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Emissions from residential cooking and heating, power generation, and industries together contribute up to 60 per cent of India's PM2.5 pollution, with about 80 per cent of this coming from <keyword id="23824528" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fossil-fuel-combustion" source="keywords">fossil fuel combustion</keyword>, a new study has found. The peer-reviewed study, published in MDPI's "Air" journal, suggests dividing India into 15 airsheds based on regional climate and pollution sources. An airshed is a geographic area where <keyword id="53848" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="air-quality" source="Orion">air quality</keyword> is influenced by common factors such as wind patterns and pollution sources. Since pollution can spread across regions, the <keyword id="22077484" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="airshed-approach" source="keywords">airshed approach</keyword> promotes coordinated action among states. "Residential cooking and heating, power generation, and all other industries together are responsible for 40-60 per cent of the PM2.5 pollution in all the airsheds, and approximately 80 per cent of the pollution comes from fossil fuel burning sources," said Sarath Guttikunda, lead author of the study and founder of UrbanEmissions.info. The study said biomass burning, including post-harvest crop residue burning, contributed less than 3 per cent to annual PM2.5 levels while transport accounted for 5-10 per cent in all airsheds. PM2.5 are fine particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less, about the width of a human hair. These are so small that these can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream, posing significant health risks. An analysis of PM2.5 trends from 1998 to 2020, along with state-level data on fuel consumption, energy demand and emissions, revealed that 11 of the 15 airsheds were critical for India's air quality management and required coordinated interventions. The Indo-Gangetic Plains remain the most polluted region, with significant emissions from residential cooking and heating (especially in winter), power plants, brick kilns (driven by construction demand), waste burning, dust and vehicular movement for passengers and freight. The plateau region between the Eastern and Western Ghats, India's second most populated area, has seen the highest rise in annual PM2.5 pollution during this period, the study said. "This is an indication of the growing urbanisation and demand for transport, industrial, and commercial amenities," it said. Coastal areas, vital to India's industrial economy, have also experienced rising pollution despite the moderating effects of land-sea breezes. This increase is attributed to growing shipping emissions and overall industrial growth in cities such as Mundra, Surat, Mumbai, Goa, Mangalore, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Haldia.

Study traces 60% PM2.5 pollution in India to residential cooking, power generation, industries

