Cong cites agri minister's remarks on stubble burning, says 'vilification of farmers' must stop
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Friday cited Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's remarks that studies have established that stubble burning contributes no more than 5 per cent to pollution in Delhi-NCR, to hit out at the environment ministry, and asserted that the "vilification of farmers" must stop.
Responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Chouhan said stubble burning is not the only cause of pollution, as scientific studies have established that it contributes no more than 5 per cent to pollution in Delhi-NCR even during winter.
Ramesh said in recent years, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has often blamed paddy-stubble burning by farmers in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh for the winter pollution crisis in Delhi and other parts of north India.
"Today, in the Rajya Sabha, the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare stated categorically that paddy stubble burning is responsible for just around 5 per cent of the pollution load. The vilification of farmers for causing pollution must stop," the former environment minister said in a post on X.
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Yenepoya University conducts autism awareness campaign in Mangaluru
Mangaluru: The Department of Occupational Therapy at Yenepoya (Deemed to be University) conducted a community-based Autism Awareness Campaign at Fiza Mall and Ullal Beach in the city.
The campaign was aimed at promoting awareness, inclusion, and early identification of autism, in line with the global theme, “Autism and Humanity – Every Life Has Value.”
The programme was led by Dr. Dhayanithi K and Dr. Ananya Jana as organising chairpersons, with Dr. Anas, Dr. Amanda S. Phillip, and Dr. Ansu V. David served as organising members.
Students of the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOT) programme participated in conducting the campaign.
The event included activities such as flash mobs, street plays, face painting, mehendi, and direct interaction with the public.
These activities focused on highlighting early signs of autism, the need for early intervention, and the importance of inclusion and acceptance of individuals with autism.
The campaign reached around 300 to 500 members of the public. It also provided students with practical exposure to community-based rehabilitation and public health education.
As part of the initiative, QR-based digital resources were introduced to help the public access reliable information on autism.
“Awareness is the first step towards inclusion, and early intervention can significantly improve outcomes,” the organising team said.
The department thanked the university for its support in organising the campaign. It also acknowledged the cooperation of the management of Fiza Mall and the Ullal Beach Police Department in facilitating the event.
