TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (The News Service of Florida) Florida senators will be asked to eliminate the states no-fault auto insurance option and increase spending to repair the states natural springs, the incoming Senate president said Thursday.

Senate President-designate Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, told business leaders that lawmakers meeting for the 2021 legislative session also will need to consider efforts to keep polluted Central Florida waters from flowing in Lake Okeechobee.

Three or four years ago, we did a bill that brought in more southern storage to that system. And what I believe is probably a flaw in our thinking, there was more of a political thought, Simpson said during a brief video appearance at the end of the Florida Chamber Foundations three-day virtual Future of Florida Forum. We need to go and work on northern storage more aggressively, because northern storage will actually fix the problem. When were talking about fixing the root causes of our problems, a substantial amount of the Everglades problems come from the northern Everglades.

Simpson and House Speaker-designate Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, spoke to business leaders as lawmakers prepare for the legislative session that begins in March and will likely be dominated by responding to the financial impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

In evaluating the damage caused by the pandemic, state economists have lowered the general revenue estimate by $3.42 billion for the current fiscal year and by nearly $2 billion for the 2021-2022 fiscal year, which begins July 1.

General revenue, which includes such money as sales taxes and corporate income taxes, plays a vital role in funding schools, health care and prisons.

Simpson and Sprowls separately addressed the need for lawmakers to reduce the state budget in respond to the revenue estimates.

Both leaders expressed a need to maintain Floridas triple-A bond ratings from three major credit-rating agencies: Moodys Investor Services, Standard and Poors and Fitch Ratings.

Without giving specific details, Sprowls suggested that lawmakers should consider practical solutions to coastal flooding and empower families to make educational choices that are best for their children.

As the nation grapples with COVID-19, many states will have to find a way to fill the holes in their state budgets as a result of declining revenue. What will set Florida apart is that, instead of raising taxes or making your responsible cuts to vital services we will take this unprecedented opportunity to be thoughtful in our approach to minimize the size and scope of government and to get Floridians back to even a better normal, a better life, he said.

Simpson told forum attendees hed also like lawmakers to consider the Florida Retirement Systems unfunded liability.

The biggest eyesore that we have is the unfunded liability, the pension, approximately $25 billion today, Simpson said. I hope this year will be the year that we can address that shortfall within the budget.

In addition to addressing water flowing into the Everglades from the north, Simpson said other ways to improve state water resources is to pump more money into programs to replace septic tanks with sewers and to exceed the $50 million required to be spent annually on natural springs.

I would like to increase that sum if possible, so that we can continue to clean those up, he said.

Simpson also spoke of reviving talks to replace the states no-fault auto insurance system, which requires motorists to carry $10,000 in personal-injury protection coverage to help pay medical bills after accidents, with a requirement for bodily-injury coverage.

The issue has stalled the past few years as the House and Senate fought over whether to restrict bad faith litigation as part of the proposal.

I think we could have some major reforms there and have some guardrails as it relates to bad faith, Simpson said.

The Senate leader also suggested lawmakers consider other insurance-related legislation, such as limiting water-damage claims and home repairs.

One of the other ideas that has been thrown out is that on a roof, after 10 years, to allow a depreciable value on that roof system, Simpson said. Rather than an insurer coming in with a 19-year-old or 20-year-old roof and having to pay the entire amount that roof lifespan has been completely used. So why not allow it after the first 10 years to be on a depreciable value. That should bring significant savings to homeowners and insurance policies.

Earlier in the day, Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis who noted he regularly discusses the states coronavirus response with Florida Chamber President and CEO Mark Wilson said one of the biggest fears among business owners trying to reopen amid the pandemic is the possibility of being sued by people whove contracted COVID-19.

Businesses are telling me that these concerns might keep them from reopening. And we need to get people back to work, said Patronis, who intends to pursue Chamber-supported coronavirus liability-protection legislation in the upcoming session. We cannot allow our state recovery to be inhibited by the constant threat of lawsuits.

View original post here:
Insurance, water issues on the table for legislative session - WMBB - mypanhandle.com

I want to thank the Citrus County Chronicle for investing the time to host a virtual forum for Crystal River City Council candidates and conducting an editorial board interview.

With this opportunity to rebut your endorsement of the incumbent of 18 years, I want to share with your readers, first and foremost, that I love Crystal River and that I want to take my decades of planning and accounting experience and put it to use.

Why do I love Crystal River?

I love the beauty found in its natural wonders.

I love the people of Crystal River, both those who have moved here in recent years, like we have, and those who have lived here all their lives. I love our local business owners who have struggled through decades of stagnation and blight associated with the shutdown of the nuclear plant.

I love those who lobby so hard to clean up Kings Bay and our waters and keep them clean, those who fight to convert septic to sewer, and those who fought so hard to lobby state officials to extend parkways nearby. And now that the Suncoast Parkway is coming here, are we prepared to plan properly for its arrival? Are we ready to set up public workshops and seek public input?

