Saturday, July 18, 2020

Change food Habits to fight COVID-19, Suggestions from two Indian scientists of DST Ministry


In the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, foods you eat plays a great role in improving immunity. Choosing the right food is a must especially when you are fighting a disease that hardly has any
prescribed treatment, vaccine and therapeutic recommendations.

See what two senior scientists from the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, has to say on eating habits during COVID-19. Their recommendations and guidelines are based on the ancient healing system of India—Ayurveda.

(A) Maximum use of raw vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, pulses, wholegrain foods, unsaturated oils;; and stop eating junk and sugary food. Apart from food, guidelines also recommend physical exercises, meditation and adequate sleep, and good exposure to sunlight.

(B) Limits the intake of soda, salt, sugar and trans fats (take rock salts, jaggery or honey and unsaturated fats instead), & Stop Eating junk and sugary food.

(C) Apart from food, guidelines also recommend physical exercises, meditation and adequate sleep, and good exposure to sunlight.

In fact even governments of most countries and several authorised international health agencies like the World Health Organisation, the British Dietetic Association and the UD Food and Administration has stressed on these guidelines though without referring Indian healing system—Ayurveda (आयुर्वेदा ).

According to the two Indian scientists, Jyoti Sharma  S.K. Varshney, senior scientists from the Department of Science and Technology of India, who have done an in-depth study of Ayurveda for curing people,  Indian ancient healing system stands on four pillars

 1) Aahar (diet)

2) Vihar (lifestyle)

3) Achar (conduct of individual with the external world)

4) Vichar (mental health).

In ancient healing system of India, food is like a medicine that can recuperate an individual by establishing the connection between elements of life, food, and body. Individuals’ temperament, physical and emotional states can be determined and regulated by their food choices, quantities, and lifestyle.

It is well known that there is a close relationship among genes, environment, food, and emotional factors that lead to a bidirectional vicious cycle of mood, food, and lifestyle diseases.

Ayurveda recommends the intervention of healthy lifestyles, meditation, pranayama, adequate sleep, and Satvik food to live a healthy, peaceful life and fight against various diseases including COVID-19.

The scientists claimed that proper food selection and dietary schedule help to maintain holistic health with a calm mind. Bhagwad Gita and Yoga Shastras divided food into three types based on their qualities (termed as gunas).

They are 
(A) Sathva (satoguna), Good to take. A Satvik diet is meant to include foods and eating habits that are natural, vital and energy-containing and provides calmness, purity and promote longevity, intelligence, strength, health and delight. Examples of Satvik food items are fruits, vegetables, sprouted grains, cereals, nuts and seeds, low-fat milk and milk products, pure fruit juices, and cooked food that is consumed within 3-4 hours of cooking,

 (B) Rajasa (rajoguna): Avoidable. A Rajasic diet, the mode of passion, is one that is overly spicy, hot, or fried with pungent, sour, and salty taste. Rajasic food possesses attributes of negativity, passion, and restlessness. Examples of Rajasic food is caffeinated drinks (like coffee, fizzy soft drinks, tea), sugary foods (chocolate, cake, biscuits, chips, etc), or spicy food.  As these foods are rich in glucose, they may provide immediate energy but eventually destroys the mind-body equilibrium, feeding the body at the expense of the mind.

(C) Thamasa (tamoguna) (Should not take): A Tamsik diet, the mode of ignorance, is one that consists of overcooked, stale, fast, reheated, microwaved, or frozen food; dead food such as meat, fish, poultry, eggs; alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs of addiction. Tamsik foods are hard to digest and gift inertia, dullness, and induce sleep. All these are an important cause of obesity, diabetes, heart, and liver disease.

Rajasic and Tamsik foods, available as processed and junk foods, are full of carbohydrates, sugar, and trans-fat in high proportions. The combination of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and table sugar has become a primary choice of food industries as a sweetener due to its better shelf-life, more palatability and competitive price. This resulted in an additional 30% increase in overall sweetener intake and inability to regulate the hormones insulin and leptin and to inhibit the production of ghrelin, all factors that are known to affect the satiety centre in our brain, regulate blood glucose levels and appetite. Fast foods and fried foods like French fries, doughnuts, cakes, pie crusts, biscuits, frozen pizza, cookies, crackers, and stick margarines are made up by using hydrogenated or artificial trans-fats (or trans-fatty acids) which meets their food processing needs, easy to use, inexpensive and can be used many times in the commercial fryers. High sugar, high-fat and animal protein diets lead to disruption in the regulation of blood glucose levels, fat build-up in the liver, high uric acid concentrations reduced kidney function and increase in arteriolar thickening, and fat deposition.

Food rich in Prana (Life-Force):

It is a combination of carbohydrates, fats, rich in dietary fibre, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants with a limited amount of sugar, salt and oil, and no animal fat. It can be digested easily and utilize the six tastes in Ayurveda (sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, astringent). Satvik food with recommended physical exercise, adequate rest, and a positive mindset is a source of energy and can reduce the risk of high body mass index, coronary artery disease, obesity, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and osteoporosis. Satvik food is pure, natural, strong, wise, and full of energy to provide calmness and peace to the mind, thereby resulting in longevity of life in an individual.

