Latest news with #Dutta
India.com
2 days ago
- Health
- India.com
Monsoon 2025: 5 Effective Tips To Prevent Eye Infections And Improve Your Overall Health
The monsoon season offers welcome relief from the summer heat, but it also brings an increase in health concerns. With high humidity, waterlogging, and increased exposure to bacteria and viruses, infections become more common — especially eye infections, skin issues, digestive problems, and flu. Dr RR Dutta, HOD, Internal Medicine, Paras Health, Gurugram, says "The monsoon season, while a relief from the summer heat, also brings a rise in infections due to high humidity and stagnant water. The increased moisture in the air after rainfall creates a perfect breeding ground for bacteria, fungi, and mosquitoes." Dr RR Dutta says, "This can lead to a spike in respiratory illnesses, skin infections, fungal conditions like athlete's foot or ringworm, and mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, malaria, and chikungunya." "Humidity also weakens the body's ability to cool down through sweating, which may cause fatigue and dehydration. Additionally, the risk of food contamination rises as perishable items spoil faster in damp conditions, increasing cases of food poisoning and gastrointestinal issues, says Dr RR Dutta. Dr RR Dutta recommend, "Wearing breathable clothes, keeping skin dry, ensuring proper ventilation indoors, drinking clean water, and avoiding outside food. These small precautions can go a long way in safeguarding health during the rainy season." To stay safe and healthy during Monsoon 2025, it's essential to take some simple yet effective precautions. Here are 5 practical tips to protect your eyes and your overall body health during the rainy season. 1. Practice Strict Hygiene to Prevent Infections Why It Matters: Germs spread easily through contaminated water, wet clothes, and unwashed hands. What to Do: Wash your hands frequently, especially before touching your face or eyes. Bathe daily with antibacterial soap to keep skin infections at bay. Keep your nails trimmed and avoid walking barefoot on wet surfaces. 2. Protect Your Eyes from Rainwater and Dirt Why It Matters: Rainwater can carry dust, chemicals, and microbes that irritate or infect your eyes. What to Do: Avoid rubbing your eyes, especially with dirty hands. Use sunglasses or protective glasses when stepping out. If rainwater enters your eyes, wash them immediately with clean, filtered water. 3. Eat Seasonal, Immune-Boosting Foods Why It Matters: A strong immune system helps your body fight off infections more effectively. What to Do: Include Vitamin A and C-rich foods like citrus fruits, leafy greens, and carrots for eye health. Avoid raw salads and street food to prevent digestive infections. Drink warm fluids like herbal teas and soups to improve digestion and immunity. 4. Keep Your Surroundings Clean and Dry Why It Matters: Damp environments promote the growth of fungi, mold, and mosquitoes. What to Do: Keep your home well-ventilated and dry. Change wet clothes immediately after coming from outside. Use natural mosquito repellents and regularly clean water tanks and containers. 5. Wear Clean and Breathable Clothes Why It Matters: Prolonged dampness can lead to skin rashes, fungal infections, and body odor. What to Do: Opt for light, loose-fitting, cotton clothes that dry quickly. Wash clothes frequently to avoid bacteria buildup. Use antifungal powder on areas prone to sweating like underarms, feet, and groin. Monsoon 2025 doesn't have to be a season of illness. With the right hygiene practices, protective measures, and healthy habits, you can enjoy the rains while keeping your eyes and body safe. Prevention is always better than cure — and these simple tips can help you make the most of the season without compromising your health.
India Today
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Decoding Sitaare Zameen Par's no-OTT business model: Trendsetter or one-off flex?
