Dinesh Kamath's news 'HEART Foundation launches ‘Support Group for Care Givers’ of dependent individuals' that was published in Newsband

HEART Foundation launches ‘Support Group for Care Givers’ of dependent individuals

By Dinesh Kamath

NAVI MUMBAI: With an aim to provide support, encouragement, guide and a shoulder to lean onto, HEART Foundation, NGO from Navi Mumbai (which runs STREE as well) has launched a ‘Support Group for Care Givers’ of dependent individuals.

“Caregivers have been a neglected lot, often being challenged to find time to tend to their own needs, resulting in an alarming decline in their physical and mental health. The fact is that caregivers need to be taken care of too and supported to see through the trying times that they find themselves in,” says Dr. Jayakar Ellis, Founder President, HEART.

“HEART Foundation has been working in the field of health since its inception in July 2013. During its work it was observed that though health care facilities have improved in cities, the unknown plight of the caregivers, remains all the more hidden. Nothing is said or being done about people who tend to their ailing ones on a day to day basis,” he added.

The Scenario

In India, caregiving is essentially a job for women since beginning, owing to their exclusive presence at home and the ability to juggle multiple tasks while at it. So, apart from the daily household chores, which tend to overwork them, they get overburdened by an additional responsibility of taking care of an ailing dependent family member. While, all of them carry out their responsibilities well, the pressure tends to take a toll on their own needs as they start ignoring or hardly find time to think about their own physical and mental needs. In some cases the growing financial crunch adds up to the pressure exerted. This burdening of individuals who already have a lot on their plates, is overwhelming. The scope of their social interaction gets limited within four walls leaving no room for hobbies, dreams and aspirations.

A Startling fact

“It is startling to know that in most of the cases, caregivers too, end up under some physical or mental ailment for the stress they go through. The lack of support tends to push them into a different level of depression that has deteriorating effects on them, exposing them to the same fate as that of the ailing ones. They get sick while caring for the sick!” said Dr. Shirish Pujari (MD), one of the facilitators of the Group.

Heart Foundation: Caring for the Caregivers

In Navi Mumbai, caregivers consist of both people from the low economic groups and high economic groups. While people from the high economic groups have the option to hire help to look after their physically dependent relatives, people from the lower class have to bear the brunt resource crunches that include finances too, as many of them also have to work to keep the family running. Additional expenses and the physical and mental drain add to their woes pushing them towards disaster.

Aim and Objectives

“Through this Group, we would strive to connect caregivers and others too into forming support groups that can share experiences, interact openly, learn from each other and support each other in every possible manner,” said Mrs. Uma Vaidyanathan, Coordinator and senior volunteer of HEART.

Through this initiative HEART Foundation aims to provide a platform to:

· Exchange practical information on care giving problems and possible solutions

· Talk through challenges and ways of coping

· Share feelings, needs and concerns

· Learn about resources available in the community

· Learn ways of coping with the stresses and strains of being a caregiver

“The support group will benefit the family caregivers who can learn from each other and also from the resource persons. This can help to perform their role in a better way and to lead healthier lives,” said Ms. Suvarna Suryavanshi, psychologist and another facilitator.

The Group is open for all caregivers and the get together will be held every Saturday from 5 pm to 7 pm at HEART Foundation’s office at office no. 2, Jyoti Apartments, Sector 20, plot no 17 G, Belapurgaon, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai.

Various fun filled activities will be held along with sessions on Yoga by Mrs. Sharmishtha Ambre, a well known yoga exponent, talks by Dr. Pujari and session by Ms. Suryavanshi.

Registration is free but mandatory. Pls call: 8080007777/ 97680404043 and email to drjaellis@gmail.com 

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Modi’s visit to Europe is proving useful for India' that was published in Newsband

Modi’s visit to Europe is proving useful for India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Germany, Spain, Russia and France might benefit India to a great extent. India faced disappointment as the U.S. has forged closer ties with China, while it targeted Indian professionals and businesses to protect American jobs. Modi’s meetings with Merkel and subsequently Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and French President Emmanuel Macron saw those issues raised one way or another.