Rajasic and Tamsik food:

Some food articles like onion, garlic, asafoetida, caffeinated tea, and coffee; fried, spicy, high in sugar, and junk foods induce restlessness, lethargy, and sleep. Food like garlic and onion may be good as medicine but not for daily consumption. The daily consumption of food, which stimulates the nervous system, may lower the possibilities of experiencing life.

Self Care Guidelines for COVID-19: Self-care guidelines for preventive health measures and boosting immunity include herbal tea and decoction (Kadha) made from Tulsi, Dalchini, Kalimirch, Shunthi (Dry Ginger) and Munakka (Raisin) with jaggery and/or fresh lemon juice to enhance the taste as immunity promoting measures against COVID-19.

The Guidelines of AYUSH Ministry also asked to cold, frozen, and heavy foods, which is a clear indication to avoid Rajasic and Tamsik food. It asked people to take appropriate rest, timely sleep, exposure to sunlight, and practice of Yogasana and Pranayama so as to balance our body, mind, and lifestyle.

At a time when COVID 19 is spreading exponentially, the AYUSH Ministry has recommended that in this time of uncertainties and non-availability of treatment, it is important to remain healthy and peaceful. Good food with other recommendations, as explained in the above table, would help in building up our immunity as well as burst the stress while combating against COVID-19.


Recommended Food

Avoid (but could be taken rarely to satisfy taste buds)

 

Not Recommended

Fibrous food in the form of raw or freshly cooked colourful vegetables and fruits (good sources of vitamins A, C and E, as well as antioxidants, folate, and fibre

(opt steaming, grilling or sautéing cooking methods)

Less spicy and oily food

Garlic, onion, unseasonal veggies in a limited amount

Fried, over spicy and overcooked, or stale food

Pulses and wholegrain foods (oats, brown pasta, millet, and rice, quinoa and whole-wheat fresh chapatis and wraps)

Brown bread

Refined, processed grain foods (white pasta and rice, and white bread), deep-frozen foods

Low-fat or reduced-fat versions of milk and dairy products like curd, yoghurt (rich in probiotics that strengthen the digestive tract).

White meats like poultry and fish that are generally lower in fats than red meat; processed meat (though it is not a part of Satvik food)

Red meat

Unsalted nuts and seeds (like pumpkin, sunflower, and flax). They are great sources of vitamin E, niacin, riboflavin, protein, healthy fat, antioxidants, and fibre.

Homemade low fat/sugar snacks like idli, dosa, dhokla, upma, daliya, brown bread with pea-nut butter

Snacks that are high in salt and sugar (cookies, samosa, cakes, and chocolate); pickles, jams

Egg yolks, and fortified breakfast cereals

Canned food, used after washing it to remove extra salt or sugar

 

Unsaturated fats (e.g., found in fish, avocado, nuts, olive oil, soy, canola, sunflower and corn oils). The fat intake is recommended less than 30% of total energy intake, of which no more than 10% should come from saturated fat.

Saturated fats (e.g., found in fatty meat, butter, coconut oil, cream, cheese, and lard)

 

Trans-fats (processed food, fast and fried food, snacks, frozen pizza, pies, cookies, margarines, and spreads)

Fresh fruit juices, low-fat lassi, chaaz, lemon water, coconut water/ hot water, herbal tea (packs a big punch of polyphenols, flavonoids, and antioxidants that destroy free radicals)

 

 

 

Soft drinks or sodas and other drinks that are high in sugar (e.g., packed fruit juices; fruit juice concentrates and syrups; flavoured milks and water; energy and sports drinks; and yogurt drinks, caffeinated tea, coffee, ready-to-drink tea, and coffee

Alcohol, tobacco, drugs

 Honey and jaggery

Brown sugar

White sugar

Indian herbs:

Coriander (Dhaniya), turmeric (contain Curcumin), fenugreek (methi), tulsi (Basil), cumin (jeera), fennel (sonph), cloves, black pepper (Kalimirch, contain Piperine), cinnamon (dalchini), ginger and curry leaves.

 

These spices have antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, act as an immune booster and may help to flush out any sinuses from the body.

Rock salt (limit salt intake to 5 grams (equivalent to a teaspoon) a day.

Iodised salt

Non-iodised salt

 


BY Vijay Thakur, Special Representative, The Statesman, vijaythakurx@gmail.com

Friday, July 17, 2020

Indian Scientists invented two unique products to fight COVID 19, an easy to breath active mask, and a long lasting nano senitizers, commercial production to start soon

Both these products are unique and have been transferred to a private firm for commercial production to meet the demand arising out of COVID 19 pandemic.