Are we ready to tackle the decades-old parking issues?

Are we ready to focus on our local economy, our lack of retail opportunities, the increased traffic associated with increased tourism and the coming of the parkway, and how to support a revitalization of the Crystal River Mall?

Are we ready to re-evaluate the trolley and how it can be used to showcase and connect many different parts of our city?

Are we ready to take a hard look at our budget and ask questions like why do we need a $900,000 tower truck when we havent even budgeted a new building, additional building maintenance, additional personnel and additional training, when the county already has such assets and often responds to fires faster than we do?

In conclusion, in the Chronicle endorsement of my opponent, they claimed I supported new programs and regulations. I can assure the readers this is nothing further from the truth.

I do, however, support being accessible to the residents and returning every text, email and call I receive. I support asking the public for input. I support focusing on the budget and finding redundancies and cost-saving measures.

Even though I was disappointed with the Chronicles endorsement, it is my hope to gain the endorsement of the voters of our city who should feel free to question me by either calling me at 352-895-3561 or terryforcrystalriver@gmail.com.

Terry Thompson is a candidate for Crystal River City Council.

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Thompson: I will use my decades of experience to improve Crystal River - Citrus County Chronicle

Plumbers have warned people not to use washing up liquid to clean a toilet after a cleaning hack went viral.

We've put togetherwhat you need to know about the cleaning hack - and why you shouldn't do it.

What was the hack?

Originally posted to Facebook group, Mums Who Clean, one woman explained how shed been using washing up liquid to keep her toilet clean.

She wrote, [Put] Dishwashing liquid in the toilet tank compartment and every flush is fresh, clean smelling bubbles and the toilet always looks clean.

The writer explained:I do a big squeeze about three days a week and the toilet is used all the time.

She also said how she had been doing it for years with no problems.

Why you shouldnt put dish soap in your toilet

It appears, however, that not everyone is on board with this DIY toilet hack - with other users warning against the trick.

It ruins your system, so dont do it, wrote one person, and another added, Please dont do this - the rubber/seals in your toilet cistern can break down when anything else but water is used in there.

Peter Daly, CEO of Master Plumbers, said that you should be wary of using products that arent designed to go into a toilet system.

Talking to News.com.au, Daly said:Master Plumbers advises that its safest to use cleaning products specifically designed for flush toilets. People living in outside built-up areas who are using septic tanks (rather than sewers) should ensure the product used is compatible with septic systems.

Daly also added that people should think about the environment when selecting cleaning products.

Originally posted here:
Plumbers reveal why people shouldn't use this popular cleaning 'hack' - St Helens Star

Plumbers have warned people not to use washing up liquid to clean a toilet after a cleaning hack went viral.

We've put togetherwhat you need to know about the cleaning hack - and why you shouldn't do it.

What was the hack?

Originally posted to Facebook group, Mums Who Clean, one woman explained how shed been using washing up liquid to keep her toilet clean.

She wrote, [Put] Dishwashing liquid in the toilet tank compartment and every flush is fresh, clean smelling bubbles and the toilet always looks clean.

The writer explained:I do a big squeeze about three days a week and the toilet is used all the time.

She also said how she had been doing it for years with no problems.

Why you shouldnt put dish soap in your toilet

It appears, however, that not everyone is on board with this DIY toilet hack - with other users warning against the trick.

It ruins your system, so dont do it, wrote one person, and another added, Please dont do this - the rubber/seals in your toilet cistern can break down when anything else but water is used in there.

Peter Daly, CEO of Master Plumbers, said that you should be wary of using products that arent designed to go into a toilet system.

Talking to News.com.au, Daly said:Master Plumbers advises that its safest to use cleaning products specifically designed for flush toilets. People living in outside built-up areas who are using septic tanks (rather than sewers) should ensure the product used is compatible with septic systems.

Daly also added that people should think about the environment when selecting cleaning products.

Read this article:
Plumbers reveal why people shouldn't use this popular cleaning 'hack' - Gazette

Tribune News ServicePatiala, October 12

A sanitation worker died from inhaling toxic fumes while cleaning sewer lines in Rajpura town, officials said on Monday.

Officials identified the victim as Sanjeev Kumar, and said another worker, Vicky Kumar, has been admitted to a hospital.

They were cleaning sewers at Talhi Wala Chowk.

Rajupra Executive Officer Ravneet Singh said that the man was employed at the municipal council but that the civic body did not carry out sewer works (sic), which he said came under the sewerage board.

He could have been working privately but it is yet unclear. Our inspectors have been directed to find out how the man went into the sewer line, he said.

Manual scavenging continues to pose a massive challenge to the country despite a 2013 legislation called the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act (Manual Scavengers Act) banning it. The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment said in its reply to a question in Parliament earlier this year that 282 people had died of asphyxiation in septic tanks and sewers across the country between 2016 and November 2019.

Critics have pointed out that the deaths are grossly underreported and could be much higher.

