amiret Posted May 5, 2015 Author Posted May 5, 2015 In the survey, 2,373 kids in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Kolkata underwent a lung health screening test (LHST). Of the 735 students who took the test in Delhi, 21% were found to have 'poor' lung capacity while another 19% had 'bad' capacity. This means four out of every 10 children screened in the capital failed the test. Delhi has the worst air quality among 1,600 cities around the world, according to the World Health Organization. I am surprised 6 out of 10 passed the test. Maybe reduced lung capacity in 40% of the Children is a small price to pay for rapid economic development ?
amiret Posted June 1, 2015 Author Posted June 1, 2015 Holding Your Breath in India NY Times correspondent leaves new delhi due to terrible pollution. "..cynically demonstrates how the city is annihilating its future generation, which probably will have a very weak heart and weaker lungs thanks to a prolonged policy paralysis on air quality." NEW DELHI — FOR weeks the breathing of my 8-year-old son, Bram, had become more labored, his medicinal inhaler increasingly vital. And then, one terrifying night nine months after we moved to this megacity, Bram’s inhaler stopped working and his gasping became panicked. My wife called a friend, who recommended a private hospital miles away. I carried Bram to the car while my wife brought his older brother. India’s traffic is among the world’s most chaotic, and New Delhi’s streets are crammed with trucks at night, when road signs become largely ornamental. We undertook one of the most frightening journeys of our lives, with my wife in the back seat cradling Bram’s head. When we arrived, doctors infused him with steroids (and refused to provide further treatment until a $1,000 charge on my credit card went through). A week later, Bram was able to return home. We gradually learned that Delhi’s true menace came from its air, water, food and flies. These perils sicken, disable and kill millions in India annually, making for one of the worst public health disasters in the world. Delhi, we discovered, is quietly suffering from a dire pediatric respiratory crisis, with a recent study showing that nearly half of the city’s 4.4 million schoolchildren have irreversible lung damage from the poisonous air. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/31/opinion/sunday/holding-your-breath-in-india.html?_r=0
mishra Posted June 1, 2015 Posted June 1, 2015 :dontmentionit: Indians are Superhumans. :theman: After all this, population is Increasing. :aha:
zen Posted June 1, 2015 Posted June 1, 2015 For me having good human development and infrastructure policies is the key. For e.g. policies that: a) Reduce and limit pollution including having clean water systems b) Offer world class health care c) Efficient waste management system d) Provide basic education e) Control population f) Promote empathy, accountability and responsibility towards the community including developing the mindset to keep the community clean g) Respect women and children Unless these basics that strengthen the society are in place, economic development agenda may not account for much. You may drive a Rolls Royce, but what's the point when you get out of your car and have to breathe urine flavored air? Or you park your car and someone starts urinating on the wall where you parked your car? Or you get out of your car and your Ferragamo or Gucci shoes are exposed to water running out of overflowing open gutters? When India reduces pollution and population, when there is efficient and clean infrastructure, and when everyone is educated enough and treated with respect, that's the time, India to me would be the super-power!
Forever Indian Posted June 1, 2015 Posted June 1, 2015 Children of Delhi have the weakest Lungs in India says Survey I wonder how India compares with the rest of the world. BCCI should avoid picking fast bowlers from NCR region. http://www.hindustantimes.com/newdelhi/delhi-children-have-the-weakest-lungs/article1-1343966.aspx This is why BCCI doesn't pick Nehra ji
amiret Posted June 1, 2015 Author Posted June 1, 2015 from the NY Times article posted above : "And then there are nascent areas of research suggesting that pollution can lower children’s I.Q., hurt their test scores and increase the risks of autism, epilepsy, diabetes and even adult-onset diseases like multiple sclerosis." We can have a whole new generation of Indian children with low IQ's due to high pollution . Pollution has grave consequences for the nation but we seem to be completely oblivious to it . We cannot sacrifice health at the altar of unfettered , unregulated economic growth.
Clarke Posted June 1, 2015 Posted June 1, 2015 Result of decades of bad/non governance this, cities becoming enlarged death camps. FYI for those using nazi references for any political party, whatever ur political preference, u are already the victim. I guess I'm lucky to be able to afford the best of pollution masks for my 2 wheeler travel when I'm not using my car, what about the masses who either don't know or simply don't care ?
amiret Posted June 1, 2015 Author Posted June 1, 2015 NRI's should think carefully before returning to India. India may be a great place to invest but the large metro cities may not be a great place to live and raise a family. there are many hidden costs that NRI's do not consider.