While the active respirator, with attached exhalation value, would give relief  to people wearing the mask from breathing and talking, the eco-friendly nano sanitizer would have much long last effect on surfaces that the existing sanitizer.

The two innovations were made by the National Research Development Corporation, an Autonomous Institute under the Union Ministry of Science and Technology. It developed —an  Active Respirator mask active, and a Long-Lasting Nano-sanitiser—both would help doctors and patients to prevent from further spread of COVID-19.

The Corporation has passed this technology to a private player for commercial production to bring it in the market as early as possible, said the Union Ministry of Science and Technology, which the Kolkota based institute falls.

Considering the importance of these two products, Government in a hurry sign an agreement with a private company, M/s Paulmech Infrastructure Pvt Ltd Kolkata, to transfer two COVID-19 control technologies for commercial production.

FIRST: An Active Respirator with Attached Exhalation Valve and Suspended Particulate Matter Filter for Comfortable and Hygienic Breathing.

It is an innovative solution to the rebreathing of carbon dioxide, exhaled moisture, and sweaty and hot environment inside the mask. It also improved the clarity of speech of a person with a face mask and assures comfortable, hygienic breathing to protect the wearer from exposure to airborne contaminants.

Second: Long-Lasting Nano-sanitiser with a Dispensing Antimicrobial Layer.

This innovation is a solution to the problems caused by the use of general sanitizer like dehydration of skin due to frequent use, and nature of instantaneous antimicrobial action of common sanitisers without protective role. This innovative sanitiser technology assures comfortable and hygienic hand sanitisation for a longer duration.

The use of these innovative products will help the users in overcoming the existing problems with masks and sanitisers available in the market.

The Agreement was signed by Dr. H Purushotham, CMD, NRDC and Shri Shanti Ranjan Paul, Director, M/s Paulmech Infrastructure Pvt Ltd online in the digital presence of Professor Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, DST, Government Of India and Dr. Samit Kumar Ray, Director, S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Scientist Professor Samir Kumar Pal, Registrar Ms Shohini Majumder, Nodal officer of Technical Research Centre (TRC) Dr. Soumen Mondal of S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Priyankan S. Sharma, Somavo Gupta of Paulmech Company and senior officials of NRDC.

BY Vijay Thakur, Special Representative, The Statesman, vijaythakurx@gmail.com

Ends.


Thursday, July 16, 2020

Vikas Dubey killed only 8 UP Policemen, but the person who posted this picture killed the image of entire Indian Police. Yet No action against those who posted it.

One picture is worth thousand words is what we are taught in our Journalism school.
But I never thought what blunders a wrong narrative can commit to a picture.. turn a saviour into a criminal.

The 'fundamentalist vultures' (could be Hindu or Muslim) in our society look for such pictures to tarnish police image and sow seeds of hatred in people's mind.
Unfortunately, no action is taken against these criminals who divide our community and create hatred against our system.
The picture in question belongs to a Muslim boy who was rescued by a police team in Greater Noida from a Madarsa (religious school), but it was projected as if police chained the boy because he was a Muslim.

The Policemen, who otherwise should have been praised for rescuing the boy from a criminal gang, were rather condemned. It was projected that a child with a Muslim cap was treated worse than a  dreaded criminal.

Unfortunately, those who tarnished police image on social media, have not yet been taken to task. They have committed a serious crime to divide our society, it is rather worse than murder...Police must take it up seriously otherwise such people would continue to divide us.

The posted image (two and a half-year-old, Jan 2018) is of a Muslim kid with two policemen standing near a police vehicle. 
The posting on social media reads “Crime of wearing a skull cap and being born in a Muslim family”.

When I saw this picture for the first time, I felt ashamed of our police system.  In fact, I tweeted, that the act is very shameful. Further suggested that those involved should be given exemplary punishment. At the same time, I urged people not to publicize it further as it might spoil our communal harmony.

The Fundamentalist vultures, This time it was a person who claimed to be an Asaduddin Owaisi supporter. He posted in social media that this boy was chained just because he was bearing a Muslim cap. 
He not only spread hatred against Police and a particular community but also tarnished the image of Uttar Pradesh Police.

When I checked the facts and authenticity of the picture, I found the image was right but its interpretation was wrong. The picture
 was two and half-year-old taken by Greater Noida police, which rescued the chained boy from a Madrasa (a religious Islamic school) near Mangrauli Pulia Jewar and later handed over to his father in Faridabad. One of the Police officers who rescued the boy was Rajpal Talhan from Greater Noida Police. 

On reverse image searching the photo using keywords, a tweet posted by ‘Call 112’, emergency service portal of Uttar Pradesh was found detailing about the incident shown in the photo. In that tweet, they informed that the police of Gautham Buddha Nagar- PRV 1873 rescued a child who was chained and locked in a Madrasa (a religious Islamic school) near Mangrauli Pulia Jewar.