Days leading up to 'Sitaare Zameen Par's' release, Aamir Khan was all over the news. While his return to cinemas after three years was a moment to celebrate, his bold decision to skip an OTT release made even bigger headlines. As per sources, the superstar refused offers of up to Rs 150 crore for selling digital rights as he wanted to revive cinemas and inculcate the love for big screens again among RS Prasanna-directed film, which sheds light on neurodivergent people, has already raked in Rs 66.65 crore nett in India in four days, giving a sense of hope to theatres once again. But is this really the start of a new trend, or is it a one-off flex, thanks to Aamir Khan's stardom? India Today spoke to industry insiders and trade experts to decode the business and success of 'Sitaare Zameen Par'.AAMIR KHAN BACK IN THE NUMBER GAMEGautam Dutta, CEO - Revenue and Operations, PVR INOX Ltd, called the response 'encouraging', sharing how the film saw an impressive 75 per cent occupancy for the majority of shows over the weekend. He added that there has been a 100 per cent jump, indicating how positive word-of-mouth and audience goodwill can draw audiences to cinemas. "This is especially significant because 'Sitaare Zameen Par' isn't a conventional commercial entertainer - it's a film that relies on its emotional depth rather than big-budget spectacle. The fact that audiences are making the effort to watch it in cinemas speaks volumes about the film's resonance," he said. advertisement Aamir Khan is finally enjoying sweet success after the failures of 'Laal Singh Chaddha' and 'Thugs of Hindostan'. When asked if he feels that the brand Aamir Khan is back, Dutta agreed, adding that the superstar has always stood out for his dedication to meaningful, emotionally resonant cinema. His decision to go cinema-only has revived confidence in the big screen as an essential cultural space. "The audience response so far makes it clear that viewers have welcomed him back wholeheartedly. This film, much like his past landmark projects, reminds us why Aamir Khan remains one of India's most trusted storytellers," he GAME WITH DIFFERENT RULESWhile the multiplexes, especially in top-tier cities, continue to celebrate packed houses, the single-screen owners have a different tale to tell. The response to 'Sitaare Zameen Par' has not been positive in smaller towns, which have gotten used to watching over-the-top drama and song and dance routines on the big Chauhan, owner of Roopbani Cinema in Purnia, Bihar, told India Today that 'Sitaare Zameen Par' has probably received one of the worst responses for an Aamir Khan film. He shared that while everyone's talking highly about 'Sitaare Zameen Par', an Aamir Khan film opening to just over Rs 10 crore is cause for concern. "It can be said that it was never meant for commercial space, but then you shouldn't be talking about box office, no?," he added that Aamir Khan has done a number of off-beat films, and they have opened much better. He reasoned that these films are no longer a viable theatrical commodity, especially post-Covid 19 pandemic. "What happened in Hollywood during the 2004-2008 phase is happening in India right now. After Netflix became big, top stars like Will Smith, Adam Sandler, and Tom Hanks lost relevance. Aamir, like Tom, has backed and believed in similar films. But he is fighting against the tide; the audience today is far bigger than an Aamir Khan. They are the rule makers, and you need to respect their choices and work for them," he OTTA lot has been said about Aamir Khan's decision to go cinema-only. The actor spoke about how he feels the 8-week window is too short for a film to live a full cycle in cinemas. Film distributor Akkshay Rathie called the move logical and also hailed the actor for communicating the message so clearly to his audience. He shared that even a Tom Cruise film takes around six months to drop on OTT, and hence it's only justified that Aamir took a cinema-only call. "The theatre business came under complete threat because of faster OTT releases. With this approach, the box office will see better and consistent business. I hope more stars follow suit, and we can see this as a trend," he Multiplex Association of India recently shared a statement applauding Aamir Khan's decision to release the film exclusively in cinemas. PVR's Gautam Dutta weighed in on the same, stating that while viewing habits are evolving rapidly, this move has come as a significant boost for exhibitors and reinforces the importance of cinema: "This model reminds both filmmakers and audiences of the unmatched joy of watching a story come alive on the big screen, surrounded by a community of fellow moviegoers. For us, this commitment not only drives healthy footfalls but also reaffirms the enduring value of theatres as a cultural hub for storytelling." A SKEWED VICTORY?The single-screen owners again disapprove of Aamir Khan's decision as Visekh feels the actor-producer got his "maths absolutely wrong". He shared that maximum viewing today happens at home, and it's a global phenomenon and not just India-centric. He added that if Aamir Khan said that he's coming only to theatres, it should have opened to Rs 100 crore, but that's simply not the Chuk Maaf' came on the digital platform in just two weeks, but it was still running to packed houses in my theatre. The public doesn't see the picture the way he's painting it. As a theatre owner, I firmly believe that OTT platforms are not my enemy; they're rather my greatest ally. Be it Yash in 'KGF', south stars like Allu Arjun and Vijay Deverakonda, they became household names because of digital mediums, which include YouTube. They adapted to these south films, and now they do good business at my theatres. Thanks to OTT, people are getting exposure to wider content, and can view