TIME WELL SPENT

Too much screen time is taking a toll on kids’ health

Rujuta Diwekar times of india 28.05.2018

A few years ago, my partner and I were looking for a centrally located hotel in Manhattan that wouldn’t cost us the world. Travel websites directed us to one right in the middle of the city with just one con — a noisy lobby as it was a popular night stay option for school trips. Ah! Kids screaming across hallways is no disturbance for us Indians, so we promptly booked it.

The next day we walked into a hotel lobby packed with more than 100 school kids and a handful of teachers. As I walked towards the elevators, I felt something amiss. And then it struck me — there was no noise. There were 100-odd kids but they weren’t talking to each other, much less screaming or running around. They were all slouching on various chairs and sofas, or against the wall, backs rounded, heads down and eyes zeroed in on their phone screens.

Back home we have all seen that parents of kids, even as young as 18 months, are walking into flights, restaurants or even our homes

with the iPads in hand. It’s like parents are under constant pressure to ensure that their children are not bored. And nothing like a phone, iPad or tab to overstimulate the bored child. Well, research is constantly saying that boredom is critical for a child and, in fact, essential for creativity to blossom. But then I am no expert on that subject so let me focus on what I do for a living — weight loss.

The problem with screen time is that it comes with sitting which we all know by now is an independent risk factor for developing lifestyle diseases. And when obesity strikes, it rarely asks if you were playing Fortnite, learning a new language on your gadget or just watching Peppa Pig. In that sense it is democratic, if you are watching, you are sitting, and if you are sitting, obesity is coming.

I.family was a major research project on health, food and lifestyle of European families for over five years and focused on children and obesity. They found a positive correlation between screen time, consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (packaged juices, colas, etc) and anthropometry (incidences of overweight and obese kids) across the EU region. One of the reasons for this are the blurred lines between entertainment and advertisements that our kids consume on the gadgets. These findings resonate with the reality across the globe, especially in our part of the world.

A recent study has also shown that the incidence of non-alchoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in Indian kids is rising. This is essentially a lifestyle disease but left unattended, it could lead to liver damage similar to that seen in alcoholics. The standard advice for this is to reduce junk food, especially that loaded with sugar, and to exercise. But when it comes to kids, we have to work at understanding the driving factors and how gadgets influence both consumption of junk food and sedentary behavior.

The fact that a lot of school work is now done on laptops and tabs makes it even more important that parents lay down strict rules for screen time — be it gaming, social media or anything else. It’s easier said than done and we often tend to give in to pester power, a child’s ability to demand the gadget and throw a tantrum until the demand is met. For all parents, who feel helpless against this universal force, science is saying what your grandmom always knew — saying NO to kids for gadgets and the resulting junk food demand protects them from cardio-metabolic risks in the future.

Diwekar is a Mumbai-based nutritionist.

This is the second part of a series



DIGITAL DANGER: Parents need to set rules for screen time, whether it’s homework or play

TOP 4 FINDINGS ON KIDS AND GADGET USE

1 Having TV in the bedroom is a risk factor for obesity

2 Screen time during meals is particularly harmful

3 60mins of recommended daily physical activity is often not met due to gadget use

4 Food choices in children are influenced by media consumption (packaged cereals over homemade breakfast, consumption of juice, colas etc)

Source: EU-funded I.family study

REAPING RESULTS

What keeps Virudhunagar students ahead of the curve
Patronage Of Nadars & Devanga Chettiars, Alumni Helps Schools Score Well In Class X & XII

Padmini.Sivarajah@timesgroup.com 28.05.2018

A national survey names Virudhunagar among 115 ‘backward aspiration districts’ which need to be developed by 2020. But when it comes to school education, the district south of Madurai has been a leader for more than two decades.

This year Virudhunagar topped the state by registering a pass percentage of 97.05% in the state board Class XII examinations and ranking third with a pass percentage of 98.29% in the SSLC examination. Educationalists attribute the stellar performance to role of the nadar and devanga chettiar communities in spreading the value of good education in the district, the proactive role of the districts' alumni and motivational teachers.

In the early 1900s, when a handful of entrepreneurs started ventures in the district, Virudhunagar became the hub of oil factories, Sattur of food products and Sivakasi of fireworks. A majority of the employers and employees belonged to the nadar community. The employers established schools, managed by Nadar Uravinmura to ensure better education and jobs for the wards of their employees.

“Employers felt that developing the community was a must and education was the tool,” says S Vinayaga Moorthy, secretary and correspondent of the 111-year-old BPV Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Palayampatti. The school which had 80 students in Class X registered 100% pass in SSLC examination.

Alumni of schools in the district play a vital role in motivating students and lending monetary support to their alma mater.

