The Horse 2020/21

Hey everyone !!

A survey on floods in Kerala was conducted on 11th May 2021 and click here to view the detailed results.

Hope you found our work interesting !! Looking forward to your comments.

Thank you !!

Team - Maya ma'am, Devanarayan, Vamika Giridhar, Johanna Christy, Ananya Reji

Greetings from Team Kerala

We have created a survey for understanding the popular opinion about the cause of floods in our state through SmartSurvey.

We will update you with the results of the survey by next week. 

Thank you

Team floods

- Maya Ma'am, Ananya Reji, Johanna Christy, Devanarayan, Vamika Giridhar

TEXTILE INDUSTRY

The Textile Industry is primarily concerned with the design, production and distribution of yarn, cloth and clothing. The raw material may be natural or synthetic using products of the chemical industry.

INTRODUCTION - INDIAN TEXTILE INDUSTRY

The Indian Textile Industry is one of the largest in the world with a large unmatched raw material base and manufacturing strength across the value chain. The industry includes extreme variety of both hand-spun and hand woven textile sectors and the capital-intensive sophisticated mills sector. The decentralized power looms / hosiery and knitting sector forms the largest component in the textiles sector. The formulation of policy, planning, development export promotion and regulation of the textile industry in India is administered under Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.

The Indian Textile Industry is considered among one of the leading textile industries in the world. It is divided into three segments, namely, cotton, synthetic and other textiles such as jute, wool and silk. Apart from providing the basic necessities in the life of Indian people, it plays a significant role in the country's economic growth.

Either directly or indirectly, it has been estimated that one of every six households in the country depends on the Indian Textile Industry for its livelihood. The strong roots of production of cotton yarns and ample skilled and unskilled workers and good export potential are the major characteristics of the Indian Textile Industry. This is a traditional, rich and well-established industry, enjoying considerable demand in the domestic as well as global markets.

The Textile Industry in India traditionally, after agriculture, is the only industry that has generated huge employment for both skilled and unskilled labor. The Textile Industry continues to be the second largest employment generating sector in India. It offers direct employment to over 35 million in the country. According to the Ministry of Textiles, the share of textiles in total exports during April-July 2010 was 11.04%. During 2009-2010, the Indian Textile Industry was pegged at US$ 55 billion, 64% of which services domestic demand. In 2010, there were 2500 textile weaving factories and 4135 textile finishing factories in all of India.

According to AT Kearney's 'Retail Apparel Index', India was ranked as the fourth most promising market for apparel retailers in 2009.

India is first in global jute production and shares 63% of the global textile and garment market. India is second in global textile manufacturing and also second in silk and cotton production. 100% FDI is allowed via automatic route in textile sector. Rieter, Trutzschler, Saurer, Soktas, Zambiati, Bilsar, Monti, CMT, E-land, Nisshinbo, Marks & Spencer, Zara, Promod, Bennetton, and Levi's are some of the foreign textile companies invested or working in India.  

The future of the Indian Textile Industry looks promising, buoyed by strong domestic consumption as well as export demand. With consumerism and disposable income on the rise, the retail sector has experienced a rapid growth in the past decade with the entry of several international players. High economic growth has resulted in higher disposable income. This has led to rise in demand for products creating a huge domestic market.

This's just a beginning .......

Looking forward to your comments.......

" Coming together is a beginning.......Keeping together is progress.......Working together is Success!! "

Team - Neethu.N.S. , Kashinath.U.S. , Isaac Lucious James & Sidharth.P.Nair 

Thank you!

Extreme events such as droughts, floods, heat waves, cold waves, devastating thunder clouds,
cloudbursts and intense cyclonic storms have been occurring frequently over the globe in
recent decades. Climate change is realized all over the world and is significantly altering
the structure and functioning of many ecosystems. Significant advances in the scientific
understanding of climate change now make it clear that there has been a change in climate
that goes beyond the range of natural variability.

An example of how devastating climate change can be is the floods in Kerala for the past three years.
Kerala is a state of India located towards the south. It is geographically bordered by the Western Ghats
which is a chain of mountains that contribute to its hot and humid climate.                                            

The first floods happened in 2018,an unexpected disaster for which nobody was prepared for. Monsoon, as the rainy season is called, usually takes place in the months of June, July and august. It was unusual feat of how Kerala received more rain than it ever received, exactly 42% more!!!. In three months, Kerala received almost all the rain that it receives
in a year. Kerala has a lot of backwaters and rivers which receives its water from the dams. The monsoon rain resulted
in rapid filling up of dams and overflowing river shores thereby flooding whole cities, disrupting social life.

                                                  
The season ended up racking 483 deaths and many injured both physically and mentally from the lose of homes and
loved ones. Almost one million people were displaced. This happened again in 2019 with the same magnitude
but resulted in less casualties and also once more in 2020, during the pandemic. But didn't cause too many casualties
because of warnings from the IMD (Indian Meteorology Department).