These leaders worked new ways to cooperate on multilateral issues, including terror, trade and climate change. Modi assured in Berlin that the suspended India-EU free trade talks for the Broadbased Trade and Investment Agreement would resume soon.

EU repose much more faith in Beijing than New Delhi would be comfortable with. Europe perceives its single largest threat to be from Moscow, not Beijing. Modi’s attendance at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum to unveil a new India-Russia vision statement for the 21st century along with President Vladimir Putin is of interest to the rest of the world. Modi heads to Washington for a meeting with Trump at the end of June.

Modi’s visit to Europe is to improve economic and cultural relations. Modi believes that it would be an “immoral and criminal act” to spoil the environment for future generations, and he underlines the need to protect nature. Modi wants “more and more German companies” to invest in India even as the speedy conclusion of an India-EU free trade agreement (FTA) was the focus on the German side. Warning that terrorism poses a grave threat to future generations, Modi said forces of humanity should come together to combat the menace as India and Germany vowed to take “strong measures” against those who encourage, support and finance it.

Modi backed German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s “strong leadership” in uniting the European Union at a time when the economic grouping was showing signs of strain post Brexit and over the protectionist policies of US President Donald Trump. Modi and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday reaffirmed the urgent need for a comprehensive reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). They said there is a need for expansion in both permanent and non-permanent categories of membership, to make it more effective, efficient and responsive to the existing challenges to international peace and security and representative of the contemporary geo-political realities.

Science and technology, the start up world are important areas which have been given attention to during Modi’s visit. India is giving an impetus to next-generation infrastructure and this is an area in which Modi is working extensively with Germany. Their cooperation in areas like renewable energy is gaining momentum. Modi made it clear that climate protection and living in harmony with nature is a part of India’s ethos.

Germany’s partnership is very important in making Skill India a success. Modi is looking at outcome oriented momentum in India-Germany ties and a quantum jump specially in economic ties.

Modi and Chancellor Merkel signed a number of agreements/declarations of intent. One billion euros will go into development cooperation. They have expanded and deepened their bilateral ties in a number of areas. India and Germany have struck eight agreements during PM Modi’s visit.

Germany is the seventh largest foreign direct investor (FDI) in India and the total FDI from April 2000 until December 2016 amounted to $ 9.54 billion. A total of 1,800 German companies are operating in India. The German embassy in Berlin had launched the Make in India Mittelstand (MIIM) Programme in September 2015 to facilitate the German Mittelstand (SMEs) to do business in India. Germany is India's largest trading partner in Europe and 7th largest source of FDI. Thus Modi is trying to derive maximum benefits for India during his visit to European nations. 

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Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Planned effort needed to solve city problems' that was published in Newsband

Planned effort needed to solve city problems

The slum dwellers have broken open the iron fencing and set up shanties on the open land along the mangroves in Airoli. They were driven away a few days back by NMMC squad. But they have come back. In the process, a nullah has been choked partially and mangroves destroyed on the open land in sector 19, Airoli. These slum dwellers can even access free drinking water from NMMC-connected lines on the road divider green zone. Their arrival has affected the morning and evening joggers who have complained to NMMC about this encroachment.  

There was a time in the past when City & Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) had launched a WhatsApp service for residents to inform the officials about illegal encroachments. But public response were poor. The residents, however, felt that CIDCO did not publicize the number enough to evoke more reactions. Majority of residents were not even aware of the service. There was no mention of the number on CIDCO website or their offices. The nature of complaints, received then was mixed. Only 12 complaints were about unauthorized constructions in CIDCO area, three within Naina region and seven were about encroachments by hawkers. Seven were about mushrooming of slum pockets. But the question is whether CIDCO took any kind of action after receiving the complaints.

There is a resident who had written, spoken to various officials and even written on official email id of the commissioner - except for occasional enquiries but no action was taken against an encroachment right opposite to Ryan International School. This was some months back.  