India's real estate market to hit $10 trillion by 2047: Colliers-CREDAI report​

By Debashish Biswas India’s urban population is expected to grow from 377 million in 2011 (31% of total population) to around 600 million or 42% of the total population in 2030. It is estimated that in 2030, for five states – <keyword id="20154" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tamil-nadu" source="Orion">Tamil Nadu</keyword>, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Punjab, urbanisation levels will be more than 50% (Sources: Census of India 2011, McKinsey Global Institute and <keyword id="13071722" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="UN-World-Urbanisation-Prospects-2018" source="Orion">UN World Urbanisation Prospects 2018</keyword>). Indian cities will act as the engines of growth for the economy. As highlighted in the National Infrastructure Pipeline, an estimated ₹19,19,267 crores capital expenditure is estimated between FY20-FY25 in <keyword id="557969" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="urban-infrastructure" source="Orion">urban infrastructure</keyword> (Source: National Infrastructure Pipeline, Volume 1). Around 21% of this capital expenditure is proposed to be funded through private sector participation. Given this, as part of Budget 2022-23, it is expected that urban sector development will continue to remain as one of the major focus areas. Budgetary allocations are expected to be made for: <ul><li>Strengthening core urban infrastructure – Continued investments to reinforce core urban infrastructure like water supply, solid waste management, urban mobility, among others. Recently, in October 2021, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs announced AMRUT 2.0 which focuses on enhancing water connections in around 4800 urban local bodies, sewerage/ septage services in 500 cities as well as rejuvenation of water bodies, green spaces and parks (Source: AMRUT 2.0 guidelines). Further, <keyword id="6735318" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="swachh-bharat-mission-urban" source="Orion">Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban</keyword> 2.0 was also announced in October 2021 with the aspiration of making all cities garbage free.</li><li>Housing to remain a key focus area – Housing, specially providing affordable housing for all, remains a key priority for the country. It is also important to provide necessary incentives and improve various regulatory processes to attract private investments in the housing sector, especially in affordable housing.</li><li>Developing smart digital infrastructure in terms of mobility management, digital service delivery, city management, safety and security, environmental management, etc. <keyword id="857936" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="emphasis" source="Orion">Emphasis</keyword> may be provided on creating specific digital urban solutions leveraging the data being captured at the city level, specifically in the smart cities where the command control centers are already operational. Also, focus may be provided in creating cloud based shared digital infrastructure at state as well as district level so that even the smaller urban local bodies may get access and leverage digital infrastructure. </li><li>Environment and sustainability focus: Given the focus of building environmentally friendly and resilient cities, the budget may provide specific emphasis on developing sustainable urban areas including increasing green cover, urban forest, water conservation, water recycling, waste reuse, renewable energy usage, energy conservation, etc. On the mobility front, focus may be provided on further developing non-motorized transportation and electric vehicle infrastructure. For facilitating developing environmentally friendly infrastructure, necessary policies and incentives may be considered. Funding available under CSR activities may be leveraged for implementing various environmentally friendly infrastructure at city level.</li><li>Continue municipal reforms: To enable urban infrastructure growth, the ongoing municipal reforms should continue. These include -- a) strengthening municipal bond market – key steps to be undertaken by the urban local bodies are improving financial discipline; accounting reforms; improved governance and augment own source revenues; b) asset monetization and attracting private sector – creating an environment for attracting more private investments; and c) enabling user charges for funding urban infrastructure. Additional incentives may be provided to urban local bodies which undertake such overall reforms proactively. </li></ul>Overall, like last year, the current pandemic calls for a public investment led push for enabling economic growth. The FY 22-23 budget needs to focus on increased spending in overall urban infrastructure &amp; capital assets, which are likely to have a multiplier effect on demand generation and gross domestic product (GDP) growth. Further, higher urban infrastructure spend will improve investment attractiveness, create more employment opportunities and enhance quality of life. Debashish Biswas is Partner with Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/economic-budget-survey-2022-government-projects-8-to-8-5-growth-rate-in-year-2022-23/slidelist/89242472.cms">India’s Economic Survey projects 8-8.5 percent growth next year, here are other key points to note</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/despite-a-worldwide-chip-shortage-semiconductor-sales-cross-500-billion-for-the-first-time/articleshow/89242629.cms">Despite a worldwide chip shortage, semiconductor sales cross $500 billion for the first time</a>

OPINION: There should be continued focus on building urban infrastructure and sustainable smart cities

President Abdul Kalam, first proposed the idea of ‘Smart habitation as an integration of villages and cities working in harmony to reduce the rural and urban divide to a thin line’. With the <keyword id="4127478" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="DigiGaon">DigiGaon</keyword> initiative, an extension of <keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword>’s flagship ‘<keyword id="1929810" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Digital-India">Digital India</keyword> Program’, the rest of India is firmly on the path to becoming ‘rural cities’—the perfect villages complementing our ‘Smart Cities’. With nearly 70% of India’s population still living in rural areas, participation of ‘Bharat’ in India’s growth story is absolutely necessary for the country to be able to unlock this trillion-dollar digital opportunity. Crafting a digital society that assimilates and penetrates all social spheres is quintessential for India’s inclusive development. India ranks second only to China, when it comes to <keyword id="6357247" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Internet">internet</keyword> penetration. It has a population of 1.012 billion active mobile users and nearly 500 million internet users. Yet, the <keyword id="2412681" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="rural-internet">rural internet</keyword> penetration stood at a meagre 20.26% in December 2017. Empowering the rural population will play a pivotal role in ensuring creation of a crucial ‘hub and spoke’ model for the growth trajectory that India is currently aiming for. Along with the Bharat Net Programme which aims to connect 250,000 panchayats across 600,000 villages with optical fibre network, it is crucial that we deliver on the opportunity to augment our villages with comprehensive strategic planning and execution. The big idea: Making rural India entrepreneurship-ready As rural India becomes a part of the formal digital economy, availability of quality services such as telemedicine, e-education, e-health, e-commerce and related skills will provide momentum to the chain of activities towards creating immense entrepreneurial opportunities for the village youth. While we speak about villages playing a major role in India’s development agenda, unless India’s rural youth are provided with an equal opportunity to flourish, and a platform to become innovators and entrepreneurs, the country cannot achieve its goal of inclusive, high paced socio-economic growth. And this is where DigiGaon comes in. It provides the fundamentals of new-age entrepreneurship – digital capacity building, quality and affordable access to technology. Urban exclusion: Connect rural market The idea of ‘Digital India’ is a potential game changer for villages, which are expected to be the main growth centres with more rural produce and crafts being brought to the mainstream. For India’s rural youth to become disruptive change makers, we have to provide them with priority market access to village produce. According, to the UN World Urbanization Prospects 2018 report, only 34% of India lives in urban areas. Thus, with a majority of the population still in rural regions, <keyword id="866582" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="digital-connectivity">digital connectivity</keyword> can be transformational for their aspirations and dreams. It will definitely reduce the push factors leading to greater urban migration thereby helping a substantial population from being excluded from basic amenities, while bringing to life a plethora of new opportunities and markets in the villages. Tech push: Revive indigenous technologies India with its diversified culture and practices is a repository of innumerable home-grown sustainable technologies in every field, be it natural dyes or innovations in food. As the UN points out, traditional knowledge, cultures and practices contribute to sustainable and equitable development and proper management of the environment. It is therefore important that the rural areas maintain their characteristic. As the new-age technologies are gearing up to invade the space, strengthening the basis of knowledge will help the villages to go global with uniqueness. Technologies like cloud and mobility, Big Data Analytics, Internet of Things (IoT) and <keyword id="107950" type="TECHNOLOGY" weightage="20" keywordseo="artificial-intelligence">Artificial Intelligence</keyword> (AI) will only add value to a truly digital rural economy. India’s digital transformation is expected to add an estimated $154 billion to India’s GDP by 2021 – leading to a significant 1% increase in the country’s annual GDP growth rate. With DigiGaon, India stands at the cusp of an immense opportunity to become digitally inclusive, and leverage the true potential of disruptive technologies. This would not only impact globalisation, but also create a digital and global footprint that can become a blueprint of success for all developing countries. The article is written by a Business Insider India contributor - Rana Kapoor, managing director (MD) and the chief executive officer (CEO) of YES Bank.

