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6 things you should not do even after the Coronavirus lockdown eases or ends

by VickyTM April 20, 2020

written by VickyTM

The Coronavirus crisis will ease down eventually but it will take a long time for people to fully be in control

The Coronavirus has changed the world we used to know, adversely affecting world economies and the lives of people in a whole lot of ways. Right now, there are people around the world who are battling directly or indirectly with Covid-19, some losing their lives and some inspiring others in different ways. There are people who are away from their families, serving on the front lines, fighting it out for people like us who simply have a few things to take care of, like staying home, washing hands, social distancing etc.

We take a look at the most important hings that have been helping the world fight the Coronavirus in the absence of a vaccine. The world should not stop doing those things even after the lockdown gets lifted.

No one knows the exact behaviour of Coronavirus and if it will simply fade away so soon

Well, the fact is that we are not sure about how the virus will behave in the long term, post social distancing and lockdown period and it may still lurk around at potential hot-spots and affect vulnerable people, leading to another spike of infections.

So while the lockdown will be lifted in well planned phases, taking calculated risks, it is up to the people to tread with caution and take responsibility to keep living the risk free lives they have been living during the lockdown days.

You should not do the following things even after the Coronavirus lockdown eases of ends

You should not stop the hand-wash routine

There is a reason why washing your hands is top priority during the Coronavirus crisis. Washing your hands is a must after touching surfaces, things or people as it cuts down the possibility of you getting infected or spreading the virus further to other surfaces or people. This habit should not end even after the lockdown relaxes or end as the ending of the lockdown wouldn’t mean the ending of the virus.

The habit of washing your hands thoroughly for as long as possible will ensure that even the smallest possibility of the coronavirus spreading is cut short.

Stick to the routine for as long as you have water and soap in your homes and offices.

Don’t stop sanitizing your hands for as long as possible

Even before the Coronavirus crisis people had been using hand sanitizers for good to kill germs and now in present times, they are of utmost importance. You must be pretty aware of the benefits of using it and so we won’t drag the topic further. It is as useful and important as washing your hands thoroughly. As a matter of fact, it is the best option in a situation when you can’t wash your hands.

You should not stop using hand sanitizers when moving out, travelling to work etc. you will be touching many things touched by people without knowing if it is infected or not.

Keep hand sanitizers with you and keep using them as a habit for a few more months at least.

Don’t stop using face masks for your own good

While the use of face masks has been debated a lot, the truth is that using them is good for a whole lot of reasons. During present times, it is necessary to use face masks to cut down every chance of getting infected by the Coronavirus or spreading an infection further.

Even if the lockdown lifts up, don’t stop using face masks for some time as they will protect you from a lot of things apart from the Coronavirus – like the pollution and other infections.

Don’t get back to your party animal lives and horde clubs and restaurants

Before you hit the bars and restaurants like parched animals after a drought, remember one thing, the Coronavirus is not going anywhere but will still be around hunting for vulnerable people. You will have to be disciplined when the lockdown eases or lifts up completely. The idea of social distancing is a much needed one not just in present times but also in the coming months.

Gatherings madly at pubs, bars and restaurants will only increases the chances of spreading whatever remains of the Coronavirus further.

If it is celebration you want, then celebrate it with your families or at the most a friend or two at places that are not crowded.

Don’t forget the social distancing exercise immediately after the lockdown eases as we are not sure if Coronavirus will be gone for real.

Please don’t forget that the world can’t go back to the old partying, hugging and kissing ways so soon and if anyone tells you it can, they are lying.

Don’t visit Coronavirus hot-spots and come in close contact with vulnerable or quarantined people

There are Coronavirus hot-spots and quarantined people around us, even close friends and families. The one thing that people will want to do is visit these places for work or other reasons or to simply meet friends and families. While that thought cannot be turned down, there has to be some precautions in place when doing so.

Remember, the virus will still be around some places and the once infected might still be vulnerable to new infections. You would not like to be the carrier of the virus to such places and people or get infected yourself from.

Don’t stop maintaining distance and taking precautions when visiting such places or meeting old people or children, for the good of everyone.

