Ekta Pandey, a visually impaired girl from Lucknow, has pledged to donate her eyes to the eye bank in King George's Medical University.
Ekta Lost Her Vision When She Was 12. Today She Has Pledged to Donate Her Eyes
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For the First Time in India, a President Will Become a Teacher for a Day
Students of XI and XII standard from Dr Rajendra Prasad Sarvodaya Vidyalaya will witness the President getting into the shoes of a guru, as he will become their teacher for one day.
Source: Flickr
The President will teach these students in a joint class held for both the standards. The lecture will be conducted on the 'knowledge floor' of the school which is located in the Presidential Estate. He will also address about 100 teachers after the class. He gave consent for this idea after it was proposed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, and Deputy CM Manish Sisodia. This step is a part of Delhi Government’s programme called 'Be a Teacher', in which famous personalities from different fields will take lessons in government schools and will inspire students about the various career options. “The President of India will take class, as a teacher, for a single day as a mark of respect to the teachers in Delhi Government schools. We celebrate Teacher’s Day in honour of a teacher (S. Radhakrishnan), who became the President of our country. This will be yet another milestone when the first citizen of India will interact with the students and teach them the lessons of life,” said Manish Sisodia in a press conference. This is the first time in India that any president will become a teacher for a day. Earlier, both Pranab Mukherjee and the late former President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam have met and interacted with students. Teachers' Day will surely be a memorable one for these students who are getting an opportunity to interact with the President.Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter (@thebetterindia).
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Good Luck ISRO – Ninth GSLV from India to Take off with GSAT-6 Today
The satellite will be lifted off with the GSLV-D6 rocket, marking the ninth flight of India’s Geostationary Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV).
Source: Twitter
GSLV is a launch system controlled by ISRO. The rocket is also carrying on-board an indigenously developed Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS) for the third time. This flight is also significant because GSLV-D6 plans to continue with the CUS testing. The 2,117 kg GSAT-6 is the twenty fifth geostationary communication satellite of India built by Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). It has a cuboid shape and is twelfth in the GSAT series. The GSLV-D6 will place the satellite into a Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO). Geostationary satellites are used for digital, audio, data and video broadcasting, and they have been developed by ISRO with the view of making India self-dependant in terms of broadcasting.This satellite forms the third and upper stage of the rocket and it is being launched with the purpose of providing S-band communication services in India through mobile consoles and phones.
Source: Facebook
The overall length of GSLV-D6 is 49.1 meter and it has a lift-off mass of 416 tonne. Once it reaches GTO, GSAT-6 will reach the geostationary orbital home by using its own propulsion system. It will be placed at 83 degree east longitude. The cryogenic upper stage (CUS) on-board GSLV-D6 is called the CUS-06. Cryogenic engines provide more thrust for every kilogram of propellant burnt. Five predecessors of GSAT-6 were launched by GSLV in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2014. The satellite provides communication through five spot beams in S-band and a national beam in C-band. GSAT-6 has many advanced features such as the S-Band Unfurlable Antenna which has a diameter of 6 meter, making it the largest satellite antenna made by ISRO. "We will launch GSAT-6 for strategic applications in July-end or August beginning, with a special antenna that will have a capability to use a handheld device to communicate from anywhere," ISRO chairman AS Kiran Kumar had said earlier this year. The launch will also be telecast live on Doordarshan and will be webcast on the ISRO website from 4:22 pm today.Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter (@thebetterindia).
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Welcome to Luhangara – a Panchayat in Odisha Where Nobody Defecates in the Open
The Campaign: Mo Swachha Sauchalaya (My Clean Toilet)
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A beneficiary of Kijang Village of Luhangara panchayat starting the construction work of his toilet[/caption]
In February 2015, the district administration in Gajapati started a campaign for the building of toilets, under the leadership of the District Collector Mansi Nimbhal. Even though the campaign comes under the Swachha Bharat Mission of the Government of India, the administration here wanted people in the community to consider it their own campaign. Hence the name, Mo Swachha Sauchalaya, signifying the two basic things that the campaign is aiming for:
• To build toilets in the district by actively involving the community.
• To concentrate on behavioural change aspects when it comes to the attitude of people towards sanitation.
As per the Swachha Bharat Mission, the government gives a sum of Rs. 12,000 per toilet to every beneficiary who builds a toilet at his/her home.
The first step was to study and analyse the challenges in the district. Out of the seven blocks in Gajapati district, five are dominated by the tribal population. The major challenges here include difficulty in supply of raw materials and trouble mobilizing the community. Here are a few steps that are being taken towards the mission of making the entire district (119 panchayats) Open Defecation Free by April 2016.
The Learnings and Training
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A meeting inside a church of Muri village of Luhangara panchayat, discussing how to include the left out beneficiaries in the campaign[/caption]
The district administration first formed a team of ten members, which included Block Development Officers, a Prime Minister’s Rural Development Fellow, and a few Self-Help Group (SHG) members. This team was sent to the Nadia district of West Bengal to learn about their Sabar Shouchagar (toilets for all) model—because of which Nadia was declared the first Open Defecation Free district in the country. Comprehensive guidelines, pointing out the local challenges and possible solutions, were then framed by the team.
Following this, the administration formed two teams at the District and Block levels—the District Resource Team (DRT) and the Block Resource Team (BRT). Every block comprises 15-20 panchayats. The BRTs include engineers and staff members to implement the project, who in turn report to the DRT, which is made up of three Prime Minister's Rural Development Fellows and some development fellows and consultants from the District Water and Sanitation Mission. The DRT works directly under the Collector and looks at smooth functioning at the panchayat level.
These teams then began with the CLTS (Community Led Total Sanitation) training, which is very important when it comes to changing the mindset of the people towards sanitation practices.
Under CLTS activities, all the villagers, Sarpanch, and Anganwadi workers of the concerned panchayats were included for training.
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A morning CLTS activity meeting, headed by district collector, BRT members and DRT member[/caption]
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An evening meeting with villagers as most people work during the day[/caption]
CLTS meetings are very interactive in nature. Villagers ask questions and learn why toilets are necessary and why people are falling sick with diarrhoea and various water related diseases. Some experiments, showing the spread of insects and germs because of open defecation, are also demonstrated. Just a simple demonstration sometimes leads people to immediately decide that they should have toilets in their homes. The sessions usually end with villagers taking an oath to contribute towards the construction of toilets and using them.