it as many times as they want. The engagement has become higher," he CURIOUS CASE OF URBAN VS MASSESGiven how the film has been performing differently in different markets, it's safe to say that India no longer serves one kind of audience. Producer and film business analyst Girish Johar shared that today, business is on a film-to-film basis. "What is important is to know your target audience and whether they like it or not. Given that 'Sitaare Zameen Par' was having a tight release, it could have even skipped these cinemas. We are seeing a lull in the single screens, but that's because it is not doing anything for that audience. I feel the film will easily cross Rs 150 crore, which is great in today's time. Not every film, even with stars, can do Rs 300 crore, Rs 400 crore, or Rs 500 crore today. The fact that this is receiving love is a testimony to the fact that good content finds its way," Johar also stressed that it's not just a case of urban vs rural, but audiences with an urban mindset. He shared that even though 90 per cent of the business is coming from multiplexes, the audiences are people who have a better understanding of subjects like this. Akkshay Rathie said, "Aamir has largely become an urban star today. His last hit was 'Dhoom 3', which came over a decade ago, and that says a lot. However, to back such an important subject is also crucial. While it may not change, it does create awareness and makes society more conscious. And that, I think, is a bigger victory."While Vishek Chauhan maintains that the biggest health indicator of the movie industry is the biggest stars' opening and not their lifetime collection. He added that Aamir Khan has to rely on word-of-mouth, and that shows that there is a disconnect. "People are saying he's a non-actioner, but he's done 'PK' and 'Dangal' too, which did amazing business. One can't cater to just tier-one and make films for multiplexes in today's time. That will never revive cinemas. 'Pathaan', 'Jawan' or even 'Gadar 2' revived cinema halls because it catered to audiences of all spectres," he Dutta, on his part, mentioned that with a clear upward trend, 'Sitaare Zameen Par' is well on its way to becoming a steady performer at the box office. He admitted that even when it's not designed as a typical commercial blockbuster, its emotional appeal and growing audience goodwill suggest that it will continue to draw viewers in the coming days.'Sitaare Zameen Par' is performing well in theatres.- EndsMust Watch
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
CRPF jawan gets 5-yr jail for assault of minor in Silchar
Silchar: A special Pocso court in Silchar has sentenced 59-year-old CRPF personnel Pradip Kumar Dutta to five years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a minor. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 21,000, with additional jail time in case of non-payment. Additional district and sessions judge (Pocso) Narayan Kuri delivered the verdict on Monday, in connection with a case reported on Feb 8, 2023, from the Balighat area under Arunachal police station in Cachar district. According to police reports, Dutta entered the minor's house around 10am while her parents were away. He allegedly assaulted the girl when she was alone. Upon hearing her screams, the girl's mother, who was nearby, rushed back home. Seeing her, Dutta fled the scene, reportedly threatening the girl with severe consequences if she spoke about the incident. You Can Also Check: Guwahati AQI | Weather in Guwahati | Bank Holidays in Guwahati | Public Holidays in Guwahati The girl's family filed a complaint at the local police station, prompting a detailed investigation. A chargesheet was later submitted under sections 376 (rape) and 448 (house trespass) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 6 and 10 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Brass Krishna Idols For Prosperity & Protection In Life Luxeartisanship Shop Now Undo After multiple hearings and witness testimonies, the court convicted Dutta under Pocso Section 10 and sentenced him to five years in prison and a Rs 20,000 fine. In case of default, he will serve an additional six months. Under BNS Section 448, he received a six-month sentence and a Rs 1,000 fine, with an extra month of jail time in case of non-payment. Silchar: A special Pocso court in Silchar has sentenced 59-year-old CRPF personnel Pradip Kumar Dutta to five years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a minor. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 21,000, with additional jail time in case of non-payment. Additional district and sessions judge (Pocso) Narayan Kuri delivered the verdict on Monday, in connection with a case reported on Feb 8, 2023, from the Balighat area under Arunachal police station in Cachar district. According to police reports, Dutta entered the minor's house around 10am while her parents were away. He allegedly assaulted the girl when she was alone. Upon hearing her screams, the girl's mother, who was nearby, rushed back home. Seeing her, Dutta fled the scene, reportedly threatening the girl with severe consequences if she spoke about the incident. The girl's family filed a complaint at the local police station, prompting a detailed investigation. A chargesheet was later submitted under sections 376 (rape) and 448 (house trespass) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 6 and 10 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act. After multiple hearings and witness testimonies, the court convicted Dutta under Pocso Section 10 and sentenced him to five years in prison and a Rs 20,000 fine. In case of default, he will serve an additional six months. Under BNS Section 448, he received a six-month sentence and a Rs 1,000 fine, with an extra month of jail time in case of non-payment.
