Saturday, APRIL 03, 2021
THE YOUTH INK
Publication on a mission
ON THIS DAY
Prevention of Blindness Week 2021
Aarti Tiwari
The Prevention of Blindness Week, that is observed from April 1 to 7 every year, is a campaign launched by the Government of India
to spread awareness about blindness, its treatment, and prevention. The campaign witnessed participation from health personnel from
the government departments, voluntary agencies, and state health education bureau who work towards increasing awareness amongst
the masses about blindness.
Over 3.5 million people suffer from blindness in
India with 3000 new cases being reported every
year. According to Netradaan, a non-profit
organization, India shares the highest-burden
blindness in the world. According to the National
Programme for Control of Blindness, the main
causes of blindness are cataract (62.6%), refractive
error (19.70%), corneal blindness (0.9%), glaucoma
(5.80%), surgical complication (1.20%), Posterior
Capsular Opacification (0.90%), Posterior Segment
Disorder (4.70%), others (4.19%). The NPCB also
estimates that the National Prevalence of Childhood
Blindness /Low Vision is 0.80 per thousand
children.
The rapid survey conducted under NPCB in 2006-
2007 shows that the prevalence of blindness in India has reduced 1.1% in 2001-2002 to 1% in 2006-2007and the NPCB aims to
reduce the prevalence to 0.3% by 2020. Talking about the increasing eye problems, Dr. Ira Chopra, Consultant Eye Surgeon, Paras
Hospitals, says that blue light has a short wavelength and a high frequency, because of which it has a glaring effect on the eye. She
says that prolonged exposure to computers, television screens, smartphones, and tabs strains the eye and causes headaches and
fatigue. The exposure may cause retinal damage and lead to age-related macular degeneration, which can lead to vision loss.
History of Prevention of Blindness Week: About Blindness:
National Society for the Prevention of Blindness was founded in Blindness is the inability to see anything, including light.
1960 (Under the Societies Registration Act of 1860) with Jawaharlal
• If you’re partially blind, you have limited vision. For
Nehru and Raj Kumari Amrit Kaur being its founding patrons. NSPB
example, you may have blurry vision or the inability to
is an entirely voluntary organization receiving funds through
distinguish the shapes of objects. Complete blindness
contributions and donations. NSPB partners actively with Sight
means you can’t see at all.
Savers, Rotary International, and other large corporate firms. The
Indian government associated itself with the global initiative, • Legal blindness refers to vision that’s highly
“Vision 2020: The Right To Sight”, launched by the World Health compromised. What a person with regular vision can see
Organization (WHO) in collaboration with the International Agency from 200 feet away, a legally blind person can see from
for Prevention of Blindness and other NGOs to eliminate avoidable only 20 feet away.
blindness by 2020. India was also the first country to seek a soft loan • Seek medical attention right away if you suddenly lose
from the International Development Agency of the World Bank for the ability to see. Have someone bring you to the
control of blindness. emergency room for treatment. Don’t wait for your
vision to return.
As per WHO report, out of 37 million blind people worldwide, 10 • Depending on the cause of your blindness, immediate
million are from India who is majorly bling due to deficiency of treatment may increase your chances of restoring your
vitamin and another nutritional requirements. This deficiency vision. Treatment may involve surgery or medication.
combined with the high prevalence of cataracts had put many
Indians at risk of blindness. Out of 10,000 people born in India, 7 of Symptoms of blindness:
them have eye-related problems and every year number of blind
children is increasing due to nutritional deficiencies. The major • cloudy vision
causes of blindness are trachoma, vitamin A deficiency, • an inability to see shapes
malnutrition, cataract, shortage of optometrists, and donated eyes. • seeing only shadows
Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are the most affected Indian states • poor night vision
with blindness. • tunnel vision
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02 APRIL 03, 2021
The symptoms of visual impairment in Complete blindness is being prevented in India:
young children can include: India was the first country to launch a government-sponsored program, the
• constant eye rubbing National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB) in 1976 to control
• extreme sensitivity to light avoidable blindness. Till a few years ago, the National Programme for
• poor focusing Control of Blindness (NPCB) was a cataract-centered program. However,
• chronic eye redness currently, it funds management of diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, eye
injuries, childhood blindness, corneal transplantation, squint, low vision,
• chronic tearing from their eyes
retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in addition to on-going schemes through
• a white instead of black pupil
successful Public-Private Partnership (PPP).
