http://www.jagrukta.com Apka aur Hamara Jagrukta Abhiyan Thu, 28 Apr 2011 12:29:02 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 http://www.jagrukta.com/awareness/10-ways-to-save-electricity/ http://www.jagrukta.com/awareness/10-ways-to-save-electricity/#comments Thu, 28 Apr 2011 12:26:31 +0000 admin http://www.jagrukta.com/?p=154 10 Ways To Save Electricity I would like to introduce you to the '10 Ways To...' series. The number of posts in this series have not been decided, but I shall write in this series twice every week. Here is my first post in this series... Did you know that according to a World Bank report, roughly 40 percent of residences in India are without electricity? But, in a way, concepts like 'power cuts' and 'load-shedding' are not new. In fact, they have become an everyday routine. People in some parts of India live without electricity for 6-10 hours everyday. From the bottom of my heart, I feel we Indians don't deserve such ill-treatment. The only way to stop this menace is to save electricity. So, here are 10 ways I think shall prove very effective in saving electricity... You are reading this...it means you have a computer or a laptop and undoubtedly, a computer monitor. Whenever you feel that you won't be using your computer for about 15-20 minutes, please take the efforts to switch off the computer monitor. This will slim down your electricity bill significantly. If you turn off your monitor for a minute, a bulb can be lit in some remote part of India for about 2 minutes. Well, if you have a computer, you may also have a T.V set. If you are a person who hangs on to only 1 programme, you can put off the T.V. during ad commercials. For that, you must know the duration of the interval. This will ensure that you don't miss out anything of the programme! If you reside at an above sea-level region, minimize the use of fans. You can enjoy pleasant breezes by keeping all your doors and windows open. Try to switch off all your electrical appliances for at least half an hour everyday. If you are a millionaire, go solar. Try solar water heaters, solar cookers, solar cells, etc. And if you are not a millionaire, use renewable resources as much as possible. The most famous sentence I have ever heard - SWITCH OFF ALL FANS AND LIGHTS WHEN NOT REQUIRED. Don't take the above advice very seriously. You don't need to turn off a fan if you are going to use it after a minute or so and vice versa. If you do so, you will end up spending more electricity! Roam around (in your home!) every once in a while to ensure all electrical appliances are used only as per their requirements. Get paranoid about this trend. Let people call you 'The Electric Nerd' or 'The Complete Saver' or something similar. Spread the word. Make your family, friends and relatives aware of this. Encourage them to save electricity. Well, I'm done with my 10 tips...do you have any more to add?]]> http://www.jagrukta.com/awareness/10-ways-to-save-electricity/feed/ 0 http://www.jagrukta.com/awareness/learn-to-save-electricity-this-summer/ http://www.jagrukta.com/awareness/learn-to-save-electricity-this-summer/#comments Thu, 07 Apr 2011 08:45:29 +0000 admin http://www.jagrukta.com/?p=149 http://www.jagrukta.com/awareness/learn-to-save-electricity-this-summer/feed/ 0 http://www.jagrukta.com/awareness/world-water-day-2011-water-for-cities/ http://www.jagrukta.com/awareness/world-water-day-2011-water-for-cities/#comments Tue, 22 Mar 2011 06:43:15 +0000 admin http://www.jagrukta.com/?p=145 Main Challenges Half of humanity now lives in cities and every second the urban population grows by 2 people. In Africa and Asia, the urban population will double between 2000 and 2030. 141 million urban dwellers do not have access to safe drinking- water. One out of four city residents, 794 million in total, lives without access to improved sanitation facilities. The situation in these urban areas leads to water related diseases such as diarrhoea, malaria and cholera epidemics. Progress in access to water and sanitation in the last decades is undermined by the rapid urban population growth. http://www.ilo.org ]]> http://www.jagrukta.com/awareness/world-water-day-2011-water-for-cities/feed/ 0 http://www.jagrukta.com/awareness/138/ http://www.jagrukta.com/awareness/138/#comments Mon, 21 Mar 2011 11:51:15 +0000 admin http://www.jagrukta.com/?p=138
Top Ten (tips) Ways to Recycle In 2007, Office Depot compiled a list of the top 10 ways to recycle at home and in the office. 1.Buy recycled paper and print on both sides. When using paper in the office, print on both sides of the sheet and recycle the paper when you are finished. [...]]]>
