Reportage
Brimato, a two-in-one grafted plant that grows both tomato and brinjal
The agricultural scientists at the Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi successfully develop the Brimato – a grafted plant that yields both brinjals and tomatoes. Each plant yields up to 2.3 kilograms of tomato and 2.64 kilos of brinjal. Plans afoot for its large scale cultivation.
Divendra Singh
Panna elephants enjoy a spa followed by week-long festivities
The first week of October was a gala at the Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh as 15 elephants were indulged at a week-long rejuvenation camp where they did no work, but were pandered, pampered to and fed a delicious diet along with their annual health check-up.
Arun Singh
An element of fun: School students in Satna no more troubled by the periodic table
A teacher at a government school in Vynakat Van, Satna, has hit upon a novel idea that not just makes his chemistry classes extra fun, but also helps the students remember the periodic table.
Sachin Tulsa Tripathi
Poonch attack: Sepoy Saraj Singh’s mother spoke to him three days ago, now she awaits his mortal remains
Yesterday, October 11, five Indian soldiers were killed in a terrorist attack in Poonch, Jammu & Kashmir. Twenty-six-year-old Sepoy Saraj Singh, who belonged to Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh, was one of them. Son of a farmer, his two elder brothers are also in the armed forces. Saraj’s mortal remains are expected to reach his village tomorrow.
Ramji Mishra
Lakhimpur Kheri violence: Remove Minister Ajay Mishra and punish his son, demand protesting farmers in Mirzapur
As thousands of farmers streamed into Lakhimpur Kheri today for the antim ardas of the farmers who were killed on October 3, hundreds more staged a dharna at district collectorate in Mirzapur, holding up banners with the images of the slain farmers, and shouting slogans, demanding justice for the dead.
Brijendra Dubey
Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin gets emergency use approval for vaccinating kids against COVID19
Indigenously developed Covaxin has been given an emergency use approval for kids aged 2-18 years. Although the health ministry’s Subject Expert Committee on COVID19 has given nod for vaccinating children with Covaxin, the World Health Organization is yet to approve the vaccine.
Gaon Connection
Coal shortage: States scramble for power supply as 115 out of 135 power plants facing crunch
The shortage of coal which is resulting in a fuel crisis for India’s power sector has led to several states scrambling for power. Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu have announced power cuts while Maharashtra is appealing people to use electricity sparingly. More details here.
Gaon Connection
Explained: Is coal shortage leading to a ‘power crisis’ in India?
October is a challenging month for India’s power infrastructure as a series of festivals lead to a higher energy demand which is coupled with a faltering coal supply due to the monsoon rainfall. But with the economy picking up as the COVID19 pandemic stabilises, the situation is worse this year. More details here.
Gaon Connection
A ‘smart’ decision enables visually challenged students to enjoy their studies
Smart Classes have increased the appetite for learning amongst the visually challenged students of Andhjan Mandal in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, who now use technology to access any resource they may need for their studies.
Ankit Singh
More than half under-5 kids in Lakhimpur Kheri stunted; groundwater heavily contaminated with arsenic
Lakhimpur Kheri, also known as mini-Punjab of Uttar Pradesh, is a new flashpoint in India’s most populous state that goes to poll early next year. On October 3, eight people were killed in the district in violent clashes. Geographically, Kheri is UP’s largest district and contributes 3.38% to the state’s agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sector GDP. However, the district fares poor on several social and health indicators.