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Sanitation worker dies of inhaling toxic fumes while cleaning sewer lines in Patiala - The Tribune

Phosphorus pollution from farming runoff and septic and sewer systems is steadily declining in the St. Croix River, but the nutrients continue to threaten what has long been one of the cleanest waterways in the Upper Midwest.

Overall, the river is in relatively good condition, according to a study released this week by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).

Bug and fish populations are thriving. Endangered freshwater mussels one of the strongest indicators of a healthy ecosystem that have been wiped out of more polluted rivers across the state are still surviving in the St. Croix. And, most importantly, nearly all of the historical wetlands and much of the forest protecting and enhancing the northern headwaters of the river are still intact.

But long reaches of the river, which runs along the Minnesota and Wisconsin border, still have too much nutrient pollution from runoff and urban development to meet health and environmental standards. Mercury levels, most likely carried in from air pollution, remain high in fish. Over the past few years the MPCA has also found evidence that PFAS, harmful forever chemicals that dont naturally degrade, have made it into every part of the river.

Phosphorus pollution, which causes toxic algae blooms that can kill off fish and make certain pools and lakes of the river unsafe to swim, gets worse as the river gets closer to the Twin Cities, according to the study.

While nutrient concentrations are still too high, they are lower than they were before the Clean Water Act was passed in the 1970s, said Pam Anderson, who manages the MPCAs surface water monitoring program.

Were seeing an improving trend, Anderson said. Wastewater treatment practices have improved, and theres been work to get better soil retention in agricultural areas to reduce runoff.

The St. Croix was added to the list of the states impaired waters more than a decade ago, largely because of excess nutrients. Still, it remains one of the cleanest and most resilient major water bodies in the region. It is being used as a refuge and incubator for young river mussels to grow and mature before they are reintroduced in other parts of the state.

Remarkably, more than 90% of the wetlands that were near the rivers headwaters before European settlement are still there, according to the MPCA.

Those wetlands act like a sponge, soaking up all the excess water from the heavy rains that have caused the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers to swell and flood in recent years, Anderson said.

The St. Croix is just not seeing those same big blowouts, she said.

The river was also one of the first in the U.S. to be designated as a National Wild and Scenic River, which allows the National Park Service to keep a quarter-mile-wide natural buffer along much of the rivers edge.

The rivers condition remains precarious, especially as more homes, businesses and farms are built within its watershed, said Deb Ryun, executive director of the St. Croix River Association. The association released a State of the River study at the same time the MPCA released its findings.

Were cautiously optimistic that well be able to keep this resource the way it has been for the last 150 years, Ryun said. We have to be diligent. It can tip really quickly.

Continued here:
St. Croix River water quality improving, phosphorus pollution remains a threat - Minneapolis Star Tribune

Marico Innovation Foundation (MIF), the not-for-profit arm of FMCG giant Marico, recently announced the winners for its biannual Innovation for India awards. See our interviews with Marico Chairman Harsh Mariwala and MIF head Priya Kapadia, as well as coverage of the 2018 awards edition.

Since 2006, more than 60 organisations have won MIF awards in the categories of startup, business, social, global gamechanger, and public services. This years innovation winners include Agatsa Software, Genrobotic Innovations, and Innaumation Medical Devices.

Goonj and Olympic Gold Quest were declared winners in the Global Game Changers Category. Indian School of Development Management (ISDM) won a special mention, as well as one of its pedagogies for creating social impact leaders.

Necessity is truly the mother of invention. When we faced a cardiac care emergency in our family, we realised there is no tool to recognise a heart problem quickly, said Neha Rastogi, Founder of Agatsa Software, in a chat with YourStory.

Existing methods were too cumbersome, complex, and time taking. We needed a tool to not just help in detecting the problem on time but also help in monitoring and managing the diseases, she recalls.

The Eureka moment came when she and her husband Rahul made a makeshift lab at home and started developing a simple Internet of Things (IoT)-based ECG device. It was portable and could connect to a basic smartphone.

The device integrates with the cloud and is useful for personal usage, small clinics, and in rural areas. The companys products can measure heart fitness and conditions like stress.

Neha Rastogi, Agatsa Software

A throat cancer patient who had come to us had not spoken for a very long time as he could not afford the expensive imported prosthesis available in the market. That is when I had this moment of conviction that I should be working towards making a speaking device for these patients, recalls Dr Vishal Rao, inventor of the Aum Voice Prosthesis, Innaumation Medical Devices.

Vishal and his co-founder Shashank Mahesh were of the firm belief that speech and communication are not a privilege but are everyones right. This has been the guide for me throughout this journey, he affirms.

The Bengaluru-based medical device startups award-winning innovation helps with voice restoration for throat cancer patients via affordable, affable, and accessible devices. Surgical removal of the voice box due to cancer therefore need not mean complete loss of speech.