There is need for NMMC and CIDCO to take initiatives to demolish illegal constructions and take steps to make Navi Mumbai encroachment free. The priority of the corporation should be to tackle the encroachment problem on the government and corporation properties. After that is done, it should take up issues related to open spaces and footpaths. Next in the line should be the building built beyond permission and post that they should go still forward.  Thus there should be a planned effort. Steps should be taken towards making the city encroachment free. 

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Civic body should not tolerate environmental violation' that was published in Newsband

Civic body should not tolerate environmental violation

A stretch of Parsik hill range — from Rabale to Digha — will be a tourist destination. Hence plantation drive is taking place here, one in the periphery of Digha dam area and the other in nearby Mumbradevi hill area in Rabale.

It is a good idea to beautify this hill in order to turn it into a tourist attraction. But after developing a green patch over here Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation has to prevent any kind of encroachment. Making the city green is a great idea. But to achieve this goal many precautions have to be taken.

In Navi Mumbai it is noticed that a lot of unauthorised activities take place where there are mangroves. There is one mangrove region in the city where there is a lot of debris dumped inside this restricted green zone and some workers are constructing a concrete platform. It is damaging the mangroves and is a clear violation of the Environment Protection Act. Such illegal activities ar3e taking place so close to the NMMC head office in Belapur and yet the civic body is not able to take any action.

Some civic contractors are behind this illegal structure work being carried out within the mangroves. A type of platform is being made so as to allow people to do yoga on it. This is further destroying the mangroves. Some of the green-white forest department poles installed here to demarcate the mangroves line also seem to be damaged; while some appear to be displaced.

If there are any environmental violations found having been done by civic officials then NMMC should not hesitate to take appropriate action against them too. 

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'India, China and the World' that was published in Newsband

India, China and the World

India is much closer to Europe than Beijing. Chinese leader Xi Jinping arrived in Europe just a few days behind the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. Major governments across the world are assessing the direction the European Union will go in the coming few years.

Prime Minister Modi’s European tour is partly designed to position India for this new Europe. His three stops – Germany, France and Spain – reflect New Delhi’s sense that these will be the three most important governments in a post-Brexit EU. He has served to remind Europe that the Indian government might be rightwing, but on climate change and counterterrorism it is very much in the global mainstream. Also, when it comes to democratic values and the rules-based world order, India is much closer to Europe than Beijing. Europe’s newfound scepticism about China’s Belt-Road can affect its relation with China.

Asserting that a strong India-China partnership is important for the world, the International Monetary Fund has said that maintaining openness to trade is very important, especially for Asia. India and China are currently responsible for half of global growth, so a strong economic partnership between these two large economies is very important — for their people and for the world.

India and China, to be sure, have contributed similarly to global output for more than a millennium and half in the past, it's mostly the Industrialisation that made the West technologically superior in recent centuries. This has come to saturation, the Anglo-American Zionist Empire wants now to rule the waves again with weapons and wars only. This is obviously yielding negative results in world order. India and China need to trust each other more to take BRICS seriously and make it relevant against the likes of IMF and World Bank.

After more than three decades of stupendous growth, China is in the process of making the painful transition to a lower growth path. As it does so, the ruling CPC is increasingly turning to nationalism to provide legitimacy in the eyes of its own people. China now openly seeks to ‘display its prowess’ and ‘assume its responsibilities’ in the world. However, it still lacks the capability to impose a political or security order of its own in its immediate neighbourhood. There is, therefore, likely to be a period of instability in the Asia–Pacific region, and the environment in which India pursues its interests will get more complex. China and India today have a relationship with elements of both cooperation and competition. While both countries have a common interest in improving on the existing security and economic order, they compete in the periphery they share. A danger present in present-day India–China relations comes from the mutual gap between perception and reality. This is a moment of opportunity for India–China relations, and each country could benefit its core interests by working with the other.

