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In a startling development, officials within the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) have voiced deep concerns over a “toxic” work culture under the leadership of Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch. These allegations, formally communicated to the finance ministry, depict a troubling work environment plagued by unattainable demands, unprofessional conduct and mental health crises, according to a report by the Economic Times. In essence, a toxic work culture is an environment that fosters negativity, dysfunction and a lack of trust among employees and management. This type of culture can manifest in various ways that are often harmful to both employees and organisations, severely impairing organisational growth and employee well-being. Identifying a toxic work culture is crucial for both employees and organisations. Recognising signs and symptoms of toxic work culture can often be the first step toward addressing and improving workplace culture. Below are 10 indicators that may indicate a toxic environment. High employee turnover: A persistent pattern of employees leaving the organisation often signals dissatisfaction with the work culture. When turnover rates are high, it reflects a breakdown in the employer-employee relationship, typically due to a lack of respect or support from management. Quiet quitting: This phenomenon occurs when employees disengage from their roles, doing only the minimum required. It highlights a lack of motivation and connection to the organisation's goals, often stemming from a toxic atmosphere. Bullying and harassment: Any form of bullying or harassment, whether verbal or psychological, creates a hostile work environment. Such behaviours not only undermine morale, but also instil fear among employees, leading to increased stress and anxiety. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111982335" title="Employees lack trust in HR’s ability to address workplace bullying effectively—and for good reason, says study" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Constantly changing goals: Frequent shifts in priorities without adequate communication can leave employees feeling disoriented and frustrated. This lack of clear direction can hinder productivity and contribute to a sense of futility in their efforts. Poor leadership: Ineffective or toxic leadership can significantly impact workplace culture. Leaders who exhibit favouritism, lack consistency or disregard employee welfare contribute to a negative environment that can drive talent away. Lack of transparency: When communication is poor and information is not shared openly, it breeds distrust and uncertainty. Employees may feel left in the dark about important decisions, which can exacerbate feelings of insecurity and disengagement. Micromanagement: Excessive oversight from management can create an environment of fear and anxiety. Employees who feel constantly monitored may struggle to perform at their best, leading to decreased morale and productivity. Inadequate support systems: Employees who lack sufficient resources or support may feel overwhelmed and undervalued. A toxic environment often sets unrealistic expectations without providing the necessary tools for success. Toxic gossip: While some office chatter is normal, pervasive negative gossip can create a divisive atmosphere. This behaviour undermines teamwork and can lead to a culture of distrust and hostility among colleagues. Poor work-life balance: A culture that prioritises work over personal well-being can lead to burnout. When employees are expected to sacrifice their personal lives for work, it can result in high stress levels and diminished job satisfaction.