Top Ten (tips) Ways to Recycle In 2007, Office Depot compiled a list of the top 10 ways to recycle at home and in the office. 1.Buy recycled paper and print on both sides. When using paper in the office, print on both sides of the sheet and recycle the paper when you are finished. By recycling one ton of paper, you can save 17 trees, almost 7,000 gallons of water and more than three cubic yards of landfill space. 2.Recycle your outdated technology. According to EPA, Americans throw out two million tons of e-waste each year. Avoid adding to that waste by recycling your old technology. For more information on electronic recycling, visit http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/recycle/ecycling/donate.htm. 3.Make recycling bins readily available. Make sure your home and office are outfitted with recycling bins for paper, plastic and metal. Keep them out in the open and label them appropriately. Sometimes the convenience factor is all that is needed. 4.Recycle your empty ink and toner cartridges. Almost eight cartridges are thrown out in the United States every second of every day. That's almost 700,000 cartridges per day. 5.Buy remanufactured ink and toner cartridges. Each remanufactured cartridge keeps approximately 2.5 pounds of metal and plastic out of landfills and saves about a half gallon of oil. 6.Recycle old newspapers laying around the office. When finished reading the newspaper, either leave it for someone else to read or recycle it. 7.Look for the recycled option in all the products you buy. It's not just paper that is recycled. 8.Buy rechargeable batteries. It takes 1,000 regular batteries to equal the lifespan of one rechargeable battery. When you are discarding your batteries, recycle them. 9.Purchase rewritable CDs and DVDs so that you can reuse them from project to project. 10.Reuse your morning coffee cup. Or better yet, buy a mug to avoid the waste caused by throwing away the paper or Styrofoam.]]> http://www.jagrukta.com/awareness/138/feed/ 0 http://www.jagrukta.com/awareness/safe-holi-tips-dos-and-donts/ http://www.jagrukta.com/awareness/safe-holi-tips-dos-and-donts/#comments Tue, 15 Mar 2011 05:50:02 +0000 admin http://www.jagrukta.com/?p=129
Holi is regarded as the festival of joy and colors, but one should always be on alert while playing Holi because, if accident happens, it can ruin the spirit of that day. Also, one should always remember to use these small precautions so that no one that you know or love gets hurt unknowingly. Below [...]]]>
Holi is regarded as the festival of joy and colors, but one should always be on alert while playing Holi because, if accident happens, it can ruin the spirit of that day. Also, one should always remember to use these small precautions so that no one that you know or love gets hurt unknowingly. Below are some of the ‘Dos and Don'ts’ that are necessary to enjoy Holi to its fullest. “DO’s” * Dental caps are a good idea to protect you teeth from staining. * Sunglasses go a long way in keeping your eyes safe from the harmful chemicals of the colors. * Wear old and ragged clothes that you can be at easilydiscard while playing Holi, as your clothes may never look wearable again with all those color stains. * Brightly collared and dark collared clothes are preferable for the mood of the day. * Wear full-sleeved t-shirt or shirts that cover your arms fully. Socks will be a good idea too. * Always put some amount of oil on your head and body. Apply thick coating of paint on your nails- both in fingers and toes so that they remain protected. * Granted that it is almost impossible to save you face from attack of colors, so while being attacked, keep eyes and lips tightly closed or one can apply good amount of oily body lotion or oil to the body so that it does not become dry after taking bath this procedure will help you to wash off colors easily later on. * If you are traveling, keep the car windows tightly shut. Better still; avoid traveling on Dhuledi, the day of playing colors. * Use a hat, cap or anything like that to protect your hair from being collared with hard-to Rinse dyes. * Put on your worst gears so that you won't have to take on the hassles of an immediate Washing. * Do not bump into the frenzied group of mob if you take to streets. Better you cross the Road to the sidewalk across. Or, simply stay at a safe distance. * While washing off the color, use lukewarm water and keep your eyes and lips tightly Closed. “Don’ts” * Discourage your children to play Holi with eggs, mud or gutter water. Never turn a blind eye to such unclean ways of celebration. * Avoid use of abir as it has flakes of mica. * If you do not want your children and family to participate in the revelry, have a nice and quiet holiday at home. Your children should be confident enough to take the decision of not participating in the Holi celebrations. Teach