• poor visual tracking, or trouble following an object
with their eyes VISION 2020: The Right to Sight – India is a national forum for eliminating
• abnormal eye alignment or movement after 6 avoidable blindness by the year 2020. It is a key driver of the World Health
months of age Organisation (WHO) and International Agency for the Prevention of
Blindness (IAPB) joint global initiative for eliminating avoidable blindness.
Common causes of blindness: It is a collaborative effort of NGOs, eye care organisations in India and the
Government of India to coordinate and advocate for improved eye care
Common causes of blindness in our country are programmes to achieve quality, comprehensive and equitable eye care.
cataracts, uncorrected refractive errors, glaucoma,
diabetic retinopathy, corneal opacity, etc. 80 percent of All these organisations along with thousands of eye care professionals in our
blindness cases are attributable to cataracts and country are working hard to control avoidable blindness through various
uncorrected refractive errors, hence are reversible or media and public awareness programmes along with campaigns to increase
treatable. eye donation rates in our country.
Latest developments in India in regard Eye care for children:
to eye treatments: • Many studies have proved that short-sightedness or myopia can be
India is at the forefront of advances in the field of caused by increasing urbanization and increasing screen time in
ophthalmology. Be it adapting to newer technologies children. It is important for young kids to spend time in daylight and not
or providing answers to complex eye-related problems be confined to artificial indoor lights. Children of all ages must be
with our experience and huge database, Indian prescribed proper power spectacles failing to do so will lead to
ophthalmology is a driving force in the worldwide permanent weakness of their eyes knows as amblyopia.
fight against blindness. Indian doctors are able to keep • Eye allergies in children are rising and must be treated early. Eye
pace with every new development in the field of allergies lead to eye rubbing and can end up in many serious diseases of
ophthalmology. It is safe to say that for any eye the eyes such as keratoconus. One of the important causes of
problem if any treatment is available anywhere in the preventable blindness is Vitamin A deficiency. Children must have a
world, it is surely available in our country. Prevention balanced diet with good natural sources of vitamins and minerals.
is always better than cure. Have regular yearly eye • Injury or trauma is common in children and can lead to irreversible
check-ups for the entire family. Children should get an damage to their eyes. We must insist on and teach children about the
eye check-up at their first, third, and fifth-year importance of safety while playing or during some high-risk activities
milestones. e.g. bursting crackers, contact sports, etc.
Eye care for adults:
• Many common eye problems are related to our lifestyle changes and our work. Dry eye has become an epidemic in adults,
especially in those who work on computers for long hours. It is not just the computer but the overall screen time involving all the
gadgets we use on a daily basis. An adult must have frequent breaks in between such activities. They must blink enough and blink
completely. Usage of lubricants prescribed by an ophthalmologist can certainly help. The habit of washing eyes with tap water
should be avoided as it can pose a significant risk of infection spreading to the eyes.
• Adults working in industries requiring the use of heavy tools, which can pose a potential risk of injury to the eyes must wear safety
goggles. Those who manage such places must insist on the safety precautions for the eyes of their employees apart from the general
safety precautions in industrial settings.
HISTORY OF THE DAY
Remembering ‘Sam’, Hero of 1971 and First Field Marshal
Pushkar Pandey
Field Marshal Shamsherji Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw, MC (03 April 1914 – 27 June 2008), popularly known as Sam
Bahadur (“Sam the Brave”), was an Indian military leader who was the first Indian Army officer to be promoted to the five-star rank
of field marshal. His distinguished military career spanned four decades and five wars, beginning with service in the British Indian
Army in World War II. Manekshaw rose to become the 8th Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army in 1969 and under his command,
Indian forces conducted victorious campaigns against Pakistan in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 that led to the liberation of
Bangladesh in December 1971.
Early Life
Manekshaw was born in Amritsar, Punjab to Parsi parents, Hormusji Manekshaw, a doctor, and his wife Heerabai,Field Marshal
Shamsherji Hormusji Framji Jamshedji who moved to Punjab from the small town of Valsad on the Gujarat coast. After completing
his schooling in Punjab and Sherwood College, Nainital, and achieving a distinction in the School Certificate examination of the
Cambridge Board at the age of 15, he asked his father to send him to London to become a gynecologist.