The Luhangara Panchayat
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Prakash Kumar Sahoo (right) with a beneficiary of “Mo Swachha Sauchalaya” of Kijang village, Luhangara panchayat[/caption]
DRT member, Prakash Kumar Sahoo, who is working as a Prime Minister's Rural Development Fellow in the district since the past three years, was given charge of the Luhangara panchayat, with the deadline to make it Open Defecation Free by the second week of July. "This panchayat consists of more than 1000 households and has 17 villages and hamlets. Most of its villages are situated in hilly terrains." Some of these villages already had toilets because of the work of Gram Vikash NGO in the district. Hence, there were around 540 households that needed toilet constructions.
“Initially, one Self Help Group (SHG) was formed in each panchayat and the group was trained about the basics of toilet construction, how to obtain the materials, and the entire building process. However, this idea did not work well because we soon found that most of the people in the community wanted to build their toilets on their own, using their own manpower. Hence, individual trainings were then given.”
After the CLTS meetings here, the community started taking ownership of the campaign and started building toilets in their homes.
[caption id="attachment_30372" align="aligncenter" width="1000"]
Prakash Kumar Sahoo (right) interacting with a volunteer of Kudinda village who is building his own toilet[/caption]
"School children were also mobilized. They used to offer polythene bags full of sand to those people who went to defecate in the open so that they would feel ashamed of their regular habit," says Prakash.
District administration teams were involved in follow-ups throughout, to make sure that toilets were being constructed.
[caption id="attachment_30459" align="aligncenter" width="1000"]
Prakash Kumar Sahoo with Junior Engineer of Nuagada block inspecting toilet construction work during a field visit to Kudinda village[/caption]
At the village level, local volunteers were selected who had to motivate people to construct as well as use toilets. They were encouraged to build toilets using locally available material like stones and soil, because the supply of bricks was extremely difficult in the hilly terrain.
This panchayat was finally declared Open Defecation Free on 11th July, 2015.
[caption id="attachment_30375" align="aligncenter" width="1000"]
District Collector addressing the crowd on the occasion of Open Defecation Free panchayat celebration day at Luhangara panchayat[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_30460" align="aligncenter" width="1000"]
Volunteers awarded with a certificate of appreciation by the District Collector[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_30461" align="aligncenter" width="1000"]
The celebration[/caption]
“Good times start from today for people of this panchayat,” said Mansi Nimbhal, on the occasion of the Open Defecation Free panchayat celebration at Luhangara.
For more details about the work being done, you can write to Prakash Kumar Sahoo at prakashpmrdf@gmail.com.
In order to know more about the Prime Minister’s Rural Development Fellowship, visit here.
Valuable inputs from: Prakash Kumar Sahoo (Prime Minister's Rural Development Fellow), currently posted at Gajapati district
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Pune Gets an App That Will Make Parents of School Going Kids Worry Less
The app is called School Bus Safety Pune, and it provides all the required details about the bus which can be accessed by parents as well as the school.
- School details - Basic details of the school
- Bus details – This will include the bus number, name and contact number of the driver, name and contact number of the attendant, and the registration number of the vehicle.
- School Bus Committee - Details of the committee members formed in the school under the state's school transport policy.
With phone numbers of drivers, and registration number of the buses, it will be easy for parents to contact the required people in case of an emergency.
Along with this, the app is also very useful for school authorities who will be able to check the validity of bus drivers' permits on the app itself. There is also a feature to add complaints against drivers if any, which can then be monitored by the school.
The app allows schools to register and fill in the data of the buses operated by them, and all the required information, which can then be accessed by parents.
More than 4,400 schools have registered themselves on the website of Pune RTO, and the information about their buses can be obtained on the app.
This step has been taken because Maharashtra’s Education department, Traffic department and Regional Transport Office (RTO), had been directed to implement the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles (Regulations for School Buses) Rules, 2011, three years after they were drafted, under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
The app can be downloaded here and here.
Featured image credit: Flickr
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For the First Time, Indian Railways Is Conducting Online Recruitment Exams for Engineers
This is the first time that the Indian Railways Recruitment Boards are conducting online all-India examinations for the 3,273 vacancies of Senior Section Engineers and Junior Engineers.
Photo Credit: Smeet Chowdhury/Flickr
The ongoing examinations began on August 26 and will continue till September 4. They are being conducted in 242 cities across the country, including places in North-East and Jammu and Kashmir. The online format has been introduced by the Indian Railways with the view of increasing transparency and credibility of the examinations. The computer based exams are easy to take. Smooth navigation between questions is possible, and the option of taking the exam in chosen regional languages is also available. The application process was also conducted online, with around 18 lakh candidates applying for the posts. “Sharp increase in vacancy to candidate ratio indicates wide popularity and acceptance of On-line mode,” said an official Railways statement. Railway jobs are high in demand among many aspirants. In the 2014-15 railway recruitment drive, examinations were conducted for 48,822 vacancies in 284 categories. The online examinations, if extended to more categories, will surely be of huge help for many.Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter (@thebetterindia).
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Now Book a New LPG Connection Online, Right from Your Home
'Sahaj', a scheme for the online registration of new LPG connections was launched on Sunday by Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan.
Photo Credit: Meena Kadri/Flickr
With the help of the portal mylpg.in, consumers can register a new connection online and can also go for online payments. An option for ordering a refill was already available. "Consumers can now book a new connection online. It will be verified within 48 hours and a person from the nearest LPG agency will deliver a new connection at the door-step in next 3-4 days," said the minister. This is an additional step taken towards the vision of Digital India and will definitely make the process of registrations hassle free for the consumers. The initiative has been launched in Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneshwar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Patna and Pune. The system will be available on the websites of each oil company, along with the government's LPG portal. All that the consumers have to do is fill up an application form and the system will automatically detect which dealer will be the best for them.They will then receive the customer ID within 48 hours via email and phone message.
Source: indane.co.in
This is followed by an online payment and verification, after which the regulator, cylinder and rubber pipe will be delivered to the consumer by the dealer's representative. For those who do not have a stove can select the option offered by the system to purchase it online. As of now, the PAHAL scheme (Direct Benefit Transfer on LPG), under which the subsidy of customers goes directly into their bank accounts, is already expanding. It is helping in the elimination of corruption caused due to middlemen and black marketers. In addition to this, the government is also planning to launch the sale of LPG in 2kg bottles at local kirana stores, which can be easily carried and will help those who cannot afford the 14.2kg cylinders. Sale of 5kg cylinders at Rs. 155 was launched in October 2013. The 2kg ones will also be useful for the financially weaker families, students and migrant labourers who live in temporary residences in the city, and do not have any address proof to register for the 14.2kg cylinders. New connections can be ordered by filling the form here.Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter (@thebetterindia).
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He Has Published 12 Books and Won Praise from a PM & a President. Why’s He Selling Tea Then?
He used to read Nanda’s novels as a 15-year-old. "I used to think I will become Gulshan Nanda one day," he says.
