As MBBS colleges prepare to reopen, RT-PCR test must for students, staff

As MBBS colleges prepare to reopen, RT-PCR test must for students, staff

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:  30.11.2020 

Just as with arts and engineering colleges which reopened a fortnight ago, students and faculty of MBBS colleges, which are slated to reopen on Tuesday, will have to compulsorily undergo RTPCR tests and produce the report to be allowed back on campuses.

The government has allowed all medical, dental, Ayush, paramedical, nursing and pharmacy colleges affiliated to Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) to reopen from December 1. K Sudhakar, health minister, has requested colleges to adhere to safety guidelines prescribed by the government.

As per standard operating procedure issued by RGUHS, staff and students must undergo the test in ICMR-approved state government laboratories. They must obtain reports no later than three days before rejoining college (between November 28 and 30 for classes from December 1). Any student who develops symptoms must take an RT-PCR test afresh. Students must also produce consent letters from parents.

In its SOP document, RGUHS has asked institutions to evaluate “local situations” and implement the advisory accordingly. “Institutions may plan to reopen their campuses in a phased manner, ensuring safety, health and wellbeing of all students and staff. They should be flexible in their plan and should be ready to handle any eventuality arising due to Covid-19,” RGUHS states.

Every institution has also been asked to constitute disaster and medical emergency (preparedness and management) teams (DMET). Each team must have a public health specialist, microbiologist, psychologist, medical social worker and counsellor. The team should be updated periodically on medical emergencies and/or disasters.

A nodal officer must be appointed in other health sciences institutions who can take up DMET activities. MoU should be made with the nearest medical college/hospital/ appropriate bodies for DMET training and execution of activities.

Social distancing

The varsity has directed classes to be divided into different batches if class strength is more than expected. It has said in-person classes should be conducted for only 1/3rd of capacity in different batches. It has suggested avoiding many assignments which may demand frequent travel outside the campus.

Protocol for exams

College authorities must prepare a micro-plan on the number of students, classrooms, teachers, staff, seating arrangements for students, vehicles and movement plan, marking of boxes on the floor outside the examination hall, etc. Colleges have been asked to train invigilators and staff prior to examinations. Students must report at least one hour prior to the scheduled time.

Infected students must take exams in a separate centre/room. They must inform the college beforehand and produce a medical certificate from their treating physician certifying that they are fit to sit for the examination. The candidate must also submit “risk consent” to take the exam.

BACK TO THE FUTURE: With Covid-19 cases declining across the state, playgrounds in Bengaluru were filled with youngsters on Sunday

WARDING OFF THE VIRUS

Only colleges that are outside containment zones to function.

Students and staff living in containment zones barred from attending classes on campus.

All institutions with healthcare facilities (hospitals) must continue patient-centric care and academic activities cautiously.

Only one student per seat is allowed on college buses. Each bus should carry only 1/3rd its capacity to maintain physical distance.

PRECAUTIONS FOR HOSTELS

Hostel students travelling from international destinations need to enrol on http://sevasindhu.karantaka.gov.in/Sevasindhu/English.

All hostel establishments must have adequate light and a good ventilation system.

Fumigation/disinfection/ sanitisation must be carried out in the hostel regularly. These activities need to be documented on a housekeeping checklist.

A separate restroom should be provided exclusively for students to freshen up as soon as they return from the hospital, with facilities to dip clothes in disinfection solutions.

Reasons you have difficulty falling asleep

Reasons you have difficulty falling asleep

Symptoms  30.11.2020

You’re on furlough and worried your job won’t survive. At night, your mind races making it difficult to sleep and you wake in the early hours.

It could be stress. Any stressful life event or trauma, such as job loss and death or illness of a loved one may lead to insomnia.

Stop it Change your bedtime routine to a relaxing ritual with reading or listening to music and take up a regular daily activity such as exercise for a good night’s sleep. Don’t nap.

Symptoms

You get home from work late and only manage to eat just before you go to bed. You feel physically uncomfortable when you lie down and find getting sleep difficult.

It could be eating too late. Many people experience heartburn, a backflow of acid and food from the stomach into the oesophagus, which can keep you awake.

Stop it Rearrange your evening. Have your evening meal early, don’t overload your stomach and don’t graze. Avoid caffeine and alcohol. Don’t smoke.

Symptoms

You stop breathing periodically through the night and this interrupts your sleep. You’re overweight and have always snored.

It could be Sleep apnoea, which is a risky condition for heart disease and heart attack as during each pause in your breathing your blood oxygen level drops.

Stop it See your doctor who can refer you to a specialist for an assessment of what’s causing the blockage to your breathing. It could be something as simple as being overweight. Many cases improve with weight loss.

— DAILY MIRROR

Cut the flab: Why obesity needs to be taken much more seriously

Cut the flab: Why obesity needs to be taken much more seriously

Experts Say It Could Lead To Health Crisis If Urgent Steps Not Taken

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

30.11.2020

New Delhi: Obesity is the mother of all non-communicable diseases, be it diabetes, hypertension or heart ailments. The lifestyle disorder has also been linked to many types of cancer.

Still, public health experts say, obesity is not taken as seriously as it should be, which is resulting in a continuous growth in the number of people suffering from the condition.

To spread awareness on the issue and get people to act on it, The Times of India has launched ‘Act Against Obesity’ in association with Johnson and Johnson Pvt Ltd.

According to Dr Ambrish Mithal, chairman and head of endocrinology at Max Healthcare, simple things like following a diet plan and regular exercise can help prevent a person from developing obesity.

“However, we see that people wait until they develop the condition to take the problem seriously. If they act in time to prevent the disease, it can help reduce the complications caused due to obesity and a host of other illnesses associated with it,” Dr Mithal said.

Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. A body mass index (BMI) over 25 is considered overweight, and over 30 is obese.

A recent study published in the journal, Plos One, stated the prevalence of overweight and obesity in India was increasing faster than the world average.

For instance, the study said, the prevalence of overweight increased from 8.4% to 15.5% among women between 1998 and 2015, and that of obesity increased from 2.2% to 5.1% over the same period. “This fast-paced growth has been accompanied by notable increases in the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs),” it added.

The Plos One study predicts that the prevalence of overweight will increase approximately double among Indian adults aged 20–69 years between 2010 and 2040, whilst the prevalence of obesity is expected to increase approximately threefold over the same period.

Public health specialists say if urgent measures are not taken at individual as well as national level, obesity could lead to a health crisis.

