As we witness the BSP spending a few crores of Public Money for statues of Mayawati and now the party's anniversary, one is disturbed and there is a sense of hopelessness. A friend of mine says, "there is not willingness to change the ways".
I chanced to read a note about a small village in Karnataka, compiled by Usha Shetty, who is actually working at the grassroot level at the village. This is an eye opener. A way that many of the BSP type parties should use the funds for the betterment of India. Simple, yet practical.
Usha's Note:
Muthur: Past, Present & Future
Background:
Muthur village in Sidlaghatta Taluk of Chikballapur District has a population of 2,000 and the primary occupations here are sericulture, dairying, grape and other cultivation.
Muthur once nurtured a dream of all-round development under the stewardship of Sanjoy Das Gupta, the former Deputy Commissioner of Kolar District, which it was earlier a part of. He had taken great interest in the village and started the high school here, got the village tank de-silted, run regular medical camps and, among many other things, organized an agricultural fair in 1998, which is remembered to this day. With his untimely demise however, progress here came to a standstill. What we are attempting to do, since nearly 2 years, is a humble continuation of his work.
There has been no permanent professional medical facility within the village, the nearest Govt. PHC at Melur being 4 kms away, and the Govt. Hospital at Sidlaghatta 9 kms away. It is against a milieu such as this that we chose to focus our work in the area of health, apart from sanitation and environment.
Milestones Achieved:
• Since over a year now, doctors from the Community Medicine Dept. of Baptist Hospital, Bangalore have been making weekly visits to the village, spending a couple of hours providing valuable medical services.
• Two Dental camps (once with M S Ramaiah Dental College in September 2008 and once with V S Dental College in November 2009), Cataract Eye Treatment camps (with Globe Eye Foundation, Hoskote in August 2009 & Feb 2010) and a Cardiac camp (with Manipal Heart Foundation in November 2009) have been held. Most of these were sponsored by Rotary Club, Koramangala. The Bangalore chapter of the Indian Epilepsy Association performed a street play in June 2008 to create awareness about epilepsy.
• Mala, a resident of the village, was appointed as a medical worker and is getting trained by the Baptist team. Her salary for the entire year of 2009 has been sponsored by Praveen Shetty of Bangalore. He has generously opted to continue the sponsorship for 2010.
• “Pore Roga Rahita Grama” – Going one step higher to the Gram Panchayat level, an endeavour to create a cataract backlog free zone was launched on 6th of March 2010 in Mallur Gram Panchayat, which Muthur is a part of. Globe Eye Foundation, Hoskote (GEF) has begun work in the 4 villages coming under this Panchayat. Over a period of 2 months, two field workers trained by GEF will be going from door to door, identifying cataract patients and directing them to the hospital. The database created by them will enable tracking of cataract cases and their treatment, as they keep maturing in the future. This effort is the first of its kind in Karnataka.
• A Govt. subsidy scheme for biogas-based cooking stoves was implemented in January 2009 and fifteen households availed of the benefit.
• The village has been introduced to solar powered LED lights in February 2009, thanks to the munificence of Shrinivas Shetty, Director, Mysore Mercantile Co. Ltd. He donated one of the units manufactured by his company to the Primary & Middle School to facilitate evening Sanskrit shloka classes. (Conventional power supply is present but very erratic here.)
• A tree planting and sensitization drive was undertaken in the two village schools in August 2009. Janet Yegneswaran, of the NGO “Trees For Free”, not only gave 50 saplings to each school (consisting of lime, bitter lime, nellikai, nerale, neem, honge, akash mallige, gasgase, chekke, netropium, ticoma argentina, sampige, basavanapada, etc) but, as an active member of Rotary Koramangala, she was instrumental in arranging some medical camps for the village.
• A team from Nimhans De-addiction dept. conducted an awareness programme for children of both the schools in Muthur on the dangers of addiction and also had a session with the teachers on handling children with addiction.
• Donations from various individuals have enabled gifting of stationery materials, cricket and hockey equipment, and a telescope from Indian Institute of Astrophysics to both the schools.
• Apart from this, the villagers are also helped to approach the local administration with requests ranging from a pucca road to connect to Malloor to weekly visits by a Govt. veterinary doctor for their large livestock population.