The Hindu
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Teachers wait for jobs and justice
Payel Dutta, 35, and Smritikana Roy, 33, sit on the footpath outside Bikash Bhawan in Kolkata's Salt Lake area on a sweltering afternoon. They are writing to the President of India Droupadi Murmu, asking for a restoration of their jobs as teachers. Either that, or they seek permission for 'voluntary euthanasia'. Bikash Bhawan is the headquarters of West Bengal's State Education Department, and Dutta and Roy teach mathematics and English, respectively. Two months ago, the Supreme Court annulled the appointment of 25,752 teachers and non-teaching staff in State-run schools. The appointments had been made in 2016 by the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC), the body that holds the entrance examination for school jobs. Since then, Bikash Bhawan has become the site of protests of those whose appointments stand cancelled. Women and men, many in their 30s and 40s, assemble outside the blue and white government building. Wiping her tears, Dutta, who teaches in Murshidabad Indrani Hasna Mayani High School, says, 'When I took the exam in 2016, I was unmarried and did not have a child; I had free time to prepare. Now, I have in-laws also to care for. I will have to compete with younger people to get re-appointed at a job which I worked hard to get.' Roy, who teaches at Baharampur Mahakali Pathshala, says growing up she had always looked at teaching as a noble profession, but now she struggles. 'We were beaten up, dragged on the roads, and we have even shed blood on the streets. We have lost all self-respect. Our students see us sitting on the roads, getting baton-charged by the police. Will they ever respect us like before?' Roy says. She too is a mother now and can't imagine going through the recruitment process all over again. Most of those recruited in 2016 had worked for about five years before their dismissal earlier this year. A series of events The West Bengal school recruitment scam came to light in July 2022, when former State Education Minister Partha Chatterjee and his aide Arpita Mukherjee were arrested by the Enforcement Directorate. The Central investigating agency recovered cash, jewellery and immovable property worth ₹103.10 crore linked to the Minister and his aide. So far, the investigation has resulted in scores of arrests that include officials of the State Education Department, politicians associated with the ruling Trinamool Congress, and touts. The touts would allegedly offer jobs in State-run schools in return for money that was then paid 'upwards'. The SC has stipulated that 'selectees with purported evidence and material indicating wrongdoing' were to relinquish their jobs immediately. After the April 3 Supreme Court judgment annulling all the appointments, protests began. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met those who had lost jobs on April 7. 'We have 'Plan A, B, C, D, and E' ready. Did you receive any notice terminating your job? You go and work.... Who has stopped you? Continue with your work,' she assured the teachers. The first incident of violence occurred on April 9, when protesters stormed the office of the District Inspector (DI) of schools in Kasba in south Kolkata and a scuffle broke out. In videos circulated after, a police officer was seen kicking a protesting teacher, which prompted outrage. On April 17, the Supreme Court allowed the teachers 'who claim that they were validly selected and have committed no wrongdoing' to continue in the State's government and aided schools. They are to be retained until fresh recruitment takes place in December 2025. The Court also directed the State Government to file an affidavit before May 30 enclosing the advertisement and a schedule of the entire recruitment process. The first two weeks of May witnessed widespread protests by those who had lost jobs, mostly outside Bikash Bhawan. By way of a shorthand, they called themselves the 'untainted'. On May 15, hundreds of protesters gathered outside Bikash Bhawan, saying they would not allow government employees to leave the office unless the State government found a way out. Tensions ran high as dusk descended, and the employees working in several departments grew desperate to leave. A large contingent of police arrived to clear the protesters from around the gates of the government institution. The police resorted to baton charge, leaving scores of protesters injured. This was covered extensively on live television news. The next day, the West Bengal police justified its actions saying they were getting distress calls from employees who wanted to return home. 