Don’t travel for the sake of others, if not yours

Travelers beware! The lifting of flying restrictions should not mean reorganizing your travel itinerary once again. Remember, the world suffers with the Coronavirus crisis owing to international travel and as a traveler, you bear responsibility to ensure that a new surge of travel doesn’t bring in another surge of global infections.

Remember, air travel, train travel or bus travel cannot ensure social distancing at all and hence it once again puts people in a tricky situation.

To be frank, people without extreme emergencies should not travel at all and for the sake of others “get rid of your wanderlust’ for now and get busy with exploring yourself.

Don’t travel and give the Coronavirus another opportunity to reach out to more places and people than it did the first time.

Other things you should not forget and continue as a general healthy habit:

Don’t cough or sneeze without covering you face
Don’t touch your face before sanitizing your hands

Remember, the Coronavirus is here to stay and it is only through responsible ways that we can get back to the normal world it once was.

April 20, 2020 1 comment

Featured Food

Street food items Navi Mumbai youngsters miss during the coronavirus lockdown

by Staff Reporter April 19, 2020

written by Staff Reporter

From Pani Puri, Vada Pav, Manchurian to Tandoori chicken, city youngsters share what they miss most during the Coronavius lockdown

Navi Mumbai residents miss doing a lot of things during the Coronavirus lockdown but most of all, they miss eating street food, outside. Somewhere within the walls of every household there is a foodie cursing the Chinese while also craving for lip-smacking Chinese Food or to put it in a better way – Indian Chinese Food! Young foodies, mostly students, are a harried lot at the moment and with the Coronavirus lockdown on a path of back to back extensions, they have already started missing ‘street food’ like anything.

We asked some youngsters (read extreme foodies) about the street food items they missed most and the replies were as expected. Read along!

“Food is my antidote to everything and I can literally ‘eat myself out’ of every trying situation. I miss eating out a lot during the lockdown, especially street food items that I cherished the most,” shares Anisa Kaka.

“I miss pani puri the most as I have grown up eating it and though we prepare it at home too, eating at the ‘pani puri stall’ is a different experience altogether. Another major missing is ‘manchurian pav’ that we used to eat regularly at a stall near my college. It was like a ‘sisterhood’ kind of thing for me and my friends and I miss eating it the too,” she adds.

Anisha Kaka – Student, Foodie & Baker

“I’m a ‘momo girl’ or rather a ‘momo’ as my best friend calls me, and in more ways than one, I am a die-hard fan of momos,” shares Saakshi Tiwari.

“I believe food affects the mind more than the stomach. Momos are very dear to me as they were the first things that I had eaten with my first salary. So you see, I have that mental attachment with momos and the stall near my house where I first ate them as an independent girl. I have been eating momos at the same stall since long and will continue eating once the lockdown get’s lifted,” she adds nostalgically.

Saakshi Tiwari – Student & Foodie

“I miss eating Sev Puri the most as it was my favourite street food item and a snack I could grab within seconds and satiate my hunger,” shares Vrushali Zimur.

“I never knew I would miss Sev Puri this bad. I tried making it at home too but could not get the taste I love. I think I will persuade the the pani puri vendor to reveal the recipe of the sev puri he makes. I can hardly wait for the lockdown to be lifted,” she adds.

Vrushali Zimur – Student & Foodie

“I miss nothing else but vada pav – it is the king of the Indian street food scene, is easily available, cheaply priced, tastier than the ‘burger’ and so full of nostalgia,” shares Anki Kothiyal, a vada pav worshiper (in his own words).

“Of all the places I used to eat vada pav at in Navi Mumbai, I miss the one near my workplace where they served it with a special chutney, ” he adds.

Ankit Kothiyal – KPO Executive & Foodie

“I miss my regular chakna – Tandoori Lollypop. Nothing has been able to get my mind of it till now,” shares Harpal Singh Naol, a chakhna guy (if you know what it means).

“There is nothing like eating hot tandoori lollypop with a can of beer along with a handful of close friends,” he adds.

Harpal Singh Naol – Tattoo Artist, Traveller, Foodie

“I have lately been having dreams about eating pani puri at my favourite joint. That explains how much I miss it,” shares Pari Gupta.