There were no schools in Laxman’s village, so he had gone to live in Amravati. However, due to financial problems in his family, he also had to work as a domestic help for three years, and at a spinning mill for five years, while continuing his education.
It was an incident at school that first upset and moved him, and then inspired him to write. One of his schoolmates, Ramdas, a boy from his village, drowned in a river and lost his life. Ramdas was known for being a rebellious student before one teacher helped him change his life and turned him into a favourite of everyone at school. The story of Ramdas became the first book written by Laxman.
Knowing that Delhi is the place where many publishing houses are located, Laxman wanted to move there and take up writing in a more serious way. After finishing school till Class 10 and working as a farmer for some time, Laxman left his village with only Rs. 40 given by his father. The journey to the capital city itself was not an easy one. He could only reach Bhopal before all his money was used up. So he had to work as a labourer at a construction site for three months.
Finally, in July 1975, he reached Delhi as a young man of 25. All he had at that time were two shirts, a 10th-grade completion certificate, and the dream of becoming a successful writer someday.
On reaching Delhi, he tried to find a job but could not get anything. He had to work as a construction site labourer and a waiter at a restaurant for two years before opening his own paan (betel leaves) shop. Later, he converted it into a tea shop and has been selling tea for the past 20 years now.
In those two years, he wrote another book called Nayi Duniya ki Nayi Kahani, based on his journey to Delhi and his determination to become a writer. But when he finally took both his books to the many publishers in the city, Laxman received nothing but rejection and ridicule. Nobody believed that the work of a tea seller could be any good. It was when one of these publishers literally asked him to “get out” that Laxman decided to publish his books himself, without any external help.
And so, in 1979, he used all his savings (Rs. 7,000) to self-publish his first novel, Nayi Duniya Ki Nayi Kahani. Being a publisher means you have to sell your book yourself too. Laxman used to do that by riding across the city on his bicycle, stopping by at libraries and schools, asking people if they would be interested in reading his work.
He also registered his own publishing company — Bhartiya Sahitya Kala Prakashan.
Today, he publishes 500 copies each of 4 different titles annually. Publishing one title costs around Rs. 25,000-30,000. He says about 100 copies are sold from the tea shop itself every month, and the rest are sold through e-commerce websites. He is also working on 2 more novels these days.
After his first book was published, people slowly began recognizing him as an author. In 1984, a senior Congress party member came to know about him after reading an article based on his life. He told the then PM of India, Indira Gandhi, about Laxman, and he was invited to meet and present his books to her. She encouraged him to continue writing. When he insisted that he wanted to write a book on her life too, she said that he should write something about her tenure instead. Hence, he wrote a play called Pradhanmantri.
"I wanted to present it to Mrs. Indira Gandhi but her unfortunate death took this opportunity from me," he says.In spite of being good as a writer, Laxman never gave up the urge to learn, and is continuing his education even today.
He passed the Class 12 CBSE exam at the age of 40 from Patrachar School in Delhi, and then completed his graduation through a correspondence course from Delhi University. Currently, he is pursuing MA in Hindi from IGNOU.
"I chose to write in Hindi as I wanted my books to be read all over the country. So I started reading Hindi books as much as possible. I used to visit Daryaganj’s old books' market every Sunday to buy Hindi books," says the writer.Like his novel about Ramdas, all his books are based on real life incidents.
“Some boys at my stall used to talk about a girl, their classmate, who did not speak much. I asked them if I could meet her. She then became a character (and title) of one of my books — Renu,” he says.
Renu also became the book that Laxman personally presented to the former Indian president, Pratibha Patil, who was so impressed by his work that she invited him to Rashtrapati Bhavan, along with his family, on July 23, 2009.
As of now, he has no plans of closing his tea shop. "With the money I earn from my books, I have to publish more books. And the tea shop helps me run my household," says Laxman, who lives with his wife and two sons, both of whom are pursuing higher studies.
Laxman has now stopped going around selling his books. Ramdas, the first book that he wrote, is his bestselling novel till date and is already in its 3rd edition. Over 3,000 copies of it have been sold and it has also been converted into a play.
He is currently working on his upcoming books —Barrister Gandhi, which is based on the life of Mahatma Gandhi, and DANSH, a social novel. Some of his other famous books include Narmada, Parampara Se Judi Bhartiya Rajneeti, Ahankaar, and Abhivyakti.
Laxman Rao refuses to take any funds and donations from people. Those who want to give are politely advised to buy one of his books instead.
“I am satisfied with my life, I want to move ahead. I am hopeful that my books shall earn me a lot of money someday. Then I’ll stop selling tea and engage in full time writing. That day is not too far away now,” he says confidently.To know more about Laxman, you can write to him at laxmanrao.bskp@gmail.com and visit his Facebook page. His books can be bought on Flipkart, Amazon and Kindle.
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In Pictures: Pune’s High-Tech Bus Rapid Transit System Is Finally Here. And It Looks Awesome!
The high quality, high speed BRT system has been developed with the aim of offering high quality services to commuters in Pune.
The system is equipped with many improved features such as increased bus frequency, better and covered bus shelters, easier driving conditions, shorter waiting and travel time, and more efficient operations.
The Rainbow BRTS is owned and operated by Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd and developed with the support of Pune Municipal Corporation and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporations.
Some features of Rainbow BRTS are as follows:
• With 600 new buses, the frequency at which they run will increase.
• Well designed and properly lit bus stations have ticket counters along with route and fare information.
• The bus station platform is at the same level as the entry of the bus, which helps in easy boarding.
• Traffic wardens and security personnel are present at most stations.
• Dedicated lanes with good quality roads will help in smooth movement of the buses on the corridor.
• The buses have automatic door with sensors.
• All bus stations have television screens to inform passengers about the arrival and departure of buses.
For a month, the service will be free for those passengers who alight or board buses at stations on the BRTS corridor and are going up to PMC Bhavan or Pune railway station.
Before the final green flag, the system was under trial to train bus drivers and other staff members. Senior citizens, school students and army personnel got a chance to ride the buses during the trial phase.
With dedicated lanes, the buses will remain segregated from the rest of the traffic, which also reduces driver fatigue by avoiding conflicts with other vehicles, which is common on chaotic roads.
Pune was the first city in India to implement and operationalize the BRT system in 2006.
The Sangamwadi - Vishrantwadi corridor is one of the six corridors that are being developed in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad, in the current phase of the Rainbow BRTS network. This is being done with the view to solve the issues arising due to increased traffic and congestion in the city.
The Rainbow BRTS project is being implemented with the financial support of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM) of the Government of India. Some parts of the project in Pimpri Chinchwad are being funded under the ‘Sustainable Urban Transport Project’, which is an initiative of the Ministry of Urban Development.
