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Edition 9 Page 1_Layout 1 3/29/2019 4:57 PM Page 1

Volume No 19 Issue No 9 March 29, 2019 LAB JOURNAL OF THE ASIAN COLLEGE OF JOURNALISM Are education loan Drug-resistant TB Madras Literary waivers feasible on the rise Society in ruins Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Big ‘no’ to manifestoes New building rules 74% respondents feel NEET exam not an important election issue shrink public spaces CHIYA AHUJA country. LEAH THOMAS Seventy per cent of the HARSHITA MISHRA maintain open spaces in urban ranging from 3000 sq. metres to JAYAKUMAR MADALA respondents said that the promise to cities. The new norm exempts 5000 sq. metres. solve the job crisis in the State by : A new development builders with less than 3000 square M. Andarasan, a Chennai-based CHENNAI: Seven out of 10 people introducing reservations in private plan passed by the State metres from following the 10 per builder, says that despite the are unsatisfied with the manifestoes sector jobs was not feasible. Government has relaxed the limit cent regulation. previous norm the public parks released by the Dravida Munnetra “The government is not able to for minimum open space Further, builders with plots were mostly built by builders Kazhagam (DMK) and the All implement reservation in private reservation norms which mandates between 3000 and 10,000 square themselves and the new order will Anna Dravida Munnetra educational institutions. How can gifting 10 per cent of the land to metres can either gift the 10 per give builders more control over Kazhagam (AIADMK) for the they implement reservations in local bodies. cent land for public use, or pay an their land. April 18 General Elections, private companies?” asked Under the Combined equivalent amount to the However, S. Ramanathan, according to a sample survey Marimuthu, a mechanic from Development and Building Rules, registration body based on existing Deputy Secretary of Municipal conducted by The Word. . 2019, only builders with more than rates. Administration and Water Supply The major promises made by the To attract younger voters in the 10,000 square metres of land are In addition to that, the rules have Department says that the decision parties include abolition of the State, the Dravidian parties have required to gift 10 per cent of it to also excluded road area from the was taken after the concurrence of NEET examination, introduction of is the point of the manifestoes if important factor in the election. promised to waive educational the local bodies. Earlier, the limit total land to be calculated for the the government and resident reservation in private sector jobs, they don’t talk about these issues?” “The NEET exam is conducted loans taken by SC, ST and OBC was 2500 square metres, and the purpose. K.M. Sadhanand, a town bodies. “It will not lead to waiver of educational loans taken said Rajamani, an auto driver in the all over the country and the State students from nationalised banks. land was given to local bodies by planning expert, says that in a concretization of open lands as the from nationalised banks and Chennai Central constituency. Government is now taking efforts According to the Union Finance way of gift deeds. layout of about 10 hectares, 20 to deciding committee under the introduction of in Incidentally, the ruling to improve the educational Ministry, Non-Performing Assets The government order, which 30 per cent is occupied by roads. Chennai Metropolitan the High Court and Central AIADMK government has not standards. So, now it is up to (NPA) in education loans stood at was passed recently stresses the This leads to an exemption of Development Authority took the Government offices. conducted local body elections students to prepare for it,” said 17 per cent by the end of 2017-18. need to ‘ensure more efficient and almost 40 per cent. approval of residents,” he said. About 78 per cent of the 174 since October 2016. Local Abhinav Raveendran, a college As many as 117 respondents in sustainable utilization of scarce “Altogether, one third of any The plan brings all the building respondents chosen at random from councillors are usually responsible student from in the survey pointed out that such land, ensuring effective building area is occupied by roads and construction rules under one Chennai North, Chennai Central for civic maintenance in their Chennai North. promises had been kept in the past. enforcement of regulations relating as a rule of thumb. The new move umbrella across the state. and Chennai South constituencies wards. But now the Greater The rival parties have promised “This is not the first time such a to development and building will lead to crowding of urban Earlier, they were governed by in the city said that the manifestoes Chennai Corporation’s work is to exempt students promise has been made. Voters construction and to promote ease of spaces all over the State,” he says. seperate bodies. Officials say that failed to address the civic issues supervised by a Commissioner from the NEET examination, as have less confidence because they doing business in the State.’ In Chennai city, there are only about 70 per cent of the regulations which plagued the city. appointed by the State they feel that the State Board have failed to implement them in Open Space Reservation land is about 150 builders who construct which were overseen by the “There is no water in the city. Government. school students will not be able to previous attempts,” said Sudha used by the local bodies to build on plots over 10,000 square metres. Chennai Metropolitan Roads are in a bad condition and Around 128 respondents said compete with students from the Srinivasan, an officegoer from parks, playgrounds, recreational The rest are small and medium Development Authority have been garbage is all over the place. What that the abolition of NEET is not an CBSE and other streams across the . centers for public use and help builders who operate on holdings amalgamated into the Act. Row over mall in park People pay twice JOYDEEP BOSE to clear garbage CHENNAI: The DEEKSHA SHYAM well,” said Rajendran. “He doesn’t Rail Limited (CMRL), indifferent care if I pay it all or not, the to an RTI and a writ petition filed CHENNAI; People living in problem later would still be on my in protest by on the southern head.” residents against it last year, outskirts of Chennai have been told A. K. Subramanian, the father of continues the construction of an to pay the municipality a fee for a house owner residing in Canada, underground amenities centre and collecting garbage in the area. said that the cashier of the multi-level parking lot in Thiru Vi The Sembakkam Municipality Corporation told him to take his Ka Park. has added the garbage collection complaints to the higher-ups, The proposed two-storey fee to the property tax, with because he was just doing what he underground commuter amenities retrospective effect from July of the had been instructed to do. centre, with a shopping mall, previous fiscal year. “It won’t make any difference if restaurants, and parking facilities This fee is in addition to the Rs. I complain to a higher authority,” for two-wheelers and four-wheelers 30 a month paid to the garbage said Subramanian. “The entire alike, will once again come at the collectors in the first week of every matter will keep running in circles expense of the Park, which was a month. The Municipality has for several months till I will major lung space. informed the residents that they eventually have to pay. I might as “The Thiru Vi Ka Park has been have to pay Rs. 90 for the last 3 well do it now itself and save unavailable for us for almost over Thiru Vi Park before it was taken up by the CMRL| months of the first half of 2018-19 myself the trouble.” From left to right: C.P.Chandrasekhar, N.Ram, Sashi Kumar, nine years now, after it was taken and Rs. 180 for the second half as The Revenue Inspector of the Rasmus Kleis Nielsen, Krishna Prasad |HIMALI SINGH over for metro rail construction any of these projects. Shenoy why promises of renovating the outstanding payment, along with Sembakkam Municiaplity, V. work,” said Ashok Vardhan, a Nagar was originally built to be a Park were not fulfilled and seeking the property tax and garbage fee for Kirubakaran, however, said that the resident of Shenoy Nagar. “After spacious residential area with a 10 the name of the government body 2019-20. overcharging had happened only the work for the - to 15-foot gap between the houses, responsible for sanctioning the new R. Rajendran, a house owner, for a month or two in between. ‘Social media the Nehru Nagar line was completed and the Park as a recreational space project. It also asked if an complained that he was being “The State Government had sent us two years ago, they promised to for the residents. I spent my assessment report was drawn to forced to pay the garbage collection orders to combine the garbage restore the park but instead of childhood playing in that Park, and check the potential damage that the fee for July to March 2018 again to collection fee and the property tax new news source’ doing that, they have now now it has turned into a site for project could have on air quality the Municipal Corporation, even in 2018, but due to some issues in MANJIRI CHITRE and various forms of undertaken a new project.” construction projects.” and groundwater table. though he had already paid the their level, we were unable to disinformation. People said that According to several locals, the That the current project is being “The RTI has been left monthly Rs.30 to the garbage implement it on time,” he said. CHENNAI: As many as 68 per cent they were concerned about this, Park used to be a paradise for undertaken solely for corporate unanswered and we filed a writ collectors themselves. “There has been an overlap of of English speaking internet users both online and offline. morning walkers. Several public profit and not for “public benefit” petition against the CMRL last He said that when he went to about one or two months, but in India surveyed by Reuters use However, the most widely used meetings and cultural activities is what resident activist Rangashree month,” said Mrs. Srinivas, “We inform the Corporation, along with unfortunately we can’t do anything smart phones as their main device online news sources are generally used to be conducted here. Srinivas suspects. are distributing pamphlets, a few more residents, they were about it.” to access news, while 31 per cent the websites of leading legacy But with the construction work “For the locals, the Park has organizing awareness meetings and told that these were the He refused to comment on the used only their mobile phones for media including broadcasters and starting in 2011, not only was their always been of utmost importance. holding protest walks against government’s orders and they had claims of the residents of a 9-month accessing news. newspapers, revealed the survey.A leisure space demolished, but they Who stands to profit from a police permission. We are no choice but to pay the additional overlap. The recent annual report by the significant number of respondents also had had to deal with the premium shopping and recreational determined to take the fight to them fee as well. M. R. Vasanthi, Municipal Reuters Institute on Digital News said that they wish to consume unwanted noise, dust and centre? It is being constructed to get our Park back.” “When I told him I wouldn’t pay Commissioner of the area, said that for 