KIDS WITH CELEBRAL PALSY TAKE TO YOGA : The Rama Krishna Mission has been running a clinic for children suffering from cerebral palsy and other disorders for the last 25 years and over the last one decade yoga therapy has become an important component in the treatment for the 60 children undergoing treatment in the clinic. "Swami Guneshanadaji Maharaj is in-charge of the clinic. Over the last few years he has ensured that yoga therapy is implemented in a scientific manner so that special children suffering from various conditions are benefited," said B Indira, head physiotherapist at the clinic. The asanas taught to the children are Padmasana, Sethupadmasana, Dhanurasana, Thadasana, Bhujagasana, Vrikshasana, Gyana Sirasana and Padahastasana Padmasana, said K Sri Lakshmi, a volunteer who teachers yoga to the children. She noted that yoga performed with physical support to some extent removes issues concerning imbalance. Regarding the psychological advantages of yoga therapy, noted psychiatrist Dr C Radhakanth said, "Most special children have an issue with their mental and cerebral abilities. In such a scenario, yoga helps them focus, concentrate, breathe easy and relax. The movements help pump more blood to the brain in a concentrated way and works on their ability to focus." Indira said, "In case of cerebral palsy, the children suffer from poor coordination. Hence, asanas are used to improve the child''s flexibility, but obviously they are not performed in the orthodox manner." Dr V Sunitha who volunteers at the clinic as a general paediatrician, however, said yoga does not function as a standalone therapy. "You must understand that yoga strengthens the body and combines well with other therapies and brings about major improvements from a physiological point of view. However, yoga is not a standalone therapy." Dr V Ravi Chandra , the orthopedician who volunteers at the clinic, said, "In the case of cerebral palsy, nerve conduction lines are disrupted and yoga improves this condition. That is the neurological benefit. More over, it strengthens muscles, tendons and gives them a greater sense of balance. However, it does not completely alleviate the condition.

FIVE SUSPECTED ANTHRAX CASES ADMITTED TO KGH : Five suspected cases of cutaneous Anthrax has been reported at KGH. The patients, belonging to Kodigunjuvalasa of Araku Valley mandal, were brought to the hospital on Saturday night and on suspecting Anthrax infection were shifted to the dermatology department on Sunday. KGH civil surgeon resident medical officer (CSRMO) Dr KSLG Sastry said, "These are suspected cases, confirmatory tests have been done and we are awaiting reports from the microbiology lab of Andhra Medical College. Antibiotics and required treatment are being administered to the patients." According to KGH doctors, the patients - all males between 35 and 40 years of age - are now stable. "Contamination with dead, infected cattle is likely to have led to infection, which is caused by bacillus bacteria. However, the ulcers on the skin is curable if diagnosed and treated early," said a KGH doctor. According to the medical and health department, almost every year, Anthrax cases are reported from areas such as Chintapalli, Munchingput and Araku.

YOUNG LEADERS DISCUSS GLOBAL ISSUES : B. Ninad, a second year B.Tech student of Gitam University, elaborated how effective economic policy and accountable political set-up impact the country''s development. Gaurav Prakash, a class VIII student of Visakha Valley School, impressed the packed audience with his knowledge of foreign policy and means to promote world peace. The two-day Young Leaders International Model United Nations (YLIMUN), organised by the Young Leaders Advancement Association, threw its doors open on Saturday to delegates from other parts of India, the United Arab Emirates, France, and Aruba to debate on various topics, chart out an action plan to address global issues and devise ways to strengthen the U.N. peacekeeping operations. Protracted conflicts in GUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova) area and their implications for international peace, security and development, tackling the prevalence of violent extremism in the African subcontinent with special emphasis on North Africa and protection of the right to privacy with regard to the internet and information technology formed a part of the topics discussed by over 200 delegates from the four councils - United Nations Security Council, U.N. Human Rights Council, U.N. General Assembly and Continuous Crisis Committee. Students from a number of schools and colleges across the globe considered the maiden edition of the association an opportunity to convey their views while debating on international politics. Suraj Dutta, grade IX student of Cambridge International School, Abu Dhabi, said he was quite excited to fly down to Visakhapatnam all the way from the UAE to participate in the MUN during his vacation. "This kind of conference will give a new exposure to aspiring leaders and heighten their knowledge on external affairs and that''s the reason I wanted to utilise the opportunity," he said. Suraj Dutta, who had earlier attended MUNs held in Abu Dhabi, Boston and Singapore, said he was floored by the port city''s striking landscape and sumptuous food. YLIMUN coordinator Aayush Vikram Somani said a number of students from the city attended the conference which also aims at promoting the United Nation''s ''HeForShe'' campaign.

AIR OF FESTIVITY : An air of festivity pervaded at Ukkunagaram, the township of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant as it was reverberated with the chanting of Jai Jagannath. CMD P. Madhusudan, his wife Gowri Annapurna, offered special prayers. Sporting traditional costumes, Mr. Madhusudan performed ''Chera pahara'' with a golden broom. Music from mridang, cymbals and conches brought festival atmosphere at Ukkunagaram. RINL Directors P.C. Mohapatra, D.N. Rao, P. Raychaudhury, K.C. Das and others offered prayers. The evening was vibrant with colourful cultural programmes, Sambalpuri folk dance and Odissi dance. Sri Chaitanya Math members took out the chariot amid dances by cultural troupes all along beach road from the Zilla Parishad junction. International Society for Krishna Consciousness took out the yatra in a collapsible canopy from VUDA Park to YMCA, RK Beach and Viswapriya Function Hall amid bhajans, kirtans, nadaswaram and kolatam and distribution of prasadam to the devotees.