“Our gang of girls was once very hungry, kind of broke and on a hunt for cheap street food and we had come to this pani puri stall near our place. That taste and the satiating feeling it brought never left us and we had been eating at the stall almost every day. We will be eating it first thing after the lifting of the lockdown,” she adds.

Pari Gupta – Student, Aspiring Model & Foodie

April 19, 2020 0 comments

Education & Learning Featured Lifestyle

City schools take to remote learning to continue teaching during the Covid-19 lockdown

by Staff Reporter April 17, 2020

written by Staff Reporter

As uncertainty over the coronavirus lockdown period increases, many schools in Navi Mumbai are putting technology to the best possible use by conducting online lessons everyday

As schools remain closed in Navi Mumbai for an indefinite period owing to the coronavirus lockdown, some city schools, just like many others around the world, have come up with a plan to continue teaching their students with the help of technology and the gadgets children remain glued to nowadays – mobile phones! Yes! Schools have geared up and are conducting classes online, teaching students while they remain locked down within the four walls of their homes.

On Monday, 6 April, Ramsheth Thakur Public School, Kharghar, conducted their first ever remote learning session by conducting online classes for their 6th to 12th standard students. Students logged into the zoom app, which is now the official online education app for many schools around the world, at 9 am, to see their teachers giving live lessons online. The lessons and discussions carried on till 12 pm as the class concluded on a very exciting note.

“This is the first time that we conducted classes in such a manner. In fact many other schools will be doing it for the first time amid such a scenario,” says a teacher of Ramsheth Thakur Public School. “It was a good experience for all of us, as we were able to continue with the daily lessons from the comforts of our homes and without having to face the threat of being affected by the virus,” she adds.

Vishwajyot High School, Kharghar, another innovative school, commenced their online classes from Thursday, 9 April.

“Ours is an innovative school which is highly influenced by the Waldorf philosophy. We are open to adopting new tools that compliment education in every possible manner. Going online during the ongoing crisis was a unanimous decision made by the school panel, teachers and parents as we beleive that education and learning should continue,” shares Sanjna Rao, a teacher at Vishwajyot High School.

Talking about the need to introduce remote learning to the students, Rao explains, “The pandemic is a very disturbing crisis for all but that shouldn’t stop us from carrying out our daily lessons for children even if it simply means boosting their confidence and assuring them of better times ahead. Children have their own ways of assessing crisis and the pandemic is putting all kinds of crazy thoughts into their heads – even things like zombie apocalypse! So, conducting classes online is not merely for the academic purpose alone but also to provide mental support to one another. The simple activity of coming online every day, seeing other students online, carrying out regular studies, laughing about during spare moments between the lectures, talking to each other and having a little bit of fun does a lot to boost the morale of children.”

Students are all the more excited about the entire ‘remote learning’ or ‘online classes’ experience and they are enthusiastically discovering a whole new level of learning.

“We chat online with family and friends and watch videos or movies but never before have we ever been given live lessons by our teachers. It is such a different experience and means a lot to all of us as we stay home during the lockdown, not able to meet or talk to our classmates,” shares Hriday, Rao’s elder son, and an 8^th standard student at Ramsheth Thakur Public School. “It is good to see our classmates and have a good talk with them, knowing that we are all in this together, with our teachers teaching us from far away,” he adds.

Also read: 5 Things students should do during the lockdown for self-development

For many students it is all about the comfort and fun that online classes seems to have introduced them to.

“I never knew it could be so comfortable to learn online. We can wear anything, sit comfortably, walk around, stretch a bit and do a lot of things while the class is in progress. It is so much easy than sitting in the classroom,” shares Ansh, Rao’s younger son, and a 6th standard student in the same school as his brother. “The teachers too must be comfortable as they are at home and can sit comfortably while we watch the slides and listen to them. Schools should do this more often even after the lockdown,” he adds.

Let us add here some schools have made it compulsory for students to wear their school uniforms during the online sessions.

What is driving the entire ‘remote or online learning’ exercise?

Well, schools around the world are making use of a dynamic app called ‘Zoom’ that enables them interact and carry out learning sessions remotely. The app allows teachers, administrators, and students to successfully set up virtual classrooms, participate in online classes, and give new meaning to distance education.

