Weekend Getaway Destination in Jammu: Hunter’s Ranch

I have stayed in Hyderabad and Bengaluru for 9 years and don’t recall having faced any dilemma about planning a weekend getaway trip. All I would do is open Google and use different search queries and google would instantly throw away umpteen results. Now that I have permanently moved to my hometown, Jammu since 2017, planning a weekend getaway trip gives me anxiety. Though tourism potential of this UT is huge but there has been lackadaisical attitude of all previous governments in doing something in developing the tourist potential of Jammu. Trust me, if you are in Jammu and want to plan a trip, google will fail to provide results and you have to find a local friend for travel suggestions. 

With the growth of startups, we do have local entrepreneurs coming up to travel planning. GoLimits is one such startup which can offer you great travel advice and even help you plan your travel better. You can reach out to them for hassle-free travel suggestions. 

Let’s move forward to my personal escapade last week. I was looking for a weekend getaway destination with my wife and 2 year old kid. As I mentioned above, we have limited options to choose from. We shortlisted few places: 

1. Panitop-Surinsar 

2. Krimchi Mansar temples 

3. Atal Setu 

4. Hunter's Ranch Jammu 

5. Shikargah 

The trip to Patnitop is the most revered destination for people of Jammu looking for a quick break from mundane life. But the road until Udhampur is great but the ride beyond Udhampur is one hell of a ride. We planned to travel on Saturday morning, I decided to check with J&K Traffic Police for a road traffic update. The traffic control room informed us that due to bad weather and the day before yesterday traffic of NH-1A was stopped for road maintenance, there was a huge traffic jam. So the idea of Patnitop is dropped. Next on the list is Krimchi Mansar temples. Again the place is nice but lacks facilities such as restaurants, restrooms or hotels. The place is perfect for a day picnic. You need to carry your food along with. Next on the list is Atal Setu, which is again a perfect spot for day picnic and you need to carry your lunch with you. So we were left with only one last option i.e Hunter’s Ranch. As our family trip was long overdue and I couldn’t afford to drop this time lest I had to face the wrath of my wife, I decided to give it a shot and started my planning for the trip. 

Hunter’s Ranch is a place situated in Bajalta town, approximately 20 KMs from Jammu. You need to take Mansar-Surinsar road from Sidhra bye-pass near Honda Hill-vew showroom. The road itself gives you one of the best scenic beauty of Jammu. Once you read Bajalta, you need to take a left turn towards Colonels adventure hub which is approximately 3 KMs from main road.You can also visit Shikargah, a Hotel and restaurant situated on the Surinsar-Mansar main road. Shikargah is a subsidiary unit of Hunter’s Ranch popular for Desi-Murga. The Hunter’s Ranch is spread on a vast farmland in close proximity to river Tawi. We reached at around 05:30 PM. The first thing we did was to check the cleanliness of the room. The room was in hygienic condition and we decided to stay for the night. Our 2 year old daughter was super excited with joy and kept on exploring the campus. We ordered tea and butter toast. Meanwhile our order was getting ready, the manager took us for a brisk walk around the campus. 

I stop here as I got to go now. Will write more about Hunter’s Ranch in my next post. If you are interested you can read more about the place in a piece published in Daily Excelsior Hunter's Ranch: A step towards village tourism

.....To Be continued

Managing the Waste: Understanding the Rules

I hope you must have thoroughly read my earlier posts on #SolidWasteManagement and I expect we are now on the same page. Before we move further, I would like to share a piece from Daily Excelsior (a popular newspaper published in #JammuAndKashmir), dated 22 November 2018 - SWM-Bye Laws. The division bench of state high court has directed the state govt. to frame model #SolidWasteManagement Bye-laws within a period of six weeks and make sure it is adhered by all local bodies strictly.

First let us understand what #SWM 2016 rules are. As a citizen of this country it is our primary responsibility to be aware of the rules which are being taken by the govt. for the betterment of the society. The following points 2,3,5,6,7 and10 are must for households and residential colonies. Point 13 is for street vendors and points 16,17,18 are for product companies to incorporate such practices in which they create awareness about #SWM and take back the used articles for reuse or recycle.

In an effort to curb plastic waste, #Nestle India has joined the #SWM campaign by the name ‘Wrappers return program’. Read it here - Nestle India-Waste Mangement Story

-The Rules are now applicable beyond Municipal areas and extend to urban agglomerations, census towns, notified industrial townships, areas under the control of Indian Railways, airports, airbase, Port and harbor, defence establishments, special economic zones, State and Central government organizations, places of pilgrims, religious & historical importance.