Many students of BPV Matriculation Higher Secondary School, for instance, have settled abroad, yet never fail to visit their alma mater when they are in India. “Old students are a part and parcel of the school’s development, and Nadar Uravinmurai spends a lot of its community fund on education,’’ says Balakrishnan, an alumnus of the school who worked in the US.

In the 1950s when then chief minister K Kamaraj opened more than 6,000 schools in the state and initiated the free noon meal scheme in schools, the government extended support to schools run by these two communities. Though teachers are no more recruited exclusively from these communities, the appointed ones continue the tradition of bringing out the best in students.

P B Prince Gajendra Babu, general secretary, State Platform for Common School System, says the working class views education as a solution to better their situation. This section is a driving force behind many parents in the district sending their wards to school. “Also, unlike Chennai, children in Virudhunagar do not have many distractions like malls and cinema halls. Children in a place like Chennai are brought up to face cutthroat competition. But one who overworks and sees a competitor in everyone cannot perform well. Virudhunagar has fewer private schools that propound such cutthroat competition. Government schools here have teachers who are motivated to teach students without exerting unnecessary pressure on them,” he says.

“Teachers should be given due credit for taking slow learners under their wings and helping them perform better. Also, the education department holds regular reviews to monitor the progress of all students. These factors contribute towards good results,” says R Mohan, headmaster of Chathirareddiarpatti Higher Secondary School in Virudhunagar.

Raja Mohan, a teacher in Aruppukottai, says that there are 129 schools in the Aruppukottai educational district, including areas like Reddiarpatti, Sattur and Thiruchuzhi. Almost 60 are government schools and 40 government-aided schools run by the two communities. Some of the aided schools were established in 1920. These schools offer free education to children from very poor backgrounds. “Parents also feel comfortable to send their children to schools run by their communities,” he said.

All the 162 girls who wrote the plus two examinations this year at the Thangammal Periyasamy Municipal Girls Higher Secondary School passed. I Sumitra, a topper with 1123 out of 1200 marks, wants to be a chartered accountant. V K Jayashree, the school’s headmistress, says although the school is situated in Virudhunagar town, children from remote villages come here to study. “The district administration and the education department closely monitor the functioning of the schools."

Half-ticket? Height can’t be the only yardstick, conductors told
‘Produce Birth Certificate Of Child Or Pay Full Bus Fare’

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai: 28.05.2018

Taking a ‘tall’ child with you in a government moffusil bus? Ensure that you carry the child’s birth certificate. Without age proof, conductors will charge full fare for the ticket even if the child is eligible for the half-fare concession.

With increasing losses in revenue, various state transport corporations last week reiterated to conductors not to consider only the earlier yardstick — a height of 130cm — while giving a child the discount if they fail to provide a birth certificate as age proof.

As per Tamil Nadu Motor Vehicle Rules, children between the ages of three and 12 must only be charged half the fare in all government buses expect those which are operated as town or metropolitan services.

If they are unable to produce birth certificate as proof, the conductor should check the height of the child and collect half the fare only if the height of the child does not exceed 130cm, an official said. Markings at the entrance of the bus and on the grille behind the driver’s seat allow conductors to check a passenger’s height.

Passengers complain that conductors do not accept ID proof such as Aadhaar and ration card as proof. “It is unfair to reject ID proof issued by various government agencies. It is practically impossible for all passengers to carry birth certificates with them,” said consumer rights’ activist K Kathirmathiyon.

Based on a complaint he made a few years ago, transport corporations made it mandatory for buses to paint or fix a board inside the bus explaining the rules. However, this is seldom followed.

There have been several instances in which conductors denied a seat to these children asking parents to seat them on their laps instead.

In response, Khadar Ibrahim from SDPI transport union said, “Ticket checkers penalise us if we do not adhere to these rules strictly.”

The inspections have increased after after a bus fare hike in January led to a drop in passengers and revenue. Ytansport corporations now insist that conductors be strict as far as age proof is concerned, Ibrahim said.

Pozhichalur cries for sewage network

Gayatri Vasudevan TNN

Chennai: 28.05.2018

More than 30,000 residents of Pozhichalur, located around 24km from the city, are at risk of health hazards posed by polluted ponds in the area. With no proper sewerage system, illegal connections drain sewage into ponds and on to the streets, creating breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

A village panchayat in Kancheepuram, Pozhichalur has close to 10,000 houses. Though metrowater mooted a proposal 10 years ago to provide sewerage connections, the plan has since been abandoned. Instead the panchayat has been urging residents to build soak pits.

“Most of us have soak pits that are cleaned once in 10 days to six months by private trucks. Sewage lines were recently laid in a part of Cowl Bazaar, I don’t see the difficulty in providing us the same facility. We have been pleading for years now,” said Sindhu Kumaran, a resident. Some residents argue that in a burgeoning suburb, sewerage lines are a necessity and soak pits are expensive to maintain.