Way back in 2016, we came across an article that led to the birth of our idea. The article was titled Braveheart Kozhikode auto driver dies after jumping into the sewer to rescue sewage workers, recalls Rashid K, Co-founder of Genrobotic Innovations, which makes robots to clean manholes.

Unfortunately, the two sewage workers also died in the reported incident. This newspaper heading shook us all and we collectively decided that we will develop a technology that completely eliminates manual scavenging from our society, Rashid affirms.

He cites shocking evidence that at least 110 workers were killed last year while cleaning sewers and septic tanks. Manual scavenging is strictly prohibited by the Supreme Court of India and is a punishable offense, Rashid adds.

To tackle this harsh reality, he founded the Thiruvananthapuram-headquartered company, which creates a robot called Bandicoot to clean manholes using computer vision and advanced robotics.

We realised there was a huge gap in learning, practicing, and understanding of development management in social purpose organisations (SPOs), explains Ravi Sreedharan, Founder, Indian School of Development Management (ISDM). Existing business and management practices have not been able to solve problems in the social development sector.

Ravi cites data, which shows India has 3.3 million Non-Profit Institutions (NPIs) employing over 18.2 million people, supported by funders, enabling organisations, the government, and businesses.

ISDM has come up with a new lens and approach to groom leaders for the development sector. The aha moment for seizing an opportunity came when we saw students from over 20 states across the country joining the first batch in 2017, Ravi recalls. Since then, more than 200 development managers have graduated.

ISDM was founded in 2016, and its Knowledge and Research Centre is working to create a Body of Knowledge for Development Management. Ravi was earlier at HSBC and former lead of the Education and Leadership Management at Azim Premji Foundation.

The founders also shared market activities, traction, and impact of their offerings.

We have sold more than 10,000 devices since launching our first beta product in 2017. It is available on all ecommerce platforms including our own webstore, says Neha Rastogi of Agatsa Software. The medical-grade devices are also used by state governments in their initiatives of improving rural health.

Having gathered huge data in our cloud databases, we are working on improving the outcomes of our products by continuously implementing our patented AI algorithms and making the devices more intelligent, she adds. Hospitals, diagnostic labs and tele-healthcare companies are integrating these services to improve judgment and diagnosis.

We have already reached out to more than 400 patients who have been able to speak with Aum Voice Prosthesis, says Vishal Rao of Innaumation Medical Devices. The company has also set up the Aum Voice Chain to help rehabilitate poor patients who cannot afford the device.

We are on a mission called #MissionRobohole, which is about converting manholes into 'Roboholes' and replacing manual labour with robots. Moreover, we are upskilling manual scavengers to become robot operators, says Rashid K of Genrobotic Innovations.

The Bandicoot robots have been deployed in 11 states with more than 40 implementations. Hundreds of manual scavengers have gone through our rehabilitation program to become robot operators and make a change to their life, Rashid proudly says.

Over the last four years, ISDM has developed a unique curriculum and pedagogy, and over 200 students have graduated across three batches since 2017, according to founder Ravi Sreedharan.

The approach resonates well with CSR groups under Hindustan Unilever Foundation, Srijan, Dasra, and Azizji Premji Philanthropic Initiatives, among others. Faculty collaborations have been formed with the IIMs, Wharton, Oxford, HBS and INSEAD.

Winners: Genrobotic Innovations (L), Innaumation Medical Devices (R)

The global COVID-19 pandemic has turned life upside down for societies and businesses around the world. But despite the challenges, resolute entrepreneurs have ploughed on.

The worldwide pandemic has been a very unfortunate event and slowed down many business activities from design to supply. The lockdowns posed manufacturing and logistic challenges, Neha Rastogi of Agatsa Software recalls.

But the company changed track to more of R&D and innovation. We shifted our focus towards understanding the need for user-friendly, portable, and connected devices during the COVID-19 pandemic, considering health concerns, social distancing, and quick screening, she explains.

The company launched a multi-parameter device, SanketLife Multi-Vital that is capable of taking blood pressure, SpO2, temperature, and ECG all with one single device.

Due to the pandemic, many cancer hospitals have been converted to COVID centres and are not seeing laryngectomy patients, according to Vishal Rao of Innaumation Medical Devices. Most of the patients are not visiting these hospitals due to the fear of contracting COVID-19. This has impacted sales negatively, he adds.

But the company has utilised this time to set up the distribution network for India, and reach out to patients and surgeons using digital media. We have used this time to develop a breathable bib made from Dupont Tyvek to help patients stay protected, Vishal adds.

Recent studies show the presence of COVID-19 RNA in sewage, and there is a risk that sewage-related activities can be the next source for spreading the virus, cautions Rashid K of Genrobotic Innovations. Medical waste from quarantine periods has also increased.

Sanitation services cannot be postponed or locked down, hence the life of sanitation workers became riskier, he adds. This became a challenge and an opportunity for his company.

I am happy to share that the Bandicoot robot is helping sanitation workers clean manholes without any direct contact with sewage. Thus, it avoids the chance of getting the virus from sewage, Rashid proudly says.

