GENDER SENSITISATION COMMITTEE AGAINST SEXUAL HARASSMENT (GSCASH).??

Vishaka committee impact still left unapplied

If you are a female working or student, whatever may be the situation? Make sure you are aware of Vishaka guidelines and GENDER SENSITISATION COMMITTEE AGAINST SEXUAL HARASSMENT (GSCASH) at your institute.

Only a Few know that Vishaka is actually the name of an organization which, along with other organizations, rallied for special measures to deal with sexual harassment inflicted in the course of employment.

Fifteen years ago, a writ petition by Vishaka and others was filed following several cases of sexual harassment at the workplace. It was clear that the criminal law neither recognized sexual harassment in all forms as an offence, nor provided an efficacious remedy to deal with the problem.

The outcome was the landmark Vishaka Judgment which finds reference not just in the work of women’s groups but also among various sections of society – trade unions, workers, students. The judgment has become the foundation for orientation/training programs for government officers and staff, for judiciary, and for complaints committees constituted in accordance with the Vishaka Judgment. The judgment is the reference point in law classes and law journals across the country, not just as information, but in discussions that centre on various aspects that its pronouncement threw up.

Unlike most judgments which largely adorn law journals and are at best references for similar cases, this judgment has leapt out of the courtroom into the public domain both because of its nature and because of the determination of women’s groups to take the case guidelines to their enactment in real life.

What new course in jurisprudence did the Supreme Court chart via this judgment? When the legislature failed to move in with a domestic law that would meet the imperatives of the Constitution of India and of India’s ratification of conventions such as the Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the apex court pronounced guidelines that would hold till legislation was passed. That hour of the legislation is, it seems, fast approaching. The Protection of Women from Sexual Harassment at the Workplace Bill was tabled in the Lok Sabha in December 2010 and was thereafter referred to the Parliamentary Committee on Human Resource Development headed by MP Oscar Fernandes for deeper examination. The committee invited suggestions from different stakeholders and the public to factor in various concerns. Several representations were made to the committee and it is expected to submit its report soon.

The judgment recognized sexual harassment as a violation of fundamental rights of women to equality, non-discrimination, the practice of occupation, trade, business or profession of one’s choice, and to life and liberty. The court noted that the fundamental right to carry on any occupation, trade or profession depends on the availability of a “safe” working environment. The judgment thus clearly veered the perception of sexual harassment at the workplace towards viewing it as a violation of human rights or fundamental rights.

The judgment also drew attention to the responsibility of the state, as enshrined in the Constitution, to make provision for securing just and humane conditions of work. As it did so, it cast a responsibility on every employer to ensure that the workplace is free of sexual harassment.

Not even the NGOs are exempted from the requirement of policies and mechanisms. as several NGOs today have acquired the characteristics and dimensions of corporations.

What do the guidelines say:-

Vishaka’s case:
It was in 1997 in Vishaka vs. State of Rajasthan and others, that for the first time sexual harassment had been explicitly- legally defined as an unwelcome sexual gesture or behavior whether directly or indirectly as 

1.      Sexually colored remarks

2.      Physical contact and advances

3.      Showing pornography

4.      A demand or request for sexual favors

5.      Any other unwelcome physical, verbal/non-verbal conduct being sexual in nature.

It was in this landmark case that the sexual harassment was identified as a separate illegal behavior. The critical factor in sexual harassment is the unwelcomeness of the behavior. Thereby making the impact of such actions on the recipient more relevant rather than intent of the perpetrator, this is to be considered. 

The judgment was delivered by J.S.Verma. CJ, on behalf of Sujata Manohar and B.N.Kirpal, JJ., on a writ petition filed by ‘Vihska’- a non Governmental organization working for gender equality by way of PIL seeking enforcement of fundamental rights of working women under Article.21 of the Constitution.

The immediate cause for filing the petition was the alleged brutal gang rape of a social worker of Rajasthan. The Supreme Court in absence of any enacted law (which still remains absent- save the Supreme Court guidelines as stated hereunder) to provide for effective enforcement of basic human rights of gender equality and guarantee against sexual harassment, laid down the following guidelines: 

1.      All the employers in charge of work place whether in the public or the private sector, should take appropriate steps to prevent sexual harassment without prejudice to the generality of his obligation; he should take the following steps:                 

a)      Express prohibition of sexual harassment which includes physical contact and advances, a demand or request for sexual favors, sexually colored remarks, showing pornographic or any other unwelcome physical, verbal/ non-verbal conduct of sexual nature should be noticed, published and circulated in appropriate ways. 

             b) The rules and regulations of government and public sector bodies relating to conduct and discipline should include rules prohibiting sexual harassment and provide for appropriate penalties in such rules against the offender. 

c)     As regards private employers, steps should be taken to include the aforesaid prohibitions in the Standing Orders under the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946. 

d)    Appropriate work conditions should be provided in respect of work leisure, health, hygiene- to further ensure that there is no hostile environment towards women and no woman should have reasonable grounds to believe that she is disadvantaged in connection with her employment. 