Is your work culture toxic? Look out for these 10 signs

<ul><li>While the effort and intent are laudable, the question remains are you really contributing to your or the earth's health by embracing veganism?</li><li>A poorly planned vegan diet can be quite harmful and can lead to various health risks, including a heightened risk of heart disease.</li><li>If it is the environment you are concerned about, then perhaps it is time to consider that splurging on imported avocados and almond milk is hardly sustainable. </li></ul> “I ate a lot of meat — I ate my 10, 15 eggs a day. I had my 250 grams of protein in a day because I weighed 250 pounds… As I got older and I started reading up on it, I recognised the fact that you really don’t have to get your protein from meat — or from animals,” Arnold Schwarzenegger, Hollywood star and former California Governor says in the popular Netflix documentary, The Game Changers. That alone moved many meat lovers in India to go vegan, overnight. However, there ought to be more thought behind a life-changing decision like stopping the food you have been consuming forever. The documentary itself faced its share of <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/game-changers-review#limitations">criticism</a> for scientific inaccuracies and promoting misinformation. Whether it is to live a healthier lifestyle — to lose weight, counter diabetes, dairy intolerance, improve sexual health — or save the planet, several Indians are embracing veganism. Also, there is the added bonus that following a vegan diet is not too much of a segue for Indian vegetarians, barring giving up on milk, curd, or paneer. However, while the effort and intent are laudable, the question remains are you really contributing to your or the earth's health by embracing veganism? Is the diet even sustainable in the long-run, particularly if you live in India? A poorly planned vegan diet can be quite harmful and can lead to various health risks, including a heightened <a target="_blank" href="https://theconversation.com/vegan-diets-are-adding-to-malnutrition-in-wealthy-countries-107555" class="editor-rtfLink">risk</a> of heart disease. So, before you pat yourself on your back for giving up on cow milk while sipping on almond milk, it may be crucial to consider all the factors below before embracing the new lifestyle. <div type="image" title="Representative image." msid="81601105" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Representative image.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Affordability Often considered a diet for the rich, the first thing to consider here is will you be able to splurge thousands of rupees per week on items like plant-based milk, vitamin supplements or expensive vegetables and nuts required to provide the nutritional balance you need. Then, there is the added consideration that even if you are lucky enough to afford it, are the items you are buying genuine or, for that matter, fresh? For example, a litre of almond milk can set you back 200-300 rupees, and avocados can cost anywhere from 200 to 300 bucks for one piece, and that too the quality is suspect. However, nutrition expert and author of Everyday Superfoods, Dr Nandita Iyer tells Business Insider that "apart from almond milk, substitutes like soy milk or oat milk can be easily be made at home or even bought at reasonably cheaper rates, but of course the flavour might be slightly different and takes getting used to." She also points out that if you are looking to give up on dairy from an environmental perspective, then almond milk is "definitely not an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theguardian.com/food/2018/sep/05/ditch-the-almond-milk-why-everything-you-know-about-sustainable-eating-is-probably-wrong" class="editor-rtfLink">environmentally friendly option</a>". But given the rising popularity, many Indian brands, like Bengaluru-based Good Milk, are producing vegan plant-based dairy products like milk, butter, yoghurt at relatively reasonable prices. Age The common consensus is that a vegan diet is less than ideal for both children and the elderly. Children - Providing a child nutritious diet is tricky even under normal circumstances, where there is no dietary restriction. During their formative growing years, depriving children of essential nutrients derived from milk products and meat may lead to various health issues in kids. While during the first six months, babies primarily rely on breast milk or infant formula, post that what they eat will essentially lay the foundation of their future health. Within one year, a baby is meant to triple its birth weight. And while plants can provide sufficient proteins, the issue is substituting essential vitamins (B-12 and D) and minerals (iodine, zinc, iron and calcium) that can only be substituted via fortified foods and supplements. A <a target="_blank" href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/15027383_Macrobiotic_nutrition_and_child_health_results_of_a_population-based_mixed-longitudinal_cohort_study_in_The_Netherlands" class="editor-rtfLink">study</a> conducted in the The Netherlands on children between 0-10 years who are on a macrobiotic diet — a diet based mainly on whole-grain cereals, pulses, and vegetables — noted that "ubiquitous deficiencies of