Latest news with #Narvekar
Mint
5 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Mint
Why birds make great pets
Gift this article If you've ever wondered whether birds make good pets, the answer is a resounding yes. 'Birds are smart, social, and often much easier to care for than dogs or cats," says Mumbai-based Dr Sayali Narvekar, a wildlife science veterinarian. 'They don't need daily walks or a garden, and many adapt very well to smaller spaces like apartments. Their colours, songs, and even the ability of some species to mimic human words make them endlessly engaging." If you've ever wondered whether birds make good pets, the answer is a resounding yes. 'Birds are smart, social, and often much easier to care for than dogs or cats," says Mumbai-based Dr Sayali Narvekar, a wildlife science veterinarian. 'They don't need daily walks or a garden, and many adapt very well to smaller spaces like apartments. Their colours, songs, and even the ability of some species to mimic human words make them endlessly engaging." For Indian pet parents, the first and most important step is to understand what species are legal to keep. 'India's Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, strictly prohibits the keeping of native wild birds as pets," says Dr Narvekar. 'This includes birds like Indian ringneck parakeets, Alexandrine parakeets, mynas, and munias." Instead, pet parents should opt for birds of foreign origin, which are legally permitted and widely bred in India. Popular examples include budgerigars (budgies), cockatiels, lovebirds, African Grey parrots, macaws, canaries, and certain finches. For Indian pet parents, the first and most important step is to understand what species are legal to keep. 'India's Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, strictly prohibits the keeping of native wild birds as pets," says Dr Narvekar. 'This includes birds like Indian ringneck parakeets, Alexandrine parakeets, mynas, and munias." Instead, pet parents should opt for birds of foreign origin, which are legally permitted and widely bred in India. Popular examples include budgerigars (budgies), cockatiels, lovebirds, African Grey parrots, macaws, canaries, and certain finches. However, legality isn't enough, ethics matter too. Dr Narvekar says to source birds from reputable, registered breeders who can provide documentation proving the bird's foreign origin. Once you've welcomed your bird home, creating the right environment becomes key. 'A cage should never be a prison—it should be a safe, enriching base that allows the bird to move comfortably," says Dr Narvekar. As a rule of thumb, the cage should be large enough for the bird to fully stretch and flap its wings without touching the sides. Daily cleaning of the cage and feeding bowls is essential to prevent infections. Also Read | How to keep your pet safe from disease in the monsoon Equally important is time outside the cage. 'Birds need to fly. Even small species like budgies and cockatiels require regular supervised time in a safe, bird-proofed room," she adds. This means shutting windows, turning off ceiling fans, and keeping toxic fumes—like those from non-stick pans, incense, or aerosol sprays—far away. Toys, foraging opportunities and mirrors can provide important mental stimulation. Dr Narvekar says that in most pet birds, routine vaccines and deworming aren't commonly administered, but exceptions do exist. 'More importantly, regular health check-ups with an avian vet are advisable to gauge if vaccines are needed and to catch any issues early." A balanced diet is critical, says Dr Narvekar. High-quality commercial pellets should form the base, with seeds given only in moderation. A mix of fresh fruits and vegetables adds much-needed nutrients and variety. 'Never feed birds avocado, chocolate, alcohol, caffeine, or anything salty or fried. And fruit seeds should be avoided, as many are toxic." While their physical care is relatively straightforward, Dr Narvekar says that a bird's emotional well-being is just as important. 'Birds are highly intelligent and deeply social creatures. Some form lifelong bonds with their human caregivers, and yes, they do grieve if separated from a companion or neglected." A consistent routine, gentle handling, and regular interaction go a long way in helping birds feel safe and loved. Also Read | Pet Matters: How to breed your dog at home safely New bird parents should also be aware of common illnesses . Psittacosis, or parrot fever, is a bacterial infection that can even spread to humans if not handled correctly. 'Look out for signs like lethargy, breathing issues, and green droppings—and always quarantine new birds before introducing them to existing ones," says Dr Narvekar. Another issue to watch for is yeast infections, which often arise from damp cages or mouldy food. These can cause laboured breathing, weakness, and watery stools and require prompt veterinary attention. When prescribed antibiotics, they need them in far higher doses than dogs and cats. Giving medication like paracetamol can cause severe kidney disease. Hence, a pet bird must be treated by a veterinarian specialised in avian medicine. Birds may not wag their tails or curl up in your lap, but they do form bonds and respond to affection in a way that's hard to describe—until you've experienced it. Nameeta Nadkarni is a veterinary soft tissue surgeon and pet blogger from Mumbai. Also Read | Pets enrich the lives of the elderly Topics You May Be Interested In
