38 killed in up as train rams bus

7/28/2019 38 Killed in UP as Train Rams Bus

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38 killed in UP as train rams bus

Faiz Rahman Siddiqui TNN

Kanpur: At least 38 people were killed and 31 critically injured when a speeding train crushed abus packed with wedding revellers at an unmanned railway crossing on the Kanpur-Kasganj rail

route early on Thursday.

The Mathura-Chhapra Express hit the bus carrying a marriage party in Addupura village of

Kanshiramnagar district just before 2am, said district magistrate Selva Kumari J. The bus hadstalled on the tracks due to a mechanical problem.

Most bodies were handed over to the bereaved families after post-mortem.

Almost all the bodies, which were mostly from grooms side, have been identified by the

family members, she said. The groom and the bride werent traveling in the bus, she said.Minister of state for railways K H Muniyappa, Railway Board chairman Vinay Mittal and

other senior police officials reached the accident site to take stock of the situation, the DM said.

Railway sources said the train was at 115kmph when it hit the bus carrying 69 passengers.Superintendent of police Ratan Kumar Srivastava said, The cleaner of the bus was at the wheel

at the time of the accident.

He said the groom's family members were on their way back to Gadhiya village in Etah afterattending a dinner at the brides house. Sudha, the daughter of Banke Lal Yadav, a resident of

Addupura, was married to Pradeep on Wednesday.

The bus had barely covered 25 yards and reached an unmanned crossing in Addupura, when it

developed some technical snag. Meantime, Mathura-Chhapra Express arrived on the tracks andsmashed it. Some passengers were travelling on the roof of the bus, Srivastava said. The DM

said the state government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh for the kin of each of those

killed, Rs 50,000 for the seriously injured and Rs 25,000 for those with minor injuries. Prime

Minister Manmohan Singh too has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the kin of thosekilled, Rs 50,000 for the critically injured and Rs 10,000 for those with minor injuries.

Drunk cop crushes kid to death, held

Mateen Hafeez & Santosh Sonawane TNN

Mumbai/Nashik: The Nashik police arrested an assistant police

inspector, Vasant Pawar, for killing a fouryear-old girl in roadaccident. Pawar, attached to the Cuffe Parade police station, wasdrunk when the accident took place near Deepnagar off the Nashik-

Pune Road.

According to the Upnagar police, the accident took place at around 7.15pm on Wednesday.Four-year-old Subhadra Gaikar was accompanying her parents for shopping for her birthday

which was on Thursday.

Eyewitnesses say the girl and her parents were buying flowers when a speeding Santro hit


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them. Her parents were thrown on either side of the road while Subhadra was crushed under the

car. The car later collided with an electric pole and turned over, said an eyewitness.

People who gathered around the accident spot noticed that the driver was drunk. They beathim up and handed him over to the police. She was rushed to Muktai hospital of Shivaji Nagar

and subsequently moved to Kilbil hospital in Nashik where she succumbed to her injuries.

Pawar, has been absent from his duty at the Cuffe Parade police station since March this year.Pawar has been booked under section 304 (A) for culpabale homicide amounting not tomurder, 337 (grevious hurt) and rash driving.

For these women, school means how, not when

Himanshu Nitnaware

Pune: This std II student is all of 62, and proves that age is no obstacle if one wants to pursueeducation. Nirmala Gavate, a native of Urali Kanchan village, about 18 km from here, shifted

base to Pune to fulfill her ambition to learn, read and write. I wanted to read the Haripath

(religious scriptures). I never went to school. My sister, who learnt to read and write at theRamabai Ranade School for Adult Women, told me about it and I decided to enroll myself, says

Nirmala.

The Ramabai Ranade school is a unique primary and secondary government-aided educationinstitute for woman students who are 14 and above. The school, which has been functioning

since 1972 under the Pune Sevasadan Sanstha, currently has 160 students. Inability to sign

documents, disrespect shown by relatives for being illiterate or inability to produce a school

leaving certificate as age proof are some of the reasons that have driven these women to pursue

education.Nirmala stays with her 40-year-old classmate Urmila Bhagwat and travel to school together

everyday. After completing a year in the school, I can now read the Haripath, albeit slowly,she says with obvious pride.

We teach students as per the government syllabus. The textbooks and other educational

material are provided by the government. We have teachers and staff like any regular school,

said Usha Hanchute, principal of the school.She said the school authorities take a lenient view when it comes to payment of fees as most

students come from extremely poor background. It is a government-aided school and our main

aim is to educate these women. There are donors who provide books and study material, she

added. The school functions from 12.15pm to 5pm. However, we are not very strict about the

timing as many of these women work as maids and have other work commitments.Like Nirmala, there are other older women who chose to become students at such a ripe age.

I was asked for my school leaving certificate when I applied for an additional job. But I didnthave one as I never went to school. When my employer learnt about it, she admitted me to the

school. said 39-year-old Ranjana Pawar, a std VIII student and a housemaid.

Thirty-six-year-old Mangala Patil, her classmate, said, When I went to procure a deathcertificate of a relative, I couldnt sign as I was illiterate. That was when I realised the

importance of education. A friend of mine suggested the school.


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Mangal Joshi, a 32-year-old widow, takes pride in the fact that she is now able to help her

children in their studies. Because I was illiterate I used to be looked down upon by my

colleagues. They used to tease me. I was also paid less for being illiterate. Soon, I developed aninferiority complex. Later, I decided to educate myself to prove these people wrong. Today, Im

able to help my sons in their studies.

Std II student Surekha Shinde said it was her desire to become independent that made her jointhe school. Initially, I was uncertain and would worry about what society would think if I joinedschool at the age of 32. But I decided to educate myself as I was worried about the future of my

children and also wanted to be financially independent, she said.

Forty-year-old Usha Kharpudes face brims with confidence when she talks about the changesin her personality after joining the school. Today, I can do bank transactions, sign cheques,

prepare grocery lists and do all the daily chores in an efficient manner. Earlier, I used to find it

difficult to handle these tasks, she said.

Talking about the experience of teaching these special students, Meghana Dixit, a scienceteacher, said, We not only have to concentrate on educating them, but also to give them moral

support. Many of them come from slum areas or poor family backgrounds. We help them give up

bad habits and addictions.Priya Nighojkar, who teaches social science at the school, said the teachers have to understand

the difficulties of the students at personal level and counsel them. Sangita Ganpule, who has

been a faculty at the school for the last 20 years, added: The students show great interest in

learning. In spite of their age, their grasping power and ability to respond are good. We have toteach them basic things like how to hold a pencil and so on. The best thing is they voluntarily

come to learn.