   The source segregation of waste has been mandated to channelize the waste to wealth by  recovery, reuse and recycle.

   - Responsibilities of Generators have been introduced to segregate waste in to three streams, Wet (Biodegradable), Dry (Plastic, Paper, metal, wood, etc.) and domestic hazardous wastes (diapers, napkins, empty containers of cleaning agents, mosquito repellents, etc.) and handover segregated wastes to authorized rag-pickers or waste collectors or local bodies. Here we as an individual can help achieve this step.

     -Integration of waste pickers/ ragpickers and waste dealers/Kabadiwalas in the formal system should be done by State Governments, and Self Help Groups, or any other group to be formed.

    -No person should throw, burn, or bury the solid waste generated by him, on streets, open public spaces outside his premises, or in the drain, or water bodies.

     -Generator will have to pay ‘User Fee’ to waste collector and for ‘Spot Fine’ for Littering and Non-segregation.

    -Used sanitary waste like diapers, sanitary pads should be wrapped securely in pouches provided by manufacturers or brand owners of these products or in a suitable wrapping material and shall place the same in the bin meant for dry waste / non- bio-degradable waste.

       -The concept of partnership in #SwachhBharat has been introduced. Bulk and institutional generators, market associations, event organizers and hotels and restaurants have been made directly responsible for segregation and sorting the waste and manage in partnership with local bodies.

     -All hotels and restaurants should segregate #biodegradable waste and set up a system of collection or follow the system of collection set up by local body to ensure that such food waste is utilized for #composting / #biomethanation. 

-All Resident Welfare and market Associations,  Gated communities and institution with an area >5,000 sq. m should segregate  waste at source- in to valuable dry waste like plastic, tin, glass, paper, etc. and handover recyclable material to either the authorized waste pickers or the authorized recyclers, or to the urban local body. 

-The bio-degradable waste should be processed, treated and disposed of through composting or bio-methanation within the premises as far as possible. The residual waste shall be given to the waste collectors or agency as directed by the local authority.

-New townships and Group Housing Societies have been made responsible to develop in-house waste handling, and processing arrangements for bio-degradable waste.

-Every street vendor should keep suitable containers for storage of waste generated during the course of his activity such as food waste, disposable plates, cups, cans, wrappers, coconut shells, leftover food, vegetables, fruits etc. and deposit  such waste at waste storage depot or container or  vehicle as notified by the local authority.

-The developers of Special Economic Zone, industrial estate, industrial park to  earmark at least 5% of the total area of the plot or minimum 5 plots/ sheds for recovery and recycling facility.

-All manufacturers of disposable products such as tin, glass, plastics packaging etc. or brand owners who introduce such products in the market shall provide necessary financial assistance to local authorities for the establishment of waste management system.

-All such brand owners who sale or market their products in such packaging material which are non-biodegradable should put in place a system to collect back the packaging waste generated due to their production. 

-Manufacturers or Brand Owners or marketing companies of sanitary napkins and diapers should explore the possibility of using all recyclable materials in their products or they shall provide a pouch or wrapper for disposal of each napkin or diapers along with the packet of their sanitary products.

-All such manufacturers, brand owners or marketing companies should educate the masses for wrapping and disposal of their products.

-All industrial units using fuel and located within 100 km from a solid waste based #RDF plant shall make arrangements within six months from the date of notification of these rules to replace at least 5 % of their fuel requirement by RDF so produced.

-Non-recyclable waste having calorific value of 1500 K/cal/kg or more shall not be disposed of on landfills and shall only be utilized for generating energy  either or through refuse derived fuel or by giving away as feed stock for preparing refuse derived fuel.

-High calorific wastes shall be used for co-processing in cement or thermal power plants.

-Construction and demolition waste should be stored, separately  disposed off, as per the Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016.

-Horticulture waste and garden waste generated from his premises should be disposed as per the directions of local authority.

-An event, or gathering organizer of more than 100 persons at any licensed/ unlicensed place, should ensure segregation of waste at source and handing over of segregated waste to waste collector or agency, as specified by local authority.

-Special provision for management of solid waste in hilly areas- Construction of landfill on the hill shall be avoided. A transfer station at a suitable enclosed location shall be setup to collect residual waste from the processing facility and inert waste.  Suitable land shall be identified in the plain areas, down the hill, within 25 kilometers for setting up sanitary landfill. The residual waste from the transfer station shall be disposed off at this sanitary landfill.

