Dwindling camel population in India
2024 is the “International year of camelids” as per the United Nations (UN). Llamas, alpacas and camels are prominent members belonging to the camelids community.
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Camel rearing industry has grown significantly in Australia and the United States,
and African countries Somalia and Kenya lead global camel milk production.
Non—bovine (camel) dairy value, specifically its nutritional and therapeutic benefits, is a field that remains largely unexplored in India.
Camel rearers are predominantly found in two important States of India: Rajasthan and Gujarat. Age, climate, grass quality, milking frequency and methods, and watering periodicity are a few factors that determine the quality of camel milk.
Unfortunately, even as camel milk consumption is not a common phenomenon and not particularly interesting to many, the dwindling population of the animal in India is worrying.
Camels have to be inbred to help them thrive. Boosting sustainable growth and promoting livelihood of camel herding communities in India are areas that need special focus. The importance of a uniform procurement and pricing policy for camel milk cannot be stressed more.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
‘No detention policy’: Pros and cons
The Centre has reportedly scrapped the ‘no-detention policy’ for Classes V and VIII in schools governed by allowing them to fail students who do not clear the year-end exams.
The Centre’s decision has drawn mixed reactions from educators, school principals, and stakeholders. While many have welcomed the move as a step towards improving learning outcomes and accountability, concerns have also been raised about its potential implications, especially for marginalised students. The preparedness of students significantly impacts their academic and social development. Some educationists and parents felt that students might feel additional pressure and fear of failure, which could create unnecessary stress and anxiety.
Others expressed concern that the move would particularly affect children from deprived classes. Some say that the policy’s failure cannot be attributed solely to the policy itself. They point to other factors, such as inadequate teacher preparation and a lack of resources. The decision to scrap the no-detention policy is commendable, as it emphasizes creation of an environment in which each student is expected to learn at high levels. It ensures holistic growth of the student.
Reintroducing the detention policy encourages accountability among students and motivates them to take their studies seriously. It also gives teachers the opportunity to address specific needs of the students. Scrapping of the no detention policy is aimed at improving learning. It can build parent confidence and ensure that a child’s morale is not undermined. Detention should not be seen as failure but rather as an opportunity for improvement.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Christmas for Christ
Christmas is deemed as a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. But what is most important is the remembrance not only of His birth, but of his teachings of love, giving, sharing, and gratitude too. The word ‘Christmas’ comes from the Old English Christes Maesse or ‘Christ’s Mass’.
December 25 is not the actual birth date of Jesus Christ. The date was selected as the day of Christmas because it was around the time of various Pagan festivals, such as the Roman Saturnalia.
Jubel D’Cruz, Mumbai
Pull down Rs 22,000 crypto investment
The crypto investment of Rs 22,000 requested on the basis of testimonials by Central Ministers Rathore, Nirmala Sitharaman and also ex-Governor of RBI Shaktikanta Das and other dignitaries like Infosys Narayanamurthy being shown on Facebook by an account Innovations7 should be pulled down immediately by the Facebook administrators.
It is obviously being put in to fool the people with a bait of giving you fabulous earnings, while the intention is to secure the first investment of Rs 22,000 as said earlier and milch you out of that.
In the Nirmala Sitharaman testimonial, the post went further saying that 2000 people from within India have been selected for generating larger earnings and also getting a monthly dole. No information was given on what basis was this selection of the 2000 people made for this special treatment.
This is obviously discriminatory and smells of a scam of the highest order. Time that the government and the concerned ministers and dignitaries woke up to the fact of misuse of their names and put a stop to it.
Srinivas Kamat, Mysore
Shame on Sports Ministry
As if playing with the emotions of sports personalities has been set as a norm, the treatment meted out to Manu Bhaker by denying her name in the list of the highest sporting honour of Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award is the height of unprofessional attitude on the part of the government now.
Manu, who created history at the Paris Olympics earlier this year by clinching back-to-back bronze for India, has been the most glorious moment for the nation at that time in a single Olympics since India attained Independence.
Her name should have figured with more dignity in the list of awardees instead, became a row at the moment. The Sports Ministry is reconsidering using executive powers to nominate her shows as to how the selection panel functions, while identifying the deserving ones. The same move was applied to cricketer Mohammed Shami by conferring Arjuna Award, considered only after a special request made by the BCCI on the earlier occasion.
A P Thiruvadi, Chennai
