with similar inputs. “We now have access to six other zonal offices of PMC and they have asked us to start this project in 50 other buildings,” said Datar. “We have no dearth of space or of volunteers. We had a meeting of our core group recently and we decided to resume our efforts with social distancing in mind. We also have plans to install drip irrigation system before summer”.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">Sahavardhan, which developed a terrace garden at Abhinav School, near Narhe-Ambegaon, has been getting requests from other city schools and private housing societies. “But we want people to start becoming farmers,” says Datar. “In each housing society, we want at least three or four active members. We can always help them get started, but we shouldn’t be doing it for them.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">That’s the goal of Sahavardhan, to get everybody together and engage in co-operative farming. </p><div class="wp-block-group has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 20px; padding: 20px 30px 1px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p class="has-text-align-center" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 462.688px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Tips for beginners</strong></p><ul style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; list-style: square; margin: 0px 0px 20px 40px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 434.688px;">Start gardening during rains. </li><li style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 434.688px;">Make your own compost, manure. </li><li style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 434.688px;">Buy gardening tools and good quality seeds (check their expiry date). </li><li style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 434.688px;">Learn more about your space – sunlight, its duration, water availability etc. </li><li style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 434.688px;">Learn how to maximise your green corner. Experiment with vertical bag, hanging bag, bottle bag if you have less space. Use cartons, cups and mugs with missing handles, tubs, crates and tyres. </li><li style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 434.688px;">Grow complementary plants like brinjals, tomatoes and chillies. If you have less sunlight streaming in, grow leafy vegetables.</li><li style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 434.688px;">Start with kitchen staples like curry leaves, lemon grass, grafted lemons. Salad staples can also be good choice.</li><li style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 434.688px;">Avoid planting broccoli, cauliflower when you are a greenhorn, because they are worm infested easily. Instead opt for drumsticks.</li></ul></div></div></div>Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868176614235328658.post-76979783425684920052022-02-18T17:57:00.004+05:302022-02-18T17:57:51.559+05:30Pune residents buy veggies at exorbitant prices while farmers struggle to meet ends (First published in Citizen Matters)<p><br /></p><div class="entry-content clearfix" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><figure class="entry-thumbnail" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; max-width: 1030px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="lazy loaded" data-src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/12/12111212/PuneVeg-Aaba-Patil-with-the-pomegrantes-he-has-planted-1030x438.jpg" data-was-processed="true" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/12/12111212/PuneVeg-Aaba-Patil-with-the-pomegrantes-he-has-planted-1030x438.jpg" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; width: 1030px;" title="PuneVeg-Aaba Patil with the pomegrantes he has planted" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4; margin: 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">At the mercy of middlemen, Aaba Patil with his pomegranate crop.</figcaption></figure><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">The cloudy skies in recent weeks had Vijaykumar Lokhande scurrying to his fields in Mhada taluka in Solapur district. A page layout artist in the city at normal times, he also does farming to supplement his earnings.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">“I grow pulses and millets like jowar in my five acres of land,” says Vijaykumar. “This year, I am growing tur dal and the excess rainfall helped tur. I have a job in Pune, so I decided to plant tur dal, which doesn’t require my daily presence”.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">Pune city gets its vegetables, pulses and milk supply from Mulshi, Solapur, Satara, Baramati, Kolhapur etc. The Shree Chhatrapati Shivaji Market Yard at Gultekdi is where the tempos loaded with vegetables and other farm produce make their stop and then starts the business of auctioning the supplies to the highest bidder.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">“The tempo drivers, usually work hand-in-glove with the traders and middlemen. The farmers’ role is limited to only growing the crop, weighing the yield and then transferring the goods to the tempo driver/middlemen and traders. The farmers can’t go to the market because there is daily work to be done in the fields, apart from looking after the livestock,” he adds.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 648.891px;"><a href="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/12/12111245/PuneVeg-Lokhande-sprays-fertilisers-over-the-tur-dal-crop.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #0367bf; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-22704 lazy loaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 469px) 100vw, 469px" data-src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/12/12111245/PuneVeg-Lokhande-sprays-fertilisers-over-the-tur-dal-crop-1024x768.jpg" data-srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/12/12111245/PuneVeg-Lokhande-sprays-fertilisers-over-the-tur-dal-crop-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/12/12111245/PuneVeg-Lokhande-sprays-fertilisers-over-the-tur-dal-crop-300x225.jpg 300w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/12/12111245/PuneVeg-Lokhande-sprays-fertilisers-over-the-tur-dal-crop-768x576.jpg 768w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/12/12111245/PuneVeg-Lokhande-sprays-fertilisers-over-the-tur-dal-crop-678x509.jpg 678w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/12/12111245/PuneVeg-Lokhande-sprays-fertilisers-over-the-tur-dal-crop-326x245.jpg 326w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/12/12111245/PuneVeg-Lokhande-sprays-fertilisers-over-the-tur-dal-crop-80x60.jpg 80w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/12/12111245/PuneVeg-Lokhande-sprays-fertilisers-over-the-tur-dal-crop.jpg 1040w" data-was-processed="true" height="351" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 469px) 100vw, 469px" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/12/12111245/PuneVeg-Lokhande-sprays-fertilisers-over-the-tur-dal-crop-1024x768.jpg" srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/12/12111245/PuneVeg-Lokhande-sprays-fertilisers-over-the-tur-dal-crop-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/12/12111245/PuneVeg-Lokhande-sprays-fertilisers-over-the-tur-dal-crop-300x225.jpg 300w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/12/12111245/PuneVeg-Lokhande-sprays-fertilisers-over-the-tur-dal-crop-768x576.jpg 768w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/12/12111245/PuneVeg-Lokhande-sprays-fertilisers-over-the-tur-dal-crop-678x509.jpg 678w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/12/12111245/PuneVeg-Lokhande-sprays-fertilisers-over-the-tur-dal-crop-326x245.jpg 326w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/12/12111245/PuneVeg-Lokhande-sprays-fertilisers-over-the-tur-dal-crop-80x60.jpg 80w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/12/12111245/PuneVeg-Lokhande-sprays-fertilisers-over-the-tur-dal-crop.jpg 1040w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="469" /></a><figcaption style="border: 0px; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4; margin: 5px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lokhande’s tur dal crop fared better than other crops despite unusual weather conditions.</figcaption></figure><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">But what about the initiatives that bring together the consumer and farmers and allows the former to buy farm fresh produce?</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">“I think they are misleading you,” says Shashikant Prabhune, a farmer from Baramati, who supplies cucumbers, tomatoes, fenugreek leaves and fruits like orange and sitaphal (custard apple) to the Pune market. “The people, who come to your housing society with vegetables is a middleman of some sort, not a farmer. And he ends up earning more than the farmer. Neither is the farmer benefiting nor are you buying vegetables at a lower rate, as you seem to think.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">Which becomes evident when you talk to consumers about their recent experience.</p><h2 style="border: 0px; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Food price inflation</strong></h2><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">Kavita Doshi, a teacher, was quite surprised to learn that she hasn’t been buying directly from farmers as she thought she was. “I was told that farmers are vending their goods at Nehru Chowk, near Mahatma Phule Mandi (a wholesale vegetable market),” says Kavita. “So I have been buying my vegetables and grains from them, which cost less than at the Mandi”.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">And even then, Kavita has had to cut down on her family’s usage of onions when rates shot up in September-October. “We didn’t buy onions and instead experimented with food,” says Kavita. “For instance, we made koshimbirs (salads) without onions. We also cooked leafy vegetables only once a week, instead of twice or thrice a week. It’s difficult to eat only pulses and cereals.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">Bhoomi Choksi, who works as Manager-Admin in a yoga institute, cited the current rates: onion at Rs 65 per kg, sweet potatoes Rs 80 per kg and vegetables like cluster beans, ridge gourd at Rs 80 per kg. “Our budget has gone haywire since the lockdown,” adds Bhoomi. “I guess this applies to all middle class families who are struggling with job losses and pay cuts. I am cooking mostly grains and lentils. I have stopped making dishes which require onions and tomatoes.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">The budget pinch from the price rise in vegetables has hit most middle and low income families in the city. Jayashree Tilekar, a beautician, had no income during the lockdown. Now, her family of three is having to cut down drastically on once commonly used vegetables like onions. “When the prices of vegetables and fruits increased, we naturally cut down on our purchase,” says Jayashree. “On normal days we would require some 3 kg of onions, but when the prices went up, we just bought one or half kg”.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">“The shortage of vegetable supply was due to transportation issues and that’s something we had to take in our stride,” said Aditi Apte, who can afford not to compromise on purchases despite the price rise. “We have always bought our supplies from Mahatma Phule Mandi, where the rates are a little lower. Everyone is facing hurdles and obstacles of some sort and we have to be sympathetic to farmers.”</p><h2 style="border: 0px; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Farmers, the ultimate loser</strong><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">s</strong></h2><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">Climate change has further worsened the farmers’ plight. In Ranshingwadi village in Satara, this year 75% acreage was under onion cultivation, out of which 50% was destroyed due to excessive rains.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">“When there is a good yield, of say onions, prices are low and our returns don’t even cover the expenses in terms of labour or buying fertilisers and pesticides,” says Deepak Chavan, who grows onions in Ranshingwadi. “It is a similar scene even when there is shortage in the market. The people who take advantage of price rise are the middlemen, not us.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">All the farmers are in the same boat, observes Aaba Patil, who grows pomegranates, grapes and vegetables like drumsticks in his seven acre plot. “Out of 1000 farmers, maybe one or two will do better,” says Patil. “Why do farmers end their lives? Because even after working hard, they don’t get enough money. For instance, traders pay us Rs 140 per kg for pomegranate, while he gets Rs 260 at the auction.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">“We have no organised body,” says Chavan when asked why farmers can’t come together. “You try to raise your voice and you are gagged. Right now, things are such that the farmers don’t have enough money to even recharge their mobile phone.”</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 648.891px;"><a href="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/12/15105602/Farmer-Pune-Deepak-Chavan.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #0367bf; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-22751 lazy loaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 486px) 100vw, 486px" data-src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/12/15105602/Farmer-Pune-Deepak-Chavan.jpg" data-srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/12/15105602/Farmer-Pune-Deepak-Chavan.jpg 486w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/12/15105602/Farmer-Pune-Deepak-Chavan-260x300.jpg 260w" data-was-processed="true" height="561" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 486px) 100vw, 486px" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/12/15105602/Farmer-Pune-Deepak-Chavan.jpg" srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/12/15105602/Farmer-Pune-Deepak-Chavan.jpg 486w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/12/15105602/Farmer-Pune-Deepak-Chavan-260x300.jpg 260w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="486" /></a><figcaption style="border: 0px; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4; margin: 5px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“No money to even recharge our phone,” says farmer Deepak Chavan.</figcaption></figure><h2 style="border: 0px; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Why can’t residents buy from farmers?</strong></h2><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">Given the present procurement and distribution system, the farmer cannot function without the middleman. Fruits and vegetables do not fall under the list of items identified by the government for procurement at minimum support price in the APMC mandis.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">“Only a few farmers with marketing skills are able to bring what they grow to sell in Pune’s markets,” adds Abhijit Ghorpade, environment journalist and editor of Bhavatal, a magazine that focuses on weather, environment and water issues.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">The Pune Municipal Corporation in association with Maharashtra State Agriculture Board initiated Athawade Bazaar or weekly bazaar with the intent to bring farmers and consumers together. The weekly markets were suspended during the lockdown but were reopened with social distancing norms. Some 60 locations within PMC limits were identified for setting up temporary stalls.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">The union and state governments also launched some apps (see box) to bring growers and buyers on one platform and ensure fair price to both. The success of this experiment has been mixed.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">The city has seen other efforts by citizens and groups to bridge the farmer-buyer gap. One such effort was the launch of The Conscious Community Market, or CoCo market in 2017, by Surabhi Ganguly and Tanya Kane, founder director for Goodbynature Pvt Ltd. Their focus, however, has been on going organic.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">“When we started making an attempt to move towards an organic and sustainable lifestyle, we saw that there were several people making wonderful products but it was cumbersome to contact each person independently for a purchase and connect them to consumers,” says Ganguly. In the lockdown aftermath, CoCo has been primarily online (<a href="http://www.goodbynature.in/" style="border: 0px; color: #0367bf; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">www.goodbynature.in</a>). Their main focus was to get products from small and local producers. Farm products like grains, oils, vegetables, fruits, ghee, honey, etc are available at The CoCo Market.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">The first reaction to The CoCo Market was very positive. “We found that buyers were happy to connect directly to the producer. In addition, we also have artisan soap makers, producers of household cleaning products, bamboo toothbrushes, upcycled plastic products, books from alternative publishers, stationery, nursery saplings, etc. We focused on items that would be needed on an everyday basis,” says the social entrepreneur.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">But the organic food market is facing the same production, supply and distribution problems as other markets. “It’s a niche market,” says Abhijit Ghorpade. “Farmers need time to adapt to this scenario. In the past, they were urged to mechanise farming and use chemical fertilisers. Now we want them to grow ‘clean’ food. However, buyers have not turned to organic lifestyle and farmers will grow what there is a larger demand for.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;">On their part, farmers say nothing is chemical-free now. “The food we grow is dependent on chemicals of some sort or the other,” says Deepak Chavan, a farmer from Satara district. “Even if we try to use organic manure and fertilisers etc, we are forced to use chemical fertilisers because of adverse climatic conditions. It is not feasible for farmers to grow chemical-free vegetables and fruits.”</p><div class="wp-block-group has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 20px; padding: 20px 30px 1px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 721px;"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p class="has-text-align-left has-medium-font-size" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1.25em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto auto 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 462.688px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Apps for farmers on mkisan.gov.in or Google play store</strong></p><ol style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px 0px 20px 40px; padding: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 413.688px;">Kisan Suvidha: This app has been developed to help farmers by providing relevant information on weather of current and next five days, market prices, agro advisories, plant protection, IPM practices etc.</li><li style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 413.688px;">Pusa Krishi: This app is meant to inform farmers of different crops they can grow.</li><li style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 413.688px;">MKisan: This app allows farmers and other stakeholders to obtain advisories from experts and government officials at different levels through mkisan portal without registering on the portal.</li><li style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 413.688px;">Shetkari Masik: The app can be used to download Shetkari Masik magazine, one of the most popular agriculture monthly magazines published by the department of agriculture since its launch 1965.</li><li style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 413.688px;">Crop Insurance: This app can be used to calculate the insurance premium for notified crops based on area, coverage amount and loan amount. The app also provides information on subsidy for any notified crop.</li><li style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 413.688px;">AgriMarket: This is meant to provide market price of crops in the markets within 50 km of the device’s location capture by GPS. There is another option to get price at any market and any crop in case a person does not want to use GPS location.<br />(Info: sarkariyojana.com)</li></ol></div></div></div>Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868176614235328658.post-15389038965771103832020-11-25T18:36:00.001+05:302020-11-25T18:36:15.411+05:30 Meet these three women in Pune who are waging a tireless battle against plastic<p> </p><header class="entry-header clearfix" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="mh-meta entry-meta" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(235, 235, 235); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(235, 235, 235); border-top-style: dotted; border-width: 0px; color: #979797; font-size: 0.8125rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0.625rem 0px 0px; padding: 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">My latest article for Citizen Matters -- www.citizenmatters.in </div></header><div class="entry-content clearfix" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><figure class="entry-thumbnail" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; max-width: 1030px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/11/17122104/PunePlastic-Fabric-diaries-from-Araatrika-678x381.png" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; width: 678.047px;" title="PunePlastic" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4; margin: 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A good gifting option, fabric diaries made by Araatrika</figcaption></figure><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Around five years ago, Suvarna Sane was looking for unique products to gift during a get-together. At one exhibition of women entrepreneurs, Sane came across upcycled products of reCharkha. “I was always an environmentally conscious buyer and the purses and totes from upcycled plastic appealed to me,” says Sane, a government servant. “My friends and relatives also appreciated them.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sane later learnt that Amita Deshpande and her team at reCharkha also accepted plastic bags as donation. “I went to her workshop, which was also their tailoring unit, with my plastic bags,” adds Sane. “I was impressed with their work and vision and now I am ensuring that my plastic waste goes to reCharkha. My daughters are also following this. I use a lot of reCharkha stuff: my lunch bag, sling purse, tote bag is all bought from reCharkha. If you compare their products, with other mass produced goods in plastic or other material, you are bound to think that reCharkha products are expensive. But if you think holistically about their work, about reducing plastic in our surroundings, the products are worth buying and gifting.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">reCharkha is not the only organisation working to reduce/reuse plastic waste. There are others too in Pune who are contributing in ways big and small towards that goal. We spoke to three women social entrepreneurs who are trying to create awareness about usage of plastic, dumping trash in the landfills and offering sustainable alternatives.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Amita Deshpande, founder of reCharkha, believes that the best way to fight plastic pollution is to ‘refuse’ it in the first place, ‘reduce’ it and lastly recycle it. The former IT engineer started reCharkha, a for profit entity that recycles or upcycles plastic bags into designer handbags, sling purses and so on.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized" style="border: 0px; display: table; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.25rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-22298" height="612" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 459px) 100vw, 459px" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/11/17122020/PunePlastic-Amita-Deshpande-with-the-upcycled-bags-768x1024.jpg" srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/11/17122020/PunePlastic-Amita-Deshpande-with-the-upcycled-bags-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/11/17122020/PunePlastic-Amita-Deshpande-with-the-upcycled-bags-225x300.jpg 225w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/11/17122020/PunePlastic-Amita-Deshpande-with-the-upcycled-bags-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/11/17122020/PunePlastic-Amita-Deshpande-with-the-upcycled-bags-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/11/17122020/PunePlastic-Amita-Deshpande-with-the-upcycled-bags-scaled.jpg 924w" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="459" /><figcaption style="border: 0px; caption-side: bottom; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4; margin: 5px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Amita Deshpande, founder reCharkha displays her upcycled bags.</figcaption></figure><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I have been trekking since my childhood and I found waste and trash in the valleys and mountains distressing,” says Amita. “I used to tell everybody to not use plastic. But not many seemed to understand the gravity of the situation. I took the decision of leaving my IT career, and took up a Master’s programme in America focusing on sustainable development. I returned to India in 2013 and started Aarohana Eco-Social Foundation as a consultancy. We took up a lot of projects on CSR and sustainability. However, I realised that I wasn’t satisfied doing only consultancy. We took up this project of recycling plastic bags in 2015. This year, my business partner in Aarohana decided to part ways, and so we dissolved Aarohana. Almost immediately, I founded reCharkha Ecosocial.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The project of recycling plastic bags also focused on generating livelihood as Amita realised she could convince people to be more environment conscious only when they had food in their tummy. “We decided that we will take up a role in livelihood generation with a focus on waste management. This project was born as a result. It has been more than five years now that I have been in this field and it has been a good journey,” she adds.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">With the help of her family, Deshpande built a few rooms in Silvassa (Dadra and Nagar Haveli UT), where she hails from. She employs 12 tribal youngsters who clean and sanitise the plastic bags in water and bio-degradable solution and then they cut the bags into strips. These strips are then woven onto the looms. The making, designing and marketing of the bags was developed in Pune.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Currently, all our products are sold online,” says Amita. “We have about 20 products including cushions in home décor, electronic cases, sports bags, besides totes, purses and pouches. We can customise gifts for festivals and New Year. The clients can list what they would like, sizes, shapes and colours and we will put the hampers together for them. They can also gift vouchers, starting from Rs 500 to 5000, from reCharkha.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Amita has also set up an NGO, My Eco-Social Planet, which works on creating awareness. “We held awareness sessions in some housing societies in Pune and organised collection drives”.</p><h2 style="border: 0px; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Educating people</strong></h2><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Journalist Mita Banerjee is part of Team Miracle, which works as a support group for paraplegic soldiers, poor cancer patients, orphans and destitute women in Pune. In recent years, Team Miracle has also taken up a range of environmental activities. She and her team are educating citizens on how to segregate their garbage and how to recycle it.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“It’s difficult to set a specific date when we started,” says Mita. “As a journalist, I had come in contact with some social organisations who were rendering much-needed help in many sectors. We became a link between those who need help, and those who want to give help. About six years ago, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi started the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Team Miracle began to include various environmental activities, as Eco-Warriors”.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“In our seminars on Solid Waste Management, we request people to segregate each of their household waste – not just wet and dry,” says Mita. “The dry waste has to be further segregated – like plastic, glass, paper, e-waste, cardboard etc. All you need is a separate bin or bag for each item, and being thoughtful when you chuck your trash. But people don’t want to take this effort,” she says.