-In case of non-availability of such land, efforts shall be made to set up regional sanitary landfill for the inert and residual waste.

In my next post, I will write low-cost methods to implement waste segregation at source. Till then drop your views or feedback. 

Intro to Solid Waste Management

What is Garbage? Any item which has served its purpose or is of no use to humans is discarded in trash can. Normally we can find kitchen waste, expired medicines, dry waste and unused plastic in the trash. No wonder it is rightly called as ‘Use Me’ and we also use is ruthlessly. Did we ever think how we can make use of waste for good? No. Solid Waste Management comes in action for you. #SWM is collecting, treating and disposing of solid waste in a well managed way. Improper disposal of solid waste effects environment badly. It also leads to outbreak of vector- borne diseases – diseases spread by rodents and insects. To implement #SWM in our society, there are social, administrative and economic challenges to be handled first.

We have seen huge piles of garbage lying alongside the road or streets waiting for the Municipal garbage pickup van to arrive. Until it arrives it acts as a playground of street dogs that scatter the waste here and there. Why such a system exists in the first place? Why cannot we have our trash cans placed outside our door for the pickup van to collect one by one? Of course that will require a monthly fee by the authorities but if we can spend on expensive clothes, parties etc, then why we feel the pinch in paying for the trash pickup?

First and foremost step in #SWM is ‘Waste Segregation at Source’. It is my humble request to have at least 2 trash cans in your home - One for ‘dry waste’ and another for ‘wet waste’. Wet waste includes all kitchen waste such as vegetable peels, fruit peels, leftover food, tea leaves etc. The wet waste can be used to produce manure by the method of ‘Composting’ (I will explain about composting in my next post). All other waste excluding Kitchen waste is Dry waste. Even in dry waste, we can find articles which can be recycled. Finally the not recyclable articles is just waste which can be given to regular pickup.

I am looking for volunteers to stand up for the cause #SWABHIMAN and join me to educate people around us. If you agree with me and want to volunteer or contribute, leave your comments below or tweet using #BlogchatterProjects. Look forward to connect with like-minded people.

A #MeToo Affair

Social Media is such a powerful tool which gives the powerless an immense power to mold it to his/her benefit accordingly. It seems as if people are carrying an FIR system with them all the time. You just vent out all your harrowing experience and click 'submit'. The information spreads like wildfire getting instant 'Likes' and 'Share'. And if the victim is a woman, then the entire hardcore feminist group will blindly support the victim. I wonder did they ever bother to hear the other side of the story. The issue is extrapolated to such a level that the other person loses his ground and even if he/she tries to put forward his/her point, it is stashed in the backyard. Today I am going to share my personal opinion about the #MeToo series of allegations by our pretty ladies of #Bollywood on producers, directors and co-actors. The #MeToo fire was started by Tanushree Dutta who accused Nana Patekar of 'lurking' around on the sets of 'Horn Ok Please' some 10 years ago. Soon after Tanushree Dutta leaves the set and locks herself in her vanity van and then drives in her car. At that moment, a mob of around 50 people mainly from Media and some other group (which is yet to be ascertained) surrounded her car. Later police had to intervene and clear the way for her car. Now there are couple of questions which seek attention.

Here is a video clip of the incident by #IndiaToday.

https://www.indiatoday.in/programme/the-people-s-court/video/tanushree-dutta-nana-patekar-controversy-here-s-what-eyewitness-janice-sequeira-saw-1354313-2018-10-02

1. With the complete video footage available, why is it difficult to find out if Nana Patekar touched Tanushree Dutta with a wrong intention?

2. Why after 10 years, Tanushree Dutta has suddenly found courage to speak up?

3. Who were the people that created ruckus when Tanushree is in her car?

4. We have heard only one side of the story. We haven't heard anything from Nana Patakar yet? Why are we judging to conclusion?

5. What is the definition of sexual harassment? Is there a limit defined by law?

In the next few days the #MeToo movement finds our pretty ladies waking up from deep slumber and joining the sheepish ‘मैं मैं भेड़चाल’. Be it Alok Nath, Sajid Khan, Variamuthu, Sham Kaushal are just a few names. The list is unending and till now we hear a new name popping up. Surprisingly, all incidents had happened as old as 2 decades ago. That means women are more empowered to speak up today. Should we thank the present #Modi government for giving more power to women to speak up? Or can we say women are more safe in #NDA's tenure than in #UPA's tenure? To me, it seems a ‘Quid Pro Quo’ movement. What happened back then was acceptable because a career was at stake and now to steal the show, this #MeToo is proving handy.