The Road Ahead:
• A microfinance scheme to be worked out, through the Sthree Shakti groups in the village, to enable the villagers to buy solar based LED lights for their homes.
• Rainwater harvesting project: The High school has recently applied for a govt. subsidy for this (already implemented in the primary school); ideally to be implemented throughout the village.
• A civic education programme run by Bangalore-based NGO, Children’s Movement for Civic Awareness (CMCA) to be implemented in the high school from the coming academic year.
• Looking for donors for a public toilet facility
• The villagers are also expressing needs such as a water tank, a community hall, painting of the village schools, etc.
The Long View:
Increased health awareness and health insurance for all, efficient drainage, proper segregation & disposal of garbage, minimizing use of plastic, water conservation and afforestation, as well as increasing the use of alternative energy sources.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Monday, August 17, 2009
My name is Khan! So what?
The self styled King Khan aka, Shahrukh Khan also has FiM syndrome (FiM - Foot in Mouth). The sad part is that media is hungry for news that they will lap up anything. No matter how crappy the topic.
Shahrukh made such a big noise for a delay at Newark Airport. Ask other Indians (without the Khan on their name) who have no contacts with the Shuklajis of the world and hence cannot call up or afford to create a ruckus with the immigration staff. They have at some point gone through the security scanner (could be due to profiling) and frankly no one minds although it is a hassle. This is a security principle and it does not matter if you are a Khan or a Tripathy or a Powel.
The security staff did their job. I remember even our Ex President Dr. Kalam being frisked in India and he never complained. What's wrong with Shahrukh? You are no real king? And even if you are, when it comes to security, you better stop dreaming and be a commoner.
In one of my flights from Boston to Miami, I was asked to go through the same procedure and my name does not have a Khan. My friend who is an American Citizen and has a last name of Balmer (he is not Steve) had to go through the same procedure upon arrival at Toronto. This is regular work for the security staff. I think one should appreciate it rather than complaining about it.
You know, when I was speaking to a friend on this, she had two possible explanations for Shahrukh Khan's behavior.
01. His show in the US was not sold out, hence he wanted to get some media hype so that he and the promoters can make money
02. This is one of the poorest or campaigns for this forthcoming movie ...my name is Khan...
FiM Syndrome catches on fast!!!
Shahrukh made such a big noise for a delay at Newark Airport. Ask other Indians (without the Khan on their name) who have no contacts with the Shuklajis of the world and hence cannot call up or afford to create a ruckus with the immigration staff. They have at some point gone through the security scanner (could be due to profiling) and frankly no one minds although it is a hassle. This is a security principle and it does not matter if you are a Khan or a Tripathy or a Powel.
The security staff did their job. I remember even our Ex President Dr. Kalam being frisked in India and he never complained. What's wrong with Shahrukh? You are no real king? And even if you are, when it comes to security, you better stop dreaming and be a commoner.
In one of my flights from Boston to Miami, I was asked to go through the same procedure and my name does not have a Khan. My friend who is an American Citizen and has a last name of Balmer (he is not Steve) had to go through the same procedure upon arrival at Toronto. This is regular work for the security staff. I think one should appreciate it rather than complaining about it.
You know, when I was speaking to a friend on this, she had two possible explanations for Shahrukh Khan's behavior.
01. His show in the US was not sold out, hence he wanted to get some media hype so that he and the promoters can make money
02. This is one of the poorest or campaigns for this forthcoming movie ...my name is Khan...
FiM Syndrome catches on fast!!!
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Help yourself from H1N1
Swine Flu!!! H1N1 Virus!!! Media has blown it out of proportions. Politicians are playing their cards - to be politically correct. Everybody blames the Government as we always do - 'no rains? Yeah the govt. is responsible for that as well!!!' What we do not see is passing out the right information, mobilizing testing for H1N1,
I found an interesting forward today and thought it would be of help all those who are worried about Swine Flu and the H1N1 virus. Here are some tips for prevention from an AIMS doctor. I am quoting the forward:
"Thanks to media hype about H1N1, several people who trust me have either approached or called me to advise. The hype in media about the utility of face masks and N95 respirators as a tool for general protection against H1N1 can't be deplored enough. Yesterday, a friend who listened wanted me to write down briefly what I advised so that he could tell others in similar words. Hence this short email to friends whom I have advised recently (and others whom I haven't yet). Please realize that this is not an official advice, especially the one about face masks or N95.