BY Vijay Thakur, Special Representative, The Statesman, vijaythakurx@gmail.com

Wednesday, July 15, 2020

After Facebook, it is now Google: Reliance Jio to sell 7.7 % share to Google for Rs 33,737 crores, Deck clear for its 5G launch in India

Google और Jio साथ मिलकर एक ऑपरेटिंग सिस्टम बनाएंगे, जो एंट्री लेवल के 4G/5G स्मार्टफोन के लिए होगा. जियो और गूगल मिलकर भारत को 2G-मुक्त बनाएंगे. अंबानी ने यह भी बताया कि सर्च इंजन कंपनी गूगल ने जियो के प्लेटफॉर्म में 33,737 करोड़ रुपये का निवेश किया है. मुकेश अंबानी ने कहा कि भारत 5जी युग के दरवाजे पर खड़ा है. उन्होंने कहा कि उनका प्रयास वर्तमान में 2जी फोन इस्तेमाल कर रहे 35 करोड़ भारतीयों को सस्ते स्मार्टफोन मुहैया कराना है. एजीएम में फेसबुक के प्रमुख मार्क जुकरबर्ग और गूगल के सीईओ सुंदर पिचाई के वीडियो संदेश भी चलाए गए.

Reliance Jio प्लेटफॉर्म्स में 7.7% हिस्सेदारी खरीदेगा गूगल, 33737 करोड़ रुपये में हुई डील

 •       भारत में 5G लॉन्‍च करने को तैयार है Reliance जिओ, Jio TV+, Jio Glass का हुआ ऐलान

•       35 करोड़ भारतीयों को सस्ते स्मार्टफोन मुहैया कराना लक्ष्य

•       जियोमार्ट जो अनूठा समाधान पेश कर रहा,  जिससे उनके ग्राहकों का अनुभव पूरी तरह बदल जाएगा

•       जियो का एजुकेशन प्लेटफॉर्म Embibe भारत में क्वालिटी टीचर्स की कमी को पूरा करने का काम करेगा।

रिलायंस के चेयरमैन मुकेश अंबानी ने बुधवार को कंपनी की 43वीं वार्षिक आम बैठक (AGM) को संबोधित किया। अंबानी ने Jio Meet के जरिए आयोजित कंपनी के पहले वर्चुअल एजीएम को संबोधित करते हुए कई अहम एलान किए।
मुकेश अंबानी ने बताया कि 
उन्होंने 12 लाख करोड़ रुपये की बाजार पूंजीकरण वाली कंपनी के भविष्य की रणनीति से शेयरधारकों को अवगत कराया। इस एजीएम में रिलायंस ने Jio TV+ और Jio Glass जैसे नए प्रोडक्ट्स लाने की घोषणा की। अंबानी ने साथ ही कहा कि जियो भारत में 5जी सेवाओं को लांच करने के लिए तैयार है।

मुकेश अंबानी की पत्नी नीता अंबानी ने पहली बार रिलायंस एजीएम को संबोधित किया. उन्होंने रिलायंस फाउंडेशन द्वारा कोरोना संकट में किए जा रहे सामाजिक कार्यों की जानकारी दी. रिलायंस फाउंडेशन की चेयरपर्सन नीता अंबानी ने बताया कि मिशन अन्न सेवा के जरिए देश भर में 5 करोड़ से ज्यादा गरीबों, मजदूरों और फ्रंटलाइन वर्करों के लिए भोजन उपलब्ध कराया गया.
मुकेश अंबानी ने कहा कि हमारे पास रिलायंस को दुनिया की अग्रणी न्यू एनर्जी और न्यू मैटेरियल कंपनी में से एक के रूप में बनाने के लिए 15 साल का विजन है. न्यू एनर्जी व्यवसाय भारत और दुनिया के लिए एक मल्टी ट्रिलियन डॉलर का अवसर है.
मुकेश अंबानी ने बताया कि बीपी ने उनके फ्यूल रिटेलिंग बिजनेस में निवेश किया है. यह निवेश जियो-बीपी नाम के नए ब्रैंड में हुआ है. मुकेश अंबानी ने क्लीन एनर्जी के क्षेत्र में किए जा रहे कामों के बारे में बताया. उन्होंने बताया कि रिलायंस कार्बन डाई ऑक्साईड को उपयोगी प्रोडक्ट और केमिकल्स में तब्दील करने से जुड़ी नई तकनीकों को अपनाने के लिए प्रतिबद्ध है.
JioMart की जानकारी देते हुए मुकेश अंबानी ने कहा कि इसके पायलट मॉडल की सफलतापूर्वक शुरुआत हो चुकी है. इस ग्रॉसरी प्लेटफॉर्म के बीटा वर्जन की शुरुआत 200 शहरों में हो चुकी है. डेली ऑर्डर का आंकड़ा ढाई लाख को पार कर चुका है. यह आंकड़े दिन प्रतिदिन बढ़ रहे हैं. उन्होंने बताया कि उनकी ग्रॉसरी बिजनेस को बढ़ाने की मुख्य रणनीति किसानों को जोड़ना और फ्रेश प्रॉडक्ट्स को घरों तक पहुंचाने की है. इससे न केवल किसानों की आय बेहतर होगी जबकि उत्पादकता में भी इजाफा होगा. जियो मार्ट को वॉट्सऐप की तकनीक के साथ पेश किया जाएगा.इस गठजोड़ से भारत के लाखों छोटे दुकानदारों के बिजनेस को जोड़ा जाएगा. ग्राहकों को भी किराना स्टोर से सामान खरीदने में मदद मिलेगी.

