Jan Lokpal Bill (Citizen's ombudsman Bill)

There is so much corruption and Scams in the news nowadays, that we wake up in the morning hearing about them and go back to sleep watching them.
So you’ve heard all about the Jan lokpal bill and about Anna Hazare but are wondering what the whole fuss is about. Read more to know more the information I have collected.

Who is Anna Hazare?



Anna Hazare (full name: Kisan Bapat Baburao Hazare) is a soldier, alone survivor in his unit in the 1965 Indo-Pak war, Anna dedicated his life to the well being of the society. He is especially recognized for his contribution to the development of Ralegan Siddhi, a village in Parner taluka of Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra and his efforts for establishing it as a model village. He is a bachelor, with no possessions, no bank balance and lives in a temple. He has fasted on several earlier occasions to dismiss the corrupt ministers and officers.

What is the Jan Lokpal Bill ?

The Jan Lokpal Bill (Citizen's ombudsman Bill) is a draft anti-corruption bill drawn up by prominent civil society activists seeking the appointment of a Jan Lokpal, an independent body that would investigate corruption cases, complete the investigation within a year and envisages trial in the case getting over in the next one year.

Drafted by Justice Santosh Hegde (former Supreme Court Judge and former Lokayukta of Karnataka), Prashant Bhushan (Supreme Court Lawyer) and Arvind Kejriwal (RTI activist), the draft Bill envisages a system where a corrupt person found guilty would go to jail within two years of the complaint being made and his ill-gotten wealth being confiscated. It also seeks power to the Jan Lokpal to prosecute politicians and bureaucrats without government permission.

Retired IPS officer Kiran Bedi and other known people like Swami Agnivesh, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Anna Hazare and Mallika Sarabhai are also part of the movement, called India Against Corruption. Its website describes the movement as "an expression of collective anger of people of India against corruption. We have all come together to force/request/persuade/pressurize the Government to enact the Jan Lokpal Bill. We feel that if this Bill were enacted it would create an effective deterrence against corruption."

Anna Hazare, anti-corruption crusader, went on a fast-unto-death in April, demanding that this Bill, drafted by the civil society, be adopted. Four days into his fast, the government agreed to set up a joint committee with an equal number of members from the government and civil society side to draft the Lokpal Bill together. The two sides met several times but could not agree on fundamental elements like including the PM under the purview of the Lokpal. Eventually, both sides drafted their own version of the Bill.

The government has introduced its version in Parliament in this session. Team Anna is up in arms and calls the government version the "Joke Pal Bill." Anna Hazare went on another fast in Delhi on August 16. Hours before he was to begin his hunger strike, the Delhi Police detained and later arrested him. There are widespread protests all over the country against his arrest.  

He will again go on fast from December 27 if a strong Lokpal Bill is not enacted in the current session of Parliament.

Baba Ramdev is associated with his mission against corruption. His revolutionary six point agenda has been

· Withdrawal of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 currency notes so as to avoid misuse of unaccounted money and facilitate quick arrest of the entire locally circulated black money and bribing.
· India should agree to and accept the U.N. Convention against Corruption.
· Death penalty provision for the corrupt persons in Indian Penal Code.
· Access, monitor and disrupt payment gateway servers enabling corrupt people to manage money in tax heavens.
· Scrutinizing accounts of people having credit/debit cards of foreign banks without any foreign work/relation.
· Disabling operations of any bank from a tax heaven country.

In addition to the war against corruption, Baba Ramdev’s campaign involves the aim of ensuring 100% voting, complete nationalism, complete boycott of foreign companies adopting Swadeshi, unification of the people of India and ensuring complete healthy nation through yoga.

   
The website of the India Against Corruption movement calls the Lokpal Bill of the government an "eyewash" and has on it a critique of that government Bill.

A look at the salient features of Jan Lokpal Bill:

1. An institution called LOKPAL at the centre and LOKAYUKTA in each state will be set up

2. Like Supreme Court and Election Commission, they will be completely independent of the governments. No minister or bureaucrat will be able to influence their investigations.

3. Cases against corrupt people will not linger on for years anymore: Investigations in any case will have to be completed in one year. Trial should be completed in next one year so that the corrupt politician, officer or judge is sent to jail within two years.

4. The loss that a corrupt person caused to the government will be recovered at the time of conviction.

5. How will it help a common citizen: If any work of any citizen is not done in prescribed time in any government office, Lokpal will impose financial penalty on guilty officers, which will be given as compensation to the complainant.