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APRIL 03, 2021 03
When his father refused to send him until he was older, in an act of rebellion, Manekshaw took the entrance examination for
enrollment into the Indian Military Academy (IMA) at Dehradun. He was successful and as a result became part of the first intake of
40 cadets on 1 October 1932. He graduated from the IMA on 4 February 1934 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the
British Indian Army (which later became the Indian Army after Independence).
Journey onwards
Field Marshal Shamsherji Hormusji FramjiAfter taking
over as chief of army staff, at a function on 8 June 1969 to
mark the centenary of Sherwood College, Manekshaw
recalled that his years at the college had prepared him for
war as they had taught him to live alone and
independently, to fight without relent, tolerate hunger for
long periods and to hate his enemy. On commissioning, as
per the practices of that time, Manekshaw was first
attached to the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Field Marshal
Shamsherji Hormusji FramjiScots, a British battalion, and
then later posted to the 4th Battalion, 12th Frontier Force
Regiment, commonly known as the 54th Sikhs. During
World War II, the then-Captain Manekshaw saw action in
Burma in the 1942 campaign on the Sittaung River with
the 4/12 Frontier Force Regiment, and had the rare distinction of being honoured for his bravery on the battlefield. Manekshaw
attended the 8th Staff Course at Command and Staff College, Quetta, from 23 August to 22 December 1943. He was then posted as the
brigade major of the Razmak Brigade, serving in that post until 22 October 1944 when he was sent to join the 9th Battalion, 12
Frontier Force Regiment in Burma, as part of General William Slim’s 14th Army. Towards the end of World War II, Manekshaw was
sent to serve on General Daisy’s staff in Indo-China where, after the Japanese surrender, he helped repatriate over 10,000 former
prisoners of war (POWs). He then went on a six-month lecture tour to Australia in 1946, and after his return was promoted to the rank
of lieutenant-colonel, serving as a first grade staff officer in the Military Operations Directorate.
Most remembered Indian soldier
Upon the Partition of India in 1947, his parent unit – 12th Frontier Force Regiment – became part of the Pakistan Army (rechristened
Frontier Force Regiment), and so Manekshaw was reassigned to the 16th Punjab Regiment, before being posted to the 3rd Battalion,
5th Gorkha Rifles, which he was detailed to command. The tumultuous events of partition required Manekshaw’s retention in army
headquarters as a lieutenant colonel in the Military Operations Directorate, though, and because of this he subsequently missed his
chance to command an infantry battalion as he was later promoted to brigadier, becoming the first Indian Director of Military
Operations. The appointment of Director of Military Operations was upgraded first to major general and later to lieutenant general and
is now termed Director General Military Operations (DGMO).
While handling the issues relating to Partition in 1947, Manekshaw demonstrated his acumen for planning and administration, and
later was able put his battle skills to use during operations in Jammu & Kashmir in 1947–48. After commanding an infantry brigade,
he was posted to the Infantry School at Mhow as the school’s commandant and also became the colonel of 8 Gorkha Rifles (which
became his new regiment, since his original parent regiment, the 12th Frontier Force Regiment, had become part of the new Pakistan
Army at partition) and 61st Cavalry. Manekshaw then commanded a division in Jammu and Kashmir. A stint at the Defence Services
Staff College followed where he served as the commandant. It was here that his outspoken frankness got him into trouble with the then
Defence Minister, V. K. Krishna Menon. A court of inquiry was ordered against him. The court, presided over by the then-Western
Army Commander, Lieutenant General Daulet Singh, exonerated Manekshaw. Before a formal ‘no case’ could be announced, war
with China broke out. Manekshaw was then promoted to lieutenant general and moved to Tezpur to take over IV Corps as its GOC.
A year later, Manekshaw was promoted as army commander and took over the Western Command. In 1964, He moved from Shimla to
Calcutta as the GOC-in-C of the Eastern Army. As GOC-in-C, Eastern Command, he successfully responded to an insurgency in
Nagaland for which he was later awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1968. On 7 June 1969, Manekshaw became the 8th chief of army
staff when he succeeded General P P Kumaramangalam. As chief of the army staff, he rendered yeoman service to the nation by
forging the Indian Army into an efficient instrument of war. His years of military experience were soon put to the test as India decided
to help the Mukti Bahini rebels against West Pakistani forces. Field-Marshal-SHFJ-Manekshaw1Towards the end of April 1971,
Indira Gandhi, who was Prime Minister of India at that time, asked Manekshaw if he was ready to go to war with Pakistan.