You can find more information about the schedule and routes of the buses here.
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Two IIT Graduates Found a Lack in Parent-Teacher Interaction. They Are Solving It with an App!
Ritesh Singh and Akshat Goel, graduates from IIT Delhi, met the parents during the school’s annual PTM. They introduced the parents to Eckovation, a mobile app that can help them be in constant touch with the teachers at school and remain informed about all important school activities.
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Ritesh Singh (left) and Akshat Goel, founders of Eckovation[/caption]
Pankaj’s parents, who don’t know how to read, now listen to messages from the school teachers and principal through the audio feature of this app, and are always up-to-date with the important aspects of his education. They have downloaded the app on their older son’s phone and use it constantly. Most of the other kids at Pankaj’s school also have at least one smartphone in the family.
The App and How it Came Along
Eckovation connects teachers, students and parents in real time. The app is free for everyone and can be downloaded even on the most basic Android phone. It also works with a limited internet connection.
The app is a great way to initiate and increase interaction between two very important institutions of a child’s education – home and school. The founders began working on it after they realised that there is a huge communication gap between teachers and parents, which, in turn, hampers the growth of students.
Ritesh, who belongs to Chhapra, joined IIT Delhi in 2008 to study mechanical engineering. At college he came across many students who had studied in some of the top schools of Delhi. “There was a stark difference in the way they conducted themselves — the way they talked and the way they were always ready to explore new things,” says Ritesh. During his first year, his roommate from Delhi mocked one of his class reports, saying it was similar to what he and his classmates used to make in Class 5 at school.
“I realised then that the kind of education these people had received was different from what I had gotten at school, and it was primarily because of the kind of environment and exposure they were provided with,” he adds.Ritesh started discussing the unfair differences in the education system in different cities of India with his friend Akshat, a resident of Delhi. The two observed, for instance, that tier 1 city students participated in extra curricular activities much more than students from tier 2 and 3 cities. Why the difference? What was it that even the good schools in tier 3 cities did not have access to? Why was there no demand for extra-curricular activities by parents in smaller cities? Questions like these motivated the two curious students to work in the field of education in whichever way they could.
The more they looked, the more they felt that one of the main reasons behind this difference was the complete lack of communication between parents and teachers in smaller cities as compared to the schools in the bigger metros.
[embedvideo id="T-HEon2ND5g" website="youtube"] This was how the idea of developing a platform that would connect parents, teachers and students came about and the duo started working on it.How does it Work?
The app has three stakeholders: parents, students and teachers. The initiator is the teacher who can create a group. This group is very similar to creating a group on WhatsApp, except that only those who have the group code can be part of it. Also, in order to maintain the privacy of teachers and parents, their numbers are not displayed.
Once parents and teachers are part of the same ‘group’, there can be endless communication between them in the form of written texts as well as audio and visual messages. This makes it possible for parents to never miss out on any announcement, examination detail, study material update, co-curricular event participation, etc.
The Research & Development
Ritesh and Akshat visited many schools in big and small cities to get a feel for the differences in education and activities at these institutions. Ritesh also spent a few months in Chhapra, trying to identify the gap there — his research validated their concerns about the lack of communication between parents and teachers.
To get started, and to provide a platform for communication as quickly as possible, they first introduced a messaging (SMS) platform in June 2014, through which schools could interact with parents in the form of bulk texts. For instance, if there was a sports meet at the school, a common message could be sent out to all parents informing them about it. However, the SMS platform had many restrictions; parents who could not read, for example, were unable to utilise this platform to the fullest. Hence, after more research and refinement, they finally launched Eckovation in June 2015.
Current usage and future plans
Two months after the launch, the app has about 1000 downloads and is being used by over 50 teachers in Bihar, Delhi, UP, and some other places. Five professors from IIT Delhi are also using it. Additionally, about 30,000 students are using the SMS platform and they are slowly shifting to the app.
Ritesh and Akshat had put in about Rs. 7 lakhs from their own pocket to develop the app. They are now looking for further funding.
They are also planning interschool interaction. This way, students in tier 3 cities can learn from teachers in tier 1 cities. For this, they are in talks with organizations like Bansal classes in Kota, and a few teachers who can dedicate some time to share their knowledge.
However, Ritesh and Akshat do not want the functionality of the app to end with school students only. There are many people who opt for unconventional schooling methods, like open schools. Hence, they are also collaborating with organizations like Avanti Education Program, and National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) to facilitate peer-to-peer communication among open school students.
"We all know the importance of education. Education is what leads to a better life and a better society. Hence, we started Eckovation, with the vision of educating a billion people using the power of the internet and mobile phones," concludes Akshat.You can download the app here or write to Ritesh at riteshs@eckovation.com.
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Apps for Unreserved Tickets & Freight Ops, Ticket Vending Machines – Indian Railways Is Changing!
Paperless Unreserved Ticketing through Mobile Phone between New Delhi – Palwal Section
As the name implies, unreserved tickets authorise a journey but do not offer any reserved seats. They are also not specific to any particular train service and the tickets are often useful for short distance travels. The paperless unreserved ticketing system through a mobile app has been developed with the view of saving time for the passengers. The system was launched for Chennai and Mumbai suburban sections in April and July this year. According to the minister, it will soon be expanded to other sections as well.
In the Delhi-Palwal section, the system covers 11 stations over a distance of 57 km. The app, 'utsonmobile', can be downloaded both on Android and Windows-based platforms. Payments can be done with the help of the 'railway wallet' feature of the app. Other than the unreserved tickets, passengers in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai will also be able to book Monthly Season Tickets (MST) and platform tickets with the help of a mobile application very soon. The app can be downloaded here.
Currency Coin cum Card operated Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (CoTVM) at New Delhi Railway Station
Photo Credit: Srinivasan G/Flickr
The automatic ticket vending machines are unmanned self-operating kiosks. This initiative is a part of the ministry’s ‘Operation five minutes’, and will help the passengers buy unreserved tickets themselves, without having to stand in long queues. Tickets can be purchased with coins, currency notes and smart cards. As per the ministry’s plan, the machines will be available at all major stations in the next 3 months. As of now, 450 machines are being installed by CRIS. With useful graphic interface for transaction, the kiosks will be very easy for everyone to operate. The machines will issue non-concessional second class journey tickets for non-suburban section, second/first class journey/return tickets for suburban section and platform tickets. They can also be used for the renewal of non-concessional season tickets and recharge of smart cards.Parichaalan - Mobile Application for Freight Operations
Photo Credit: Ashwin John/Flickr
This app has been developed by CRIS to facilitate easy decision making on freight operations, with improved management operation system. The information available on the app will be current and dynamic, unlike the reports generated by the Freight Operations Information System (FOIS). Also, with the help of pictorial and graphical display of data, the information will be easy to understand. The app will help senior decision makers of the department to plan freight operations on real time basis. It will be provided to other operating officers on the field after the initial experiment. The app provides mapped movement of freight trains and also offers brilliant search tools to look for specific trains and their services. There is also a planning tool which helps in planning the movement and loading, and gives live updates about the trains. "The new initiatives are directed towards improving passenger and customer services on Indian Railways. The IT applications which have been inaugurated today are an indication that Indian Railways is constantly moving towards e-Governance," said Suresh Prabhu during the launch.Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter (@thebetterindia).