FERVOUR MARKS RATH YATRA : Religious fervour marked the pulling of colourfully decorated chariots as part of the annual rath yatra also known as car festival by various organisations in the city on Sunday. Being a holiday, people in large numbers pulled the chariot at the ceremonial procession of Lord Jagannath, His Brother Lord Balabhadra and Sister Devi Subhadra. They go on an annual sojourn to their aunt''s place known as Gundicha Ghar. The return rath yatra named Bahuda will be organised on the ninth day after end of the sojourn during which Lord Jagannath will don several avatars. The deities were brought out from the main temples and pulled in the streets to enable people to have a darshan. Chanting Haribol and Jai Jagannath, they enthusiastic crowds danced to the accompaniment of the beat of the cymbals and drums. The surging crowds pulled the wooden chariot draped in multi-coloured cloth amid tight security. The climate remained cloudy with occasional showers. Chera pahara:''Chera pahara'', a ceremonial ritual of sweeping the floor with a broom was performed by Lal Saheb Pramod Bhanja Deb belonging to the erstwhile Daspalla royal family at the rath yatra organised by Utkal Sanskrutika Samaj. The same ritual was also performed at other places in the city before the commencement of the nine-day festival to convey the message that all are equal before the almighty whether one is a king or an aam aadmi. "For Odias as well as others who believe in Jagannath culture, rath yatra is a very big festival and everyone loves to wait for participating in the festival with pomp and gaiety," Utkal Sanskrutika Samaj president J.K. Nayak and secretary P.K. Biswal said. The people of Old Town thronged the rath yatra celebrations by the Jagannadha Swamy Temple near Town Kotha Road. The chariot was taken to the Turner''s Choultry by the enthusiastic crowds. The ''Chera pahara'' ritual was performed by Visakha South MLA Vasupalli Ganesh Kumar and Visakha West MLA P.G.V.R. Naidu in the presence of Endowment Deputy Commissioner N.V.S.N. Murthy, Executive Officer Bandaru Prasad and festival officer B. Prasad Rao Patnaik.

ALCOHOLISM AND OBESITY, THE NEW CAUSES FOR LIVER DISEASE IN VISAKHAPATNAM : In what comes as a shock, alcoholism and obesity have reportedly replaced Hepatitis A and B as the major reason for liver diseases in the north coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh. The gastroenterology department of the state run King George Hospital that caters to patients from all the three north coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh including Vizag highlighted on this matter. The KGH officials stated that a decade ago, Hepatitis A and B were the major causes for liver diseases and in the last few years there has been an increase between the number of alcoholism and obesity related liver diseases. This change has been imputed to unusual eating habits and life styles The head of the department of gastroenterology, King George Hospital, Andhra Medical College, Dr. LRS Girinadh reportedly stated that people are not aware about the liver conditions, as few decades ago the life style related to liver cases like non-alcoholic steatohepatitis were diagnosed and treated as cryptogenic liver diseases without doubting the underlying cause of the disease. Now certainly things have changed, when it comes to liver related morbidity or mortality, both obesity and alcoholism increase the prevalence of liver conditions, said Dr. Girinadh. He further on added that almost 40 percent of the liver cases at the gastroenterology were related with obesity and alcoholism. He also explained that this was not the case a decade ago, there should be awareness raised about liver diseases as this could be the next major illness threat. He also proposed to establish a surgical gastroenterology department at KGH, which could help in conductiong complex resections and procedures like Whipple procedure, liver and pancreas research, liver transplant among others.Dr. G. Arjuna the superintendent of King George Hospital said that the proposal is seriously taken into consideration.

CITY OF DESTINY ALL SET FOR GST ROLLOUT : The Visakhapatnam division of commercial taxes has achieved the highest dealer migration from present VAT (Value Added Tax) to Goods and Services Tax (GST) with 90% of the dealers already migrating to GST with a week to go for the launch of the new tax form from July 1. Of the 27,433 dealers in Visakhapatnam division, 24,703 have already logged on to the GST network and only 2,730 are yet to login to the new network, Deputy Commissioner of Commercial Taxes K. Nagendra told the media here on Sunday. He attributed the high migration of dealers to the continuous efforts of the officials, who were constantly pursuing the issue with the individual dealers and helping them in switching over to the new system. The department opened two ''Help desks'' with computers in each of the eight circles to assist the dealers in the migration process. He said GST registration was Permanent Account Number (PAN) - based unlike in the past. There were errors in the names of the dealer or the establishment in some of the PAN cards. Window opened again:The Deputy Commissioner said there was no cause for worry among the dealers, who have not migrated to the new system so far. The GST enrolment window was opened once again from June 25 and they could login in to the GST network and register their details. The login IDs would be sent to the e-mails of the dealers. The first step would be to login and upload the documents with their digital signature. Once they get the Application Reference Number (ARN), they could download provisional registration certificates from the GST website from June 27. The dealers, whose annual turnover was less than ₹20 lakh and do not come under the purview of GST, could also register as once their business grows they could avail of credits. Simple process : Mr. Nagendra said registration was simple and dealers could either login with their IDs and register or contact the CTOs concerned for assistance. He allayed apprehensions that GST would lead to a steep hike in prices of various commodities. The amount of tax on agriculture-based and essential commodities has either decreased or there was no change. Service-related taxes would go up marginally from 15% to 18% while sugar and cloth would be taxed more. Similarly, there would not be any change on entry level automobiles but taxes on luxury vehicles would go up.