Even in the case of the Covid-19 pandemic, doctors say, it has been observed that while the viral infection can infect anyone, people who are obese are at a higher risk to develop severe symptoms.

This is because, first, the abdominal fat in obese patients pushes the diaphragm up and reduces the lung volumes and adversely alters the mechanics of lung ventilation. Secondly, as Dr Himika Chawla, senior consultant, endocrinology and diabetology at PSRI Hospital says, obesity is associated with multiple comorbidities like diabetes and chronic heart disease.

Thirdly, obesity results in a state of chronic inflammation in the body along with impaired immunity. So, the immune cells are both reduced in number and become less effective, Dr Chawla added.

“However, even though we increasingly realise that the sickest Covid-19 patients are frequently obese, the burden of obesity is continuously increasing in the current pandemic situation. This could be due to reduced outdoor activities and lesser access to weight-loss programmes,” the PSRI doctor said.

To prevent weight gain, experts advise eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and cereal products and at least an hour of exercise daily.

Scan this QR code or log on to actagainstobesity.com to take the weighthealth test to see if you are at risk and speak to an expert accordingly

Will language barrier impede aspirants’ success in JEE Advanced Structure of JEE Advanced question paper minimises the reliance of students on English by offering the question paper in both English and Hindi

Will language barrier impede aspirants’ success in JEE Advanced

Structure of JEE Advanced question paper minimises the reliance of students on English by offering the question paper in both English and Hindi

Rajlakshmi.Ghosh@timesgroup.com

30.11.2020

With the Centre’s decision to offer JEE Main 2021 in more regional languages apart from the existing Gujarati, Hindi and English languages, aspirants who are proficient in their native tongue may stand a fair chance of gaining admission to the NITs, IIITs and the centrally funded technical institutes in the country. But will their IIT aspirations take a backseat if JEE Advanced is conducted only in English and Hindi?

Sudhir K Jain, director, IIT Gandhinagar has a more positive take on the issue. “Students appearing for JEE Main and Advanced do a comprehensive preparation keeping in mind the technical stream they have chosen to study. Having an option to take JEE Main in regional languages would give them some relief from anxiety at stepping stone, and it can build their confidence to progress further towards their next goal,” he tells Education Times. As to the possible roadblocks IIT aspirants might face, Jain explains that most scientific terminology is written in English even in local language textbooks, which will help students to understand and cope up with the questions in JEE Advanced. “Generally, care is taken to use simple English while setting the questions to test scientific understanding of the candidates. In addition, the medium of instruction in the IITs is English, so a basic knowledge of the language is assumed,” he adds.

IIT Ropar director Sarit K Das says, “In an online objective test such as the JEE Advanced, students’ language skills do not matter nor are they expected to solve problems in English. Since most of the Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics questions are language-neutral, comprehending the questions should not be difficult. In class XII, whatever the medium of instruction, students must have English as a language, though in times to come, JEE Advanced may be held in regional languages as well.”

As to whether JEE Advanced will provide a level playing to candidates, Jain explains, “Students from different Indian states possess an understanding of either English or Hindi, other than their mother tongue. Since the advent of the computer-based exams, the candidates can switch between Hindi and English at any point during the examination, which should also help them in comprehending the question in a better way in case of any confusion.”

Full report at educationtimes.com

When language is an issue

For students relying on regional languages, IIT Gandhinagar has set up a writing studio, which guides students to hone their language and writing skills. The institute also has a Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) programme to help first year BTech students who struggle to adapt to English as the medium of instruction

CBSE releases new paper pattern for class X, XII boards

CBSE releases new paper pattern for class X, XII boards

c-Sheetal.Banchariya@timesgroup.com

30.11.2020

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) recently released sample question papers for class X and XII board exams 2021. The question papers follow a new exam pattern, wherein the students have more internal choices in a particular section and subsequently, the marking scheme has also been revised. Several academicians are concerned that the new pattern may add to the increasing number of high scorers and make the competition for higher education tougher.

AN Ramachandra, Joint Commissioner (Academics), Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, says, “MCQs and internal choices can help in testing the skill. If the question paper is set with the simplest form of questions then it will allow students to learn more about the applicability of concepts. Having memory-based questions can tamper with students’ creativity. However, students need to be careful that they do not apply the rule of elimination of wrong answers while attempting the questions with multiple answers.”

Basavaraj B Kunchanur, who teaches in Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 1, AFS Sambra, Belagavi, Karnataka, says, “Traditional learning has been on hold for several months amid COVID-19 and the syllabus has also been reduced. Hence, changing the exam pattern and marking scheme is one of the effective ways to get back to the regular academic cycle,” he adds.

Education ministry invites suggestions on JEE Main, NEET 2021

Education ministry invites suggestions on JEE Main, NEET 2021

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

30.11.2020

The Education Ministry had asked students, parents and teachers, to submit their concerns regarding the conduct of board and competitive exams next year. The ministry further said that it will launch a campaign to seek feedback from education stakeholders. At a high-level meeting in the presence of higher and secondary education secretaries and other ministry officials, Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ instructed the National Testing Agency (NTA), the exam conducting body of JEE Main, NEET and other entrance exams, to assess the situation across state and central school education boards before finalising the syllabus for next year’s entrance exams.

It may be noted that in an attempt to make up for the academic loss due to COVID-19 and nationwide lockdown, state and central education boards had previously announced a syllabus reduction, some by as much as 30%.

Earlier, the education minister during the lockdown had answered questions by parents, teachers and students regarding the conduct of exams amid the pandemic .

THIS IS THE LAST AND FINAL CALL FOR RAJINIKANTH

STORYBOARD

THIS IS THE LAST AND FINAL CALL FOR RAJINIKANTH

ARUN RAM

30.11.2020 

By the time you read this on Monday morning, Rajini Makkal Mandram (RMM) office bearers would be streaming into Raghavendra Mandapam in Kodambakkam. Their idol would be addressing them. They know the script, but they would feign anxiety. Insiders say Rajini would refer to his health condition and indicate the risks involved in his hitting the ground running during the pandemic and, in the end, leave the decision of launching the political party to the mandram.

If Rajini is still hesitant, he would try an emotional blackmail, yet it would be tough to get the group to tell the superstar that he can shelve his political plans and take care of his health. After all, that’s not a Rajini climax they are used to. Several Rajini movie scripts have been changed mid-shoot because the directors realised (or were made to realise) that the fans wouldn’t accept the original climax or, worse, wouldn’t leave the cinema hall in good shape. RMM members may not do that to Rajini’s own mandapam, but why take a chance, why not tweak the script here too?