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“It’s not enough to preach, you have to give people alternatives for plastic,” adds Mita. Therefore, Team Miracle began holding Green Impact melas in schools, colleges, cafes and invited green entrepreneurs to showcase and sell their products.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.25rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-22295" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/11/17122122/PunePlastic-A-Green-Impact-mela-organised-by-Team-Miracle-in-pre-Covid-times-1024x768.jpg" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" /><figcaption style="border: 0px; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4; margin: 5px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A Green Impact mela organised by Team Miracle in pre-Covid times</figcaption></figure><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“We promote a simple sustainable product like the bamboo toothbrush which is totally bio-degradable. We tell people that every toothbrush they’ve used since childhood is still lying around somewhere; that’s more than 150 million plastic toothbrushes chucked into the garbage bin every month. Imagine the huge quantities of plastic pollution they’re causing…,” says Mita.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In the course of her work, the journalist has met enterprising and creative people who think out-of-the-box, and are taking all our junk, and turning them into something useful.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mita lists a few such people. Dr Medha Tadpatrikar from Pune, who founded Rudra Environmental Solutions, has developed a technology to recycle any type of plastic and turn it into a poly-fuel. They collect household waste plastic, make this polyfuel, which is then distributed to rural women for cooking purposes.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Then there’s Chetan Zope, an engineer from College of Engineering, Pune, who’s turned to recycling the waste banana stems he saw lying around, and turned them into beautiful paper.</p><h2 style="border: 0px; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Buying sustainable</strong></h2><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">An architecture graduate, Jagruti Khabiya-Jain through her brand Araatrika is offering a range of pencils and pens made from paper and seeds, seed paper diaries, travel kit and so on.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Started in 2017, Araatrika was selected as one of the top 100 innovators/start-ups by Maharashtra government in 2018. The co-founder and creative head says that the brand’s mission is to save trees.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“We are using tulsi and marigold seeds for the covers of Plant Me diaries cover and the papers contain seeds,” says Jagruti. “Once you have used the Plant Me diary, you can compost the pages and the cover. Similarly, pencils contain seeds of herbs and vegetables.”</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized" style="border: 0px; display: table; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.25rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-22294" height="478" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 478px) 100vw, 478px" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/11/17122142/PunePlastic-Happy-Pencils-from-Araatrika-1024x1024.png" srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/11/17122142/PunePlastic-Happy-Pencils-from-Araatrika-1024x1024.png 1024w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/11/17122142/PunePlastic-Happy-Pencils-from-Araatrika-300x300.png 300w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/11/17122142/PunePlastic-Happy-Pencils-from-Araatrika-150x150.png 150w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/11/17122142/PunePlastic-Happy-Pencils-from-Araatrika-768x768.png 768w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/11/17122142/PunePlastic-Happy-Pencils-from-Araatrika.png 924w" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="478" /><figcaption style="border: 0px; caption-side: bottom; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4; margin: 5px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Happy Pencils from Araatrika</figcaption></figure><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Araatrika has sold around 8 lakh pencils, 5,000 fabric diaries and another couple of thousand ‘Plant Me’ diaries in the past four years. It is also collaborating with stores that are focused on selling sustainable options.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“In Pune, our products are displayed at stores like Pagdandi – The Book Chai Café, Artetc, Tribal Chhatri, Either Or, Venus and Comet,” says the entrepreneur. “We supply to a few stores like Go Native in Bengaluru and also have a branch office there. When Araatrika was started, its clientele mostly comprised well off people who are environmentally aware. But we are reaching out to masses now and that’s a good sign. Happy pencils is now no longer just a gift option. It’s not yet being used as regular stationery, but we are getting regular customers now”.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There was hardly any domestic sale during the lockdown, but post-August Araatrika’s export sales picked up. “During the lockdown sales were mainly in travel kits. The pencils, pens didn’t sell because major hotel chains in the city to whom we were supplying had to close and schools were shut. Post-August, exports picked up. We have distributors in UK and UAE, and clients in Israel and Bhutan”.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“We had launched a Diwali hamper, which includes a steel tea infuser,” says Jagruti. “Basically, the tea bags are non bio-degradable, including the green tea bags. So the hamper has a steel tea infuser and loose green tea leaves, which can be reused. It also contains colours, a Mandala book and some chocolates. It’s like a happy mental health hamper”.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Aratrika also developed a travel kit. “People are a lot more hygiene conscious now, so the travel kit also called a zero waste kit did well,” says Jagruti. “It’s in the form of a bundle with a hook – you can put it on your bag or you can attach it to the belt/hook of your trousers. It includes a steel straw, a steel spoon, a steel fork and knife, one napkin, one paper pen and one paper pencil and the hook. It all comes in a proper kit, which was first launched in 2018, and you roll it up and tie it.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I got to know about Araatrika through my friend who had bought some pencils from Araatrika as a return gift for her daughter’s birthday,” says Bengaluru based Riya Thakkar. “Every festive season Jagruti launches something new and this year on Rakshabandhan, I bought eco-friendly rakhis for my brothers.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The rakhis contained seeds and Thakkar’s brothers loved the idea and they grew chillies and tomatoes out of the seed rakhis.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Thakkar also bought colouring pencils and Mandala colouring book for her family members. “What I like best about Araatrika is they bring out eco-friendly products for every festive season and occasion; they inspire everyone to choose that lifestyle.” </p><h2 style="border: 0px; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">COVID-19 effect</strong></h2><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The ban on single-use plastic in Maharashtra was first implemented in 2018 and has the support of the present day Maha Vikas Aghadi government. However, in recent months, plastic usage has gone up and activists worry it may be difficult to curb this rise.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“People have become paranoid…so no matter how many recycling or upcycling programmes are started, it’s not going to be enough,” says Amita Deshpande. “We have to double our efforts on awareness-generation that plastic shouldn’t be used in the first place.” Amita’s Silvassa unit recycles approximately a tonne of plastic in three months.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Team Miracle’s awareness work was affected by the lockdown. They couldn’t hold their regular programmes. But they went digital and posted messages on Facebook and WhatsApp.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Terming the huge increase of single use plastic during the pandemic as ‘alarming’, Mita says, “Whether it’s gloves, masks, PPE kits, testing kits there is a huge increase in plastic usage. Most people are relying on home deliveries which come wrapped in layers of plastic. Also, the food, water, medicines served at the various COVID centres is coming in disposable trays, bottles, packs. Three times more plastic is being used and just thrown away. The war against plastic has now been totally relegated to the back-burner, but we need to revive it.”</p></div>Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868176614235328658.post-15576719504447143922020-11-25T18:34:00.004+05:302020-11-25T18:34:40.979+05:30 Shortage of oxygen a big challenge for Pune hospitals; here’s how they are coping<p> I wrote this article for Citizen Matters -- www.citizenmatters.in</p><div class="entry-content clearfix" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><figure class="entry-thumbnail" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; max-width: 1030px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/10/04131639/PuneOxygen-The-Liquid-Medical-Oxygen-plant-set-up-by-Dr-Bhausaheb-Sardesai-Talegaon-Rural-Hospital-1-678x381.jpg" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; width: 678.047px;" title="PuneOxygen-The Liquid Medical Oxygen plant set up by Dr Bhausaheb Sardesai Talegaon Rural Hospital (1)" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4; margin: 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Liquid Medical Oxygen plant set up by Dr Bhausaheb Sardesai Talegaon Rural Hospital. Pic Courtesy: Dr Dhanaji Jadhav</figcaption></figure><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Just a few weeks back, Pune’s health authorities were battling a severe shortage of hospital beds for COVID patients. Now, they are faced with an acute shortage of medical oxygen and oxygen-equipped beds.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“We require three times more oxygen supply during the pandemic than in the past,” says Prof Dr Dhanaji Jadhav of MIMER Medical College and Dr Bhausaheb Sardesai Talegaon Rural Hospital. “Besides COVID patients, other patients – pregnant women, cancer patients, those who suffered from heart attack, critical infants and those who have to undergo emergency operations – also need oxygen. What we are seeing now is a shortage of oxygen-equipped beds.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“The State Government has also asked smaller hospitals to administer COVID treatment, so there is an increased demand for oxygen from them as well,” adds Dr Jadhav. “That has also resulted in the price of oxygen cylinders, and consequently the cost of treatment, shooting up.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">As the number of active, positive cases increase in Western Maharashtra, Marathwada and North Maharashtra, deficiencies in the management of the health crisis is making headlines. What particularly invited the medical fraternity’s ire was an earlier directive that patients in wards should be administered 7 litres of oxygen and those in ICU 12 litres. The directive has since been withdrawn.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I understand the point was made by the government from the perspective of auditing hospital bills,” says Dr Ananthabhushan Ranade, a reputed oncologist. “But the authorities need to understand the orders they are issuing. A patient might need 60 litres of oxygen which is delivered on HFNO (High flow nasal oxygen machine). Does that mean that other patients should only get one litre each?” </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">To overcome the oxygen shortage, the state is diverting industrial oxygen to hospitals, while the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has capped the prices of medical oxygen and oxygen cylinders.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s press statement said: “The government is committed to uninterrupted supply of Medical Oxygen especially in the times of pandemic. Oxygen Inhalation (Medicinal Gas) is a scheduled formulation, covered under the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM).”</p><div class="wp-block-group" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="wp-block-group has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 20px 30px 1px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p class="has-text-align-center" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What the </strong></em><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">NPPA has said</em></strong></p><ol style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px 0px 20px 40px; padding: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="a"><li style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Cap the ex- factory price of liquid medical oxygen at the</em></strong> <strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">manufacturers</em></strong>‘<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> end at Rs 15.22/CUM exclusive of GST</em></strong></li><li style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Further cap the ex-factory cost of Medical Oxygen Cylinder at the fillers’ end at Rs 25.71/CUM exclusive of GST (existing Ceiling Price is ₹17.49/CUM), subject to transportation cost fixation at state level, for six months. </em></strong></li><li style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The existing rate for contracts of state governments for oxygen purchase, as applicable, shall continue, in consumer interest.</em></strong></li></ol></div></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This sudden shortage of medical oxygen and even some necessary drugs is making the city’s fight against COVID more difficult by the day. “The administration is simply not prepared to handle this health crisis,” says Dr Ranade. The numbers are rising in Pune because patients from other parts of Pune district and other regions are coming to the city for medical treatment.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dr Jadhav adds that they have taken in patients coming in from areas like Maval, especially people who cannot afford treatment at private hospitals. (Dr Jadhav’s hospital is located in Talegaon, about 40 km from Pune. Talegaon comes under Maval taluka which is approximately 50-55 km from Pune. )</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I have been in the business of supplying medical oxygen for five years now,” says Zakir Shaikh, a medical oxygen supplier in Maval taluka. “The companies that manufacture the gas have hiked rates and that has a cascading effect. We would get oxygen supply for Rs 22/23 cubic metre earlier, now it is in the range of Rs 75. In other words, whereas we would get a cylinder for Rs 75 earlier, now it has gone up to Rs 550.”</p><h2 style="border: 0px; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Options available</strong></h2><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hospitals in Pune district get their oxygen supply from the Chakan MIDC (Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation) which procures oxygen from companies like Linde, Indian Oxygen Ltd and Inox. It comes in the form of compressed gas in small, medium and jumbo-sized cylinders.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Liquid medical oxygen is also available in microcylinders. Then there are oxygen concentrators, machines that concentrate the oxygen available in the atmosphere and it is about 85% pure.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“The medical oxygen that we use is of two types,” explains Dr Jadhav. “One is liquid medical oxygen. A vaporiser is attached to liquid medical oxygen which is then converted into gaseous form and administered to patients. The second is from cylinders in gas form.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The medium-sized cylinders can provide oxygen for a couple of hours, whereas the small ones are used in ambulances as they have the capacity of providing oxygen for just about an hour. Jumbo cylinders have a capacity of 7,000 litre and can provide supply for 7-8 hours.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">However, this jumbo cylinder has a problem. “There is reduced pressure or flow of gas once the level drops to 1000 litres. Then you have to send it for refilling. But before refilling, the cylinder has to be emptied to zero level pressure. We had brought this to the notice of the companies, but they said the residual oxygen remaining in the cylinder is of no use to anyone,” says Dr Jadhav. </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Oxygen concentrators, which cost approximately Rs 50,000, can be used for patients who are suffering from mild-moderate symptoms of the viral disease and require 2-4 litres of oxygen per minute. These concentrators can be used where field hospitals are set up, or in medical camps, or in areas where it is difficult to transport cylinders. But big hospitals require cylinders or an in-house liquid oxygen cylinder plant. </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ventilators, bipap machines and HFNO machines are other important requirements for the treatment of COVID patients. “Out of 100 patients on ventilators, only 30 persons survive,” says Dr Ranade. “The HFNO machine is an option between regular oxygen supply and ventilators. They are also available at one third (approximately Rs 3 lakhs) the cost of ventilator machines (approximately around Rs 8-10 lakhs). It doesn’t require a big set up either, when compared to ventilators. I think it is much more prudent to invest in HFNOs.” </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Bipap machine, with its cost ranging from Rs 40,000 to Rs 4 lakh, can be used before the patient is put on ventilator. It can supply 15-30 litres of oxygen per minute. But this has its own limitations.</p><h2 style="border: 0px; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Line of treatment</strong></h2><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“External oxygen supply is needed when the SPO2 level in your body drops below 95,” says Dr Amitabh Chatterjee, part of the four-member doctors’ team managing a free COVID Care Centre under Lonavala Municipal Council. “Patients are put on ventilator only in extreme cases when oxygen level drops below 80. We also use a bipap machine which has an oxygen mask.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The bipap machine is a small one that forces oxygen into your body. However, as Dr Chatterjee explains, doctors have to ensure that the patient doesn’t have any epistaxis (bleeding of nose), or any secretions from the lungs, stomach or hypertension. In such cases, excess pressure is created on the veins. These secretions may enter the lungs and they can get ruptured. “We have to take into account the contra-indications of the bipap machine,” he said.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Lonavla COVID Care Centre doesn’t have a ventilator and critical cases are referred to a Dedicated COVID Health Centre (DCHC). “We have 65 beds and we are mostly treating mild symptomatic patients whose oxygen saturation levels are between 90 and 95,” says Dr. Chatterjee. “If their saturation levels drop further we refer them to the nearest DCHC and if beds are not available there, then we refer them to YCM Hospital in Pimpri-Chinchwad and Sassoon Hospital in Pune.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Given the problems of finding a hospital bed, many patients in Pune are now going in for home isolation, though doctors insist that this has to be under medical supervision. Dr Ranade, an advocate of home isolation, adds a cautionary note. “The patients need to follow protocols; they should be reporting to the doctors about their symptoms on Day 1, Day 2 and what they should do on Day 3. If all these protocols are followed, then the safety factor for the patient increases. Otherwise patients think they are doing fine till Day 7 and then their condition deteriorates rapidly. We are losing more patients because of that.” </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dr Jadhav, who is himself recovering from COVID adds, “I have currently been advised strict bed rest. But the situation is such that our entire health infrastructure is on stretchers.”</p><h2 style="border: 0px; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The way forward</strong></h2><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Most big hospitals are now toying with the idea of setting up a liquid medical oxygen plant to tide over the shortage. The Dr Bhausaheb Sardesai Rural Hospital in Talegaon has set up a six tonne plant. “Our liquid medical oxygen plant has been operational for 10 days now,” says Dr Jadhav. “Earlier, we had to scramble to source jumbo oxygen cylinder. Now that the Central Government has eased the process for COVID hospitals to set up their own liquid oxygen plants, we could set up one for our hospital. With this, we are thinking of increasing oxygen-equipped beds. Our current bed capacity is 350.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital in Pune also has its own liquid medical oxygen plant. But what deters other hospitals from setting up this facility is the question of what happens after the pandemic. “What should hospitals do with the excess supply then? It’s a huge investment. Will the authorities help us out?” wonders Dr Ranade. </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">For now, the Central Government has allowed industrial oxygen to be used by hospitals and it has also asked for creation of green corridors for the smooth movement of vehicles carrying the gas.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Oxygen supplier Shaikh agrees that the scenario now is marginally better as the supply of industrial oxygen has been reserved for use of hospitals. “We are supplying to nine hospitals in Maval taluka and to patients who are at home,” says Shaikh. “But people manning the toll booths don’t give precedence to our vehicles despite the board of ‘emergency services’ displayed on them.”</p></div>Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868176614235328658.post-68574792236666792002020-11-25T18:33:00.001+05:302020-11-25T18:33:09.439+05:30Struggling to save lives and livelihoods in Pune, post lockdown<p> I wrote this article for Citizen Matters - www.citizenmatters.in</p><div class="entry-content clearfix" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><figure class="entry-thumbnail" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; max-width: 1030px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/10/29101721/PuneStoryHarish-Ghaware-c-took-to-selling-vegetables-during-the-lockdown-678x381.jpg" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; width: 678.047px;" title="PuneStory=Harish Ghaware (c) took to selling vegetables during the lockdown" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4; margin: 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Harish Ghaware (centre), who took to selling vegetables during the lockdown, has now got a job as driver.</figcaption></figure><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ambika Shaligram</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Harish Ghaware, who drove private tourist cabs plying between Pune and Mumbai, ferried his last passenger on Gudi Padwa (Marathi New Year) in March. “Then came the lockdown and I could no longer drive the tourist cab.” </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But Harish had to keep the kitchen fire burning and like many others, realised that at that point only essential goods would sell. “I took to buying vegetables from the villages on the outskirts of Pune and selling them in the city,” he says.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“In the middle of the night, I would travel to Manjri, Loni, Narayangaon, Chakan in a tempo to buy vegetables and by 4 am I would be back in the city. I shared on WhatsApp with all my contacts that I had got into vegetable business and that we were doing home deliveries.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Harish got good response during April-June, delivering in neighbourhoods like Bhavani Peth, which were COVID-19 hotspots. But after the Unlock 1 phase in June, when the supply chain was resumed and fruits and vegetables were made available in markets easily, Harish Ghaware’s business came to a halt.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">He finally got a job as a driver in September after being unemployed for three months. “One of my former customers referred me to his friend who needed a driver. It has been a month since I have started driving a car again.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Selling vegetables was a risky job during the lockdown, points out Harish, because the police would catch vehicles at various nakas and toll booths. They even had to pay bribes on some occasion. Plus, the vegetables had to be packaged in medicine boxes as those were the only goods that could be supplied during the lockdown.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I didn’t want my family members to help me because my daughters are young. One is studying engineering and another one is in school. My wife had to take care of our ailing mother,” Harish says. </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Harish Ghaware is just one among thousands of such workers in Pune who are facing serious survival issues even to this day. The salaried, blue- collared and daily wage and informal workers have all suffered during, and even after the lockdown, and are looking at means to staying afloat.</p><h2 style="border: 0px; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Slow unlock</strong></h2><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Does anyone know when the coronavirus pandemic will end?” asks a desperate Kavita Gaikwad, who works as a domestic help. “Many homes, where I worked have turned me away, scared as they are of the virus.” In pre-COVID times, she worked in 10 homes, of which only four have employed her again. </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">During the lockdown, when she couldn’t step out for work, Kavita was paid only half salary by her employers. “But that’s not enough. We have to pay my son’s school fees. My husband is a rickshaw driver and he couldn’t drive his vehicle during those three months. Even now his business isn’t doing so well.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Similarly, with schools and colleges yet to open, teachers and other institutions are scrambling to make ends meet. A case in point is Mantra Institute of Design whose founder-director Ketaki Magikar struggles to manage. “Previously, I used to teach in various colleges as visiting faculty,” says Ketaki. “My colleague and I then decided to start a design institute of our own. We have been running Mantra Institute of Design for the last five years now.”</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.25rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><figure class="alignleft size-large is-resized" style="border: 0px; display: inline; float: left; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0.3125rem 1.25rem 1.25rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-22034" height="188" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 187px) 100vw, 187px" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/10/29101735/PuneStory-Ketaki-Magikar.jpg" srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/10/29101735/PuneStory-Ketaki-Magikar.jpg 635w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/10/29101735/PuneStory-Ketaki-Magikar-298x300.jpg 298w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/10/29101735/PuneStory-Ketaki-Magikar-150x150.jpg 150w" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="187" /><figcaption style="border: 0px; caption-side: bottom; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4; margin: 5px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ketaki Magikar</figcaption></figure></div><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Mantra Institute of Design is a small scale unit started under the Digital India programme. “It’s a digital course and we use design software like AutoCad, 3D Max, Google SketchUp. The syllabus has been designed according to the market demand. We have two in-house faculty for the fashion designing course and the rest are visiting faculty,” she adds.