Sixtytwo-year-old Nirmala Gavate (right) with her classmates at the Ramabai Ranade School for

Adult Women in Sadashiv Peth


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Hair care in the monsoon

THE monsoon is here and so is the frizziness in your hair. Excess humidity in the air tends to

make the hair dry, coarse and brittle. Here are some tips to keep frizziness at bay:Conditioning of hair is especially important in the rainy season. It smoothens your tresses, andmakes them more manageable. Use a leavein conditioner.

Avoid putting chemicals in your hair, and colouring, straightening and perming, as that makes

the hair very dry and frizzier. Avoid excess application of styling products and hair sprays, as

this could make your hair very greasy due to increased humidity.Dont open your hair too often; try tying it up in a ponytail, and accessorise with clips to look

stylish. Wash your hair regularly, but use a mild shampoo.

Take good care of your hair

A childs virtual world!


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Technology is being used to engage the child in enhanced creativity. Norbert Rego reports on

the transition from the blackboard to the virtual board

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

FROM cellphones to video games, we use technology in our day-to-day lives. Today, it is not only

useful to the teachers, but also to students to help understand what they are learning. Through

technology, teachers can help students, particularly those who struggle to succeed in reading and

writing.

A new world

Nitya Ramaswami, academics head, Mount Litera Zee School feels, Technology can enhance student

comprehension, if used in the right manner. Activity-based learning is the most sustained form of

learning. If technology is used to engage the child in discovering and creating, then it is useful. If it is just

used to show and tell, then its benefits are limited. She recommends a blended approach to learningthat combines technology and hands-on learning.

Kusum Kanwar, head of school operations, Kangaroo Kids and Billabong High International School,

says, Instead of the teacher being the only source of help in a classroom, students can access websites

or online tutorials to assist them. PowerPoint presentations, animations and simulations not only make

the lessons interesting, but also make abstract topics easy to understand and help students visualise

concepts that are otherwise difficult.

Wireless learning

Veena Badiger, a professor from a Mumbai college adds, With the help of wireless connectivity, Im

able to offer my students a live learning experience. The software and programming lessons are

delivered electronically. The knowledge is practical and long-lasting. It has helped her explain trickyengineering problems in simpler ways and the understanding of the students has also improved, she

says.

But technology should not take over teaching or reading skills. It should be used in classrooms to

support and enhance learning in any subject.

Angad Nanda, a 12th standard student says, Interactive boards have made the traditional chalkboard

rather redundant and with the Internet replacing the Herculean load of textbooks, and Google replacing

our encyclopedias, education is being pushed into a new frontier, rich with the many wonders of

technological advancement.

Philip Verghese, a computing science student, says, Technology has helped me overcome many

problems. I was sceptical about joining an engineering course as it involves many theories and diagram

studies. The understanding is much better when we learn through PPT, images and visuals. Its like

watching a movie, you understand much faster and will be able to memorise the related topics for a

longer period, he adds.

Engage the students

No doubt, by infusing technology into the classroom environment, teachers can engage students in new

ways and enhance the learning process. From gurukul to e-learning, the world of education has


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undergone a sea change. Unless teachers adapt themselves to the changing times, they would be found

wanting in their profession.

A lot of tech companies have built programs that are designed to help schools integrate information

and communication technologies beyond fixed computers. These programs are loaded with apps like

interactive dictionaries and dictation programs.

Ambica Vijayan, teacher, Delhi Public School, Bangalore says, Technology has brought about changes

in our classrooms. Students can visually experience scientific experiments or see pictures of various

parts of the earth in social studies, or learn basic mathematical concepts through animated

demonstrations. Guruprasad Rege, Balmohan Vidyamandir, Mumbai informs, In our school, e-tools

function as additional aids in augmenting our existing play way teaching methods and makes learning

interactive and fun.

But technology alone is not enough to improve student comprehension, it should be intertwined with

best teaching practices, with an eye on students needs and curriculum goals.

[email protected]
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YET AGAIN

20 Dead, Over 130 Injured As 3 Blasts Rock Mumbai

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai: Twenty people were killed and 130 injured in a series of three powerful bomb blasts in a span

of ten minutes in crowded markets of Mumbai on Wednesday evening. The first explosion occurred at

6.54 pm at Zaveri Bazaar followed by another at Opera House a minute later. The third explosion

happened at 7.06 pm outside Kabutarkhana, a few meters away from the western side of Dadar railway

station. This the third terror attack at Zaveri Bazaar.

The high explosives with timer devices were kept on vehicles at two locations while the explosion

happened above a bus stop at Dadar. Commissioner of police Arup Patnaik said it was a terrorist attack

but the perpetrators have not yet been identified.

The explosions were timed during the evening peak hour when Mumbaikars would be returning

home. The locations were chosen to create maximum impact, police said.

17-year-old boy beaten to death

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Pune:A 17-year-old boy of Dias Plot, Swargate, was beaten to death by a youth and two minors

over the suspicion that he had an affair with the sister of one of them.The incident happened at a school ground in the Swargate area on Tuesday evening. The

victim has been identified as Amol Sunil Kamble.

While one of the suspects, a 13-year-old boy, has been detained, the other two were still atlarge, assistant police inspector M B Koli of the Swargate police station said on Wednesday.

The suspects are also from Dias Plot, the police said, adding that a hunt has been launched for

them and that they would be nabbed soon.

The suspected youth has been identified by the police as Shaktisingh Dudhani.

Amol and the suspects were playing cricket at the ground when he received a call. When thesuspect learned that his sister had called Amol, he became furious and started thrashing Kamble.

The other suspects also started beating Amol with sticks and beer bottles, Koli said, adding thatKambles friend, Babu Shankar Jopur, was also beaten up.

Senior inspector Ram Pathare said people took Amol to the Sassoon hospital, where doctors

declared him dead on arrival.


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35,000 stolen from temple

The Ganesh Temple Is Located Close To Police Station

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Pune: A Ganesh temple near Shinwarwada was broken into on Wednesday morning and Rs 35,000

stolen from its donation box.

The theft occurred despite the temple being situated just a few metres from the Kasba Peth police

chowky.

Around 5.30 am on Wednesday, when Jayant Patankar, manager of the Shrimant Peshwa Ganpati

temple, came to open the temple and perform puja, he found that the shutter had been broken. He

immediately informed a trustee of the temple, Ganesh Bandopant Nagarkar.

Speaking to TOI, another trustee of the temple, Anil Divanji, said that Nagarkar alerted all the trustees

as well as the police control room. The suspects had broken the locks on the shutter as well as the

donation box from which they stole around Rs 35,000, Divanji said. However, no ornaments on the

Ganesh idol had been taken, he added.

Deputy commissioner of police Dnyaneshwar Phadtare and assistant police commissioner Bharat

Bhushan Sharma visited the spot.

Senior police inspector Arjun Sakunde of the Vishrambaug police station said that the dog squad had

been pressed into action. The dogs traced the trail till Mangala theatre, Sakunde said. A complaint had

been lodged at the Vishrambaug police station. Inspector Rajendra Sawant (crime) of the Vishrambaug

police station is investigating the case.

