Latest news with #Sahoo
Hindustan Times
16 hours ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Nephrologists bust 7 common myths about kidney disease: Is it actually preventable to is dialysis inevitable
According to the US-based National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), chronic kidney disease means that the kidneys are damaged and can't filter blood as they should. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Saiprasad Sahoo, senior consultant – nephrology, Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar, shared that when it comes to maintaining kidney health, there are several myths that prevent people from taking the right steps to protect their kidneys. Also read | Do you overuse paracetamol? Urologist says it can increase kidney cancer risk; know these 10 everyday habits to avoid Dr Sahoo said, 'Kidneys are the silent warriors of the body – they filter waste, regulate electrolyte balance and blood pressure (BP), and keep us healthy. However, kidneys are susceptible to damage from various factors like poor diet, lifestyle habits, and underlying health conditions. Apart from lifestyle factors, kidney disease is also aggravated by known risk factors like diabetes and high blood pressure.' He added that to maintain kidney health, make conscious dietary choices and healthy lifestyle habits: 'Track your health parameters, eat good food, stay hydrated, avoid smoking, and manage your stress to ensure that your kidneys remain functional for a long time.' According to Dr Maria Bethsaida Manual, consultant, nephrology, and transplant physician, Manipal Hospital Whitefield, there are several myths surrounding kidney disease that 'lead to confusion, and delayed diagnosis and treatment'. Dr Sahoo and Dr Manual shared a bunch of myths they wish you would stop believing: 1. 'One such myth is that only the elderly are at risk of kidney disease. In reality, kidney issues can affect people of all ages, especially those with diabetes, high BP, or a family history of kidney issues,' Dr Sahoo said. 2. Does drinking water prevent kidney disease? According to Dr Manual: 'Staying hydrated is important to kidney health, but in some kidney diseases, such as End-Stage Renal Disease or Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 5, overhydration can be harmful.' 3. Dr Manual said that people think no symptoms mean the kidneys are fine. 'Kidney disease progresses silently, which means there are no symptoms until significant damage has already occurred,' she said. 4. 'Another popular belief is that herbal products can cure kidney disease. However, many herbal remedies contain unregulated and toxic substances that may be harmful to the kidneys. Therefore, please visit your doctor before using them exclusively,' Dr Sahoo said. 5. He added, 'Many people think that painkillers are harmless. But not many realise that overuse of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can damage the kidneys in people with existing risk factors.' 6. Another myth is that dialysis is inevitable if you have kidney disease. However, according to Dr Manual, 'Not all patients progress to ESRD (End-Stage Renal Disease). Many patients can maintain stable kidney function for years with proper lifestyle and medical treatment.' 7. Many also think that kidney disease is not preventable. Reacting to which, Dr Manual said, 'While not all forms are preventable, healthy lifestyle changes like controlling BP, blood glucose, and staying active gradually reduce the risk of disease progression.' Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
India Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Why Rajasthan is looking for a new DGP
In a sudden move, the Rajasthan government appointed its Director General of Police, Utkal Ranjan Sahoo, as chairperson of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC). While the choice of Sahoo's successor as DGP will greatly impact the perception of Bhajan Lal Sharma's BJP government among the masses, his shift to the helm of the RPSC is expected to lend some badly needed credibility to the institution marred by the arrests of its member Babul Lal Katara and former member Ramu Ram Naika for allegedly taking bribes to get some candidates selected, besides paper leaks and delays in exams and fills the top slot at the RPSC that had been vacant since Sanjay Shrotriya, a 'promotee' IPS officer, finished his tenure. This post is often held by retired IAS and IPS officers. As the integrity of the officers has not always been unquestionable, the RPSC's credibility has nose-dived over the luck took a turn for the better after the change of government in December 2023 as Ashok Gehlot's erstwhile Congress government had superseded him by appointing Umesh Mishra, a year junior to him, in 2022 as DGP for a minimum two-year term. When the BJP came to power, Mishra was asked to take voluntary retirement (VRS), which he immediately did, making way for Sahoo's appointment as DGP. Sahoo was DG (Home Guards) at that 2020, the Gehlot government had similarly asked then DGP Bhupendra Yadav, its own appointee, to take VRS and become the RPSC chairperson, making way for M.L. Lather as DGP. Lather, on superannuation, was appointed as Information Commissioner by the Gehlot government and later the BJP government elevated him as Chief Information Commissioner. Sahoo has described checking paper leaks as his challenge and priority. He also refused to defer the Rajasthan Administrative Services Examination—a demand of some candidates who cited lack of preparations due to Operation Sindoor duties. Sahoo, who gets over a year in RPSC, had seven months to go as DGP, making some wonder why he was moved out to a post that some other officers were reportedly expecting. Being a man of few words, some say Sahoo was unable to leave much of an impression as DGP. Others say the shift was to get a tried-and-tested officer as RPSC chairperson to restore its credibility, and also to bring a good replacement as is chosen as the next DGP will have a lot of impact on CM Sharma's image. His government has reportedly sent a list of nine officers, who have completed 30 years