G_B_ Posted June 1, 2015 Posted June 1, 2015 and yet life expectancy is increasing in India year on year. perils of development i am afraid. The british industrial revolution was not all clean air and healthy lives. Typical New York times.... smug piece. Life expectancy in India goes up by 5 years in a decade http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Life-expectancy-in-India-goes-up-by-5-years-in-a-decade/articleshow/29513964.cms
G_B_ Posted June 1, 2015 Posted June 1, 2015 and one thing I have noticed is (and i dont want to turn this into a mumbai v delhi debate) mumbaikars tend to have a public transport culture compared to Delhi. I by various Indian definitions will be classified as coming from a rich family. Me and my parents have no qualms about taking the local trains. I feel Delhi is on the right track with a metro, however there needs to be this ingrained culture of using public transport. That will come with time.
amiret Posted June 1, 2015 Author Posted June 1, 2015 the NY times has quoted among others , an extensive Indian study done by the Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute (CNCI). "This unprecedented study, by the Kolkata-based Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute (CNCI), found that key indicators of respiratory health, lung function to palpitation, vision to blood pressure, children in Delhi, between four and 17 years of age, were worse off than their counterparts elsewhere — the figures were twice to four times as bad. The conclusion was chilling: “It is… unlikely that the deficits in lung function at the age of 17 years that has been found in a large number of schoolchildren of Delhi will be reversed as they complete the transition into adulthood.†- http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/landmark-study-lies-buried-how-delhis-poisonous-air-is-damaging-its-children-for-life/ IRREVERSIBLE Impaired lung function . we do not need to repeat the mistakes of the west.
G_B_ Posted June 1, 2015 Posted June 1, 2015 the NY times has quoted among others , an extensive Indian study done by the Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute (CNCI). "This unprecedented study, by the Kolkata-based Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute (CNCI), found that key indicators of respiratory health, lung function to palpitation, vision to blood pressure, children in Delhi, between four and 17 years of age, were worse off than their counterparts elsewhere — the figures were twice to four times as bad. The conclusion was chilling: “It is… unlikely that the deficits in lung function at the age of 17 years that has been found in a large number of schoolchildren of Delhi will be reversed as they complete the transition into adulthood.” - http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/landmark-study-lies-buried-how-delhis-poisonous-air-is-damaging-its-children-for-life/ IRREVERSIBLE Impaired lung function . we do not need to repeat the mistakes of the west. we are not... we have a life expectancy which is increasing at a much faster rate. There will always be downsides to quick growth..... nothing in life as a free lunch. For the record i do back CNG vehicles. By all means implement policies. But no matter what you do the environment in the near term is going to get worse.
Laaloo Posted June 1, 2015 Posted June 1, 2015 NRI's should think carefully before returning to India. India may be a great place to invest but the large metro cities may not be a great place to live and raise a family. there are many hidden costs that NRI's do not consider. why do you say that?
amiret Posted June 2, 2015 Author Posted June 2, 2015 why do you say that? The title of this thread. most middle aged & senior citizen NRI's i have encountered are now regretting their decision to return to India . They did not consider the hidden costs like terrible air pollution ,lax regulations, poor quality healthcare (in super deluxe Multi-billion $$ corporate hospitals ) ..etc.
Texan Posted June 2, 2015 Posted June 2, 2015 NRI's should think carefully before returning to India. India may be a great place to invest but the large metro cities may not be a great place to live and raise a family. there are many hidden costs that NRI's do not consider. +1 True
mishra Posted June 2, 2015 Posted June 2, 2015 The title of this thread. most middle aged & senior citizen NRI's i have encountered are now regretting their decision to return to India . They did not consider the hidden costs like terrible air pollution ,lax regulations, poor quality healthcare (in super deluxe Multi-billion $$ corporate hospitals ) ..etc. Whole family gets diarrhea within first week of landing to India. Most 15+ year(duration) NRIs generally start counting for return date the after first week in India. :giggle:
coffee_rules Posted June 2, 2015 Posted June 2, 2015 Whole family gets diarrhea within first week of landing to India. Most 15+ year(duration) NRIs generally start counting for return date the after first week in India. :giggle: That is because they stupidly eat in roadside stalls , pani puri, dhabas the next day they set foot in India. Because of nostalgia.
hhunaeh Posted June 2, 2015 Posted June 2, 2015 The maximum cause of concern should be for people living in india, not for nris who are here for a month or so. Nothing will happen to you in such a short period of time. It is better to keep this in mind and not fall for western propaganda which seems to have gone up a notch after the Chinese olympics and in the past one year.
Clarke Posted June 2, 2015 Posted June 2, 2015 Personally i don't see it as western propaganda. It is a very serious concern which demands immediate attention from our govts & municipal corporations as well as people but because of the nature of the issue (slow poison as opposed to instant murder), the chalta hai attitude takes over.
Clarke Posted June 2, 2015 Posted June 2, 2015 Whole family gets diarrhea within first week of landing to India. Most 15+ year(duration) NRIs generally start counting for return date the after first week in India. :giggle: Depends on the exp they might have .. if the don't have any rough phase, be it health/traffic/public apathy, they'll actually lecture on about how they are enjoying their time, nothing's wrong at all and can't understand what the fuss is all about. If only they tried a few months assignment in a metro city, aate daal ka bhav pata chal jata :giggle:
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