“The app is wonderful and it has simplified the way we interact in a virtual environment,” Rao says.

The shortcomings of remote or online learning?

Well, everything connected to the web is subject to the availability and quality of internet connection. Having said that, there can be call breaks or hung-up screens from time to time.

“Though everyone is able to connect to the app, not everyone is able to access a strong internet connection. In fact, a majority of the students and even teachers, access the app with the help of mobile internet. So, they are subject to the daily limit of data and the speed. As a result, sometimes there are issues like call breaks or the screen getting hung-up for a few moments. Still, it goes on without interruption for the major part of the classes,” explains Rao.

Is remote or online learning the way forward?

A majority of schools have started online classes and are carrying them out successfully. However, there are some who are not able to do it owing to lack of technological knowledge and access. Experts believe that there can be many drawbacks to remote learning owing to the fact that many schools still lack the infrastructure, namely strong internet connectivity and lack of technical support. There is also an obvious dearth of quality and creative online study materials pertaining to individual schools. Then there’s the fact that not all homes are well equipped to access online learning platforms. The availability of standard gadgets like mobile phones, laptops etc. are limited to a very low number of families. It’s not that people don’t have phones or laptops but that not every child has access to a phone or a laptop. Moving forward, the bigger issue is not having a strong internet connection at home – not every house has a broadband connection!

Whatever the case, for now, remote learning is the only option that schools have if they wish to continue teaching their students amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

April 17, 2020 0 comments

2 resources that are being overused in households during the Coronavirus lockdown

by Staff Reporter April 17, 2020

written by Staff Reporter

The coronavirus lockdown has sent people indoors and with more people spending time at home more than ever before, some resources are being overused or even wasted

With the lockdown in progress, every household is seeing more people together throughout the day than it ever did. It is good that people are spending time with their families, sharing fun-filled moments together and bonding with loved ones after a long time. Even though by force, the coronavirus has led to a time of togetherness.

However, there are some resources that are being overused and even wasted as the people and the administration are occupied dealing with bigger problems at the moment.

There are two valuable resources that are being used more than before owing to the Coronavirus lockdown.

1. Electricity

Now this should need no guessing at all. It is summer time and hot outside as well as inside the homes. As a result, people are sweaty and upset and most importantly, at home. In a general, non-pandemic setting, the bread earner (father or mother or both) goes to work, children go to school and grandparents or maids remain at home. In such a setting, just a single fan keeps running for most part of the day and it is only during the nights that all fans are switched on when the entire family retires to their individual rooms.

However, as a result of the lockdown, everyone is at home – the fathers, mothers, children and grandparents (in most cases). As a result, every room remains occupied throughout the day with the fans running at a stretch. In homes with air conditioning, the consumption of electricity is even more.

To add to it, many households have television sets in separate rooms or laptops and all these electronic gadgets keep running through the day as every member seeks some form of entertainment. Also, most of the laptops and mobiles need charging through the day after about 3-4 hours of extensive use.

2. Water

Firstly, everyone now knows that washing their hands thoroughly with soap is the best way to protect oneself from being infected by Coronavirus. So, people are washing their hands more than before and very excessively. Washing hands came in as a necessity and now the habit is slowly developing into an obsession with many people washing their hands more than required and owing to a recently developed phobia of the virus spreading through the touching of infected objects.

Secondly, the lockdown and summer is proving to be a bad combination as far as the consumption of water is concerned. The heat is overwhelming and as a result people are bathing as many times as they feel like and without giving thought to the amount of water they are using. Most of the people bathe under running showers in a leisurely manner ending up wasting a lot of water. The number of times they bathe increases the wastage even more.

Also, more people at home during the day means more utensils to be washed, further increasing the use of water for washing them.

Many have been washing their entire wardrobe to be on the safer side further increasing the water consumption.

It becomes imperative to put a check on the usage of water at least as we are well aware of the effect of water shortage on our daily lives. Even if it doesn’t show now, the effect will be seen after the lockdown period when all the water reserves will be exhausted and if for some reason the monsoons don’t oblige as soon as expected.