Previously used for washing and bathing, a pond adjoining a temple in Kalliamman Nagar is now reduced to a drainage pit. Illegal sewage lines from households drain into the water body and the neighbourhood suffers because of the stench and mosquitoes. “There is no trace of the pond on Kaliamman Koil Street which has turned into a dump yard. Sewage flows onto the streets and into the adjoining land,” said Kalpana Sivakumar of JJ Nagar.

According to a 2006-07 policy note of municipal administration and water supply department, a report was to be made about providing sewerage facilities to municipalities’ town and village panchayats, including Pozhichalur. “When we raised the issue, we were told the state had decided not to have sewage networks in village panchayats. The residents were told to use the soak pit system, although not many houses follow that,” said Shankaran, panchayat secretary. The block development officer Venkat Raghavan said notices had been issued to residents. “I hope to discuss this issue with the MLA. It would also be helpful if residents took a signed petition to him. We requested residents to use soak pits, if they violate, we will have to take action.”

A metrowater official said they did not have plans to provide sewage connections. “The panchayat should approach us, only then can we start planning.” Both residents and authorities are to blame, believes Arun Krishnamurthy, an environmental activist. “We need to have a plan to integrate citizen participation towards conserving water bodies. Civic sensitisation followed by a strict vigil to maintain rules is the need of the hour.” 


DUMP YARD: The polluted ponds in Pozhichalur are posing a health hazard for the residents in the area

‘170 doctors held for sex selection activities’TNN | Updated: May 24, 2018, 05:47 IST


 

JAIPUR: Health department is hopeful that the child sex ratio (0-6 years) in the state will increase to 940 girls per 1000 boys in the 2021 census. It was 888 girls per 1000 boys in 2011 census.
In a meeting held at State Institute of Health & Family Welfare (SIHFW) of pre-conception pre-natal diagnostic technique (PCPNDT) supervisory board, health minister Kalicharan Saraf said that sex ratio at birth (SRB) is constantly increasing in Rajasthan. He said that it was 938 in 2016-17 but in 2017-18 it has increased to 950, which is a good sign. He said that in decoy operations conducted in the state, they have arrested 276 accused including 170 doctors for their alleged involvement in sex selection activities. Out of 276, the courts have convicted 203 accused.

Besides, he pointed out that the state government has increased surveillance of sonography centres in the state. There are 2,968 sonography machines which are registered under PCPNDT Act. In comparison to last year from January to May, more inspections have been conducted in the corresponding period this year. Last year from January to May, 923 inspections were conducted and now in 2018 in the same period, 1214 inspections have been conducted.

விபத்தில் உயிருக்குப் போராட்டிக்கொண்டிருந்த மூதாட்டி... உதவிக்கரம் நீட்டிய கலெக்டர்
 
விகடன்

 

விபத்தில் அடிபட்டு உயிருக்குப் போராடிய மூதாட்டியை மருத்துவமனைக்கு அழைத்துச் சென்று காப்பாற்றிய விழுப்புரம் ஆட்சியர் சுப்பிரமணியனுக்குப் பாராட்டுக்கள் குவிந்து வருகின்றன.

விழுப்புரம் மாவட்டம், மேல்மலையனூரில் கடந்த 23-ம் தேதியிலிருந்து வருவாய்த் துறையின் ஆண்டுத் தணிக்கை (ஜமாபந்தி) நடைபெற்று வருகின்றது. அதில் வருவாய்த் துறையின் தீர்வாய அலுவலரும், மாவட்ட ஆட்சியருமான சுப்பிரமணியன் தலைமை தாங்கி பொதுமக்களிடம் கோரிக்கைகளைப் பெற்று வருகிறார். அதன்படி நேற்று அந்த நிகழ்வை முடித்துவிட்டு மதியம் அங்கிருந்து கிளம்பிய அவர் விழுப்புரம் நோக்கிச் சென்றுகொண்டிருந்தார். 3.30 மணியளவில் அவரது கார் விழுப்புரம்-செஞ்சி சாலையில் அழகாபுரி என்ற கிராமத்தைக் கடந்து கொண்டிருந்தது. அப்போது அவரது காருக்கு முன்னால் சென்று கொண்டிருந்த மினி லாரி ஒன்று திடீரென்று நிலை தடுமாறி, அங்கே சாலையோரம் நின்று கொண்டிருந்த அழகம்மாள் (67) என்ற மூதாட்டி மீது மோதியது.