DigiGaon: From urbanisation to millennium villages

To transform Indian cities and towns, and make them engine for growth, Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> will tomorrow launch three mega flagship projects, including the <keyword id="6377036" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="smart-cities">Smart Cities</keyword> proposal at the cost of whopping Rs 4 lakh crore. The PM will release operational guidelines for these projects - 100 Smart Cities, the <keyword id="2829341" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Atal-Mission-for-Rejuvenation">Atal Mission for Rejuvenation</keyword> and <keyword id="2130852" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Urban-transformation">Urban Transformation</keyword> (<keyword id="29369" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Amrut">AMRUT</keyword>) for 500 cities and <keyword id="2751345" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="housing-for-all">Housing-For-All</keyword> by 2022 in urban areas, a PTI report said. 

	Modi will also unveil the logo of the housing mission. He was involved during the finalisation of its design.
 

	The guidelines for each of the three projects were made after almost year-long consultations with states, Union Territories and urban local bodies.
 

	While the Smart City and AMRUT projects will draw Rs 48,000 crore and and Rs 50,000 crore, respectively, in central grants over five years, Housing-for-All by 2022 will see the government spend about Rs 3 lakh crore in the next seven years as it aims to build 2 crore affordable houses in urban areas for slum dwellers and people from economically-weaker sections (EWS) and low income groups.
 

	Under the housing scheme, interest subsidy of 6.5% on housing loans with tenure up to 15 years will be provided to EWS and low income groups, giving them a benefit of around Rs 2.3 lakh each.
 <keyword id="168340" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Urban-Development-Minister">Urban Development Minister</keyword> M <keyword id="74369" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Venkaiah-Naidu">Venkaiah Naidu</keyword> said the three projects will herald a new urban era. "The journey for team India begins tomorrow," he said. 

	States and local bodies will play a vital role in the execution of these projects, the minister said, adding that there will also be a lot of scope for private participation.
 

	The Smart City project seeks to improve quality of life in 100 selected cities with 24 hour water and power supply, world class transportation system, better education and recreational facilities, e-governance and environment-friendly atmosphere, among others. 
 The Smart City project will be based on <keyword id="457507" type="POSITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="PPP-model">PPP model</keyword>, Naidu said. 