them not to fall prey to pressure. * Teach your children to respect other’s independence during Holi. For instance, you should stop your children from forcing Holi celebrations on a hesitant neighbor. * If you fancy a glass of bhang (grass of the opium plant mashed and mixed with milk or sweets), go ahead. But let your family not get carried away. Your children should not get addicted to this intoxicating drink. Holi revelry should be contained within decent limits. * Avoid loud and rowdy Holi parties, which might spoil the family environment. Children get accustomed to such parties at a very early age and tend to repeat the same type of celebrations later in life. * Don’t walk alone on the streets on the Holi day. You’ll be a sure target for miscreants. . Play Holi only with a group of close friends and relatives as against strangers. * Use only powdered color and water. * Keep a big bucket of water handy for your children, so that they do not resort to gutter water and other unclean sources. * Roll your windows up while driving your car. * Be available at one venue throughout Holi, especially if you want to avoid rowdy Holi revelers. * Always take some moments off to know the cultural significance of Holi. It is a festival of color, a harbinger of the spring season, and not a dirty game. ]]> http://www.jagrukta.com/awareness/safe-holi-tips-dos-and-donts/feed/ 0 http://www.jagrukta.com/awareness/safe-holi-home-made-colours/ http://www.jagrukta.com/awareness/safe-holi-home-made-colours/#comments Tue, 15 Mar 2011 05:43:08 +0000 admin http://www.jagrukta.com/?p=126 HAPPY HERBAL HOLI.... Natural colours can be made from flowers/fruits/vegetables extracts.play holi with natural colours, these r safe, economical, eco-friendlyand can be easily made at home... RED-peels of red pomegranate boiled in water or crushed dry red rose petals. Green:-Fine paste of mint,spinach & leaves or dry mehandi powder.. BLUE:-Berries of indigo plant or crused dry jacaranda flowers... MAGENTA:-beetroot grated and soaked in water or peeled onions soaked in water. YELLOW-crushed dry marigold flower petals or turmeric & besan powder mixed in water. ]]> http://www.jagrukta.com/awareness/safe-holi-home-made-colours/feed/ 0 http://www.jagrukta.com/awareness/how-a-tsunami-is-caused/ http://www.jagrukta.com/awareness/how-a-tsunami-is-caused/#comments Fri, 11 Mar 2011 11:04:37 +0000 admin http://www.jagrukta.com/?p=122 http://www.jagrukta.com/awareness/how-a-tsunami-is-caused/feed/ 0 http://www.jagrukta.com/awareness/international-womens-day/ http://www.jagrukta.com/awareness/international-womens-day/#comments Tue, 08 Mar 2011 06:13:46 +0000 admin http://www.jagrukta.com/?p=107
The International Women's Day, celebrated on 8 March every year, has generally gone unnoticed at NAL. This year things have been different: first, NAL's lady employees received a note on 8 March 2001, signed by Dr T S Prahlad, Director, acknowledging  Ms their very significant contributions to the Lab. Two weeks later, on 20 March 2001, NAL's [...]]]>
The International Women's Day, celebrated on 8 March every year, has generally gone unnoticed at NAL. This year things have been different: first, NAL's lady employees received a note on 8 March 2001,

signed by Dr T S Prahlad, Director, acknowledging  Ms their very significant contributions to the Lab. Two weeks later, on 20 March 2001, NAL's ladies organised a special lecture by Asha Ramesh of NIAS on the Women's Movement in India. The lecture, at the S R Valluri Auditorium, was very well attended with the vast majority of the audience being NAL's ladies. Dr Kalyani Vijayan welcomed the gathering and introduced Ms Asha Ramesh as "a very distinguished guest". She also wondered aloud why a women's day must be celebrated only once every year. Dr Prahlad in his opening marks paid a rich tribute to NAL's ladies: "our ladies have performed extremely well both as scientists and s administrators. I also believe that they have been more innovative and disciplined .. and they have posed me the fewest problem in managing the Lab!". Ms Asha Ramesh's lecture proved to be an excellent historical narrative of women's movements in India spanning a whole century. The freedom movement, she said, marked the beginning of organised struggle by Indian women. "This was the first time the women came out on the streets in large numbers", she said. Ms Asha Ramesh went on to talk of the Telangana movement of 1948-50, featuring a militant uprising against the landlord's oppressive practices; the Nav Nirman movement started by JP in 1974 ("which was in many ways a women's movement"); the Chipko movement against the felling of trees; the repercussions of the Mathura rape case of 1974, the dowry deaths starting from the 1980's etc.  