We’ve rubbed it in enough that Rajini missed the political bus many times, so let’s just look at what he can do now. This is the last and final call for the star to launch his party. Agreed, at 70 and with a transplanted kidney, Rajini should not be touring the state. But he can still keep his promise of launching a party, and campaign virtually.

Imagine a virtual Rajini riding the highways, walking the hamlets, throwing a hand over a villager’s shoulder. Technology today makes this possible. A 3D hologram of Rajini waving and moving through crowds in the dust bowls may even have a better effect than the real star on a stage too far from the last fan on the treetop.

Tamil Nadu has the country’s second largest mobile internet penetration, at around 42%. This means almost every other person in our villages has a smartphone. Imagine a farmer opening his smartphone to watch Rajini saying, “Vanakkam, Karuppaiah, eppadi irukeenga?” Tech allows the same message to be personalised for Akbar, Antony and Anandavalli, with perfect lip sync. Well, any politician can do this, but when Rajini does it, we know who would get the maximum eyeballs.

All this can work well only if Rajini agrees to be his party’s chief minister candidate. If he does so, his political rivals are bound to attack him for his armchair politics. So what – it’s his last best chance, anyway. Less easy would be putting together a team which can be his representatives for the people. Besides having the usual hangers-on and a handful of wellmeaning yet unknown faces that orbit the star, Rajini will have to bring in a group of people with proven credibility and efficiency in different walks of life to show that his promise of good governance isn’t empty. This is, incidentally, something Kamal Haasan has been working on.

I am not endorsing Rajini’s politics. It’s too early for that, for he is yet to spell out his policies and programmes, some of which I may oppose. All I am doing here is stating the obvious: Poor health should not be a reason for Rajini not to take the plunge. Yes, politics is a game of rough and tumble that someone like him may not find easy to play. But we all like a stylish promise, don’t we?

arun.ram@timesgroup.com

We will contest with allies and win a majority of the seats and form a government on our own — D Jayakumar, TN FISHERIES MINISTER POKER FACE Fishing for a better berth?

Covid deaths in single digits after 179 days

Covid deaths in single digits after 179 days

Sunday’s Toll Nine, All Over Fifty

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:30.11.2020

Tamil Nadu’s daily Covid-19 toll dropped to single digits for the first time after 179 days on Sunday. The nine people who died were all aged above 50 and had comorbidities such as diabetes or hypertension. The overall case fatality ratio has dipped to 1.5%.

A total of 1,459 new cases were reported on Sunday, taking the Covid tally to 7,80,505.

In the last one week, the number of new infections has grown by an average of 0.2% every day. It was almost double a month ago. With 1,471 people getting discharged after treatment, the state's recovery ratio continues to be above 97% for almost a week now. Active cases have dropped to 11,052.

Chennai reported 398 new cases and neighbouring Chengalpet 89, Thiruvallur 88 and Kancheepuram 58.

Health minister C Vijayabaskar inaugurated a 'Covid Comorbidity Management Clinic' at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, Chennai, which has led the fight against the pandemic in TN with 97% recovery rate.

Other than Chennai, Coimbatore (148 new cases) was the only district to report three-digit fresh infection figures. Three other western districts -- Tiruppur

(79), Salem (78) and Erode  (70) -- reported 70+ plus new cases. The region still shares almost 30% of the state's Covid burden. More than 3,100 people are undergoing treatment at hospitals or homes in the eight western districts.

As low pressure system intensifies, city braces for more rain this week

As low pressure system intensifies, city braces for more rain this week

Southern Suburbs To Get Heavy Rain

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:30.11.2020

After a lull, the southern suburbs should get ready for heavy rain this week as the low-pressure system in the Bay of Bengal has developed and will turn into a depression in 36 hours. It will intensify further and edge closer to the Tamil Nadu coast by Wednesday. It is expected to trigger heavy rain of more than 10cm in the southern suburbs of the city and also in the southern districts of the state.

An IMD statement said, "Yesterday’s low-pressure area over south Andaman Sea and adjoining areas of southeast Bay of Bengal and equatorial Indian Ocean has developed into a well-marked low-pressure area over southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas of south Andaman Sea and equatorial Indian Ocean. It is very likely to concentrate into a depression during the next 36 hours and likely to intensify further."

The huge system, currently spread over the sea between Andamans and Sri Lanka, will cause heavy rain in Kanyakumari and Tuticorin districts from Tuesday onwards. The rain will become extremely heavy and very heavy in the southern and western districts, the next day.

IMD has forecast extremely heavy rain in Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Kanyakumari, Tenkasi, Ramanathapuram and Virudhunagar districts, while isolated places at Theni, Madurai, Sivagangai and Pudukkottai are expected to get heavy to very heavy rain. Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Tiruvallur, Karaikal, Chengalpet and Kancheepuram will also be drenched.

A met official said that the system may not impact the city like Cyclone Nivar, baring a possibility of heavy rain in the southern suburbs.

Though there was only a 'trace' of rain at Nungambakkam on Saturday night, many areas of the city received good rain towards late evening and night on Sunday. Many areas in the coast, between Chennai and Puducherry and some parts till Nagapattinam, received rain on Sunday night because of the impact of the low-pressure system.

However, the day was bright with the temperature touching 30°C in Chennai.

Another round of rain in the southern suburbs will recharge the groundwater in the city. The heavy rain caused by Cyclone Nivar had converted a 11% rainfall deficit to 31% surplus. The city has got 808.2mm rain since October 1 as against the 615.5mm expected till now during the northeast monsoon season.

The depression, which will come close to the TN coast on Wednesday, is expected to trigger heavy rain of more than 10cm in the southern suburbs of the city and also in the southern districts of the state

City colleges prepare to reopen campus for PG, research students

City colleges prepare to reopen campus for PG, research students

Most Parents Not For It; State Univs To Take Final Call Today

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:30.11.2020

After months of online classes due to the pandemic, city colleges are preparing to open up campuses to postgraduate science and technology students and research scholars from December 2. Guidelines issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC) require boarding students to undergo 14 days quarantine before attending in-person classes.

Sources in various colleges said parents of a majority of students are not willing to send their wards to colleges due to fear of contracting Covid-19.

Many institutes have finished online classes for UG second and third year students and PG final year students. Online semester exams are likely to begin next week and some colleges plan to allow PG students into campuses only from next semester.