2.      Where such conduct amounts to specific offences under the Indian Penal Code or any other law the employer shall initiate appropriate action in accordance with the law, by making a complaint with the appropriate authority. 

3.      Victims of sexual harassment should have the option to seek transfer of the perpetrator or their own transfer. 

 As stated by the Supreme Court, these guidelines are applicable to:

a)     The employer or other responsible persons or other institutions to prevent sexual harassment and to provide procedures for the resolution of complaints; 

             b)  Women who either draw a regular salary, receive an honorarium, or work in a voluntary capacity- in the                   government, private or organized sector come under the purview of these guidelines. 

Preventive Steps:
1. Express prohibition of sexual harassment should be notified and circulated.
2. Inclusion of prohibition of sexual harassment in the rules and regulations of government and public sector.
3. Inclusion of prohibition of sexual harassment in the standing orders under the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946 by the private employers.
4. Provision should be made for appropriate work conditions for women.

Procedure pertaining to filing of complaints:
1. Employers must provide a Complaints Committee which is to be headed by a woman; of which half members should be women.
2. Complaints Committee should also include an NGO or other organization- which is familiar with sexual harassment.
3. Complaints procedure should be time bound.
4. Confidentiality of the complaints procedure has to be maintained.
5. Complainant or witnesses should not be victimized or discriminated against- while dealing with complaints.
6. The Committee should make an annual report to the concerned Government department and also inform of the action (if any) taken so far by them.

  Miscellaneous Provisions:

1.      Guidelines should be prominently notified to create awareness as regards the rights of the female employees. 

2.      The employers should assist the persons affected, in cases of sexual harassment by outsiders or third parties. 

3.      Sexual harassment should be discussed at worker’s meetings, employer-employee meetings and at other appropriate forums.  

4.      Both Central and State governments are required to adopt measures including legislations to insure that private employers also observe these guidelines. 

refer:

http://www.iitb.ac.in/WomensCell/data/Vishaka-Guidelines.pdf

Kedarnath now, then and the landslide.

                                             kedarnath 

Kedarnath is the temple that was constructed about 1200 years ago. The temple got its name from King Kedar who had ruled during Satya Yuga. This temple is considered to be one of the most important amongst the four dham. This temple is located in Rishikesh, on the shores of river Mandakini at a height of 3,583 Meters which means 11,755 ft. according to Hindu mythology when the Pandavas killed their relatives during the war of Mahabharata to absolve of the sins Pandavas went on a pilgrimage to Kashi but lord Vishweshwara was away so they moved towards Himalayas. When the Pandavas reached there, Lord Shankara hid himself. After which Dharamraj asked lord to give darshan, once he will see them their sins will be washed off.  If you would do so the place where you are hiding will be known as Guptkashi and would be a famous shrine one day. They went in search of Lord Shankara from the Guptakashi (Rudraprayag), they went to Gaurikund in the Himalayan valleys.

 While searching for lord Nakul and Sahadev found a male buffalo which looked very unique. Then Bheema went after the buffalo with his mace. Bheema wanted to get hold of the buffalo but could not do so. He managed to hit the buffalo with his mace. The buffalo had its face hidden in a crevice-in the earth he started to pull it by its tail. The face of the buffalo went straight to Nepal in this tug-of war and few of its part were left in Kedar.

The part of Mahesha in Kedar, a JyotirLinga appeared. On seeing the light and Lord Shankara appeared. This way Pandavas got Darshan of Lord Shankara and the Pandavas were absolved of their sins. The Lord later told the Pandavas, “From now on, I will remain here as a triangular shaped JyotirLinga. The devotees would attain piety with Darshan of Kedarnath”. The tribals here perform a dance called “Pandav Nritya” in the memory of Raja Pandu who died at pandukeshwar.  The mountain from where the Pandavas went to Swarga, is known as “Swargarohini”, which is located at badrinath. When Dharmaraja was leaving for Swarga, one of his fingers fell on the earth. where Dharmaraj installed a Shiva Linga, which is of  the size of the thumb. To gain Mashisharupa, Shankara and Bheema fought with maces. This triangular Shiva JyotirLinga is massaged with ghee, Water and Bel leaves are used for worship. It is said when Bheema was struck with remorse. He started to massage Lord Shankara’s body with ghee. Since then this ritual has been done till now.

 When Nar-Narayan went to Badrika village and worshiped Parthiva, Shiva appeared before them. Nar-narayan wished for welfare of the humanity. He wished if Shiva can remain here in his original form. Shiva fulfilled their wish, in the snow-clad Himalayas, in Kedar, Mahesha himself stayed there as a Jyoti. He is known as Kedareshwara.