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">February-August is when the institute spends on advertising, marketing and enrollment. But since March 2020, the Mantra team has been hard pressed to find enquiries for the two-year course. “We have had no new admissions,” she says.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">At the moment, Ketaki is hoping that the state government allows educational institutes to reopen so that we can complete the course for our current batch of students. The Mantra Institute has 20 students for both fashion and interior designing. They are not hosting online classes because it is not possible to teach cutting, stitching online. The students don’t have the sewing machines nor do they have a cutting table at home, the instructors point out.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Our big advantage is that ours is an autonomous course and we were not affiliated to any university. Whenever the state government gives the go-ahead, we intend to complete the syllabus of first-year students and start the second year programme as well,” says Ketaki.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.25rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-22036" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/10/29101702/PuneStoryThe-students-of-Mantra-Institute-of-Design-1024x768.jpg" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" /><figcaption style="border: 0px; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4; margin: 5px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Those were the days. Students of Mantra Institute of Design</figcaption></figure><h2 style="border: 0px; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bleak future</strong></h2><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Those working in the fitness industry too have similar woes to narrate. Shut down since March, the Maharashtra government, has allowed gyms to reopen from Dussehra.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pune’s parks and jogging tracks which have been closed for seven months, except for a brief resumption during Unlock 1, will now be opened to the public from November 1st. The guidelines for their reopening are yet to be issued. The decision on opening of Deccan Gymkhana’s gymnasium is likely to be taken on November 2nd, whereas the tennis court has already started functioning.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> But Bibhishan Deokar won’t be among those who will resume work. “My services were terminated from September 1st,” says Bibhishan. “I was looking after the maintenance of tennis courts of Deccan Gymkhana. I was a permanent employee and I had seven years of service left.” He was paid half salary during the lockdown and thereafter when sports facilities remained closed in Pune.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Two other women employees were also asked to go. The labour union has filed a case in labour court. I don’t know how long the hearing will continue and if we have to go to higher courts. Let’s see,” says Bibhishan, whose son works on maintenance of the swimming pool in the same club. </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bibhishan, who has no source of livelihood currently, hopes to start a shop selling home products like sliding windows. “One of our relatives is into manufacturing of sliding windows. We hope to start a shop selling those, by Diwali,” he says. </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ketaki, on the other hand, is keeping in touch with her students over Zoom calls. “We tell them to browse interior design websites, to sketch their designs, themes and to keep their sketchbook ready. If the data is ready, they can immediately start working on the project already assigned to them, once we resume classes.” </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">When remains the question, though.</p></div>Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868176614235328658.post-36592458407137115052020-11-18T13:10:00.001+05:302020-11-18T13:10:31.482+05:30Pune: As COVID curve keeps rising, traders search for alternative sites<p>This article was written in September 2020 for Citizen Matters - www..citizenmatters.in</p><p><br /></p><p><img alt="" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/09/17114443/PuneMarkets-The-New-Timber-Market-on-Sunday-678x381.jpg" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; width: 678.047px;" title="PuneMarkets-The New Timber Market on Sunday" /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“The bulk of our business is being conducted through WhatsApp as we can only allow a limited number of people in the store,” says Ankit Katariya, a wholesale saree dealer whose store, Katariya Tradelink, is located in Bhavani Peth, one of Pune’s COVID-19 hotspots.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Currently, Pune has the highest number of positive cases and the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has put in place restrictions in the city’s old, congested neighbourhoods. These neighbourhoods — – Bhavani Peth, Budhwar Peth, Ganesh Peth, Raviwar Peth and Gurwar Peth – are also the hub of the city’s wholesale businesses.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Each Peth is known for particular products. Bohari Aali in Raviwar Peth (It is named Bohari because most of the shops are run by Bohra Muslim families) is known for party supplies and decorative items. Around Dusshera and Diwali it’s packed with shoppers in search of flower decorations, sky lanterns, rangoli moulds etc.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bhavani Peth is the main timber and plywood market. Ganesh Peth is known for crockery shops. Gurwar Peth for hardware business. Most of the peths are inter-connected, in the sense that you may enter Budhwar Peth, but a few streets later, find yourself in Bhavani Peth.</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.25rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized" style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.25rem auto; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-21312" height="335" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 317px) 100vw, 317px" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/09/17114207/PuneMarkets-Ankit-Katariya.jpg" srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/09/17114207/PuneMarkets-Ankit-Katariya.jpg 924w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/09/17114207/PuneMarkets-Ankit-Katariya-283x300.jpg 283w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/09/17114207/PuneMarkets-Ankit-Katariya-768x814.jpg 768w" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="317" /><figcaption style="border: 0px; caption-side: bottom; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4; margin: 5px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Most of my business is now through WhatsApp: Ankit Katariya, shop-owner, Bhavani Peth</figcaption></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Crowded, chaotic and colourful, festival times are the busiest time in these old market areas, even as malls and e-shopping have caught on in the city. They provide their own shopping experience, especially the shops that go back several generations.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But times have changed. With no hope of the pandemic situation improving anytime soon, most of the trading community in these traditional markets are now amenable to the idea of moving to the city’s outskirts.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Fatehchand Ranka, president of Federation of All Trade Associations of Pune, is in talks with the PMC and Pune Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (PMRDA) on this. The trading body has demanded around 800 acres of land on the fringes of the city and a proposal was put before Deepak Mhaisekar, former Divisional Commissioner.</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.25rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><figure class="alignleft size-large is-resized" style="border: 0px; display: inline; float: left; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0.3125rem 1.25rem 1.25rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-21313" height="185" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 148px) 100vw, 148px" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/09/17114146/PuneMarkets-Fatehchand-Ranka.jpg" srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/09/17114146/PuneMarkets-Fatehchand-Ranka.jpg 768w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/09/17114146/PuneMarkets-Fatehchand-Ranka-240x300.jpg 240w" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="148" /><figcaption style="border: 0px; caption-side: bottom; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4; margin: 5px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Fatehchand Ranka</figcaption></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Pune has about 32-33 wholesale businesses like the timber market, plywood, iron and steel, marble, sanitaryware, tiles, readymade garments, electronics, pharmacy,” says Ranka, a prominent city jeweller. “They are located in the city’s old neighbourhoods and all these areas fell either in the containment zone or are on its fringes. Besides the losses incurred due to the lockdown, there are other issues like pollution caused by traffic density. It’s time we decongested the heart of the city.”</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The administration is positive about this move, says Ranka. “We have sought a meeting with the Deputy Chief Minister and Pune’s Guardian Minister, Ajit Pawar. The PMC has said that if the consents are in place and the land is also made available, then they will start creating infrastructure. This can be done in one year,” he adds.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The traders body has planned 10 wholesale business clusters. For instance, the plywood, timber, iron and steel and marble units and shops will be clubbed together in one cluster.</p><h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Traders speak</strong></h2><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“The move would benefit the community and the buyers,” says Rahul Oswal, owner of the 81-year-old Citiply company. “When Bhavani Peth and later the timber market was first established, it was outside the city area. As the city limits grew, that location became one of Pune’s central areas. I think it is now time to move out of the city again. It will be beneficial to all stakeholders.”</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Parking is a major problem in these Peths, or Gaon areas as they are colloquially called. Besides shops, these peths also have residential neighbourhoods with temples and mosques located on the narrow side streets. People visiting these temples and mosques usually park their vehicles in the commercial neighbourhood adding to the traffic woes.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Two-wheeler parking leads to traffic snarls and COVID-19 has compounded our woes,” adds Dharmesh Patel, who owns Baba Electricals in Tapkir Galli, Budhwar Peth. The commercial street, lined with electrical shops, didn’t have many coronavirus cases, but since they were in proximity to containment areas like Bhavani Peth and Nana Peth, traders in Tapkir Galli also had to shut shop.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“The markets have opened again, but we are not doing too much business,” says Patel. “We have a committed buyer base for wholesale business. The frequent restrictions and fears of lockdown being imposed again are keeping buyers away.”</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And Patel is sceptical about relocating. “We still don’t know the exact location where the clusters will come up, how much space we will get etc. Also, Bhavani Peth, Tapkir Galli etc are central areas. The new marketplace might prove to be far for our regular customers.”</p><h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Challenges ahead</strong></h2><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Unlike Patel, many other business owners, however, favour the idea of relocating. Like Katariya, whose store is not yet fully operational. “But the clusters have to be connected to the railway and airport,” says Katariya. “The big textile marketplaces whether in Jaipur, Delhi, Mumbai, Surat or Kolkata have a separate area for wholesalers to operate from. It is easy for buyers, especially those who have limited time, to shop from one central place”.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Katariya is well aware that the virus is here to stay and emphasises the need for businesses to ensure all health precautions. “I have three security guards. One checks the customer’s oxygen levels, another does the thermal screening, other gives out gloves. Yet there is fear amongst customers. Whenever we make the shift, we have to have a big space to work from, if social distancing has to be maintained. We need to frame new rules on how many customers to let in, how to screen them etc.”</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Katariya, has housed his employees in five flats, about seven eight employees in one flat, owned by his firm. “Most of my employees come from Khed Shivapur about 25 kms from Pune. We have flats for them in the city.”</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Oswal observes that the current situation arose because of the slums which house the migrant labourers working in various units. “Ours is a labour-oriented unit and we were therefore most affected by the restrictions. Additionally, we have slum areas from where maximum number of infections were first reported.”</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">If this situation is to be prevented from recurring, authorities should consider providing alternative dwellings for them.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Before the Shree Chhatrapati Shivaji Market Yard — a wholesale market for vegetables, fruits and flowers locally known as Market Yard — shifted out to Gultekdi, it was located in Bhavani Peth,” said Oswal. The Market Yard has an approximately 3000-sq feet yard in which quarters for labourers are built. But that is inadequate as requirement for labour has gone up. All of them cannot be accommodated in the yard space, thus slums are erected. “If this has to be avoided, the vision of the clusters has to be on a huge scale. I think a consultation with Slum Rehabilitation Authority is necessary. All this will result in ease of business,” says Oswal.</p><div class="wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; direction: ltr; display: grid; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; grid-template-columns: 36% auto; grid-template-rows: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media" style="align-self: center; border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; grid-area: 1 / 1 / auto / auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-21311" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/09/17114225/PuneMarkets-Rahul-Oswal.jpg" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: unset; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: 244.094px;" /></figure><div class="wp-block-media-text__content" style="align-self: center; border: 0px; direction: ltr; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; grid-area: 1 / 2 / auto / auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 34.7031px; vertical-align: baseline; word-break: break-word;"><p class="has-medium-font-size" style="border: 0px; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“The vision of the clusters has to be on a huge scale. I think a consultation with Slum Rehabilitation Authority is necessary.” – Rahul Oswal, Owner, Citiply.</p></div></div><div aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: 20px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The other concern is over how to ensure a convenient commute for traders and their employees. “The authorities have agreed to our demand that the clusters be connected with the Pune Metro,” said Ranka.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Barring a few dissenters, there appears to be considerable consensus on the shifting of these old markets to the city’s outskirts with better commute and housing for all. What is now needed is a comprehensive plan and effective and quick implementation. </p>Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868176614235328658.post-26168001699277779902020-11-18T13:06:00.001+05:302020-11-18T13:06:23.438+05:30 COVID dampens Ganesh Chaturthi cheer; Pune idol makers in deep distress<p><br /></p><div class="entry-content clearfix" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><figure class="entry-thumbnail" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; max-width: 1030px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/08/17164726/Ganesh-idol-1-678x381.jpg" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; width: 678.047px;" title="Ganesh idol - 1" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4; margin: 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Haresh Mhatre painting a Shaadu maati Ganesh idol</figcaption></figure><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This article was written in August 2020 for Citizen Matters - www.citizenmatters.in</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Even the remover of all obstacles, Lord Ganesha, has not been able to come to the aid of the makers of his idols this year. As Ganesh Chaturthi approaches, traditional Ganesha idol makers like Sanket Kumbhar, Dheeresh Naik, Haresh Mhatre, can only hope that the Lord will make the coming weeks less harsh. Looks unlikely though, especially as the government has restricted all public gatherings and festivities that the city’s various Ganesh mandals, their main customers, would normally organise.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The numbers tell the story. “In the years gone by, all my family members would come together and make about 3,000-3500 idols,” said Sanket Kumbhar, who has his workshop in Navi Peth, near Poona Hospital. “This year we could make only about 1000 idols.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sanket speaks of how this year has been difficult, right from the beginning, from March-April, which is when they usually begin to receive orders and bookings. The schedule went for a toss this time and the extended lockdown only made things worse.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dattadri Kothur, a senior art director with an advertisement agency in Mumbai, has a similar tale to narrate. Kothur and his team, work on the concept of Tree Ganesha (they stuff seeds of vegetables, flowers and tulsi in their clay or mud Ganesha idol, which after immersion and mixed into soil, sprouts into a plant). They had begun work on these idols as usual in January and February. But then the pandemic hit, throwing life and business into disarray. </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“We have been supplying 1,200 Tree Ganesha idols for four years now,” said Kothur. “This year the number has come down to 500. We had to stop all work between March and May. The fear was such that we thought we won’t be celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi this year. There were no bookings, no enquiries. Everyone was worried about their survival.”</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.25rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized" style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.25rem auto; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-20139" height="663" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 497px) 100vw, 497px" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/08/07174245/Ganesh-idols-made-by-Akash-Chandekar.jpg" srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/08/07174245/Ganesh-idols-made-by-Akash-Chandekar.jpg 750w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/08/07174245/Ganesh-idols-made-by-Akash-Chandekar-225x300.jpg 225w" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="497" /><figcaption style="border: 0px; caption-side: bottom; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4; margin: 5px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ganesh idols made by Akash Chandekar</figcaption></figure></div><h2 style="border: 0px; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">New directives</strong></h2><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Kothur and his team started getting enquiries and were able to start making their Tree Ganeshas only from mid-June, after CM Uddhav Thackeray issued directives for celebrating the festival.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Our idols should have been ready by now,” added Kothur. “The idols will take another week to dry, before they are painted and packed and transported to Pune, Ahmedabad and of course, our customers in Mumbai.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The State Government’s cap on the height of the idols and restricting immersion also took the idol makers by surprise. The directives said that families should opt for metal idols in their homes. Or eco-friendly idols of two feet which can be immersed in a bucket of water. The Sarvajanik mandals can install idols of maximum four feet. </p><div class="wp-block-image" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.25rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><figure class="aligncenter size-large" style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.25rem auto; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-8177" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2018/09/29120518/Ganesha.jpeg" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" /><figcaption style="border: 0px; caption-side: bottom; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4; margin: 5px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lord Ganesha at home. Pic from the archives by Tejaswini Ranade Patwardhan</figcaption></figure></div><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“We make both the gharguti (idols which are installed in homes) and Sarvajanik (public celebrations undertaken by Ganesh mandals) murtis, so some of our idols are tall,” said Sanket Kumbhar. “We are hoping that some Ganesh mandals will buy these murtis or we will have to keep them for next year, assuming life goes back to old normal”.</p><h2 style="border: 0px; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Some villages still in lockdown</strong></h2><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In the old normal world, wholesalers would have set up the stalls by now and also made part or full payment to idol-makers like Kumbhar and Akash Chandekar.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But not this year. “This year, the situation is such that no one has money, so even if we ask for payment from the wholesalers, we are not sure if they can pay,” says Kumbhar.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Chandekar, a student whose family runs idol making units, echoes Kumbhar’s sentiments. “The Ganesh Chaturthi festival is barely a month away and in normal circumstances, the wholesalers would have selected their idols by now,” said Chandekar. “That would have given time for their regular buyers to book and bring the lord to their home. Where’s the time now?”</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.25rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized" style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.25rem auto; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-20137" height="648" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 485px) 100vw, 485px" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/08/07174320/Akash-Chandekar-sculpts-an-idol-766x1024.jpg" srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/08/07174320/Akash-Chandekar-sculpts-an-idol-766x1024.jpg 766w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/08/07174320/Akash-Chandekar-sculpts-an-idol-225x300.jpg 225w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/08/07174320/Akash-Chandekar-sculpts-an-idol-768x1026.jpg 768w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/08/07174320/Akash-Chandekar-sculpts-an-idol.jpg 924w" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="485" /><figcaption style="border: 0px; caption-side: bottom; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4; margin: 5px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A whole new Ganesh festival this year. Akash Chandekar sculpts an idol.</figcaption></figure></div><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Chandekar also lists other problems idol makers are facing this season. Like the special kind of mud required in making eco-friendly idols. “Our mud comes from Rajasthan”, explains Chandekar. “We had some mud in stock when we started making Ganesh idols. But in May, we ran out. It was only after lockdown restrictions were eased a bit that we could get a fresh supply”.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In recent years, environmentalists have waged a campaign to promote the use of eco-friendly, or Shaadu maati murtis, which do not pollute water bodies. Traditionally, the Shaadu maati idols come from Pen in Raigad district and are known for their fine and delicate craftsmanship. </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I usually make 450-500 Ganapatis every year but this time could only make 150 because of lockdown and social distancing requirements,” said Haresh Mhatre, who has been making such idols for 30 years now. Haresh works in a very small space so it was difficult for all his workers to work together, while keeping safe distance.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Out of these 150 idols Mhatre made, 40 were damaged during the Cyclone Nisarg that hit Raigad district in June. “I had kept the idols in a shed because we were warned about the cyclone,” said Mhatre, who hails from Jua village near Pen. “But the tin roof of the shed flew off in the strong winds and 40 idols got wet in the heavy rains that followed.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mhatre’s troubles do not end there. Lockdown continues to be enforced in some villages on the discretion of the local bodies and this affects transportation of the idols. “I have informed my customers that they won’t be able to enter my village,” said Mhatre. “They will have to park their vehicles on the road and my family members will get them their idols”.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Kothur too faced labour and supply problems. “We get our mud from Dharavi which was a COVID hotspot in Mumbai. Keeping in mind the safety of our team, we could order fresh supplies only after the situation improved in Dharavi.”</p><h2 style="border: 0px; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Cost of being eco-friendly</strong></h2><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The campaign to make eco friendly idols compulsory also pushed up the cost of idols. “One eco-friendly idol will cost you Rs 6000, while the same piece in PoP will cost Rs 3000,” said Dheeresh Naik, an artist from Nerul, Navi Mumbai. “Also, the eco-friendly idols are delicate and fragile.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This year just 20 of Dheeresh’s customers have requested for Shaadu maati idols. He made 80 such murtis, whereas in past years, he has made up to 300 PoP idols. “We are also asking our customers to come on specific days to collect the Ganapati idols, so that there is no rush on one particular day,” Dheeresh said. </p></div>Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868176614235328658.post-14274798906822039882020-11-18T13:04:00.004+05:302020-11-18T13:04:24.737+05:30Shortage of oxygen a big challenge for Pune hospitals; here’s how they are coping<p> </p><header class="entry-header clearfix" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="mh-meta entry-meta" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(235, 235, 235); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(235, 235, 235); border-top-style: dotted; border-width: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0.625rem 0px 0px; padding: 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 25px;"><b>This article was written for Citizen Matters</b></span></div></header><div class="entry-content clearfix" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><figure class="entry-thumbnail" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; max-width: 1030px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/10/04131639/PuneOxygen-The-Liquid-Medical-Oxygen-plant-set-up-by-Dr-Bhausaheb-Sardesai-Talegaon-Rural-Hospital-1-678x381.jpg" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; width: 678.047px;" title="PuneOxygen-The Liquid Medical Oxygen plant set up by Dr Bhausaheb Sardesai Talegaon Rural Hospital (1)" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4; margin: 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Liquid Medical Oxygen plant set up by Dr Bhausaheb Sardesai Talegaon Rural Hospital. Pic Courtesy: Dr Dhanaji Jadhav</figcaption></figure><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By Ambika Shaligram</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Just a few weeks back, Pune’s health authorities were battling a severe shortage of hospital beds for COVID patients. Now, they are faced with an acute shortage of medical oxygen and oxygen-equipped beds.