The shutdown of all educational institutes to curb the spread of COVID-19 has had an unprecedented impact on the entire education sector of India, laments Ravi Sreedharan of ISDM. The batch this year has been the smallest, and the institute had to adopt to online activities.

However, the pandemic and the humanitarian crisis has not been able to dampen the spirit or resolve at ISDM. We see the present crisis as requiring, more than ever before, strategically equipped and trained development managers who are able to navigate challenges with critical innovations, he emphasies.

A Learning Management System (LMS) helps students access all academic and research resources without barriers. We have also strengthened our subscription to journals and resources to ensure that all learning continues for students without any interruptions, Ravi adds.

MIF has helped the winners with support and handholding in their journeys to sustain and scale ahead.

Being recognised by MIF is a very important and prestigious event in the world of startups. They also work very closely with the winners to guide and steer them through various challenges, Neha Rastogi of Agatsa Software explains.

MIF has helped in areas like digital marketing activities and factory set-up in Bengaluru, says Vishal Rao of Innaumation Medical Devices. We are certain that this will lay a strong foundation for our activities and help us scale up our operations in the near future, he adds.

MIF has given great support and guidance as well as an excellent platform to spread #MissionRobohole and help make India free of manual scavenging, according to Rashid K of Genrobotic Innovations.

We hope that being recognised for our work on the prestigious MIF platform will help open new doors for us and give us the opportunity to collaborate on building a pool of knowledge, wisdom and new ideas, adds Ravi Sreedharan of ISDM.

The award-winning founders shared tips and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, ranging from mindset to skillsets.

Everyone looking to be an entrepreneur should believe in the problem they are solving. And there are a lot of problems to be solved in our country, says Neha Rastogi of Agatsa Software.

Your own belief will compel others to believe in your idea, and thats where the magic starts. Other than that, perseverance is the key it takes time to progress and succeed, she adds.

Always keep identifying the problems and study its root cause, then get into the process of solving it. This will help you to develop the best solution for the customer, advises Rashid K of Genrobotic Innovations.

Founders should not lose focus or patience. Just put your heart and soul into the process completely, he adds. The combination of dream, passion and hard work will bring the best output.

Innovators should believe in themselves, and begin with an innovation for a single user. Markets will develop around the innovation. Leverage the power of uncommon collaborations, recommends Vishal Rao of Innaumation Medical Devices.

To all aspiring entrepreneurs, we would like to say please continue to dream enormous and audacious dreams much as we have at ISDM. We would encourage people to become social entrepreneurs, treading the balance between helping society and finding adventure in what you pursue, advises Ravi Sreedharan of ISDM.

As alumni examples, he cites those working on waste recycling and management in urban areas (HaritGriha in Meerut), helping the elderly (Grey Shades), and creating fellowships for social purpose (Kayantar Foundation).

Entrepreneurs now shoulder the responsibility equally, alongside policy makers and decision makers, to attain a syncretic relationship where each grows without impeding on the other, Ravi signs off.

Go here to read the rest:
From problem to product: entrepreneur insights from winners of the Marico Innovation Foundation 2020 awards - YourStory

Mallika* returned to her parents' house earlier this year after being abused by her husband Amar*, who belongs to a higher caste, for over a month.

"He used to rape me every day. He forced a cloth into my mouth so that my screams couldn't be heard outside when he beat me. It's like he wanted to destroy my very existence," she said.

Like many women in Indias conservative areas, Mallika married her rapist. Although she filed a complaint at a local police station, the group of village elders or khap panchayat intervened to save him and forced them to marry.

After the marriage, Amar's family physically and mentally abused her, in the hope that she would die and Amar could marry again."I was on the verge of dying. They didnt give me food to eat or water to drink. They used to constantly refer to me as achoot [untouchable], because of my caste," she told DW.

Read more: Opposition calls for 'satyagraha' sit-ins following rape, murder

Mallika ran away from Amars house and filed a report alleging domestic violence and criminal intimidation, among other charges. Her case was disposed by the district court, but she is contesting the judgement. However, she is under immense pressure to retract her complaint.

"The female police officers keep telling me that I should settle the matter outside the court. They say I will lose my case as I am powerless against an upper-caste family," Mallika said. She is being supported by Manisha Mashaal, an anti-caste activist and founder of Swabhimaan Society, an NGO.

In a nutshell, the caste system is a classification of people into four groups or Varnas: the Brahmins, who are priests and teachers, are on top, followed by Kshatriyas or the warriors, the Vaishyas or the merchants and the Shudras, including groups like cobblers, butchers and so on. The last group is considered outside the caste system and comprises the so-called untouchables, who were traditionally involved in cleaning, disposing off corpses and similar work. In the past and in several parts of India today, untouchables known collectively as Dalits have been marginalized, forced to live outside villages in deplorable conditions and have little or no access to health, education and sanitation.