Several climate experts had predicted that floods would recur in a five-year interval instead of the historical 100 years.
But in Kerala, it is occurring for the third consecutive year. A study, later conducted on the repetitive flooding, revealed
the role of climate change. In this study, they used high-resolution WRF(Weather Research and Forecasting) and the WRF-Hydro simulations to explore the major factors behind the Kerala floods of August 2018. They also simulated the floods under pre-industrial and RCP8.5 background states to determine the effects of past and future climate change. The results
lead to increasing global warming causing deep depressions to form rapidly over the sea and due to the monsoon season
lining up with this anomaly increased the precipitation rate by 50% and thereby the floods. They also brought a future study
of how much devastating these floods can be. According to the study, if they were to happen again in a future climate
(RCP8.5) scenario at the end of this century, the effect of increased tropical humidity would far outweigh the
weakened depressions, likely resulting in a significantly more catastrophic scenario.

We look forward to your comments.

Thank You

-Team Maya Ma'am, Devanarayan, Ananya Reji, Vamika Giridhar, Johanna Christy.

Links to all the images in this post.

Image 1-https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/DD-COMPOSITE-KERELA.jpg

Image 2-https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DlHCiQ2XsAEVynR.jpg

Image 3-https://static.india.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Monsoon.jpg

Image 4-https://kj1bcdn.b-cdn.net/media/22791/kerala-flood.png

Image 5-https://www.dailyhawker.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Monsoon-Flood-in-Kerala.jpg

Image 6-https://static.theprint.in/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/2018_8img18_Aug_2018_PTI8_18_2018_000150B-e1534663058424.jpg

Ficus religiosa or sacred fig is a species of fig native to the Indian subcontinent and Indochina  that belongs to Moraceae, the fig or mulberry family. It is also known as the bodhi tree,pippala tree, peepul tree, peepal tree or ashwattha tree (in India and Nepal).The sacred fig is considered to have a religious significance in three major religions that originated on the Indian subcontinent, Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Hindu and Jain ascetics consider the tree to be sacred and often meditate under them. This is the tree under which Gautama Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment. The sacred fig is the state tree of the Indian states of Odisha and Haryana.

Ficus religiosa is a large dry season-deciduous or semi-evergreen tree up to 30 metres (98 ft) tall and with a trunk diameter of up to 3 metres (9.8 ft). The leaves are cordate in shape with a distinctive extended drip tip; they are 10–17 centimetres (3.9–6.7 in) long and 8–12 centimetres (3.1–4.7 in) broad, with a 6–10 centimetres (2.4–3.9 in) petiole. The fruits are small figs 1–1.5 centimetres (0.39–0.59 in) in diameter, green ripening to purple.

Ficus religiosa is native to most of the Indian subcontinent – Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and India including the Assam region, Eastern Himalaya and the Nicobar Islands, as well as part of Indochina – the Andaman Islands, Myanmar and Peninsular Malaysia. It has been widely introduced elsewhere, particularly in the rest of tropical Asia, but also in Iran, Florida and Venezuela.

Ficus religiosa suitably grows at altitudes ranging from 10 metres (33 ft) up to 1,520 metres (4,990 ft). Due to the climatic conditions which are prevalent throughout different heat zones, it can grow at latitudes ranging from 30°N to 5°S. It can tolerate air temperatures ranging between 0 °C (32 °F) to 35 °C (95 °F), beyond this upper limit its growth diminishes. It grows on a wide variety of soils but preferably needs deep, alluvial sandy loam with good drainage. It is also found on shallow soils including rock crevices

Environmental benefits of Peepal Trees

Ecologically, Peepal Tree provides ample Oxygen, purifies the surrounding, kills harmful bacteria, control soil erosion, improve soil structure and its fertility, it is also dust and sound absorbent. Worshipping trees implies that trees too are a part of the cosmos like us and are serving earth selflessly.

Benefits and Uses of Peepal Tree
For Asthma. The bark of the Peepal plant and its ripe fruits are helpful for treating asthma.
For poor appetite. 
For stomach pain. 
For eczema and itching. 
For a brighter complexion. 
For cracked heels. 
For toothache. 
For eye pain. 

Botanical name : Phyllanthus emblica

Botanical description :The tree is small to medium in size in height. It is deciduous. The leaves are simple, light green, resembling pinnate leaves. The flowers are greenish-yellow.

 The fruit is nearly spherical, light greenish-yellow, quite smooth and hard on appearance, with six vertical stripes or furrows. The taste of Indian gooseberry is sour, bitter and astringent, and it is quite fibrous.