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“We require three times more oxygen supply during the pandemic than in the past,” says Prof Dr Dhanaji Jadhav of MIMER Medical College and Dr Bhausaheb Sardesai Talegaon Rural Hospital. “Besides COVID patients, other patients – pregnant women, cancer patients, those who suffered from heart attack, critical infants and those who have to undergo emergency operations – also need oxygen. What we are seeing now is a shortage of oxygen-equipped beds.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“The State Government has also asked smaller hospitals to administer COVID treatment, so there is an increased demand for oxygen from them as well,” adds Dr Jadhav. “That has also resulted in the price of oxygen cylinders, and consequently the cost of treatment, shooting up.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">As the number of active, positive cases increase in Western Maharashtra, Marathwada and North Maharashtra, deficiencies in the management of the health crisis is making headlines. What particularly invited the medical fraternity’s ire was an earlier directive that patients in wards should be administered 7 litres of oxygen and those in ICU 12 litres. The directive has since been withdrawn.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I understand the point was made by the government from the perspective of auditing hospital bills,” says Dr Ananthabhushan Ranade, a reputed oncologist. “But the authorities need to understand the orders they are issuing. A patient might need 60 litres of oxygen which is delivered on HFNO (High flow nasal oxygen machine). Does that mean that other patients should only get one litre each?” </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">To overcome the oxygen shortage, the state is diverting industrial oxygen to hospitals, while the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has capped the prices of medical oxygen and oxygen cylinders.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s press statement said: “The government is committed to uninterrupted supply of Medical Oxygen especially in the times of pandemic. Oxygen Inhalation (Medicinal Gas) is a scheduled formulation, covered under the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM).”</p><div class="wp-block-group" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="wp-block-group has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 20px 30px 1px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p class="has-text-align-center" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What the </strong></em><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">NPPA has said</em></strong></p><ol style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px 0px 20px 40px; padding: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="a"><li style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Cap the ex- factory price of liquid medical oxygen at the</em></strong> <strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">manufacturers</em></strong>‘<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> end at Rs 15.22/CUM exclusive of GST</em></strong></li><li style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Further cap the ex-factory cost of Medical Oxygen Cylinder at the fillers’ end at Rs 25.71/CUM exclusive of GST (existing Ceiling Price is ₹17.49/CUM), subject to transportation cost fixation at state level, for six months. </em></strong></li><li style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The existing rate for contracts of state governments for oxygen purchase, as applicable, shall continue, in consumer interest.</em></strong></li></ol></div></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This sudden shortage of medical oxygen and even some necessary drugs is making the city’s fight against COVID more difficult by the day. “The administration is simply not prepared to handle this health crisis,” says Dr Ranade. The numbers are rising in Pune because patients from other parts of Pune district and other regions are coming to the city for medical treatment.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dr Jadhav adds that they have taken in patients coming in from areas like Maval, especially people who cannot afford treatment at private hospitals. (Dr Jadhav’s hospital is located in Talegaon, about 40 km from Pune. Talegaon comes under Maval taluka which is approximately 50-55 km from Pune. )</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I have been in the business of supplying medical oxygen for five years now,” says Zakir Shaikh, a medical oxygen supplier in Maval taluka. “The companies that manufacture the gas have hiked rates and that has a cascading effect. We would get oxygen supply for Rs 22/23 cubic metre earlier, now it is in the range of Rs 75. In other words, whereas we would get a cylinder for Rs 75 earlier, now it has gone up to Rs 550.”</p><h2 style="border: 0px; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Options available</strong></h2><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hospitals in Pune district get their oxygen supply from the Chakan MIDC (Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation) which procures oxygen from companies like Linde, Indian Oxygen Ltd and Inox. It comes in the form of compressed gas in small, medium and jumbo-sized cylinders.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Liquid medical oxygen is also available in microcylinders. Then there are oxygen concentrators, machines that concentrate the oxygen available in the atmosphere and it is about 85% pure.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“The medical oxygen that we use is of two types,” explains Dr Jadhav. “One is liquid medical oxygen. A vaporiser is attached to liquid medical oxygen which is then converted into gaseous form and administered to patients. The second is from cylinders in gas form.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The medium-sized cylinders can provide oxygen for a couple of hours, whereas the small ones are used in ambulances as they have the capacity of providing oxygen for just about an hour. Jumbo cylinders have a capacity of 7,000 litre and can provide supply for 7-8 hours.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">However, this jumbo cylinder has a problem. “There is reduced pressure or flow of gas once the level drops to 1000 litres. Then you have to send it for refilling. But before refilling, the cylinder has to be emptied to zero level pressure. We had brought this to the notice of the companies, but they said the residual oxygen remaining in the cylinder is of no use to anyone,” says Dr Jadhav. </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Oxygen concentrators, which cost approximately Rs 50,000, can be used for patients who are suffering from mild-moderate symptoms of the viral disease and require 2-4 litres of oxygen per minute. These concentrators can be used where field hospitals are set up, or in medical camps, or in areas where it is difficult to transport cylinders. But big hospitals require cylinders or an in-house liquid oxygen cylinder plant. </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ventilators, bipap machines and HFNO machines are other important requirements for the treatment of COVID patients. “Out of 100 patients on ventilators, only 30 persons survive,” says Dr Ranade. “The HFNO machine is an option between regular oxygen supply and ventilators. They are also available at one third (approximately Rs 3 lakhs) the cost of ventilator machines (approximately around Rs 8-10 lakhs). It doesn’t require a big set up either, when compared to ventilators. I think it is much more prudent to invest in HFNOs.” </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Bipap machine, with its cost ranging from Rs 40,000 to Rs 4 lakh, can be used before the patient is put on ventilator. It can supply 15-30 litres of oxygen per minute. But this has its own limitations.</p><h2 style="border: 0px; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Line of treatment</strong></h2><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“External oxygen supply is needed when the SPO2 level in your body drops below 95,” says Dr Amitabh Chatterjee, part of the four-member doctors’ team managing a free COVID Care Centre under Lonavala Municipal Council. “Patients are put on ventilator only in extreme cases when oxygen level drops below 80. We also use a bipap machine which has an oxygen mask.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The bipap machine is a small one that forces oxygen into your body. However, as Dr Chatterjee explains, doctors have to ensure that the patient doesn’t have any epistaxis (bleeding of nose), or any secretions from the lungs, stomach or hypertension. In such cases, excess pressure is created on the veins. These secretions may enter the lungs and they can get ruptured. “We have to take into account the contra-indications of the bipap machine,” he said.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Lonavla COVID Care Centre doesn’t have a ventilator and critical cases are referred to a Dedicated COVID Health Centre (DCHC). “We have 65 beds and we are mostly treating mild symptomatic patients whose oxygen saturation levels are between 90 and 95,” says Dr. Chatterjee. “If their saturation levels drop further we refer them to the nearest DCHC and if beds are not available there, then we refer them to YCM Hospital in Pimpri-Chinchwad and Sassoon Hospital in Pune.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Given the problems of finding a hospital bed, many patients in Pune are now going in for home isolation, though doctors insist that this has to be under medical supervision. Dr Ranade, an advocate of home isolation, adds a cautionary note. “The patients need to follow protocols; they should be reporting to the doctors about their symptoms on Day 1, Day 2 and what they should do on Day 3. If all these protocols are followed, then the safety factor for the patient increases. Otherwise patients think they are doing fine till Day 7 and then their condition deteriorates rapidly. We are losing more patients because of that.” </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dr Jadhav, who is himself recovering from COVID adds, “I have currently been advised strict bed rest. But the situation is such that our entire health infrastructure is on stretchers.”</p><h2 style="border: 0px; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The way forward</strong></h2><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Most big hospitals are now toying with the idea of setting up a liquid medical oxygen plant to tide over the shortage. The Dr Bhausaheb Sardesai Rural Hospital in Talegaon has set up a six tonne plant. “Our liquid medical oxygen plant has been operational for 10 days now,” says Dr Jadhav. “Earlier, we had to scramble to source jumbo oxygen cylinder. Now that the Central Government has eased the process for COVID hospitals to set up their own liquid oxygen plants, we could set up one for our hospital. With this, we are thinking of increasing oxygen-equipped beds. Our current bed capacity is 350.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital in Pune also has its own liquid medical oxygen plant. But what deters other hospitals from setting up this facility is the question of what happens after the pandemic. “What should hospitals do with the excess supply then? It’s a huge investment. Will the authorities help us out?” wonders Dr Ranade. </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">For now, the Central Government has allowed industrial oxygen to be used by hospitals and it has also asked for creation of green corridors for the smooth movement of vehicles carrying the gas.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Oxygen supplier Shaikh agrees that the scenario now is marginally better as the supply of industrial oxygen has been reserved for use of hospitals. “We are supplying to nine hospitals in Maval taluka and to patients who are at home,” says Shaikh. “But people manning the toll booths don’t give precedence to our vehicles despite the board of ‘emergency services’ displayed on them.”</p></div>Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868176614235328658.post-46847490977510653392020-08-14T16:36:00.001+05:302020-08-14T16:36:17.247+05:30 Pune: Destroying a hill to build a road of dubious necessity<p> This is the second article that I wrote for www.citizenmatters.in </p><div class="entry-content clearfix" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><figure class="entry-thumbnail" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; max-width: 1030px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/07/11111802/IMG-20191121-WA0013-678x381.jpg" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; width: 678.047px;" title="VetalTekadi" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4; margin: 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The lush slopes of the Vetal Tekadi in Pune that is a popular destination for the city's hikers and walkers. Pic courtesy: Deccan Gymkhana Parisar Samiti</figcaption></figure><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) turns the original 2006 EIA notification on its head. While the earlier notification had made environment impact assessment a precondition for any project to get started, the new draft allows industries to get started on their projects in violation of EIA norms and then seek clearance. And Pune’s green activists are adding their voice to the countrywide criticism of the new draft.</p><div class="mh-content-ad" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 20px 10px 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="background-color: #f7f7f7; border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-size: 8pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Advertisement</span> <ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3062077995299223" data-ad-slot="8119762784" data-adsbygoogle-status="done" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 100px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 680px;"><ins id="aswift_0_expand" style="background-color: transparent; border: none; display: inline-table; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 100px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; visibility: visible; width: 680px;"><ins id="aswift_0_anchor" style="background-color: transparent; border: none; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 100px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; visibility: visible; width: 680px;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" data-google-container-id="a!1" data-google-query-id="CLj_hv_FmusCFczSjwodq_0IcQ" data-load-complete="true" frameborder="0" height="100" hspace="0" id="aswift_0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="aswift_0" sandbox="allow-forms allow-pointer-lock allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation" scrolling="no" src="https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-3062077995299223&output=html&h=100&slotname=8119762784&adk=331716555&adf=3843924880&w=680&lmt=1597403024&psa=1&guci=2.2.0.0.2.2.0.0&format=680x100&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcitizenmatters.in%2Fpune-eia-controversy-over-bal-bharati-paud-phata-link-road-through-vetal-tekadi-19557&flash=0&wgl=1&dt=1597403023981&bpp=22&bdt=220&idt=61&shv=r20200810&cbv=r20190131&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3Debadfd3b508b57f8%3AT%3D1597402752%3AS%3DALNI_MbJV2rlVp-8cmfEfWJec-KLrf8SAQ&correlator=7420584337940&frm=20&pv=2&ga_vid=1391809188.1597402709&ga_sid=1597403024&ga_hid=994286138&ga_fc=1&iag=0&icsg=786346&dssz=17&mdo=0&mso=0&u_tz=330&u_his=4&u_java=0&u_h=768&u_w=1366&u_ah=728&u_aw=1366&u_cd=24&u_nplug=3&u_nmime=4&adx=160&ady=776&biw=1349&bih=625&scr_x=0&scr_y=0&eid=42530557%2C42530559%2C42530588&oid=3&pvsid=2484292349594590&pem=602&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fcitizenmatters.in%2F%3Fs%3DAmbika%2BShaligram&rx=0&eae=0&fc=640&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C1366%2C0%2C1366%2C728%2C1366%2C625&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7CoeEbr%7C&abl=CS&pfx=0&fu=8192&bc=31&ifi=1&uci=a!1&btvi=1&fsb=1&xpc=cbWPhGuIh8&p=https%3A//citizenmatters.in&dtd=76" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 100px; left: 0px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 680px;" vspace="0" width="680"></iframe></ins></ins></ins></div></div><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pune’s fight is against the Bal Bharati-Paud Phata link road that cuts through the Law College hill. The justification given by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is that this 2.1 km link road will help in decongesting Law College Road (and Senapati Bapat Road, Ganeshkhind Road) .</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But the citizens’ group which has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Bombay High Court against the proposed link road are not buying the argument. </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Bal Bharati-Paud Phata (BB-PP) link road was first proposed in 1987. Citizen groups and environmentalists have always opposed the project as the road passes through Vetal Tekadi (Vetal hill) and the slopes of Law College Tekadi.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Vetal Tekadi could be considered the green lungs of Pune city with its hill slopes sprouting dense vegetation patches, open scrubs, deciduous forests and plantation areas. The tekadi is a popular hiking and walking destination for Pune’s citizens.<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </em></strong></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The road cutting through this tekadi was approved under Section 205 of Bombay Municipal Corporation Act (BPMC) in 2005. But no work has happened so far on the road link, which on the date of approval was estimated to cost Rs 24 crore.</p><h3 style="border: 0px; font-size: 1.25rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">High Court verdict</strong></h3><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In 2006, Maj Gen SCN Jatar (retd), President Emeritus of Pune’s Nagarik Chetana Manch (NCM) filed the PIL challenging the approval in the Bombay High Court, which in 2016 struck down the construction. The NCM, on its website says the High Court ruled that the authority did not “apply its mind to the environmental aspect while approving it.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hence, the NCM also demanded that if the road construction has to progress, the PMC must apply its mind to the environmental aspect and establish the need for the road.</p><blockquote class="wp-block-quote" style="border: none; color: #666666; font-size: 0.9375rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 5px 0px 5px 15px; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color" style="border: 0px; color: #0693e3; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“The PMC acceded to our request and agreed to consult with the Manch, Parisar, Pedestrian First and Centre for Development Studies and Activities (comprising the Expert Committee formed by the Commissioner in June 2007) at every stage of planning. A member each from Pedestrian First and NCM are members of the Tender Committee representing the Expert Committee.”</span></p><cite style="border: 0px; color: #9a9b97; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color" style="border: 0px; color: #0693e3; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Nagarik Chetana Manch, Pune</span></cite></blockquote><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Finally, the PMC gave the contract for EIA to VK:e, a company which promotes sustainability and has Green Building Certifications, International Certifications and does Environmental Clearance and EIA Studies. The report on traffic study was given to Sustainancy Consultants, which works in the areas of Urban Transport Planning, Information Technology<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">, </em></strong>in January 2019. Both reports were to be submitted in 20 weeks. </p><div class="wp-block-group" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Maj Gen Jatar, a member of Expert Committee, pointed out that the BB-PP link road would cover:</p><ul style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; list-style: square; margin: 0px 0px 20px 40px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Survey No 44 (part of this is Hill Top and Hill Slope zone)</li><li style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Survey Nos 49+50+51+52+53 (Deemed Forest, Hill Top, Hill Slope zone in DP map, but the Deputy Conservator of Forests said this was Deemed Forest in his letter to the Collector in 2001)</li><li style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Survey no 97 Law College campus (public, semi-public zone)</li><li style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Survey no 150 Bhandarkar Institute campus (public, semi-public zone)</li><li style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Survey no 94 (Reserved Forest land, but only the last tiny bit).</li></ul></div></div><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“The alignment skirts around a hill starting from Bal Bharati on Senapati Bapat Road and ends at Paud Junction on Karve Road,” explained Jatar.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.25rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-19554" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/07/11111829/VetalTekadiPune1.jpg" srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/07/11111829/VetalTekadiPune1.jpg 1024w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/07/11111829/VetalTekadiPune1-300x225.jpg 300w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/07/11111829/VetalTekadiPune1-768x576.jpg 768w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/07/11111829/VetalTekadiPune1-678x509.jpg 678w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/07/11111829/VetalTekadiPune1-326x245.jpg 326w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/07/11111829/VetalTekadiPune1-80x60.jpg 80w" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" /><figcaption style="border: 0px; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4; margin: 5px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Activists say the link road will block a major aquifer that lies below the Vetal hills. Pic courtesy: Deccan Gymkhana Parisar Samiti</figcaption></figure><h3 style="border: 0px; font-size: 1.25rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Environmental impact</strong></h3><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Only one public participation meeting was called, which did not cover all the localities, where the stakeholders are residing,” said Jatar when asked about the public participation meetings called by VK:e. “Both the environment and traffic consultants gave their findings in brief and the status of their reports. The consultants had assured the attendees that their suggestions would be considered after discussion with the PMC. This was not done.” </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There was a clear divide during the meeting with the local councillors and their few supporters making a fervent pitch for the road on the ground that the Law College Road’s volume to capacity ratio had been exceeded and that residents staying in the area were suffering from acute air pollution.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">However, a majority of citizens contended that constructing a road here would cause long term damage to both environment and the water aquifers. This proposed road will plug the recharge area that is contributing the water to the aquifer, they argue.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">While Pune’s water supply is not dependent on this acquifer, activists argue that the groundwater table will be impacted if the road comes through.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sushma Date, a member of the Deccan Gymkhana Parisar Samiti, had attended the public meeting of EIA. Speaking on the aquifer issue, Sushma said: “Himanshu Kulkarni of ACWADAM (Advanced Center for Water Resources Development and Management) has studied the groundwater levels in the city, and they have also released their study of 10 years. The study says that out of the five main aquifers that supplies water to Pune, the largest is below the Vetal Tekadi-Chatushringi complex. So if a road is constructed above the aquifer, groundwater levels will be impacted.” </p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.25rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-19556" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/07/11111739/PuneTekadiRoadMap-1024x653.jpg" srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/07/11111739/PuneTekadiRoadMap-1024x653.jpg 1024w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/07/11111739/PuneTekadiRoadMap-300x191.jpg 300w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/07/11111739/PuneTekadiRoadMap-768x490.jpg 768w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/07/11111739/PuneTekadiRoadMap.jpg 1280w" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" /><figcaption style="border: 0px; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4; margin: 5px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The road of contention. Thogh only 2.1km long, its necessity is being questioned by activists.</figcaption></figure><h3 style="border: 0px; font-size: 1.25rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Road will only worsen pollution</strong></h3><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The activists also fear that the link road would lead to more traffic and pollution. “It is a well recognised principle that if you widen and build more roads, traffic increases proportionately, it doesn’t reduce,” said Sushma Date.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sushma also pointed out that if this road is constructed, there will be a new bottleneck at Khandekar Chowk. On Paud Phata, Pune Metro’s construction work is going on and the new road will lead to more congestion. Therefore this whole argument about cutting down on travel time is not correct. “You will probably save 2-3 minutes and not 10-15 minutes as claimed by PMC. And for those 2-3 minutes, you are destroying a hill,” she said.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There are also concerns that the link road will increase construction activity in the areas it passes through. “That is precisely our apprehension because roads invariably bring about development of the area i.e. building construction,” said Jatar. “Presently, there is a ban on construction activities in this area being partly forest. However, these restrictions can be easily lifted once the road comes into being.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“As of today, the alignment passes through a deemed forest, which is a no-construction zone. Which means the road cannot be constructed without the approval of the Government of India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Expert Committee sent its views to the PMC in January 2020 but “there has been no response probably due to the pandemic,” added Jatar. Though V G Kulkarni of PMC’s Road Department said “the EIA report of BB-PP hasn’t come yet and no public participation meetings have been planned for another five or six months.” </p><figure class="wp-block-pullquote" style="background: none; border: 0px rgb(6, 147, 227); font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 3em 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><blockquote class="has-text-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color" style="border: none; color: #0693e3; font-size: 0.9375rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 5px 0px 5px 15px; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 22px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“<em style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">If this road is constructed, there will be a new bottleneck at Khandekar Chowk…You will probably save 2-3 minutes and not 10-15 minutes as claimed by PMC. And for those 2-3 minutes, you are destroying a hill</em>“</p><cite style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">Sushma Date, Deccan Gymkhana Parisar Samiti</cite></blockquote></figure><h3 style="border: 0px; font-size: 1.25rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Significance of the hills</strong></h3><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“The tekadis are a critical piece of urban green space housing a truck load of biodiversity, which, in turn provides the citizens a host of regulatory and cultural ecosystem services,” says Ashish Nerlekar, a graduate student, Veldman lab Department of Ecosystem Science & Management, Texas A&M University, USA. “Though perception and motivations for afforestation have surely changed over time. It started with a timber focussed motivation in colonial times, to a forage/shade provisioning phase post-independence, to a more native tree plantations phase in the last few decades.