"Most N95 respirators are designed to filter 95% particulates of 0.3µ, while the size of H1N1 virus is about 0.1µ. Hence, dependence on N95 to protect against H1N1 is like protecting against rain with an umbrella made of mosquito net.
"Tamiflu does not kill but prevents H1N1 from further proliferation till the virus limits itself in about 1-2 weeks (its natural cycle). H1N1, like other Influenza A viruses, only infects the upper respiratory tract and proliferates (only) there. The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/ throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible not coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.
"While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps - not fully highlighted in most official communications - can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):
1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).
2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).
3. Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms.
4. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.
5. Similar to 3 above, clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.
6. Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.
7. Drink as much of warm liquids as you can. Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.
"All these are simple ways to prevent, within means of most households, and certainly much less painful than to wait in long queues outside public hospitals. "
Happy Breathing!!!
I found an interesting forward today and thought it would be of help all those who are worried about Swine Flu and the H1N1 virus. Here are some tips for prevention from an AIMS doctor. I am quoting the forward:
"Thanks to media hype about H1N1, several people who trust me have either approached or called me to advise. The hype in media about the utility of face masks and N95 respirators as a tool for general protection against H1N1 can't be deplored enough. Yesterday, a friend who listened wanted me to write down briefly what I advised so that he could tell others in similar words. Hence this short email to friends whom I have advised recently (and others whom I haven't yet). Please realize that this is not an official advice, especially the one about face masks or N95.
"Most N95 respirators are designed to filter 95% particulates of 0.3µ, while the size of H1N1 virus is about 0.1µ. Hence, dependence on N95 to protect against H1N1 is like protecting against rain with an umbrella made of mosquito net.
"Tamiflu does not kill but prevents H1N1 from further proliferation till the virus limits itself in about 1-2 weeks (its natural cycle). H1N1, like other Influenza A viruses, only infects the upper respiratory tract and proliferates (only) there. The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/ throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible not coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.
"While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps - not fully highlighted in most official communications - can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):
1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).
2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).
3. Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms.
4. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.
5. Similar to 3 above, clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.
6. Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.
7. Drink as much of warm liquids as you can. Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.
"All these are simple ways to prevent, within means of most households, and certainly much less painful than to wait in long queues outside public hospitals. "
Happy Breathing!!!
How much are we ready to pay for Azmal Qasab?
This one beats me. Quasab wants meat, biriyani, and a Rakhi. All these is food for media who keeps making it sound like its funny. We have a whole host of police, security
and courts involved in a hearing - we have to go by the rule book! Today you will find it difficult to drive across the jail road in Bombay as it can cause a security lapse for
Qasab - that what someone told me.
Who is paying for all this? Why is my tax money being used? Who is accountable for this?
The other day I read on paper that Pakistan has accepted that some of the perpetrators who were killed during the Mumbai attacks were citizens of Pak. However, they are
not ready to take their bodies back!!! We bore the cost of them being alive and now we bear the cost of them dead!!! Why?
Why are we being so naive? This is not Gandhigiri, this is pure foolishness.
Should we have to wait for another 5 or 10 years to get a sentence given to Qasab and work to his whims and fancies? He is clearly seeing this as an advantage for him?
And he is playing to the stands.
We in turn are spending our hard earned tax monies to help him play his game. I understand this is a small fee for showing Pak in bad light to the international community. But as recent history has it,
what if we have to hand over this guy to the terrorists in exchange for a favor? Where do we stand?
How long are we ready to spend? What is our budget for the spend?
Do we have answers or is it a black hole?
and courts involved in a hearing - we have to go by the rule book! Today you will find it difficult to drive across the jail road in Bombay as it can cause a security lapse for
Qasab - that what someone told me.
Who is paying for all this? Why is my tax money being used? Who is accountable for this?
The other day I read on paper that Pakistan has accepted that some of the perpetrators who were killed during the Mumbai attacks were citizens of Pak. However, they are
not ready to take their bodies back!!! We bore the cost of them being alive and now we bear the cost of them dead!!! Why?