India Today
12-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Reserve 20% houses in buildings for Marathis, demands Uddhav Sena leader
The Shiv Sena (UBT) lawmakers on Friday demanded that 20 per cent houses in buildings in Mumbai be reserved for native Marathi of Opposition in the legislative council Ambadas Danve and Milind Narvekar gave a letter with this demand to minister Shambhuraj Desai, who belongs to the rival Shiv Sena."We demand 20 per cent of houses in buildings in Mumbai for Marathi Manoos," Narvekar said in a post on On Thursday, Narvekar had asked in the legislative council whether a social organisation had demanded that 50 per cent housing units in the city be reserved for the Marathi people, and if the government had taken any decision on a written reply, deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who is also the Housing Minister, said his department had not received any such on behalf of Shinde, Mines Minister Shambhuraj Desai had said when the Maha Vikas Aghadi government led by Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray was in power during 2019-2022, it did not bring in any such law."You did not do it, and this has come on record. Your love for Marathi Manoos is fake and hollow," Desai had said.- EndsMust Watch
Hindustan Times
09-07-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
State FDA laboratories to increase staff, sample collection and analysis to triple
Mumbai: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Maharashtra is set to undergo a major upgrade, with a significant expansion of its laboratory infrastructure and food sample testing capacity, said FDA Commissioner Rajesh Narwekar. The 325 newly recruited food safety officers and the two new upcoming laboratories, will address the earlier shortage of staff, increase the collection of food samples across the state, and allow more samples to be tested. FDA labs conduct 12 essential tests to examine the composition, quality, and contamination in food and pharmaceutical samples. (AFP) Narwekar said, 'Each food safety officer will be tasked with collecting at least 10 samples. This means around 3,250 samples will be gathered—almost three times more than before.' In addition to the state's three functional FDA laboratories in Mumbai, Sambhajinagar, and Nagpur, Narvekar said that two more will be added soon—one in Pune and another in Nashik. 'The construction of the Pune laboratory has been completed, while the Nashik facility is expected to be ready in the next two months,' he added. At present, Mumbai and the Konkan region carry the bulk of the testing responsibility. However, Narvekar emphasized the need to distribute the testing load more evenly across regions. 'Nearly 80% of pharmaceutical manufacturing takes place in areas like Palghar, Ambernath, and Taloja. The food industry also has a heavy presence here. Meanwhile, Amravati division doesn't have a single FDA laboratory,' he explained. The FDA has submitted a proposal to set up additional labs in both Amravati and the Konkan to address this imbalance, he added. The FDA is also expected to improve its ability to deliver timely reports. Last year, with the central government's approval, the FDA partnered with five NABL-accredited laboratories under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). These labs, located in Nashik, Pune, and Navi Mumbai, helped share its workload, but due to logistical constraints, reports for samples collected from distant regions like Latur would take as long as 12-14 months to be finalised. Narwekar said that by using external laboratories, the FDA shortened that duration to just 14 days. However, the central government scheme that facilitated this partnership ended in March. 'We've sent a proposal to extend this arrangement and expect approval in the next 7 to 8 days. If approved, it will significantly reduce the burden on our own labs,' Narwekar added. FDA labs conduct 12 essential tests to examine the composition, quality, and contamination in food and pharmaceutical samples. 'It's a technical and strictly regulated process,' Narwekar said, stressing on the critical role laboratories play in the food and drug safety ecosystem. 'After collecting a sample, the lab test report becomes the basis for legal action. If the report shows that a drug is harmful to health, we initiate prosecution,' he added.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
14-06-2025
- Health
- Business Standard
FDA chief warns businesses of tough action over food safety violations