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jatar says that the proposed road passes through natural areas and habitats supporting its specific flora and fauna like hill slopes, dense vegetation patches, open scrubs, deciduous forests and plantation areas. </p><div class="wp-block-group has-very-light-gray-background-color has-background" style="background-color: #eeeeee; border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Many rare and endangered species exist on Law College hill and in the surrounding areas of Vetal Hill:</p><ul style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; list-style: square; margin: 0px 0px 20px 40px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There are 49 species of flora like Babul, Hivar, Chandan, Khair, Medhashingi, Moi, Gliricindia, Subabul, Kadulimb, Erand, Badam, Bamboo, Gulmohor, Jambhul and Bartond</li><li style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There are 45 species of fauna and some of these are butterflies, reptiles and mammals.</li><li style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There are 134 species of birds in the area.</li></ul></div></div><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jatar is sceptical of the mitigation measures PMC will have to undertake in view of trees having to cut to make way for the road.</p><div class="wp-block-group" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="wp-block-group" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="wp-block-group has-very-light-gray-background-color has-background" style="background-color: #eeeeee; border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Some facts</strong></p><ul style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; list-style: square; margin: 0px 0px 20px 40px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The number of trees to be cut is 1,445 according to this study</li><li style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Five times this number i.e. 7,225 trees would need to be planted as compensatory afforestation</li><li style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Additionally, Schedule I of the Trees Rules 2009 mandates planting of one tree at 10 meters interval on both sides of the road with a suitable hedge on the median. Thus 420 additional trees would have to be planted.</li></ul></div></div></div></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jatar also points out that as per National Green Tribunal directions, these trees are to be in the vicinity of the area from where trees have been cut. It appears a formidable task not only to find suitable places to plant but also to ensure that the trees would survive. PMC’s record in this regard is wanting. There are no specific directions in the mitigation plan for suitable locations. </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Given all these issues, is the link road really necessary? The unanimous answer from environmentalists is no, who insist that the city needs to improve its public transport system instead. “From what I have read so far, I am yet to see a valid, logical, and ecologically sound argument to have this road through the hills,” said Nerlekar. “A comprehensive, science driven understanding is needed to figure out alternatives”. </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“We have suggested many times to improve the Pune Mahangar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPL) bus service, to include more feeder bus services to operate in lanes, but to no avail,” added Sushma Date.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">True, there are other roads in Pune which are causing worse environmental pollution. However, there is no hill near these to encroach upon. “Pollution can be brought under control in a sustained manner only if public transport is improved,” echoed Jatar. “However the aim of our ruling elite is to spend large sums of money in the name so-called development which are not in public interest”.</p></div>Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868176614235328658.post-57021083913059835452020-08-14T16:32:00.001+05:302020-08-14T16:32:22.233+05:30 Getting cyclists back on the roads of Pune needs more than just directive<p> I had written this article for Citizen Matters website. Read on...</p><div class="entry-content clearfix" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><figure class="entry-thumbnail" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; max-width: 1030px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/06/18165749/PuneCyclin1-Rajeev-Khandekar-at-the-back-with-his-young-and-old-cyclist-friends-678x381.jpg" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; width: 678.047px;" title="PuneCyclin1 Rajeev Khandekar at the back with his young and old cyclist friends" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4; margin: 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Rajeev Khandekar at the back with his young and old cyclist friends. Pic: Rajeev Khandekar</figcaption></figure><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It’s called Mission Begin Again, Maharashtra’s plans to slowly remove lockdown restrictions and get life back to a new kind of normal. And one directive issued under this Mission, which came into effect from June 3<sup style="border: 0px; font-size: 0.625rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">rd</sup>, has brought cheer to Pune’s burgeoning cycling community.</p><div class="mh-content-ad" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 20px 10px 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="background-color: #f7f7f7; border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-size: 8pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; 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border-width: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 100px; left: 0px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 680px;" vspace="0" width="680"></iframe></ins></ins></ins></div></div><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Phase I of the Mission lists the outdoor physical activities that citizens can engage in, amongst which cycling features prominently. “People are actively encouraged to use cycling as a form of physical exercise as it automatically ensures social distancing,” reads the directive issued by the state’s department of Revenue and Forest, Disaster Management and Relief and Rehabilitation.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The regular hub of Pune cyclists, the ‘Necklace route’ — covering the area from Savitribai Phule Pune University Road-Pashan lake-Chandni Chowk top — came to life soon after. “Cycling is a fun, enjoyable group activity and yet you don’t come very close to each other,” said Rajeev Khandekar, a businessman, who prefers leisure cycling over competitive riding. </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The ‘City of Bicycles’, one moniker of old Pune, is well deserved because of its topography. The city and its surrounding areas, with its flat roads, hillocks and ghat sections ensures a variety of terrain that can be explored by beginners, fitness freaks, week-end cyclists and others.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“To gain speed, we need flat roads and the Pune-Ahmednagar Road is a good example,” said Rohit Dandekar, who serves in the Merchant Navy. “For climbs, we can go to Khandala ghat and Sinhagad fort. If we want to do smaller climbs, then the new 6-km Katraj tunnel road is good option. There are numerous forts and hillocks. Depending on your practise intensity, you can make use of any of the terrains. Even the Pune-Bengaluru Highway is good for cycling. At least we haven’t been scared off the roads by bigger vehicles”. </p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“It’s better to ride in groups on highways,” cautioned Nikhil Kale, an IT-Robotics engineer. “Often heavy vehicles like trucks and trailers brush past you. We now share live location on WhatsApp with our buddy riders so that we can keep track of each other.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">On the city roads, Nikhil says the cycle is the best mode of commute. “My office is about 10 km from where I stay. I cycle to work, twice or thrice a week, covering the distance in 30-40 minutes. In peak traffic during the evening, a cycle moves much faster than a car which takes 45-60 minutes to cover the same distance.” Kale was preparing for the Copenhagen Ironman competition scheduled for August this year but which has been called off because of the pandemic.</p><h3 style="border: 0px; font-size: 1.25rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Cycling infrastructure incomplete</strong></h3><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Maitreyi Bokil, a Sports Nutritionist and Exercise Physiologist, whose dad is a trauma surgeon, was not permitted to cycle as a kid. “I bought my first cycle last year, when I signed up for Goa Ironman 70.3<em style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">.</em> Now I have overcome my fears, though it would be great if there were no stray dogs on the roads.” </p><div class="wp-block-group has-very-light-gray-background-color has-background" style="background-color: #eeeeee; border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><pre class="wp-block-preformatted" style="border: 1px solid rgb(235, 235, 235); font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; margin-top: 0px; padding: 20px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ironman is a brand and it holds triathlon events worldwide. The first 70.3 Ironman in India was held in Goa in October 2019. It includes 1.9km swimming in open water body like sea, lakes etc, 90 km cycling and 21.1 km running – all events have to be completed by the participant one after the other within a cut off time period. The full Ironman includes 3.9km swimming, 180 km cycling and 42.1 km running. The event in Goa was half Ironman since the duration for the events was half of the full Ironman. But the event is known as 70.3 because that’s the total distance of the three sports in miles. The finishers are called Ironman</em>.</pre></div></div><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The enthusiasm of these bicycle enthusiasts is contagious. But Pune still has some way to go before it can create a safe, city-wide cycling infrastructure. Well laid out cycle tracks were part of the Comprehensive Bicycle Master Plan approved by the PMC in December 2017. Simultaneously, a Public Bicycle Sharing (PBS) plan was also approved.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A citywide network of cycle tracks and painted cycle lanes was planned and the Urban Cycling Design Guidelines were approved as a part of the cycle <a href="http://punecycleplan.wordpress.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #0367bf; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">plan</a>. Even a bicycle department was created and MoUs were signed with various PBS vendors. However, the shared bicycles, available for nominal rent, were mostly withdrawn by 2019.</p><div class="wp-block-group has-very-light-gray-background-color has-background" style="background-color: #eeeeee; border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><pre class="wp-block-preformatted" style="border: 1px solid rgb(235, 235, 235); font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; margin-top: 0px; padding: 20px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mobike, Ofo, Pedl and Yulu were the vendors for the Public Bike Sharing programme. Mobike has shut down all international operations except in China. At the moment, Yulu is the only operator in the city in select pockets. Vandalism and the increase in price for bike sharing were some of the reasons why the experiment didn’t succeed</em>.</pre></div></div><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I noticed that some users were indisciplined,” said Khandekar who had availed the shared bicycle service when it was functional. “They wouldn’t park the cycle at designated parking lots. I heard of an incident where the lock of one cycle was thrown into the front yard of a bungalow and the cycle was stolen. It was a good initiative, but citizens misused it.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Of the proposed 300 km of dedicated cycle tracks that is to come up in the city, only 100 kms, in different city segments, is ready as of now. The lockdown has further delayed creation of more cycle tracks. “The state government has said that only 33 per cent of the budget can be spent this year on salaries and only on emergency work,” said V G Kulkarni of PMC’s Road Department, under which the cycle department comes.</p><h3 style="border: 0px; font-size: 1.25rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Poorly designed</strong></h3><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But even before the lockdown stopped all activity, the manner in which the cycle tracks were laid out disappointed the city’s growing cycling community. “The tracks that have come up in parts of the city are not equipped for the cycles that we use,” said Kaustubh Dandekar. “I think the civic body has good intentions, but there are certain aspects which are not conducive for cyclists,” added Bokil.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-rounded" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.25rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-19071" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/06/18165645/PuneCycling2Kastubh-Dandekar-c-with-his-fellow-cyclists-on-SB-Road-1024x682.jpg" srcset="https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/06/18165645/PuneCycling2Kastubh-Dandekar-c-with-his-fellow-cyclists-on-SB-Road-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/06/18165645/PuneCycling2Kastubh-Dandekar-c-with-his-fellow-cyclists-on-SB-Road-300x200.jpg 300w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/06/18165645/PuneCycling2Kastubh-Dandekar-c-with-his-fellow-cyclists-on-SB-Road-768x512.jpg 768w, https://images.citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/06/18165645/PuneCycling2Kastubh-Dandekar-c-with-his-fellow-cyclists-on-SB-Road.jpg 1280w" style="border-radius: 9999px; border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" /><figcaption style="border: 0px; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4; margin: 5px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Kastubh Dandekar (centre) with his fellow cyclists on SB Road. Pic Ambika Shaligram</figcaption></figure><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">For instance, cycling tracks on footpaths have smaller cement bollards which were erected as a part of the new road design under Pune Smart City Development Corporation Ltd. They restrict two wheelers from riding on footpaths and cycle tracks. But the cyclists feel that there should be more space between the bollards. Right now, either the handlebar or the pedals get caught between the bollards. Cyclists then have to get off and cross over and then continue cycling.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Riders often have to get down and hoist their cycle up and cross over those small columns,” said Rohit. “Serious cyclists don’t want to lose their momentum and it becomes difficult to negotiate the tracks. We want to share our inputs with the authorities instead of just posting pictures and submitting petitions.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In his childhood, Kaustubh remembers renting cycles for 5 paisa, 10 paisa and 25 paise depending on their frame size. “To own a cycle was a matter of prestige then. Now, we have many modes for transportation, but I still prefer to cycle, for exercise, enjoyment or for taking part in competitions. I have teamed up with my brother and friends to take part in different competitive events like Deccan Cliffhanger and Ultra Spice race.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">One unintended fallout of the cycling tracks is the inconvenience it is causing to pedestrians. Pune was one of the examples recently mentioned in the Union Urban Development ministry’s directive to states to create more pedestrian and bicyle-only spaces. Construction of the Pune Metro includes widening of footpaths.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A case in point is the arterial Fergusson College Road which has now become narrower with wide footpaths, including cycle tracks, new bus stops, benches and all, lending a lazy vibe to the otherwise crowded road, teeming with traffic of two-wheelers, buses, autorickshaws and cars.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Whenever we step out to walk on FC Road, I find that vendors have taken over the footpaths,” says Meenal Kaore, who stays at Deccan Gymkhana. “In fact it’s difficult to spot where the cycle track begins or ends.”</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I don’t know from where the cycle track begins or where it ends…it’s not continuous,” added Ketaki Gadre a resident of the area.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">So hope remains that post-pandemic, Pune will get back its old sobriquet of “City of cycles”</p></div>Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868176614235328658.post-34699832524025014252020-06-21T19:13:00.003+05:302020-06-21T19:13:25.210+05:30How The First Parents, a technology platform, provides support during pregnancy and parenthood<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>By Ambika
Shaligram</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Experiencing
motherhood made Honey Bajaj realise major gaps in the support system,
especially in India. Bajaj, who heads special projects at the Managing
Trustee’s Office at Tata Trusts, realised that there is an urgent need for a
verified evidence based platform to empower the pregnancy to parenthood
journey. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hence, she
started The First Parents, a unique technology platform for parents and parents
to be. Here’s more from Bajaj…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Can you tell
us how your personal experiences of being a mother and an innovator helped in
shaping The First Parents?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I have been
an innovator for over a decade and I have had the opportunity to work and
invent baby incubators for pre-term and low birth weight babies, rotatable
forceps for helping in operative vaginal delivery or more commonly known as
forceps delivery at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston and data
driven platforms for improving maternal and infant mortality for the Public Health Department of Maharashtra.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But being a
first time mom I realised that there was so much more to the journey of pregnancy
and motherhood than I had anticipated. As a designer and innovator I empathised
with mothers while inventing platforms and products but experiencing motherhood
made me realise major gaps in the support system, especially in India. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
hypothesis became crystal clear when I visited my native town Siliguri during
my postpartum months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">To my
surprise over 60 per cent of mothers were denied access to basic and pressing
information because of lack of healthcare experts in their vicinity, which was
quite easily accessible for me in Mumbai. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">There was almost no awareness of the
importance of experts like Lactation consultant, Nutritionist, Urogynecologist,
Sleep therapist, etc. Moreover there was negligible counselling by OBYGN’s over pros and cons of natural birth vs cesarean for expecting mothers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Lockdown
and the COVID-19 Pandemic increased further anxiety and stress on expecting
mothers and first time parents. I started receiving frequent calls and messages
on social media platforms to help them with their issues and concerns. After my
research through community platforms etc., I noticed a pattern of mothers
looking for answers to their problems by asking another mother rather than
reaching out to an expert and not realising that each pregnancy and parenthood
journey is different. An expert can give a more evidence based solution
to the problem being faced. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Lockdown
and the inability to access experts in tier 2, tier 3 cities helped me shape
The First Parents. I realised that there is an urgent need for a verified
evidence based platform to empower the pregnancy to parenthood journey. Hence,
I started The First Parents with the intent that babies do n<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWN2556iGyzVAzHx5Xrqu95_1mNXIID6XbX9L-re6QKKoOuoreCDlmW9RedwYmRMTgxjisqUiNTES3x-A2NA1PNHk9PIFXw1G6icMJXkZTQ4IlSWDbe727NpxzNkvQB1oW-nWaNLAzuY/s1600/IMG-20200621-WA0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="644" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWN2556iGyzVAzHx5Xrqu95_1mNXIID6XbX9L-re6QKKoOuoreCDlmW9RedwYmRMTgxjisqUiNTES3x-A2NA1PNHk9PIFXw1G6icMJXkZTQ4IlSWDbe727NpxzNkvQB1oW-nWaNLAzuY/s320/IMG-20200621-WA0002.jpg" width="237" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Honey Bajaj</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
ot come with a
manual but we do. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Can you tell
us about the sessions planned for mothers? The health and reproductive system
of Indian women has been affected by years of malnourishment and unhygienic
conditions in which we live and work in. Do these sessions address concerns
that are unique to Indian women? </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Yes, The
First Parents is focused on sessions for Indian women or women of Indian
origin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have tried to take a holistic
approach to the Wellness Sessions for Moms and Moms to be by covering as many
topics possible. In each session we demystify traditional and cultural myths
and validate them with scientific evidence. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Here is the list of completed session and upcoming sessions:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">COMPLETED
SESSIONS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">• How to
take care of your baby during COVID for mother's about to deliver or have
infants under 6 months<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">• Postpartum
Body & Wellness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">• Hospital
Bag & Essentials<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">• Prenatal
diet and fitness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">• Prenatal
Yoga for a Healthy Pregnancy <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">• Lactation
Basics<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">• Nutrition
requirements during lactation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">• Postnatal
depression <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">• Skin &
hair care<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">• Speech and
Language Development<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">• Nutrition
for 6 months to 5years<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">• Baby Sleep
Therapy and Management<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">• Dental
Health for Pregnant Women <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">• Importance
of both Natural birth and C-section or Natural birth vs Operative vaginal
delivery using Forceps. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">• Importance
of play. How families can cope with COVID-19 through Play?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">• Importance
of Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy in the Treatment of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
in Women especially during after Delivery suffering from urinary
incontinence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">UPCOMING SESSIONS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">• Breastfeeding
in the First Hour, its Importance and how it is in the mother's hands.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">• Male
Infertility in India<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">• Nutrition
for PCOD/PCOS and pregnant women.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">• Importance
of primary vaccinations for newborn during COVID-19 pandemic and precautions
for Neonates during COVID-19<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">• Sleep
Disorders in Children and importance of sleep therapy for improvements.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">• Addressing
issues of managing growth and development of toddlers age 1- 4years<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>How often
will you plan the sessions on Zoom and Instagram? Will it continue beyond the
lockdown and COVID-19, because access to medical healthcare is a big issue in
India?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The lockdown
and COVID-19 put severe restrictions on families and their ability to access
high quality prenatal care, postpartum care and paediatric support.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>India is projected to record the highest
number of births in the nine months since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in
March, with more than 20 million babies expected to be born in the country
between March and December, according to a top UN body.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The First
Parents is a platform to provide step by step support during pregnancy and
parenthood and to give all mothers an equal opportunity and access to the best
healthcare experts. The lockdown became a catalyst for us as it enabled digital
visibility. Till date we keep saying the internet has connected the world but
the lockdown and constraints of COVID-19 truly connected the users and solution
providers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Yes, we plan
to continue beyond the lockdown and COVID-19 as a lot of 101 programmes and
expert assistance is required from pregnancy to parenthood in cities and towns
lacking specialist and super specialist for gynaecology and paediatric issues. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We plan the Zoom and Instagram sessions every
week. Moreover the sessions are available on our Instagram page (https://www.instagram.com/thefirstparents/),
YouTube and our website (http://thefirstparents.com/) for watching them in case
the participants could not attend the live session.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>What sort of feedback have you received so
far? Does it vary depending on the people living in a particular city/state and
the medical facilities available there? <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We started
in the second week of May with a ‘Wellness Event for Moms’ across India and in
just two weeks we received great feedback and validation and over 1900 moms
following us on Instagram till date. Thereafter, we launched our second event
the International Month and we have moms of Indian origin following us from
across the globe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Yes, the
feedback varies depending on the people living in particular city/state, the
medical facilities and access to experts available. It also depends a lot on
whether it’s a first time pregnancy or the second.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I am sharing
some of the feedback we received on our website from mothers and parents across
India. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Arty libang,
Itanagar: The topics on CS and normal delivery was very enlightening especially
for new to-be-mom like me. Also I cannot specify on just one topic that I would
like to attend. Almost all the upcoming sessions on before and after delivery,
parenting etc. would definitely prove beneficial. Therefore gladly looking
forward to it. Thank you<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Sveta
Chakrabarti, Bangalore: This is a much needed forum for us new mums to get
informed. How to take care of our LOs in today's generation. Where old advice
can sometimes be detrimental to the development of the baby… it's important for
new mums to have the power of information to do best for their babies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Makara
Jyothi, Coimbatore: Amazing @thefirstparents doing a beautiful session with
many experts... it's a eye opener for all the mommies during this covid time...