From Rudraprayag to  Kedarnath there are several places of pilgrimage such as Agastyamuni, Ukhimath, Phauli- Pasalat Devi Maa, Bamsu (Lamgoundi) Vanasur, Maa Jwalamukhi Devi village Andarwari, Maa Chandika Devi village lwara, Maa Kali at alimathTrijugi Narayan and Kashi Vishwanath at Guptkashi.

 The temple remains open from April end to May first week, from Akshaya Tritiya and closes on Bhai Dooj. Inside the temple the first hall contains statues of the pandavas brother, Nandi Lord krishna, and virbhadra one of the guards of shiva. Other deities Statue along with statue of Draupadi are also installed in the main hall. A medium sized rough stone is worshiped in the Garbhagura of Kedarnath temple. A salient feature of the temple is the head of a man carved in the triangular stone fascia of the temple. Similar head can be seen carved in another temple constructed on the site, where the marriage of Shiva and parvati was held. Adi Shankara was believed to have revived this temple, along with Badrinath and other temples of Uttarakhand and it is believed to he had attained mahasamadhi at Kedarnath. Behind the temple is the Samadhi of Adi Shankara.( statue's pic)

Almost after 80 years, The Kedarnath valley along with other parts of the state was hit with rain, floods and landscapes on 16^th and 17^th June of 2013.

The temple withstood the floods while the temple complex and surrounding area were destroyed with the flood. While the flood carried stones and boulders with it, one large rock that came up to the temple. It settled itself at the rear side of the Kedarnath Temple. This caused an obstruction to the debris and water which were coming down the mountain side, diverting the flow to the sides of the temple and effectively the main force of the flash flood was taken away from the temple, thus minimizing the damage to the temple and surroundings.

Flood caused death of several thousands of pilgrims and local people.  The shops and hotels were destroyed leaving few witnesses surviving for lives. The heavy rains at the sites caused severe landslides taking away many lives.

what are the landslides:-

Landslides have always existed on our planet. Generally they are mass movements of rock, debris, and soil down a slope of land. While landslides are a naturally occurring environmental hazard they have recently increased in frequency in certain areas due to human activity. Although there are many different causes of landslides, they all have two things in common. 

According to the Geosciences "...they are the results of the failure of the soil and rock materials that make up the hill-slope and they are driven by gravity." What happens during the rain is when sloped areas become completely saturated by heavy rainfall many times landslides can occur. Without the aid of mechanical root support the soil simply runs off when it contains too much water.

Human activities such as construction, building, transportation, building dams and canals, and mining can disturb large volumes of earth materials.

 In fact, landslide damage is increasing every year as our population expands further into hilly regions. As more people overdevelop the land becomes less and less stable. The picture to the right displays the devastating effects of building too close to a hill with landslide potential.

Human factors that affect and cause the landslides are Method of timber harvesting which completely removes all old growth timber from the area. This method is hazardous because it destroys the existing mechanical root structure in the area. Mining operations that use blasting techniques often cause other areas that are at the risk of sliding to slide due to vibrations under the soil. The easiest solution for preventing catastrophic landslides is to stop building on steep slopes or on the edges of mountains - landslides may still occur, but the chances of people or property getting damaged is much less. 

This temple would probably now be open after two years.

The zigzag crossed and the price paid ....!!

This is a story of a boy; yes a boy who lived his dreams. Who was so hard working and determined towards his work. There was nothing in this world that could stop him from doing his work. He did nothing wrong but just dreamed and chased them; it was the inexperience that ruined his life. One incident and everything was gone his house his, company everything. Life took away all the happiness and everything that belonged to him. He lived with his mother, after this incident this mother was shattered and every second only gave tears to her. No wonders as other mothers support their child in everything they do she also did the same. May be she was not aware what will happen in future. Hats of for this lady she not only took care of herself but helped her depressed child cope up the situation. The hope and positivity helped them survive through the toughest of time. This boy once owned an event management company, with two of his partners. Everything was going well; many events with big celebrities went fabulous. Event after event the newspapers were filled with the event stories and name of the event company. One fine day when stars were just shine everything was in going in favor. There came a man with the proposal one of the person I know he gives money on interest. That person is one of my relative is a member of Indian justice party, in Patna. Just because they had faith in their sponsor they agreed and asked for a loan of about crore rupees, in returned the lender wanted a commission of around 5 lakh rupees they agreed to it. Yes you had guessed it right he took the money but never returned it back, neither did he gave the loan. Some days later he became Mr. India phone number changed and traces left out of money lender.

From this turn the life of this boy also took the turn. This was the first loss he went in business, after it second incident he encountered was when another sponsor promised to pay the money and denied on the day of event. As it happens they had to go for on the spot arrangements. He kept his property with on loan and took the money few hours before the celebrity was about to went live on the stage.

