Posts

Jaduguda Tragedy

-
Image
The name Jaduguda (also spelled Jadugora ) comes from the local Sadri language , and is interpreted both as the " land of magic " and " land of elephants ". Once rich in forests, wildlife, and indigenous culture, this region in Singhbhum district of Jharkhand, India was home to the Ho, Santhal, Munda, Mahali , and other Adivasi (Ancient inhabitants/Tribe) communities. For centuries, they lived in ecological harmony, practicing sustainable agriculture, preserving biodiversity, and worshipping nature. But a fateful discovery beneath their sacred soil would change their lives forever. Location of  Jaduguda History: From Discovery to Extraction 1951 : The Geological Survey of India discovered uranium deposits in Jaduguda. 1967 : Uranium Corporation of India Ltd. (UCIL) was established and began mining operations. Jaduguda became India's first and most significant uranium mine , feeding fuel for the country's nuclear energy and weapon ambitions. The uraniu...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Silent Danger Beneath the Soil: How Red Soil from Kottayam is Bringing Venomous Snakes to Alappuzha

-
Image
Alappuzha, the serene land of backwaters, paddy fields, and coir, is undergoing a transformation both visible and invisible. While development projects, housing expansion, and shifts in agriculture reshape the surface, an often-ignored but serious consequence lies beneath the soil. The import of red soil from districts like Kottayam   for agriculture, construction, and landscaping is unintentionally contributing to a rising threat of venomous snakebites in Alappuzha . Soil Types in Alappuzha and Kottayam: A Clear Contrast Alappuzha Soils Kari Soils (Peaty soils) : Found in low-lying, marshy regions such as Kuttanad. These are dark, waterlogged, highly organic, and acidic soils . Alluvial Soils : Common along riverbanks and delta regions. Sandy Coastal Soils : Found near beaches, low in fertility, and with low water-holding capacity. These soils are naturally suited for wetland crops like paddy, but less suitable for dryland crops or construction without modificati...
Post a Comment
Location: India
Read more

Zero‑Dose Children: A Global Emergency and the Path Forward

-
Image
Zero‑dose children are those who have not received even the first dose of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP) vaccine by their first birthday. This marks them as completely unprotected from serious childhood illnesses and indicates a failure to provide basic health services, a powerful marker of inequity and exclusion in health systems  Global Trends: Progress Lost A. Historic Gains and Recent Reversals From 1980 to 2019 , the number of zero‑dose children dropped from ~59 million to ~14.7 million, a ~75% decline. However, coverage gains slowed drastically since 2010. Between 2010–2019, measles vaccination declined in 100 countries, and 21 of 36 high-income countries saw drops in DTP, measles, polio, or TB immunisation. The COVID-19 pandemic worsened matters: zero‑dose children surged to 18.6 million in 2021 , then modestly recovered to 15.7 million by 2023 . B. Vulnerable Regions & Countries Over 50% of zero‑dose children live in just eight countrie...
Post a Comment
Location: India
Read more

India Breaks into Top 100 in the Global SDG Index: A Milestone in Sustainable Development

-
Image
For the first time, India has secured a position among the top 100 countries in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index, ranking 99th out of 167 nations in the 10th Sustainable Development Report (SDR) 2025 released by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) . This marks a significant achievement in the country’s journey toward sustainable development and Agenda 2030. Understanding the SDG Index and Report The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) , adopted in 2015 by 193 United Nations Member States, consist of 17 interlinked goals and 169 targets . These goals address major global challenges, including poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace, and justice. The SDG Index , published annually by SDSN, evaluates countries’ progress on a scale of 0 to 100 , where 100 indicates full achievement of all 17 goals . In the 2025 edition , India scored 67 , a notable improvement from its previous rankings: 109th in 2024 112th in 202...
Post a Comment
Read more