excellent topics and the event was going so nice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Would you
also be looking at non-technology ways of creating the awareness amongst new
mothers -- by holding physical workshops, sessions in Tier-II, Tier-III cities?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hopefully in
the future. But at the moment given the new normal we do not want to plan anything
which can increase exposure for expecting and new mothers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>You have
previously come up with Embrace Nest, an incubator, and also helped ASHA
workers. What other health issues can be solved through technology and design
interventions? Are you toying with some ideas? </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Thank you. I
personally feel the biggest challenge we are facing is COVID-19. There are a
lot of technology and design interventions which can be made to enable and map
vulnerable populations to COVID-19 like better contact tracing apps, data
driven health reports via individual health profiles, etc. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Unfortunately,
in India, the support system for pulmonary diseases and its awareness is
extremely low. The population suffering with comorbidities is extremely high
e.g. COPD, Asthma, Allergic Rhinitis, etc. and they are likely to be more
vulnerable to COVID-19. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I have been
working with my professor at MIT, Boston to develop a platform to detect
pulmonary diseases just using a simple smartphone via cough recordings. The
work is still under research and we hope we can release it soon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868176614235328658.post-31064241076085141102019-03-23T17:12:00.000+05:302023-07-01T11:30:17.745+05:30In the classroom called life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Sir, Sir, Sarla, Makarand
Deshpande's longest running play is going to be staged on Friday
evening in the city. The play opened in 2001 with Anurag Kashyap,
Sonali Kulkarni and Makarand. Over the years, Makarand wrote two more
parts. In the show at Pune, Sir, Sir...will have part one and a
portion from part two in it. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The play, which reopened
in 2012, now has Sanjay Dadhich, Faisal Rashid, Aahna Kumra and
Makarand playing the main roles. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Talking about the play,
Dadhich says, “I am playing Phanidhar, who is in love with Sarla.
Both of them and Keshav are Hindi literature students of Palekar Sir.
Sarla is in love with Palekar Sir, but he says that it's ethically
wrong and on his insistence, she gets married to another student.
Phanidhar is a little angry with Sir saying that he could have help
him win Sarla's love.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The play starts with a
dream, Phanidhar and Palekar Sir are talking about past memories. At
interval point, Sarla comes to meet Palekar Sir and then what happens
is the crux of the play. Interestingly, when the original play opened
to the public, Dadhich was a backstage artist. “At that time I was
very new and doing backstage. So it never struck me that I would
portray this character sometime in the future. I was happy that I was
associated with a great play,” he says.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">But he must have observed
something, we insist on knowing. Dadhich replies, “The intervening
period between the original and the play with the new cast was quite
long. If I had absorbed any nuances, I had forgotten by the time I
performed Phanidhar on stage.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Aahna Kumra, who is
currently performing Sarla hasn't watched Sonali Kulkarni as the
protagonist. Says she, “I haven't seen Sonali Kulkarni play Sarla
at that point of time. I wasn't in Mumbai then. But I know that she
and Anurag were fantastic in the play. Everyone who has watched the
play with the original cast have always praised the duo. So I am
extremely glad that I got to work in the play, in a role, which was
played by Sonali. Sonali is a fire-brand performer. Her understanding
of her character and as a woman in cinema is quite something. These
are the women we have learnt from.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">When asked about their
connection with individual characters, Kumra and Dadhich share their
thoughts. Kumra says, “I connected with Sarla immediately because
all of us have been through something like this. We have been in love
with our teachers or an older person, who we look up to. That
relationship is not sexual relationship; there is so much admiration
for that person that you want to spend your life with him. I share a
relationship like that with Makarand sir, with Naseer sir. There is a
certain love I get from their end as well. They are all about pushing
their students, encouraging them, giving them the right direction and
so on. I think that's the relationship Sarla shares with her
professor. I think this is a very real-life character. The marriage
bit and all is a part of the drama. As an audience, you will identify
with all the characters. You will say, 'F*** I have been like this at
that point of my life'.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Dadhich, who has acted in
movies like M S Dhoni: The Untold Story and Taare Zameen Par and
Netflix's Sacred Games says, “Everyone who has fallen in love, will
identify with Phanidhar. Especially, if it's a one-sided love.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The play also talks about
mentorship and both the lead actors profess their admiration for
their mentors, the people they look up too. Dadhich had met Makarand
after his class XII and wanted a role in play. Makarand asked him to
complete his graduation and then meet him. Meanwhile, Dadhich
assisted on films, worked on other jobs and when he told Makrand that
he was bored of assisting, the theatre veteran asked Dadhich to
concentrate on plays. “I am not a trained actor. So whatever I am
today is because of Makarand sir. I have been working with him for 15
years and he has given me good roles in good plays. He is very secure
actor and so is Aahna. Makarand sir is one of the best actors that we
have. He has written about 50 plays, and I think 25 plays can be
studied as classics,” adds Dadhich.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Kumra, of <i>Lipstick under
my burkha</i> fame, says that Naseer (Shah) Sir, Ratna (Pathak Shah)
ma'am and Makarand Deshpande are my three pillars in my adulthood,
who have taught me everything that I know. “ They taught me about
being disciplined on stage, being alert, how you change things, tune
things according to each one's performance, how give and take
happens. I have had fever, and I have done performance and I felt
absolutely okay. Or it might be freezing outside, but on stage you
feel the temperature is normal. These are things that you learn from
your mentors. You see them doing this day in and day out, and you
realise this is how it's done. I think theatre is very healing.” </span>
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
</div>
Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868176614235328658.post-41175552378513598242019-03-23T17:06:00.000+05:302023-07-01T18:07:34.233+05:30Knowing yourself<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Look within and you will
find yourself – this is the core of the work that Subhendu Bhandari
has done so far. The theatre artist, who is engaging with villagers
of </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Ramchandrapur, in Howrah
district, makes use of psychological analysis while teaching them to
get into the characters. He has brought the same skill-set and
analysis to share in the workshop on 'Psychological Acting and
Psychological Gesture' during the third edition of IAPAR Festival.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Talking about the
psychological aspect, Bhandari says, “Our theatre group, Amta
Parichay works with both kids and adults in rural areas. What we have
realised is that the children are expressive and emotionally rich. We
train them in physical theatre aspect so that they might take up
theatre, become artists, in the future. We take pains to ensure that
our interactions don't seem like they are attending school.” </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Bhandari and his team rely
on oral tradition, telling stories from Ram Jatra, Krishna Jatra,
peppering their tales with twists and character traits. “Suppose I
tell them to act like a Raja or a King, but most of them haven't seen
a king before, so how they will enact him? We tell them, 'A king is
very proud. He doesn't pay attention to others. This is seen in his
walk'. They get it instantly and enact it. Sometimes we tell them to
observe Punjabis for their demeanour and gait,” explains Bhandari.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The artist, who has
studied drama from Rabindra Bharati University, says that the rural
people also improvise when it comes to staging plays. If someone is
playing the character of Hanuman, he takes it upon himself to work on
his costume, using jute fabric for the tail and tucks it in a sari,
which he has folded and made short. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Bhandari reiterates that
we have a rich oral tradition of telling stories, of getting into the
skin of characters but since we haven't documented it, we have to
depend on Western writers and artists. “We have Ram Leela
tradition, which is at least 5,000 years old. The artists throw
themselves into the characters they are playing and then throw
themselves out when they are done. That's the physical and
psychological theory of acting. There is no documentation of this and
hence we look up to the works done by Western artists,” he adds. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">In his workshop, the
artist will rely on tales and stories in our lores, legends and
shared real life experiences. “How does your body respond when you
are ill? How it responds when you are happy? We want actors to get
involved and engaged with what they are feeling and then expressing
it. It's all shared life experiences that we dig into and make use of
in our exercise,” points out Bhandari.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Bhandari's play Ela Didi
was also staged in the city as a part of the IAPAR festival. The
Bangla play, which has Rituparna Biswas as protagonist Mukti,
focusses on the 'you'</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">buried under societal
expectations, prejudices and stereotypes. Often we are unaware of
what we can do, what our strengths are. The keyline is to find out
ourselves. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Ela didi is one
accomplished youngster, living in a village. She excels at studies,
arts, music, you name it. She is often held as an example before
other girls. Mukti is one such girl, whose parents want her to be
like Ela Didi. But Ela Didi elopes and gets married. Her marital life
turns out to be sour and she commits suicide. Then, Mukti and others
wonder what are they supposed to do? Does Mukti also need to die? At
this juncture, she remembers her elder brother's words, who keeps
telling her to 'be herself'. Mukti decides to write her story and go
from village to village telling it to everyone,” narrates Bhandari.
</span>
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">This play, which has been
staged 282 times so far, is a tool to make the youngsters speak, to offer
them hope. “We use Ela Didi as a tool for theatre therapy. We stage
this play for adolescents who often battle identity crisis. We
performed once in Tripura, and one student who had attempted suicide
earlier, came and told Rituparna Biswas, 'I will not take my life
now. Instead I will try to stand on my feet'. The student formed an
NGO and now works for the cause of girl child. One student talked
about how she was abused by her neighbour. Another child opened up
that she was raped by her father repeatedly. She told Rituparna, 'I
told my mother about this. But she is not believing me. What should I
do?' We want such kids to find themselves through theatre. We want
them to offer hope,” he says. Truly, arts can help you connect with
yourself. </span>
</div>
</div>
Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868176614235328658.post-3315042450652855642019-03-23T17:00:00.001+05:302023-07-01T11:16:33.276+05:30The guest who doesn't want to leave...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A gharial (a fish-eating
crocodile) is caught in the floods and swept into a town. After the
waters recede, he is stuck in the mud and that's where the people of
the town find him. Obviously, they are scared! They want the
crocodile to leave the town. But how? </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The kids of the Delhi
Public School, Mohammadwadi, who are watching the enactment of Catch
the Crocodile, crane their necks, sit up in their seat, to watch what
the gharial is up to. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The crocodile is mostly
placid, not budging when the town people try their luck to shoo him
out. First, comes the policeman. But he is no match for the aquatic
reptile. Then comes a wrestler from Benaras. He huffs and puffs,
flexes his biceps, making the children giggle and laugh. But the
gharial doesn't budge. Out goes the wrestler, and in comes Bittu, the
trainer, with his whip. Do you think it scares the croc? Not a bit.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Dr Dutta, a vet, decides
to tranquilise the gharial with an injection dart. But, the injection
loses direction and well, gets in Dutta's behind. The kids get a
stitch in their sides, laughing, with the teachers telling them to
concentrate on the action. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Since Dutta failed, Dhanno
Dhoban (washerwoman) challenges the gharial, but the clothes of her
customers are torn by him. Angry and upset, she walks away. Jhola
Baba decides to try his luck. Actually, he is more interested in
gobbling laddoos, jalebis and samosa. So you know, the gharial stays
put. It looks as if he is going to make his home in the town. Ah!
What to do! Little Meena has a plan. She lays a trail of fishes, and
the crocodile follows the path all the way to the river. Yeah!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Based on a story by
Anushka Ravishankar, the play has been directed by Shaili Sathyu of
Gillo Repertory Theatre. It was brought to the Pune school under
Junoon arts at play, Theatre Adventures segment. </span>
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">After the show, the cast
and crew of Gillo Repertory got together with the kids and interacted
with them about endangered species and what each one of them can do
in their individual capacity. The children also made some music. They
took turns in identifying which kitchen instrument was used in
creating music in the play. Towards the end, they clicked their
fingers, clapped on their knees and raised their hands and clapped in
the air – creating some wonderful beats. Music to our ears!</span></div>
</div>
Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868176614235328658.post-15189460900950096842019-03-23T16:58:00.001+05:302023-07-01T11:18:08.397+05:30Monumental Dilemma<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Shahi Paharedar, the
Hindi-Urdu play, will begin with Hindi poet, scholar, Uday Prakash's
quote – Iss Kahani Mein Utna Hi Itihas Jitna Na ki Dal Mein Namak.
Directed by Niranjan Pedanekar, the play will premier on Sunday night
at the ongoing Pune Natyasattak, theatre festival. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Originally written by
US-based playwright of Indian origin, Rajiv Joseph, Pedanekar bought
rights for the play – Guards at the Taj – and its performances
too. This is the second play of Joseph's that Pedanekar will be
staging for Pune audience. The first one, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad
Zoo also premiered at Pune Natyasattak last year.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Characters speak</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">When asked what was it
that he liked about Joseph's writing, Pedanekar said, “I was trying
to get hold of some plays which could be considered new by our
audience here. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Bengal Tiger at the
Baghdad Zoo was one play which came under consideration. I found it
to be extremely exciting because there was a strange mixture of
absurdity and imagination and extremely peculiar circumstances under
which normal characters behave in certain way. I also found that
Rajiv's writing was very immaculate. He had taken several years to
write plays; there is certain amount of craft put in there. A lot of
plays, especially Marathi, rely on text and the text sounds as if
it's coming out of a playwright's mouth and not from that of the
character's. So I wanted plays which essentially reflected
character's, not the playwright's language. That's what I found in
Bengal Tiger... Also, I felt that t I had not explored Rajiv Joseph's
writing enough, so I looked at other plays of his. This one, Guards
at the Taj, fit the bill. It was rooted in India and Indian
circumstances, but also written in such a way, where characters speak
like characters, but convey more than they said.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Gained in translation</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Pedanekar decided to write
the play into Hindi-Urdu, because it made sense to have a play about
Taj Mahal in these languages. While he was writing, the director was
sure that he did not want to change the play or adapt it in anyway.
“But,” says Pedanekar, </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">when you translate the
play from English into Hindi-Urdu, it becomes a different way of
talking; as if the characters have become different. The way Rajiv
has written Guards at the Taj, it can be easily be performed by two
stand up comedians. When you take it to Hindi-Urdu domain, the humour
becomes different, the way the characters carry themselves becomes
different. It became something specific in time, history and space,
for us in Indian context.” </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Commentary on power vs
common man</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Having said all that,
Pedanekar and his team of actors – Suvrat Joshi and Omkar Govardhan
– wondered that certain situations, based on an apocryphal story in
the play – will fuel a certain thought process. “We then took
care to remove the emotional attachment to Taj Mahal and its
surroundings through our design. Other productions that I had a look
at, had the monument in their stage design. Shahi Paharedar will be
staged in such a way, that we make it more generalised. It is less
about Mughals and Shah Jehan and Taj Mahal, and more about commoners
caught in a web. We will talk on what is duty, creativity, power and
how does a commoner relate to all this. The play will have necessary
disclaimers and some amount of fact finding too,” he adds. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Would it made sense to
have written a new play, in that case, we ask, to which Pedanekar
responds, “There are certain advantages of using the context that
Joseph has used. If I had changed it, maybe I would have used Statue
of Unity, for example. What I thought was that the characters are
really interesting, the setting is familiar, but I wanted to
concentrate more on the characters and less on the specific
political scenario. This is where we have decontextualised it.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The play has two guards,
Hooma and Babu, guarding the monument, on the eve of its opening.