April 17, 2020 1 comment

Family & Kids Lifestyle

5 Things students should do during the lockdown for self-development

by Staff Reporter April 15, 2020

written by Staff Reporter

Students are having a lot of spare time at their disposal as a result of the lockdown and just like the rest of the people they are clueless about the way they should be spending it. Well, students should not forget that in the pre-corona days, lack of time had been stopping them from doing a lot of things. So why not do those now?

Here are 5 things that students, especially secondary students should do during the lockdown.

1. Study the new syllabus in advance:

Whether you like it or not, it would help you a lot to study in advance. The fact is that once the coronavirus lockdown is lifted you will be back to your schools and who knows, will be completing syllabus in a rush to compensate for lost time. So why not prepare in advance and avoid the stress that learning in a frenzy would bring? You will be well ahead in your studies and find time to indulge in other productive things. And yes, it might also help some of you grab extra marks

2. Indulge in your hobby or pick one:

This should go without saying. If you ever had a hobby and were not able to pursue it then now is the time. Don’t wait! Start learning or doing whatever it is that thrills you and makes you happy! Pick up that brush and paint, learn to play an instrument if you have one, try that origami you always wondered about, make tapestries, learn knitting, indulge in gardening, learn to bake, or any other thing that you can think of. The sky is the limit!

3. Take up a crash course in a new language:

Learning a new language is one of the best things that you can do as it will not only help you communicate properly with those who speak that language but also brighten your future career prospects. Pick any language that is spoken around a lot like Spanish, Italian, Japanese or any other. You can even learn to speak regional languages like Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi etc. Trust us, being a linguist always helps in every phase of schooling and career days.

4. Start a health journey of your own:

Of all the things that you will do in your life, putting health into perspective will be the best decision you will ever make. Without it nothing else would matter. Keep it as simple as it can be by getting up early, eating healthy and exercising. If possible, take up yoga and meditation inside your house or in your lawn or backyard if available. You will be surprised to see the wonders that a little bit of regular yoga and meditation can do for you. Indulge in both as per your age and capacity.

5. Become aware of national and global affairs:

Now you may not like this idea but trust us, there is a lot going around in the world that affects you or will affect you directly or indirectly. Even if they don’t affect you, being aware of global happenings, achievements, issues, crisis, needs and developments will help you a lot in shaping your own life and the choices you would make in your career.

A lot more can be added to the list but we are keeping it short as we know that students will find this to be a long list in itself. However, as parents you would see your child benefit by indulging in such activities in the longer run. And if your only purpose is to help them pass time productively during the lockdown period then the list will be more than enough.

April 15, 2020 0 comments

News

Indian Premier League 2020 postponed indefinitely as Coronavirus lockdown extends

by Staff Reporter April 15, 2020

written by Staff Reporter

The 2020 Indian Premier League has been postponed yet again considering the coronavirus lockdown extension yet again

Cricket fans will have to wait to watch the IPL 2020 matches as Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended the nationwide lockdown until 3^rd May in a bid to curb the spread of Coronavirus in the country. The numbers of those infected with Covid-19 has been rising.

Honoring the decision of the prime minister, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) informed that in present circumstances it was in the best interests of all to postpone the matches to a further date.

The information came in from Sourav Ganguly, BCCI president, who did not mention any specific future dates for the matches.

With the spur in Coronavirus cases in the country and the lockdown heading towards future extension, IPL 2020 has been postponed indefinitely. It won’t surprise anyone if the tournament gets cancelled completely for 2020.Top of Form

April 15, 2020 1 comment

Navi Mumbai: Over 1 lakh citizens screened for covid-19 infection in a week’s time

News In Short

Coronavirus lockdown extended till May 3

by Staff Reporter April 14, 2020

written by Staff Reporter

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced the extension of 21-days lockdown till 3rd May, 2020. He addressed the nation as it waited in anticipation but also with the knowledge that an extension was necessary.

Many state governments have decided to extend the lockdown and made people aware of their intention to do so well in advance.

A detailed set of guidelines on the extended lockdown will be issued tomorrow, 4th May, 2020.