Ancient temple

Anil Divanji, trustee of the Shrimant Peshwa Ganapati temple, said that Shrimant Bajirao Peshwa had

consecrated the Ganesh idol when the Shaniwarwada was being built. The idol used to be in a small

place outside the Shaniwarwada till 2001. The trust renovated the temple in 2001 with the help of the

PMC.

Pune district needs 203 schools

Satellite Surveillance Done Under Right To Education Act

Swati Shinde Gole TNN

Pune: A satellite mapping done by the state education department shows that rural parts of the state


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need over 2,000 primary and secondary schools.

The mapping process began in 2008 but the right to free and compulsory education Act (RTE), 2009,

made it mandatory to identify number of schools in the state. As it stands today, rural Maharashtra is in

need of 2,087 primary and 133 secondary schools. A total of 58 primary, 141 upper primary and four

secondary schools are required in Pune district. A detailed master plan outlining the requirement of

schools in each of village of the state has been prepared by the state education department which will

be sent to the Cabinet in a couple of months for approval.

The areas or limits of neighbourhood within which a school has to be established by the state have

been explained in the RTE. Accordingly, for children in classes I to V, a school shall be located within a

distance of one km from the house while for classes VI to VIII, a school shall be at a distance of not more

than 3 km.

With the help of the geographical information system, we mapped villages and determined areas

where schools are not available in the mandatory limits. This master plan thus prepared revealed that

over 2,000 schools are needed in rural Maharashtra as per RTE norms, said R C Patil, under secretary of

the state education department, who led this project.

A total of 30 districts in the state were mapped which disclosed that 618 primary schools (classes I to

V), 1,469 upper primary schools (classes VI to VIII) and 133 secondary schools (classes IX and X) need to

be established. In 2008, we received over 12,000 applications requesting us to start a school in their

village. This is a huge number and thats when we decided to study if so many new schools are actually

needed, said Patil.

How the master plan was prepared

The team tagged the present schools on 'Google Map' along with information such as the population of

village and the school code. After all the functioning schools were tagged, the map gave an exact idea of

where there are no schools (as per the RTE Act).

The education department team then decided the exact places in villages where a school is required.

An inspection at ground level was then done at the new locations, natural hurdles if any were noted

and accordingly the masterplan was readied.

Suggestions invited

The state education department through a government resolution (GR) issued on July 11 has invited

suggestions or objections to the master plan.

Suggestions are to be sent with reasons to the district education officer till July 18. The state

directorate of secondary education will then scan the applications and make changes if necessary. A

final plan will be presented before the Cabinet in the next two months.


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EDUCATION FOR ALL


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GIRLS, INTERRUPTED: 4.68L since 2001, says state health

dept

Authorities Based Their Calculations On Ideal Child Sex Ratio Of 952 Girls Per 1,000 Boys

Umesh Isalkar | TNN

Pune: The state health department fears that there may have been over four lakh cases of female

foeticide in the state in the last ten years. The report, considering the ideal child sex ratio of 952 girls per

1,000 boys, has attributed this fall in numbers to female foeticide.

The department calculated the absolute total of girls not born. It was an estimate of female foeticide

cases in the last ten years. They calculated the expected number of girls using the ideal child sex ratio at

birth of 952 per 1,000 boys, and compared it to the number of girls actually enumerated in the census.

Maharashtra's child sex ratio, which was 913 girls per 1,000 boys in 2001, has fallen to 883 girls in

2011, according to provisional census figures. The enumeration of girls in the zero to six age group in

Census 2011, showed a shortfall of 4,68,680 girls with Pune accounting for 45,000 cases.

The 4,68,680 figure was arrived at by multiplying the total number of enumerated male population

(68,22,262) according to Census 2011 by 952 (number of girls according to the ideal child sex ratio). The

sum of 6,49,47,93,424 when divided by 1,000 (number of boys) showed 64,94,793 as the result.

This figure is the assumed population of girls in the zero to six years age group. If the actual

enumerated zero to six years female population (60,26,113) is subtracted from the assumed population

which ideally should be there, then we arrive at the number of girls who are missing from the state's

population, S J Kulkarni, assistant director, state family welfare bureau, said.

The apprehensions about female foeticide were expressed in a recent report An abridged review onPCPNDT Act 1994 and Amendment 2003 that was handed out to all the stakeholders at a state-level

meeting held in Beed recently.

The report is to make the authorities take serious note of the falling child sex ratio. There may be

slight variations, but the report is important to gauge where we stand. The state government must take

a slew of measures to improve the situation, Jayanth Kumar Banthia, additional chief secretary (health

and family welfare), said.

The ratio is the biological or natural child sex ratio calculated using 200-year-old figures available in

the records preserved in western countries. Barring slight variations, there has been no change in this

ratio unless there is an artificial interference. The ratio helps us decide which direction to take to

maintain the right ratio and avoid a gender crisis, Banthia said.More boys than girls are born making the natural ratio 995 girls per 1,000 boys. experts said.

However, due to the fragile biological make-up, boys succumb to infections in the first six years of life

than girls who are biologically stronger, S J Konkani, assistant director (family welfare) said.

Hence, even if more boys are born every year, their numbers, over six years, comes down to match

the girls'. Over a six-year period, there are an almost equal number of boys and girls, he added.

Districts picture


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The actual enumeration of girls between zero and six years falls short when the ideal child sex ratio

formula is applied. Pune has 45,215 'missing' girls followed by Jalgaon (34,549), Ahmednagar (33,110),

Nashik (29,916) and Aurangabad (28,953). Mumbai (suburban) accounted for 19,248 'missing' girls while

Mumbai registered 10, 868 'missing' girls

Madrassa-run school records 100% success in SSC exam

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Pune: Baitul Ulum, a madrassa-run school in Kondwa, has recorded 100% pass in the secondary

school certificate (SSC or Std X) examinations conducted in March this year.The madrassa provides dual education to students under its madrassa-to-school scheme. We

are providing Muslim spiritual education and modern school education simultaneously. This

year, all the students who had attempted the SSC exam from our madrassa have cleared the

exam, said Mohammed Shakir Khan, founder of the school, at a news conference here onTuesday.

Khan said the scheme has been started two years ago for promoting modern education.

Currently 450 students are studying underthis scheme. Last year the pass percentage was 96 per

cent. This time, 14 students had appeared for the SSC exam and all of them have cleared the

exam.The students who come to their madrassa are from economically and socially weaker

backgrounds, said Khan. Many of these students have left their school education halfway andjoined the madrassa for spiritual education.

It was not easy to give two types of education at the same time. So, we changed the format of

spiritual education. We have made some relaxations in the spiritual education syllabus whichhelped them concentrate more on modern education, Khan said.

