From the vast, biodiverse expanses of Mukurthi National Park to innovative healthcare initiatives in Uttar Pradesh, and from the maritime might of the Indian Navy to the scenic splendor of the Kaobal Gali-Mushkoh Valley, let’s embark on a journey to explore a few fascinating aspects of India.
Mukurthi National Park: Protection and Preservation
Situated on the cusp of Tamil Nadu and ensconced within the luxuriant folds of the Western Ghats lies Mukurthi National Park. In an effort to protect this unique biosphere, forest authorities frequently conduct combing operations to prevent unauthorized access and poaching. The park forms an important part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, which also includes Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Bandipur National Park, Nagarhole National Park, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, and Silent Valley.
The park is primarily dedicated to safeguarding its keystone species, the Nilgiri Tahr. With its iconic montane grasslands, interspersed with lustrous sholas (patches of relict forests), the park showcases a rare natural spectacle. It features one of the highest peaks in the Nilgiri Hills, the Mukurthi Peak, and is home to the Todas, a pastoral tribe native to the region.
Uttar Pradesh’s Determined Strides Toward Child Immunity
In an innovative move towards improving child health, an immunization wheel has been introduced in Uttar Pradesh. This tool, developed and funded by the Clinton Foundation’s Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), helps frontline health workers calculate the dates for childhood vaccinations.
Called a ‘teekakaran chakra’ in Hindi, the wheel is a simple plastic laminated cardboard construction. Health workers use it to match birth dates with the first vaccine, aligning the rest of the vaccination dates accordingly.
Maritime Exercise Bolsters India’s International Partnerships
India, Indonesia, and Australia recently participated in their inaugural trilateral maritime exercise. The Indian Navy warship, INS Sahyadri, bolstered its partnership with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the Indonesian Navy during this two-day exercise.
INS Sahyadri is a gem in the crown of India’s naval prowess, as the third ship of the indigenously designed and constructed Project 17 class or the Shivalik class. Built at Mazagon Dock Ltd, Mumbai, these frigates are the first stealth warships made in India, fitted with a mix of indigenous Russian, Indian, and Western weaponry and sensor systems.
Kaobal Gali-Mushkoh Valley: From Battleground to Tourist Hotspot
The Kaobal Gali-Mushkoh Valley, which was once a bone of contention during the Kargil war, has transformed into a tourism hub, thanks to the ongoing ceasefire between India and Pakistan. A new road connecting Gurez valley in north Kashmir and Mushkoh valley in Kargil’s Drass Sector, Ladakh, has been thrown open for tourists, with the highest pass of Gurez, Kaobal Gali, forming the connection.
Gurez Valley, located close to the Line of Control (LoC), is one of the few places in Kashmir where traditional log houses exist sans urban intervention. The hope is that this ceasefire will ignite a spark for tourism-driven commerce in these regions, marking a new era of peace and prosperity.