	AMRUT seeks to ensure basic infrastructure for 500 cities with a population of above one lakh. Ensuring water supply to each household, sewer connections, sanitation and solid waste management, provision for roads and public transportation beside implementation of reforms in urban governance would be the focus under the scheme. 
 While urban population will increase by over 400 million to touch 814 million by 2050, India faces a mass <keyword id="142764" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Urbanisation">urbanisation</keyword> challenge even as many of its biggest cities are already bursting at the seams. 

	With the help of these schemes, the government is hoping to bring about a transformation of urban India with the critical goal of making the country an economic hub. 
 

	The launch will be followed by a two-day workshop in which over 1,000 mayors, municipal heads, state ministers and chief secretaries will take part. 
	 
	(Image: Reuters)

PM Modi to launch three projects to develop urban India

<keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> has its platter full this week and the all-new horrex genre (horror plus sex) is flush with cash. A total of five movies hit the theatres on Friday the 21st but none could bang the <keyword id="25892" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="box-office">box office</keyword> like Sunny Leone-starrer <keyword id="1020628" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ragini-MMS-2">Ragini MMS 2</keyword>. The sequel to the hit <keyword id="30679" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="horror-flick">horror flick</keyword> <keyword id="500381" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ragini-MMS">Ragini MMS</keyword> netted Rs 24.5 crore at home during the debut weekend while 4th day (Monday, March 24) collections stood at around Rs 4.5 crore nett at the <keyword id="827271" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Domestic-Box-Office">domestic box office</keyword>, as per industry estimates. 
 “RaginiMMS2 Fri 8.43 cr, Sat 7.29 crore, Sun 8.78 crore. Total: Rs 24.5 crore nett. India biz,” trade analyst Taran Adarsh tweeted. In spite of a slight drop in business on the second day, this <keyword id="2165873" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Horror-erotica">horror erotica</keyword> picked up pace and turned out to be this year’s third highest grosser over the opening weekend, after <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Jai-Ho-Salman-FightsThrough-Clichs-Fails-To-Create-A-Dhoom/articleshow/29505187.cms">Jai Ho</a> (around Rs 60 crore) and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Box-Office-Gunday-LeavesYou-Clueless-But-Cash-Register-is-Ringing/articleshow/30626422.cms">Gunday</a> (Rs 43.9 crore). The movie has also surpassed the lifetime business of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Madhuri-starrer-DedhIshqiya-Stumbles-At-Box-Office-Yaariyan-Romps-Past/articleshow/28798719.cms">Dedh Ishqiya</a> (Rs 27 crore) and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Highway-ExploresShadow-Zones-But-Fails-To-Impress-At-Box-Office/articleshow/31008054.cms">Highway</a> (Rs 27.25 crore), as per Koimoi. 
 
Along with Ragini MMS 2, four other movies were also released on March 21. These include <keyword id="1600822" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gang-of-Ghosts">Gang of Ghosts</keyword>, Ankhon Dekhi, <keyword id="6526" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Lakshmi">Lakshmi</keyword> and <keyword id="2165865" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kolkata-Junction">Kolkata Junction</keyword>. But keeping in mind how horror has flourished this week, we are focusing on just two movies today – Ragini MMS 2 and Gang of Ghosts. We will have another ‘Box Office’ story tomorrow and bring you the rest of the three movies, along with their box office performances. 
 Coming to performance, let us tell you that the <keyword id="1465525" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="horror-comedy">horror comedy</keyword> Gang of Ghosts did decently at the domestic box office and total collection after the first weekend was around Rs 14.25 crore, against a total budget of Rs 15 crore. That is not at all disheartening, taking into consideration the tough competition posed by the Ragini sequel, which is already way ahead of its total budget of Rs 18 crore. 
 
 
 Although <keyword id="1983057" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Adult-movie-star">adult movie star</keyword> <keyword id="836886" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sunny-Leone">Sunny Leone</keyword> made her Bollywood debut with <keyword id="25529" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="jism-2">Jism 2</keyword>, it is Ragini MMS 2 that has given her the biggest break in India till date. Interestingly, <keyword id="303" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Director">director</keyword> <keyword id="820957" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bhushan-Patel">Bhushan Patel</keyword> had earlier helmed another successful horror flick – 1920: Evil Returns. Ragini MMS 2 has been produced by <keyword id="6354597" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ekta-Kapoor">Ekta Kapoor</keyword> and <keyword id="154993" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Shobha-Kapoor">Shobha Kapoor</keyword>. 
 