April 14, 2020 0 comments

Featured Lifestyle Pets

Do your bit for street dogs and other strays during the coronavirus lockdown

by Staff Reporter April 12, 2020

written by Staff Reporter

The lockdown to tackle Covid-19 virus is impacting street dogs and other strays along with people around the world and finding food is the biggest probem that they are facing more than ever

In the last couple of days, ever since the coronavirus lockdown started, many streets around the country have been rendered empty. The only people that can be seen outside are those doing quick rounds for essentials (and those who simply have no regard for anyone or anything). Amid such chaos, strays, especially street dogs, have been roaming around the streets confounded, hungry, malnourished, afraid and agitated. Their food sources have suddenly disappeared with the shutting down of many restaurants, roadside eateries, shops and offices. They roam around wondering why they are not getting the tit-bits that they used to get every day and if by chance they do get something, a battle ensues with many other hungry contenders, leaving many of them wounded and desperate. As the world tackles the spread of coronavirus, starvation is already spreading across the streets and it is hitting man’s best friend hard!

How can you help feed street dogs, cats, birds and other strays?

You can still give some hope to such animals by trying your best to ensure that every stray animal gets something to eat. Although a lot remains to be done, we all can contribute in feeding street dogs and cats without having to break the lockdown rules.

Feed street dogs, cats and strays around your societies

Keep it simple by feeding street dogs or cats that roam around their vicinity. This shouldn’t be difficult as such animals roam around in their ‘zones’ and hardly venture out (though many are moving beyond their zones in the current scenario in search of food). Similarly, you can feed cows, if any, around your area. You can place food in spots where it can be seen by the dogs or cats, probably on the footpaths or the dustbins where they throng the most. Similarly, you can keep bird feeders and water utensils to feed birds roaming around your area.

Also read: NMMC’s ‘Swachh Radio Navi Mumbai’: Internet radio for Covid-19 awareness

Carry food with you when you move out for essentials

If possible, carry handy food with you when you move out to shop for essentials. You can carry biscuits or dog food or cat food if you can manage buying some without trouble. Try not to give them expired food products or stale food.

Contact organisations or feeders already active in your locality

Try to get in touch with local organisations and individual feeders who are active in your area. You must have seen them or heard about them. If not, try finding ways to contact them online. A lot of animal lovers and NGOs are trying best to provide food to street dogs and other strays. Get in touch with them and contribute in any way possible. Remember, no contribution is big or small. Your concern and willingness alone will do a lot to boost their morales.

We believe that you will be doing your best to feed street dogs, cats, birds and other strays in your own ways and capacities and we thank you for your efforts!

April 12, 2020 0 comments

NMMC’s ‘Swachh Radio Navi Mumbai’: Internet radio for Covid-19 awareness

by Staff Reporter April 7, 2020

written by Staff Reporter

The NMMC goes an extra mile to stay connected with the residents through their innovative internet-radio, the first of it’s kind for a civic body in the entire country

Navi Mumbai: The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) recently launched an innovative and one of a kind internet radio service ‘Swachh Radio Navi Mumbai‘ in a bid to reach out to the masses and increase general awareness about the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.

The innovative internet-radio service puts NMMC at the top pedestal making it the only municipal corporation in the entire country to have ever launched such a service.

NMMC’s ‘Swachh Radio Navi Mumbai’: Internet radio for awareness — (L) NMMC Commissioner Annasaheb Missal & (R) Mayor Jaywant Sutar launching the Swachh Radio Navi Mumbai service on Monday, 6th April, 2020

NMMC Commissioner, Annasaheb Misal, shares, “The Swachh Radio Navi Mumbai initiative is just a step towards the long term relationship that the corporation wishes to build and maintain with the local residents. This is just the beginning and we wish to take it forward to stay connected with the people even after the crisis has abated.”

For now, with Covid-19 being the major crisis, the radio network will be used to broadcast recorded messages twice a day, once between 12:00 pm and 12:30 pm and later in the evening between 6:00 pm and 6:30 pm. It would include information about the preventive measures to be taken to stop the disease from spreading in the community, the number of cases in various localities, location of open markets, important helplines, hospitals and isolation centres for coronavirus patients and other patients and other important information about government programmes that are in place to tackle the situation.

The Swachh Radio Navi Mumbai network can be accessed through the website www.swachhradionavimumbai.com that displays a play button for messages to be read out. The official Swachh Radio Navi Mumbai App will be available for downloading within a fortnight.