Chemical constituents : It consists of  phytochemical constituents like tannins, alkaloids, polyphenols, vitamins and minerals. It also contains gallic acid, ellagic acid, emblicanin A & B, phyllemblin, quercetin and ascorbic acid.

Uses in traditional medicine :Indian gooseberry is most commonly used for abnormal levels of cholesterol or blood fats (dyslipidemia), and persistent heartburn. 

Indian gooseberry also works by reducing total cholesterol levels, including the fatty acids called triglycerides, without affecting levels of the "good cholesterol" called high-density lipoprotein (HDL).

The soluble fiber in gooseberries dissolves quickly in the body, which helps to slow the rate your body absorbs sugar. This can help reduce blood sugar spikes. Gooseberries also have a positive effect on blood glucose and lipid counts in people with type 2 diabetes.

It is also rich in Vitamin A, which helps in improving eye health

It also has the following benefits

 1)Improves Immunity

 2)Respiratory Health

 3)Improve Digestion 

 4)Skin Care

iphala is a combination of three herbs -Haritaki, Bibhitaki and Amalaki. It is used in the traditional Indian system of medicine.

Triphala is most commonly known for its use as a gentle bowel tonic, being helpful in digestion, and supporting regular bowel movements. The combination of the three fruits has a synergistic effect to bolster many other systems as well.

Amalaki (Emblica Officinalis): It supports the natural functions of the liver and the immune system.

Bibhitaki (Terminalia belerica): This is particularly good for Phlegm, supporting the respiratory system as well as Phlegm accumulations in all systems.

Haritaki (Terminalia chebula): Is known for its “scraping” effect, which removes toxins and helps maintain healthy levels of weight

Triphala also contains powerful anti-inflammatory compounds that may help protect against certain cancers and other chronic diseases.

Triphala strengthens the eye muscles which in turn improves the eyesight. Its anti-inflammatory properties reduce the strain on the blood vessels and help to control high blood pressure.

Uses

Weight Loss

Dental Issues

Cataracts

Helps indigestion

Please note: How to insert an image or photo

TULSI

Tulsi, Tulasi or Vrinda (Holy Basil) is a sacred plant in Hindu belief. Hindus regard it as an earthly manifestation of the goddess Tulsi; she is regarded as the avatar of Lakshmi, and thus the consort of the god Vishnu. In other legends, she is called Vrinda and distinct from Lakshmi. In the story, she married Jalandhara. The offering of its leaves is mandatory in ritualistic worship of Vishnu and his avatars like Krishna and Vithoba.

Many Hindus have tulsi plants growing in front of or near their home, often in special pots or a special masonry structure known as Tulsi Vrindavan as this is related to their culture. Traditionally, Tulsi is planted in the center of the central courtyard of Hindu houses. The plant is cultivated for religious purposes, and for its essential oil.

Tulsi Medicinal Uses & Benefits
Promotes Healthy Heart. Holy basil contains vitamin C and antioxidants such as eugenol, which protects the heart from the harmful effects of free radicals. ...
Anti-aging. ...
Treats Kidney Stones. ...
Relieves Headaches. ...
Fights Acne. ...
Relives Fever. ...
Eye Health. ...
Oral Health.

[Tech-Nick note: Please upload your pictures into the media library first and use it from there (folder "Team Christ", thx!] 

CARDOMOM 

Cardamom (/ˈkɑːrdəməm/), sometimes cardamon or cardamum, is a spice made from the seeds of several plants in the genera Elettaria and Amomum in the family Zingiberaceae. Both genera are native to the Indian subcontinent and Indonesia. They are recognized by their small seed pods: triangular in cross-section and spindle-shaped, with a thin, papery outer shell and small, black seeds; Elettaria pods are light green and smaller, while Amomum pods are larger and dark brown.

Species used for cardamom are native throughout tropical and subtropical Asia. The first references to cardamom are found in Sumer, and in the Ayurvedic literatures of India. Nowadays it is also cultivated in Guatemala, Malaysia, and Tanzania. The German coffee planter Oscar Majus Klöffer introduced Indian cardamom to cultivation in Guatemala before World War I; by 2000, that country had become the biggest producer and exporter of cardamom in the world, followed by India.

Uses
Both forms of cardamom are used as flavourings and cooking spices in both food and drink, and as a medicine. E. cardamomum (green cardamom) is used as a spice, a masticatory, and in medicine; it is also smoked

Food and beverage

Besides use as flavourant and spice in foods, cardamom-flavoured tea, also flavoured with cinnamon, is consumed as a hot beverage in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan.
Cardamom has a strong, unique taste, with an intensely aromatic, resinous fragrance. Black cardamom has a distinctly more smoky, though not bitter, aroma, with a coolness some consider similar to mint.