As far as my personal opinion is concerned, it is difficult to say now and even after couple of months from now about who’s the real accused and who's the victim but one thing is sure that this #MeToo will definitely become a cause of breakdown of someone not guilty very soon. I pray no victim shall use this power for his/her selfish motives. In a country where we still don’t know who killed #Aarushi and #Jessica, how can you rather rely on the half baked story? The reel life actors get so much influenced by their unreal life that they don’t realize the right and wrong of their action. All they care about is getting back to limelight by pushing others behind.

 It’s high time our judiciary prepares a guideline on sexual harassment or physical abuse and a special cell to deal with such cases in this regard. Using hashtag #MeToo to report the story makes it look more scandalous and majority of the cases the sympathy of the masses is with women.

P.S. The intention is the post is not to hurt feminist brigade. I have shared an honest opinion. Do share your opinion about the #MeToo affair. 

Vaadi Herbals

Vaadi Herbals is proud of its knowledge of herbs and their uses, passed on by its parent company; involved in the business of manufacturing and supply of Ayurvedic pharmaceuticals since the last 150 years. Vaadi Herbals embarked upon its journey in the direction of herbal cosmetics and personal care products using an ideal blend of Ayurveda together with modern sciences and formulations.

Our company has its plants and warehouses based in Delhi, India since 2006 and started with its exports to several countries soon after. Currently we export to over 15 countries such as USA, New Zealand, Russia, South Africa, China, Norway, Hongkong, France, United Kingdom etc. and have received phenomenal response for most of the products that we offer.

With over 300 stock keeping units, there is a huge variety in the categories of Hair, Skin, Body, Facial, Foot and Gifting kits. Our products are suitable for all hair and skin types, making them widely acceptable in International markets. (Source: https://www.vaadiherbals.com)

The Products are:

1. GMP Certified.

2. 100% Chemical Free.

3. 100% Organic Certified.

4. Ayurveda.

5. Paraben Free

Memoir

It all started four years ago. I was working as a software engineer in Bangalore. One fine Friday evening at Electronic City Phase-2, my roommate and I were ready to enter the trance state of Old Monk with homemade cooked desi chicken, my phone started ringing.

Shit!!! Dad calling. 

I rushed out in the open to feel a gasp of fresh air and answered the call in 5 rings.

Hello!

I am fine papa. How are you?

”Dinner हो गया बेटा ?”

I replied, ”हंजी, बस पाँच मिनिट में  करेंगे ”. I lied but they never know this 5 minute will be 500 minutes very soon once the party is on.

After dad, the control was passed to the high command: my mother. After the usual हाल-चाल टॉक, the moment came when my mother threw a bomb,” We have received a perfect match for you and now you need to plan your travel to Jammu and see the girl”. I said,”आपने देखी है तो ठीक ही होगी”. I pretended to be a सज्जन बेटा. But I had a parallel thought running in my mind,”यार एक बार लड़की की फोटो माँग ले. First level of check हो जाएगा”. I muster courage to ask but couldn’t. Meanwhile I remember Mr Old Monk waiting for me. I ended the call and joined back.

Back of my mind, I was still thinking if I get a picture of the lady right now, I can search the entire Google network to just have a glimpse of my ‘going to be’ bride. By the time I finished my first drink (just to let you all know I am a corporate drinker), my phone buzzed. Wow! My sister sent me the pic. That day my respect for SRK grew manifolds (जिस चीज़ को पूरी शिद्दत से चाहो तो पूरी कायनात जूट जाती है उससे पाने के लिए). Secretly I opened my Facebook and started my hunt. After spending 15 minutes endless search, I started to lose hope. All results were negative. Being on social media is as mandatory as having a Aadhar card. If you are not on Facebook, then you are seen with an eye of suspicion.

Why she is not on Facebook?

Has she deleted her account?

What made her delete the account? All sorts of futile questions started popping in my mind. Anyways I gulped down my 3^rd drink with great difficulty, had my dinner and went off to sleep. I swear on Gita, I had a sleepless night that day.

Next morning I planned my vacation to home on occasion of Rakhsbandhan. I reached Jammu a week in advance. Everything was planned by my parents. Our meeting with girl’s family was arranged 5 days before Rakshabandhan. We met, exchanged pleasantries and the first thing I clarified from the girl about why she is not on facebook? Ahh!!! Nothing to worry, I was needlessly worrying. Our engagement was fixed a day before Rakshabandhan. Thank God else I would have got into a different relationship. Finally my first real love story started.