Now that we know the awesome numbers the movie is commanding, let us have a look at what’s selling Ragini MMS 2. Well, that’s a kind of no-brainer in this context. A <keyword id="2165868" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sizzling-Sunny-Leone">sizzling Sunny Leone</keyword> flaunting her assets throughout the movie and looking a bit more confident than usual (who wouldn’t when one is portraying her own character), and some <keyword id="2165869" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Spooky-elements">spooky elements</keyword> craftily thrown in here and there to keep the fear factor alive are tantalising enough to be lapped up by the audience. Add to that chartbuster songs like <keyword id="38162" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Baby-Doll">Baby Doll</keyword> and <keyword id="2019181" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Chaar-Botal-Vodka">Chaar Botal Vodka</keyword>, and you have the perfect recipe for box office success. 
 
Unlike the prequel (Ragini MMS) that featured a balanced mix of <keyword id="2165871" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Horror-and-sex">horror and sex</keyword>, the equation has changed this time, along with the cast, and tilted heavily towards the explicit. However, the horrex picks up from where the earlier one had left, telling us the fatal story of a movie production team that has come to the infamous haunted haveli to make a movie on Uday and Ragini, whose earlier escapade in the house had gone awry. In fact, it won’t be a bad idea to watch Ragini MMS once again before you watch the second in the series. Now that the leaked MMS made by Uday has gone viral, film-maker Rocks (<keyword id="6532013" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Parvin-Dabas">Parvin Dabas</keyword>) decides to cash in on the scandal; ropes in Sunny as the female lead and lands at the house for the shoot. Here, Sunny seems to be at her explicit best but the bone-chilling moments are not missing altogether, in spite of their routine predictability. For instance, you will find the quintessential exorcist in <keyword id="2165872" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Dr-Meera-Dutta">Dr Meera Dutta</keyword> (<keyword id="18941" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Divya-Dutta">Divya Dutta</keyword>), to say nothing of the usual trappings of a <keyword id="1571333" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="paranormal-thriller">paranormal thriller</keyword>. Maybe erotica and a heavy dose of <keyword id="2165874" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Quirky-humour">quirky humour</keyword> have been the saving grace of this movie, along with the terror lacing. 
 
The other horror release of the week is Gang of Ghosts, a photocopy adaptation of the original Bengali flick, <keyword id="494729" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bhooter-Bhobishyot">Bhooter Bhobishyot</keyword>. Directed by <keyword id="2218" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Satish-Kaushik">Satish Kaushik</keyword>, this one tells an intriguing story of an <keyword id="2165876" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Over-urbanised-Mumbai">over-urbanised Mumbai</keyword> and how the departed souls are compelled to leave their last stronghold as haunted houses are speedily turned into high-rises and multiplexes. The original one has a touching message in the guise of comedy – one can actually sense the pain of getting uprooted as your city turns too affluent to be affordable. But the <keyword id="39358" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="hindi-remake">Hindi remake</keyword> falls flat in spite of veterans like <keyword id="6533" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Anupam-Kher">Anupam Kher</keyword> and <keyword id="297" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Jackie-Shroff">Jackie Shroff</keyword>. Still, those who have not watched the original may like it enough – that could be one possible reason behind its moderate box office success. 
 