Mallika belongs to the Valmiki caste. In several parts of India, Valmikis engage in manual scavenging - the manual cleaning of septic tanks and sewers, and the removal of human excreta from streets and public toilets. Their dirty work is often cited as a reason for them being at the rock bottom of the caste hierarchy and makes them susceptible to discrimination from both upper castes and other Dalits, who may be slightly higher placed in the caste hierarchy.

"People of the Valmiki community are referred to as suar or 'pig' by members of upper castes, owing to the nature of their profession," Vijay Kumar, a Dalit rights activist in New Delhi explained, adding, "Most people in the Valmiki community are extremely poor, and existing caste hierarchies and discrimination impede their social upliftment.

The plight of Valmiki women has come into focus after a 19-year-old woman belonging to the community was raped in Hathras, a city in Uttar Pradesh in north India recently. Their low status makes them particularly susceptible to violence from upper caste men in villages because they go out of their homes to work, according to JP Chaudhary, a writer and commentator on Dalit rights.

"Almost 80% of India's manual scavengers are women, because gender discrimination within the Valmiki community forces women to take up work such as sweeping. They sweep homes or streets, making them vulnerable to violence from upper-caste men, as they are seen as easily available," he told DW.

For upper caste men, raping a Valmiki woman isn't just a sign of their caste privilege it also establishes power over the untouchables. "There is this feeling of entitlement among upper caste men that they can do anything to a Valmiki girl and get away with it," Dalit rights activist Vijay Kumar said.

According to activist Manisha Mashaal, women from the Valmiki community are usually missing from the mainstream narrative around gender-based violence as the voices that speak up for women are mainly upper-caste.

Read more: 'Indian government only provides a band-aid after rape'

"Caste-based violence is quite common, but it doesn't receive coverage in upper-caste dominated newsrooms. It's common for Dalit villages to be burnt down, for the cops to refuse a post-mortem for women who have been raped, for the local administration and upper caste people to suppress cases filed by Dalit people. The atrocities are immense, and the rape case in Hathras is just the tip of the iceberg," added Mashaal. Also, India's National Crime Records Bureau does not separately detail data on rapes against women belonging to specific Dalit communities, making it difficult to ascertain how many Valmiki women exactly have experienced assault.

According to Leslee Udwin, who directed India's Daughter, a documentary on the 2012 gang rape of a 23-year old woman in Delhi, violence against Valmiki women cannot be prevented by dealing with just the violence and not its cause, which is the caste system.

"Rape isn't an India-specific issue. Caste and caste-based gender violence is specific to India, she told DW, adding, If you're born as a Dalit, you can't even walk in the shadow of someone who is sacred just because they were born into an upper caste family. The rest of the world shouldn't ignore this blatant discrimination and should impose economic sanctions on India for this discriminatory practice."

Read more: India bans documentary 'India's Daughter' on rape

But even Dalits as a community are hardly homogeneous and often divided into hierarchies of upper and lower-rung castes. "Other Dalit communities also discriminate against the Valmikis. They don't even allow marriage with the Valmikis owing to the caste difference," writer-activist Chaudhary, who is a Valmiki himself, said.

Valmikis have traditionally voted for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has exploited the marginalization of the Valmikis within the Dalit community for its benefit. Valmiki support for the BJP has come into question following the rape in Hathras, but according to JP Chaudhary, the case won't make much impact, because Valmikis vote according to economic need.

"This community is very poor. They can't even afford more than one meal in a day. A day before the election, if someone pays them to vote, then they vote for that person, Chaudhary said, adding, "Valmikis can put India to a grinding halt if they choose to not work for just a week. But they can't afford to do that, as they are too poor. That's the tragedy of being a Valmiki."

*Names have been changed to protect privacy

Read the original post:
Gruesome rape in India's Hathras reveals the plight of lower castes - Taiwan News

SPRINGDALE -- Former customers of the Bethel Heights sewer service will soon get a payback from Springdale Water Utilities, Heath Ward, executive director of Springdale Water Utilities, announced Tuesday night.

The utility will return to every property owner the $250 deposit paid for sewer service provided by Bethel Heights. And customers who paid both Bethel Heights and Springdale for an overlap of service last month will see another $20 refund on their account, Ward said.

Ward shared the news with a handful of Bethel Heights residents in a meeting at the administration building of the shuttered city.

Springdale on Aug. 21 annexed the nearly 2.7 square miles and roughly 3,000 residents of Bethel Heights. Residents of both cities voted overwhelmingly for the action Aug. 11. The smaller city spent more than a year working and failing to get its two wastewater treatment plants operating in compliance with its state permit.

Springdale's water staff on Sept. 16 held an informal closing ceremony for the Bethel Heights wastewater system. As of that date, 100 percent of the sewage from the former Bethel Heights has been pumped to the Springdale wastewater treatment plant on Silent Grove Road, Ward said.

"It was like flipping a light switch, and it was over," Ward said.

