Physical education in Schools has many health benefits-Dr.K.Govindaraju

SEVAI Shanthi Higher Secondary school physical education classes

Physical education has long been a staple in schools and beyond, with all students required to participate in some form of physical education. Physical education provides children with an opportunity to exercise during the day. It gives children early exposure to team sports, and promotes good physical fitness.  Children who participate in physical education get a workout, and they also learn the importance of exercise as a lifelong habit. Physical education is clearly an important course in schools, with many benefits for children. In addition to helping kids learn healthy habits, physical education can also increase learning by getting the blood flowing and increasing oxygen levels, which promote concentration. Physical education is extremely important and should be protected in schools. Children who take PE classes at school may also be able to use those classes as a springboard to become interested in joining a team sport. Sports increase the awareness of health and the need to take care of the body. Sports also give kids a positive outlook. Children must have a healthy body, spirit and mind and physical health does not only mean without having any disease but also having a body that is flexible, coordinated and strong. Children who are in between three to four years old maybe physically healthy but as they grow older and spend hours just sitting in their class with their schoolwork, they tend to be unhealthy and inactive due to lack of physical activity. Physical education is necessary because it is a fact that there is an increasing health risks involved because of being overweight and inactive. Why physical education is important is a question a lot of people ask and it is vital to know that physical education plays an important role in the overall well-being of a child. It is because of the fact that physical education can help children improve their physical fitness and nurture positive attitudes. Physical education can provide children different skills that they can enjoy and help them know the importance of exercise as well as the association between physical health and overall well-being. Physical education has many health benefits and one of these is its effect on physical fitness including cardiovascular stamina, flexibility, coordination and strength. Physical education can also improve the mood and increase attention of children. In addition, children can learn teamwork, sportsmanship and tolerance for others. They can also be exposed to different kinds of physical activities such as running, swimming, gymnastics and other sports that can benefit them in the future.-Govin

Rain water harvesting in Coastal Sand Dunes of Poompuhar by SEVAI

Rain water harvesting sand dunes in coastal Poompuhar by SEVAI-Lost in tsunami

At the most basic level, dunes are simply piles of sand. Sand dunes are present on shorelines where fine sediment is transported landward by a combination of wind and waves, and stabilized with vegetation such as Native Dune Grass. Dunes undoubtedly are one of the most well-known features of sandy beaches, yet they are also misunderstood and abused. Dunes can help protect coastal property from the destructive forces of storm surges and tsunamis, but human activities have had severe impacts on coastal sand dunes. Coastal sand dunes serve a more important purpose than beauty. Dunes act as flexible barriers to ocean storm surges and waves, protect low-lying backshore areas, and help preserve the integrity of low barrier islands. With proper planning and management, their functions may be enhanced. Dune sand is relatively low in plant nutrients, and dune plants are adapted to this condition. However, small amounts of nutrients, primarily nitrogen and phosphorus, supplied by commercial fertilizers, are useful for promoting rapid establishment of trans- plants and encouraging existing vegetation. Fertilizer may also be needed for periodic maintenance. Other plant nutrients are normally supplied from the soil or salt spray.Sand dunes are found at Poompuhar and Keelamoovarkarai coastal areas of Nagapatinam District.  This sand dune system is quite small, less than 2.5 hectares, and has been substantially impacted by human use. However, these dunes do still provide plant and are worthy of protecting and restoring. Dunes are formed when wind and waves transport sand onto the beach. The ultimate source of the sand is often glacial till those resides offshore, or is eroded from nearby cliffs by waves, and transported along the shoreline by long shore currents.Waves wash this sand up on the beach, and also remove it during storms. The shape and size of dunes formed depends on the shape of the beach. In Poompuhar and Melamoovarkarai Thennampattinam coastal belt of Nagapatinam District SEVAI has constructed water harvesting tanks in the sand dune areas and it collected rain water and the water was used for domestic purposes. In 2004 tsunami, the Poompuhar tank was devastated and the sand dunes were bulldozed.-Govin

‘Special livestock protection camps in Pettavaithalai launched b y Minister N.R.Sivapathy’.