Dinesh Kamath’s column ‘New movies released in Navi Mumbai’ (Sweetie Weds NRI, Dobaara: See Your Evil, Hanuman Da Damdaar, Bachche Kachche Sachche, Dear Maya, A Death in the Gunj, Wonder Woman, Mirror Game and Baywatch) that was published in Newsband

New movies released in Navi Mumbai

By Dinesh Kamath

Sweetie Weds NRI

‘Sweetie Weds NRI’ is directed by Hasnaina Hyderabadwala. Writers: Tariq Mohammad (dialogue), Tariq Mohammad (screenplay). The film stars Himansh Kohli, Zoya Afroz and Darshan Jariwala. Other actors in the film are Bhoolabhai Desai, Kiran Juneja, Jigna Desai, Adi Irani, Jazz Mehta, Ankit Arora and others.

Sweetie Desai Weds NRI' is a humorous take on the Gujarati culture and its different shades. The film has been shot entirely in Vadodara and adjoining areas. It is the first Bollywood movie to have been shot entirely in the city, known for being the 'cultural capital of Gujarat. The movie has portrayed the Gujarati culture in its true form.

Dobaara

Dobaara: See Your Evil is a 2017 Bollywood horror film written and directed by Prawaal Raman. It is a remake/adaptation of the 2013 American horror film Oculus; the original film's director and co-writer, Mike Flanagan, serves as executive producer.

It's a story about a mirror believed to be haunted and the contradictory views between a brother (Saqib Saleem) and sister (Huma Qureshi) dealing with the killing of their parents (Adil Hussain) and (Lisa Ray) a decade ago. Thus Siblings Natasha and Kabir Merchant investigate an allegedly haunted mirror in their parents' home. This movie is an official adaption of 'Oculus'.

The film has Huma Qureshi as Natasha Alex Merchant, Saqib Saleem as Kabir Alex Merchant, Adil Hussain as Alex Merchant, Lisa Ray as Lisa Alex Merchant, Rhea Chakraborty as Tanya, Madalina Bellariu Ion as Anna, Abhishek Singh as Young Kabir Alex Merchant and Rysa Saujani as Young Natasha Merchant.

Hanuman Da Damdaar

Hanuman Da’ Damdaar is a 2017 jungle adventure animated film, directed by Ruchi Narain, presented by RNB Films in association with R.A.T Films. It is a story of a boy, Hanuman set in ‘mythological’ times. The concept of the film is for children to have fun and learn something.

The film has Salman Khan as Hanuman, Raveena Tandon as Anjani, Kunal Kemmu as Indra, Chunky Panday as Tourist Guide, Arnav as Baby Hanuman, Javed Akhtar as Valmiki, Vinay Pathak as Popat Sharma, Makrand Deshpande as Vishrav, Saurabh Shukla as Kesari and Hussain Dalal as Garuda.

The movie has an interesting story. Anjani has not forgotten how her son almost lost his life. Now to protect him, she shelters him in a bid to keep him from harming himself again. She doesn’t even allow him to go out of the house. When his father Senapati Kesari returns from war, he is upset to find that his brave son has become a scared little boy. Maruti feels bad that his father isn’t proud of him, and prays to God to make him the ‘bravest kid in the world’. God answers his prayers and leads Maruti into a series of jungle adventures. His experiences and new friends lead him to metamorphose from a ‘Bhola-Bhala Bajrangi’ to Hanuman Da’ Damdaar.

The music for film is composed by Sneha Khanwalkar and lyrics are penned by Abhishek Dubey. The background score is given by Shruti Kumar-Jessica Weiss and Bapi-Tutul. The film has songs like "Bhai O Bhai"     sung by Saagar Kendurkar, "Hanuman Chalisa" by Sneha Pandit, Taher Shabbir, "The Maa Song" by Swanand Kirkire and Meenal Jain and "Lakdi Ki Kaathi (Recreated)".