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What’s the Difference Between Madras And Chennai? These Photos will Tell You!
1. Statue of Thomas Munro, Park Town
![madras1]()
"Then: Thomas Munro was an official of the East India Company who arrived in Madras in 1789 and served the firm for close to 50 years. But why would we still have a statue of an East India Company official? Well, Munro wasn't any ordinary imperialist like his colleagues...he was a man the peasants loved, and was responsible for the favourable 'ryotwari system' of land settlement. 12 years after he died in 1827, this statue was unveiled on October 23, 1839.
Now: This is one of the very few areas in Mount Road that is free from traffic, and still feels like bliss to take an evening walk. Thanks to the area being controlled by the Military, no vehicle is allowed to park here. Mr. Munro rests gracefully on his horse in a well-maintained garden, as well as in the hearts of those who know his story.
Old image courtesy: madrasmusings.com"
2. Chennai Central
"Then: Old ambassador taxis plying in and out, while the rest of the commuters preferring to take a cycle. Before its expansion in the 80's, Madras Central station was a relatively calmer, charming alighting point.
Now: A symbolic landmark of the city, Chennai Central looks as majestic as it ever was, but terribly buzzing with thousands of people who visit it every day. And unfortunately, the Central signal has become a nightmare for those who've visited it (pretty much every Chennai-ite)"
3. Egmore Station
"Then: History says that, 'Madras Egmore' was previously a fort called the Egmore Redoubt, a place used to store ammunition for the British.
Now: Even with CCTV cameras and round-the-clock security, Egmore Station still retains its old-world charm and calm (relatively) in the otherwise buzzing Egmore area.
Old image: Wikipedia"
4. Casino Theater
"Then: It was a time when Mount Road was a cart track leading from Fort St. George to St. Thomas Town, as well as functioning as a haven for film buffs. Casino was one of the first few theatres of Madras, and screened only English films for a long time. It was a sophisticated work of art than just a movie theatre. In the old image you can see 'The Virginian' playing at the theatre.
Now: After several attempts to revive it, Casino is now unfortunately a terribly-managed lost landmark. However, thanks to Street Art Chennai, the theatre now sports a striking portrait of Madhubala, and a bit of its old-world charm.
Old image courtesy: The Hindu"
5. Higginbothams
"Then: Started by an English librarian named Abel Joshua Higginbotham, Higginbotham's, arguably India's oldest bookstore opened its doors around 1844. By the middle of the 20th century, Higginbothams expanded to almost all of the railway stations. Higginbotham's remained the largest bookstore until the 1990's.
Now: A visit to Higginbotham's is like stepping into a whole other world, going back in time, with the arterial Mount Road / Anna Salai outside constantly buzzing with traffic and the Metro Rail construction. What's amazing is how they managed to maintain the building so well, even if it's lost most of its customers to its competition.
Old image: thealternative.in"
6. Higginbothams and Poompuhar
"Then: Another shot of India's then-largest bookstore as vintage cars park comfortably, and its occupants to grab their favourite literary classics. The building next to Higginbothams is Poompuhar, the popular textile shop.
Now: If you park outside Higginbotham's today, you're probably gonna be pulled over by the cops for obstruction of traffic, thanks to the Metro Rail work going on right opposite.
Old image: housing.com"
7. The Hindu Office
"Then: Commuters stop by to check ongoing Test Match scores on the manually-operated scoreboard on the balcony of The Hindu office.
Now: You can hardly stop for more than a minute outside the Hindu office today, thanks to the wonderful, constantly moving traffic. The traffic is such that it even warranted a subway to cross the road to the side that hosts the defunct Secretariat.
Old image: The Hindu"
8. Spencer Plaza Signal, Mount Road
"Then: Even in the 60's, apart from Ambassadors, bullock carts frequented Mount Road. There's no median, and you can see the Kashmir Art Palace, the Old Curiosity Shop and Agurchand Mansion leading to the LIC Building.
Now: Do we really need to talk about the frustrating one-ways?
Old image: The Hindu"
9. Ripon Building
"Then: Constructed in a neoclassical style, the all-white Madras Corporation building was one of the finest structures in Madras, with its own pond that you can see.
Now: Off-limits to passers-by, it is now impossible to even stop and stare at the Ripon Building which is now shielded by the Metro Construction blue sheets. Which made this one of the toughest shots to catch!
Old image: www.chennaibest.com"
10. Rajaji Salai
"Then: There was no Burma Bazaar back in the day, yet, First Line Beach Road was one of the main commercial centres of Madras. And right opposite the line of buildings, the road would open up to the Beach Station and then harbour. Imagine walking on those roads with absolutely no traffic!
Now: Traffic speeds by between the iconic SBI Buildings and Burma Bazaar, the haven for smuggled goods."
Inspired by this, Srinivasan Rengaswami, a follower of the Facebook page, also took similar pictures. And Raunaq has shared them on the page as a part of this album.
[caption id="attachment_32771" align="aligncenter" width="960"]
Ice House/Beach Road Shot[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_32772" align="aligncenter" width="960"]
View from the Lighthouse Shot[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_32773" align="aligncenter" width="960"]
Mylapore Temple Shot[/caption]
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No One Can Recycle Old, Broken Toys like This 11-Year Old. His Latest Innovation Is Outstanding!
So, when one of his remote control cars broke down recently, he decided to use it to make a device which would help him solve a daily household problem for his mother.
“During my summer vacation, I keep going outside the house many times. Many of my friends also come over frequently. The doorbell is constantly ringing and every time it goes off my mother has to leave whatever she is doing to open the door. I realised that this was a troublesome task and my mother used to get irritated at times,” says Vedant.Vedant decided to do something to help his mother. He put his gadget-loving brain to use and made a remote control door operating device with the following spare parts obtained from a broken remote-controlled toy car: · Remote control · The motor drive mechanism circuit · Rechargeable batteries · The remote control (RC) circuit used inside the car Vedant connected these to make a prototype device that opens the lock of the main door in his house with a remote control, and has enough range to be easily operated from any part of the house.