Stringent action, including licence cancellations, fines and legal proceedings, will be initiated against establishments violating food safety norms, Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Rajesh Narvekar said. As per the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration) Regulations 2011, vegetarian and non-vegetarian food must be prepared, processed, and cooked separately, Narvekar said. He pointed out that separation must also be maintained during the food storage and handling stages. "All food businesses are required to follow the safety norms strictly. Violations will lead to immediate notices and necessary legal action. Food safety is not merely a regulatory requirement but a critical social responsibility linked to public health," he asserted in an official statement. Narvekar further said more than 30,000 food business operators in the state had been trained in food safety standards last year. This year, the FDA plans to train another one lakh under its capacity-building initiative, he added. "The FDA, in collaboration with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), is conducting awareness campaigns, training sessions, and workshops under the Food Safety and Certification Training Programme," the department said. It stated that with 189 new food safety officers joining the FDA on June 7, the number of inspections at establishments, including hotels, restaurants and eateries, is expected to increase significantly. Regular checks are already being carried out across the state, and action is being taken under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 against establishments found in violation, it added. The FDA urged citizens to report incidents related to food adulteration through its helpline or the Food Safety Connect mobile application. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India Gazette
02-06-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
"Will aggressively start our inspections on other e-commerce operators": Maharashtra FDA Commissioner on Zepto's license suspended in Dharavi
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 2 (ANI): Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) Commissioner Rajesh Narvekar said on Monday that some food articles of quick-commerce firm Zepto had fungus, and some products had also expired, for which their food business licence was suspended in the Dharavi area. Speaking to ANI, Narvekar emphasised that the department will now start its inspections on all other e-commerce operators too. 'They will be given an Improvement Notice. They have to fulfil all the parameters mentioned in the notice. Once they come back, we will reverify whether they stand clear on all the parameters. Their suspension will be removed if their performance is satisfactory. Otherwise, it will be continued till they improve their performance... We will aggressively start our inspections on all the other e-commerce operators,' the Maharashtra FDA Commissioner said. 'This action was taken because some food articles had fungus, water had accumulated in some places, the temperature for the food items was not maintained, and some products had also expired... Action has been taken because of these discrepancies,' Narvekar said. Based on information received from Minister of State for Food and Drug Administration, Yogesh Kadam, and under the guidance of Mangesh Mane, Joint Commissioner (Food), an inspection was conducted at the premises of Kiranakart Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (Zepto), located in Dharavi, Mumbai, by Food Safety Officer Ram Bodke, the Maharashtra FDA said in a statement. The inspection revealed serious non-compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011, it said. Key observations during the inspection included- Fungal growth observed on certain food articles; storage of products near clogged/stagnant water, indicating poor hygiene; cold storage temperatures not maintained as per regulatory standards; wet and filthy floors, with food items stored in a disorganised and unsanitary manner, including directly on the floor and expired food products found not clearly separated from non-expired stock. 'These findings constitute a failure to comply with the conditions of the license. Accordingly, Smt. Anupamaa Balasaheb Patil, Assistant Commissioner (Food), issued an order of immediate suspension under Section 32(3) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and Regulation 2.1.8(4) of the Licensing and Registration Regulations, 2011,' FDA Maharashtra, Mumbai Division said in a statement. As per the statement, the suspension remains effective until the establishment achieves full compliance and receives approval from the licensing authority. Faced with the suspension order, Zepto released a statement and said they have already initiated an internal review and are working closely with the concerned authorities to ensure full and swift compliance. 'We are committed to rectifying the lapses identified and strengthening our processes to provide the best and safest quality of products to our consumers. We are taking all necessary corrective measures to resume operations in accordance with regulatory obligations and applicable laws as soon as possible. We have already initiated an internal review and are working closely with the concerned authorities to ensure full and swift compliance,' the Zepto statement read. (ANI)
