Reportage
Indian scientists discover a new disease in millet crop, earn global recognition
Incessant complaints by millet farmers in Haryana about their crops getting infected by a black rot motivated the agriculture scientists to look deeper into the issue. The cause of infection was found to be a bacterium that is generally found in humans. The discovery by scientists in Hisar has earned them global recognition. Details here.
Divendra Singh
Emissions from plastics to surpass coal as major climate change contributor by 2030, finds a report
By 2030, the plastics industry will release more greenhouse gas emissions than coal plants in the United States. It is already releasing at least 232 million tonnes of greenhouse gases each year, which is the equivalent of 116 average-sized coal-fired power plants.
Gaon Connection
The journey from a cycle rickshaw driver to an organic farmer
Rickshaw driver Govind Mandal from Panna in Madhya Pradesh, changed paths and became a model farmer who has mastered integrated farming on his five-acre land where he grows organic paddy, wheat, fruits and vegetables with great success. He also breeds fish and sells poultry.
Arun Singh
Explained: For how long do the vaccines offer protection against COVID19?
While India has achieved the milestone of administering a billion doses of COVID19 vaccines, the question about the duration of immunity achieved against the virus after receiving the jab has been wondered by many. Here’s what research studies tell.
Gaon Connection
Weather experts blame late withdrawal of monsoon for heavy rainfall and flash floods in Uttarakhand
Monsoon rainfall patterns have changed in India affecting the monsoon withdrawal dates. This year, the monsoon withdrawal has been delayed and weather experts and meteorologists say that Uttarakhand wouldn’t have witnessed such heavy rainfall and landslides that left 52 dead, and 5 people missing, had the southwest monsoon retreated on time. More details here.
Gaon Connection
PM Modi urges Indians to buy ‘Made in India’ products, promote ‘Vocal for Local’ this Diwali
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged citizens to go ‘Vocal for Local’ this festive season and make ‘Made in India’ a ‘national movement’ on the lines of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. Highlighting last year’s low sales during Diwali due to the COVID19 crisis, he noted that this year people are feeling safe owing to vaccines.
Gaon Connection
Killed in action in J&K’s Shopian, sepoy Karanveer Singh was supposed to visit his home in Satna in 12 days
Recent spate in militant activity in Jammu and Kashmir has claimed the life of yet another jawan of the Indian Army as 25-year-old Sepoy Karanveer Singh lost his life in a gunbattle in Shopian district on October 20. His family says that he was supposed to visit his home in 12 days. Details here.
Sachin Tulsa Tripathi
Dalit sanitation worker died of heart attack, says Agra police; family members allege “police brutality”
The state government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the family of deceased Arun Valmiki, and five police personnel have been suspended.
Sumit Yadav
India among the top 5 countries with highest exposure of vulnerable population to extreme heat : Lancet Report
The Lancet Countdown report, released today on October 21, has shared some grim details about climate change and public health. According to the study, the elderly in countries like China, India, America, Japan and Indonesia were among the most affected due to heatwave exposure and the exposure is following an increasing trend. More details here.
Gaon Connection
“My kids are crying with hunger; we are left with only the clothes on our backs”
Incessant rainfall in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh has led to a swollen Sharada river that breached its banks and caused mayhem in the villages of Lakhimpur Kheri and Pilibhit districts in UP. Rescue operations are underway.