"You've done more in three and a half weeks than they've done in 13 years," Lawrence Bowen told utility staff at the meeting, speaking of the former Bethel Heights government. Bowen lives next door to the Lincoln Street plant and suffered with untreated sewage running across his property for many years.

"I can now walk to my in-laws' house in my tennis shoes, not my rubber boots," added Tina Bowen, who lives next door.

Ward said he didn't feel his department had any right to the deposit money paid by former Bethel Heights customers.

Bethel Heights residents received sewer service from their city, which required a deposit, and water service from the Springdale system, which also required a deposit.

Ward said Springdale residents paid just one deposit, as the utility provided both services to its customers.

"We wanted the new citizens of Springdale to be treated the same way," he said. "If their accounts are in good standing, we hope to make those payments in the next 60 days."

Repaying those deposits might be a chore, Ward said. In Bethel Heights, property owners were responsible for deposits; in Springdale, account holders pay.

"And those original property owners might have died or moved out of state or otherwise be hard to find," he said.

Rick Pulvirenti, chief engineer and operating officer for the utility, said any deposits not returned to property owners will be deposited as unclaimed property through the state attorney general's office.

Ward said the utility also plans to institute a yearly "pump out, clean out and inspection process" for residents who retain infrastructure of the Bethel Heights system. Each home has a small septic-type tank where wastewater was collected before piped to one of the city's two treatment plants.

The utility will not charge residents for the program or repairs, and the process will start soon, he said.

"A lot of those individual systems were left in pretty poor condition," Ward said. "Parts are missing from some of them, or the lids might be cracked or removed. It's a safety issue. Those tanks could be hazardous if there is a child in the home."

Wastewater from the former Bethel Heights homes now bypasses the closed treatment plants and is pumped into lines leading to the Springdale plant, Ward explained.

Springdale utility crews laid above ground, 8-inch polyethylene pipes from both plants. The lines probably pump about 100 to 300 gallons a minute -- an amount not expected to overwhelm the system, Ward continued.

The pipes tie into the Springdale just 800 feet from the north plant on Lincoln and about 1,700 feet from the south plant on Oak. Both run through private property for which the utility paid for easements.

"We are proud to say we have done this in about three weeks," Ward said.

He said the project cost only about $120,000, without labor costs.

The utility staff now turns its attention to a permanent solution of putting the temporary lines underground, hopefully by March. Ward said a plan has been sent to the Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality and the Arkansas Department of Health for approval.

Even the temporary pipelines include flow meters and other equipment to determine for the department gallons of water, peak flow times and more. This data should help determine the needs over the next few years and the long-term plan for serving residents as the city and region grow, Ward said.

"All of the decisions will be data-driven."

The utility staff will work with the state's regulating agencies about the future of the land that holds the now-closed plants, Ward said.

"It should be pretty straightforward since most of the decommissioning is the mechanical removal of certain items and letting nature take care of the rest over time," he said.

An eight inch continual polyethylene pipe from the former failing Bethel Heights water treatment plant to a connection with a Springdale sewer line is visible Tuesday, September 29, 2020, as it comes out of the ground after passing under a road. Check out nwaonline.com/200930Daily/ and nwadg.com/photos for a photo gallery.(NWA Democrat-Gazette/David Gottschalk)

Laurinda Joenks can be reached by email at joenks@nwadg.com or on Twitter @NWALaurinda.

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Bethel Heights sewer customers to receive refunds - Arkansas Online

Last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis held a big event at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, which is the only government facility in the nation where mermaids work as state employees.

The governor wasnt there to cavort with the ladies with prosthetic tails, though. He was there to pose for pictures with a giant-sized check, which he said represented the start of a $50 million program to restore the states springs to their former glory.

Of course, this was not strictly accurate. The $50 million program DeSantis announced was actually the third year of a $150 million program originally unveiled by his predecessor, former Gov. Rick Scott, according to the Florida Springs Council.

I looked over the list of projects included in the Scott-DeSantis springs program. Turns out a lot of them were all about one thing: Poop.

For instance, to help clean up Weeki Wachee Springs for the mermaids, the plan calls for design, permitting, and construction of 3 million gallons a day [mgd] of advanced wastewater treatment.

For Rainbow Springs, its construction of a new 0.80 mgd expansion and upgrade to advanced wastewater treatment.

For Silver Springs, theres decommissioning the Ocala East Villas Wastewater Treatment Facility and pumping the wastewater to Marion Countys wastewater treatment plant.

For Ichetucknee Springs, the plan calls for abandonment of up to nine septic systems and connecting the parcels to existing sanitary sewer.

The fact that so much of this needs fixing shows how Florida has repeatedly done an execrable job of dealing with its excrement.

Everybody poops, as a popular childrens book points out. But some people try to ignore that fact of life.

The Chamber of Commerce boasts about how 900 people a day move to Florida, but nobody talks about how all those new residents put a strain on our sewer systems and septic tanks.