energy, protein, vitamin B-12, vitamin D, calcium, and riboflavin were detected in macrobiotic infants, leading to retarded growth, fat and muscle wasting, and slower psychomotor development." It further adds that the breast milk of mothers who are on a vegan diet contained less vitamin B-12, calcium and magnesium. Seniors - While there are some health benefits of going vegan, it is essential that older adults get enough calories as well as nutrients to avoid the pitfalls of a vegan diet. Once again, planning meals is key because seniors need more protein, iron, calcium, and vitamin B-12. For <a target="_blank" href="https://theconversation.com/vegetarian-and-vegan-diet-five-things-for-over-65s-to-consider-when-switching-to-a-plant-based-diet-144088" class="editor-rtfLink">example</a>, while an average adult would need a daily dose of 700mg of calcium, men over 55 and postmenopausal women need 1200mg of calcium daily. It is essential to consult with a certified dietician before senior adults decide to give up on meat and dairy. <div type="image" title="Representative image." msid="81601190" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Representative image.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Actual dietary requirements Compared to a diet that includes meat and vegetables, a vegan diet is believed to be <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24667136/" class="editor-rtfLink">higher in fibre but lower in </a>protein, fatty acids, iron, zinc, iodine, calcium and vitamins D and B-12. It is crucial to figure precisely what quantity of vegan alternatives you have to consume to make up for the switch. You may have to go heavy on the alternatives. For example, both fish and flaxseeds <a target="_blank" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/is-a-vegetarian-or-vegan-diet-for-you" class="editor-rtfLink">contain</a> omega-3 fatty acids, but the human body doesn't absorb omega-3s from flaxseed as easily as it would from seafood. And while the other dietary requirements may have vegan alternatives, vitamin B-12 is an essential nutritional requirement that is absent in fruit or vegetables and present in meat, fish, eggs and dairy. Vitamin B-12 helps prevent nerve damage, and adults should consume 1.5 micrograms of the vitamin per day. According to a British Medical Journal <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bmj.com/content/366/bmj.l4897" class="editor-rtfLink">study</a>, while fish eaters and vegetarians had lower rates of heart disease compared to non-vegetarians, vegetarians and vegans are believed to be more prone to strokes, possibly because of the B12 deficiency. While the quantity requirement is minuscule, B12 is only available via nutritional yeast (though the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200122-are-there-health-benefits-to-going-vegan" class="editor-rtfLink">claim</a> that this doesn't provide sufficient B-12) or fortified food, such as plant-based milk or vitamin supplements in a vegan diet. Where it comes from If it is the environment you are concerned about, then perhaps it is time to consider that splurging on imported avocados and almond milk is hardly sustainable. In addition to the air miles it consumes, which is definitely not good for the climate, there is an added burden on land and water resources, and increasingly, farmers are choosing to give up on sustainable farming practices and burdening the land by overgrowing these trendy products. For example, in Chile, which is one of the largest producers of avocados, the focus on growing water-guzzling avocados for profit has caused an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05oMsK0-jjA&amp;t=98s" class="editor-rtfLink">acute water shortage</a> in the country — for context, to grow around a kilogram (3-4 pieces), 1000 litres of water is needed. So, whether a vegan diet is actually contributing towards mitigating climate change or helping your health is a contentious issue, but it can, without doubt, be sustained here in India. Most of the supplements are easily available on places like Amazon, but yes, it will be on the steeper side. However, as and when this trend blossoms, it will lead Indian manufacturers to expand into this territory, and that will bring the costs down. Already there is a whole range of mock meat manufacturers making waves in the market. Dr Iyer tells us, "we have a huge bank of innately vegan recipes in Indian cuisine. For example, a lot of recipes from Kerala rely heavily on coconut milk and not regular cow milk. Even an entire sadhya meal that consists of 25-26 dishes can be entirely vegan and that is the beauty of Indian cuisine — I think it is the most vegan-friendly diet." SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/india-is-fourth-least-happy-country-in-the-world-checkout-list-of-10-unhappiest-countries-in-the-world/slidelist/81588422.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">India is the fourth least happy country in a year of lockdowns, deaths and work from home</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/tcs-to-dole-out-a-second-salary-hike-within-a-span-six-months-this-time-in-double-digits/articleshow/81589561.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">TCS to dole out a second salary hike within a span six months</a>