Both of them are itching to have a look at the grandiose monument,
but if they do, a harsh punishment awaits them.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Experiment in arts</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Pedanekar, who is a
scientist, says, “Experiment to me, means to make a hypothesis and
to see if it is a hypothesis. Essentially, what I try to do, is take
techniques, or take dramatic devices and see whether they can be used
for a particular set of actors with a particular script, with a some
sort of framework. In research, you try to create something that adds
to the body of knowledge; an experiment, here, adds to the body of
theatrical knowledge. In Shahi Paharedar, we are trying to find out
whether the decontextualisation happens or not through our design.
This is our hypothesis and it is important for us to find out, if we
can do so.”</span></div>
</div>
Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868176614235328658.post-64334463540672404772019-03-23T16:56:00.002+05:302019-03-23T16:56:53.729+05:30Best of the young and the old<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">With the fourth edition of
Pune Natyasattak, you will get to see not only the best of theatrical
performances staged in the city, but also the young, fresh talent
getting equal space with veteran artists like Dr Mohan Agashe and
director Atul Pethe. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Organised by Wide Wing
Media, the Natyasattak will feature 23 performances by 23 groups
that will be showcased at five different venues namely Sudarshan
Rangmanch, Jyotsna Bhole Sabhagruha, Bharat Natya Mandir, Yashwantrao
Chavan Natyagruha and Balgandharva Rangmandir.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">The festival , which
starts from January 11, is spread over two week-ends. The first
week-end will have Natak Company’s Mahanirvan, a full length play
by senior theatre personality Satish Alekar. It will be the curtain
raiser of Natyasattak 2019 whereas the festival will conclude with
another innovative play Shahi Paharedar by Niranjan Pedanekar. The
highlight is Natyasattak Rajani, the overnight theatre festival, on
January 25,” says Kushal Khot of Wide Wings Media.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The festival will stage
many award winning and title holder plays like PCO, by Pemraj Sarda
College, Ahmednagar which has won the Purushottam Karandak in 2018,
Rajya Natya Spardha (State competiton) and CY-FI Karandak winning
play, I Agree will be staged. Oh Shit! by Sanvardhan Pune, the winner
of Maunantar Karandak, has also made the cut. Another Purushottam
Karandak winning drama, Vipasha by Chakree, Pune will also be
showcased. A musical play, JFU by Theatron Entertainment and
Vinodottam Karandak winning comedy play, White Comedy will also be
showcased here. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">This year, we also have
Balnatya or children's play, and Maharashtra Cultural Centre's (MCC)
Jambaa Bambaa Boo will be staged as a part of it. MCC's two other
plays, Jara Samjun Ghya toplined by Agashe and Manjusha Godse and
Jugaad with Hrishikesh Joshi and Chinmay Mandlekar, have been
included in the festival. Actor Girish Pardesi will perform in Hash
Ernesto Tag Guevara’. Andhar, a play by students of Abasaheb
Garware College, which made it to the finals of Thespo, and Hindi
drama, Bambai, by Wide Wings Media and 4th Wall, are also a part of
the extravaganza,” adds Khot. </span>
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">There will also be
'abhivachan' on Parwa Amcha Popat Varla, by veteran actor-director,
Atul Pethe. Vaphallele Divas, a Natyavachan performance by Nilu Phule
Kala Academy has also been lined up.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Where real and surreal
interact </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A bunch of college kids,
who were competitors in the inter-collegiate drama festival, became
friends and after finishing their graduation, came together to form a
theatre group. This has been a predictable trajectory for many
theatre groups in the city, all united by their common passion for
doing constructive work on stage. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">One such recent group is
Aaj Kal, which was formed by Rishi Manohar, Devendra Charankar,
Chinmay Deo, Aditya Pawar and Siddharth Joshi, and their first
experimental play, Zabriko will be staged in Pune Natyasattak. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Scripted by Manohar and
Deo, the play tackles subject of mediocrity. “Zabriko is the story
of a man, named Satyajeet (played by Tushar Dengle). Satyajeet
represents everyone who has gone through a phase of mediocrity. In
his fight back, Satyajeet tries to create something of his own. He
also questions the veracity of truth and reality. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The decisions take in
national interest, the news which we see and read, are they true,
wonders Satyajeet,” says Manohar.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Deo adds, “Satyajeet is
a middle class guy, who is tired of being powerless. He knows that he
doesn't have the power or ability to challenge the existing
structure. So he decided to create his own universe, his own
country.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The subject, admits
Manohar, could be considered 'heavy-duty', so besides five ticketed
performances last year, the group also invited select audience to
seek their inputs on the play. “The treatment of Zabriko is very
experimental. It dabbles in surreal and real and both intersect at
several points in the play. We knew that this play would challenge
the grasping power of the people. But we didn't want to dilute our
pure form of expression and so we haven't changed the form, despite
receiving adverse feedback. Some people understood what we were
trying to convey, some found it too abstract. They couldn't
understand Zabriko and hence they didn't like it. The complexity of
Zabriko is its crux and simplifying it would have done gross
injustice to it,” adds Manohar. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Zabriko has a cast of 25
people and it's a mob play, where the director and writer have tried
to do something outside the constructs of one-act play. Both Deo and
Manohar wanted to give their actors the full freedom to explore their
roles all by themselves, instead of giving them tips on how to build
the characters. “We allowed the actor to explore the character on
his own and address his doubts about why his character is so. In this
process, the actor can perhaps pick up on nuances or add layers which
we as writer or director failed to envisage,” adds Deo.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span>
</div>
</div>
Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868176614235328658.post-41001228360584260232019-03-23T16:53:00.000+05:302023-07-01T11:19:26.629+05:30Available & Accessible<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">November ushers in
Children's Day with lots of activities lined up for the young ones.
Amongst them is Junoon Arts & Education Foundation's School
Programme, which will be bringing two plays for students of Delhi
Public School, Mohammadwadi, Pune. Under Theatre Adventures module,
children between the ages of 8-10 can watch Catch the Crocodile by
Gillo Theatre Repertory and the 11-13 year olds can watch Jhalkari by
Rahi Theatre. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The School Programme is
one of the signature programmes of Junoon and Savitri Medhatul of the
group explains the initiative. “Junoon has been co-founded by
Sanjna Kapoor and Sameera Iyengar. Its primary motive is to make arts
available and accessible to people. The most common refrain we hear
is, 'Arts is not for us'. Or 'This is too complicated'. We think that
arts has to become a part of everyone's day to day life. This is the
umbrella motive of Junoon. And, we have multiple programmes keeping
this in mind,” says Savitri. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Catch 'em young</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Junoon's School Programme
was started with the thought that if the seeds of arts is sown in the
kids at an early age, then it will take root more firmly. “If you
are introduced to art form early, before prejudices and biases set
in, then you share a deep friendship with it. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">We don't expect that
everyone will do theatre when they grow up, but we would like if the
children or the young people develop a taste for it, understand the
aesthetics and nuances. You can become a scientist, or accountant,
but if you have a bond with arts, then you grow better at what you do
– this is what we at Junoon believe,” adds Savitri</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">When the programme was
conceived, it was a week-long initiative called Arts Week Programme.
But the schools found it difficult to put aside a week from their
curriculum. We felt that this shouldn't prevent schools from inviting
us. So we have staggered the modules. We had one show of a play, then
in Arts Encounter, artists from across the country would establish a
dialogue with the students etc. Now, we have something called Theatre
Adventures – which is a play that we take to the school. The
schools have now more options to choose from based on the budget,
timing etc. We have made the programme far more flexible now,” she
points out. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Making it more inclusive</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">From last year, Junoon has
started Theatre Inclusive programme, in collaboration with Lal Jamal
Foundation. Explaining this aspect, Savitri says, “We visit various
cities in India alongwith the School Programme. Last year, we had an
extra, free show for children of local NGOs, in six cities. About
3,500 kids watched these shows and we gathered their feedback. This
year, we are visiting four cities. The show at Lucknow is over. Rahi
Theatre's Jhalkari will be having another show on November 19 at
Maharashtra Cultural Centre in Pune. We have two shows lined up at
Patna and Bikaner.” </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The team's broader vision
is a three-fold programme – To groom fine artists; to build good
infrastructure and to cultivate good audience. To that effect, Junoon
has planned workshops with local theatre groups in those cities who
want to develop theatre for children. “This is a part of capacity
building programme,” says Savitri, adding, “A good audience will
demand good theatre and this will put the onus on artists to create
something new.” </span>
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Junoon is working with
local partners in different cities. In Pune, their partner is
Maharashtra Cultural Centre. In Ludhiana, they have partnered with
Harkezi, who runs a Lok Kala Manch and has built theatre with his own
money. “Local partners make their venues available to us and also
help in tapping local NGOs. We want homegrown theatre to develop,”
emphasizes Savitri, adding, “Sanjna keeps travelling across the
country and her interactions with people told us that they are are
keen to watch plays, but they don't have access or exposure to it.” </span>
</div>
</div>
Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868176614235328658.post-84731014121368512572019-03-23T16:51:00.000+05:302023-07-01T11:20:18.070+05:30'Why on earth should artists not be paid?'<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Sanjna Kapoor doesn't
mince words when it comes to voicing her thoughts on ensuring a shift
for the theatre from 'survival' to 'thriving' mode. It's this clarity
of thought and expression that Sanjna wants every theatrewallah to
embrace. “If you know what your non-negotiables are, you will be
able to make more advantageous use of the work that you have done and
plan to do, resulting in a deeper impact,” she says.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Prioritise and then
strategise </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The conversation that we
had on the sidelines of Maharashtra Cultural Centre's annual </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">theatre festival,
Rangmahotsav began with us asking her thoughts on behemoths like
popular regional TV channel backing and producing Marathi plays and a
dish TV having a separate channel for telecasting of experimental and
commercial dramas. Is it a good sign?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Marathi television has
been showing recorded commercial plays for many years now. But I have
no knowledge of Tata Sky's dedicated channel to theatre so I cannot
comment on it. It's my belief that this would only help popularise
theatre and not take away from the live experience. In the West, they
have this trend of live streaming of plays. I have friends in UK, who
have had huge success with their theatre performances and with their
live streaming also. All this has helped build their audience, rather
than diminish it. There is no threat because theatre is live and
nothing can beat that live engagement. It should give you a sense ,
'O gosh! This sounds interesting and I must go watch it next time it
comes',” says Sanjna.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">As far as a TV channel
stepping into produce new plays is concerned, Sanjna thinks that this
is a wonderful opportunity. The co-founder of Junoon, a stage for
theatre, Sanjna says, “I am not familiar with what the TV channel
is attempting to do, I haven't seen their plays yet. But I think it's
a wonderful opportunity.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">She then goes on to give
example of Adyam theatre festival, a brain-child of Birla
conglomerate. “The Birlas are putting huge money into producing
huge productions and really working towards building an audience, who
are not regular theatre-goers. I think that's commendable. But I have
a sense that theatre community has not been able to take advantage of
the Adyam opportunity as much as they should have. I think people got
so overwhelmed by the luxury of so much – since we are so
poverty-stricken most of the time – that they lost their bearing
and produced plays that couldn't run outside of that projection. You
have to be strategic. If you are being given this wonderful
opportunity, you need to make the best use of it without losing your
self,” explains Sanjna. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Be clear, draw the line</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Allaying doubts of being
dictated by big production houses and corporates, Sanjna says, “I
have been in situations in which the sponsors have asked me to do
things, I have not done. There never was any confusion on that front.
But it is tough when you have to walk away from big money. It's not
easy, and it only means that you have to know yourself very, very
strongly. You have to be very clear about what your non-negotiables
are. Nobody can dictate you. If you want to take dictation, it's your
choice. I think, sometimes you can meet the corporates and the
business world half-way, but at the same time, be true to yourself.
That is the core of SMART.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Sanjna and Sameera
Iyengar, who came up with 'The Strategic Management of Art of
Theatre' or SMART, believe that if theatre groups don't know what
their non-negotiables are then it will cause a lot of problems and
confusion and they will be unhappy. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">If you produce a play,
you would like to look at the life of the play. You should be
sensible enough to acknowledge that if I had a big production for a
corporate theatre festival, maybe I can do a more smaller, mobile
production to keep the life of the production running,” she
reasons.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">SMART evaluation</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Moving on to the SMART
programme, it has had two iterations of its four month course, with a
10-day residency. After a third course, it was supposed to evaluate
the work that has so far been accomplished by theatre groups who were
a part of the programme. But, the third course couldn't be held
because they ran into funding issues. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Says Sanjna, “It was
after the third course that we were actually going to design a
continuous evaluation process with the theatre groups. We haven't
been able to do that </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">because of funding issues.
So we now have lighter version of SMART which is a three-day workshop
looking at the same areas of work – mission statement, why you do
what you do, how you can develop and build your audience, sustain
your group together, and budgeting.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">SMART has come from my
own questioning. If I had SMART when I started out at Prithvi, I know
that what I did in 10 years, I may have been able to do in three
years. Maybe I would have stayed in touch with the artists, the
audience, and have a deeper impact than I did. I didn't have the
wherewithal to know how to do that,” she adds. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The team recently had a
smaller SMART workshop in Pune last month which was attended by 29
theatre persons and 17 groups across Maharashtra, and some from
Kolkata and Bengaluru. “I think because of Maharashtrian connection
with theatre, there was much deeper engagement at this workshop and
the participants got to the core of conceptual ideas much more
quickly than we expected. The challenge will be to work in a place
where theatre is less practised, like the Hindi belt. We have got
workshops in Bikaner, in Bengaluru and one in Bengal. We have got
five such three-day programmes this year. And, if we get money, then
we go back to SMART's original programme.,” says Sanjna</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Value yourself</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Art and commerce go
hand-in-hand. Why on earth artists should not be paid, wonders
Sanjna, adding, “Fundamentally, what SMART wishes to achieve is to
know our own value. The theatre people need to know their value. We
undermine ourselves – 'I am having so much fun, na! I am passionate
about it, so I am doing it for myself' is what many theatre people
believe. They are incredibly lucky that they are able to work on
their passion. But theatre cannot exist without an audience. There
are people out there who want to see your work. There is a reason for
this which we need to understand.” </span>
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The biggest lacunae with
urban experimental theatre is infrastructure. “Mumbai should have
20 theatres like Prithvi, but it has one NCPA, one Prithvi and after
Chhabildas closed down...we had nothing for a while. But there are
now smaller, alternate spaces coming up across India. I just came
from Ahmedabad, there are two small spaces there, you have got
Expressions Lab opening up their space here. All this is critically
important. These places are not only for performances, they are for
rehearsals, meetings, workshops and reading, nurturing our
environment. That's what I mean by infrastructure. It's not only
building brick and mortar. It's building the environment and allows
for the blossoming of theatre clan,” she says on a concluding note. </span>
</div>
</div>
Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868176614235328658.post-44797529050134937292019-03-23T16:49:00.002+05:302023-07-01T11:23:15.861+05:30Caste Away (Interview with Rasika Agashe)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">In my interaction with
actor Rasika Agashe, I could find myself nodding every now and then,
chuckling at the hypocrisy that we so deeply embrace. Agashe is
coming to Pune, her hometown, with her Hindi play, Sat Bhashe Raidas
to be staged at 16 th Rangmahotsav, the annual national theatre
festival, hosted by Maharashtra Cultural Centre. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The play is based on Sant
Rohidas/Raidas who questioned caste discrimination. The script of the
play was written by Rajesh Kumar, from Lucknow, who submitted it as
an entry to Sanhita Manch, a script writing competition organised by
Agashe and her husband Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub's cultural venture,
Being Association.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The question of identity </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Sat Bhashe Raidas is
about bout asprushyata (untouchability) and Brahmanvaad (not to be
mistaken with anti-Brahminism). Rohidas was Kabir's contemporary and
he questioned the hierarchy of caste in 15 th century. We have been
having shows of the play in towns and cities like Jamkhed, Nanded,
Aurangabad and some of the people there have come and told us, 'For
the first time, we have seen a play, which tells us our story'. That
set me thinking. In all these years, atleast I haven't seen a play,
which tells the story or teachings of Rohidas, who belonged to the
charmakar (cobbler) community,” says Agashe.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Sat Bhashe Raidas has
found some support by followers of Dr B Rambedkar and Charmakar
organisations. But this too has led to some funny situations. Says
the actor-director, “When we hold the shows in the hinterland of
Maharashtra, Bihar, the organisers are keen to find out my identity
on learning my surname. I tell them, 'Why bother about my identity?
Rohidas has told us that we shouldn't believe in caste constructs. So
why is it so important to find out in which caste I was born in?”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Born in Brahmin community,
Agashe doesn't believe in the supremacy of caste hierarchy. Says she,
“My surname Agashe helps me in being identified from other girls
with the name Rasika, in this (film and television) industry. That's
the reason, why I have retained it. One way to stop getting people
discussing my caste is to drop my surname altogether. But at the same
time, I think it's important for me to say, 'I was born in Brahmin
caste. But I don't believe in casteism'.” </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Its relevance </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The National School of
Drama graduate says that Sat Bhashe Raidas is being labelled as
'propaganda' and questions are asked, 'do we need plays like these?'
Agashe retorts and says, “ I am not even slightest bit upset if you
call it propaganda. I don't think there is nothing wrong in talking
about the ills of our society. This play has been necessitated by the
prevalent situation. We are responding to the events unfolding in the
socio-political fabric of the society – to incidents like
Khairlanji, to the killings of Dr Narendra Dabholkar, Dr Kalburgi and
Govind Pansare.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">When we had this show
in Bihar, a police officer had come to watch the show. He was a
Brahmin. After watching the play, he said that he would stop wearing
janua. But in the same show, few people also walked out of the show.
I think, it's time we accepted that we are deeply entrenched in caste
system. We might no longer have separate tea sets in our homes for
visitors belonging to different castes, but even the so-called
liberal and modern families won't take kindly to their son or
daughter saying that they are going to marry someone from BC or OBC
caste. No one is going 'Wah! Chhan!',” she makes a point. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Agashe says that they have
tried to throw light on these incorrect attitude that the society
largely harbours. “We have chosen to speak about the philosophy of
a sant, whose writing can empower the Bahujan Samaj. That he was an
intellectual makes him all the more relevant – especially now, when
we are gunning down our thinkers, intelligentsia, those who question
the status quo,” she adds. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The drama </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">When Rajesh Kumar wrote
Sat Bhashe Raidas, it was a period drama. But there were a few places
left for improvisation, which Agashe utilised for making a comment on
contemporary situation. “Dharmarakshak Muktivadi is the actor
playing Rohidas. He is a shahir (activist-philosopher poet) from
Satara and is connected to Ambedkari movement. I met him during one
play and I thought that he is apt to play the role of Rohidas. I see
Rohidas as a fiery youngman, who expresses his opinions ferarlessly.
Sat Bhashe Raidas is a musical and the tunes are composed by Amod
Bhatt. Bhatt sir </span>
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">is a Sangeet Natak Akademi
award winner and he has learnt theatre music from B V Karanth,”
adds Agashe. </span>
</div>
</div>
Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868176614235328658.post-77194003510072191442019-03-23T16:48:00.003+05:302023-07-01T11:25:05.018+05:30When Shakespeare Meets Kathakali<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">William Shakespeare's
literary works has been adapted by many artists and in many forms.
