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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Bird-flu outbreak rattles Nandurbar

Around 2.40 lakh hens culled, Nine-lakh eggs destroyed Mumbai: For the third time in 20 years, Avian Influenza has hit Navapur, in Nandurbar district, with over 2.40 lakhs birds culled in the past few days as worried farmers await compensation and effective vaccines. In some areas, all the infected birds in big and small farms have been eliminated by specialist teams, as per World Health Organisation (WHO) and central government’s guidelines. This is the third time after 2006 and 2021...

Bird-flu outbreak rattles Nandurbar

Around 2.40 lakh hens culled, Nine-lakh eggs destroyed Mumbai: For the third time in 20 years, Avian Influenza has hit Navapur, in Nandurbar district, with over 2.40 lakhs birds culled in the past few days as worried farmers await compensation and effective vaccines. In some areas, all the infected birds in big and small farms have been eliminated by specialist teams, as per World Health Organisation (WHO) and central government’s guidelines. This is the third time after 2006 and 2021 that the town – which produces 10-lakh eggs daily – has come under the attack of Avian Influenza, commonly known as ‘bird flu’, said Navapur Poultry Association (NPA) President Arief Balesaria. “We rank the biggest in production of eggs by Layer Chicken after Pune and Baramati. There are other egg producing centres in the state. The Layer Chicken are among the best laying hens. But in the past fortnight or so, our production has come to a complete stop,” a concerned Balesaria told The Perfect Voice. The 10-lakh eggs are sent to markets in Mumbai, Nashik, Jalgaon and even Surat, which will now be fed by other smaller suppliers from Maharashtra or other states, he said. The outbreak in Navapur started mysteriously on April 12, when a local farmer discovered five dead chickens in his farm. Initially it was suspected to be heatstroke and a local Veterinary prescribed medicines, but by afternoon more than four dozen birds were snuffed out. By next morning, the farmer lost more than 300 chickens even as other alarmed farmers in a three-km vicinity reported similar tragedies as the birds simply dropped dead without apparent symptoms, said Balesaria. In Balesaria’s own Wasim Poultry Farm, the situation was ditto – five days after the first incident, he found 55 birds dead and by that evening, over 130 were no more, though the chickens were eating normally and not appearing sick. After the local authorities were informed, samples were collected from three of the worst-hit farms and tested at the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases, Bhopal. They tested positive for the dreaded ‘Avian Influenza’, shocking the poultry farmers in Navapur. Swift Action Nandurbar Collector Dr. Mittali Sethi swung into action and declared large parts of Navapur as an ‘infected and surveillance’, spread over nearly 10 kms radius, banned all sale of poultry, bird-feed, and other related materials for three months, and local police were deployed to enforce the restrictions. Meanwhile, by Monday, the infection figures zoomed up dramatically and till May 6, over 2.40 lakhs birds have been culled, nearly 9-lakh eggs destroyed plus 210 tonnes of bird feed disposed off, said Balesaria of the sudden calamity. State and district officials have expressed apprehensions that the toll could climb much higher and have enforced strict monitoring in Navapur and also other egg-producing centres in north Maharashtra region. Culling continues with the help of 18 officers daily while over 125 veterinarians and support staff have fanned out in the affected zone. His son and third-generation independent farmer Tausif B. is grappling with his first bird-flu calamity and is worried about the future with his entire stock of 6 lakh eggs, 62,000 birds and 72-tons of feed destroyed. “This time, my farm was not affected. But according to official protocols, my 30,000 chickens were culled and over 60,000 eggs destroyed. The government has banned us from restarting or restocking for at least three months, or till July 31, when the crisis is expected to be over. Presently, we are sitting idle and helpless as the losses pile up for all the 27 NPA member-farms,” rued Balesaria. Farmers cry for better vaccines As death stalks egg farms in Navapur, distressed farmers urged the Centre to urgently permit more effective vaccines to contain the spread of Avian Influenza, as existing measures are proving inadequate. The NPA leaders claimed that the currently approved vaccines target the relatively milder H9N2 strain, while farms in the region are being devastated by the far more lethal H5N1 virus. “The government has allowed vaccines for H9N2 strain. But the Layer chickens are hit by the deadlier H5N1 strain. Vaccines for H5N1 are already in use in several countries, including China, the United States and parts of Europe. Why are we being denied access to the same protection?” asked the NPA leaders. India currently does not allow use of H5N1 vaccines, citing various concerns and relies on the traditional culling, movement restrictions and biosecurity measures in such outbreaks, though NPA alleges that Indian vaccine manufacturers are creating obstacles for getting better vaccines.

