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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Modi’s ‘Melody’ diplomacy stuns the world

Overjoyed investors buy shares of a wrong company after the PM’s gift Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday gifting his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni 'Melody' toffees, reviving the light-hearted "Melodi" wordplay associated with the two leaders on social media. Meloni thanked Modi and shared a video on the social media in which she could be heard saying, “Prime Minister Modi brought as a gift, a very, very good toffee - Melody.” Modi, who was also seen in the video, burst...

Modi’s ‘Melody’ diplomacy stuns the world

Overjoyed investors buy shares of a wrong company after the PM’s gift Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday gifting his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni 'Melody' toffees, reviving the light-hearted "Melodi" wordplay associated with the two leaders on social media. Meloni thanked Modi and shared a video on the social media in which she could be heard saying, “Prime Minister Modi brought as a gift, a very, very good toffee - Melody.” Modi, who was also seen in the video, burst into laughter as Meloni jokingly referred to the "Melody" toffee while showcasing the gift. The hashtag "Melodi", a blend of Modi and Meloni's names, was coined by the Italian prime minister during the COP28 in Dubai in 2023 and later went viral on social media following the warm interactions between the two leaders at global events. Modi, who arrived in Rome on Tuesday, is on the final leg of his five-nation tour to the UAE, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy from May 15-20. Modi’s gift not only floored the social media, but also earned gushing gratitude from the manufacturer of the sweet candy, Parle Products, in Vile Parle, Mumbai. “Thank You. Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for taking Parle Melody to the global stage. A proud moment for all of us at Parle Products to see an Indian favourite being shared across borders,” said a social media post from @ParleFamily, a 97-year-old company. Parle Products describes Melody: “Parle Melody brings to you an irresistible layer of caramel on the outside & a delightful chocolate filling inside. Open & pop it in your mouth & relish the unique experience. It won't be too long before you start asking yourself the age-old question "Melody Itni Chocolaty Kyun Hai?”.” Cong Attacks Modi Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and several other Congress leaders also attacked Modi saying he continues his PR even when the economy is suffering. However, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal hit back at Gandhi, accusing him of "hating India" and refusing to tolerate the "global respect" the country has garnered under Modi's leadership. Gandhi, who is on a visit to his constituency Raebareli and Amethi, said on X, "This isn't leadership, it's a gimmick." At a time farmers, labourers, traders and others in the country are all in tears, the prime minister is laughing and making reels while BJP folks are clapping along, the former Congress president said in his post in Hindi. "An economic storm is raging over our heads, and our prime minister is busy handing out candies in Italy!" he said. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge attacked Modi over issues of "rising" prices, unemployment, paper leaks, "dampening" investment and "sinking" Rupee, saying the prime minister continues his PR even as the economy is suffering. Shares turn sweet but the company was mistaken Shares of Parle Industries Ltd saw frenzied buying on Wednesday, surging five per cent to hit the upper circuit limit after Meloni posted the video. Investors wasted no time and flocked to the counter to buy the stock. Shares of the firm jumped to Rs 5.25 - the highest trading permissible limit for the day - on the BSE. On volume terms, 8.57 lakh shares of the firm were traded on the BSE during the day. But, there is a catch! Investors mistook Parle Industries for the maker of Melody toffees. Parle Products, the FMCG major, is the manufacturer of Melody toffees and is not listed on the stock exchanges. Parle Industries Ltd is a diversified commercial services provider, engaged in the business of infrastructure & real estate, and paper, waste paper and allied products. The history of swadeshi toffee is entwined with the country’s Independence and the company, House of Parle was founded in 1928 by Mohanlal Dayal Chauhan, a tailor from Pardi near Valsad, then part of the Bombay Province. As the country was flooded with imported sweets and confectionery, he decided to give it a ‘desi’ touch and flavour, and with a band of 12 workers, he launched the Parle products from a musty old warehouse near Vile Parle east station, when large parts areas of Vile Parle west were still marshes dotted with a few old bungalows and chawls. Later, he visited Germany to master the art of confectionery and returned with machinery worth Rs 60,000 to churn out simple sweets, toffees and locally flavoured Indian confections at affordable prices – willy-nilly challenging the imported British offerings. It was in 1983 that the chocolate Melody toffee. -WITH PTI

Vermicompost Set up

Updated: Mar 3, 2025

Vermicompost

Hello readers,


In my last article, I had given a brief introduction of earthworms and their ability to eject highly nutriotious excreta which becomes a manure or compost of excellent quality. Before moving further to learn more about vermicompost ‘technology’, let us first understand how earthworms make this excreta. We, the humans have a digestive system which is hollow, and much more complex with very long, compactly coiled intestine, then there is a bag like stomach, liver, pancreas and so on.


In comparison, digestive system of Earthworm is made up of a long, straight hollow tube in the center of its body cavity. Food of earthworms comprise dead and decaying organic material that is mixed in the soil. Earthworm eats lots of soil with its mouth. This soil passes through the tubular digestive tract.


On the way, it is processed in different organs of digestive system by the action of digestive enzymes. In this process, earthworm receives all the nutrients essential for its own growth and overall well-being. The remaining portion of food which is not digested is pushed further till the rear end of the body and is ‘ejected’ out as small ‘pellets’. These are known as ‘vermicasts’ which enrich the soil with many essential micro and macronutrients. This ability of earthworms can be used to process and enrich our kitchen waste with all the essential nutrients. Following is an overview of the process of setting up a vermicompost pit in your society premises.


Construct a suitable pit. using bricks and little cement. The size and dimensions of pit will depend upon the volume of biomass, i.e. your kitchen or garden waste.


Collect the biomass and place it under the sun for about 8-12 days. Now chop it to the required size using the cutter.


Prepare a cow dung slurry and sprinkle it on the heap for quick decomposition. Now, add a layer (2 – 3 inch) of soil or sand at the bottom of the tank.


Next, prepare fine bedding by adding partially decomposed cow dung, dried leaves and other biodegradable wastes collected from garden and kitchen. Distribute them evenly on the sand layer.


  • Continue adding both the chopped bio-waste and partially decomposed cow dung layer-wise into the tank up to a depth of 0.5-1.0 ft.

  • After adding all the bio-wastes, release the earthworm species over the mixture and cover the compost mixture with dry straw or gunny bags.

  • Sprinkle water on a regular basis to maintain the moisture content of the compost.

  • Cover the tank with a thatch roof to prevent the entry of ants, lizards, mouse, snakes, etc. and protect the compost from rainwater and direct sunshine.

  • Have a frequent check to avoid the compost from overheating. Maintain proper moisture and temperature


Earthworms are very sensitive to the changes in pH, temperature, moisture content etc. Any change in these parameters can adversely affect well-being of the worms. All the biodegradable waste you want to use for vermicomposting must be pre-processed as earthworms feed on dead, decaying organic matter. Also never add any oily, spicy, salty food to your vermicompost pit. If you take these precautions, earthworms will stay and keep on producing generations happily. All the best and have a good weekend!


For any guidance and assistance in setting up a vermicompost unit, maintaining it and harvesting the final product in your garden, society premises, please contact-

Paryavaran Dakshata Mandal Dombivali: 9833046634

Paryavaran Dakshata Mandal Thane: 9372358454


(The author is an environmentalist. Views personal.)

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