Why are we being so naive? This is not Gandhigiri, this is pure foolishness.
Should we have to wait for another 5 or 10 years to get a sentence given to Qasab and work to his whims and fancies? He is clearly seeing this as an advantage for him?
And he is playing to the stands.
We in turn are spending our hard earned tax monies to help him play his game. I understand this is a small fee for showing Pak in bad light to the international community. But as recent history has it,
what if we have to hand over this guy to the terrorists in exchange for a favor? Where do we stand?
How long are we ready to spend? What is our budget for the spend?
Do we have answers or is it a black hole?
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Reaching Masses for Education
Am trying to focus on one of the points of my earlier blogs (http://citizenvoiceindia.blogspot.com/2009/07/combining-technology-and-education.html) about using technology to reach aspiring students.
Let’s put some statistics upfront on electronic reach. Today India has Cable and Satellite penetration of over 70 million households (35% of population), cellular phone penetration of over 350 million (30% of population) and internet penetration is over 12%. This means, over 56% of India is connected in some way or the other. This does not include the non-electronic reach.
The marketers are reaching out to each segment of this population. Using technology and innovations to tap the potential market. Isn’t it time for educationists to realize the dream of an educated India (or at least, a literate India)? Yes, there is also a commercial angle to this, for all those educationists who are not not-for-profit organizations.
If a two-minutes-noodle can change the way 15% of the country have their breakfast using TV as a medium, what stops 15% Indians to plant a tree in their neighborhood? Or to convert used news papers into paper bags? You have not only taught a way of earning a livelihood, you have also created the largest company of paper bag producers (will this not reduce the consumption of low grade plastic bags?).
You may say, ‘this is vocational education’!!! Let’s talk about primary education. Almost every village either has or can acquire a Television set. What stops us from broadcasting primary education with a live teacher teaching it and local coordinators handling 1st level questions of teachers or even using mobiles to handle questions through a call center?
This is equally applicable for rural and urban India. This is applicable for vocational, primary, secondary as well as higher studies.
If a marketer can reach the masses in India’s every nook and corner, so can education.
What we need is a ‘willingness’ to get the country educated and have an education that can earn them a living. Hope Mr. Sibal is listening!!!
Let’s put some statistics upfront on electronic reach. Today India has Cable and Satellite penetration of over 70 million households (35% of population), cellular phone penetration of over 350 million (30% of population) and internet penetration is over 12%. This means, over 56% of India is connected in some way or the other. This does not include the non-electronic reach.
The marketers are reaching out to each segment of this population. Using technology and innovations to tap the potential market. Isn’t it time for educationists to realize the dream of an educated India (or at least, a literate India)? Yes, there is also a commercial angle to this, for all those educationists who are not not-for-profit organizations.
If a two-minutes-noodle can change the way 15% of the country have their breakfast using TV as a medium, what stops 15% Indians to plant a tree in their neighborhood? Or to convert used news papers into paper bags? You have not only taught a way of earning a livelihood, you have also created the largest company of paper bag producers (will this not reduce the consumption of low grade plastic bags?).
You may say, ‘this is vocational education’!!! Let’s talk about primary education. Almost every village either has or can acquire a Television set. What stops us from broadcasting primary education with a live teacher teaching it and local coordinators handling 1st level questions of teachers or even using mobiles to handle questions through a call center?
This is equally applicable for rural and urban India. This is applicable for vocational, primary, secondary as well as higher studies.
If a marketer can reach the masses in India’s every nook and corner, so can education.
What we need is a ‘willingness’ to get the country educated and have an education that can earn them a living. Hope Mr. Sibal is listening!!!
Combining technology and education
A friend of mine asked me yesterday evening as to how technology can help education. Actually an interesting piece of thought. I started to think of multiple areas where technologies can really kick-start education or make it smoother.
All my thoughts gravitated to three aspects
a) How do you reach a larger number of people who have the basic infrastructure like connectivity (internet, cable TV, satellite TV, mobile phone etc.) and bring education into their fold?
b) Why is ‘Ice Age-3’ more memorable compared to the fact that Alexander invaded India in 326 BC?
c) How much of what we study today in our schools and collages is relevant to our jobs?