Due to this reduced burden, some students could even pass two standards in one year. Then


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they appeared for the SSC exam as external students.

Tariq Anwar Patel, adviser to the school, said that, while teaching spiritual education they felt

the need of modern education.Now we are working on to provide post-SSC education to these students. The work to set up

an institute of information technology is underwa, Patel added.

He cheated death, twice

Vijay Singh TNN

Navi Mumbai: Vashi interior decorator Deepak Patel escaped death by a whisker in the 11/7

train blasts five years ago and promptly became one of the many Mumbaikars to vow never to

commute by train again. On Wednesday, however, his cars window panes were shattered by theDadar blast and he escaped deathagain by a whiskerprompting him to wonder how he

should travel in Mumbai.The 36-year-old considers himself twice lucky after he escaped death on Wednesday. But,

now after my second brush with a bomb blast on Wednesday while driving my Maruti Esteem

car in Dadar, I really wonder who is really safe in the city, said Patel, a little shaken.

Early on Thursday morning, Patel visited a Sai Baba temple at Vashi to offer his deepestgratitude to the lord.

Patel, who was travelling to Navi Mumbai along with two of his office employees, recalled

that his car was just 3 metres away from the Dadar bus-stop where the explosion occurred a little

after 7pm.Our car was closest to the bus-stop. Immediately after the blast, the rear glass window

shattered while the front windscreen cracked due to the impact. All three of us immediately

jumped out ofthe vehicle, said Patel, who received innumerable calls from friends and relativesafter his damaged car was repeatedly shown on TV news channels.

Fortunately, Patel and his two associates escaped without any injuries as the cars exterior had

taken the brunt of the blast. As soon as the police arrived at the spot, Patel informed the officials

about his damaged car. They were then taken to Shivaji Park policestation for questioning.

We were there at the police station till 2 am, but the cops were very polite and cordial as they

noted down our details, said Patel, who lives with his wife and son at Sector 17, Vashi. His 85-year-old grandmother, who lives in Ghatkopar, was told about this incident only today as they

did not want to disrupt her sleep on Wednesday night.

When asked if he feels let down by the authorities, as they are not able to stop such terror

attacks from taking place in Mumbai, he said that it certainly does feel that way. There has to bea strict antiterror policy in place so that such serial blasts and attacks do not occur. Just look at

New York after the 9/11 attacks in 2001. There has not been a single similar incident since, he

elaborated.

He was the sole earning member of his family


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Pradeep Gupta TNN

Mumbai: Every day his family of four eagerly awaited his return from work. But on Wednesday,

61-year-old Lalchand Ahuja, a resident of Ulhasnagar-2, left in the morning to never return

again. Ahuja was the only earning member in the family.Despite his age, Ahuja used to daily travel around 100 km to work as a delivery man.

Ahuja died in the bomb blast that took place at Zaveri Bazar in Mumbai.

Ahuja has left behind a family of fourhis two daughters Geeta (22) and Jyoti (20), sonKumar (23) and a 59-year-old wife, who is still in a state of shock.

Ahuja was working as a delivery man in Deluxe jewelry shop in Penisuila apartment at

Ulhasnagar. As a delivery man he had to travel across the Mumbai.

On Wednesday, he left Deluxe around 2.30pm to deliver the jewelry to Lahor Creation andTohfa jeweler shop at Zaveri Bazaar. He delivered the goods and was returning to the shop when

the blast took place killing him on the spot .

Kishan Mirchandani, his employer, said, When I heard that a bomb blast has taken place at

Zaveri bazaar area, I Immediately called on his cellphone. When I could not contact him despiterepeated attempts, I turned on the TV to find out if he is one amongst the victims. Around 8.30

pm we got a call from St George Hospital. We reached the hospital and found he was dead.Ahujas relatives said the condition of the family was very bad. They live in a rented room of

one their relatives and none of the children are married.

On Thursday, the family conducted his last rites at the crematorium in Ulhasnagar 2.

THE SPEAKING TREE

Live The Guru Principle

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Guru is a tattva, an element, a quality inside you. It is not limited to a body or form. There is a story

that Krishna sent Uddhava, his close friend and a very wise man, to the gopis and gopas, who were full

of devotion. Uddhava went to give them some wisdom, to talk about liberation, but none of them was

interested in listening to that. They all said, No, tell us some story about Krishna, tell us what is

happening in Dwarka, where he is. We dont want to hear all this wisdom; you can keep that to yourself.But tell us what news you have of Krishna? We dont care about wisdom; we are happy with longing and

we are happy with love. So, lets sing and dance. Thats all they wanted to do. This is how love makes

you crazy. Thats when all the boundaries drop; you feel one with everyone around, and one with the

whole universeand thats called Guru tattva.

Devotion is your nature. When you rest in your own nature, there is no conflict. But usually we feel a

conflict. We feel bad about a negative quality we have or something that we did. A Master is one who


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lifts these burdens from you that you yourself cannot carry and kindles in you devotional love. Offer

everything to the Master your anger, your frustration, all your bad feelings and good feelings. Your

negativity pulls you down. Your positive qualities bring pride and arrogance in you. Your whole life

becomes a big weight. When you offer it all, you become free. You become light like a flower. You can

again smile and rejoice in the moment. What remains in you is pure love.

Since ages, all this knowledge and wisdom have been passed on. On Guru Purnima, we express our

gratitude to the guru-shishya tradition. Its the day to celebrate knowledge and love. Mind is connected

with moon, and the full moon is a symbol of completion, celebration, a pinnacle. The highest desire is to

ask for knowledge and freedom. Ultimately, happiness cannot be bought by money. Comfort is a small

thing. But there are only two things that will be asked, and that make life more fruitful how much love

did you give? And how much knowledge did you acquire?

What gets imprinted in the consciousness is knowledge. Knowledge is not what you read in a book; it

is awareness. Knowledge is like the ocean. Some people take a walk along the beach and they get good

oxygen, fresh air and they are happy with that. Others would put their feet in the water and feel that

scintillating impact of the ocean. Some others go surfing or scuba-diving and they find precious things.

So, its up to you if you want to take a walk on the beach, swim or go deeper.

Every single person on this planet is a spiritual seeker everyone is looking for peace, love and

happiness, and this is what spirit is. Guru Purnima is the day when the disciple wakes up. More gratitude

means more grace, happiness and knowledge. On this significant day repose on the vastness of your

own self, review your progress on the spiritual path, renew your focus on the goal, and resolve what you

want to do in the coming year.

Now, cow milk to cost 29 per litre in state

Co-op, Private Dairies Form Syndicate To Fix The Flat Rate

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Pune: All cooperative and private dairies in the state have formed a syndicate to sell cow milk at a

minimum price of Rs 29 per litre. The new rate will come into effect in the state from July 21.