'We used minimal force. We understand they have lost their jobs, but they broke barricades, used force to get inside Bikash Bhawan, and did not allow over 500 employees to leave the premises,' said Supratim Sarkar, Additional Director General, South Bengal, addressing the media. Chinmoy Mondal, a representative of Deserving Teachers Rights Forum, a group formed for the protest, says everyone knows why 'deserving teachers' are on the streets and outside Bikash Bhawan. 'They call this minimal force? It left us with fractures, head and eye injuries, and blood loss,' Mondal said. On May 27, the CM said that her government would start a fresh recruitment process for teachers as per the Supreme Court order. Simultaneously, the government would pursue a review petition in the SC seeking the reinstatement of all the teachers and non-teaching staff who lost their jobs. 'The process of the review petition and fresh appointments will continue simultaneously,' she said at the State Secretariat, bringing the options from 'A, B, C, D and E' down to two. On May 31, West Bengal brought out a notification for appointment for 44,203 vacancies as teachers. The government allowed age relaxations so that the teachers whose jobs have been annulled can get a shot at recruitment. Physical hurt and mental trauma By the first week of June, the protesters were asked to shift to a different venue. The most accessible spot for all was the metro station closest to Bikash Bhawan. On a sweltering June afternoon, hundreds of young women and men poured out of the Karunamoyee metro station, greeting each other like old friends. 'How are you? How's your eye? You look tired,' a protester asks 33-year-old Rajat Haldar, a physics teacher in Subhash Nagar High School in South 24 Parganas. Since May 15, Haldar has had a deep scar over his left eyebrow. He claims it is from when he was beaten by the police. 'It is difficult for me to stay in the sun for too long now. My head starts throbbing,' he tells a well-wishing fellow protester. He says the memories of the violent clash of May 15 are traumatic to recall. 'All I remember was that around 9.30 that night, after verbal altercations started between protestors and police outside Bikash Bhawan, a few of my fellow teachers and I were peacefully seated along one of the boundary walls. Two police personnel came and demanded to know what we were doing. Moments later, without any warning, two constables charged at us with batons and struck my head,' he says. Suvojit Das, in his mid 30s, one of the leading voices of the Jogyo Shikkhok Shikkhika Adhikar Mancha (JSSAM), an organisation of 'aggrieved teachers', frequently visits the protest site at Karunamoyee. 'We are dying a slow death every day. It is one thing to be executed at a moment's notice, and it is another thing to be told when you will be executed and to have to wait in misery till that day arrives,' says Das, as fellow teachers gather around him. 'For us, December 31, our last working day stipulated by the Supreme Court, is like that. We wake up worrying about December 31,' says the mathematics teacher. Protesting teachers say that Praveen Karmakar, a teacher from Amui Para Refugee School in Hooghly, died during the course of the protests. He had an underlying illness that was triggered by 'severe mental stress', they say. In a hunger protest that about 20 teachers participated in, two of who are visually impaired, several have been hospitalised. Sidelined non-teaching staff Among the employees of State-run schools who have lost their jobs, 2,483 were Group C staff and 4,550 Group D staff serving in non-teaching capacities. They had to leave from the day following the SC order. So far there has been no recruitment notification for Group C and D employees. Amit Mondal, one of the leaders of the Group C and D staff member group, points out that clerical staff is the backbone of schools. Non-teaching staff maintains classrooms, performs various administrative jobs, and ensures the running of schemes like Kanyashree Prakalpa, which incentivises girls to stay in school until Class 12. 