The show was good, public clapped and returned home. But that day this boy could not return home, he wanted to return the money and take the property back. This was his ancestral home the only thing his father had given them “home sweet home”. This house had enormous memories of family and especially his father. After a few days he tried hard very hard but could not cope up the loss, so the house was sold out and they had to move in another house. This boy nailed out everything to save his house just things did not worked. These days were filled with sorrow, stress and depression. There was a time he was so much depressed that he wanted to take away his life. Somehow coped up with this incident as well. He started dreaming once again it was a fresh start, all new beginning! He went back on work, booked another celebrity, even got the sponsors, preparation were in full swings. This time it was the celebrity who ditched, the rivals called up the celebrity with fake stories and threaten calls.

Celebrity did not turned up…..!! He even denied to payback the amount he charged. What can be worse than it, later on a case has been filed on that celebrity. But even before the case was filed on celebrity a fir was lodged on the event company for fraud….what fraud where is the money collected from tickets sold out…damned sold out tickets price is distributed amongst the sponsors…and others. When celebrity did not turned up it a loss. They were arrested and put up behind the bars. Reportedly they had not even paid a commission to the police.  This was expected the only reason why the action taken was so quick by police. The newspapers which once covered with the news of event companies hit show….now showed the news of fraud, they published a story claiming these youngsters were fraud….no wonders because the company had to even pay the due amount of advertisements. This way the media and police took the revenge. They did not even bother to think of the career and future of these young boys. At present the cities in which they live companies denied to do business’s and employs them. Gosh just on the basis of newspaper published news.

 If media published was so ethical I doubt it and these peoples sensitivity also who believed on it. When the policeman was later paid the commission the charges were levied from the event company. This is what we call affording luxuries at some else expenses and life. Just think of the humiliation they went through by this misbehave. Unfortunately this boy suffered a huge financial loss that too at the cost of others. Others meant in the sense the partners in business and colleagues. it was time once he nailed out and cracked every deal. It was the great talent which only few survive at but alas now he even feared to talk to people.  Sad but true….if someone is discouraged so much how can he would ever be able to cope up.

Yes he was blessed, blessed with so many well wishers, and a mother who gave him all hope to restart. She made him realized no matter what but yes I am there with you. Will support you and motivate you till my last breath and penny.

Luckily this assurance made things worked and he again started the work in some other city, with some other people, he managed everything and again did a show. He restored the faith lost of people in him especially to his mother. Another hit live show, biggest of ever. This was the new beginning for him.(pic below.....)

 From this point he never looked back and would never look back these incidents had taught him a lesson for lifetime. Life is back on the tracks but not in a full-fledged way but yes ….very soon one day he will and he can make it big. 

the yoga..way

what did you say secular institutes that too lucknow university....see how casteism still prevails.

disclaimer :-you are no one to question this this is my space i can write whatever i want...i have experienced...!!

I have spent almost five years of my life in Lucknow University. Though I have pursued my graduation and post graduation from this university I should not make complaints about it. But then I can’t even close my eyes towards what I saw during my post graduation time. I just cannot stop my self from sharing it to the world. I had always heard that educational institutions are the most secular institutes, which later on I felt was wrong until I encountered with a personal experience. These educational institutes actually make you ready to fight with the world outside on the terms of caste, gender, compromise, exploitation and much more. Everything was going peacefully until one day when I was back from university to home, what I saw could not believe my friend was crying. My friend was a student of b.a. Hons in social work departments. When I came to know why she was crying, I was shocked. She told me that few of her classmates who were her friends till now they went into a fight with her, and even passed casteist remarks ….for her….the remarks were you are chamar…tum to sale hotae hi asie ho..garib chor tum logo ki aukat hi kya hai….? Tum hum logo se dur raha karo class mai dur baitha karo humse…tume humae polluted kar diya h. why what’s the need to bring the caste in between. Whatever the matter may be but is caste the only way the upper caste people left with I can feel the jealously. The jealously of us…them competing with us!

 I mean c'mon what do these girls wanted to prove that people belonging to higher caste are like this only…they keep on fighting with others, just to show them down. Aren't the people belonging to lower caste have the right to education and equality.are they not humans or you do not want to consider this? keep it to your self the constitution of india considers so under Untouchability (Offences) Act 1955 .

I just felt like threshing those piglets… but then I had to control myself and the anger. She states those girls said you does not dress up dress up like scheduled caste, we were never aware of your caste if we were we would have never talked to you. The very next day I rushed up to the coordinator of the social work department Mr. Rupesh Kumar what I saw inside the cabin was the victim was crying and the culprits were being consoled by the coordinator saying do not worry I will talk to your father. I asked him is this the way what your student will do social work..?? What are you teaching in your department; you are making professional will be social workers tomorrow. I definitely doubt your department.