“We plan to let research scholars into our campus from December 2,” said Thomas Amirtham, principal of Loyola College. The college is planning to conduct semester exams for UG and PG students from the first week of December.

A survey conducted by the college showed 65% of parents were not willing to send their children for in-person classes. “We are discussing with the heads of departments about reopening our campus from next semester. They’ll brainstorm and come up with ways to conduct classes, practicals and maintain social distancing. But single-occupancy hostel rooms may not be affordable for many of our students,” Amirtham added.

Paul Wilson, principal of Madras Christian College, said the college is ready to reopen as per directions from the government and has even prepared standard operating procedures for hostels, classrooms. “But parents aren’t comfortable sending their children to campuses. Of 300 students we inquired, only around 30 were willing to return to campus from December 2. Parents have a lot of questions and reservations for which we don’t have answers,” he said.

DG Vaishnav College is working on evolving SOPs and the institute has comparatively less PG science students making social distancing possible, principal S Santhosh Baboo said.

SRM Institute of Science and Technology plans to allow students pursuing medical courses to return to campuses. “Some research scholars are back and PG students can either return to campus or continue to attend classes online,” said Sandeep Sancheti, vice-chancellor. The deemed university may split engineering students into two or three batches for practical classes. “Theory classes will be held online only,” he said. He said the biggest challenge with reopening campuses would be facilitating 14-day quarantine for hostel students.

Many state universities including University of Madras and Anna University will take a final call on Monday about reopening campuses for PG students and research scholars.

“We have called for a meeting of hostel wardens to decide protocol to be followed in hostels after reopening,” said S Gowri, vice-chancellor of University of Madras.

Anna University has also convened a meeting on Monday to decide on reopening and issues such as quarantine.

புதிய மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிகள் கவுன்சிலிங்கில் சேர்க்க மனு

புதிய மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிகள் கவுன்சிலிங்கில் சேர்க்க மனு

Added : நவ 29, 2020 00:34

மதுரை:மருத்துவப் படிப்பு கலந்தாய்வு பட்டியலில் அரசின் புதிய மருத்துவக் கல்லுாரிகளைச் சேர்க்க உத்தரவிடக் கோரி உயர் நீதிமன்ற மதுரை கிளையில் மனு தாக்கல் செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது.

மதுரை சக்தி நகரைச் சேர்ந்த வாசுதேவா தாக்கல் செய்த மனு:நீட் தேர்வில், 720க்கு, 521 மதிப்பெண் பெற்றுள்ளேன். திண்டுக்கல், ராமநாதபுரம், விருதுநகர், நாமக்கல், திருப்பூர், நீலகிரி, நாகப்பட்டினம், திருவள்ளூர், அரியலுார், கிருஷ்ணகிரி, கள்ளக்குறிச்சி ஆகிய புதிய, 11 அரசு மருத்துவக் கல்லுாரிகள், 2020 - 21ல் துவக்கப்படும்; கலந்தாய்வு பட்டியலில் இடம்பெறும் என தமிழக அரசு செப்.,7 ல் அறிவித்தது.

இக்கல்லுாரிகளுக்கு டீன்கள் நியமிக்கப்பட்டனர். ஆனால், நடப்பு கலந்தாய்வு பட்டியலில் இப்புதிய, கல்லுாரிகள் இடம் பெறவில்லை. இதற்கான காரணத்தை அரசு தெளிவு படுத்த வில்லை.பழைய மருத்துவக் கல்லுாரிகளில் மாநில ஒதுக்கீட்டின் கீழ், 3,031 இடங்கள் உள்ளன. புதிய கல்லுாரிகளுக்கான இடங்கள், 1,650. அரசுப் பள்ளி மாணவர்களுக்கு மருத்துவப் படிப்பில், 7.5 சதவீதம் உள்ஒதுக்கீடு வழங்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

புதிய கல்லுாரிகளை துவக்கினால், 7.5 சதவீத ஒதுக்கீடு அடிப்படையில், 124 மாணவர்கள் கூடுதலாக பயனடைவர்.நடப்பாண்டு மருத்துவப் படிப்பு கலந்தாய்வு பட்டியலில் அரசின், 11 புதிய மருத்துவக் கல்லுாரிகள் இடம் பெற வேண்டும். அவற்றில் மாணவர் சேர்க்கை நடத்தி, வகுப்புகள் துவக்க உத்தரவிட வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு அந்த மனுவில் கூறியுள்ளார். மனு, விரைவில் விசாரணைக்கு வருகிறது.

நன்மையாக நடக்கட்டும் :நடக்கப்போகும் நாட்களெல்லாம்: -திருக்கார்த்திகை ஸ்பெஷல்

நன்மையாக நடக்கட்டும் :நடக்கப்போகும் நாட்களெல்லாம்: -திருக்கார்த்திகை ஸ்பெஷல்

Added : நவ 28, 2020 23:59

விளக்கு ஏற்றுவது என்பது மங்கலம் தரும் விஷயம். வீட்டிற்கு வரும் மருமகளை 'வீட்டிற்கு விளக்கேற்ற வந்த மகாலட்சுமி' என்றே குறிப்பிடுவர். காலையும், மாலையும் வீட்டில் விளக்கேற்றி வழிபடுவது நம் கடமை. 'இல்லக விளக்கது இருள் கெடுப்பது' என்கிறது அப்பர் தேவாரம்.

ஐந்துமுக குத்துவிளக்கு அல்லது காமாட்சி விளக்கையே வீட்டில் ஏற்ற வேண்டும். கோயில்களில் களிமண்ணால் ஆன அகல் விளக்குகளை ஏற்ற வேண்டும்.அகல் விளக்கு மூலமாக நவக்கிரகங்களை வழிபாடு செய்த பலனும் கிடைக்கும். அகல் சூரியனாகவும், அதில் ஊற்றப்படும் நெய் சந்திரனாகவும், ஜூவாலை செவ்வாயாகவும், திரி புதனாகவும், ஜூவாலையின் மஞ்சள் நிறம் குருவாகவும், திரி எரிய எரியக் குறைவது சுக்கிரனாகவும், திரியில் உள்ள கரியானது சனீஸ்வரனாகவும், ஜூவாலையின் நிழல் ராகுவாகவும், அதன் வெளிச்சம் கேதுவாகவும் கருதப்படுகிறது. எனவே அகல் விளக்கு மூலம் மறைமுகமாக நவக்கிரகங்களை வழிபாடு செய்த பலனும் கிடைக்கும்.