The organization behind this innovative offering is Global Green Innovators Pvt. Ltd., a creative and idea sharing platform for Government organisations and NGOs as well as private sector companies. It is run by some young and dynamic individuals like Jaspal Sing Naol, a journalist and social activist, Binoy K. Nikhil M, Devendra Singh, Pushkraj Mhatre and Macchindra Patil all belonging to the diverse social fields in their individual capacities.

Jaspal Singh Naol, co-founder of the organisation, shares, “The NMMC is a farsighted organization, ready to take initiatives that benefit the people and so they were more than enthusiastic to collaborate when we proposed the internet-radio network to them. Surprisingly, they shared the same visions that we had for the project and so we went forward with the collaboration under the guidance of Tushar Pawar, Deputy Municipal Commissioner.”

Talking about future plans, Naol informs, “This Swachh Radio Navi Mumbai project is not limited to just the Covid-19 crisis but has a far more futuristic application. We, along with the NMMC, wish to develop it extensively into a 24×7 network to run skill development programmes, provide a platform for local performances, local art, cultures, festivals, artists and much more.”

Other collaborating organisations include yet another dynamic organization known as the Heart Foundation, spearheaded by Dr. Jayakar Ellis, a renowned social worker and motivational speaker. Coming next is Regro Digital, spearheaded by Rakesh Shrivansh, the person behind the technical aspect of the ‘Swachh Radio’ network.

Details about Swacch Radio Navi Mumbai

Venture by: NMMC & Global Green Innovators Pvt. Ltd.
Platform: Internet Radio
Website / App: www.swachhradionavimumbai.com
Broadcast Timings: Afternoon – 12 pm to 12:30 pm | Evening – 6 pm to 6:30 pm

April 7, 2020 0 comments

Culture Movies

Birds of Prey: Harley Quinn is the funny “Joker” for all the women who seek emancipation!

by VickyTM March 18, 2020

written by VickyTM

Birds of Prey is the first ever emancipation of a female comic-book character in a first of a kind movie written and directed by women and centering upon women. Harley Quinn, comes full force on the oppressing world of male villains!

Like we said earlier, there are a lot of ‘women’ in ‘Birds of Prey’, so much that we could have actually called it a ‘super heroine’ movie. In a way, it was! Written by a woman, directed by a woman, centering upon the transformation of a lovesick woman into one independent ass-kicking woman, being helped by another couple of women along the way! Ahh! An ode to (ass-kicking) womanhood! Men (super heroes), beware!

So what is the plot of Birds of Prey in short?

In the very beginning of the movie it is established that Harley Quinn and her beloved Joker have had a mutual separation and Harley has to fend off all the evil that will be coming her way, on her own. She is chased throughout the city by her adversaries who just want to kill her at any cost. Now here is the interesting part – being hunted down doesn’t mean she is the damsel in distress. In fact, Harley doesn’t look like she is ever in distress, a little dejected at times though, but never distressed. On the contrary, she is the one causing all the distress to her adversaries, always coming out unscathed of every deadly encounter she has during the movie. And she has a funny and maniacal way of dealing with such incidents to keep things interested. It is as if we are inside a comical world where the main character can never be killed or defeated. Harley Quinn is almost invincible!

Who’s the villain in Birds of Prey?

Like you must have guessed, there is no Joker in the movie. Well, he couldn’t have been here for obvious reasons – DC can’t play two jokers, now that one has won back their dominance in Hollywood. So we can say goodbye to Jared Leto’s Joker forever! So instead of ‘J’, we have Ewan McGregor as Roman or the Black Mask (although he wears it just once in the movie), a crime lord who, at times, looks more desperate to establish himself as the baddest guy in Gotham. Nevertheless, he is the one who still manages to scare his adversaries including Harley, who, for some reason is scared too.

Who, apart from Harley, are the Birds of Prey?

There are four other women who assist Harley in her quest against ‘men’.

Cassandra Cain

An orphan called Cassandra Cain, played by Ella Jay Basco, living with quarrelsome foster parents, and having a knack for pickpocketing (it is nothing less than magic seeing her pick pockets, bracelets and other things with such dexterity). Now her pickpocketing habits are never justified and when she pockets a ‘priceless diamond’ from the main antagonist’s partner and henchman, you will feel like giving her a scolding of a lifetime (and beating too).