At present, cow milk rates vary between Rs 28 and Rs 29 per litre. But from July 21 onwards, cow milk

will be available at a flat rate of Rs 29 per litre, irrespective of the brand. The decision was taken at a

meeting of dairy representatives, held at the Pune district milk producers federation Ltd (Katraj dairy)on Friday.

Speaking to TOI, Rambhau Tule, chairman, Katraj dairy, said, The increase in the rates of diesel and

the overall increase in the operating costs of dairy units have led to the increase in milk prices.

Moreover, cow milk after processing transforms into a product having equal value. Therefore, we have

decided to offer a common price tag across the state. The uniform rate will also reduce the competition

among dairies.


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Asked about offering a common milk procurement rate to farmers, Tule said, There was no

discussion on the issue and dairies were free to fix their milk-procuring rates. The current procurement

rate of Katraj dairy for cow milk is Rs 16.50 per litre.

Raghunath Patil of Shetkari Sanghatna said, The decision will restrict the growth opportunities in the

sector. Competition promotes quality consciousness, but now, there is no scope for it. Consumers will

suffer largely as there will be no choice left for them in the market. Dairies which stand to benefit from

the decision have not announced any plan to pass on the benefit of a uniform price to farmers.

Milk produced by Chitale and Mahanand dairies now costs Rs 28 per litre. The same will cost Rs 29 per

litre from July 21.

According to Vivek Kshirsagar, managing director, Katraj dairy, There are about 78 cooperative

dairies and over 1,000 private dairies, which together collect around 50 to 60 lakh litres of milk daily.

The state produces 1 to 1.5 crore litres of milk every day, half of which is consumed locally. The dairy

industrys daily turnover is close to Rs 25 crore.

Dont Worry, Be Happy

To bust stress, all that Indian women need to do is believe in themselves

Chetan Bhagat

Alright, this is not cool at all. A recent survey by Nielsen has revealed that Indian women are the moststressed out in the world: 87% of our women feel stressed out most of the time. This statistic alone has

caused me to stress out. Even in workaholic America, only 53% women feel stressed.

What are we doing to our women? Im biased, but Indian women are the most beautiful in the world.

As mothers, sisters, daughters, colleagues, wives and girlfriends we love them. Can you imagine life

without the ladies?

It would be a universe full of messy, aggressive and egomaniacal males running the world, trying to


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outdo each other for no particular reason. There would be body odour, socks on the floor and nothing in

the fridge to eat. The entertainment industry would die. Who wants to watch movies without actresses?

Kids would be neglected and turn into drug addicts or psychopaths by age 10. Soon, all-male world

leaders would lose their tempers at the slightest provocation, and bomb the guts out of each others

countries. In short, without women and their sanity, the world would perish.

Yet, look at how we Indians, a land of spiritual people, treat them. At an extreme, we abort girls

before they are born, neglect them in their upbringing, torture them, molest them, sell them, rape them

and honour-kill them. Of course, these criminal acts are performed by a tiny minority.

However, a majority of us are involved in lesser crimes. We judge, expect too much, dont give space

and suffocate our womens individuality. Imagine if you did this to menwont they be stressed out?

At a broader level, this isnt just about our women. We Indians have a habit of exploiting anyone

without power. As a flip side, we are suckers for anyone with power.

We look up to corrupt politicians, keep voting them back, and feel they have an entitlement to

loot us silly, because they are in power. In fact, we love power so much that when power comes to a

woman, we automatically begin to regard her well too. Goddesses, female politicians, senior mothers in

a household with a firm grip on family powerthey all get our respect. Anyone else doesnt.

This kind of society, which values power above equality and justice, doesnt achieve too much. These

societies remain like backward tribes, because they do not allow people without power to come up,

even though they may have many talents. When we dont allow our women to come up, or create stress

for them if they do, we are not allowing half of India to come up. When we abuse our power, we kill the

exploited persons will to contribute to society. When we believe powerful people are always right, and

the less powerful should be crushed, we resemble a jungle of animals. And animals dont progress,

humans do.

These regressive attitudes will take a while to change. For now, i want to give Indian women five

suggestions to reduce their stress levels. One, dont ever think you are without power. Give it back to

that mother-in-law. Be who you are, not someone she wished you would be. She doesnt like you?

Thats her problem.

Two, if you are doing a good job at work and your boss doesnt value you tell him that, or quit.

Talented, hard-working people are much in demand. Three, educate yourself, learn skills, network

figure out ways to be economically independent. So next time your husband tells you that you are not a

good enough wife, mother or daughter-in-law, you can tell him to take a hike.

Four, do not ever feel stressed about having a dual responsibility of family and work. It is difficult, but

not impossible. The trick is not to expect an A+ in every aspect of your life. You are not taking an exam,

and you frankly cant score cent per cent (unless you are in SRCC, of course). It is okay if you dont make

four dishes for lunch, one can fill their stomach with one. It is okay if you dont work until midnight and

dont get a promotion. Nobody remembers their job designation on their dying day.

Five, most important, dont get competitive with other women. Someone will make a better

scrapbook for her school project than you. Another will lose more weight with a better diet. Your

neighbour may make a six-dabba tiffin for her husband, you dont big deal. Do your best, but dont

keep looking out for the report card, and definitely dont expect to top the class. There is no ideal

woman in this world, and if you strive to become one, there will be only one thing you will achieve for

certain stress.


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So breathe, chill, relax. Tell yourself you are beautiful, do your best and deserve a peaceful life.

Anybody trying to take that away from you is making a mistake, not you. Your purpose of coming to this

earth is not to please everyone. Your purpose is to offer what you have to the world, and have a good

life in return. The next time this survey comes, i dont want to see Indian women on top of the list. I

want them to be the happiest women in the world. Now smile, before your mother-in-law shouts at you

for wasting your time reading the newspaper.

The writer is a best-selling novelist.

Mens guns, womens roses

THE SPEAKING TREE

To Succeed, You Need Concentration

Talk: Swami Kriyananda


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On every level of mental activity, concentration is the key to success. The student is taking an exam

but is distracted by a popular song running through his head. The businessman trying to write an

important contract is worried over an argument hed had with his wife. The judge is distracted by a

teenager appearing before him as he resembles his own son. Lack of concentration means inefficiency.

But what is not generally known is that a concentrated mind succeeds not only because it can solve

problems with greater dispatch, but also because problems have a way of somehow vanishing before its

focussed energies, without even requiring to be solved.

A concentrated mind often attracts opportunities for success that, to less focussed (and therefore less

successful) individuals, appear to come by sheer luck. The one who concentrates receives inspiration

and this may often be thought of as a divine favour by others. But such seeming favours are due

simply to the power of concentration.

Concentration awakens our powers and channels them, dissolving obstacles in our path, attracting

opportunities, insights, and inspirations. In many ways, concentration is the single most important key

to success.

