May 11, 2012 Clippings

Satyamev Jayate: Aamir Khan, Gehlot to fight female feticide

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot Wednesday assured actor Aamir Khan, whose TV show " Satyamev Jayate" created a storm with its in-depth study of female feticide, that he would take up the issue of a fast track court with the state chief justice so that justice was expedited.

Addressing a press conference with Aamir by his side, the chief minister said the show brought reality to the forefront. "I never heard about his show before it went on air," he said, adding that the matter had now been exposed. "We are doing a lot of work towards the issue," Gehlot said.

"But to handle this problem we need the support of the state police. He has already done a lot through his show," Gehlot said.

"Satyamev Jayate", which was telecast Sunday, discussed female foeticide through case studies of women, opinion of experts and also invited two Rajasthan-based TV journalists who had seven years ago done a sting operation. The sting by Meena Sharma and Shripal Shaktawat had covered 140 doctors involved in sex determination tests and abortions.

Aamir met Gehlot to request the creation of a fast track court to decide the cases of the doctors, none of who have been penalised.

Aamir said he had made "a specific request to the chief minister that all cases related to the show" be decided at the earliest. He asked the chief minister whether a fast track court could be created so justice was expedited.

Gehlot, he said, assured him that he would speak to the chief justice of Rajasthan to bring all cases under one court so the cases were heard as soon as possible.

The star said he was hopeful that his debut TV show, telecast on Doordarshan and Star Plus, would "touch people's hearts". "Whereever such incidents occur, we will go," he told reporters.

"I was expecting that I would be able to touch people's heart with the show and I am glad to see the effect of the show. I am happy about it," Aamir said. "I am not an activist, I am an entertainer. I only try to reach people's heart. I am not here to talk about issues seven days a week.. I am an entertainer, and that is what I am passionate about. I want to touch people's emotions and know their feelings, whether it is through a film like 'Dhoom 3' or through this show.

"As an entertainer, it is not necessary that I only make people laugh, it means that I should be able to evoke all emotions in them," he added.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

11.05.2012

Kids who sleep with parents tend to be ‘slimmer’

Children who get up at night and sneak into bed with their parents may be healthier as they are less likely to become overweight, a new study has revealed.

Disturbed sleep is associated with obesity because it interferes with hunger hormones but research conducted in Denmark suggested the opposite may be true for children.

A study of 497 children between the ages of two and six found children who always stayed in their own beds were three times more likely to be overweight than children who got into bed with their parents every night, the Telegraph reported.

Dr Nanna Olsen, at the Research Unit for Dietary Studies, Institute of Preventive Medicine, at Copenhagen University Hospitals said it might be because these children have a greater sense of security by cuddling up to their parents.

The findings were presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Lyon, France.

"The results may suggest that elements of parental social support or other types of positive psychosocial responses if being allowed to enter parents’ bed during night may protect against overweight, whereas types of negative psychosocial responses such as feelings of rejection when not being allowed to enter parents’ bed may lead to overweight," Dr Olsen said.

Source: www.dnaindia.com

11.05.2012

But better to be hurt by the truth than comforted with a lie

 Khaled Hosseini