அதில் தலை, கை, கால் உள்ளிட்ட இடங்களில் பலத்த காயமடைந்த அந்த மூதாட்டி உயிருக்குப் போராடினார். பின்னால் வந்து கொண்டிருந்த மாவட்ட ஆட்சியர் சுப்பிரமணியன் அந்தச் சம்பவத்தைப் பார்த்தவுடன் தனது ஓட்டுநரிடம் காரை நிறுத்துமாறு கூறி இறங்கினார். உடனே அங்கிருந்தவர்கள் 108 ஆம்புலன்சை போன் செய்து வரவழைக்க முயற்சி செய்தனர். ஆனால், அதுவரை காத்துக் கொண்டிருப்பது மூதாட்டியின் உயிருக்கு ஆபத்து என்று சொன்ன மாவட்ட ஆட்சியர், பொதுமக்கள் உதவியுடன் அந்த மூதாட்டியை தனது காரில் ஏற்றிய கலெக்டர் சுப்பிரமணியன் சிகிச்சைக்காக முண்டியம்பாக்கம் அரசு மருத்துமனைக்கு அனுப்பி வைத்தார். அதோடு நிற்காமல் அரசு மருத்துவமனை நிலைய மருத்துவ அதிகாரியான மருத்துவர் புகழேந்தியைத் தொடர்புகொண்டு, மூதாட்டிக்குத் தேவையான சிகிச்சைகளை செய்து காப்பாற்றும்படி கூறினார். அதன்படி அந்த மூதாட்டி அவசர சிகிச்சைப் பிரிவில் அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டு சிகிச்சை பெற்ற நிலையில், நேற்று இரவு மேல் சிகிச்சைக்காக புதுச்சேரி ஜிப்மர் மருத்துவமனையில் அனுப்பி வைக்கப்பட்டிருக்கிறார். தகுந்த நேரத்தில் மூதாட்டியை மீட்டு மருத்துவமனைக்கு அனுப்பிய மாவட்ட ஆட்சியர் சுப்பிரமணியனுக்கு பாராட்டுக்கள் குவிந்து வருகின்றது.

 
மகன் வீட்டுக்குச் சென்று திரும்பிய அரசு அதிகாரிக்கு கொள்ளையன் கொடுத்த அதிர்ச்சி!
 
விகடன் 

 


சென்னையில் உள்ள மகன் வீட்டுக்கு மனைவியுடன் சென்ற அரசு அதிகாரி வீட்டில் 54 சவரன் நகை, 5 லட்சம் ரூபாய், வெள்ளிப் பொருள்கள் கொள்ளையடிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன.

சென்னை தாம்பரத்தை அடுத்த கவுரிவாக்கம், சந்தானம்மாள் நகரைச் சேர்ந்தவர் சீனிவாசன். சுற்றுலாத்துறையில் அதிகாரியாக பணியாற்றி ஓய்வு பெற்றவர். இவரின் மனைவி ஜெயந்தி. இவர்களின் மகன் வீடு ஆதம்பாக்கத்தில் உள்ளது. கடந்த சில தினங்களுக்கு முன்பு மகனின் வீட்டுக்கு சீனிவாசனும் அவரின் மனைவியும் சென்றனர். பிறகு நேற்றிரவு அவர்கள் வீடு திரும்பினர். முன்பக்க கதவைத் திறந்து உள்ளே சென்றவர்களுக்கு கடும் அதிர்ச்சி காத்திருந்தது. பீரோவிலிருந்த 54 சவரன் நகைகள், ரூ.5 லட்சம் ரூபாய், வெள்ளி பொருள்கள் ஆகியவை கொள்ளைப் போயிருந்தது.

இதுகுறித்து ஜெயந்தி, சேலையூர் போலீஸ் நிலையத்தில் புகார் கொடுத்தார். அதன்பேரில் போலீஸார் சம்பவ இடத்துக்குச் சென்று விசாரித்தனர். பின்பக்க கதவை உடைத்து உள்ளே நுழைந்த கொள்ளையர்கள், கைவரிசைக் காட்டியிருந்தது தெரியவந்தது. சம்பவ இடத்தில் பதிவாகியிருந்த கைரேகைகளை நிபுணர்கள் பதிவு செய்தனர். மோப்ப நாயும் வரவழைக்கப்பட்டது. வீட்டைச் சுற்றி ஓடிய மோப்ப நாய் யாரையும் பிடிக்கவில்லை.

இதுகுறித்து போலீஸார் கூறுகையில், ``பூட்டிய வீட்டை நோட்டமிட்டு கொள்ளையர்கள் நகை, பணம், வெள்ளி பொருள்களைக் கொள்ளையடித்துள்ளனர். பின்பக்கமாகத்தான் வீட்டுக்குள் நுழைந்துள்ளனர். அந்தப் பகுதியில் உள்ள சி.சி.டி.வி. கேமரா பதிவுகளை ஆய்வு செய்துவருகிறோம். கொள்ளையர்களை தீவிரமாக தேடி வருகிறோம்" என்றனர்.