His mother can now open the door from anywhere, without having to leave the work she is doing.
[embedvideo id="IWiFVnO2lr4" website="youtube"] For those who want to know how exactly the device works, here’s more: (Geek Alert: Read at your own risk) An RC car has a transmitter in the form of a remote control, and a receiver in the form of an antenna and a circuit board placed inside the car. There is a motor drive mechanism which turns the wheels and operates the steering of the vehicle. Finally, there is a power source in the form of rechargeable batteries. For functioning, the transmitter sends Radio waves as the control signal which drives the motor, leading to the specified action (like rotation of wheels or steering), which then causes motion in the car.Vedant utilised this entire process for the working of his device.
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A 100kg Buddha Statue and Other Sculptures – UP Villagers Dig up Some History
It was a blast from the past in the form of some really old sculptures that they have unearthed from a field located in the Mainpuri district.
Picture for representation only. Source: Wikimedia
Manoj Yadav, a farmer in the village, had agreed for the sale of soil from his private fields last month. The digging activity began a few days back and after digging about seven feet deep, the labourers struck something solid. This, they found, was a headless statue of Lord Buddha, weighing about 100kg and a little over four feet tall. They continued digging and found 11 more small statues of what appeared to be Hindu gods and goddesses. According to the Station House Officer (SHO) in the area, they have contacted the officials of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) so that the statues can be preserved in a proper manner. The ASI chief of Agra Zone, Bhuvan Vikram had a look at the pictures of the sculptures and has agreed that the statues seem to have historical significance.An ASI team will also be soon sent to the village.
Picture for representation only. Photo Credit: Flickr
As per local experts, the statue is made of yellow stone. For now, residents of the village have kept the headless idol under a tree near the excavation site and are worshipping it. Some of the 11 other statues have been taken away by the villagers. R P Singh, who is a professor of ancient history in Mainpuri, was reported saying that the statues date back to King Kanishka's period (1st or 2nd century AD). The king had adopted Buddhism as his religion. Previously, some ancient idols of Lord Shiva were also found from the nearby Asyoli village. "There was a Buddhist priest in that era by the name of Ashwaghosh. He was the author of texts like Buddha Charitam and Saudaranand. The ruler of the time was impressed by him, and named a village after him, which came to be called 'Ashwawali'. With changes in the dialect over the centuries, the area came to be called Asyoli. There were several Buddha temples in the village, now buried in the sands of time," said the professor to The Times of India. He pointed out that Gwaltoli, which is only a kilometre from Asyoli, could also have had a strong Buddhist past.Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter (@thebetterindia).
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This 66 Year Old Is on a Mission. He Won’t Rest till All Electoral Rolls in India Are Error-Free!
Bhat is an electrical engineer who retired from the Indian Navy in 1996, after which he worked in the software industry till 2009. The idea of developing software to clean up the electoral rolls struck him that same year.
[caption id="attachment_32816" align="aligncenter" width="490"]
PG Bhat - On a mission to clean up the electoral rolls[/caption]
It was a few months before the BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) elections that Bhat got associated with a citizen movement called Smart Vote. It had been started by some of his friends with the aim of spreading awareness among voters. Together, they worked on increasing voter participation and helping people make informed choices by providing accurate information about the candidates.
Bhat joined the team to help them with the technical aspects of the movement. He soon came to the conclusion that it was important to make voter information easily searchable. This could be done by providing citizens with a better way to find out about their data as entered in the electoral rolls on the state election commission websites. Thus, he developed a simple tool for searching the names of voters in the electoral rolls, with the purpose of adding it to the Smart Vote website. However, in the process of collecting the data about voters from published sources, he was shocked by the number of common errors that the electoral rolls were strewn with.
“I can go on naming the kind of errors found. There are so many male voters who have ‘husband’ listed as their relative. Thousands of voters are aged less than 18 years and also more than 120 years, because the date of birth entered is wrong. Sometimes, the age difference between a father and son is only of 3 to 5 years if the electoral rolls are to be believed. The father-in-law of my neighbour was shown as her husband in one list,” Bhat says.
Therefore, in 2010, he developed a simple software to pinpoint these errors.
“The Chief Electoral Offices (CEOs) of different states have all the information related to electoral roll management systems (ERMS) in their database. They are required to publish the electoral rolls in PDF format on their website 2 to 3 times every year, and about 10% of this information is required to be released in English,” he explains.So he downloads these electoral rolls and makes his own database by converting the PDFs into normal text with the help of the software (for this the software uses a common parser program). According to Bhat, the program for this conversion cannot be frozen because the rolls are generated in different formats each time and hence the program also needs some changes every time a new roll is released. The records are then arranged in a manner that they look similar to how they would be on the ERMS portals. After this, Bhat analyses the records. He looks through different data points like name of the voter, EPIC (Elector’s Photo Identity Card) number, relative’s name, relationship, age, sex, etc. A quick look through the data gives him an idea about the various errors in the list. For common points of suspicion, he has developed various tools, and has written specific programs that point out the errors.
The software includes about 20-25 such programs written in the Icon programming language.
For examples, there is a program that uses a phonetics tool to find out if the name of a person has been repeated in the roll more than once with different spellings. This is a duplication error that is very common in the rolls. Bhat says there are 5 types of duplications found in the records and they are extremely rampant. For instance, the EPIC number, which is supposed to be unique, is shared by many people in some cases. Many sets of rolls have more than 200 records with the same voter name, relative name and photograph. The records for people with different EPIC numbers are sometimes the same. Then there are names with different spellings but same house numbers. More than 20 people with the same house address, who are obviously unrelated as per other details, have also been found.
“90% of these errors can be blocked with a good software. But the whole system is ineffective, and most of the guidelines of good software engineering are broken,” says Bhat, who is working on the records of Bangalore and Delhi as of now.
He looks into the rolls every time they are published, and finds out the errors. He also keeps sending his findings to the CEOs of both cities.
Picture for representation only. Credit: Flickr
In 2010, Bhat also got a chance to test the software. The then Deputy Election Commissioner, Alok Shukla, understood his work and was supportive of his vision. He provided Bhat with a sample database of about 1000 records from Chhattisgarh and asked him to check them. While common citizens do not have access to voter photographs, Bhat got the sample database with pictures for testing. He suspected 13 duplications based on the spellings, and with the help of the software, he verified that 8 of them also had the same pictures. He also procured such a sample from the MLA of his constituency in Bangalore. “So the software has been well tested and has enough proof,” he says confidently. Bhat made a shocking discovery in 2012. He found that the electoral system in Karnataka had deleted the names of 8 lakh Bangalore voters in July, and about 5.5 lakh voters in December. For 97 percent of these deleted records, the reason specified was a ‘change of residence’. On visiting some of his neighbours whose names had been deleted, Bhat found that 40 of them had been living at the same address since a decade. The CEO and BBMP authorities had deleted these names just to rectify some errors made by them in the records. Bhat, along with some other people, took this issue to court.They won the case and got all the names added back to the list. "If I had not inspected the records, this information would not have been found in the first place," he says.