This is particularly true in yoga practice. The mind, in meditation, must be so perfectly still that not a

ripple of thought enters it. God, the Subtlest Reality, cannot be perceived except in utter silence. Much

of the teaching of yoga, therefore, centres on techniques designed especially for developing

concentration.

Ask, what is concentration? Concentration implies, first, an ability to release ones mental and

emotional energies from all other interests and involvements and, second, an ability to focus them on a

single object or state of awareness.

Concentration may assume various manifestations, from a dynamic outpouring of energy, to perfectly

quiescent perceptions. In its higher stages, concentration becomes so deep that there is no longer any

question of its remaining merely a practice: The yogi becomes so completely identified with the object

of his concentration that he and it, as well as the act of concentration itself, become one. In this way, he

can gain a far deeper understanding of it than would be possible by aloof scientific objectivity alone.

In concentration on our own higher realities, identification with them becomes lasting. For in this case

there is no other, more personal, reality to come back to. We are those realities. We are the infinite

light, and love, and joy, and wisdom of God. Our concentration should be so deep that the

consciousness of diligent practice is refined into an effortless process of divine becoming.

The most effective technique of concentration will therefore be one which both interiorises the mind

and permits a gradual transition from technical practice to utter stillness. In that state, the senses

become automatically stilled, permitting an undisturbed continuation of the concentrated state. Once

the mind is so perfectly focussed, its concentrated power may be applied to any object one wishes.

The techniques of concentration are like finger exercises on the piano, which enable one to play

fluently but are no substitute for actual playing. Once your mind has become focussed and quiet, it is

time to forego the practice of techniques, and offer your entire awareness calmly up to God.

Concentration leads naturally to that state in which the will, no longer busily engaged in outward

planning, can be uplifted in a pure act of becoming. Concentration, directed in this way, becomes

ecstasy.


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India can beat England: Kapil Dev

Lucknow: Former captain Kapil Dev has said said India can win the forthcoming series in

England but warned the team against complacency. Reposing faith in the Mahendra SinghDhoni-led team India, the legendary all-rounder said, India won the recently concluded West

Indies tour and there seems to be no reason for not continuing with the feat in England. India

team will surely come back victorious. The team should not relax and should concentrate on

each and every aspect, Kapil insisted. The former fast bowler hailed Indias victory in theCaribbean but reiterated that the team should have won with a bigger margin. It would have

been better if India had won the West Indies series 2-0, but then the team has won it, Kapil said.

NO KIDDING

As per the new model bye-laws, a society should create awareness against child labour, says

Advocate RAJAN R. HIRANANDANI

One of the changes incorporated in the new model bye-laws 2009 for co-operative societies is that

the society has to display legal provisions against employing child labour for household and other work

on the notice board of the society. The bye-laws further state that the society shall be required to create

awareness in the minds of all the members for eradication of child labour. If any member is found to

have employed child labour, the managing committee should immediately contact the office of the

Labour Commissioner or the police station or the concerned voluntary organisation and shall inform the

same in writing to the Labour Commissioner.

The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 was enacted to control exploitation of child

labour. The Act was enacted to prohibit the engagement of children in certain employments and to

regulate the conditions of work of children in certain other employments.

Under the Act a child means a person who has not completed his 14th year of age. Under the

provisions of the Act, no child shall be employed or permitted to work in any of the occupations set

forth in the Schedule of the Act or in any workshop wherein any of the processes set forth in the

Schedule of the Act is carried on. Except a child may be engaged by a person who is carrying on any

process with the aid of his family or in any school established by or receiving assistance or recognition


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from the Government.

One of the occupations in which a child cannot be employed is employment of children as domestic

workers or servants. This was inserted in the Act with effect from 10.10.2006.

It is provided in the Act that whosoever employs any child or permits any child to work in

contravention of the provisions of the Act shall be punished for a term which shall not be less than three

months but which may extend to one year or with fine which shall not be less than Rs 10,000, but which

may extend to Rs 20,000 or with both. It is further provided that whoever has been already convicted of

an offence and commits a similar offence shall be punished with imprisonment for a term not less than

six months but which may extend to two years. Any person, police officer or inspector may file a

complaint of the commission of an offence under the Act in any court of competent jurisdiction.

As per the Act, if there is any dispute between the concerned person and the inspector appointed

under the Act as to the age of the child who is employed or is permitted to work, the question shall in

the absence of certificate as to the age of the child granted by the prescribed medical authority, be

referred by the inspector for the decision to the prescribed medical authority. Every certificate as to the

age of a child which has been granted by a prescribed medical authority shall for the purpose of this Act

be a conclusive evidence as to the age of the child to whom it relates.

The Schedule to the Act contains a list of occupations and processes in which children below the age

of 14 years cannot be employed which includes employment of children as domestic workers or

servants. The Act also regulates the working condition of children in employments which are permitted

for children.

The provision in the new bye-laws relating to child labour is a positive step towards achieving the

goals of the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986. QUICK BYTES

THE CHILD LABOUR (PROHIBITION AND REGULATION) ACT, 1986 WAS ENACTED TO CONTROL

EXPLOITATION OF CHILD LABOUR

IF ANY MEMBER IS FOUND TO HAVE EMPLOYED CHILD LABOUR, THE MANAGING COMMITTEE

SHOULD IMMEDIATELY CONTACT THE OFFICE OF THE LABOUR COMMISSIONER OR THE POLICE

STATION OR THE CONCERNED VOLUNTARY ORGANISATION


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Pune-Nashik highway blocked for 18 hours

Tarachand Mhaske

Shirdi: Vehicular movement near Sangamner on the Pune-Nashik road was affected for nearly 18hours following a mishap involving three vehicles on Saturday.

Two containers and a truck collided due to which one of the containers overturned, blockingthe entire road in the Chandapuri ghat, around 10 pm on Saturday. As vehicles started lining up,

it became difficult for the traffic police to provide a crane at the mishap site. Hundreds ofstranded vehicles could be seen up to a distance of nearly ten kilometers on each side from thesite of accident.

To ease the traffic, the police diverted vehicles via Ahmednagar. Those coming from Pune had

to go via Alephata, Ahmednagar, Manmad road, Kolhar and Loni to reach Sangamner. The

alternative route added 100 kilometers for those travelling between Pune and Nashik. Thecontainer which blocked the highway was shifted partially at 12.30 pm on Sunday and the

normal movement resumed on Sunday evening.

The road is used by private buses and trucks going to Nashik, Sangamner, and several placesin Gujarat. Some passengers suggested that the highway should be widened from two lanes to

four lanes.


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The road is used by private buses and trucks going to Nashik, Sangamner and Gujarat

Be positive, be healthy

Kiss guilt, blame, shame and fear goodbye, and watch yourself regaining your health and

happiness, says life coach, Reshma Kalwani

What are negative emotions and how do they affect our health? These are the stresses we have to

put up with in our daily life and are a result of beliefs in our environment that we choose subconsciously

while growing up. Some beliefs are empowering, but some are the opposite. These disempowering

beliefs become our limiting obstacles.