JioMart पेश करते हुए ईशा अंबानी ने बताया कि इस तकनीक से वर्तमान किराना दुकानों को 48 घंटों के अंदर सेल्फ स्टोर में तब्दील हो जाएगा. इसे कस्टमर एक्सपीरियंस भी पूरी तरह बदल जाएगा. उन्होंने बताया कि जियो मार्ट से किराना स्टोर्स को न केवल बिजनेस बढ़ाने में मदद मिलेगी, बल्कि कमाई भी बढ़ेगी. JioMeet के बारे में ईशा अंबानी ने बताया कि यह एक सस्ता और बेहद सुरक्षित वीडियो कॉन्फ्रेंसिंग ऐप है. यह असल जिंदगी की जरूरतों को ध्यान में रखकर बनाया गया है. ईशा अंबानी और आकाश अंबानी ने नए जियो टीवी प्लस का डिमॉन्स्ट्रेशन दिया. जियो टीवी प्लस नेटफ्लिक्स, अमेजन प्राइम, हॉटस्टार और अन्य ओटीटी प्लैटफॉर्म को एक ऐप पर ले आएगा. इसके अलावा, यह वॉयस सर्च से भी लैस होगा.
जियो ने जियो ग्लास भी पेश किया. महज 75 ग्राम वजन वाले इस डिवाइस में मिक्स रियल्टी से जुड़ी सर्विसेज होंगी. यह सिंगल केबल से कनेक्ट होगा. इसमें 25 ऐप्स होंगे, जो एआर तकनीक वाली वीडियो मीटिंग में मदद करेगी.
रिलायंस प्रमुख मुकेश अंबानी ने कहा कि जियो आने वाले तीन सालों में आधा अरब मोबाइल कस्टमर जोड़ेगा. जियो ने संपूर्ण 5जी तकनीक विकसित कर ली है. उन्होंने बताया कि जैसे ही 5जी स्पेक्ट्रम उपलब्ध होंगे, इसके ट्रायल शुरू हो जाएंगे. फील्ड में इस्तेमाल के लिए अगले साल तक यह तकनीक तैयार की जा सकती है. अंबानी ने कहा कि रिलायंस अब सच्चे मायनों में कर्जमुक्त कंपनी बन गई है. अंबानी के मुताबिक, इस लक्ष्य को मार्च 2021 की डेडलाइन से पहले ही हासिल कर लिया गया. रिलायंस प्रमुख ने कहा कि कंपनी की मजबूत बैलेंस शीट जियो, रिटेल और ओटूसी के लिए ग्रोथ प्लान में मदद करेंगे.  अंबानी ने विश्वास जताया कि कोरोना संकट के बीच भारत और दुनिया तेजी से तरक्की करेंगगे. उन्होंने कहा कि हर मुश्किल अपने साथ कई संभावनाएं भी लाता है.

 रिलायंस इंडस्ट्री की 43वीं एजीएम (RIL 43rd AGM 2020) में चेयरमैन मुकेश अंबानी ने बड़ी घोषणा करते हुए कहा कि गूगल जियो प्लेटफॉर्म्स में 7.7 फीसदी हिस्सा 33737  करोड़ रुपये में खरीदेगी. इसके साथ ही तीन महीने में रिलायंस जियो (Reliance Jio) में विदेशी कंपनियों द्वारा ये 14 वां निवेश है. इसके पहले फेसबुक, सिल्वर लेक पार्टनर्स,  जनरल अटलांटिक, KKR, मुबाडाला, सिल्वर लेक, TPG,  ने जियो में निवेश किया है.

रिलायंस के चेयरमैन मुकेश अंबानी ने बुधवार को कंपनी की 43वीं वार्षिक आम बैठक (AGM) को संबोधित किया। अंबानी ने Jio Meet के जरिए आयोजित कंपनी के पहले वर्चुअल एजीएम को संबोधित करते हुए कई अहम एलान किए।

अंबानी ने साथ ही कहा कि जियो भारत में 5जी सेवाओं को लांच करने के लिए तैयार है। उन्होंने 12 लाख करोड़ रुपये की बाजार पूंजीकरण वाली कंपनी के भविष्य की रणनीति से शेयरधारकों को अवगत कराया। इस एजीएम में रिलायंस ने Jio TV+ और Jio Glass जैसे नए प्रोडक्ट्स लाने की घोषणा की।

BY Vijay Thakur, Special Representative, The Statesman, vijaythakurx@gmail.com

In an attempt to cut annual import of Chinese API to the tune of USD 2.5 Billion, India has come out with a plan to scale up indigenous API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients)

The API import in India is around USD 3.5 billion annually, out of which 70 % is imported from China alone. The government now intends to cut its import Bill on API mainly from China which alone stands at USD 2.5 Billion annually 

The pharmaceutical industry in India is the third-largest in the world, in terms of volume, behind China and Italy, and fourteenth largest in terms of value.