Bachche Kachche Sachche

Bachche Kachche Sachche is a drama comedy film directed by Ravi Sadasiv.

Not every child dreams of becoming an astronaut or a doctor, some dream of something impossible - the end of school, and holidays forever! Bachche Kachche Sachche brings to you a rib-tickling but serious story that brings the children's amusing dream to life.

The film has Ektaa Singh, Ashish Vidyarthi, Mukesh Tiwari, Manoj Babani, Chirag Bolakani, Lokashit Patnaik, Aryan Kataria, Nikunj Pondaya, Tara Sharma, Ganesh, Durvesh S Parab and Anna Hazare in Special Appearance.

Dear Maya

Dear Maya is a film direted by Sunaina Bhatnagar. Writer: Sunaina Bhatnagar. Stars: Manisha Koirala, Madiha Imam, Shreya Chaudhary.

Anna and Ira prank a local woman by writing her letters from a secret admirer. The prank takes a more serious turn when the local women goes missing,

The film has Manisha Koirala as Maya, Madiha Imam as Anna and Shreya Chaudhary as Ira.

A Death in the Gunj

A Death In The Gunj is a 2016 Indian Hindi drama thriller film written and directed by Konkona Sen Sharma. It features an ensemble cast of Vikrant Massey, Tillotama Shome, Om Puri, Tanuja, Gulshan Devaiah, Kalki Koechlin, Jim Sarbh, and Ranvir Shorey. Produced by Ashish Bhatnagar, Vijay Kumar Swami, Raagii Bhatnagar, Abhishek Chaubey, and Honey Trehan under the banners of Studioz IDrream and MacGuffin Pictures, it is Sharma's directorial debut feature.

The film is set in the town of McCluskieganj, Bihar (now in Jharkhand), India, during the winter of 1979. What starts as an uneventful family holiday takes a twist when the guests start playing with the spirits. It is nothing tangible but insinuates its way into the group until the holiday ends in an implosion, resulting in an unavoidable event.

The film has Koechlin and Devaiah who play lead roles in the film, Vikrant Massey as Shyamlal Chatterjee (Shutu), Ranvir Shorey as Vikram, Kalki Koechlin as Mitali (Mimi), Tillotama Shome as Bonnie, Gulshan Devaiah as Nandan Bakshi (Nandu), Tanuja as Anupama Bakshi (Aunty), Om Puri as O.P Bakshi (Uncle), Jim Sarbh as Brian and Arya Sharma as Tani.

Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman is a 2017 American superhero film based on the DC Comics character of the same name. Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, it is the fourth installment in the DC Extended Universe. The film is directed by Patty Jenkins with a screenplay by Allan Heinberg; story provided by Heinberg, Zack Snyder and Jason Fuchs. Gal Gadot stars as the titular character with Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Danny Huston, David Thewlis, Connie Nielsen and Elena Anaya in supporting roles. Wonder Woman is the first live action theatrical film based on the character, following her first live action theatrical appearance in 2016's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. In the film, American pilot Steve Trevor crashes on the island of Themyscira and tells Diana Prince about World War I, Diana leaves her home to try to stop the war and becomes Wonder Woman.

Before she was Wonder Woman, she was Diana, princess of the Amazons, trained to be an unconquerable warrior. Raised on a sheltered island paradise, when an American pilot crashes on their shores and tells of a massive conflict raging in the outside world, Diana leaves her home, convinced she can stop the threat. Fighting alongside man in a war to end all wars, Diana will discover her full powers…and her true destiny.

