September 8 is observed as literacy day internationally. The UNESCO International Literacy Day reminds the international community of the importance of literacy in society. According to UNESCO, India is aiming to achieve universal literacy in less than 40 years.
If we learnt something during 2020 and 2021, it is that we should work towards a healthier environment devoid of pollution. We are approaching one of the biggest celebrations in India– Ganesh Chathurthi. A lot of small businesses are working towards making this festival as eco-friendly as possible. Here are some simple ideas to celebrate Ganesh Chathurthi sustainably.
Vandana Singh, an English Lecturer at Chandra Shekhar Azad Inter College, started distributing sanitary pads among women in rural areas to battle the lack of awareness on menstrual hygiene. She devotes 10% of her monthly salary to purchasing sanitary pads and has already distributed 1.25 lakh sanitary pads. Vandana also bought five sewing machines for girls and women, to train them to make sanitary pads and become self-reliant.
The Durand Cup is famous for being the oldest football tournament in Asia. The very first edition of the contest was held in 1888. The 2021 edition of the tournament features 16 teams. The first match of the 130th Durand Cup was held on Sunday, September 5, in Kolkata, between the Mohammedan Sporting Club and the Indian Air Force. Mohammedan Sporting Club won the game with four goals against one.
In India, Teachers’ Day is celebrated annually on September 5 to mark the birth anniversary of the country’s former President, scholar, philosopher and Bharat Ratna awardee, Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan who was born on this day in 1888. When Dr Radhakrishan took the office as the second President of India in 1962, his students approached him to seek permission to celebrate September 5 as a special day. Dr Radhakrishnan requested them to celebrate this day as Teacher’s Day instead, to recognise the contributions made by teachers to the society. Owing to the pandemic restrictions schools and other educational institutions celebrated the day virtually.
Poshan Vatika is a unique initiative by women from 12 villages in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district to help communities generate income by turning barren land into nutritious food gardens. The coordinators of Prabhat Jal Sanrakshan Yojana – a project led by a non-government organisation (NGO) in the region – started providing guidance and basic training to women belonging to Mendki Tal village, in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district, to establish the community, Poshan Vatika (Nutrition Garden), as a pilot project. The success of the project attracted women from 11 more villages to join the Poshan Vatika Initiative. Today, 144 women are running this initiative and are moving towards self-reliance.
India reached a new milestone on 31st August by vaccinating over 1.09 crore people in a day. In total over 65 crore people have been vaccinated in the country. India had already achieved the one-crore dose milestone on 27th August.
Mariyappan Thangavelu and Sharad Kumar respectively won the silver and bronze medals in the men’s High Jump (T63) at the ongoing Tokyo Paralympics. India has already won two gold, five silver and three bronze medals at this event. Another Indian and Rio 2016 bronze medalist, Varun Singh Bhati finished seventh with a season-best of 1.77m in men’s high jump.
India celebrated hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand’s 116th birth anniversary on 29th August, which is also celebrated as National Sports Day. The National Sports day was celebrated across Jammu by conducting various sports events and by paying floral tributes to Major Dhyan Chand. Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council hosted the sports events, including hockey and football matches, to honour Major Dhyan Chand’s 116th memory.
Avani Lekhara created history on Monday, 30th August, as she became the first woman to win a gold medal at the Paralympics. The 19-year-old also created a new Paralympic record in the R-2 women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event, by finishing with a world record, equalling a total of 249.6 points. Discus thrower Yogesh Kathuniya also brought glory to the country by winning a silver medal in the men’s javelin throw F56 event. Devendra Jhajharia, a two-time gold-winning javelin throw veteran, won a third Paralympic medal. A bronze medal was added to the list by Sundar Singh Gurjar, who finished behind Jhajharia in the men’s javelin throw F46 final.