Let Them Be Children

Relationships, emotions, sexual curiosity, jealousy, and much more—the terms sound very complex, and we would mostly associate them with teenagers who are just starting college. Interestingly, experts point out that this age bracket is shifting. While open conversations between parents and children have made parenting easier, they’ve also brought new challenges. With early exposure and easy access to all sorts of entertainment, the dynamics of adolescence are changing. In an interview with ‘The Perfect Voice’, Dr. Sachi Pandya, a psychologist at NH SRCC Children’s Hospital, shared her observations on how and why innocence among children is shrinking. Excerpts…


Adolescence is changing: from hiding relationships to confronting them openly, even in school. Your thoughts?

Adolescence has always been a period of exploration, identity formation, and boundary-testing. What’s changing is not the emotional intensity of adolescence, but the context in which it's unfolding. With increased exposure to social media, digital influences, and pop culture, relationships—especially romantic ones—have become more visible, performative, and accessible. What might earlier have been whispered among close friends is now discussed openly, even brought into institutional spaces like school. While this reflects growing confidence and openness in young people, it also illustrates the importance of deeper emotional literacy. Beneath the drama, there are still vulnerable teens learning about love, attachment, jealousy, and communication, often without the emotional tools to do so.


Girls as young as 7 years old are wearing heavy makeup, backless dresses, etc., for parties. Are we losing innocence among children too early? What factors are responsible?

What we’re seeing isn’t just a fashion trend but a deeper shift in how children see themselves and are seen. Today, appearance is often tied to value. The loss of innocence isn’t because children have changed—it’s because the world around them has sped up. Body awareness begins as early as age 3 to 5, and by age 6 or 7, children are increasingly conscious of how they look and how others respond. By middle childhood, they’re not only aware of body shape, skin tone, height, or weight—they also begin forming ideas about what’s “good,” “acceptable,” or “beautiful.” This is a sensitive stage, where comments from adults, peers, or media can shape self-esteem. Offhand remarks like “you’ve grown so big,” or “you should smile more”, or comparisons with others, can affect how children see themselves. Without protective, affirming messages, they may internalise narrow, unrealistic beauty ideals and feel inadequate. Media, influencers, beauty filters, ads, and even parenting styles can fuel this pressure, often before a child truly knows who they are. Rather than placing blame, we must ask: Are we giving children the space to be children? Are we letting them grow slowly, explore their inner worlds, and feel safe in their bodies, free from pressure to perform or impress?


Children are more open with their parents now about their relationships. Are there any adverse psychological impacts of such openness?

This openness is undoubtedly a positive shift. Adolescents today are more willing to share feelings, talk about crushes or relationships, and seek guidance from parents—something earlier generations often hid out of fear or shame. This reflects not just changing children, but evolving parenting styles. Parents are increasingly becoming safe spaces, and that’s a gift. But with openness comes responsibility: parents must now offer sound guidance, emotional support, and age-appropriate boundaries. It’s not enough to be open—we must also be wise. Adolescents are still developing emotionally and cognitively. Their understanding of romance, intimacy, loyalty, or heartbreak is still taking shape. They may not yet grasp the weight of certain situations or the emotional fallout of early exposure to adult dynamics. That’s why it’s vital to teach the difference between safe and unsafe behaviours. Children must know they can say no to touch, pressure, or anything uncomfortable. They need the language and confidence to make healthy, informed choices. Today, dating terms like "breadcrumbing", "ghosting", and "orbiting" often normalise ambiguous or unhealthy behaviours, turning emotionally distressing patterns into casual trends. From a psychological lens, this can desensitise adolescents to emotional hurt, reduce empathy, and disrupt the development of truly intimate, respectful connections. Earlier generations may have been more secretive, but there was also a sense of maryada—a cultural emphasis on dignity and boundaries. While we need not return to silence or shame, we can revive that spirit of sanctity. Love and relationships are beautiful, but they also call for readiness, responsibility, and self-awareness.


Are children missing out on childhood fun by being overboard with romance due to media influence?

Yes, children today often bear the burden of early emotional complexity. When the media glorifies romance as central to growing up, it can overshadow the simple joys of friendship, curiosity, silliness, and imaginative play. Romantic ideals, heartbreak, or pressure to “have someone” can crowd out tree climbing, doodling, or silly games. Children deserve the chance to grow up slowly, to linger in innocence before navigating emotional intimacy. The answer isn’t restriction but re-enchantment—reviving play, nature, creativity, and spaces where children can simply be. As adults, caregivers, and professionals, our role is to honour both the reality of the times and the timeless need of childhood for room to breathe.

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