Manekshaw refused, saying that his single armoured division and two infantry divisions were deployed elsewhere, that only 13 of his
189 tanks were fit to fight, and that they would be competing for rail carriage with the grain harvest at that point of time. He also
pointed out that the Himalayan passes would soon open up, with the forthcoming monsoon in East Pakistan, which would result in
heavy flooding.When Indira Gandhi asked the cabinet to leave the room and the chief to stay, he offered to resign. She declined to
accept it, but sought his advice. He then said he could guarantee victory if she would allow him to prepare for the conflict on his terms,
and set a date for it. These were acceded to by the Prime Minister.
When the Indian Army finally went to war in December that year, under Manekshaw’s leadership, it proved victorious against the
Pakistan Army. The war, lasting under a fortnight, saw more than 90,000 Pakistani soldiers personnel taken as prisoners of war, and it
ended with the unconditional surrender of Pakistan‘s eastern half, resulting in the birth of Bangladesh as a new nation.
When the Prime minister asked him to go to Dhaka and accept the surrender of Pakistani forces, Manekshaw declined, magnanimously
saying that the honour should go to his army commander in the East, Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Aurora. For his distinguished
service to the country, the President of India awarded Manekshaw a Padma Vibhushan in 1972 and conferred upon him the rank of
field marshal, a first, on 1 January 1973. He became one of the only two army generals of independent India to be awarded this
prestigious rank; the other being Kodandera Madappa Cariappa who was awarded in 1986.
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04 APRIL 03, 2021
Manekshaw retired from active service a fortnight later on 15 January 1973 after a career of nearly four decades, and settled down
with his wife Silloo in Coonoor, the civilian town next to Wellington Military Cantonment where he had served as commandant of the
Defence Services Staff College, at an earlier time in his career. Popular with Gurkha soldiers, Nepal fêted Manekshaw as an honorary
general of the Nepalese Army in 1972. Manekshaw died at the Military Hospital in Wellington, Tamil Nadu, on 0030 hours, 27 June
2008 at the age of 94. Since then, 16 December is celebrated each year as “Vijay Diwas” in memory of the victory achieved under
Manekshaw’s leadership in 1971. A postage stamp depicting Manekshaw in his field marshal’s uniform was released by President
Pratibha Patil. The most popular and respected Indian General he never minced words and one can never forget his quote, “A ‘Yes
man’ is a dangerous man. He is a menace. He will go very far. He can become a minister, a secretary or a Field Marshall but he can
never become a leader nor, ever be respected. He will be used by his superiors, disliked by his colleagues and despised by his
subordinates. So discard the ‘Yes man’.”
YOUTH EXPLAINS
"Social Media Code of Conduct" for Kerela High Court officers staff
Radhika Gupta
Kerala High Court has introduced a social media 'Code of Conduct' for officers and staff, at the High Court and the District Courts, to
restrain them from posting offensive statements or criticizing State among other things. The Code of Conducts also directs all staff and
members "to not indulge in criticizing case laws and judgments of the courts, Judges or judicial system to scandalise them in social
media." The code has been brought forth to regulate staff's involvement and intervention in social media and other public platforms.
The Social Media Code of Conduct
The 'To Dos' according to the code include: No fake The Code specifically mentions the following conduct to be followed:
email or social media accounts. Declare email
addresses and social media accounts maintained. No • Staff members of the High Court and the District Judiciary shall not use
personal exchange of communication on official social media for making offensive, irresponsible or defamatory statements
sites. Be careful while expressing opinions on social criticising policies and actions of the Government and its Institutions,
media. The Code of Conduct has provisioned the Ministers, Officials, Heads of Departments, Judges, Political Leaders and
High Court to have a Monitoring Cell to report on Social Activists etc.
misuse of social media using computers and • Staff members of the High Court and the District Judiciary shall be very
electronic gadgets supplied to the office of the careful in expressing or propagating any opinion on Social Media that may
courts and staff members of the High Court and offend any cultural, ethnic, social or religious group.