Using technology to reach (distribution of education), sink in (making education interesting and experiential), work for (getting students industry ready) is essential as it can change the face of education, face of students and the face of an economy.
But a bit of caution here. Technology will not solve any of these issues independently. One needs to have a ‘learner centric’ or ‘knowledge centric’ thinking and intent to create a knowledge economy. Technology can only be an enabler for making it happen. A second caution is that it is practically impossible to replace the teacher.
You know what surprised me the most? This question came in from a friend who is not an educationist. I am surprised, that our educationists, the education boards and the private training outfits are fighting for their piece of the economy and are not actually bothered thinking about growth of the knowledge economy!!!
I am dead sure technology cannot help change their mindset.
All my thoughts gravitated to three aspects
a) How do you reach a larger number of people who have the basic infrastructure like connectivity (internet, cable TV, satellite TV, mobile phone etc.) and bring education into their fold?
b) Why is ‘Ice Age-3’ more memorable compared to the fact that Alexander invaded India in 326 BC?
c) How much of what we study today in our schools and collages is relevant to our jobs?
Using technology to reach (distribution of education), sink in (making education interesting and experiential), work for (getting students industry ready) is essential as it can change the face of education, face of students and the face of an economy.
But a bit of caution here. Technology will not solve any of these issues independently. One needs to have a ‘learner centric’ or ‘knowledge centric’ thinking and intent to create a knowledge economy. Technology can only be an enabler for making it happen. A second caution is that it is practically impossible to replace the teacher.
You know what surprised me the most? This question came in from a friend who is not an educationist. I am surprised, that our educationists, the education boards and the private training outfits are fighting for their piece of the economy and are not actually bothered thinking about growth of the knowledge economy!!!
I am dead sure technology cannot help change their mindset.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Politics of rape
Searching the net today to see reactions of Rita Bahuguna’s derogatory speech, I felt ashamed as every news channel that are worth their salt in India and abroad covered it in their websites. When will this FiM (foot in mouth) syndrome of politicians be cured?
They is being extremely lackadaisical about what they say in public and more so, of what they think of their competitors. Bad mental state and still worst, lack of understanding of peoples’ feelings.
After a long time, Congress has had a foothold in Uttar Pradesh. They selected a politician who could represent them and this is what she does.
On the other hand, Mayawati, is using this situation to gain political mileage. Another example of poor leadership in UP. She has conveniently forgotten her equally derogatory speech a year or so back. That time it was directed to female relatives of Mulayam Singh. That speech was no different from this although her party men confidently talk of different situations that both the speeches were made!!! Audacity!!!
In both these cases, the two ladies used rape and money given to rape victims as issues to go ahead in politics. I am sure politicians will never understand realities of life – actually any reality. These ladies confirm it.
To top it, the vandalism that followed of destroying the house of a politician. Where is the law and order in that state? Who is responsible for this? It was good that Rita was arrested. When are they planning arrest Mayawati and her vandals.
Politicians can never be cured from the FiM syndrome. Can we citizens realize the situation and react. I hope we vote out both the ladies who do not have a basic sense of understanding of life and compassion for other citizens.
They is being extremely lackadaisical about what they say in public and more so, of what they think of their competitors. Bad mental state and still worst, lack of understanding of peoples’ feelings.
After a long time, Congress has had a foothold in Uttar Pradesh. They selected a politician who could represent them and this is what she does.
On the other hand, Mayawati, is using this situation to gain political mileage. Another example of poor leadership in UP. She has conveniently forgotten her equally derogatory speech a year or so back. That time it was directed to female relatives of Mulayam Singh. That speech was no different from this although her party men confidently talk of different situations that both the speeches were made!!! Audacity!!!
In both these cases, the two ladies used rape and money given to rape victims as issues to go ahead in politics. I am sure politicians will never understand realities of life – actually any reality. These ladies confirm it.
To top it, the vandalism that followed of destroying the house of a politician. Where is the law and order in that state? Who is responsible for this? It was good that Rita was arrested. When are they planning arrest Mayawati and her vandals.
Politicians can never be cured from the FiM syndrome. Can we citizens realize the situation and react. I hope we vote out both the ladies who do not have a basic sense of understanding of life and compassion for other citizens.
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