Picture for representation only. Credit: Flickr
Bhat has shared copies of his software with the Election Commission of India (ECI), and with the CEOs of some states. However, they are not willing to use it as of now. He has also offered to work for ECI without any compensation.“Access to CEOs is difficult. Some of them deny the data or make it difficult for us to work on it (by releasing data in the regional language only). They do not respond to emails and block my telephone calls. If the public data could be really open, that would reduce my work and make it more effective. Cooperation from authorities would help,” he points out, while talking about the challenges that he has faced till now.
Currently, he is using the software as a personal tool, and keeps on sharing his findings with all election authorities.
Picture for representation only. Credit: Flickr
His feedback is often implemented in the electoral rolls as well and the impact is already visible on the ground. Bhat frequently interacts with election officials in Bangalore.“I meet the CEO whenever possible and I am informed that there have been changes. The number of records with ages of voters listed as 0 or 120, and other such common errors, have gone down based on the constant feedback I send,” he points out.Even though the software has not been accepted at an official level, Bhat feels that the effort is still useful.
“Even if this is not accepted, there is at least one voice which is telling the world that these mistakes are present. When I talk to officials and people in power, I can tell them with authority that I have these findings. So many names were illegally deleted from the list – but now the authorities know that somebody was watching,” he says.A graduate from the Naval College of Engineering, Bhat loves teaching. Other than working on the electoral rolls on most days, he also goes to the National Degree College as visiting faculty. He teaches computer science subjects to post graduate students there twice every week and also volunteers with some NGOs in the city.
“I am happy that I could bring about some improvements in the system and also get the names of lakhs of illegally deleted voters restored. This work has created opportunities to meet and interact with several wonderful people from many walks of life. This is a great learning experience in many ways,” he happily concludes.You can contact PG Bhat by writing to him at bhat.pg@gmail.com.
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This Daughter of a Daily Wage Labourer in Odisha Is an IES Exam Rank Holder
The daughter of a daily wage labourer from Odisha, Aparajita has secured an all India rank of 13 in the reputed Indian Economic Service (IES) examination conducted by UPSC (Union Public Service Commission).
Background image credit: Flickr
A resident of Mahanangala village in Kendrapara district, Aparajita completed her schooling from Mohanangala Primary and Kapileswar High School in the village. She then moved on to Marshaghai college near Kendrapara for plus two, and degree courses. With an urge for learning more and to progress towards her dream, she completed her Post Graduation in Economics from Utkal University. As of now, she is pursuing a PHD from Jawaharlal Nehru University. Aparajita gives the credit for her success to her father, who has been her inspiration and guide. "He sweated it out to financially support me in my studies. He never made me feel the pangs of poverty. Whatever I achieved today is only because of my father. I dedicate my all India job to him," she was reported saying to PTI. Her father, Amulya Kumar Behera is a 50-year-old labourer at a fertiliser plant of Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO). He works on a daily pay roll basis with an assignment which is completely contractual in nature. His monthly remuneration comes to less than Rs. 10,000. But in spite of financial difficulties, he never neglected the education of his children - a son and two daughters. Aparajita, who believes that there are no shortcuts to success, read all the required material extensively as her preparation for UPSC's IES examination. It is her motto to serve for the country with honesty. She was nervous about the final interview, but says that the panel was very supportive and gave her the confidence to reply to all their questions. Her family, along with the entire village including her school teachers and friends, are overjoyed with the news of her success. "We all are on cloud nine," said her mother Jemamani to The Indian Express.Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter (@thebetterindia).
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India’s 10 Most Unconventional Teachers You Would Love to Learn From
“The dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called ‘truth’." – PlatoIt's September again, and bringing back this famous quote by Plato is kind of necessary for an added dose of inspiration. Because it’s that time of the year when we celebrate some of the most important people of our lives. The day on which we remember all our teachers; those wonderful people who shape our lives and help us be all the things we want to be. So here's wishing a very happy teachers' day to every person who has ever been a guiding light in someone's life. While Facebook walls and Twitter feeds have been flooding with messages of remembrance and gratefulness since midnight, here is another shout out for some of the most inspiring teachers from all over the country. These are people who have conquered extremely difficult odds, have innovated unique teaching methods and have unfailingly amazed the nation with their selflessness.
Babar Ali - because one can begin teaching whenever one wants to
21-year-old Babar Ali has been teaching since he was 9. At 15, he became the headmaster of his makeshift school which teaches about 300 students today and has 6 full time teachers.
“I believe that if you are passionate about something then you can achieve anything. Age, finances, other hurdles, they just don’t matter and eventually everything works out.” - Babar AliRead more about him here.
Aditya Kumar - taking education to places where schools can't reach
Source: Facebook
Aditya Kumar, better known as 'Cycle guruji', rides about 60 to 65 km on a bicycle every day, and provides free education to children living in the slums of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. This inspiring man has been doing this since 1995.“Where ever I got students, I would sit and teach — by the roadside, in parks, near slums. I had a board on the cycle, and students would just read it and stop me. I was one of them, I understood what it meant to be poor and without support.” - Aditya Kumar
Arvind Gupta - when learning is all about having fun
Source: www.ted.com
Arvind Gupta is famous for creating toys from trash. What's special is that he explains many different concepts of science in the process of making these toys. He also generously uploads videos of his techniques on YouTube, explaining the scientific stuff behind each one of them for students all across the world to learn."I work with children. Whatever I see that children can do, whatever I see that brings a gleam into the child's eye, that's the work I do." - Arvind Gupta.Read more about him here.
Rajesh Kumar Sharma - because education does not require a building
Source: Facebook
Rajesh Kumar Sharma runs a school under a Delhi metro bridge, where he teaches students from the nearby slums. He calls it ‘Under the Bridge School’ and about 200 students attend it every day. Started in 2005, the school also hosts some exemplary personalities from different walks of life, who come in on various occasions as volunteer teachers.“Knowledge increases when it is shared.” - Rajesh Kumar Sharma.
Abdul Mallik - crossing all hurdles to be with his students on time
Source: YouTube
A primary school teacher in Malappuram district of Kerala, Abdul Mallik swims to work every day. Why? Because that is the shortest route to reach his school."If I go by bus, it takes me three hours to cover the 12-kilometer (7.5 miles) distance. But swimming through the river is easier, faster and I reach school on time." - Abdul Mallik.