in service, to the commission, which will choose a panel of three. The seniormost, Rajeev K. Sharma of the 1990 batch, is posted as DG (Bureau of Police Research and Development). He was appointed as DG (Anti-Corruption Bureau), a coveted post, in February 2024, but the very next month, his name was cleared for central deputation. After him comes Rajesh Nirwan (1992 batch), DG (Bureau of Aviation Security), Delhi, and then Sanjay Kumar Agarwal (1992 batch), DG (Intelligence), Rajasthan, a post given to a trusted officer. Agarwal was close to former CM Vasundhara Raje too, besides being Commissioner of Police in Jaipur. There are also 1993 and 1994 batch officers on the list—some are considered political heavyweights, others are said to be good on will depend on the panel the commission chooses and then whom among them CM Sharma picks up. Though Rajeev K. Sharma leads the race, the lobbies working against him are citing caste equations to point out that both the chief secretary and the chief minister are also Brahmins. However, many believe caste does not matter in top posts where delivery matters. And Sharma definitely scores well on both merit and seniority. Besides, it is UPSC that draws the final panel based on seniority and quantified Ravi Prakash Meharda, the acting DGP who is also DG (ACB), is retiring by the end of June and the CM has an option to appoint his successor from any of contenders for DGP who have enough time before retirement to be considered the next time. If CM Sharma pulls a surprise, however, it will have to be weighed with the risk to his government's image, and discontent among rank and file, while also revealing his strategy of to India Today Magazine
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Gokhale Institute & Servants of India Society now lock horns over cash control
PUNE: Tensions between the Pune-based Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (GIPE) and parent Servants of India Society (SIS) have flared again with both trading allegations over control of a key bank account. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The feud comes against the backdrop of an FIR filed on GIPE's complaint in April accusing SIS's former secretary Milind Deshmukh of misappropriating Rs 1.4 crore. At a news conference Thursday, GIPE's officiating deputy registrar Vishal Gaikwad accused SIS of wrongdoing, including freezing its account. SIS president Damodar Sahoo countered the charges. "We came to know 3-4 days ago Sahoo wrote to the bank to freeze the account from which staff salaries are disbursed. But we met the bank's officials and made it operational," Gaikwad said. Sahoo, on the other hand, insisted that it was a joint account with two signatories, SIS and GIPE. However, GIPE had removed SIS's signatory without any prior notification, Sahoo claimed. "We wrote to the bank to freeze the account to know what happened. This has been a joint account since inception. There have always been two signatories and one cannot be randomly deleted," Sahoo said. On the earlier funds-related FIR against Deshmukh, Gaikwad said he had written to police asking them to add Sahoo's name to the case. Sahoo said he has no information about GIPE's letter, nor have police contacted him. In view of their allegations against SIS of misusing GIPE funds, Gaikwad said the institute wrote to the charity commissioner requesting suspension of SIS leadership and appointment of an administrator. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Sahoo contended that GIPE has no right to make such a demand since SIS is its parent body. A few months ago, SIS had accused interim VC Shankar Das of allegedly bypassing procedures in faculty and staff recruitment at GIPE, which escalated to SIS removing Sanjeev Sanyal as chancellor and appointing an interim chancellor. Sanyal hit back, alleging lack of transparency in financial transactions of SIS. He announced that a panel led by JNU vice-chancellor Santishree Pandit would inquire into the allegations against Das, after which Sahoo called it all a misunderstanding and Sanyal was reinstated. Pandit's committee later gave a clean chit to Das.
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
New dispute breaks out between GIPE & parent body SIS over financial control
Pune: Tensions between Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (GIPE) and its parent body, Servants of India Society (SIS), flared up once again after both indulged in allegations and counter-allegations related to a bank account. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now At a press conference on Thursday, GIPE's officiating deputy registrar Vishal Gaikwad, accused SIS of wrongdoing, including freezing its account. However, SIS president Damodar Sahoo, who later met reporters, countered the charges. Gaikwad said, "We came to know 3-4 days ago that Sahoo wrote to the bank to freeze the account from which the staff salaries are disbursed. But we met the bank's officials and made it operational." Sahoo, on the other hand, stated that it was a joint account with two signatories, SIS and GIPE. However, GIPE had removed SIS's signatory without any prior notification. He said, "Hence, we wrote to the bank to freeze the account to know what happened as this has been a joint account since inception and there have always been two signatories and one cannot randomly delete one signatory." In April, an FIR was lodged by GIPE against SIS's former secretary Milind Deshmukh, accusing him of misappropriating funds worth Rs 1.42 crore. Gaikwad said that he wrote to the police asking them to add Sahoo's name to the FIR. Sahoo said he has no information about GIPE's letter, nor have the police contacted him. In view of their allegations against SIS of misusing GIPE funds, Gaikwad said that the institute wrote to the charity commissioner requesting suspension of the SIS leadership and appointment of an administrator. Sahoo alleged that GIPE has no right to make such a demand since SIS is its parent body. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A few months ago, SIS had accused interim VC Shankar Das of allegedly bypassing procedures in faculty and staff recruitment at GIPE which escalated to the SIS removing Sanjeev Sanyal as chancellor and appointing an interim chancellor. Sanyal hit back, alleging lack of transparency in financial transactions of SIS. In a series of posts on X, Sanyal said that JNU vice-chancellor Santishree Pandit will inquire into the allegations against Das after which Sahoo called it all a misunderstanding and Sanyal was reinstated. Pandit's committee, which comprised two more members from SPPU, conducted an inquiry and gave a clean chit to the recruitment process taken up by Das. She said, "We had two online meetings and one in-person meeting at GIPE. We looked at all the documents and found that no rules of UGC or the state govt were flouted during the appointments made during Das's tenure. Sahoo withdrew his complaint against Das. A public notice was issued requesting submission of any evidence related to the complaint before the committee. However, Sahoo did not present or submit any documents before the committee. None of the allegations could stand scrutiny, and the process documents proved beyond doubt that all rules and regulations were followed." Pandit added that there was another complaint from a faculty member at GIPE alleging irregularities in the appointments. "We admitted the complaint and went through its allegations. We also gave the professor a fair hearing. However, since no rules were flouted, we gave a clean chit to Das and submitted the report to the chancellor a month and a half ago," she said. Sahoo said that he had not withdrawn the complaint, and was not called to give evidence. "I have not even been given a copy of the report nor was my side heard," he added. The SIS president said an advisory body was created to bridge the souring relationship between GIPE and SIS and keep communication channels open. However, Gaikwad said there is no provision for such a committee in SIS's byelaws. New VC Soon Both Gaikwad and Sahoo confirmed that the selection process for a new vice-chancellor for Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics has been completed and the institute will soon have a new head. Sahoo said, "I am very hopeful that under able leadership and guidance, our new VC will shoulder the responsibility of GIPE and render his best services for all-round development of the institute and re-establish a cordial relationship between SIS and GIPE."
Hindustan Times
12-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Pune's GIPE demands administrator for Servants of India Society
In a major escalation of the ongoing dispute, the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (GIPE) has formally demanded that the Servants of India Society (SIS), its parent body, be placed under a neutral administrator. GIPE has also urged the police to name SIS president Damodar Sahoo as a co-accused in an ongoing case involving alleged financial irregularities. At a press conference on Thursday, GIPE staff members accused Sahoo and ousted secretary Milind Deshmukh of misusing crores of rupees from the institute's accounts for personal legal expenses, payments to relatives, and irregular staffing. 'All this has been done while invoking the name of Gopal Krishna Gokhale, the society's revered founder,' officials said. In a statement, GIPE claimed that SIS has been draining the institute of its resources for years without contributing a single rupee to its functioning for over two decades. 'Internal documents and letters show that Sahoo and Deshmukh directed GIPE to pay their personal legal bills, salaries of their private staff, and make contractor payments unrelated to the university. Just last week, Sahoo directed GIPE's bank to freeze staff salary accounts, severely disrupting operations,' the statement said. GIPE has called for immediate suspension of the SIS leadership and the appointment of a neutral administrator through court intervention. It has also sought a time-bound investigation by the police and the charity commissioner, a full audit of past financial transfers, and steps to prevent further misuse of the institute's resources. The University Grants Commission (UGC), which governs GIPE, has reportedly instructed the institute to halt any further financial transfers to SIS and to submit records of all past dealings. Meanwhile, an FIR has been registered at Deccan Police Station against Deshmukh under Sections 34, 406, 409, and 420 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), for alleged misuse of over ₹2 crore in institutional and government funds. 'We submitted a letter to the police a couple of days ago, demanding that Sahoo be made co-accused in this financial scam. Both Sahoo and Deshmukh are also accused of attempting to form an illegal advisory committee to interfere in GIPE's functioning, despite the institute already having a UGC-mandated legal governing body,' said Vishal Gaikwad, GIPE's officiating deputy registrar. Joining Gaikwad at the press conference were administrative officer Kedar Tapkir and assistant officer Kedar Kale, who is also officer on special duty to the vice-chancellor. They said several senior SIS members, including vice-president Atmanand Mishra, have submitted affidavits accusing Sahoo and Deshmukh of gross mismanagement. GIPE officials alleged that the duo recently held an 'illegal meeting' to induct their sons and grandsons into the society, in what they described as an attempt to create hereditary control over the trust. 'We remained silent out of respect for Gopal Krishna Gokhale's legacy. But what we are witnessing is nothing short of betrayal. Sahoo and Deshmukh used GIPE's reputation and resources for personal gain, froze staff salaries, and harassed our vice-chancellor. This is not just mismanagement — it's a criminal conspiracy,' Gaikwad said. In response to the allegations, Sahoo said, 'I have been working for the society for over 40 years. I had written to Chancellor Sanjeev Sanyal requesting his intervention in resolving this issue to carry forward Gokhale's legacy. All the allegations against me and SIS are baseless. We are fully cooperating with the police and demand a fair investigation.'