 I wish if I had made a video of it and uploaded the same on social networking sites. Just because the culprits father is an additional judge Mr. B.K Singh Allahabad bench, http://www.allahabadhighcourt.in/District/Officer/5746.html now posted in gonda. You will keep hands on her shoulders and wipe away her tears. The very same day we did file a complaint to the proctor….but that bloody proctor said let it be please do not tell about all this to media, we will make sure that those girls apologies to you. It wont work I had already informed the incident with the media. The same news was published very next day Kids keep on fighting all this even happens in the homes as well….you must have heard the katha of satya narayana where they say jaise sab k din bahurae hain waise hi aap k din bhi bahure…aaj neha singh ka din tha..kal aapka ka din hoga….then a another voice adds up of another proctorial member Mr Lal saying itne dino se tum dalito ko jhukna or sehna padha hai khud ko itna flexible bana he padega aap ko ye sab sunae k liye…tum ladkiya ho ye sab mat karo…screwed up man..it was like almost one month we went from pillar to post… state commission sc/st cell and central one also. Even the so called the old aged mainstream student politicians starting threating us stop all this and burry this case here only. Do you want to divide the university in the name of general sc/st/obc. I laughed over them…crazy people hoping and making strategy for their next student union votes. We even got in touch with v-c Mr G.B patnaik, he said proctor is taking care of this case. Later on a committee was formed of three female teachers Shashi kannujiya, Aparna godbolae and Manisha Gupta. These females on the name of committee just humiliated the victim saying what are you unto, why are you taking all this so seriously, why can’t you just compromise with a sorry. When all this does not worked they enquired with personal question from the victim. How can I forget that the teachers belonged to the same so called high caste…wherein people have a habit of barking at others on the name and status of caste? Though a show cause notice was issued to the three culprits neha singh, deepali suri and akansha ankita, 

(from the right neha singh, deepali suri,akansha ankita and from left akansha ankita deepali suri and neha singh the main culprit)

Also to the coordinator.

Is this the mentality that should be encouraged in these secular institutes, these teachers are nothing less culprit if they have this attitude for such problems. Are they suppose they wear it this attitude.

 Later on to the culprit and to me as well were issued a show cause notice pointing out why you made this publish in media and highlighted on social networking site it has mentally disturbed the three culprits. Really we are very thankful to all the people who had helped us and supported us during our fight with the Lucknow university admin.  Who cares for the victim? Finally we even made a protest at the gate number no1 of university with the help of many organizations. We were even tried to stop from doing that as well. I just can’t say who win who lost it was the social justice being denied. Now think of the culprit would she be ever be able to mix up with other people, surely it was a lesson for her. But who lost was the society who won was the mentality and sick thinking. The case is still pending in an open position we are still fighting for the justice denied…..I feel like throwing water at the face of people who ask does casteism still exists….??

sc/st act to know about it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scheduled_Caste_and_Scheduled_Tribe_(Prevention_of_Atrocities)_Act,_1989

http://socialism.in/index.php/university-of-lucknow-stop-casteism-stop-discrimination/?show=slide

taste ur buds....!!

Vegetable Sizzler

Ingredients

1 Carrot
 2 Potato
 A few Cauliflower florets 
1 Capsicum (Bell Pepper)
 5-6 French Beans
 2 Medium Onions
 2 Tomatoes 
2 slices of Pineapple
 3 Apple 
1 bunch green Coriander
 1/2 tsp Red chilli powder 
2 tsp Black salt 
salt to taste 2 tbsp. 
Tomato ketchup 
2 tbsp Oil

how do we make it 

1. Wash all the vegetables nicely in chilled water to retain its freshness.
2. Julienne carrot, potatoes, french beans, capsicum. Dice pineapple, apple, and onions. Keep aside.
3. Boil carrot, potatoes, french beans and cauliflower florets all till half done.
4. Heat oil in a wok and saute onions for till it turns translucent. Add capsicum and tomatoes, then all the pre boiled vegetables.
5. Toss lightly and add pineapple, apple and add the dry masalas and the tomato sauce. Careful you must not break the vegs.
6. For serving, heat a tawa and lay one cabbage leaf and pour the vegetables mixture on top of the leaf. Add a spoon of butter just before serving to bring the sizzle, smoke and aroma. This is surely going to click to your guests.

fruit pie recipe

this is an australian dish, it takes 30 mins to cook for 4-6 serves.

what all you need to make

200 g (1 1/3 cups) plain flour pinch of salt

125 g soft butter, diced
cold water as required
plain flour for dusting
800 g fresh or frozen berries
75 g (1/3 cup) caster sugar
1 egg yolk
1 tbsp milk

Here we go...

Sift the flour with the salt, then rub in the butter to produce a breadcrumb texture. Add enough water to bring the pastry together, then knead briefly. Wrap in clingfilm and chill for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 200°C.

Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured board to form a rough circle, 5 mm thick. Place the pastry on a flat buttered baking tray. Arrange the berries in the middle, sprinkle them with caster sugar and pinch the pastry up to overlap and form sides (don’t expect them to meet in the middle).