It has a strong network of 3,000 drug companies and about 10,500 manufacturing units with a domestic turnover of Rs 1.4 lakh crore (USD 20.03 billion) in 2019, with exports to more than 200 countries in the world.

Despite a very strong manufacturing base, the domestic pharmaceutical industry prefers to import API instead of indigenous production because of  low-profit margins and non-lucrative industry. 

Import of API was a cheaper option with increased profit margins on drugs. With the availability of cheaper APIs from China, the pharmaceutical industry relies heavily on imports. The its imports from China have been increasing steadily and now stand around 70 %.

To address this, TIFAC has recommended policies to address the requirement of APIs in short & medium term to make our country self-reliant. In a report published by the Technology Information Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC), an autonomous organization under the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, it has recommended the government to scale up indigenous production of API to a level where the production is economically viable.

The report titled ‘Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients- Status, Issues, Technology Readiness, and Challenges’, the TIFAC has given major recommendations including a focus on engineering and scale aspect of technology development, need for Mission mode Chemical Engineering with defined targets for uninterrupted synthesis of molecules.

The Report suggested to create mega drug manufacturing clusters with common infrastructure in India and the technology platform to be developed for biocatalysis towards reducing process steps for cost optimization and for fluorination, Investment on priority in fermentation sector of large capacity and scale supporting techno-economic feasibility, attention to technologies like hazardous reactions, flow chemistry, cryogenic reactions, and membrane technology.

 

The report has further suggested chiral building blocks through biocatalysis for production of niche intermediates involving enzymatic reactions or fermentation as an area of potential exploitation for Indian API industry and focus on antiviral drugs, which require nucleic acid building blocks - Thymidine/ Cytosine Adenine/ Guanine none of which are manufactured in India because of lack of cyanation plants.

 

TIFAC has also asked the government to encourage Indian companies working in chemical segments mainly steroids, amino acids, carbohydrates, nucleosides so as it could collaborate for technology development or quick technology transfer for closer academia-industry interaction for technology development and commercialization.

BY Vijay Thakur, Special Representative, The Statesman, vijaythakurx@gmail.com



Will Metro coaches be manufactured in Greater Noida ?


A renowned company PPS International has asked Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) for a plot of 20 acres (80,937 square meters) of land to manufacture stainless steel coaches based on German Technology. This factory would The  Company would manufacture stainless steel coaches based on German Technology and attract nearly 200 crores.

Though the land has not yet been allotted, its prospect is considered to be very bright. The final decision on the proposal yet to come from authorities but it is believed that this proposal is going to get the green signal.

According to a website, https://www.metrorailnews.in/  Yamuna Authority has agreed on the allocation of land for the factory in Sector-32. Once allotted, it would be a big boost to Greater Noida which has just got its International Airport, Jewer--likely to be started in the coming two-three years.

The company, PPS  International,  an  ISO 9001  certified company, established in the year  2003,    Introduces high tech equipment in Rail Industry from the world-renowned companies to make   Indian Railways and Metro more advanced and safe. PPS deals mainly in equipment, which is either not available in the country or requires special technology.

Based in Delhi / NCR  region, the company has a specialized technical team is able to reach the   Rail /  Metro customers throughout the country to provide efficient sales, marketing and after-sales support.

For manufacturing coaches, the company has made a proposal and send it to YEIDA. It would further create job opportunities for the youth, along with investment from the big companies.

The  Company will manufacture stainless steel coaches based on German Technology. Most of the industrial plots in the authority area have been allocated for electronics or light industries. The establishment of the heavy industry will open new doors of possibilities. “A decision to be taken on the allotment of land on completion of the application process,” YEIDA said.

Formed in 2013, the company manufactures overhead electricity cables, cantilever, electric plugs etc. for Indian Railway and Metro Rail. 

BY Vijay Thakur, Special Representative, The Statesman, vijaythakurx@gmail.com

Tuesday, July 14, 2020

Waste industrial cotton and sea water can make costly parts of a Supercapacitor: Indian research scientists

Can a supercapacitor be prepared from waste or from something which is almost free? Seems amazing or unbelievable. Well, Indian scientists have developed a technology to make a simple, low-cost environmentally friendly and sustainable supercapacitor electrode derived from industrial waste cotton, and an electrolyte for a Supercapacitor derived from seawater.

Both these products electrodes and electrolyte for a supercapacitor is not only environmentally friendly and cost-effective, but also a scalable, and alternative aqueous electrolyte, which may replace the existing aqueous-based electrolytes for the economic fabrication of supercapacitor, claim the scientists of the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), an autonomous organization of the Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, which had invented these two costly components from waste.