Anand Kumar - training dreamers, teaching dreams
Source: Facebook
Well known for his Super 30 programme, Anand Kumar of Patna has been coaching students for IIT-JEE entrance exams since the last 14 years. By 2014, 308 of his 360 students had made it to the IITs.“To crack the target, one should have thirst for achieving it, next come positive thoughts and passion.” - Anand Kumar.
Roshni Mukherjee - unleashing the power of the internet to reach many
Roshni Mukherjee has an online education platform called ExamFear.com where she teaches students with the help of videos which she uploads on YouTube.
“I receive messages from so many people. Recently, a student messaged me that he has been following my videos for three years now, and they have helped him score well in his exams without having to join tuition classes. He has now got admission in NIT. Such examples keep me motivated.” - Roshni MukherjeeRead more about her here.
Professor Sandeep Desai - begging for an outstanding cause
Source: Facebook
Professor Desai boards local trains in Mumbai every single day asking people to donate money for his charitable organisation Shloka which develops and runs schools in rural Rajasthan and Maharashtra."Good Afternoon to everybody, donating for education is the ultimate form of charity." - Sandeep Desai is heard saying every day on the trains.
Vimla Kaul - because age is just a number
This 80-year-old teacher has been teaching children of a village called Madanpur Khadar in Delhi, since the past 20 years. Because of the lack of teachers in the village, she brought the students to the nearby area of Sarita Vihar. And since there was no proper building to teach, she used to move from one park to another to conduct classes for them in the city. She finally has a building where she teaches students up till class two now.
“These children are very talented. They just need support and guidance. If they are given the same opportunities and facilities like mainstream kids, they too can do wonders.” - Vimla Kaul
Kamlesh Zapadiya - because education is the biggest gift
Source: Facebook
Kamlesh Zapadiya travels 20km each day from his village to a nearby cybercafé with the aim of making education a lot more interesting for students. He has developed a website called Edusafar, where he uploads the entire school syllabus from class 1 to 10, in the form of a quiz.“It is like Kaun banega Crorepati.” - Kamlesh ZapadiyaRead more about him here.
And this one? Well, is there anything better than learning from friends?
Picture Credit: ILO / Mondal Nitai (Flickr)
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Bravo! Delhi HC Allows Permanent Commission for Women in Indian Navy
With a significant judgement, the Delhi High Court has brought some relieving news for women in the defence services. The court has allowed permanent commission for women in the Indian Navy, entitling them for full time service and retirement benefits.
"Women are here to stay," said a Delhi High Court bench in a landmark judgement this Friday.The court has said that women naval officers should be offered permanent commission in the Navy. Thus, women can now have full term service in the Indian Navy and can enjoy retirement benefits as well.
Source: Wikimedia
The judgement came after the court heard six pleas filed by 19 retired and serving women officers from the education, logistics and ATC branches of the Navy. These women had filed their petitions seeking permanent commission in the force. In a similar judgement, women in the Army and Air Force had been granted permission for permanent commission by the High Court in 2010. Prior to this, women were only eligible for short-term commissions in the Navy, with the maximum term of just 14 year. Because of this, they were not entitled to enjoy retirement facilities, for which one has to serve for at least 20 years. Thus the court has also allowed the officers’ plea requesting retirement benefits like pension. “Courts would frown upon any endeavour which tries to restrain progress of women,” said the bench of Justice Kailash Gambhir and Justice Najmi Waziri. They reminded the Central Government and others who oppose this move that women today "work shoulder to shoulder" with men, and that "sexist bias and service bias" should not be blocking their progress. The officers had also challenged a 2008 decision made by the Navy which said that only those women who join the force after 2008 will be granted permanent commission; that too only those serving in the Education, Law and Naval Architecture branches. According a senior naval officer, they will have to relook at the rules because as of now, women are not allowed on ships. Hence it will be difficult to promote them to the rank of Captain since it requires officers to fulfil tenure at the sea.Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter (@thebetterindia).
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This 102-Year-Old Sold Her Goats to Construct a Toilet. And Inspired an Entire Village
A resident of Kotabharri village in Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh, Kuwarbai sold off her goats for Rs. 22,000 and utilised that money to construct a toilet near her house.
Picture Credit: Mirjam van den Berg/Flickr
She also moved from door to door, motivating other villagers to construct toilets in their homes. Today, she is an ideal for many. It was during a public meeting in the village when Kuwarbai came to know about the various diseases which can spread due to open defecation. This encouraged her to do something on her own to change the practice which was commonly followed in the village. "I thought of doing something on my own. I sold off my goats and told everyone about my plan to construct a toilet," she told The Times of India. This step, taken by a woman who is standing at such a tender age in life, encouraged the 450 other residents of the village to take a pledge that will construct toilets in their homes too. And thus, by July this year, the entire village was declared open-defecation free. For this, they were supported by the administration and the collector Bhem Singh who provided subsidy for toilet construction to the villagers, under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme. It's not just her village, the lady has even inspired Kamar tribals who reside on nearby hills to construct toilets for themselves. Under the Swachha Bharat Mission, the government gives a sum of Rs. 12,000 per toilet to every beneficiary who builds a toilet at his/her home. Read about an open defecation free panchayat in Odisha here.Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter (@thebetterindia).
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Combining Two Giants: Indian Railways & ISRO Come Together to Make Our Train Journeys Safer
The technology involves GPS (global positioning systems), GIS (geographical information systems), and RS (remote sensing) features.
Photo Credit: Feng Zhong/Flickr
This service will be provided by GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) system of ISRO. GAGAN is an indigenous navigation system which was jointly developed by ISRO and Airports Authority of India (AAI) to assist aircrafts in accurate landing. It can now be used to assist trains as well, and Indian Railways will be able to receive online satellite images which will help in mapping the train routes in detail. "We will sign an MoU with ISRO shortly to avail the online satellite images to create a GIS platform," informed a senior Railway Ministry official to PTI.This is how the GAGAN system can help Indian Railways:
- It will be very helpful at the time of train accidents when it is difficult to find out the exact location of trains.
- With the help of remote sensing facility, it will also help in devising solutions for safety at unmanned railway crossings.
- Drivers on the road can be warned about an approaching train by activating hooters at the crossings.
- With the use of GAGAN software system, trains would know the location of any unmanned level crossing and a warning signal can be given for their reference.
- The images will also be used for geo-fencing, which will be utilised for the recently launched paperless ticketing system app. Geo-fencing is a feature which makes use of GPS and radio frequency identification (RFID) to define geographical boundaries.
- It will also be easier to track trains with the technology on a real time basis. As of now, the train movements are tracked manually.
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