Minister N.R.Sivapathy administer Vaccination

As per the instructions of Tamilnadu Chief Minister Ms.J.Jayalaithaa, State government is conducting special livestock protection camps in different parts of Tamilnadu and in Trichy district,205 such livestock protection camps will be conducted. The Animal Husbandry Minister N.R.Sivapathy inaugurated the cattle protection camp at Pettavaithalai on Sunday. 28th August 2011. It was understood the scheme was to extend veterinary services to interior areas through mobile veterinary clinics, Certain essential veterinary activities such as vaccination against diseases attacking cattle and poultry, pregnancy test, artificial insemination, de-worming, castration, specimen testing and treatment for infertility would be conducted at the camps with the help of veterinary assistant surgeons. Cattles in the camp were being treated to guard against foot and mouth disease while poultry birds were being vaccinated for Ranikhet disease. Sheep and goats were being administered vaccines for Anthrax disease. Livestock protection services were given to 1152 cattle, 453 goats and sheep, 186 chicks and six dogs.  Collector Jayashree Muralidharan, Trichy MLA, Manoharan, Former MLA M.Paramjothi, Block Secretary Pettavaithlai Alagesan and others accompanied the Minister. –Govin

Head-Loads weaken neck muscles.

Women labourers with head loads of paddy nursery

The women carry heavy load on their head.   People living in the farms are accustomed to carry things like food and firewood back to their homes. The mothers carry their babies strapped onto their backs as well as carrying huge loads on their heads. With most load-bearing methods, the heavier the weight, the more energy we need to burn to carry it. Carrying relatively heavy loads is still a regular activity for many women in the rural Tamilnadu. Rural women regularly work in Agriculture operations carry paddy nursery, bananas etc by  head-loads, most often also to transport essential items such as water and firewood. Mostly women are seen carrying items on their heads, while men usually carry loads on their shoulders. As one can imagine, head-supported loads are inheritantly unstable and they need well-developed neck muscles to support the spinal loading. Bodyweight with no additional energy exertion on level ground and that any load above 20% of their body weight incurs a proportional energy cost. For example, carrying 30% of body mass requires a 10% increase in energy - the 'free ride' hypothesis. With heavier loads, the energy increase was only half that of men carrying the same loads on their backs. The neck (cervical spine) is composed of vertebrae that begin in the upper torso and end at the base of the skull. The bony vertebrae along with the ligaments provide stability to the spine. The muscles allow for support and motion. The neck has a significant amount of motion and supports the weight of the head. However, because it is less protected than the rest of the spine, the neck can be vulnerable to injury and disorders that produce pain and restrict motion. For untrained controls that have not had years to strengthen the right muscles and build up spinal bone density, carrying things on their head actually requires more energy than using a backpack. -Govin

Environment Awareness should be coupled with action-oriented environmental education-Dr.K.Govindaraju.

Dr.K.Govindaraju speaks on Environmental Education

“Environment Awareness should be coupled with action-oriented environmental education program in Schools as designed to develop students and staff as environmental stewards” said Dr.K.Govindaraju, Chairman of South Zone Board of Continuing Education in his key note address delivered in a seminar on ‘Environmental Implications of Hazardous Heavy Metals and improper Waste Management’ organized by Environ Solutions on Wednesday, the 24^th August at DWFC Conference Hall. Dr.K.Govindaraju further said, “The unique feature of the program Environment Awareness should be accounting for its success is its delivery strategies, which include a focus on partnerships between schools and facilities, on pupils as action-oriented adolescents and a shared goal to encourage energy savings and conservation with focused themes such as: Energy - efficiency in how we use electricity, gas and oil, Waste - recycling is good, reduction is great, Water - identify waste and act on it. The schools are to address these themes as the greatest opportunity to develop students and staff as environmental stewards. Turning off lights and computers and reducing waste have a huge impact on the environment.  Students, teachers’ facilities managers, administrators need to get involved with the Environmental Education and awareness building for the school and their respective village communities. The schools are to develop, coordinate and conducta number of educational programmes for school children, in both formal and non-formal streams of education. To this end, on the one hand, it trains teachers, develops materials for Environment Awareness, and assists other groups in developing such materials. On the other hand, it endeavours to bring a hands-on, field-based, dimension to school education through opportunities offered by governmental and non-governmental initiatives such as the National Green Corps, eco-clubs, camping, education in and around Protected Areas, etc.Effective implementation of environmental management and conservation programmes depends on education, awareness raising and training in the relevant areas. The 'Environmental Education, Awareness and Training' is an important scheme for enhancing the understanding of people at all levels about the relationship between human beings and the environment and to develop capabilities/skills to improve and protect the environment’”. Earlier Dr.Arun Senthil Ram, Director-Environ solutions enlightened the seminar the seminar theme.Shri.R.Ramachandran, Member Secreatay,Tamilnadu Pollution control Board delivered the inaugural address of the seminar and said the electronic waste is major hazard and it should be tackled carefully. Shri.R.Ramachandran, said “Unfortunately, electronic discards is one of the fastest growing segments of our nation's waste stream”. -Govin