The film has Gal Gadot as Diana Prince / Wonder Woman: The immortal, 5000 year old Amazon princess, daughter of Hippolyta and Zeus, and the half-sister of Ares. Chris Pine as Steve Trevor: A captain from the United States Army Air Service who is the love interest of Diana Prince. Robin Wright as General Antiope: The sister of Hippolyta and Diana's aunt. Danny Huston as General Erich Ludendorff: An ambitious and iron fisted general of the German Army during World War I. David Thewlis as Ares: The treacherous son of Zeus and half-brother of Diana, based on the Greek mythological god of War who masquerades as Sir Patrick Morgan, a speaker for peace on the Imperial War Cabinet as part of his deceptive master plan of conquest and destruction. Connie Nielsen as Queen Hippolyta: The Amazon queen of Themyscira and Diana's mother. Elena Anaya as Doctor Maru / Doctor Poison: A mad scientist who is associated with General Ludendorff and specializes in chemistry such as poisons. Lucy Davis as Etta Candy: Steve Trevor's comical, loyal, and friendly secretary who befriends Diana. Saïd Taghmaoui as Sameer: A secret agent who is a master of disguise, an ally of Steve Trevor. Ewen Bremner as Charlie: A heavy-drinking Scottish sharpshooter, who's already had a tour of duty and has post-traumatic stress disorder, an ally of Steve Trevor. Eugene Brave Rock portrays Chief, an opportunist who trades with both sides of the war and knows how to get people across the front lines. In addition, Lisa Loven Kongsli portrays Menalippe, Antiope's lieutenant.[20] Mayling Ng, Florence Kasumba, Madeleine Vall Beijner, and boxer Ann Wolfe play the Amazons Orana, Senator Acantha, Egeria, and Artemis, respectively. Dutch model Doutzen Kroes will portray the Amazon Venelia. Samantha Jo, who played Car-Vex in Man of Steel, was cast as Euboea.

Mirror Game

Mirror Game is a film directed and written by V Sharma.

Mirror Game follows University Professor Jay Verma. Stuck in a crumbling marriage and a failing career, Jay seeks a way out of his troubles. Ronnie, an ambitious student, approaches Professor Verma asking for help with a thesis. Verma sees this opportunity and in return for his help, makes Ronnie an offer that he hopes will solve all his problems. Ronnie accepts but soon things start to spiral out of control and Professor Verma begins to question his own sanity.

The film has Parvin Dabas, Dhruv Bali and Pooja Batra playing the main roles.

Baywatch

Baywatch is a 2017 American action comedy film directed by Seth Gordon and based on the television series of the same name. The film stars Dwayne Johnson, Zac Efron, Priyanka Chopra, Alexandra Daddario, Kelly Rohrbach, Jon Bass, and Ilfenesh Hadera.

Baywatch follows devoted lifeguard Mitch Buchannon (Dwayne Johnson) as he butts heads with a brash new recruit (Zac Efron). Together, they uncover a local criminal plot that threatens the future of the Bay. [Paramount Pictures]Cast[edit]

The film has Dwayne Johnson as Mitch Buchannon, the leader of an elite team of lifeguards.Zac Efron as Matt Brody, a disgraced former Olympian turned lifeguard, used as a PR opportunity. Priyanka Chopra as Victoria Leeds, the new owner of the Huntley Club, suspected of using her business as a front for drug smuggling. Alexandra Daddario as Summer Quinn, one of the new recruits, along with Matt and Ronnie, tough, brainy, a skilled surfer, and the love interest of Matt. Kelly Rohrbach as C.J. Parker, Ronnie's love interest. Jon Bass as Ronnie, funny, awkward and a skilled disco dancer at the beach, who falls in love with Parker. Ilfenesh Hadera as Stephanie Holden, Mitch's second-in-command. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Garner Ellerbee, a police officer who is constantly reminding Mitch that he has no real authority over the bay. Rob Huebel as Don Thorpe, Mitch's superior, who wants to restore the financially troubled Baywatch program. Hannibal Buress as Dave the Tech, a bay community local and Ronnie's friend. Belinda as Carmen. Jack Kesy as Leon. Amin Joseph as Frankie. Izabel Goulart as Amber. Charlotte McKinney as Julia. Arian Foster as himself. Seth Gordon as Helicopter Pilot. Two of the original stars of the TV series, David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson, made cameos in the film portraying Mitch "The Mentor" and Casey Jean Parker, the new captain.