Images of India

A worker prepares a bidi, a leaf hand-rolled with tobacco. India is home to over 250 million tobacco users and more than 900,000 people succumb to tobacco-related diseases every year. Ninety-six percent of lung cancers are caused by tobacco consumption. Five percent of students currently use some form of tobacco. While every three out of 10 students live in homes where others smoke in their presence, almost 50 percent of the students are exposed to smoke in public places. 1.3 percent of all deaths in India were due to tobacco consumption in 1990, this will rise to 13.2 percent by 2020. Starting May 31, World No Tobacco Day, cigarette packs in India will carry graphic warnings of the health hazards of smoking. Report dated 01 Jun, 2009

A country of one billion people, India is one of the largest economies in the world. While economic prosperity is rising, nearly 70 percent of India’s citizens live in rural communities with limited access to safe clean water. Waterborne diseases affect millions annually, over 75 percent of whom are children under the age of five according to the World Health Organisation. The situation in urban areas is no better with most cities receiving water for between half an hour to two hours every 24 hours. After 62 years of independece and several governments the country lacks the simple basics of life. Report dated 28 May, 2009

Cyclone Aila battered West Bengal (May 25). It unleashed storms that uprooted trees, electricity poles and thatched homes, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake, killing 24 people and affecting hundreds of thousands. Heavy rains raised river levels and burst mud embankments in the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve - home to the world's largest tiger population. The army was called in for rescue operations in the worst hit districts. Four people were killed and 15 injured in Kolkata as normal life was paralysed. Report dated 27 May, 2009

Eighteen people were killed (May 25) and the Army was asked to start rescue operations in the coastal South 24 Parganas district where extensive damage was feared as cyclone Aila crossed the coast into West Bengal. An estimated 80,000 people were forced to leave their homes. Heavy rains raised river levels and burst mud embankments in the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve - home to the world's largest tiger population. The city of Kolkata was virtually shut down. Report dated 26 May, 2009

Jal Neti is a Yogic technique which cures diseases related to eyes, nose, throat and the brain. A Jal Neti vessel (1 liter) is filled with luke warm water with a pinch of table salt. The water is poured into one nostril and comes out of the other, while the mouth is open. People who use this usually find an improvement within a month of daily use. Report dated 24 May, 2009

As Dr. Manmohan Singh starts his second five year term as Prime Minister, there is renewed hope and expectations of the alleviation of poverty. There are over 300 million Indians living below the poverty line at less than US$ 2 a day. Report dated 21 May, 2009

A record 59 women have been elected to the new Lok Sabha. Fifty-nine women have been voted to power as Members of Parliament in the new 543 member Lok Sabha – the highest since India became independent in 1947. 23 are from Congress and 13 from the BJP. Seventeen women are below the age of 40. Report dated 20 May, 2009

The country voted the Congress Party led UPA back in power at the Centre for a further 5 year term – a vote for stability and secularism. The new government is scheduled to take over on June 2. The Congress defeated the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) led alliance. The BJP and its allies are generally regarded as a pro-Hindu group and are often accused of devisive and hate politics. As many as 150 newly elected MPs have criminal cases pending against them while nearly 300 have declared assets worth more than Rs. 10 million, according to a study. Report dated 19 May, 2009

The country voted the Congress Party led UPA back in power at the Centre for a further 5 year term – a vote for stability and secularism. The Congress defeated the BJP led alliance. The BJP and its allies are generally regarded as a pro-Hindu group and are often accused of devisive and hate politics. Report dated 17 May, 2009

The picturesque Bandra station was built in 1864 by the British. In the 1880s, Bandra had the reputation of being the prima donna of Mumbai’s suburbs, due to the shrine of Mount Mary. An abattoir was also located there, so meat was supplied to Bombay by railway carriages. The heritage committee gave its approval to the work on Bandra station in Dec 2007. It took the heritage team a little more than a year to complete restoring the façade. Today Bandra is a bustling city within a city and though quaint cottages and millionaries’ mansions are giving way to high rise complexes and shopping malls, it is still regarded as the queen of the suburbs and an upmarket address. Report dated 10 May, 2009