'I bring my son, who is just one-and-a-half years old here every day. I have no choice. If I don't earn, he won't get his meals. Thankfully, my husband has been a pillar of support in the struggle,' says Mala Hansda, a Group D school employee from Purulia. She tries to soothe her child, who is crying under the scorching sun. The CM on April 26 announced ₹25,000 and ₹20,000 honorariums to Group C and D staff until the Supreme Court announces a decision on the State's review petition. But the allowance, which was approved by the State Cabinet, was challenged before the Calcutta High Court by some job aspirants who claim they were not appointed because of 'irregularities'. Now, the monthly allowance stays until September 26, as per a court order. The recruitment 'scam' Firdous Shamim, an advocate in the Calcutta High Court, has represented various candidates who alleged irregularities in the recruitment process. 'This scam is an example of institutionalised corruption. There was manipulation of marks and rank jumping; candidates who did not appear in the examination were given appointments,' the lawyer says. Central investigation agencies found evidence of tampering of the optical mark reader (OMR) sheets, where they found that marks of many candidates had been forged. The WBSSC claims that OMR sheets of the 2016 examination have been destroyed and cannot be retrieved. Shadab Shams and Aftab Ansari are married. Both have lost their jobs after the Supreme Court order. Shadab teaches Urdu in a school in Kankinara, and Aftab is a geography teacher in a Hindi-medium school in Titagarh. The couple occasionally brings their daughter to protests as there is no one to take care of her at home. 'What has happened to us is a grave injustice. The government is responsible for the corruption, and now we are on the brink of a crisis. What did we do to deserve this?' Shams says. Edited by Sunalini Mathew
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Business Standard
19-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
AWS plans to add $23 bn to India's GDP by 2030, says Sandeep Dutta
Amazon Web Services (AWS) plans to contribute $23.3 billion towards India's gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030 while supporting over 1.31 lakh jobs annually, a senior executive from the company said on Thursday. This announcement comes as the cloud infrastructure provider prepares to invest $12.7 billion by the end of 2030 to meet the growing demand for cloud services and artificial intelligence (AI) in the country. 'We're all aware that India is on the cusp of becoming a $1 trillion digital economy. As AWS, we continue to deepen our commitment towards India,' said Sandeep Dutta, president of India and South Asia, AWS. He was speaking at the AWS Summit in Mumbai. 'We are continuously working with the government and the industry to find opportunities to mitigate India's skill gap. Since 2017, AWS in India has trained more than 5.9 million people on cloud and related skills,' Dutta added. He also revealed that the company plans to install more than 200 billion smart meters in India by 2030. 'Over the course of the next few years, we will install in excess of 200 billion smart metres in India. Why? The objective is very clear. We intend to bring down, as a country, our technical and commercial loss levels from the current trajectory of 13.8 or 14 per cent to 7 per cent in the next five to six years,' he explained. Dutta noted that every 100 basis points of loss reduction could potentially add ₹4,500 crore to the country. Smart meters are capable of digitally tracking real-time usage of electricity, gas or water, and transmitting the data directly to utility providers. AI push This highlights the growing importance of Chief AI Officers (CAIOs) in accelerating adoption and managing implementation complexity. The report added that another 15 per cent of organisations polled were planning to appoint such executives by 2026. With generative AI (GenAI) emerging as the top budgetary priority—followed by security and compute—companies are increasingly formalising AI leadership roles. The study also found that 43 per cent of organisations had fully integrated GenAI into their workflows. 'GenAI adoption in India is near universal, with 98 per cent of organisations using GenAI tools, and 95 per cent actively experimenting to unlock new applications,' the study noted. The findings are based on responses from 415 senior IT decision-makers in India across sectors including financial services, information and communications technology, manufacturing and retail.