These beliefs later frame our thoughts and affect our actions. Repetitive action gives rise to habits.

Our limiting beliefs then causes us to remain trapped in a circle of guilt, blame, shame and fear which

further gives rise to emotions like anxiety, loneliness, depression and anger. Finally, these become our

stress factors and make us succumb to several psychosomatic ailments. Only when we understand how

they pull us down can we start freeing ourselves to live happy, wholesome and healthier lives.

The most disempowering emotions are guilt and its cousins, blame and shame. Blame is a way of

protecting ourselves from feeling helpless when we feel frustrated or deprived. We blame ourselves or

some others instead of succumbing to grief or feeling sorrow in a way that will let us heal. Shame is the

inner experience of feeling unworthy or unwanted. Fear is what we experience when we have not

figured out other choices for ourselves. It is a lack of faith in ourselves.

Getting rid of these unnecessary layers of negative emotions opens us up to newer possibilities in life

we never thought were achievable. We shine in our personal relationships and feel physically better

than we ever have. Relieving these emotions starts with forgiving ourselves and the people who

contributed to our negative emotions. Repeat to yourself with a feeling of sincere forgiveness. Say: "I

forgive myself and all those who have contributed to my emotions. I now release these emotions as they


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do not serve me anymore." Forgiveness starts the journey of positivity - from which feelings of wellness

stem.

Choose beliefs and thoughts that make you feel happy and empowered. Throw out your negative

thoughts and emotions, support positive feelings of love and happiness.

Focus on all the good things your life has to offer. Be grateful for these things. Gratitude leads to

abundance. Choose health, happiness, and life.www.relationshippoint.com

The Way Of Satyagraha

Where Baba Ramdev has gone wrong with his anti-corruption crusade

Madhu Purnima Kishwar

Dear Baba Ramdev. Just some weeks ago, you were the envy of politicians, most of who ferry people

and rely on bribes to bring them to attend their rallies. In contrast, you had a devoted following who

supported your anti-corruption campaign by coming to Ramlila Maidan at their own cost and dipping

into their wallets to support the movement. The numerous trusts and institutions you have set up are

flush with funds. You have an army of dedicated cadres spread across the country who could play animportant role as watchdogs of democracy, if guided properly. Yet, you messed it all up.

The bizarre drama you enacted to escape arrest by the Delhi Police jumping down from a 14 ft high

stage, expecting women to form a protective ring around you and finally fleeing the pandal disguised in

womens clothing, leaving thousands of your followers to face the police wrath was shocking. We are

used to governments ordering such crackdowns. We are used to our police behaving like an army of

invaders. But we were not prepared for undignified behaviour from a yoga guru, who is loved and

revered by millions.

Worse still, your first response to this public humiliation was to announce that for your next round of

agitation you will train a private militia to give a fitting response to police action. It must have thrilled

the Maoists to hear you say that you finally understood why they have taken to the gun. But youbacktracked from your statement the moment you were faced with the home ministers open threat

and a hostile media reaction.

Your press conference in Delhi was no less disappointing. You explained you ran away in a womans

attire because you did not want to be hunted down like a wolf by the police. Firstly, there was not a

chance that if you had allowed yourself to be arrested in full view of TV cameras, any physical harm

would have come your way. In fact, you would have emerged a hero in the public eye. The
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quintessential quality of a satyagrahi is not

his ability to stay without food for a certain number of days but to be absolutely fearless in the face of

repression. Therefore, though yours may have been a peaceful agitation, it was far from being a

satyagraha.

Till recently you were considered the advertisement for the miraculous power of yoga. But your

behaviour on the night of June 6 was not a display of inner calm. Therefore, this is not the time for knee-

jerk reactions, angry outbursts or forcing yourself on a reluctant Anna Hazares bandwagon by

announcing that you will join his fast on August 16, 2011. Not long ago, Team Hazare wooed you to join

the anti-corruption movement because of your countrywide massive support base. Today, they see you

as a liability.

This is time for serious introspection. Perhaps you should start by taking a course in the Art of Living

from Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Like you, he too was an integral part of the anti-corruption movement. But he

was not agitated by his representatives not being included in the drafting committee for the Lokpal Bill.

To start with, you need to review the manner in which you practise and propagate yoga. Even the

most elementary text or instructor, leave alone a guru, teaches us that yoga is not just physical exercise.

It involves bringing body and mind in perfect union, with focus on calm breathing, the very

manifestation of the life force in each of us. Pranayam is not the same as breathing exercises but an

endeavour to gain total concentration and inner equilibrium by shutting out the noises and distractions

of the outside world.

I admire the way you have succeeded in convincing millions to avoid unhealthy food and dependence

on the allopathic system of medicines whose indiscriminate use does more harm than good. I also

admire the way you lighted the spark in millions to stand up and fight corruption in governance. But

your excessive demonisation of the allopathic system and exaggerated claims for yoga weaken your

case. When you mix yoga with political or dietary sermons you take away from the seriousness of both

and the lessons lose their intrinsic worth.

Moreover, bringing several thousand people together for a two-hour class transmitted on TV clearly

shows that people are expected to follow your complicated yogasanas by watching giant video screens,

doing what they can in their own way with very little monitoring. Yoga cannot be imparted like you

teach PT to schoolchildren. Yoga needs close individual attention to ensure that the person being taught

is able to obtain the correct posture and correct breathing. Otherwise, it is like any other exercise.

You have every right to nurture political ambitions or build a wealth-generating ayurvedic empire with

your marketing genius. But if you wish to succeed in influencing or cleansing the politics of India, you

have to understand that electoral politics requires a different genius altogether. You have to learn the

art of teamwork and acknowledge your limitations in dealing with complex political and economic

issues. It is naive to assume that you single-handedly have a cure for all political ills. The demand list you

submitted to the government had some sensible but many absolutely untenable ideas. It also diverted

attention away from your main demand. Most importantly, a yoga guru has to live up to that honorific

title by acquiring inner calm. Otherwise, it is a negative advertisement for yoga.

The writer is professor, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, Delhi.


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Baba Ramdev: Needing to live up to his own image

Sridevi wants to master English now

And she has other oddballs for company

Roshni K Olivera

EVERYONES eager to know what Sridevis comeback film is all about. Naturally, the actress who has

done some remarkable work in films like Mr India, Chaalbaaz and Chandni, is bound to want to return to

the big screen with a bang.

PT has just learnt that Sris film, directed by R Balkis wife Gauri Shinde, is loosely based on the

popular Zabaan Sambhalke TV show. Titled English Vinglish, it revolves around a middleclass Indian

housewife with weak English, who becomes the butt of everyones jokes. She has to go to America and

thus begins her secret attempt to master the language. Eventually she succeeds, even giving a speech in

perfect English much to everyones amazement.