Dinah Lance

Moving forward, the other bird is Dinah Lance, played by Jurnee Smollett-Bell, a singer in Roman’s (Black Mask) club, and is also called the Black Canary. Now she has a sweet spot for Cassandra for being a little damsel in distress and so has to jump in when she realizes what the ignorant bird has done and the danger that awaits her.

Renee Montoya

An angry police detective called Renee Montoya played by Rosie Perez, who is dejected looke down upon by her department, doesn’t get recognition, is Hulk-angry, wants a piece of Roman and is a friend (for her part) of Dinah.

Helena Bertinelli

Coming next we have Helena Bertinelli or the ‘Huntress’, a self-proclaimed hitman, who is on a killing spree after her family gets murdered by another crime lord who also happens to be connected to Roman in a way. So we have these four, along with Harley, who has brought the chaos to the front door leaving no other choice but to team up. They name themselves the Birds of Prey at the end of the movie!

So, did Birds of Prey come close to kicking some real ass?

Well, as ‘Birds of Prey’ is all about the emancipation of ‘Harley Quinn’, the plot is all about ‘Harley Quinn’. To add some weight to it, the story begins with a post-breakup prologue by Harley and how she deserves and intends to get over it and make space for her own dreams (or psychopathic fancies). Also, post breakup, she finds herself at the mercy of those who are now determined to get rid of her for a whole lot of reasons, one being out of the league of the maniacal “J” as we call him. So there is utter chaos around with people coming in from just about anywhere and Harley trying to keep herself safe. While doing so, she also brings together another bunch of badass women who feel just about as exploited, discriminated and despised (for being women) like Harley. The result – a killer team. All that follows is a sadistic homicidal quest of power, with Harley leading the way, for the maniac she is.

How engaging is the plot of Birds of Prey?

For most of the part, the movie has nothing like an engaging plot and everything just goes about in a sort of chaotic and unorganized manner, just like the lives of those portrayed in the movie. However, it is justified in the realization that it is a movie about ‘One Harley Quinn’, and remains true to it throughout the movie. All the characters, the tiny sub-plots (if we can call them so), the action scenes, the thrills and the comical gimmicks are all aimed at leveraging a single character alone and it does that satisfactorily – all you will remember from this movie will be Harley Quinn! Job done well for DC by the director, Cathy Yan, and screenwriter, Christina Hodson. In every way possible, the movie manages to look like a comic book – captions, voice-overs, flashbacks, animated interludes and not to forget the musical fight sequences that make them worth watching.

Is Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn a superhero movie?

To be frank, there are no characters having actual super powers in Birds of Prey, except for the supersonic scream by Black Canary once in the movie. Else than that, it is only a movie with women having super heroine abilities. It is more of a comical real time action with a lot of madness as compared to the fictitious clash of super powers and non-human abilities.

Why should you watch Birds of Prey?

You should watch Birds of Prey if you are a DC fan, if you like Margot Robbie or fancy seeing Harley Quinn from Suicide Squad in action again, if you fancy the thought of watching empowered women characters hitting back at their adversaries or becoming one yourself, are tired after endlessly watching caped superheroes fight off Thanos or like to see somewhat humanly possible action with a dose of craziness. For those who enjoy the wild side watch it for the comical violence and swearing, classy outfits (Harley’s) and the rising of a ‘bad’ character who will fight off all the ‘bad’ characters in Gotham and beyond in the movies that will follow.

What do we have to say about Birds of Prey?

We have already said a lot, but still, we would like to add that it is one of the best movies by DC recently after disasters like Justice League. Birds of Prey, attempts to follow in the success of Joker by appealing to the emotions and characteristics of the masses – everyone is crazy in a way, feminism is the ‘buzzword’ since some time, the afflicted seek retribution in one way or another and above all Harley Quinn is fantabulous!

P.S. We have written this article months after the movie actually came out but who cares, read it nevertheless and watch the movie if you still haven’t or watch it again!

March 18, 2020 2 comments

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