Images: Indiatimes

Box Office: Ragini
MMS 2 Thrills All; Gang Of Ghosts Lacks Finesse

Imagine two <keyword id="19914811" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="children" source="keywords">children</keyword>: one growing up in a bustling urban <keyword id="19939494" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="environment" source="keywords">environment</keyword>, surrounded by towering buildings, crowded streets and the constant glow of artificial lights; the other living in a rural setting, where the day begins with the chirping of birds and playtime unfolds in the green spaces just outside home. It seems intuitive to assume that the child in the countryside would naturally have a stronger connection with nature. However, this assumption might not hold up under scrutiny. In a study conducted by researchers at <keyword id="22924618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Swedens-Lund-University" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Sweden’s Lund University" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Sweden’s Lund University">Sweden’s Lund University</keyword> and published in <keyword id="22924619" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="People-and-Nature" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="People and Nature" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="People and Nature">People and Nature</keyword>, it has been revealed that a child's <keyword id="21711495" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="connection-to-nature" source="keywords">connection to nature</keyword> is less about whether they live in a city or the countryside, and more about the socioeconomic conditions they grow up in. The study challenges the common belief that rural upbringing automatically fosters a deeper bond with nature. Urbanisation has long sparked concerns about a growing disconnect from the natural world, with less outdoor engagement being linked to poorer health outcomes. This makes the question of how to nurture or rekindle our connection to nature increasingly relevant, especially for children. After all, it’s during childhood that our foundational relationships with the environment are established. To delve into how urban and rural children relate to nature, and whether this connection is influenced by socioeconomic factors, the researchers undertook a detailed study. Surprisingly, they found that a child’s relationship with nature is not dictated by their geographic location. Instead, factors like income and education levels emerged as key determinants. For instance, children from areas with higher education levels showed better species knowledge, which correlated with more positive attitudes toward wildlife. Moreover, children from wealthier backgrounds were more likely to engage in nature-based activities, enhancing their connection to the environment. This pattern held true regardless of whether they lived in urban or rural settings. The study also revealed significant variations between schools, indicating the crucial role that educators and schools play in shaping children's relationships with nature. Adults, including teachers and parents, bear considerable responsibility as role models, influencing how children perceive and engage with the natural world. However, it’s worth noting that the study was conducted in Malmö, Sweden's third-largest city with a population of 3,50,000. This very fact raises intriguing questions about how the findings might differ in much larger cities, where access to natural environments could be even more challenging.

Socioeconomic status—and not urban or rural living—likely to shape your child's connection to nature: Study

As <keyword id="19896017" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Karnataka" source="keywords">Karnataka</keyword> grapples with a rising number of <keyword id="20075342" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="dengue" source="keywords">dengue</keyword> cases, the state government has officially declared dengue fever an <keyword id="20462436" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="epidemic" source="keywords">epidemic</keyword>. This declaration comes with a set of strict regulations designed to prevent the spread of the disease by targeting <keyword id="21283114" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mosquito-breeding" source="keywords">mosquito breeding</keyword>, which is the primary mode of transmission. To avoid <keyword id="20041636" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="penalties" source="keywords">penalties</keyword>, it is crucial to understand and adhere to these new regulations. <h2>Understanding dengue</h2>Dengue is a viral infection transmitted by the bite of an infected female Aedes mosquito, primarily Aedes aegypti. The virus causes flu-like symptoms, including high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, joint and muscle pain, rash, and mild bleeding (such as nose or gum bleeding). In severe cases, dengue can lead to dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) or dengue shock syndrome (DSS), which are potentially fatal <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111981382" title="BBMP’s newest contest can earn you up to Rs 1 lakh for uploading &amp;#39;Dengue Warrior&amp;#39; reels on social media!" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Karnataka’s tropical climate, combined with rapid urbanisation and inadequate waste management, has created ideal conditions for the proliferation of these Aedes mosquitoes, with cases exceeding 25,000 since the beginning of the year. The urban centres, particularly Bengaluru, have seen alarming spikes in dengue cases, straining the healthcare infrastructure and prompting urgent government interventions. The situation has been exacerbated by the accumulation of stagnant water in both residential and commercial areas, which serves as breeding grounds for mosquitoes. <h2>Preventative measures</h2>The government has mandated that all property owners, including households, commercial establishments, and construction site managers, must take immediate and effective steps to eliminate potential mosquito breeding sites. As per the new regulations, authorities can inspect any land or building between sunrise and sunset after giving reasonable notice. The owner or occupier must facilitate the inspection and provide necessary information. If mosquito breeding is found, the authority can issue a notice requiring action within a specified time, not less than 24 hours, to eliminate the breeding ground using suitable methods. This includes ensuring that all water storage containers, such as tanks, barrels, and drums, are properly covered to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs. Moreover, residents and business owners are required to properly dispose of solid waste, including items like old tires, broken pots, and unused containers, which could otherwise collect water and become breeding grounds. <h2>Fines for non-compliance</h2>In addition to these preventive measures, the government has implemented a structured penalty system for non-compliance. Households in <keyword id="19924983" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="urban-areas" source="keywords">urban areas</keyword> are subject to a fine of Rs 400, while those in rural areas face a Rs 200 fine. Commercial establishments, such as offices, restaurants, and schools, are liable for a Rs 1,000 fine in urban areas and Rs 500 in rural areas. Construction sites, whether active or abandoned, face the heaviest fines — Rs 2,000 in urban areas and Rs 1,000 in rural areas. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111316992" title="Dengue in obese children is more likely to result in hospitalisation, study finds" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>For those who fail to comply with these regulations, the consequences are more severe. Authorised officers from the <keyword id="19898915" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="health-department" source="keywords">Health Department</keyword> have been empowered to inspect properties and enforce these rules. If a property owner fails to comply with a notice to eliminate mosquito breeding sites, the authorities are authorised to take the necessary actions themselves and recover the costs from the defaulter. Additionally, if violations continue, an extra 50% of the total fine may be imposed each week until compliance is achieved. It is imperative to act swiftly if you receive a notice regarding mosquito breeding on your property. Ignoring such a notice not only increases your financial burden due to accumulating fines but also puts your community at greater risk of dengue. By adhering to these regulations and taking proactive steps to prevent mosquito breeding, you can avoid penalties and contribute to the larger public health effort to control the spread of dengue in Karnataka.