Mix the egg yolk with milk to make an egg wash. Brush the edges of the pastry with the egg wash. Bake in the preheated oven for 30–35 minutes, or until the pastry is cooked and golden brown.

fattoush the most easiest and healthiest salads...to make

fattoush is the most well known salad of Syria, and for many the sharp flavour of the sumac in the dressing, the crunchiness of the chunky cuts of tomato, cucumber and radish, and the thin baked pieces of bread to soak up the dressing make it the county’s favourite salad. Syrians often eat fattoush by spooning a manageable amount into a lettuce or vine leaf, wrapping it up into a little parcel and eating it with the fingers.

how to make 

Dressing

3 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tsp salt
2 tsp sweet paprika
2 tsp sumac
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp lemon juice

1 pita bread
2 Lebanese cucumbers, halved lengthwise, cut into 1 cm slices
2 medium tomatoes, cut into chunky pieces
4–5 radishes, halved and thinly sliced
½ red capsicum, cut into 2 cm cubes
½ green capsicum, cut into 2 cm cubes
4 iceberg lettuce leaves, torn
handful of purslane leaves
½ cup chopped mint
½ cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
3 spring onions, sliced

finally 

Mix the dressing ingredients in a small bowl. If desired you can add more sumac or lemon juice.

Crisp the pita bread in a moderate oven or under a grill.

Place all the vegetables and herbs in a large bowl. Break the bread into small, rough pieces into the bowl. Add the dressing and toss well with your hands. 

why melbourne never sleeps....its the coffee that keeps them awake

.
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/pohskitchen/stories/s3348324.htm

Why Fingertips Might Grow Back But Entire Limbs Won’t

by Ed Yong

If a salamander or newt loses its leg, it can just grow another one. Humans aren’t so lucky. If you cut off my arm, it won’t grow back. (Note: please don’t do that.)

But back in the 1970s, scientists showed that children can sometimes regrow the tip of an amputated finger, as long as there’s a bit of nail left over and the wound isn’t stitched up. Later, we discovered that mice have the same ability. But why is the nail important, and why can’t a finger grow back without it? A new study provides an answer to this longstanding mystery. As I wrote in Nature News:

Working with mice, researchers led by Mayumi Ito at New York University have identified a population of stem cells lying beneath the base of the nail that can orchestrate the restoration of a partially amputated digit. However, the cells can do so only if sufficient nail epithelium — the tissue that lies immediately below the nail — remains.

The process is limited compared with the regenerative powers of amphibians, but the two share many features, from the molecules that are involved to the fact that nerves are necessary. “I was amazed by the similarities,” says Ito. “It suggests that we partly retain the regeneration mechanisms that operate in amphibians.”

You can find out more details about this process over at Nature. Meanwhile, you might also enjoy this long piece I posted a few months back, about whether we’ll ever regenerate limbs. It covers what happens in salamanders, why we can’t do the same, why these abilities have been so difficult for scientists to study, and whether we’ll ever be able to duplicate a salamander’s prowess to heal amputees. Here’s a taster:

Despite these hurdles, we know the basic steps that a regenerating limb must go through. After an amputation, cells from the outermost layer of skin climb over to seal the wound. At this point, humans would lay down lots of scar tissue, and that would be that. But in salamanders, the new cells transform into a structure called the wound epidermis, which sends chemical instructions to those below it. In response, nerves in the stump to start to grow again, while mature cells such as muscles and connective tissues revert to an immature mass called a blastema. This is what restores the limb. Regeneration is about taking a few steps back to take many steps forward.

“Somehow, the cells know their positions, and they’ll only regenerate what’s missing,” says Enrique Amaya, developmental biologist at the University of Manchester. If the limb is amputated at the shoulder or hip, the blastema creates the full leg. If it’s amputated at the wrist, the blastema makes just a hand and digits. As they grow and divide, the cells take up specific positions, so they know up from down, or left from right. They fashion a miniature version of the full limb, which eventually grows to full size.

The basic outline is there, but the details have been hard to fill. Why does the wound epidermis form, and what does it do to the cells beneath it? The limb won’t regenerate if the nerves inside don’t start growing, but what exactly do the nerves do? When cells in the stump rewind their fates to become a blastema, how far back to they go?

http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2013/06/14/why-fingertips-might-grow-back-but-entire-limbs-wont/ 

The village factor

My father has a buaji who is about 72 years old. Indeed Very old even though very energetic and full of life. She got separated from her husband at a very young age, since then she is making her life on her own all alone. She comes to visit us rarely. In a small village of Aligarh she stays, with a house and farm land. She has never been hospitalized or got ill very severely till now, then one day she had a severe stomach ache. Panicked and confused after the doctorial report called up my father crying like a small baby. “beta mujhe pata nai ab mai kab tak rahungi mere gall bladder mai stones hai”. Papa was shocked and told her need not worry they are just stones which can be operated and removed from gall bladder. He somehow consoled dadiji. A few days later he took him to our house with the confirmation that you will get well just relax. Your son is there to take care of you in best possible ways.