District Judiciary. The staff members of the High • They shall take care that no derogatory or insulting remarks, comments
Court and District Judiciary have been directed to pertaining to any person, group of persons either official, socio-cultural or
declare their e-mail address and internet social political, shall be made on Social Media platform.
media accounts maintained by them. They have also • Staff members of the High Court and District Judiciary shall not publish
been asked to refrain from using any fake ID - any proceedings, official actions, records, or data from the office files in
addresses or accounts. The members have been social media or publish blogs on any matters in social media without prior
further directed to not access prohibited sites during permission of the High Court.
working hours and to not indulge in the exchange of • Staff members of the High Court and District Judiciary shall not use
communication of personal matters on official sites. mobile phones, tablets, electronic gadgets, etc., for computing, data
Further, the staff and members are directed "to not hacking, or any other illegal activities.
indulge in criticizing case laws and judgments of the • Staff members of the High Court and District Judiciary shall not use
courts, Judges or judicial system to scandalise them carping, intemperate, filthy, derogatory insinuating, discriminatory
in social media." language in social media.
Freedom of expression and association of members of Judiciary
In accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, members
of the judiciary are like other citizens entitled to freedom of expression, belief,
association and assembly; provided, however, that in exercising such rights,
judges shall always conduct themselves in such a manner as to preserve the
dignity of their office and the impartiality and independence of the judiciary. Judges shall be free to form and join associations of
judges or other organizations to represent their interests, to promote their professional training and to
protect their judicial independence.
Code of Conduct of Members of Judiciary on India
In India on 7th May 1997 a 16 point code of conduct, for ensuring proper conduct among members of the higher judiciary was adopted
by the Judges of the Supreme Court and the High Courts with the Gujarat High Court as the sole dissenter, reportedly. The 16 point
code which the Judges prefer to describe as “The Restatement of Values of Judicial Life” is believed to have become effective since
then. It was drafted by a Committee of five Judges, headed by Justice Dr.A.S.Anand, as he then was. The other members were Justice
S.P.Barucha, Justice K.S.Paripoornan, Justice M.Srinivasan and Justice D.P.Mohapatra. The 16 point code[22] stipulates:
1) Justice must not merely be done but it must also be seen as done. The behaviour and conduct of members of the higher judiciary
must reaffirm the people’s faith in the impartiality of the judiciary. Accordingly, any act of a Judge of the Supreme Court or a High
Court, weather in official or personal capacity, which erodes the credibility of the perception has to be avoided.
2) A Judge should not contest the election of any office of a Club, society or other association; further he shall not hold such elective
office except in a society or association connected with the law.
3) Close association with individual members of the Bar, particularly those who practice in the same court shall be eschewed.
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APRIL 03, 2021 05
4) A Judge shall not permit any member of his immediate family to, such as spouse, son, or daughter, son-in-law, or daughter-in-law,
or any other close relative, if as member of the Bar, to appear before him or even be associated in any manner with a case to be
dealt with by him.
5) No member of his family, who is a member of the Bar, shall be permitted to use the residence in which the judge actually resides or
other facilities for professional work.
6) A Judge should practise a degree of aloofness consistent with the dignity of his office.
7) A Judge shall not hear and decide a matter in which a member of his family, a close relation or a friend is concerned.
8) A Judge shall not enter into a public debate or express his views in public on political matters or on matters that are pending or are
likely to arise for judicial determination.
9) A Judge is expected to let his judgement speak for themselves. He shall not give interview to the media.
10) A Judge shall not accept gifts or hospitality except from his family, close relations and friends.
11) A Judge shall not hear and decide a matter in which a company in which he holds shares is concerned unless he has disclosed
his interest and no objection to his hearing and deciding the matter is raised.
12) A Judge shall not speculate in shares, stocks or the like.
13) A Judge should not engage directly or indirectly in trade or business, either by himself or in association with any other person.
(publication of a legal treaties or any activity in the mature of a hobby shall not be constructed as trade business).
14) A Judge should not ask for accept contribute or otherwise actively associate himself with the raising of any fund for any
purpose.
15) A Judge should not seek any financial benefit in the form of a perquisite or privilege attached to his office unless it is clearly
available. Any doubt in this behalf must be got resolved and clarified through the Chief Justice.
16) Every Judge must at all times be conscious that he is under the public gaze and there should be no act or omission by him which
is unbecoming of the high office he occupies and the public esteem in which the office is held.
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
Mahendragiri: Odisha’s Second Biosphere Reserve
Sakshi Kumari
The Odisha state government has recently proposed a second biosphere reserve in the southern part of the state at Mahendragiri. It is a
mountain in the Gajapati district of the state. It is at an altitude of 1,501 metres. Mahendragiri is also the second-highest peak in the
state.
