A day's revelry won't impact much; lighting firecrackers our culture, benefits workers: K Annamalai
Chennai, Oct 28: BJP leader K Annamalai on Monday exhorted people to buy and burst "a lot of firecrackers" on Deepavali, keeping in mind the welfare of the workers involved in fireworks industry.
Earlier, cracker sale hovered around Rs 6000 crore annually, but in the past few years, the usage of crackers has reduced.
"There is concern of environmental impact. At some places, it is an opinion that has been thrust upon," he said in a post on 'X.'
He posted a short video on Deepavali, with his voice-over explaining the need to burst crackers.
Deepavali is being celebrated on October 31 this year.
The BJP's state unit chief recalled he had last year said what will happen if firecrackers are burst on a single day.
India, at the 125th spot on annual CO2 emissions was way behind the US (16th place) and China (25th), he claimed.
"But we are discussing bursting crackers for just one day as a major issue. Only we are aware that bursting crackers ensures livelihood for many. About eight lakh people are directly and indirectly connected to the fireworks industry," which is mainly confined to Tamil Nadu's Sivakasi in Virudhunagar district, he said.
"They make firecrackers for our joy and they are made amid a lot of challenges. Shouldn't we buy and burst crackers for their joy. Only a flourishing firecracker trade will ensure ancillary units survive," he said.
Even the printing press business has its own issues.
During the Deepavali festive season, the dreams of lakhs of small traders who dream of repaying their debts with the sale of fireworks will also come true when people light these firecrackers in good numbers, he added.
"Bursting crackers is not just our culture, but also our people's livelihood, the overall economy of our Sivakasi people. Your dear younger brother Annamalai requests you, buy a lot of crackers and burst them. Nothing will happen by lighting crackers for one day in a year. Be careful while doing so, don't cause any harm to others. So many living beings including animals live along with us, we should burst crackers without causing any trouble to them."
"Let us celebrate Diwali in a way our brothers and sisters in Sivakasi benefit from that," the BJP leader said.
பட்டாசு வெடிப்பது நம்ம கலாச்சாரம். நம் மக்களின் வாழ்வாதாரம். நம் சிவகாசியின் ஒட்டுமொத்த பொருளாதாரம்.
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) October 28, 2024
நம் மகிழ்ச்சிக்காகப் பட்டாசு தயாரிக்கும் தொழிலாளர்களின் வாழ்வாதாரத்துக்காக, நாம் அனைவரும், நம்மால் முடிந்த அளவுக்குப் பட்டாசு வாங்கி வெடிக்க வேண்டுமென்று கேட்டுக் கொள்கிறேன்.… pic.twitter.com/t1i0LvFNFH
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Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