From the very next day she underwent a number of tests, later on we came to relies she is even patient of sugar, not worst but controlled sugar level. On knowing bua dadi’s age doctors found it a risk to operate her at this age. As the stones were in gall bladder operation was the only way. They said well we can operate her but it’s a risk cant say if she will be alive or not! She feared the word operation, like any other person would. Gosh isse suntae hi dadi was like beta meri zameen ka vasiyaat nama kar leta, mere chale jane ka baad to kuch nai ho pyega. Papa was like with his eyes popped out buaji relax have faith you will be with us even after operation. Every time till the date of operation was not given bua dadi was like “I have given this person this much money, another one that much amount….and so on…. Mere marnae k baad yaha yaha iss iss jagah sab ghar mai dhund lena.” Every body consoled her not to worry if you think positive it help you recover soon.

I can understand the background from she comes, where the names of many dieses and their cures are still not known by the masses. Times I laughed at these statements but even regretted and felt sad on imaging the scenarios in the villages. Medical check ups are negligence and government swastha Kendra only give medicines of pain and fever. In most of the cases they are not even hold a medical doctorate degree. In the cities I can see people who suffer from almost incurable dieses just because they are aware they do not panic. They have faith in medical sciences.

I was wondering if this panic and hopelessness was a result of medical unawareness, emotions or the age factor. What it was? May be if she is not aware could be responsible some where for it. Do people coming from the remote and underdeveloped areas do still not know about the rest of the world.

she is been operated and hopefully she is doing well ..!

Body modification and how it can be harmful

In a latest trend, people play with their body parts by modifying them. But this, at times, things like bifurcating one's tongue can be harmful.

TONGUE PIERCING was something that people are familiar with and accepted it. There are people who love to experiment with their body parts. Sometimes, these experiments can take away their lives.

Tongue splitting, bifurcating or forking, is some people's passion and obsession - to modify their body parts. In this process the tongue is cut centrally from its tip to slightly back so that it doesn't result in cutting of veins. The moment it is cut, blood starts coming out.

There are many methods used to split the tongue like cutting with a scalpel, and tying it off. It is also done by oral surgeons, cauterizing, plastic surgeons, and body modification practitioners or one can do it oneself. The legal way of carrying out this process is through oral and plastic surgeons.

Before splitting with any method, some choose to go tongue piercing where there is supposed to be a back end. The result might not be desired but it leads to cutting the tongue more than required. While using the scalpel process, the tongue is cut down the middle with a scalpel and each half is stitched along the cut edge. This is a better process, and prevents the sides from healing back with each other, and also achieves a more rounded and natural look.

Cauterizing can be done with a cautery unit or an argon laser. Another method is to tie off or the fishing line method, which can be done personally. The tongue heals completely within in two to three months. The person might undergo difficulty with speech or normal dietary habits. If the procedure is done by a doctor, the risks are negligible, and complications that rise can be controlled under medical supervision.

If it is done not using a surgeon, loss of blood is the single largest risk. The tongue contains major blood vessels, and without proper training and tools, amateur practitioners may find themselves unable to control blood loss. Unaware of the damage to nerves and glands in the tongue - some people still go for it.

Proper care should be ensured in order not to accidentally damage glands in the base of the mouth. Infection and scarring is possible but it rarely happens. Splitting is reversible but the reversal is even more painful than the tongue splitting procedure.

http://www.merinews.com/article/body-modification-and-how-it-can-be-harmful/15870684.shtml

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

It’s normal, on occasion, to go back and double-check that the iron is unplugged or your car is locked. But if you suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors become so excessive they interfere with your daily life. No matter what you do, you can’t seem to shake them. But help is available. With treatment and self-help strategies, you can break free of the unwanted thoughts and irrational urges and take back control of your life.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by uncontrollable, unwanted thoughts and repetitive, ritualized behaviors you feel compelled to perform. If you have OCD, you probably recognize that your obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors are irrational – but even so, you feel unable to resist them and break free.

Like a needle getting stuck on an old record, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) causes the brain to get stuck on a particular thought or urge. For example, you may check the stove twenty times to make sure it’s really turned off, wash your hands until they’re scrubbed raw, or drive around for hours to make sure that the bump you heard while driving wasn’t a person you ran over.

Understanding OCD obsessions and compulsions

Obsessions are involuntary, seemingly uncontrollable thoughts, images, or impulses that occur over and over again in your mind. You don’t want to have these ideas but you can’t stop them. Unfortunately, these obsessive thoughts are often disturbing and distracting.

Compulsions are behaviors or rituals that you feel driven to act out again and again. Usually, compulsions are performed in an attempt to make obsessions go away. For example, if you’re afraid of contamination, you might develop elaborate cleaning rituals. However, the relief never lasts. In fact, the obsessive thoughts usually come back stronger. And the compulsive behaviors often end up causing anxiety themselves as they become more demanding and time-consuming.