மேலை நாட்டு கலாசாரத்தை பின்பற்றி குழந்தைகளின் பிறந்த நாளில் பலுான் உடைத்து, ஏற்றிய மெழுகுவர்த்தியை வாயால் ஊதி அணைக்கின்றனர். நல்ல நாளில் நெருப்பை வாயால் ஊதி அணைப்பது கூடாது. ஆன்மிக ரீதியாக இது பாவம். மனோதத்துவ ரீதியாகவும் இச்செயல் அபசகுனம். இந்த நிகழ்வு நாளுக்கு நாள் கூடிக் கொண்டே செல்கிறது. இதற்குப் பதிலாக பூஜை அறையில் எத்தனாவது பிறந்தநாளோ அத்தனை விளக்குகளை ஏற்றலாம். இதன் மூலம் விளக்கேற்றிய புண்ணியமும், ஒளியைப் பரவச் செய்த மகிழ்வும் குழந்தையின் மனதில் தோன்றும். பெரியவர்களுக்கும் இது பொருந்தும். கார்த்திகைத் திருநாளில் இந்த உறுதிமொழியை நம் ஒவ்வொரு குடும்பத்திலும் ஏற்போம்.

மண் அகலுக்கு பதிலாக கடைகளில் கிடைக்கும் சில்வர் பேப்பரிலான மெழுகு விளக்கு சுற்றுச்சூழலுக்கு மாசு ஏற்படுத்துவதுடன் மண்ணில் மட்க நீண்ட காலமாகும் என்பதால் தவிர்ப்பது நல்லது. அப்பர் தேவார பாடலில் விளக்கின் பெருமை பற்றிய சம்பவம் ஒன்று உள்ளது. வேதாரண்யம் சிவன் கோயிலில் நடந்தது இது. ஒருநாள் சன்னதியில் விளக்கில் உள்ள நெய்யைக் குடிக்க வந்த எலி ஒன்று, விளக்கு சூடாக இருந்ததால் வந்த வேகத்தில் திரும்பியது. அப்போது அதன் வால் பட்டு விளக்கின் திரி துாண்டப்படவே, விளக்கு பிரகாசமானது. இதைக் கண்டு மகிழ்ந்த சிவன் எலிக்கு வரம் ஒன்றைக் கொடுத்தார். அதை சக்ரவர்த்தியாகப் பிறக்கச் செய்தார். விளக்கைத் தெரியாமல் துாண்டியதற்கே இவ்வளவு நன்மை என்றால் பக்தியுடன் விளக்கு ஏற்றினால் அதன் பலனை எப்படி விளக்க முடியும்?

பொது மேடைகளில் குத்து விளக்கு ஏற்றி நிகழ்ச்சியை தொடங்குவர். இங்கு மெழுகுவர்த்தி மூலம் விளக்கினை ஏற்றுவதை தவிர்க்க வேண்டும். கைவிளக்கை இதற்கு பயன்படுத்த வேண்டும். விளக்கேற்றும் சிலர் காலணி, பூட்ஸ் அணிந்தும் வருகின்றனர். மகாலட்சுமியின் அம்சமான விளக்கை அவமதிக்க கூடாது. திருக்கார்த்திகை நன்னாளில் விளக்கேற்றி வைப்போம். இனி நடக்கப் போகும் நாட்களெல்லாம் நன்மையாக நடக்கட்டும். கார்த்திகை தீபத்தின் பேரொளியால் கொரோனா எனும் கொடிய இருள் விலகி மகிழ்ச்சி மலர அண்ணாமலையாரை வழிபடுவோம். - என்.ஸ்ரீநிவாஸன் ஆன்மிக சொற்பொழிவாளர்94869 65655

திக்கெல்லாம் ஒளி வீசும் திருக்கார்த்திகை தீபம்

கார்த்திகை மாதத்தில் பவுர்ணமியும், கார்த்திகை நட்சத்திரமும் சேரும் நாளில் கொண்டாடப்படுவது திருக்கார்த்திகை. இதற்காக இரு புராண வரலாறு கூறப்படுகிறது. ஒருமுறை பிரம்மா, மகாவிஷ்ணுவுக்குள் சிறந்தவர் யார் என்ற கேள்வி எழுந்தது. இதற்காக ஜோதி வடிவாக நின்ற சிவபெருமான் தன் அடி, முடியை முதலில் கண்டு வருபவரே சிறந்தவர் எனத் தீர்ப்பளித்தார். பன்றி வடிவத்தில் மகாவிஷ்ணுவும், அன்னப்பறவையாக பிரம்மாவும் உருமாறி அடி, முடியைத் தேடிச் சென்றும் காண முடியவில்லை. அப்போது சிவபெருமான் ஜோதி வடிவமாகத் தோன்றினார். அந்த நாளே திருக்கார்த்திகை.

மற்றொரு வரலாறு முருகனுடன் தொடர்புடையது. சிவனின் நெற்றிக் கண்ணில் வெளிப்பட்ட தீப்பொறிகள் சரவணப் பொய்கையில் ஆறு குழந்தைகளாக அவதரித்தன. கார்த்திகைப் பெண்களின் அரவணைப்பில் வளர்க்கப்பட்ட அக்குழந்தைகளை பார்வதி ஒன்றாகச் சேர்த்து ஆறுமுகனாக மாற்றினாள். அந்த நாளே கார்த்திகை. இந்நாளில் விளக்குகளை ஏற்றி வழிபடுவர். பண்டைய காலத்திலிருந்தே விளக்கு வழிபாடு இருந்ததற்கு அகநானுாறு, அவ்வையாரின் பாடல்களில் சான்றுகள் உள்ளன. அகல் விளக்கு என்பது மண், பஞ்சு, எண்ணெய் அல்லது நெய் என மக்கும் பொருட்களால் ஆனது. இதனால் சுற்றுச்சூழலுக்கு தீங்கு ஏற்படாது. விளக்கு ஏற்றுவதால் புற இருள் மட்டுமின்றி அறியாமை என்னும் அக இருளும் மறையும். விளக்குகளின் ஒளியைக் கண்டால் மனதில் புது நம்பிக்கை பிறக்கும். தேங்காய், வெல்லம் கலந்த பொரி உருண்டைகளை திருக்கார்த்திகை பிரசாதமாக படைப்பர். பொரியின் வெண்மை நிறம் விளக்கொளியில் பிரகாசிப்பது போல வழிபடுவோரின் வாழ்வும் ஜொலிக்க வேண்டும் என்பதே இதன் நோக்கம். பொரியும், வெல்லமும் எளிதில் ஜீரணமாகும் என்பதால் சிறுவர் முதல் பெரியவர் வரை அனைவரும் விரும்பி உண்ணலாம்.