The film also focuses on other dysfunctional characters studying with her in the Learn English in two-

weeks course.Its a fun-filled flick and Sris comic timing is the icing on the cake, says a source. Theres

this one scene where an American Consulate guy asks her You dont know English, how will you manage

in our country? and she replies, You dont know Hindi, but seem to be managing just fine in ours! the

source adds.


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SPEAK EASY: Sridevi

CAREERCALL

TEACHERS TALK

Like an Old wine, in a New bottle Education Times brings back popular careers of

yesteryears. Two professionalsone, who has spent numerous years in the field, and

another, a newbie in the industry, present their views in this series. This week, we cover

teaching


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SAMEER GAJRIA,

TEACHER, GUJARAT RESEARCH SOCIETY

I strongly believe that knowledge is power and wanted to pursue the exchange of knowledge as a

career, while exploiting my flair for teaching. Teaching satisfies the need to succeed, and the pay is

pretty good too. However, it is the feedback you receive from parents and students that is probably the

most rewarding; when the efforts you put into the children results into their excellent grades, in itself

feels very gratifying. Despite the advent of new educational innovations like e-learning and online

classes, teaching is still a budding profession. Taking pay into consideration, the IB schools definitely pay

their teachers more than the state-sponsored schools. Most teachers take home tuitions while others

teach at private tuition chains, for extra income. However, with experience and talent one can expect to

be promoted to a higher designation.

A teacher-student relationship depends a lot on how you, as a teacher, can connect with your

students. I find it easier to connect with my students, when I alleviate my lessons with humour and

interactions. At the same time, children these days can easily open up to a teacher they trust. We try to

be friendly, yet be firm with them. Although not much has changed, things are still different in many

ways.

HIGHLIGHTS

A teacher-student relationship depends a lot on how you, as a teacher, can connect with your students

It is the feedback you receive from parents and students that is probably the most rewarding As told

to Ruchi Kumar

SAHIBA MORE, SENIOR TEACHER

Teaching has undergone a metamorphic change over the last few years. When I entered the profession


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it was like come, teach and go. NET/ SET exams were made mandatory only in the 90s. Slowly,

professionalism entered this vocation. First came the qualifying exam, then the timings - 40 hours in the

campus a week - followed by accreditation from the apex body NAAC and so on. Also, participation in

different seminars, conferences, workshop, buzz sessions have all become mandatory. So from a

profession which people thought of as a vacation based job, it has changed to a job with all aspects and

aspiration of a true profession. It requires quality, niche, speciality, expertise, specialty and above all

commitment to really dazzle and sparkle. Although teaching wasnt my first choice, I began connecting

to students and developed a great rapport with them once I started my practice lessons in school. So

much so that students would want to be with me even during the break time and free periods to talk

and discuss things.

Teaching, like any other profession, provides for good opportunities for earning. Since the sixth pay

commission, salaries in this profession have gone up substantially. Teaching now attracts more people

to this profession. Also, like any other profession, teaching demands quality, sincerity, accountability

and constant updating. Accountability and honesty can make you sought after person.

The student-teacher relationship has changed a lot over the years. In the good old days, this

relationship was essentially formal, while today its more informal. These days, the channels of exposure

and communication are available to one and all. Thus, students, who come to schools, are more alert

and informed. They have to be given a chance to express, discuss and deliberate. The fear, students

once felt in their hearts for their teachers, has now been replaced by mutual respect and knowledge. My

students can call me anytime they need me. I am on Facebook so they chat with me and share their

personal lives whenever possible. As told to Gauri Rane Shetty

HIGHLIGHTS

Teaching, like any other profession, provides for good opportunities for earning The fear, students once

felt for teachers, is now replaced by respect and friendship

Health minister proposes banning junk foods from schools

and colleges

Focus on healthy dietIf the health ministry is trying to get youngsters off the habit of consuming junk food and soft

drinks, it should be supported in its efforts. An affidavit filed by the Food and Safety StandardsAuthority of India says the Union health minister has written to his counterparts in states to

consider withdrawing from school and college canteens such eatables and drinks that have no

nutritional value and are harmful to health. Now, while college students as young adults may be

allowed latitude in the matter, theres no arguing against the proposal being implemented inschools.

One can hardly argue that children will themselves pick healthy food over junk food if given

the choice. Even if they are told of the dangers of eating junk food, they need guidance in this


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matter. Schools must proactively help them develop a taste for healthy food. If junk food is

around as an available option, this wont happen. Many scientific studies show how big a role

good food plays in boosting concentration and learning processes in the formative years. As theministry notes from studies, junk food by contrast is high in calories, fat, sodium and sugar,

contains harmful additives and colour to enhance flavour. Also, it lacks vitamins, minerals and

fibre. That will explain the global problem of junk food-addicted children and adolescentssuffering from obesity and even diabetes and heart disease.India isnt immune from such trends. If children have bad diets, they could grow to become

unhealthy individuals with chronic ailments. This is why parents, school authorities, the political

class and civil society at large must join hands to protect the young. If India is to reap thebenefits of its famed demographic dividend, our children have to be not only educated but also

healthy. Cutting out the junk helps both objectives. A ban is just bad teaching Srijana Mitra

Das

Proposing a ban on junk food and aerated drinks within school and college canteens isridiculousand unreal. Expecting students not to consume pizzas, burgers or cold drinks is like

asking them not to step into a colourful, globalised culture of youth, where consuming fast food

with friends is part of the school and college cafeteria experience. Think ofstudents laughing about their teachers, exchanging shy glances or planning adventures over

dalchawal or roti-sabzi. Its not going to happen. Its only realistic to expect that like rock music

and bright-coloured T-shirts, young people will gravitate towards food thats quick, delectable

and attractively priced. Banning this from schools and colleges will only push students outsidetheir campuspossibly during school hours.

Such a bans unlikely to work in India; we love spicy, oil-drenched snacks, aloo tikkis to crisp

samosas, buttery dosas and pav-bhaji. These may not be overloaded with nutritional value but areavailable at every street cornerand in most homes. Replacing these with bean-sprouts inside

schools and colleges wont ensure better nutrition for younger people, many identifying with the

hero of Bollywood hit Band Baaja Baraat, swearing by his bread pakora. Additionally, here junk

food is shakily defined as anything with poor nutritional value. By this score, puri-sabzi andchhole-bhature, giving thrills but fewer vitamins, qualify. Lets be realistic. Instead of bans,

schools and colleges should provide holistic nutritional education and fitness programmes.

Educational institutions should equip people to make informed choices, not dictate theirlifestyles. A ban versus nutritional science with swimming pools, football fields, tennis courts

and the occasional pizza. The latter makes for a great school or college. The former is just being

lazy.


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