Reportage
Firozabad echoes with the wails of grieving mothers whose children succumbed to a mystery fever
Sudama Nagar in Firozabad district wears a shroud of gloom as families in this mohalla have lost kids to a mystery fever that has gripped western Uttar Pradesh. Gaon Connection meets their grief-stricken family members.
Brijendra Dubey
Back To School: Classrooms have reopened in Uttar Pradesh, but where are the textbooks, ask students
While Uttar Pradesh has thrown open primary schools on September 1, students are yet to receive their books and stationery to start their classes after 18 months. Gaon Connection spoke with students and teachers of government schools in Unnao and Barabanki.
Sumit Yadav
Should cows be declared the national animal of India?
The recent statement by the Allahabad High Court saying the cow should be declared a national animal with fundamental rights, has given rise to debates and discussions. Will doing so solve the many other problems associated with stray cattle ask agricultural scientists, farmers and cattle rearer?
Divendra Singh
Kerala reports nearly 30,000 COVID19 cases today; at least 6 districts run out of Covishield stock
While Kerala continues to report the largest share of India’s daily COVID19 infections, it has run out of Covishield vaccine stocks in at least six districts. Over 89 per cent of the total vaccine doses administered in the state till now are of Covishield. Details here.
Gaon Connection
Firozabad mystery fever: Two days of fever and stomach ache, and Manya is now just a memory
With at least 50 people already dead, Uttar Pradesh’s Firozabad has become the hotspot of a mystery fever that is claiming the lives of young kids. Reports of this ‘viral fever’ are also pouring in from neighbouring districts in western UP. Here’s a Gaon Connection report from ground zero.
Brijendra Dubey
India launches ‘Plastics Pact’ to limit single-use plastics
India has launched Plastics Pact, the first-of-its-kind initiative in Asia, to ensure effective recycling of plastic packaging with the support of stakeholders. By 2030, this pact aims for 100 per cent plastic packaging to be reusable or recyclable in India. Details here.
Gaon Connection
COVID19 cases rising in Mumbai. Early signs of the third wave?
While COVID19 cases are showing a downward trend in Maharashtra, there is an increasing trend of the daily coronavirus cases in the state capital Mumbai. Yesterday, 441 fresh infections were reported in the metropolis. The BMC has planned a special vaccination drive on September 4 for those eligible for a second dose.
Gaon Connection
Mystery fever grips western Uttar Pradesh; 50 dead in Firozabad and 14 in Mathura, kids worst affected
In Uttar Pradesh’s western districts of Firozabad, Mathura, Agra and Etah, a mystery fever has spread like wildfire and killed at least 64 people, mostly children, in the last two weeks. A central team from ICMR is investigating the outbreak whereas the state government has stepped up surveillance. Is it dengue, viral fever, or scrub typhus? Details awaited.
Gaon Connection
A new bioformulation, Halo-MIX, offers hope to restore fallow land and increase crop yield
Agricultural scientists of the Central Soil Salinity Research Institute in Lucknow develop a bioformulation called Halo-MIX that promises to revive fallow lands and make them fit to cultivate again. A 100 ml bottle of Halo Mix is enough to nourish one acre of land.
Arvind Shukla
Aspirants with upper limb disabilities debarred from NEET’s nursing examination; health professionals want discriminatory clause repealed
The government bodies have restricted five per cent of reservation in B.Sc Nursing only to those with 40-50 per cent lower limb disabilities. People with other forms of disabilities will miss out on the 2022 batch for nursing whose exam is scheduled for September 12. Health professionals write to the Union health ministry against the discriminatory clause.