திருவண்ணாமலையில் இன்று மாலையில் மலை தீபம் ஏற்றுவர். இதற்கு முன்னதாக அதிகாலையில் கோயிலில் பரணி தீபம் ஏற்றப்படும். மலை தீபத்தை தரிசிக்கும் பக்தர்கள் கிரிவலம் வந்து அண்ணாமலையாரை வழிபடுவர். அனைத்து கோயில்களிலும் மாலையில் சொக்கப்பனை கொளுத்தப்படும். இதற்காக பனை மரத்தில் ஓலை, இயற்கைப் பட்டாசுகளையும் இணைத்து கொளுத்துவர். தீயில் பனையோலை எரிந்து சாம்பலாவது போல நம் அறியாமை, ஆணவம் போன்ற தீய குணங்கள் அழிய வேண்டும் என்பது இதன் நோக்கம். திக்கெல்லாம் ஒளி வீசும் திருக்கார்த்திகை தீபத்தைக் கண்ட இருட்டு போல துன்பம் எல்லாம் விலகி நன்மைகள் பெருக வழிபடுவோம். - பா. ரங்கராஜன் thedal.articles@gmail.com

2 months after Reddy exit, GU yet to pick registrar

2 months after Reddy exit, GU yet to pick registrar

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Panaji:29.11.2020

Over two months after former Goa University registrar Y V Reddy stepped down from the post prematurely on health grounds, the varsity has not yet begun the process of appointing a full-time registrar, officials said.

“When the office of the registrar is vacant, the duties of the office shall be performed by such person as the vice-chancellor may appoint for the purpose,” the Goa University statute states.

Professor Radhika Nayak is currently serving as officiating registrar and the arrangement is till a time a full-time replacement for Reddy is finalised.

The new registrar is to be chosen on recommendation of a selection panel, comprising four members, with the university’s vicechancellor as the panel’s chairman.

The other three members of the selection committee have to include an academician or an administrator who is the nominee of the chancellor or Goa governor. Part of the panel will be two nominees of the executive council from among its own members, who are not employees of the university or the affiliated colleges, the statutes of Goa University state.

The registrar, as per the statutes, is to be appointed on the basis of deputation/direct recruitment for an initial tenure of two years, extendable to five years or till the age of retirement.

Use of mask may lead to drop in TB cases: GMC expert

Use of mask may lead to drop in TB cases: GMC expert

Bindiya.Chari@timesgroup.com

Panaji:29.11.2020

Goa Medical College’s (GMC) head of pulmonary medicine, Dr Durga Lawande, said on Saturday that the widespread use of masks across the state may contribute to drop in tuberculosis (TB) infections.

Goa registers around 800-1,000 TB infections annually, and a person with the disease can potentially infect 15 new people. “A positive case, if using a mask, won’t be able to infect people,” she said, adding, “The decline, however, will not be evident immediately if there is any (drop), but at a later stage.”

During the initial months of the pandemic, she said they had seen a reduction in cases as patients were unable to access medical help due to restrictions in place. But now, regular as well as new patients have started attending out-patient department (OPD) services.

Apart from this, there hasn’t been a reduction in cases. She, however, said that over the years, there has been an overall drop in TB infections in the state, thanks to the government of India’s control programmes.

Lawande pointed out that with a decline in cases of HIV/AIDS in Goa, they have also seen a drop in the number of people with HIV-contracting tuberculosis, which is considered an opportunistic infection for them (along with other infections).

“HIV itself has been on a decline due to awareness about the disease all over the country,” Lawande said. “Precautionary measures are being taken and treatment has been better. With antiretroviral therapy , patients are doing very well. Most people would earlier die within 8-10 years, but now they can live for twenty years with proper care.”

Goa has reported a 62% drop in AIDS deaths in 2019, with 13 deaths. In 2018, 21 people lost their lives to AIDS.

Goa registers around 800-1,000 TB infections annually, and a person with the disease can potentially infect 15 new people

Desi travellers gear up for international trips

jet set

Desi travellers gear up for international trips

Dubai for NYE, Europe for summer – Indians are already planning their first post-lockdown holiday abroad

Niharika.Lal@timesgroup.com and Divya.Kaushik@timesgroup.com

29.11.2020

As countries like Dubai, the Maldives, South Africa and Turkey open their borders to tourists, desi travellers are already planning their Christmas, New Year and summer vacations abroad.

“Many are willing to take their first international trip post the lockdown to a leisure destination at a distance of five to six hours of air travel," says Vipul Prakash, chief operating officer at MakeMyTrip.

Many are also lapping up deals for next summer and searching for flexible cancellation options. Prakash says, "Travellers have already started searching for tourist spots in Europe and Turkey for the next year, due to availability of exclusive future travel deals by companies.”

Disha Patani, Katrina Kaif and Varun Dhawan vacationed in Maldives recently

DUBAI, MALDIVES MOST POPULAR DESTINATIONS

Among the top destinations are Dubai and the Maldives, says Prakash and a Yatra.com spokesperson.

“Most of these bookings are from honeymooners and those who do not want to miss the tradition of year-end holidays,” says Shad Siddiqui, managing director, La Vacanza Travel. He adds, "Some other destinations like South Africa are also open for Indian tourists, but lack of direct flights is a major deterrent. Travelling to these destinations is a complicated and long process right now." Mauritius and Armenia are other international destinations open to tourists.

UP conversion ordinance a law now with guv’s seal

UP conversion ordinance a law now with guv’s seal

Neha.Lalchandani@timesgroup.com

Lucknow:29.11.2020

The state’s ordinance on unlawful religious conversion was signed into a law by governor Anandiben Patel on Saturday. From now on, it is illegal to religiously convert a person unless a two months’ notice is given to the district magistrate declaring one’s intent to convert.

The law, however, will not be applicable to cases of ‘ghar wapsi’. The ordinance says: “provided that if any person reconverts to his/her immediate previous religion then the same shall not be deemed to be a conversion under the ordinance”.

A person who forcibly converts someone and is found guilty by a court can be made to pay a compensation of up to Rs 5 lakh to the victim in addition to the fine imposed on the accused under the ordinance.

The Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance, 2020, passed by the state cabinet on Tuesday, also states that marriage for the sake of conversion or vice versa is illegal. “Any marriage which was done for the sole purpose of unlawful conversion or vice versa by the man of one religion with the woman of another religion either by converting him/her by force or after marriage or by converting the woman before or after marriage shall be declared void.”

A senior official in the home department said to convert, even for the purpose of marriage, one would have to follow the rules which include informing the district magistrate concerned at least two months before the planned conversion in the prescribed format. A person can also make the declaration within 60 days of having converted. Two persons of different religions required to convert for the purpose of marriage can’t, therefore, get married without a two months’ notice, unless they opted for a civil marriage. Failing to provide information would also invite penalty, he said.

Bharti: No need for conversion in India

Former CM of Madhya Pradesh and senior BJP functionary Uma Bharti feels there is “no need for religious conversion” in India. Her statement is being perceived as criticism of the proposed law against ‘love jihad’ in the state. “Hindus in the country are free to read Quran and Bible, and go to mandir and masjid,” she said on Friday when asked for her stand on the proposed Freedom of Religion Bill-2020 against ‘love jihad’. TNN

‘Stop conversions under garb of love’

Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday said forced religious conversions under the garb of love must be stopped. “The condition of daughters who were forced to convert has gone from bad to worse. This is why it is necessary to stop marriages that are being entered into with wrong motives through incentives, pressure, fear and temptation,” Chouhan said. TNN

Three lessons for Kerala govt from Shreya Singhal judgment

BY INVITATION

Three lessons for Kerala govt from Shreya Singhal judgment

APAR GUPTA

29.11.2020

In March 2015, when the Supreme Court struck down the draconian Section 66A as unconstitutional in the Shreya Singhal judgment, it referred to Mark Antony’s speech in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar to distinguish between free speech and incitement. Here, Antony repeatedly referred to Caesar as an “honorable man”, who still incited a crowd to mutiny.

Governing speech is a complex matter, and the Kerala government was faced with the same predicament last week. It first promulgated, and then repealed through a subsequent ordinance, a provision to criminally prosecute online content. This short-lived provision was Section 118A, inserted into its Police Act. Section 118A followed in the steps of Section 66A as well as Section 118D of the Kerala Police Act. It contained vague adjectives to criminalise online posts and communications. In this case, the Shreya Singhal precedent served as useful guidance on the legislative ambit for regulating online speech. The judgment provided early support for civil society groups, media critiques and an active political debate. It led to several PILs in the High Court of Kerala, where the state government submitted that it would walk back on its harsh ordinance. This may seem like a quick and decisive victory, but concerns around this issue are still alive.

First, remember that the objective of these provisions was ostensibly progressive. They were meant to shield social groups that face disproportionate online abuse and attacks on account of gender, caste and religion. The history of Section 66A shows that shortly after enactment, it was also defended as an attempted bulwark against the proliferation of online threats, hate speech and misinformation. However, they were trapped in their own language, which lacked specificity and contained the potential for abuse of the law’s intent. This flaw was also present in Section 118A, which though relatively narrowly tailored, contained phrases such as “humiliating”. Again, it was the prospect of its implementation that was a bigger cause for nervousness. More importantly, given that prosecution rests in the hands of police, who face systemic challenges and political interference, these provisions became a tool for chilling dissent and citizens’ demands for accountability. This peaked with the prosecution of Shaheen Dhanda and Renu Srinivasan in Palghar who had, in a Facebook post, criticised a general shutdown in Maharashtra following the demise of Balasaheb Thackeray.

This brings us to the second takeaway from the Shreya Singhal judgment. Despite Section 66A being struck down as unconstitutional, our study (conducted with my co-author Abhinav Sekhri) has shown that it is still being used across India. This data was taken to the Supreme Court, which was shocked that Section 66A cases were still being registered and prosecuted.

This is the reality of criminal law in our country. Quite often, a weak and general rule of law framework gives rise to practices that stray from the objectives of rule-making. Therefore, there was enough experience for experts to view the insertion of Section 118A with trepidation, and warn of the potential impact on online speech that criticises or demands answers from powerful entities within Kerala.

Stepping back from these two core problems, it is important to consider that the online space has changed dramatically since 2013, when the Shreya Singhal petition was filed. There are close to 700 million active broadband connections in India and social networking is a way of life. While this certainly serves the values of civic participation, it also poses challenges. Online conversation poses risks to individuals and groups, which require a fuller toolkit with law as an important element within it. Here, we must lean on established human rights norms that look beyond criminal law, like the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

It is this approach that was conveyed in the statement of the Malayalam film industry’s Women In Cinema Collective which asked for “an approach which combines social, administrative and legal responses to the problem and to move away from excessive criminalisation.”

This brings us to the third and final lesson of the Shreya Singhal judgment. Section 66A was inserted through a hasty amendment in Parliament, a bundle of laws hurried through in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attacks. The urgency came at the cost of debate and parliamentary scrutiny. Similarly, the Kerala government rushed into an executive ordinance for Section 118A, rather than proposing the law and debating it thoroughly in the state assembly. Whatever the costs of legislative democracy in terms of delay, it also provides the opportunity for rigorous consideration. One hopes that any future such regulation will see the wisdom of this democratic approach.

Gupta is a lawyer and the executive director of the Internet Freedom Foundation.

Rush for weddings as mahurats end on Dec 11

Rush for weddings as mahurats end on Dec 11

Ankur.Sirothia@timesgroup.com

Bhopal:29.11.2020

The marriage season started from Dev Uthani Gyaras and would continue till December 11after which there will be a a gap of over four months. The next mahurats will start only after April 21, as per the pandits.

With less mahurats available this wedding season, there is a rush of marriages offering people a reason to celebrate amid the Covid pandemic. In November, the dates were 25 and 30. In December the auspicious dates are 1, 7, 8, 9, and 11, said Pandit Harish Shukla.

However, the challenge before the government is to check the spread of virus while the vaccine is expected to come by April. The government has already made it clear that there would be no lockdowns in the state and social gatherings and functions would also continue. The government order specifies that cultural, social, religious functions that also include marriages, with not more than half the capacity of the hall, where it's taking place, with the upper ceiling of 100 irrespective of the sitting capacity will take place only after giving advance information in the office of SDM concerned. The maximum limit for functions, marriages taking place in open spaces will be a maximum of 200 persons, irrespective of the size of the place where it's taking place. If the space is small, the number of guests will be decided accordingly.