Is a vegan diet practical or sustainable for those living in India

<ul><li>Diwali is celebrated by millions of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Jains across the country. </li><li>In fact, the various reasons to celebrate Diwali don’t just vary from religion to religion, but also from region to region. </li><li>However, the most popular reason is the victory of Lord Rama over the demon king Ravana. </li><li>From goddess Lakshmi’s birthday to laying down the foundation of the Golden Temple, people have many reasons to celebrate Diwali. </li></ul>Diwali or the festival of lights is the most significant festival in India celebrated by millions of Indians. Diwali is considered a Hindu festival but also celebrated by Jains and Sikhs too. There are many historical and mythological reasons behind this great Indian festival. Here are lesser known reasons why different parts of India celebrate the festival of lights - North India celebrates Diwali as the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya. After 14 years of exile, Rama along his wife Sita and brother Laxman returned home.Since it was a new moon day and was dark, his subjects lit diyas across the kingdom that day.This tradition is still followed to this day. In South India, celebration of Diwali varies even among the states. Kerala generally does not celebrate Diwali. Many speculate that this may be because King Bali a virtuous demon king was killed this day. The other three states celebrates the occasion in honor of Lord Krishna's consort Satyabhama killing the demon king — Narakasura and freeing thousands of girls in his captivity. It is celebrated a day before Diwali, and the occasion is called Naraka Chaturdashi. In West India, Diwali is considered as the start of a new year and is predominantly about worshipping the goddess of wealth, Lakshmi. It’s the festival of light and wealth, especially in Gujarat Many events related to prosperity like it opening new offices, sealing marriages or buying a vehicles is scheduled for Diwali. It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi comes to their home and blesses them with wealth and prosperity for the coming year. In East India, Diwali is celebrated under the alias Kali Puja in honour of Goddess Durga’s fierce avatar: Kali. Along with Durga Puja, Kali Puja is a big event in Bengal and Assam.

Here are different reasons why India celebrates Diwali

Mamallapuram also known as Mahabalipuram is gearing up to host the informal summit between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Chinese President Xi Jinping between October 11 and 13, 2019. A world renowned UNESCO heritage site known for its exquisite stone carvings and stone temples, Mamallapuram is a historical port town located about 60 kilometers from Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu state in India. By turning into the hosting ground of a historic summit between the heads of two nations, Mamallapuram has evoked an interest in the minds of people. Here are a few unknown facts about Mamallapuram that will let you admire this awesome tourist destination. Historical importance of Mamallapuram The monuments you see today in Mamallapuram were built by the Pallava Kings who ruled this region between the 5th and 8th centuries. Hence Mamallapuram monuments are the oldest structural monuments of India built before 1700 years. Originally, Mamallapuram complex had more than 400 monuments. Only about 50 of them have survived till date. These monuments bear testimony to the incredible talents of the rulers and artisans who made them. The UNESCO has declared Mamallapuram a cultural heritage place especially highlighting the three monuments namely Descent of the Ganges, Pancha Rathas and Shore Temple. The Shore Temple that survived Tsunami The most famous shore temple of Mahabalipuram was the worst hit during the 2004 tsunami. However, the strong structure survived the catastrophe with the least damage to its structure and beauty. The mighty tsunami waves heaped the sea sand on the temple. Later when the sand was uncovered a few more sculptures that were hidden in the sand before the tsunami were discovered. Arjuna’s penance and Ganga’s descent Arjuna’s Penance or Descent of Ganga is the name of a monument in Mamallapuram. The sculptures on this huge rock narrate two mythological episodes. Arjuna’s penance depicts the tough austerity undertaken by Arjuna in pursuit of getting divine powers from gods to support him in the war. Ganga’s descent presents the picturesque incident of Bahirata bringing the Holy Ganges from heaven and the holy Ganges descending on to the earth. This sculptural collage consists of around 150 sculptures depicting some animals and birds, natural phenomenon, planets and dragon. Pancha Rathas Translating as the five chariots, the Pancha Rathas are rock cut temples each of them carved out from a single rock. These five temples are dedicated to the Five Pandava brothers and their consort Draupati (Panchali). The deer pair One of the most favorite spots of all tourist guides, the pair of deer is seen at the bottom of Arjuna's penance monument. This deer pair can be noticed on the Rs.10 currency note of India. In 1980, Indira Gandhi, the former Prime Minister of India visited this place while opening a nuclear plant. Developing a strong liking for these pair of deer sculpture, she ordered that they are incorporated within the design of Rs. 10 currency note. Krishna’s butter ball Krishna’s butter ball is a natural rock that looks stunning. This huge rock is found on a hilltop surface. How this rock stands there with the most minimal contact with the ground below is a matter of wonder. The old lighthouse The old lighthouse that was used to guide the vessels and ships to the port of Mamallapuram sports an unconventional design. Built on a huge rock, this light house has some narrative sculptures carved on its stone walls.

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