The speaker also made the important point that the focus of the women's movements in India changed starting from the 1980's. While the earlier movements were seeking special welfare policies for women, the emerging paradigm shift sees women as critical actors in social which development. Ms Asha Ramesh talked with deep feeling about the return of the sati practice in Deorala, unfair court rulings in 's, rape victims were labelled as individuals with a "questionable character", about women's daily wages still being lower than men about women in politics and Parliament and about the shocking statistics of female foeticide even today. The lecture was rather long, but nevertheless very informative. In his reaction, Dr G M Kamath (the only participant who asked questions was a young hieve man!) wondered why the talk focused on legislations; in reply, the speaker suggested that legislation was a pre-requisite to acchange. Dr Kamath also asked if changing mindsets wasn't a better option than "empowering" women; Ms Asha Ramesh seemed to indicate that we needed both the options. ]]> http://www.jagrukta.com/awareness/international-womens-day/feed/ 0 http://www.jagrukta.com/awareness/save-money-on-electric-bill/ http://www.jagrukta.com/awareness/save-money-on-electric-bill/#comments Wed, 02 Mar 2011 16:13:03 +0000 admin http://www.jagrukta.com/?p=103 Tips to Save Money on Electric Bill Keep the following tips in mind, and you will be able to save money on electricity by leaps and bounds. You will see a noticeable difference in your electric bill in the next month itself, and as long as you inculcate these good habits, you will not be spending excessively on electricity.

• The first and foremost thing for you to remember is to turn off all the lights and switches when you leave a room. You may wonder how much harm an unused light can do, but when you add it all up, you can find the damage it does. This is a simple task and it is a good habit to have. Educate people around you to share this habit as well.
• If you are sitting or working in a particular idea, it is advisable to use task lighting like a lamp instead of switching on the lights for the entire room.
• Use compact fluorescent lights instead of your regular incandescent bulbs. These are slightly expensive, but they can considerably lower your electricity consumption. View them as an investment and an excellent means to save money on electric bill.
• If you have a light dimmer, use it when you do not require the lights to be very bright. This is a good means of energy saving.
• If you can avoid using an air conditioner, do so. These are high consumers of electricity, so you must use them only when they are absolutely necessary. If you do use them, try keeping them on lower settings. Use a fan instead.
• In winters, let as much sunlight come in as is possible. This will reduce the need for heaters to a certain extent.
• In summer, try and prevent as much sunlight coming in as possible by using thick curtains and blinds. Also let there be plenty of ventilation in the room.
• Turn off your computer when you are not using it even if, it is for a small amount of time. Also remember to turn off your printer. The key to save money on electric bills is to turn off all unnecessary and idle things. It does not take much effort to do so, and it reaps immense benefits in the long run.
• Run the dishwasher only when it is completely full. Do not run full cycles on it just for a few dishes. And when your dishes are wet, just leave them out for a while in order to dry.
• Do not buy big appliances that you will barely use. Or do not buy an appliance with big and powerful electricity consuming features, unless you are absolutely sure that they will be fully utilized.
• Make sure that your refrigerator door is not left open accidentally.

]]> http://www.jagrukta.com/awareness/save-money-on-electric-bill/feed/ 0 http://www.jagrukta.com/awareness/save-the-girl-child/ http://www.jagrukta.com/awareness/save-the-girl-child/#comments Sat, 22 Jan 2011 09:41:57 +0000 admin http://www.jagrukta.com/?p=93 SAVE .....THE GIRL- CHILD Oh! All the excitement has ceased- A girl has born again The mother is full of joy.. But what about the father, Is he angry? why? In-laws make a face, speak wickedly “How dare she produced a girl” As she has a baggage already! There is a hush and a lull amongst the joy, No rejoice at the nook No neighbors dare to visit- Is everyone playing a coy? Except that mother! Her heart is full of melody She knows, all will be unkind But she feels glad…. Do you know “WHY?” She knows- This miracle of procreation Beautiful in construction Carries within her- the beginning and the end.]]> http://www.jagrukta.com/awareness/save-the-girl-child/feed/ 0