6. So, you could approach Lokpal if your ration card or passport or voter card is not being made or if police is not registering your case or any other work is not being done in prescribed time. Lokpal will have to get it done in a month's time. You could also report any case of corruption to Lokpal like ration being siphoned off, poor quality roads been constructed or panchayat funds being siphoned off. Lokpal will have to complete its investigations in a year, trial will be over in next one year and the guilty will go to jail within two years.

7. But won't the government appoint corrupt and weak people as Lokpal members? That won't be possible because its members will be selected by judges, citizens and constitutional authorities and not by politicians, through a completely transparent and participatory process.

8. What if some officer in Lokpal becomes corrupt? The entire functioning of Lokpal/ Lokayukta will be completely transparent. Any complaint against any officer of Lokpal shall be investigated and the officer dismissed within two months.

9. What will happen to existing anti-corruption agencies? CVC, departmental vigilance and anti-corruption branch of CBI will be merged into Lokpal. Lokpal will have complete powers and machinery to independently investigate and prosecute any officer, judge or politician.

10. It will be the duty of the Lokpal to provide protection to those who are being victimized for raising their voice against corruption.

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/what-is-the-jan-lokpal-bill-why-its-important-96600&cp

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Survival Tips for Allergy Sufferers

Itchy eyes. Runny noses. Constant sneezing. If you have allergies, these misery-makers are a way of life. But you don’t have to suffer. Lifescript talked to top allergy specialist Maeve O'Connor, M.D., for survival tips and the best treatments. Plus, find out how hormones make allergies worse… 

Are your allergies seasonal? Is it Fluffy? Or your food? Whatever the source, one thing is the same: They’re uncomfortable – if not debilitating – to deal with. 

As many as 50 million of us suffer from allergic diseases, according to the American Academy of Allergies, Asthma and Immunology. Around 54% of Americans test positive for one or more allergens. 

What can you do to relieve the distress? We talked to Maeve O’Connor, M.D., a specialist in allergy, asthma and clinical immunology at the Carolina Allergy & Asthma Center in Charlotte, N.C., for the latest in the allergy wars.

What exactly are allergies?Think of your immune system in two parts: One fights infection; the other responds to perceived threats, like allergens. Many substances act as allergens, including foods, pet dander, mold, ragweed or pollen. You’re typically exposed through the environment, as a fetus or eating.

So what happens in an allergic reaction? The first time your body is exposed to an allergen, nothing happens. The next time it’s exposed, the body starts producing antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE). 

These antibodies circulate in the body, causing the release of histamines and other chemicals, such as leukotrines, which are immune mediators; they cause inflammation and allergy symptoms in the nose, lungs, throat, sinuses, ears, skin or stomach. 

Are women more prone to allergies than men?Actually, men and women are pretty evenly split when it comes to allergies. But hormones can make allergies more challenging for women. 

What effect do hormones have on allergies?It’s not the estrogen itself that can trigger symptoms, but changing estrogen levels can activate proteins that produce an inflammatory response, which exacerbates allergies.


These changes can occur during a woman’s menstrual cycle, perimenopause and menopause. Experts believe that nasal congestion often gets worse when estrogen levels rise. But there’s no way to predict how your allergies will change since women’s hormone levels vary.

Do these hormonal changes include pregnancy?During pregnancy, a third of women will notice that their symptoms get worse, a third will see an improvement, and a third will have no change.

More sinus congestion can also be caused by expanding blood vessels in the nose and increasing blood volume in pregnancy. 

Does stress affect allergies?Absolutely. Stress triggers the release of cortisol and other hormones, which can make you more sensitive to allergens. Recent studies have shown that even slight or moderate levels of anxiety and stress can worsen allergy symptoms. 

Stress affects the immune system, raising levels of immune mediators that heighten allergic response. So patients may require more medication during stressful times than at other times.

Stress also can exacerbate skin allergies, including hives and eczema, and cause unexplained itching. 

Are there other risk factors, like weight? Obesity doesn’t seem to worsen allergies. A family history of allergies is the biggest risk factor for developing them.

What health problems are linked to allergies?Women who have autoimmune diseases – Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis – are more likely to suffer from allergies. They’re all examples of immune system dysfunction. That’s why allergists and rheumatologists overlap a lot.

For example, hives can be caused by allergies, but also by autoimmune disease. I often diagnose autoimmune disease [even though] I’m seeing people for chronic hives. 

More people these days seem to have food allergies. Is that a reality? Yes. One study cites an 18% increase in the incidence of peanut allergies over the past 10 years. The question is, why?