Most people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) fall into one of the following categories:

• Washers are afraid of contamination. They usually have cleaning or hand-washing compulsions.
• Checkers repeatedly check things (oven turned off, door locked, etc.) that they associate with harm or danger.
• Doubters and sinners are afraid that if everything isn’t perfect or done just right something terrible will happen or they will be punished.
• Counters and arrangers are obsessed with order and symmetry. They may have superstitions about certain numbers, colors, or arrangements.
• Hoarders fear that something bad will happen if they throw anything away. They compulsively hoard things that they don’t need or use.

Just because you have obsessive thoughts or perform compulsive behaviors does NOT mean that you have obsessive-compulsive disorder. With OCD, these thoughts and behaviors cause tremendous distress, take up a lot of time, and interfere with your daily life and relationships.

Signs and symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Most people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have both obsessions and compulsions, but some people experience just one or the other.

OCD signs and symptoms: Obsessive thoughts

Common obsessive thoughts in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) include:

• Fear of being contaminated by germs or dirt or contaminating others.
• Fear of causing harm to yourself or others.
• Intrusive sexually explicit or violent thoughts and images.
• Excessive focus on religious or moral ideas.
• Fear of losing or not having things you might need.
• Order and symmetry: the idea that everything must line up “just right.”
• Superstitions; excessive attention to something considered lucky or unlucky.

OCD signs and symptoms: Compulsive behaviors

Common compulsive behaviors in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) include:

• Excessive double-checking of things, such as locks, appliances, and switches.
• Repeatedly checking in on loved ones to make sure they’re safe.
• Counting, tapping, repeating certain words, or doing other senseless things to reduce anxiety.
• Spending a lot of time washing or cleaning.
• Ordering or arranging things “just so.”
• Praying excessively or engaging in rituals triggered by religious fear.
• Accumulating “junk” such as old newspapers or empty food containers.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms in children

While the onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder usually occurs during adolescence or young adulthood, younger children sometimes have symptoms that look like OCD. However, the symptoms of other disorders, such as ADD, autism, and Tourette’s syndrome, can also look like obsessive-compulsive disorder, so a thorough medical and psychological exam is essential before any diagnosis is made.

Therapy as treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

The most effective treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder is often cognitive-behavioral therapy. Antidepressants are sometimes used in conjunction with therapy, although medication alone is rarely effective in relieving the symptoms of OCD.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Cognitive-behavioral therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) involves two components:

1. Exposure and response prevention involves repeated exposure to the source of your obsession. Then you are asked to refrain from the compulsive behavior you’d usually perform to reduce your anxiety. For example, if you are a compulsive hand washer, you might be asked to touch the door handle in a public restroom and then be prevented from washing. As you sit with the anxiety, the urge to wash your hands will gradually begin to go away on its own. In this way, you learn that you don’t need the ritual to get rid of your anxiety—that you have some control over your obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors.
2. Cognitive therapy focuses on the catastrophic thoughts and exaggerated sense of responsibility you feel. A big part of cognitive therapy for OCD is teaching you healthy and effective ways of responding to obsessive thoughts, without resorting to compulsive behavior.

Four Steps for Conquering Symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Psychiatrist Jeffrey Schwartz, author of Brain Lock: Free Yourself from Obsessive-Compulsive Behavior, offers the following four steps for dealing with OCD:

• RELABEL – Recognize that the intrusive obsessive thoughts and urges are the result of OCD. For example, train yourself to say, "I don't think or feel that my hands are dirty. I'm having an obsession that my hands are dirty." Or, "I don't feel that I have the need to wash my hands. I'm having a compulsive urge to perform the compulsion of washing my hands."
• REATTRIBUTE – Realize that the intensity and intrusiveness of the thought or urge is caused by OCD; it is probably related to a biochemical imbalance in the brain. Tell yourself, "It's not me—it’s my OCD," to remind you that OCD thoughts and urges are not meaningful, but are false messages from the brain.
• REFOCUS – Work around the OCD thoughts by focusing your attention on something else, at least for a few minutes. Do another behavior. Say to yourself, "I'm experiencing a symptom of OCD. I need to do another behavior."
• REVALUE – Do not take the OCD thought at face value. It is not significant in itself. Tell yourself, "That's just my stupid obsession. It has no meaning. That's just my brain. There's no need to pay attention to it." Remember: You can't make the thought go away, but neither do you need to pay attention to it. You can learn to go on to the next behavior.

Source: Westwood Institute for Anxiety Disorders

Family therapy for OCD treatment

Because OCD often causes problems in family life and social adjustment, family therapy can often be beneficial.

• Family therapy promotes understanding of the disorder and can help reduce family conflicts.
• It can motivate family members and teach them how to help their loved one.

Group therapy for OCD treatment

Through interaction with fellow OCD sufferers, group therapy provides support and encouragement and decreases feelings of isolation.

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/obsessive_compulsive_disorder_ocd.htm

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