Supercapacitor:

A supercapacitor (SC), also called an ultracapacitor  with a capacitance value much higher than other capacitors, but with lower voltage limits, that bridges the gap between electrolytic capacitors and rechargeable batteries. It typically stores 10 to 100 times more energy per unit volume or mass than electrolytic capacitors, can accept and deliver charge much faster than batteries, and tolerates many more charges and discharge cycles than rechargeable batteries.

It is a next-generation energy storage device that has received extensive research attention owing to advantages such as high power density, long durability, and ultrafast charging characteristic as compared to conventional capacitors and lithium-ion batteries (LIB).


Its Usage:

Supercapacitors are used in applications requiring many rapid charge/discharge cycles, rather than long term compact energy storage — in automobiles, buses, trains, cranes and elevators, where they are used for regenerative braking, short-term energy storage, or burst-mode power delivery, smaller units can be used as a power backup for static random access memory (SRAM).

 

The Invention:

Scientists from ARCI, an autonomous organization of the Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, has developed these two low-cost, environmentally friendly, and sustainable supercapacitor electrode derived from industrial waste cotton and electrolyte from natural seawater which may replace the existing aqueous-based electrolytes for the economic fabrication of supercapacitor.

 

A supercapacitor has four components (1) electrode, (2) electrolyte, (3) separator, and the (4) current collector. The first two, electrode and electrolyte, developed by the scientists of ARCI, are the pivotal components. And it directly determines the electrochemical behaviour of the supercapacitors and is considered to be very costly components.

The fabrication cost of electrode materials, as well as electrolytes, should be reduced because these two components account for the cost of the device. In search of a cost-effective material for making affordable supercapacitor devices, scientists at ARCI have converted industrial waste cotton (Trash) into highly porous carbon fibers (Treasure) by activation process and then utilised the porous carbon fibers to make high-performance supercapacitor electrodes.

In the recent research published in Energy Technology, scientists at ARCI demonstrated the feasibility of using seawater as natural electrolyte for the fabrication of aqueous-based supercapacitor devices which shows great potential for practical implementation. The study found that natural seawater-based supercapacitor exhibited maximum capacitances at a current density of 1 Ag-1. In addition, seawater-based supercapacitor shows very good durability upon 10,000 charge-discharge cycles with 99 % of capacitance retention and 99 % of Coulombic efficiency (efficiency with which charge is transferred in a system facilitating an electrochemical reaction).

The research team’s new, sustainable and green supercapacitor device shows great potential for practical application, and perhaps most importantly, the integrated solar cell with seawater-based supercapacitor as low cost, eco-friendly, efficient and self-powering device.

The successful demonstration of the device revealed that solar-powered supercapacitors can not only store the electrical energy but also overcome the drawbacks of the intermittent nature of the solar irradiation. Hence, the integrated solar cell with supercapacitor can be used as an energy harvester storage device due to their long cycle life and maintenance-free power supply. 

“The large-scale use of renewable energy requires the creation of matching capacity for inexpensive electrical energy storage. This study provides a solution for the fabrication of super-capacitors from such abundant materials as waste cotton and seawater! It is an excellent example of the creative science for the sustainable, green processes embedding principles of waste-to-wealth,” says Prof Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, DST.

BY Vijay Thakur, Special Representative, The Statesman, vijaythakurx@gmail.com

Ends.


Monday, July 13, 2020

MSP for our MLAs/MPs: इस तरह अगर हमारे कांग्रेसी MLA बिकते रहे तो सरकार तो इनका MSP fix कर देना चाहिए ?


In Greek origin of the word, Democracy is a combination of two words 'Demos' means citizens and 'Kratos' means the power of rule--it became 'Demos-Kratos'  and now Democracy, it was then a utopian concept like we call Ram Rajya in India. This actually means the government which is ruled by the people. the idea seems amazing both Democracy and Ram Rajya But the Ground reality in India is different. Having seen all the negative aspect of Demos-Kratos--I still call long live democracy.


These days fighting an election is a big risk. It is a 'make or break' game for our poor politicians, who may have more than enough money in their bank or in land plots, but hardly have any heart in spending it.

For them Fighting/contesting elections is a Business and some of them proudly claim sometimes they are not politicians but 'social businessman'. Nothing comes free for them. Even a party worker, who works day and night for him... at least deserve a decent car, a bottle of whisky of his choice, and chicken leg.. if they get some decent dance at night to relax their fatigue it would be "सोने पे सुहागा".

They do not see any wrong in their demand. Even a daily wager in 'MANREGA' gets more than that in eight. A Mason or a carpenter earns Rs 600 to Rs 700 a day. A contesting MLA candidate at least needs more than 300 to 500 dedicated workers for 24x7 for nearly 15 days... If we calculate other campaigning expenses (according to a Delhi MLA known to me), he spends more than Rs 50 lakhs in one election.