Some people believe that the use of hand sanitizers, the overuse of antibiotics and too much time indoors is skewing our immune systems. We’ve become less capable of separating harmful substances from safe ones. As a result, we’re overly sensitive to potential allergens.

We also have better testing now. But we have a lot of false results. People who aren’t certified by the American Board of Allergy/Immunology are doing tests and possibly not interpreting the results properly.

That’s why it’s important to have allergies treated by someone who specializes in allergies and immunology.

Is global warming really causing more allergies?Studies suggest it is. As the earth has gotten warmer, the pollen season has been extended, which makes allergies last longer. And the longer warm seasons have increased the incidence of bug bite allergies because certain insects thrive in warm climates.

Also, the warmer climate is causing higher ozone levels, which increase allergy and asthma problems – especially for people sensitive to outdoor allergens like pollen.

This year has been especially bad. We’re having more pollen than ever. The pollen is so thick it’s acting like an irritant. It gets into the lungs and nasal cavity, creating symptoms.

I’ve even had non-allergic patients calling me complaining of coughing.

How can they get relief? Several ways: over-the-counter remedies, lifestyle strategies and prescription treatments, including shots.

Which over-the-counter remedies are best? Choosing the right one often requires trial and error. But these drugs aren’t without side effects, so talk to your doctor before using one. The drug you choose depends on your symptoms.

If you have seasonal allergies or hives, you might want to try an antihistamine such as cetirizine (Zyrtec), loratadine (Claritin) or diphenhydramine (Benadryl). These block the action of histamine [a substance produced by the body that causes an allergic reaction] and can stop the running nose, itchy eyes and sneezing.

 For a stuffy nose, you may want a decongestant such as pseudephedrine (Sudafed). These work by narrowing your blood vessels and reducing the amount of fluid that leaks into the nose’s lining. Decongestants are sometimes combined with antihistamines. 

But be wary of decongestants if you suffer from high blood pressure – they can boost it. And topical decongestants like Afrin shouldn’t be used for more than 3-4 days in a row; beyond that, they can worsen congestion.

For irritated, red or itchy eyes, I recommend eye drops specifically for allergies, such as ketotifen (Zaditor) and naphazoline (Naphcon A). But don’t [use] eye drops that remove the red – they won’t relieve the itch.

To get rid of red [eyes], [try] saline eye drops that don’t contain tetrahydrozolin – it’s a vasoconstricting chemical [that shrinks blood vessels]. Prolonged use can cause blood vessels to be dilated for an expanded period of time, which can cause a “rebound” effect that actually make redness worse.

When do you need a prescription drug? If OTC remedies don’t work or if side effects are intolerable. Severe allergies, for example, may require prescription antihistamines, drugs that modify inflammation-causing leukotrienes and/or nasal or systemic corticosteroids.

But again, tell your doctor about your other medications and health conditions. Certain allergy medications can’t be used by people who have high blood pressure or glaucoma – they may raise blood pressure (and pressure in the eye).

Are there any promising new drugs?There are a couple new antihistamine nose sprays called azelastine (Astepro) and olopatadine (Patanase) that work really well at relieving congestion. They [supply] antihistamine directly to the nasal passage.

There’s also a new Zyrtec derivative called levocetirizine hydrochloride (Xyzal). It’s less sedating than Zyrtec and is also FDA-approved for chronic hives.

If someone doesn’t want to use drugs, what natural remedies do you recommend? I like the neti pot, an ancient treatment that irrigates the sinuses with saline – it’s wonderful.

At first, many patients don’t like it, and it can be irritating. But after about a week, improvement in their nasal symptoms is obvious. They just need to stick with it.

 However, [using it] once a day is the maximum. If you notice any irritation, bleeding or drying, back off and only do it during the week, not weekends. 

Some people talk about echinacea or locally produced honey as a remedy. But the evidence on those is weak.

Of course, there’s the placebo effect: If you’re eating local honey and you notice an improvement in your allergies, then I say go for it.

The bottom line is, we need more studies on these homeopathic measures.

What lifestyle strategies or changes do you recommend? It depends on what’s setting off your allergies. If you suffer from dust mite allergies, I recommend vacuuming regularly and using dust mite encasements on mattresses and pillows. Women who travel a lot, for example, should always carry covers because hotel rooms are notorious for dust mites.

If outdoor allergens are the problem, don’t sleep with the window open or drive with the window down. Brush animals after they come inside. Wash your hair after spending time outdoors.

