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Call for Student Ambassadors: Indian Mediation Week by Sama

Indian Mediation Week (IMW) is India’s largest student-run Access to Justice campaign. The post Call for Student Ambassadors: Indian Mediation Week by Sama — Apply by October 20 appeared first on SCC Times .

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For years, "housewife" has sounded perfectly standard, but "house-husband" carries the discomfort of a WhatsApp group chat after you send a message to the wrong group. Why does house management have to be gendered?

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Lifestyle1h ago

7 terrace plants to build your chutney garden before Diwali

As Diwali approaches, Indian kitchens gear up for a season of chutneys, pakoras, savouries and fried snacks. Instead of buying coriander, mint, green chillies and other ingredients in small quantities every few days, a few pots on the terrace can supply much of what you need. October is a particularly useful time to start a chutney terrace garden in many parts of India, as temperatures begin to moderate and winter-friendly plants establish well. With the right combination of crops, you can start harvesting some greens within weeks while slower plants continue producing through the winter. The idea is not to turn the terrace into a farm, but to grow the ingredients used repeatedly during the festive and winter season. Here are seven plants you can start now to have a productive chutney garden ready for Diwali and the winter months that follow. 1. Coriander Buy coriander seeds from a nursery or garden store for about Rs 20 to 40 per packet. Lightly crush the seeds before sowing to improve germination. Pot: Use a 10 to 12-inch-wide container, at least 6 to 8 inches deep. Sunlight: Give it 4 to 6 hours of sunlight. Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist but never waterlogged. Harvest: Leaves can be harvested in about 25 to 35 days. Cut the outer stems rather than uprooting the whole plant, allowing repeated harvests. A family can sow coriander in batches every 2 to 3 weeks. Savings: A few pots can save roughly Rs 50 to 150 a month, particularly during the festive season when coriander is used generously for chutneys, garnishing and snacks. Also Read: 7 terrace plants to create a night garden for candlelight dinners 2. Mint Mint is easier to start from rooted cuttings or a small nursery plant costing around Rs 20 to 50 than from seeds. Pot: Use a 10 to 12-inch pot or grow bag; mint spreads quickly, so keep it in a separate container. Sunlight: Give it 3 to 5 hours of sunlight, preferably with some afternoon protection in hotter regions. Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist because mint dislikes drying out. Harvest: You can start plucking tender leaves and shoots in about 25 to 40 days. Regular trimming encourages fresh growth, allowing multiple harvests. Savings: One healthy pot can provide enough mint for chutneys, raita and drinks, potentially saving around Rs 50 to 150 a month. With festive snacks, its value becomes even greater because small bunches bought from the market often wilt quickly. Chillies (left) and ginger (right) in pots. 3. Green Chilli Buy a packet of chilli seeds for around Rs 20 to 50 or purchase a healthy nursery seedling for Rs 20 to 40 for rooftop gardening. Pot: A 12-inch pot or grow bag is sufficient for one plant. Sunlight: Give it 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight. Watering: Water only when the top inch of soil feels dry. Harvest: Depending on the variety and whether you start with a seedling, the first green chillies can take roughly 60 to 90 days. Pick the chillies regularly once they reach usable size to encourage further flowering and fruiting. Savings: Two or three productive plants can provide a steady supply for chutneys, pakoras and savouries and may save around Rs 50 to 150 a month. Also Read: How to start a terrace vegetable garden for just Rs 500 4. Tomato Buy tomato seeds for about Rs 20 to 50 per packet or a nursery seedling for Rs 20 to 40. Choose a compact or cherry-type variety if terrace space is limited. Pot: Use at least a 15 to 20-litre pot or grow bag with good drainage. Sunlight: Tomatoes need 6–8 hours of direct sunlight. Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist, especially once flowering and fruiting begin, but do not let the roots remain soggy. Harvest: Nursery plants can begin producing in roughly 50 to 70 days, while seeds take longer. Pick fruits when they turn orange-red or as required. Savings: A few plants can provide tomatoes for chutneys, sauces and snacks, potentially saving around Rs 100 to 250 over a productive crop. Tomatoes and chillies in a terrace garden. 5. Curry Leaves You can start with a small curry-leaf nursery plant costing around Rs 50 to 150 rather than seeds, as plants establish much faster. Pot: Use a 15 to 20-litre container initially, shifting to a larger pot as the plant grows. Sunlight: Give it at least 5–6 hours of sunlight. Watering: Put water when the upper layer of soil begins to dry to avoid constant wetness. Harvest: A healthy, established plant can provide small quantities of leaves regularly, though a newly bought plant may need several months before heavy harvesting. Pick individual sprigs rather than stripping the plant. Savings: Even a small plant can save Rs 30 to 100 or more a month, while giving you fresh curry leaves whenever you make South Indian chutneys, tempering or savouries. Also Read: 7 terrace plants that can survive through summer, monsoon and winter 6. Ginger You do not necessarily need seeds. Buy a healthy, plump piece of ginger with visible buds from a vegetable shop for around Rs 20 to 40 and plant it. Pot: Use a wide 15 to 20-litre container at least 12 inches deep. Sunlight: Give it 4 to 6 hours of sunlight or bright partial sun. Watering: Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged, particularly during establishment. Harvest: Ginger takes considerably longer than coriander or mint. Young ginger can be harvested after around 4 to 5 months, while mature rhizomes generally need longer. Savings: A single container will not replace all household ginger purchases, but it can provide fresh ginger for chutneys and cooking. Depending on harvest and market prices, a productive pot can save roughly Rs 50 to 150 over the crop period. 7. Spring Onion You can buy seeds for around Rs 20 to 40, or even regrow the rooted white portion of store-bought spring onions. Pot: A 10 to 12-inch-wide container that is 6–8 inches deep works well. Sunlight: Give it 4 to 6 hours of sunlight. Watering: Keep the soil lightly and consistently moist, particularly during the first few weeks. Harvest: Spring onions can be ready in around 30 to 50 days. Cut the green leaves as required, leaving the lower portion in the soil for regrowth, or harvest individual plants. Succession sowing every few weeks keeps the supply going. Savings: A couple of containers can provide fresh greens for chutneys, savouries, pakoras and winter cooking, potentially saving around Rs 50 to 150 a month. (Riya Singh is a Ranchi-based journalist who writes on environment, farming, sustainability, startups, & women empowerment) Also Read: 7 vegetables to plant in October for a winter harvest Look up our YouTube Channel

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Anatomy of a flop: ‘Digger’ a disaster at box office and a major misfire for Tom Cruise

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