No developer wants to pay impact fees to upgrade those systems, either. Meanwhile, local governments often balk at making a sewer system fix a priority, especially if doing so requires raising taxes or rates.

Then one rainy day the sewer pipes or the wastewater treatment plant get so overloaded they cant handle the load anymore. Suddenly BLOOP! they dump a big bucket of nasty into the nearest waterway. Weve seen this happen in St. Petersburg, Tampa, Sarasota, Jacksonville, DeFuniak Springs, Boca Raton name a Florida city and its had a major sewage spill, often more than one.

Olympic pools full of poo

Nine months ago, Fort Lauderdale had so many sewer mains break that they spilled nearly 127 million gallons of the stinky stuff, which the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported was enough to fill 192 Olympic-sized pools. (Now theres an image I never wanted in my head.)

Having all that fecal mess fouling the water is bad enough. Whats worse is that it can spur the growth of toxic algae blooms.

Remember when red tide laid siege to Floridas coastline from November 2017 to early 2019? At its peak in October 2018, red tide was afflicting all three of the states coasts the beaches of the Panhandle, the Gulf, and the Atlantic. That rust-colored bloom shut down beaches with the sickening stench of massive fish kills, chasing tourists away as its choking toxins wafted in on every sea breeze.

A new scientific study published this month in the journal Harmful Algae confirmed what experts have long suspected. Red tide blooms begin 40 miles or so out in the Gulf of Mexico, no one knows why, but once the bloom moves near to shore were the ones giving it more fuel.

The study examined all the red tide blooms that occurred off Charlotte Harbor between 2012 and 2018 and found that stormwater runoff polluted with sewage and fertilizer fed the explosion of tiny critters so it could keep going, like a really rank version of the Energizer Bunny.

Are we making things worse with our storm runoff? Yes, said the studys lead author, Miles Medina, an environmental scientist at the University of Florida. Were increasing the intensity and the duration of the bloom.

Something similar happens with the vile blue-green algae blooms that explode on both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts whenever the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dumps excess water out of Lake Okeechobee. The blooms begin in the lake then get flushed out via the Caloosahatchee River to the west and via the St. Lucie River to the east, coating both coasts in green gunk that at times resembles toxic guacamole. Once again, the existing bloom is fed by our waste.

(Get ready for another one, by the way. The Corps of Engineers just announced that because of all the rain weve been getting lately, the agency would probably have to release lots of polluted water from the lake in the near future along with whatever is growing in there.)

The pollution-fueling-algae-bloom problem has gotten so bad that the Weeki Wachee mermaids have even worked it into their show for the tourists. They warn about nitrate pollution from sewage and fertilizer tainting the spring, giving power to an algae monster called Mr. Scrunge, described as a green villain with his own theme song.

First in Feculence!

Two years ago, DeSantis campaigned on a promise to stop the coastal version of Mr. Scrunge, the blue-green algae blooms that had damaged tourism-related businesses on both coasts. Once elected, he appointed a Blue-Green Algae Task Force that recommended some changes in the law, which the Legislature turned into a bill that resembled the stuff flowing out of the broken sewer plants.

The bill was so bad, environmental groups said it actually would make things worse. They called on DeSantis to veto it and push for something stronger, something better. Instead, in June, he signed it into law.

One of the problems the critics pointed out with the bill named (I kid you not) the Florida Clean Waterways Act is that it failed to address Floridas growing population over the next 20 years, just like all the prior regulations. Another is that too much of it depends on voluntary participation by the polluters.

The state is going backwards with regard to pollution control, Gary Goforth, a Ph.D. with 35 years of experience in Florida water resources management, told me this week. For instance, he said, the state gave the agricultural industry millions of dollars to come up with ways to voluntarily cut the nutrient pollution flowing off over-fertilized farmers fields, he said, yet the nutrient loads are worse now than when they started.

This is the way we always do things in Florida, though. We give the polluters whatever they want, even let them write the rules theyre supposed to abide by, all in the name of keeping our economy roaring.

Then when theres a disaster a sewage spill or an algae bloom that harms that same economy we throw a lot of taxpayer dollars at the problem, although rarely enough to actually fix whats wrong.

Heres my suggestion: Lets stop trying to fix our poopy problem.

We never want to spend the money or impose the regulations that will really deal with it, so lets just give up the pretense of being effective. Instead, lets let our overloaded sewer systems break. Let the poo-poo flow unimpeded into our bays and rivers and creeks. Let toxic algae bloom in every color of the rainbow!

While were at it, lets also stop trying to hide whats going on.

Lets advertise it instead. Lets take that big cardboard check the governor displayed last week and give it to Visit Florida to pay for billboards all over the country that feature Mr. Scrunge boasting, Floridas First in Feculence! and Were No. 1 in No. 2!

If we do that, I bet those 900 people a day will quit moving to Florida. Maybe then well get serious about cleaning up our waterways, which is something the mermaids would probably appreciate.

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This column stinks and so does the way FL handles its poop - Florida Phoenix