If you’re allergic to pet dander, try washing your pet more often – and ask someone else to do the job. Change the filters in your house regularly and never allow the animal to sleep in your bedroom.

When should someone consider allergy shots? If you’ve tried all the above measures and you’re still not getting relief, or you require multiple medications, call an allergy and immunology specialist. Shots are recommended if your allergy symptoms are really bad or if you have asthma.

[The shots are] a form of desensitization therapy, which dampens the immune response to an allergen. After 3-5 years, you can usually stop the shots and be completely symptom-free.

They’re about 85% effective at providing relief. Effectiveness depends on the severity of a person's allergies and the number of substances to which the person is allergic.

Patients taking shots are often able to stop their allergy medications or use them "as needed," instead of daily. Also, the shots have been proven to stop the "allergic march" in children – preventing allergic children from developing asthma.

 Isn’t there a treatment that doesn’t involve shots?

Like allergy shots, sublingual immunotherapy, or SLT, desensitizes you to allergens, but by putting liquid drops of the allergen under your tongue. SLT studies are promising but not complete. It hasn’t been approved by the FDA, but it’s being used in Europe with some success.

So far, SLT is considered less effective than shots. But it's a simpler treatment because patients can do it at home.

Both shots and SLT expose an allergic person to the allergen. Can someone do food exposure treatments at home?No. If you’re allergic to a food, it’s way too dangerous to do this yourself at home. Duke University has had promising results with food allergies in children, particularly peanut-allergic children. But these are tightly controlled studies with carefully administered dosages of peanuts.

There’s always a risk of death if you eat something you’re allergic to. Oral challenges should be performed in the office of an allergist who has been board-certified by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology. At this point, desensitization to food allergens is for research purposes only.

What’s Your Allergy IQ?
Ignorance may be bliss, but not when it comes to a stuffy, sneezy, scratchy problem like allergies. Maybe you suffer from seasonal allergies. Or perhaps the bed bugs really are biting. Do you know what’s making you itch? Find it out .

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Happy v/s Unhappy People

Unhappy People	Happy People
Wait for something to make them happy "Remember, happiness doesn't depend upon who you are or what you have, it depends solely upon what you think." ~ Dale Carnegie	Feel happy now, enjoy every moment of their life "I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it.” ~ Groucho Marx
Envy successful people “Envy is the art of counting the other fellow's blessings instead of your own.” ~ Harold Coffin	Admire great achievers and learn from them "A person who can create ideas worthy of note is a person who has learned much from others." ~ Konosuke Matsushita
Envy what others have "You can never get enough of what you don't need to make you happy." ~ Eric Hoffer	Enjoy what they have "A table, a chair, a bowl of fruit and a violin; what else does a man need to be happy?" ~ Albert Einstein
Feel undervalued, under-rewarded, and frustrated "The person who seeks all their applause from outside has their happiness in another's keeping." ~ Dale Carnegie	Self-confident, kind, and friendly "Lead the life that will make you kindly and friendly to everyone around you, and you will be surprised what a happy life you will lead." ~ Charles Schwab
Fear change  “It's the most unhappy people who most fear change.” ~ Mignon McLaughlin	Create positive change "Those only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happiness: on the happiness of others, on the improvement of mankind, even on some art or pursuit, followed not as a means, but as itself the ideal end. Aiming thus at something else, they find happiness by the way." ~ Norman R. Augustine
Self-focused, socially withdrawn, antagonistic "If there were in the world today any large number of people who desired their own happiness more than they desired the unhappiness of others, we could have a paradise in a few years." ~ Bertrand Russell	Compassionate, loving, sociable "If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion." ~ Dalai Lama
Hate their job "Work is the curse of the drinking classes." ~ Oscar Wilde	Love what they do "Success in its highest and noblest form calls for peace of mind and enjoyment and happiness which come only to the man who has foundthe work that he likes best." ~ Napoleon Hill
Brooding, vengeful "I've learned... That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you." ~ Andy Rooney	Understanding, forgiving "Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses.” ~ Confucius
Stressed "There is no stress in the world, only people thinking stressful thoughts and then acting on them." ~ Wayne Dyer	Creative, innovative "Happiness is a continuous creative activity." ~ Baba Amte
Negative Thinkers “There is only one cause of unhappiness: the false beliefs you have in your head, beliefs so widespread, so commonly held, that it never occurs to you to question them.” ~ Anthony de Mello	Positive Thinkers "The fact that there is always a positive side to life is the one thing that gives me a lot of happiness."  ~ Dalai Lama

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