• The 5,569-square kilometre Similipal
Biosphere Reserve is Odisha’s first
such reserve and was notified May
20, 1996.
• The hill ecosystem acts as a
transitional zone between the flora
and fauna of southern India and the
Himalayas.
• Mahendragiri is inhabited by the
Soura people, a particularly
vulnerable tribal group as well as the
Kandha tribe.
• The hills have diverse vegetation.
• The rich flora in Mahendragiri
represents 40 per cent of the reported
flora of Odisha, with around 1,358 species of plants.
• Twenty-nine of the 41 species of threatened medicinal plants found in Odisha according to the International Union for the
Conservation of Nature are found in the biosphere reserve area.
Similipal Biosphere Reserve
• The Similipal Biosphere Reserve lies within two biogeographical regions: the Mahanadian east coastal region of the Oriental realm
and the Chhotanagpur biotic province of the Deccan peninsular zone.
• Volcanic sedimentary rocks are aligned in three concentric rings and accentuate the area’s geologic formations.
• The highest peak in the Similipal hill range is Khairiburu (1,168 metres). Numerous waterfalls and perennial streams flow into
major rivers, such as the Budhabalang, Baitarani and Subarnarekha.
• The biosphere reserve has the largest zone of Sal in all of India.
• Altogether, the biosphere reserve is home to 42 mammal species, 264 bird species, 39 reptile species and 12 amphibian species.
Moreover, approximately 52 fauna species are endangered.
• Paradoxus jorandensis is an example of a valuable and endemic fauna species within the area.
• Altogether, 1,265 villages are located within the biosphere reserve. Approximately 73% of all inhabitants are Aboriginals.
• Two tribes, the Erenga Kharias and the Mankirdias, inhabit the reserve’s forests and practise traditional agricultural activities.
About Mahendragiri biosphere reserve
• Mahendragiri was the cradle land of the early civilization of Kalinga.
• The mythology refers to the Mahendra as a sacred place being one of the seven Kulagiris or seven principal chains of mountains in
India.
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• The seven mountains designate the seven ancient doors of heaven.
• The six other Kulagiris or Kulaparbats are Malaya, Sahyadri, Parijatra, Shuktiman, Vindya and Malyavaan.
• The puranic or mythological literature attach great sanctity to this place being the seat of Parasurama’s penance and sacred land for
pinda dana.
• Area and Location: Mahendragiri Biosphere Reserve is around 470,955 hectares and is spread over Gajapati and Ganjam
districts in the Eastern Ghats.
• Similipal Biosphere Reserve is Odisha’s first such reserve and was notified May 20, 1996.
• This ecosystem acts as a transitional zone between the flora and fauna of southern India and the Himalayas, making the region an
ecological estuary of genetic diversities.
• This is according to a feasibility report prepared by the Biosphere Reserve Committee for the proposed project.
• Once the protected archeological remains of Mahendragiri were listed in the tentative list of Unesco World Heritage Sites
• Community: Mahendragiri is inhabited by the Soura people, a particularly vulnerable tribal group as well as the Kandha tribe.
• The hills have diverse vegetation, according to the report of the proposed Mahendragiri Biosphere Reserve. Their livelihood
security is intricately linked to the biodiversity and other local natural resources of the hill complex.
• The watershed of Mahendragiri hill complex drains into Rushikulya, Vamsadhara, Bahuda river systems and numerous big and
small streams.
• Flora: The rich flora in Mahendragiri represents 40 percent of the reported flora of Odisha, with around 1,358 species of plants.
• Fauna: The faunal diversity of the hills consists of 388 species of animals, including 27 species of mammals, 165 species of birds,
23 species of snakes, 15 species of amphibians, three species of turtles and 19 lizards.
Soura people
• They are a Munda ethnic group from eastern India. They live in southern Odisha and north coastal Andhra Pradesh. The Soras
mainly live in Gajapati, Rayagada and Bargarh districts of Odisha.
• Other names: They are known by various names such as Savara, Sabara, Sora, and Soura.
• Language: The Soras speak Sora, a Munda language
• They practice shifting cultivation, with a few gradually taking up settled agriculture.
SOURCES:
➢ Times Of India
➢ The Hindu
➢ Indian Express
➢ Live Mint
➢ legalservicesindia.com
➢ Bar&Bench
➢ unodc.org
➢ east soast daily
➢ journals of india
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