Fathers take lead in nurturing nutrition, caregiving: Harkesh Nagar celebrates Father’s Day with purpose

By A Representative

Father’s Day was observed with heartfelt enthusiasm and a strong message of caregiving at a community event in Harkesh Nagar, New Delhi. Organized by Satark Yuva Sangathan (SYS) in collaboration with Asha Workers and the local Anganwadi Centre, the event aimed to highlight the often-overlooked role of fathers in child nutrition, development, and emotional well-being.

Themed "Papa Bhi Zimmedar: For Paushtik and Balanced Aahaar", the celebration brought together 94 participants, including children, fathers, caregivers, Asha workers, and civil society partners. The event provided a platform for champion fathers from under-resourced communities to share personal stories of parenting and their efforts in promoting healthy habits and emotional support for their children.

One of the highlights was an open sharing circle where fathers recounted their parenting journeys. From childhood memories to current caregiving practices, fathers reflected on their role in shaping their children’s futures.

Giasuddin, a ragpicker and father of four daughters, shared, “I didn’t listen to my father and regret it. That’s why I make sure my girls study, so they can grow up confident and capable.”

Kallu Kumar, a rickshaw puller, added, “My dream is for my daughters to be healthy and happy. I ensure they eat nutritious food and have time to play.”

Others emphasized the importance of mental well-being, technology use, and balanced parenting.

Sapan, a community leader, stressed, “Healthy food and a stress-free environment are key. I try to recreate the joy of my own childhood with my kids.”

Birju, a fabricator, spoke about guiding his children in responsible use of mobile phones and social media, noting, “Technology can either help or harm — children need support to use it wisely.”

Nimai Mahto underlined the connection between learning and nourishment: “A nutritious diet is essential for a child’s mental and physical growth.”

Ganesh, a SYS member, added, “I gave my daughter the love and freedom I didn’t receive. Parenting should be shared by both mother and father.”

Welcoming the gathering, Parveen, an Anganwadi worker from Janta Jeewan Camp, said, “This Father’s Day, we honour the silent strength of fathers who nurture families in subtle yet powerful ways.”

The event concluded with remarks from Dr. Indu Prakash Singh, Advisor at SYS, who reflected on fatherhood as a journey of growth: “When a child is born, a father is also born. We must create a home where children learn through example. Celebrating positive fatherhood can inspire more men to take on caregiving roles.”

The event culminated in the formation of a Fathers Club — a platform for continued dialogue and peer support around parenting. Additional activities included a signature campaign, a photo-video montage of fathers with their children, and a heartwarming ceremony where children presented roses and mementos to their fathers.

The event was coordinated by the Centre for Advocacy and Research (CFAR), a New Delhi-based NGO working to strengthen community-led advocacy and action.

Comments

Sergei Vasilyevich Gerasimov, the artist who survived Stalin's cultural purges

By Harsh Thakor* Sergei Vasilyevich Gerasimov (September 14, 1885 – April 20, 1964) was a Soviet artist, professor, academician, and teacher. His work was posthumously awarded the Lenin Prize, the highest artistic honour of the USSR. His paintings traced the development of socialist realism in the visual arts while retaining qualities drawn from impressionism. Gerasimov reconciled a lyrical approach to nature with the demands of Soviet socialist ideology.

Nepal votes amid regional rivalry: Why New Delhi is watching closely

By Nava Thakuria* As Nepal holds an early national election on Thursday (5 March 2026), the people of northeast India, along with other regional observers, are watching the proceedings closely. The vote was necessitated after the government of Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli collapsed in September 2025 following widespread anti-government protests. The election will determine the composition of the 275-member House of Representatives, originally scheduled for 2027, under the stewardship of an interim government led by former Supreme Court justice Sushila Karki.

From plagiarism to proxy exams: Galgotias and systemic failure in education

By Sandeep Pandey* Shock is being expressed at Galgotias University being found presenting a Chinese-made robotic dog and a South Korean-made soccer-playing drone as its own creations at the recently held India AI Impact Summit 2026, a global event in New Delhi. Earlier, a UGC-listed journal had published a paper from the university titled “Corona Virus Killed by Sound Vibrations Produced by Thali or Ghanti: A Potential Hypothesis,” which became the subject of widespread ridicule. Following the robotic dog controversy coming to light, the university has withdrawn the paper. These incidents are symptoms of deeper problems afflicting the Indian education system in general. Galgotias merely bit off more than it could chew.

'Policy long overdue': Coalition of 29 experts tells JP Nadda to act on SC warning label order

By A Representative In a significant development for public health, the Supreme Court of India has directed the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to seriously consider implementing mandatory front-of-pack warning labels on pre-packaged food products. The order, passed by a bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan on February 10, 2026, comes as the Court expressed dissatisfaction with the regulatory body's progress on the issue.

From non-alignment to strategic partnership: India's ideological shift toward Israel

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak* India's historical foreign policy maintained a notable duality: offering sanctuary to persecuted Jewish communities dating back centuries, while simultaneously supporting Palestinian self-determination as an expression of its broader anti-colonial foreign policy commitments. The gradual shift in Indian foreign policy under Hindutva-aligned governance — moving toward a strategic partnership with Israel while reducing substantive engagement with the Palestinian cause — raises legitimate questions about ideological motivation and geopolitical consequence.

Development vs community: New coal politics and old conflicts in Madhya Pradesh

By Deepmala Patel* The Singrauli region of Madhya Pradesh, often described as “India’s energy capital,” has for decades been a hub of coal mining and thermal power generation. Today, the Dhirouli coal mine project in this district has triggered widespread protests among local communities. In recent years, the project has generated intense controversy, public opposition, and significant legal and social questions. This is not merely a dispute over one mine; it raises a larger question—who pays the price for energy development? Large corporate beneficiaries or the survival of local communities?

Indian ecologist urges United Nations to probe alleged Epstein links within UN ranks

By A Representative A senior Indian ecologist and long-time United Nations environmental negotiator, Dr. S. Faizi of Thiruvananthapuram, has written to António Guterres, urging the United Nations to launch a high-level investigation into alleged links between certain current and former UN officials and the late American financier Jeffrey Epstein, following disclosures of email communications by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Vaccination vs screening: Policy questions raised on cervical cancer strategy

By A Representative A public policy expert has written to Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda raising a series of concerns regarding the national Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign launched on February 28 for 14-year-old girls.

The new anti-national certificate: If Arundhati Roy is the benchmark, count me in

By Dr. Mansee Bal Bhargava* Dear MANIT Alumni Network Committee, “Are you anti-national?” I encountered this fascinating—some may say intimidating—question from an elderly woman I barely know, an alumna of Maulana Azad College of Technology (MACT, now Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology - MANIT), Bhopal, and apparently one of the founders of the MACT (now MANIT) Alumni Network. The authority with which she posed the question was striking. “How much anti-national are you? What have you done for the Alumni Network Committee to identify you as anti-national?” When I asked what “anti-national” meant to her and who was busy certifying me as such, the response came in counter-questions.

Search This Blog