Life has been so cruel to me. Right from my school days, I was a very shy and an introvert kind of boy when it came to interacting with friends of opposite gender. I had great difficulty having eye contact with girls. Many times I stood in front of the mirror and stared in my eyes and questioned my sexual orientation. I search on internet about how to verify your orientation. I decided to undergo few tests on myself. I started watching porn. Test OK (Do I need to explain how?)!!!

Test 2 was a bit difficult for me. I had to make contact (not physical contact) with my class mate. But how to execute? She must think I am a pervert. Anyways I was concerned about my orientation result. Next morning I asked for digital electronics notes from my class rep. While she handed the notes I managed to give a feathery touch. My God!!! That was electrifying. Must be 10000 Volts. Test 2 Pass!!!

It is not about orientation but ones individual nature. After my marriage, I have noticed either I have become extrovert or more open with girls or I am more handsome than before or I am now out of insecurity zone- now I have a life partner.

I hope you all enjoyed the journey with me so far. I will continue with ‘शादी के side effects’ in my next post very soon. Till then keep writing, keep dating until you are a bachelor and eat healthy, stay healthy.

S’ik’cular India.

India got its name from Indus valley civilisation (3300 – 1300 BC), probably one of the well known and developed civilisations. Based on the historical facts available on internet, we find that the people of Indus valley preached 3 religions – Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. To support the argument, archaeologists have unearthed artefacts such as stone portraits of mother goddess (see pic), a father god who we consider as synonymous to Lord Shiva acting as a progenitor of the race. Further evidences pertaining to worshipping of Pipal or Acasia tree by the locals to guard them against evil forces. They followed the ritual of criminating the dead along with some offerings and last but not the least, the Great Bath of Mohenjo-Daro can be thought of as a sacred tank which we find today in various temples and sacred places of worship where people take bath and purify their soul and body.

On the contrary, the first evidence of Islam in India can be traced back to 7^th century AD.  Cheraman Juma Masjid in Kerala is thought to be the first mosque in India, built in 629 AD by Malik lbn Dinar. Islam arrived in North India in the 12th century via the Turkic invasions and has since become a part of India's religious and cultural heritage. We have heard about mass conversions of Hindus to adopt Islam by Muslim rulers. Comparing 2011 and 1951 census data, Hindus have dwindled to 79.8% from 84.1% and Muslims have gone up to 14.23% from 9.8%.

We call our country as Bharat and Hindustan. The root word of Hindustan is ‘Hindu’ and ‘Bharat’ is also a word from Devanagri. So technically our country is of Hindu origin and Muslims are our guest or mehman as they landed on our motherland much later. Despite this fact we have treated them with great honour by offering them citizenship, fundamental rights and even subsidies in the name of minority quota. Even after giving them such luxuries, when we hear certain news about ‘intolerance’, ‘award vaapsi’ ‘we want freedom’, the blood of patriotic and nationalist citizen boils at 500 ℃. Why cannot we live at peace with each other? Who do you blame for this ongoing ‘Anti-India ‘campaign across various Indian universities? Why is #ISIS finding its roots so easily in India? All these thoughts traverse in the back of my mind and keep asking the same question time and again, “Are we really secular”?   

The dictionary meaning of Secular is - not connected with religious or spiritual matters or of clergy) not subject to or bound by religious rule; not belonging to or living in a monastic or other order. By this definition it is clear that our country cannot be secular in any way. We have people from different faiths and religions and are engaged in a constant hate war with each other to prove the worthiness of each religion. We have witnessed lot of intolerance debate recently. My viewpoint on this issue is that one should remain tolerant only when his/her belief is not shaken. Once that point of reached, Newton’s 3^rd law applies and you are authorized to reply back in a wise manner. Getting physical is not a solution but holds “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind” to be true.

It is high time we realize that there are certain black sheep amongst us who are playing cheap politics to continue burning the fire for their vested interests. But as they say, “.No one can escape Karma. Karma comes back and comes back strongly because Karma is a Bitch”.

Lastly I want to quote Bhagvadgita, chapter 4, verse 11,

All who in whatever way surrender unto me, I reward them accordingly. All mankind follows my path, O Arjuna, in all respects.

On the contrary taking a cue from Holy Quran,

Clearly, both religious scriptures promote love and brotherhood but there is a catch. Both preach their own path. I would leave it unto you to decide what is right and wrong. I have chosen my religion and it is ~ Humanity.