Dengue fine? Here's what you must do to avoid government penalty as Karnataka declares dengue an epidemic

New Delhi: Consumer Electronics maker <keyword id="20046687" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="samsung-india" source="keywords">Samsung India</keyword> on Tuesday launched a new range of <keyword id="20097714" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AI-powered" source="keywords">AI-powered</keyword> <keyword id="20101665" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="washing-machine" source="keywords">washing machine</keyword>s and aims to be the market leader in the <keyword id="20097242" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="premium" source="keywords">premium</keyword> segment in the coming quarters, said a company official on Tuesday. The company, which currently holds around 20 per cent of the washing machine market, has "an objective of becoming a consumer leader" by gaining market share quarter-on-quarter, outpacing the industry growth, said <keyword id="19897758" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Samsung" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Samsung" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="Samsung">Samsung</keyword> India Senior Director, Digital Appliances, Saurabh Baishakhia. Samsung expects new launches, the ongoing trend of premiumisation in the appliances segment and the coming festive season this year and tailwind from attractive financing schemes breaking down acquisition costs will help it gain in the segment and claim market leadership, he said. "We have 20 per cent market share and are looking further improving it. We aspire to become a brand that is bought by most consumers," Baishakhia told PTI. At present, South Korean maker LG Electronics is the leader in the Indian Washing Machine segment, with over 35 per cent overall market. In the washing machine vertical, brands like Haier, Bosch, Siemens, IFB, Godrej Appliances, and Whirlpool of India compete with Samsung. Samsung is looking at the new consumer trends, where people are upgrading and replacing, opting for a higher capacity washing machine of over 9 kg, which currently contributes 40 per cent of the front-load model sales. As per its strategy, Samsung is focusing on the front-load washing machine. Within this, models with a load capacity of nine kg and above are having a higher growth of 50 per cent, said Baishakhia. "So, people are already paying a premium in this industry for a large capacity of nine kg. We are doing is democratising it further by giving them even a larger load," he said, adding that the demand for the large sizes is growing because of changes in lifestyle besides growing urbanisation and rise in disposable income. Consumers are paying around a 5 per cent premium on the addition of every one kg load capacity. However, Samsung is a 12 kg capacity washing machine with a 10 per cent premium only against a 20 per cent market trend. "We have got the inflection point to almost half of it, which means that even at a premium of 10 per cent, they will not only get a larger capacity size but also get all these features," Baishakhia said. The Indian washing machine market is estimated to be around 10 million units annually, growing in single digits. Semi-automatic machines are still popular in rural markets, but full automatic front load and top load models are catching up now. When asked if Samsung would have a leadership position in the premium segment of Washing Mahchine over Rs 30,000 plus per unit, Baishakhia said the company would. "For us, our first target is to become a leader in this front-loading segment... So, our current goal would be, as to how, in this category, we can gain the highest market share and lead the market," he said. Samsung has claimed that its new AI-powered line-up of 10 large-sized front-load washing machines of 12 Kg will help to reduce energy consumption by around 70 per cent and be a "game changer". These machines with larger drums will reduce the wash timing to 39 minutes as the AI will detect the fabric and water turbidity and also decide on the perfect amount of detergent and fabric care. "Through this AI energy mode, we will be reducing energy consumption by more than 70 per cent. So, it will also be adapting to the consumer habit, with habit learning to suggest what kind of cycles suit most washing times," he said, adding that users will also have seamless information exchange through Samsung's app.

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