04/08/06

on the brittle backs of children..

what'd happen if children really stopped working in indian homes? india would finally reach adulthood.

25 comments:

gaddeswarup said...

Since there are no comments so far, I am linking to an article which has some discussion and news on this:
http://www.indiatogether.org/stories/sinha.htm
swarup

kuffir said...

yes, swarup, thank you for the link..i know a little about the mv foundation and was planning to do a post on it..but never got around to actually doing it. what i like about the foundation's work is that they realize the state is best equipped to deal with school education...i agree totally with that.

in this context - i'd like to know whether you'd watched the tv program with dr.jaiprakash narayan yesterday - i believe this channel also has access to american airwaves.. his views on education too are very cogent and forceful..

gaddeswarup said...

No, I did not watch it. I live in Australia. Is there a transcript somewhere? Thanks.
Swarup

kuffir said...

it was a phone-in program on tv9..i couldn't find any transcripts of any programs on their site..

Sodi News said...

That was beautifully said Kuffir (your post) and so very true.

Thanks also for the link Gaddeswarup. I didn't know about MV. But will now research it.

Cheers,
Chelly

kuffir said...

chelly,

thanks.. btw i think i've seen the painting in your profile..could you tell me who the artist is?

and yes, i'd have liked your opinion on my previous post 'separate telangana..from a safe distance'..

gaddeswarup said...

I may be slightly off the main topic. Pl. check:
http://www.whatisindia.com/issues/nongovto/index.html
From this, one can go to various NGOs and their activities. The third on the list is:
http://www.indianngos.com/
on the left, there are links to data bases and news to various organizations. One case I know is of Aravinda Pillalamarri and her husband Ravi (of AID INDIA). They take books in suitcases to villages in North Coastal Andhra. they leave them in the village for a few days and after the children are finished with them, they take them and leave in a different villages. there are many other efforts through ASHA and other organizations and collpborative efforts.
But, I assume that kufr is thinking of more institutional efforts like:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5235614.stm
and implementing them. Currently, Annie Zaidi has been posting on some of these stories in:
http://knownturf.blogspot.com/

Sodi News said...

The painting is called "Teller, Tale and Told" by Laxman Aelay. Here's a link with more info on his work.

I will definitely read your post on Telangana and comment on it. I'll go read it now.

Wow, more great links from Gaddeswarup. There's lots of enlightening info on this blog!

cheers,
chelly

gaddeswarup said...

Laxman's paintings reminded me of the yenki paata "Namili mingina naa yenki''. A few of the first lines are:
"Mello pusala peru
tallo puvula seru
kallettite salu
kanakabisekalu"
though 'tallopuvulu' are not visible.

kuffir said...

chelly,

that's the reason why i thought i recognized it.. i had met laxman at a gathering a few years ago and he'd already become a little known then, and i had become interested in him..he's developed a distinctive style of his own..and like vaikuntham, has a very recognizable quality..

kuffir said...

swarup,

no, swarup..i'm not in favour of any more state regulation - i want the govt to take up the responsibility fully of educating all schoolgoing children. i think there is already enough legislation to support moving in that direction. i think innovative solutions are needed to ensure all children go to school..please read my post 'education guarantee act - anyone?' what's lacking is that civil society which should ensure that the govt acts..isn't moving at all. half of it believes that universal education can't happen. another section thinks we should wait until the private sector is prepared enough (provided its profitable enough..which again means poverty has to go down..which requires, paradoxically, illiteracy to go down).

i don't think anyone else is better equipped than the state to do this. it has the resources, and there are examples like kerala where even the richer sections of society, including top babus and nris, send their children to govt-run schools.

Sodi News said...

Hello Kuffir,

I read the post ‘Separate Telangana...from a Safe Distance’. It is engaging, well written and it is probably the view of majority of Telangani and many Andhras.
I was born in Sangareddy, Medak District and my brother and parents were born in coastal Andhra. My mom worked in Sangareddy and father at Hyderabad, He commuted to work everyday on bus for few years until my mom was transferred to Hyderabad.

I practically grew up in North America. So I asked my dad (another Sodi News contributor) about his opinion. The following is his answer:


"Injustices were done to both regions. Andhra looks more flourished but the plight of ordinary people is the same as Telangani. Its geographical location with several delta basins and irrigation facilities farming flourished. Daily wage earners had income to feed hand to mouth. It is the same case with Khammam, Medak, Warangal and Nizamabd districts. People with money had lands and power economically and politically, and they controlled every aspect of the area they lived. It hasn’t changed much.

Rich from Andhra bought lands at Hyderabad, Medak and Nizamabad, harvested grapes, sugar cane, maize, suflower seeds etc., providing work for locals. That doesn’t mean there were no abuses. People felt that their land was encroached. Of course, the period was late sixty’s and early seventy’s. Mulki laws became an hindrance to integrate in any service. There were legal battles for harmonization of services between regions. Then the Telangana Separate movement, mostly peaceful but few instances of violence against Andhras. Cooler heads and calm prevailed in the end. Ever since we keep hearing calls for separate movement on and off. We already lost Bellary district, best of our Telugu heritage to Karnataka. We have a great history of culture, sculpture, music and literature, and recently IT industry. Why risk it all, like a Panchatantra story? Mobilize those energies to educate, protest and punish at ballot, those politicians who do not conform to the betterment of citizens of Andhra Pradesh, Telugus, (we must stop talk of Andhra and Telangana). Educate masses to vote for the right person. If the politician doesn’t perform or comply, give him a boot."

Unknown said...

saw your 'interesting comment' at Dilip's. :)

kuffir said...

atul,

glad you came visiting..which comment was that ?

kuffir said...

chelly,

your dad is a wise man.. agree with him completely.

gaddeswarup said...

Kuffir,
I browsed through your ealier post and also your comments in otherindia in response to Annie's post. I have to read them again. Due to long absence, sometimes I cannot connect the dots. Today, I saw this article:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1157838.cms
Is it the same as employement guarantee scheme or a different one? Thanks.
swarup

kuffir said...

swarup,

couldn't get through the link.. the emoloyment guarantee scheme has passsed through various changes during the drafting stage..and it's now called the rlegp in each state. what i was suggesting in my post was a more purposeful, less leakage-prone and more efficient scheme...which would also improve rural school enrolment figures..

gaddeswarup said...

Thanks. Last bit in the link is 1157838.cms
it seems to have disappeared in the psting.

Mridula said...

Kiffir, I am hard pressed for time these days and I thought I will give a quick glance here. For last many minutes I have not moved and now I will read your Telangana post too!

In the comments you said, there is a lack of civil socitey and it hinders us a lot. I entirely agree.

kuffir said...

mridula,

'For last many minutes I have not moved and now I will read your Telangana post too!'

that's the best compliment ever..

rest awhile..catch your breath..take a break !(am i stupid for suggesting that at the beginning of the academic year?)
:-)..

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