After December, there are no mahurats for weddings till April

Now, get e-nod for marriage ceremonies

Bhopal:

The district administration has introduced a online portal permission for holding marriage and engagement ceremonies. Any person, who has the ceremony in his family can apply for an online permission by going to the NIC portal http://bhopal.nin.in/. TNN

Give your stomach the perfect cleanse with these herbal concoctions

Give your stomach the perfect cleanse with these herbal concoctions

Joyeeta.Chakravorty@timesgroup.com

29.11.2020

The festive season is about savouring the choicest culinary delights, which even the most calorie-conscious lot would have found difficult to resist. After weeks of munching on those goodies, though, it is time to get back to eating healthy and making sure your stomach is back on track with the perfect cleanse. Experts list a few concoctions to aid in digestion and improve your gut health.

SPICED TEA

Ingredients

1 inch piece stick of cinnamon

½ teaspoon cumin

½ teaspoon saunf or fennel seeds a few leaves of parsley

Method

In 500 ml of water, add cinnamon, cumin, fennel and a few leaves of parsley and bring to boil. Reduce to half and consume warm.

“Cinnamon helps reduce inflammation in all parts of the body, including the stomach. It also helps counter the effects of excess sugar intake. Cumin and fennel are both helpful in reducing excess acid and gas, and easing stomach cramps. Parsley is exceptionally useful in reducing water retention”

— Shikha Mahajan

GINGER MINT TEASPICED TEA

Ingredients

1 inch piece of fresh ginger

3-4 peppermint leaves

¼ lemon

Method

Bring about 500 ml water to boil. Add ginger and 3-4 peppermint leaves. Reduce to half, then add a few drops of lemon juice and consume warm.

“The ginger in this tea helps reduce gastritis and inflammation. The peppermint reduces acid and excess digestive heat. In combination, peppermint and lemon reduce bloating and water retention in the stomach, while peppermint and ginger help ease constipation and detoxification”

— Shikha Mahajan, holistic nutritionist

DETOX WATER/ TEA

Ingredients

1 litre of water

1 teaspoon fennel seeds

1 teaspoon cumin seeds

1 teaspoon coriander powder

1 teaspoon freshly chopped ginger

Method

Combine all the ingredients in 1 litre of water and boil for 3-4 minutes. Filter the solution and store in a bottle. Drink this concoction through the day.

“This concoction helps to remove toxins from the colon and digestive tracts. In Ayurveda, we call the toxins formed from overeating and indigestion as ama and this helps clean the digestive tract and aid digestion.”

— Dr Partap Chauhan, Ayurvedacharya

KEEP IT LIGHT WHILE ON DETOX

“Since you are going for a detox and looking at cleaning or removing toxins from your digestive tract, have light food items. You could have fruit for breakfast and a proper meal at lunchtime. For dinner, have vegetable soup or moong dal khichdi. Also, try to indulge in some physical activity like a walk, run, stretching or yoga. Avoid cold drinks and junk food. Dairy products are not a good idea when you are on detox.”

— Dr Partap Chauhan

Staying away from toxic relatives can improve your mental health

Staying away from toxic relatives can improve your mental health

29.11.2020

To help readers cope with their anxieties in these stressful times, TOI has launched Talk it Out, a series under which our panel of expert counsellors will answer your mental health queries. This week’s advice comes from Dr Roma Kumar

I am a 33-year-old woman with five years of work experience. I had to choose between staying in the city where my husband was and getting a divorce. I decided to give up my job and live with him but now things are not going well. There is a lack of attraction and on top of that I am jobless. Finding a new job in this pandemic is also tough. Now, I either have to come back to the city where I was working originally or be with my husband and stay depressed and frustrated in an arranged marriage. I am in a big dilemma.

— Anonymous.

Changing marital dynamics, economic hardship and your husband’s negative responses can have a devastating effect on marital affection and create more tension. I don’t recommend that you do anything to jeopardise your marriage. Don’t underestimate the force that you can have within the marriage to reshape things to be happier. Talk openly and honestly with him about what you are going through and what you want. You can either allow isolation to grow between you, or you can actively promote intimacy through open and honest communication.

I am a graduate, senior citizen living in Bengaluru and working in a private school. The management is likely to retire me as I am 66 though I am efficient. I have a wife who is 60 and illiterate. We don’t have any children or savings to depend on. This tension is spoiling my health.

— Anonymous

Transitions in life come with a range of emotions, and retirement is a big change. You need to plan. Today, freelancing has enabled anyone with marketable skills to earn an income, regardless of age. You could take tuitions, open a shop, provide a service or even rent out a part of your house. Your wife can pitch in with cooking or tailoring classes. Having clarity about what you can do and finding ways to do it profitably takes time and effort.

I am a 26-year-old woman. I am very emotionally attached to my family. I have always been by their side, helping out my cousins. But I have been ignored and lied to by them. I am an emotional person, but I can’t accept anything wrong done to me or my parents. When I confront those at fault, they blame me for overthinking. I can’t detach myself from them and regret wasting time on them. Please help.

— Anonymous

There are people who will lift you up, and others may delight in causing you pain. It can be particularly disheartening when a toxic person like this also happens to be from your extended family. While you cannot change someone else’s behaviour, setting boundaries can limit the interactions you have with them. It can also help you take control of the situation. Recognising difficult things about your interactions can be painful and bring up a host of unexpected emotions. You recognise the need to change for your own mental health. Reach out for help when you need it and understand that you are not alone.

I’m a 32-year-old, unmarried woman suffering from vitiligo since I was eight. Now it’s spreading very invasively due to which I’m feeling very depressed and even suicidal at times. I don’t know why but I’m unable to accept myself and I hide my vitiligo patches with makeup and full sleeve clothes. Apart from that, I’m jobless. I was planning to move abroad for a job, so I quit my previous job and then the pandemic started, and I got stuck. I don’t enjoy my work. I’m unable to balance my personal and professional lives. Now I’m too frustrated and get angry at my family for no reason. Please guide me.

— Anonymous

I understand that vitiligo has been affecting your quality of life, making you distressed and stigmatised. Your first step in healing will be to recognise your worth and beauty. Practise consistent self-affirmation, which will make you feel self-validated and comfortable in your own skin. You can begin journaling. Being able to vent, going in for therapy, engaging in honest and productive conversation will provide you clarity. Join online support groups for body positivity. When we suppress our emotions, we deny ourselves the right to heal. Take the time to invest in yourself by paying attention to your psychological and emotional needs.

Dr Kumar is partner and co-founder, Emotionally

For more questions and answers, visit toi.in