One such adaptation is Kathakali-King Lear, a Kathakali adaptation of
Shakespeare's King Lear. It has been directed by Annette Leday and
David McRuvie and was first staged in 1989. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Since its creation,
Kathakali-King Lear has become a reference in the field of
intercultural performance. In order to mark its 30th anniversary, the
Annette Leday/Keli Company has revived the production, which will
include the generation of artists who participated in their youth, as
well as a few young artists. The play will be staged in the city on
Saturday evening. Leday gives us more details...</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">* You have stayed in
Kerala and studied Kathakali. Can you explain your and in particular
France's relation with English literature? Why did you chose King
Lear for this inter-cultural adaptation?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Shakespeare is is an
internationally known playwright. There are many French translations
and performances based on his work in France. Kathakali and
Elizabethan theatre are very different art forms. Adapting a
Shakespeare play for Kathakali has similar problems and opportunities
as say adapting a play for ballet or for opera - there will be loss
and gain. The key is to choose the right play. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Just as Romeo and Juliet
has been brilliantly adapted for ballet and Othello for opera (but
not Julius Caesar or Hamlet), we think King Lear is very suited to
Kathakali. Unlike Shakespeare's other plays, King Lear has two
parallel stories. By presenting only the central story of Lear and
his three daughters, we have the essence of Shakespeare, in a simple
but powerful story, which is appropriate for Kathakali. Second, the
themes of King Lear - kingship, dowry, love story, renunciation of
the world, war - are also central Kathakali themes. Third, King Lear,
unlike other tragedies, is based on an older English theatrical
tradition of character-types, and so is Kathakali. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">* One Indian artist
Padmanabhan Nair enacted King Lear. Can you tell us how he connected
with King Lear and Shakespeare's writing? Also, how did the audience
abroad connect to his presence?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Padmanabhan was very
excited and very proud to perform this great character. He put all
his intelligence into creating this character and asked many
questions to David McRuvie about him. Audience abroad were thrilled
at the power and subtlety of his performance. Many cried during the
final scene. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">* In adaptations such as
these, and that too in the late 80s, when such cultural exchanges
were not so common as they are now, how did you bring the two
elements, two forms together?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The play is a classical
Kathakali play based on Shakespeare material. We definitely wanted to
explore new territory in Kathakali, but by keeping intact the
traditions and spirit of Kathakali. For eg. the wonderful character
of the King’s Fool is a new character-type which we have developed
from the Vidushaka of the ancient Sanskrit theatre, Kutiyattam. We
have included a percussion sequence to evoke the great storm which is
central to the action. We have had other innovations, all carefully
discussed with the great masters of Kathakali. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">* After a gap of 20 years,
you are coming back with the show. Are you nervous or is there this
feeling of ‘been here, done that'?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">We are very confident
about the show and looking forward to performing it. We have four
artists from the original team and seven new members. </span>
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
</div>
Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868176614235328658.post-29319552824532512002019-03-23T16:45:00.003+05:302019-03-23T16:45:56.051+05:30'Dance is moving to highly innovative directions' (Interview with Neha Mondal)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A post graduate from the
renowned Kalakshetra Foundation in Chennai, Neha Mondal Chakravarty
has learnt under some eminent stalwarts in the industry. Currently,
based in Singapore, Chakravarty is a company performer and faculty
member at The Apsaras Arts Dance Company in Singapore and tours
frequently with their productions.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The Bharatanatyam dancer,
who is also trained in Jazz and Contemporary art forms, was </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">a part of The Darbar
Festival, one of the most celebrated festivals of Indian classical
music and dance in the UK. She will be performing in Pune on Thursday
evening at the invitation of the Nritayayatri Art Movement
Foundation. Here, she talks about performing for Non-South Asian
audience and what dance pieces she has planned for Puneites. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">You were based in Malaysia
for quite sometime. Can you tell us something about the audience
there for your performances? Are they more well-versed with Indian
classical dance forms?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I was in Malaysia for four
years, before I moved to Singapore in January 2018. Indian classical
dance or music is a part of the cultural identity of people of Indian
origin, living abroad. The artist community in Malaysia is very
supportive of each other's endeavour as it stems from the feeling of
owing allegiance to their homeland. Hence they attend and support the
performances and workshops organised by various art entities in
Malaysia. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The audience for
Bharatanatyam is a mixed bag, comprising Bharatanatyam students from
various organisations, dancers and practitioners of different genres,
followers and art connoisseurs, who are the natives of Malaysia and
are appreciative of the Indian art and culture, and generally like to
spend their evenings watching and enjoying performing arts in
general. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Whenever you perform in
India, how do audiences in different regions of the country react to
your dance? </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">It's always homecoming to
perform in India and I am always welcomed with the same warmth and
affection by the people here. An artist always wishes for a full
house and a lot depends on how the event is being marketed and how
the artist brands himself. But above all, I believe audience in India
look forward to what an artist has to offer more than their
preconceived ideas about the artist himself. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Can you tell us about your
performance in Pune? What have you planned?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The pieces that I have
chosen, delves into the various shades of nayika, as a sakhi talking
about the nayika’s plea to the Lord, or a heroine of an epic
(bold, intense and emotional), she, who is also indifferent, and puts
up a facade to not be bothered by her Lord’s infidelity, and also
the one whose eyes are forever searching the Lord. Playing along the
emotion of love, Premapurti these nayikas represent you, me and all
of us who have experienced love through all its different shades. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Can you tell us a little
more about Kalakshetra style of dance and The Banyan Tree concept n
which you have collaborated with fellow artist, Aishwarya Aravind?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The banyan tree was
nurtured by the founder of Kalakshetra Foundation in Chennai,
Rukmini Devi Arundale, who revolutionised Bharatanatyam, to the form
we see it today. The artists, who once stood under the 70- year-old
old banyan tree, every morning, in their years of training in
Kalakshetra, are now stalwarts in their fields. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">This production, recreated
those memories with unfurling of every aspect of those days of
training, with narratives and designed with the jewels from the
signature choreographies of Athai, and some reworked ideas, an
offering to our alma mater and the banyan tree which has not seized
from providing shade to the number of artists who are training
themselves incessantly under it. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">What are the principles on
which Indian classical dance forms are based? There was a report
which said that you danced in rain on a sidewalk in Manhattan. Would
that have been acceptable to the gurus in the past?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Art is ever evolving and
an artist's journey is more internalised. The journey of classical
arts from temples to stage, from being a part of religious ritual to
representing India's cultural identity globally, has not happened
overnight. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The gurus in the past
themselves have a huge contribution to where Indian classical arts
stand today globally. The dance on the sidewalk in Manhattan, was a
part of promotion of my solo dance theatre production, 'The Unheard
Plea' which was done barefooted in a dance saree, not affecting its
authenticity and originality. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">As a Bharatanatyam dancer,
are you also interested in learning other Indian classical and
Western forms? Have the barriers been tweaked a bit?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I am trained in Jazz and
Contemporary and always looking out to learn as much as I can. The
vocabulary of dance is ever expanding and Bharatanatyam has placed
itself in the global map, where it includes practitioners of
Non-South Asian origin creating new kinetic vocabularies. Even in
India, where the discipline is so deeply engraved in the identity of
an artist, that he believes learning another form would compromise
the quality of performance is slowly changing and dance is moving to
highly innovative directions. </span>
</div>
</div>
Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868176614235328658.post-66402098293483573182019-03-23T16:42:00.001+05:302019-03-23T16:43:11.064+05:30Feisty Five<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Veteran theatre artists
like Atul Kumar, Mohit Takalka, Koumarane Valavane and young name,
Suraj Parasnis will hold the stage for the first edition of Saarang
Theatre Festival, organised by Ashok Kulkarni of Sahitya Rangabhoomi
Pratishthan. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Earlier, known as Vinod
Doshi Memorial Theatre Festival, the festival steps into 2019 with
the aforementioned new name. However, the ethos and spirit of the
festival remains unchanged and this year too the theatre going
audiences in the city will get to see the best of Marathi and
non-Marathi plays.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Here's a line-up of the
festival that will start from Monday, February 25 and conclude on
March 1. All the plays would be performed at Yashwantrao Chavan Natyagruha, Kothrud.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Khichdi of many different
elements</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The Company Theatre
Production play, Detective 9-2-11 is a comic noir, with elements of
Navketan Films and Alfred Hitcockian directorials adding drama to the
world of cinema on stage. Atul Kumar, who has directed the play,
says, “Detective 9-2-11 is an original script. It's written by
Pallav Singh, a third year student of National School of Drama (NSD)
and Niketan Sharma, an actor-director student from The Drama School,
Mumbai. It was actually developed as a play for students for 30-40
minutes at NSD. Later it was performed as a full-fledged play for
Adyam Theatre Festival.” </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Kumar, who has directed
Piya Behrupiya, says, “Visuals have their own language and that's
the area, I like to play with. I liked the idea of creating cinema on
stage and that's what we have done with Detective 9-2-11. The idea
was how in cinema house, with one take you are inside the room and
with another, you are outside the room and then suddenly you are up
in the skies, looking at the houses. The camera lenses help you </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">play with perspective
visually. That's what we have done here.” </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The play was improvised as
it was being written. “We had a broad idea about the play and then
we started creating situations. A man and a woman do this and then
suddenly two cops come resulting in a chase. We were also researching
on the typical scenes in Hindi films of 1950s and 60s, especially
movies made under Navketan banner. So we </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">put some dialogues from
that era. We took dialogues from Hitchcock films and played around
with it. It's a khichadi of many different elements, but it has
worked fortunately.” </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The play has six actors,
who are performing about 100 characters on stage. The entire set is
on wheels and it keeps moving around, the characters keep changing
their costumes on stage. Obviously, the Hindi-English play is very
fast- paced and it helped that two of the actors are trained in
physical theatre. “Two of our actors are trained in the London's
International School of Performing Arts and are trained in clowning,
mime and pantomime, mask work. The students from The Drama School put
in input from our classical arts like Kodiyattam and Kalariyapattu.
They brought in that kind of energy to the script and so the play is
very fast-moving,” adds Kumar. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">(Detective 9-2-11 will be
staged at Yashwantrao Chavan Auditorium on February 25, 7.30 pm) </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Behind the walls </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Whenever Suraj Parasnis
would visit his aunt and peeped from her house into the home of her
neighbour, he would always be struck by the stories and the byplay
that would take place in each dwelling. “The unfolding stories,
dramas were separated by only a wall/s. I was very keen to capture
all this in one frame,” says Parasnis. He has directed Davikadun
Chauthi Building for the festival and has roped in four writers for
the same. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Manaswaini Lata Ravindran,
Abhiram Joshi, Virajas Kulkarni and Omkar Gokhale are the writers.
Parasnis, who has formed a theatre group called Theatron with
Kulkarni and Shivraj Waichal, says, “Our play Mickey is doing quite
well. Ashok (Kulkarni) kaka heard of it and he asked if we could do
something for Saarang Theatre Festival. I didn't want to let go of
the opportunity and so we came up with this concept.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">He mentions that he needed
a female perspective for Davikadun Chauthi Building and he asked
Manaswini if she would write a story. “We were clear that for a
show on this scale, we couldn't have one writer writing all the
stories. We wanted a different tone and that's why we got four
writers with different sensibilities. Hopefully, all the four stories
will come out as one whole on the stage. Manaswini had written the
script of Bun Maska for Shivraj, so we knew each other's work. I hope
I can do justice to her writing. I had also directed the plays of
other writers, so Manaswini's writing will act as a glue and hold the
other stories,” says Parasnis. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">(Davikadun Chauthi
Building will be staged on February 26, 7.30 pm) </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Against caste-hate crimes</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Chandala or Impure is an
adaptation of William Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet. Directed
and adapted by Koumarane Valavane for Indianostrum Theatre,
Puducherry, Chandala is the story of an old demon, who feeds on hate.
He has divided the world in four varnas: the purest at the top –
Brahmins. Below them are the Kshatriyas, followed by Vaisya and
lastly the Sudras. There is also a fifth category – the Chandalas.
They are excluded from everything because they can pollute purity
itself. An angel, Kama, the cupid, will face this eternal demon. But
the monster has cleverly broken itself into pieces and hidden them
deep in our heart. “This is a story of two mythical lovers, Romeo
and Juliet, renamed as Jack and Janan. Their story will make love
flow in everybody's hearts and cleanse them of the monster,” says
Valavane. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">The choice to do do
Romeo and Juliet was triggered by honour killing incidents in Tamil
Nadu. The story that has left a deep impression on us is of Shankar
and Kausalya. Shankar, a lower caste man, was killed in broad
daylight by Kausalya's family. Kausalya fought to brink justice to
Shankar and she is now an activist crusader against caste-hate
crimes,” he adds.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">(Chandala will be staged
on February 27 at 7.30 pm)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The father-son bond</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Aasakta Kalamanch has come
out with its new Hindi play, Chaheta. It's based on a Palestinian
play by Amir Nizar Zuabi and explores the relationship between a
father and a son. It has been directed by Mohit Takalkar, who has
also collaborated with Zuabi on another of his play – Main huun
Yusuf aur yeh hai hamara bhai. When asked about Palestine connection
in his recent works, Takalkar says, “This is Amir's second play. I
read it after Main huun Yusuf... and I liked it, found it
interesting. However, Chaehta doesn't deal with Israel-Palestine
conflict per say. It has observations about religions and I think
it's more universal.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The crux of the story
deals with the myth about Abraham's story which is found in </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Quran, Bible and Jewish
religious book. “It is said that Abraham takes his son to the top
of mountain to sacrifice his favourite son, his chaheta. Our play
takes off at this point, figuring out what must have happened to the
son, what happens to the mother. It's a dark, metaphorical tale,
wondering if the family is able to put this incident behind them and
can move on with their lives,” adds Takalkar.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">(Chaheta will be performed
at 7.30 pm on February 28)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Hdg: Past continuous</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Deewar was written by
Prithviraj Kapoor and Inder Raj Anand. It has been revived by Sunil
Shanbag, who has made a few changes to his own. Talking about the old
play, Satish Alekar said, “The original cast of Deewar included the
entire Kapoor clan – including Shammi and Raj Kapoor. When it used
to travel to Pune, they would book a special train to haul the set,
costumes. The sets used to be erected on Hirabaug maidan (now Nehru
Stadium) It was performed realistically. This was a much talked about
play in those days. My parents had watched this play. When I decided
to work in theatre, my parents told me, 'Direct a play like Deewar'.”
</span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The synopsis of the play:
In a fictional jagir in north India, two rich zamindar brothers rule
over a happy family and a harmonious community of peasants. The
unexpected arrival of foreign visitors seeking refuge is the
beginning of a dramatic change of fortunes. Ruthless machination by
the foreigners split the community and turned brothers against each
other. First staged in 1945 by Prithviraj Kapoor's Prithvi Theatres,
Deewar is a fascinating allegory of colonisation and Partition. In
2019, it is a remarkable insight into a historical moment full of
promise for a new nation.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">(Deewar will be performed
on March 1, 7.30 pm) </span>
</div>
</div>
Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868176614235328658.post-87169597476133159442019-03-23T16:35:00.000+05:302023-07-01T11:27:15.594+05:30No child's play (Interview with Meena Naik)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">On this World Theatre Day
for Children and Young Audience (March 20), take your child and
his/her friends to watch a play, meant for them. Bringing to Pune
three theatrical performances, precisely for this reason, is Meena
Naik, a veteran theatre artist and puppeteer from Mumbai. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Naik, who has been working
on children related social issues through theatre and puppets for
last four decades is also the vice-president of ASSITEJ India.
ASSITEJ or Association of Theatre for Young Audiences is an
international organisation with 87 countries as its participants. It
began as a movement, after Second World War, and sought to help
children who were impacted by the war and the ravages it brought. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">To pull them out of the
trauma, ASSITEJ started as a movement to present plays which would
address the issues of these children. The idea was that adults would
enact the roles of children and address their issues. ASSITEJ
observes March 20 as World Theatre Day for Children and Young
Audience and it's tagline is 'Take a child to a Theatre Today',”
says Naik. The one day festival has been jointly organised by
Maharashtra State Cultural Affairs Department, Kalsootri and
Maharashtra Cultural Centre and it will be held at Sudarshan
Rangmanch, Shaniwar Peth. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Naik and her team will be
commemorating Marathi litterateur Ram Ganesh Gadkari's centenary year
through the programmes that they have planned. Rajiv Tambe,
children's writer, actors Saksham Kulkarni and Ritika Shrotri who
have their roots in theatre, will be the chief guests for the
evening.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Three students –
Atharva Kane, Vedant Paranjape and Sai Kunte will be enacting two
scenes from Gadkari's humourous play, Prem Sanyas. Akshay Shimpi will
be reading out (mono-act) from Gadkari's Sakalacha Abhyas and Deed
Pani Natak. Kalpesh Samel and Pratiksha Khasnis, from Tiny Tales,
will present dramatised reading, storytelling of Kapila and Elmer
Hatti. These performances will be in the evening, whereas in the
morning, Samel, Khasnis and I, will have a workshop for teachers of
municipal school on how to make use of theatre in teaching,” says
Naik.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">The thrust will be on
improvisation. For example, how can they dramtise a simple tale like
Chal re bhoplya tunuk tunuk. We will have short modules on voice
modulation and so on. And, then we will ask the teachers if there is
any lesson they would they like to dramatise in this fashion. We will
teach them to improvise on their inputs,” she adds. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">On March 21, which has
been declared as World Puppetry Day by Unesco, Naik usually plans a
few programmes. “I have been observing, celebrating both the days –
March 20 and March 21 – by curating a few programmes and
performances in Mumbai. But this year, I will be holding a special
show on puppetry in Nagpur on the request of Cultural Affairs
department. But instead of March 21, we will be holding the show on
March 25, because of Dhulivandan on the said day,” says Naik, who
is the head of Puppetry Department at University of Mumbai.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">She then goes on to
underline the importance of these days. “Why do we celebrate
Theatre Day or Puppetry Day? It is because we need to highlight the
state that they are in. We want more people to be a part of these art
forms because they are apathetic about Kalsootri kala (puppetry) or
even theatre. Even when we have children's theatre festival, parents
don't take the efforts to take them to an auditorium, instead they
put on a DVD for them. In Western countries, they have theatre for
ages 0-18 years. In India, we need to instill this discipline amongst
our children by taking them to the theatre. When you go to an
auditorium to watch a play, you grow up to be a good citizen,” she
emphasizes. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">In Nagpur, her students of
Mumbai University, will have two shows – one is Ganapati dance
through puppets, followed by storytelling. Naik has also invited a
Beni Putul artist. “There is a nomadic tribe in West Bengal who are
well-versed with this art form of glove puppetry. Like many other art
forms, this too has not enough takers and practitioners. Only one
artist represents Beni Putul puppetry. We have invited him to the
show and he will also be conducting a workshop for interested
participants,” she adds. A reason enough for those living in Pune
and Nagpur to watch theatre for children and puppetry. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Many hues of stories</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Kalpesh Samel and
Pratiksha Khasnis, who won the Goshtarang fellowship, offered by </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Atul Kulkarni and
Geetanjali Kulkarni's NGO, Quest, worked in adivasi padas (tribal
hamlets) for a year, telling and performing stories. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Under this fellowship,
the five of us selected from across the state, worked with the
tribals, to get them to study, read, explore language skills and so
on. When I was working there, I realised why not use the same
approach more widely? Why not use theatre for creating social
awareness and education?,” says Samel.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Currently based in Pune,
Samel and Khasnis have set up an organisation, Tiny Tales, under
which they have several programmes for children. “Our aim is to
introduce the urban kids to a world, away from their screens. How can
we tap their energies into doing something constructive? How can
they start reading, how can they start writing is what we work on. We
identify and recognise what kids needs and then plan workshops
accordingly,” adds Samel, who will be narrating stories on World
Theatre Day for Children and Young Audience. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div>
</div>
Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0