Green cardamom is one of the most expensive spices by weight but little is needed to impart flavour. It is best stored in the pod, as exposed or ground seeds quickly lose their flavour. Grinding the pods and seeds together lowers both the quality and the price. For recipes requiring whole cardamom pods, a generally accepted equivalent is 10 pods equals ​1 1⁄2 teaspoons of ground cardamom.

It is a common ingredient in Indian cooking. It is also often used in baking in the Nordic countries, in particular in Sweden, Norway, and Finland, where it is used in traditional treats such as the Scandinavian Yule bread Julekake, the Swedish kardemummabullar sweet bun, and Finnish sweet bread pulla. In the Middle East, green cardamom powder is used as a spice for sweet dishes, as well as traditional flavouring in coffee and tea. Cardamom is used to a wide extent in savoury dishes. In some Middle Eastern countries, coffee and cardamom are often ground in a wooden mortar, a mihbaj, and cooked together in a skillet, a mehmas, over wood or gas, to produce mixtures as much as 40% cardamom.

In Asia, both types of cardamom are widely used in both sweet and savory dishes, particularly in the south. Both are frequent components in spice mixes, such as Indian and Nepali masalas and Thai curry pastes. Green cardamom is often used in traditional Indian sweets and in masala chai (spiced tea). Both are also often used as a garnish in basmati rice and other dishes. Individual seeds are sometimes chewed and used in much the same way as chewing gum. It is used by confectionery giant Wrigley; its Eclipse Breeze Exotic Mint packaging indicates the product contains "cardamom to neutralize the toughest breath odors". It is also included in aromatic bitters, gin, and herbal teas.

CINNAMON

Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several tree species from the genus Cinnamomum. Cinnamon is used mainly as an aromatic condiment and flavouring additive in a wide variety of cuisines, sweet and savoury dishes, breakfast cereals, snackfoods, tea and traditional foods. The aroma and flavour of cinnamon derive from its essential oil and principal component, cinnamaldehyde, as well as numerous other constituents including eugenol.

Cinnamomum verum, from Koehler's Medicinal-Plants (1887)

Close-up view of raw cinnamon
Cinnamon is the name for several species of trees and the commercial spice products that some of them produce. All are members of the genus Cinnamomum in the family Lauraceae. Only a few Cinnamomum species are grown commercially for spice. Cinnamomum verum is sometimes considered to be "true cinnamon", but most cinnamon in international commerce is derived from the related species Cinnamomum cassia, also referred to as "cassia". In 2018, Indonesia and China produced 70% of the world's supply of cinnamon, Indonesia producing nearly 40% and China 30%

The English word "cinnamon", attested in English since the fifteenth century, derives from κιννάμωμον ('kinnámōmon', later 'kínnamon'), via Latin and medieval French intermediate forms. The Greek was borrowed from a Phoenician word, which was similar to the related Hebrew word קינמון ('qinnāmōn').

The name "cassia", first recorded in late Old English from Latin, ultimately derives from the Hebrew word q'tsīʿāh, a form of the verb qātsaʿ, 'to strip off bark'.

Early Modern English also used the names canel and canella, similar to the current names of cinnamon in several other European languages, which are derived from the Latin word cannella, a diminutive of canna, 'tube', from the way the bark curls up as it dries.

Cinnamon bark is used as a spice. It is principally employed in cookery as a condiment and flavouring material. It is used in the preparation of chocolate, especially in Mexico. Cinnamon is often used in savoury dishes of chicken and lamb. In the United States and Europe, cinnamon and sugar are often used to flavour cereals, bread-based dishes, such as toast, and fruits, especially apples; a cinnamon and sugar mixture (cinnamon sugar) is sold separately for such purposes. It is also used in Portuguese and Turkish cuisine for both sweet and savoury dishes. Cinnamon can also be used in pickling and Christmas drinks such as eggnog. Cinnamon powder has long been an important spice in enhancing the flavour of Persian cuisine, used in a variety of thick soups, drinks, and sweets.

Cinnamon Is High in a Substance With Powerful Medicinal Properties. ...
Cinnamon Is Loaded With Antioxidants. ...
Cinnamon Has Anti-Inflammatory Properties. ...
Cinnamon May Cut the Risk of Heart Disease. ...
Cinnamon Can Improve Sensitivity to the Hormone Insulin. ...
Cinnamon Lowers Blood Sugar Levels and Has a Powerful Anti-Diabetic Effect.

Greetings to all, this is to inform you all that we are collaborating with Anabel and Karla from Zurich and will be comparing the different types of medicinal plants and their benefits. A Whatsapp group has been formed for effective and efficient communication. Thank you so much Anabel and Karla for offering the collaboration! We are also welcoming more teams, anyone who is interested, can collaborate with us for the same
Thanking you,
- Aaron, Tanya, Jyothilakhshmi & Abhishek

"Water is life and clean water means health." - Audrey Hepburn