Where that money comes from. Then his office expenses, four to five dedicated workers throughout, regular tea and snacks for his regular visitors (could be sometimes more than 1000 a day), you name it you have it.... the list is long and surprising. Normally these poor chaps have to spend approx two crores for these expenses. 

If they are demanding Rs 25 crore... what's wrong in that... A raw cotton 250 grams (raw material cost Rs 27 a kg), but when It is developed into a shirt, it costs about Rs 500 a piece (which means Rs 2000 a kg).... imagine.
So why not an uneducated/illitrate/ruffian/ Gunda, who spends about Rs 2 crore to become an MLA not cost Rs 25 surprises our system.

Long live democracy !!!
BY Vijay Thakur, Special Representative, The Statesman, vijaythakurx@gmail.com

 



Sunday, July 12, 2020

COVID-19: Finally scared President Trump: दुनिया के थानेदार को भी अक्ल आ गई है। क्या आप अभी भी किसी मुगालते हैं याद रखें COVID-19 किसी को नहीं बख्शता

The person who always made fun of COVID-19, and remained in denial mode apparently ignoring the serious implications of the Global pandemic have to adopt 'a face Mark'--One could see the visible terror on his face. The villain of the world or the little terrorist is going to stay with us. Today 12.8 million people are reported to have infected with it the actual number would be beyond our imagination. The reported death is 5.46 lakhs... the actual numbers are still a mystery. Even if 0.1% (one out of 1000) people died of this disease in the coming one year (by the time we will see some vaccine in the market) -- the total death figure could as high as 78 lakhs. 

COVIOD-19 is a very weak but highly contagious virus rather the highest contagious virus ever know to menkind in the recorded history. So should we fight it our or sit at home and wait for our tur to come.

I will say non of the two. (1) Know your enemy, Know weaknesses of your enemy, and (3) Fight it out.. thats' what I have learnt in my college NCC training-- mostly taught to the army personnel in detail.

Know your Enemy: 

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment.  Older people and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.

About 80% of confirmed cases recover from the disease without any serious complications. However, one out of every six people who get COVID-19 can become seriously ill* and develop difficulty in breathing. In more severe cases, the infection can cause severe pneumonia and other complications which can be treated only at higher-level facilities (District Hospitals and above). In a few cases, it may even cause death.


What is the Weaknesses of COVID-19  how we can fight with it? 

COVID-19 spreads mainly by droplets produced as a result of coughing or sneezing of a COVID-19 infected person. This can happen in two ways: Š Direct close contact: one can get the infection by being in close contact with COVID-19 patients (within one Metre of the infected person), especially if they do not cover their face when coughing or sneezing. Š Indirect contact: the droplets survive on surfaces and clothes for many days. Therefore, touching any such infected surface or cloth and then touching one’s mouth, nose or eyes can transmit the disease.  The incubation period of COVID 19 (time between getting the infection and showing symptoms) is 1 to 14 days  Some people with the infection, but without any serious symptoms can also spread the disease.

  •  First thing that you are very lucky as it was diagnosed in time. Unfortunately, in 60 -70 % cases people do not get to know of it and keep spreading it to their near and dear ones.
  •            ISOLATE yourself and listen to very light music of your choice (it would relax your brain from tensions) and all your organs would fight against CORONA. Forget all the worries of the world and only think positive to cure yourself. Always remember a person with tension free mind recovers 50 % faster than a person with tension so shun unnecessary worldly tensions.

  •      Besides following the instructions of COVID 19, follow the INSTRUCTIONS OF COVID-19 EXPERT DOCTORS, You must be in regular touch with your family physician or a doctor you trust. Apprise him of every development and REMEMBER YOUR FAMILY PHYSICIAN KNOW YOU FOR AGES, HE KNOWS ABOUT YOUR BODY MORE THAN YOU AND WILL HELP YOU UNDERSTANDING THE TREATMENT GIVEN BY A COVID-19 DOCTOR. 

  •        STRICTLY FOLLOW THE PREVENTIVE MEASURES AS MENTIONED. AND FOLLOW ALL THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN BY YOUR COVID-19 DOCTOR and family physician..

  •        KEEP HYGIENE DO NOT ENTERTAIN ANYONE EVEN YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS. DO NOT SHARE ANYTHING with your family members WHICH MAY CREATE PANIC AMONG YOUR DEAR ONES. 

  •       NO ONE GUARANTEE THAT all these things would save you from COVID-19, but it is also a fact that your chances of entering into THE CLLUB of “COVID-19 DEAD”  would reduce substantially.

Ends.

BY Vijay Thakur, Special Representative, The Statesman, vijaythakurx@gmail.com


Keep Smiling and helping others to make your life meaningful..an interesting story

  Keep Smiling and helping others to make your life meaningful..an interesting story एक औरत बहुत महँगे कपड़े में अपने मनोचिकित्सक के पास गई ...