2019 found out that “Facebook more personalized news alerts and construction debris. under the pretext of a “civic Last year, the Murasoli Maran the extra amount, he very curtly the Municipality would not be able and WhatsApp are particularly support news organisations. Narendra Kumar, a pawn broker amenity” when it is, in fact, not so,” Park in and the Lone told me that I couldn’t pay my to return the money that was widely used, with 75 per cent of After Nielsen’s presentation, and long-time resident of the area, says Srinivas. Square Park in George Town were property tax without the garbage charged extra from the residents respondents using Facebook (and there was a panel discussion with said, “They (CMRL) never Mrs. Srinivas said that they had taken over by the CMRL for the fee, so if I didn’t agree to pay that, and apologized for the 52 per cent saying they get news N. Ram, Chairman, The Hindu consulted us before undertaking filed an RTI in 2018 demanding construction of the metro station. I’d default on my tax payment as inconvenience. there), and 82 per cent using Publishing Group; C.P. WhatsApp (with 52 per cent getting Chandrasekhar, Professor of news there).” Other popular social Economics, Jawaharlal Nehru media platforms for news include University; Krishna Prasad, former Instagram (26 per cent), Twitter (18 Editor-in-Chief, Outlook; and Sashi City school bans online food delivery services per cent), and Facebook Messenger Kumar, Chairman, Asian College DEEKSHA SHYAM various reasons, during lunch breaks. This that this was an issue that was slowly The principal of Ravindra Bharati Global (16 per cent). of Journalism. will not be entertained and the ordered food spreading across the city, and should be School, , C. Hemalatha, said that In his presentation at the Asian Referring to the finding that 68 CHENNAI: A Chennai school has banned will be sent back. The receptionist has been nipped in the bud before it became a lot of working parents order lunch through College of Journalism, Rasmus per cent of the respondents used parents from ordering lunch for their children instructed not to accept these deliveries. uncontrollable. food delivery apps or gave their kids the Kleis Nielsen, Director of the smart phones to access news, through apps like Swiggy and Uber Eats. Kindly note that the above is with immediate The main problem with food delivery in money to order food from outside because Reuters Institute for the Study of Krishna Prasad said “It is important The principal of Chettinad Hari Shree effect. Request compliance.” schools is not the nutritional aspect but making lunch for children was an added task Journalism, said 50 per cent of the to know what kind of journalism Vidyalayam in , Ms. P. Sharon, an alumnus of St. John’s security, she said. in their hectic mornings. respondents shared and commented the users are responding to. This Gowri Sivashankar, sent a mail to parents of Matriculation Hr. Sec. School, Mandaveli, “How can we allow so many unknown “What parents can do instead is tie up with on online news, with particularly survey is an interesting way to find students from class 2 to class 12 on March said that getting their lunch delivered to people inside school premises when we have some of those home tiffin services that are high levels of engagement on out about how Indians perceive the 15, informing them that food ordered for school was a huge thing even when she was the responsibility to watch over around ten run mostly by housewives all over the city,” Facebook and WhatsApp. But media.” their wards through the apps would not be in school. “This used to be an issue as early thousand children? Even if students pick up she said. “There are many people in different many expressed concerns that they The Reuters Institute said that allowed in the school. as 2012,” she said. their food outside school premises, it will parts of Chennai that will send over boxes would get into trouble with the the report was based on a survey of According to Ms. Sivashankar, this had “Swiggy, of course, didn’t exist then, but a amount to around 10-15 delivery boys and a with home cooked lunches before the authorities by making their political 1,013 English-speaking, online become a problem only recently. “This lot of students would order from places like hoard of students at the gate. That kind of children leave for school. This way, parents views known openly and that news users in India. “Our wasn’t an issue four years ago, when I joined Pizza Hut and Subway for lunch. The school confusion is the perfect opportunity for don’t have to worry about the lunch or the friends and family would think respondents are generally more the school as the principal,” she said. “These didn’t do anything much, though. They were something untoward to happen.” nutritional value of the food, and the issue of differently of them. affluent, have higher levels of delivery boys became fairly regular only mostly indifferent,” Sharon added. Ms. Raman feels that this could also food delivery is also avoided.” “Mainly the people under 35 formal education, are mostly male, recently.” She also mentioned that though this was increase the feeling of inequality. In November last year, the National years of age depend on social and are more likely to live in cities Ms. Sivashankar’s mail read, “It has been common in her school, most other schools “Everyone cannot afford to order food Commission for Protection of Child Rights media applications to access news,” than the wider Indian population brought to our notice that parents order didn’t allow this back then. from outside for their children every day, and directed states to ensure that school children he said. and our findings only concern our through Swiggy and Uber Eats for food to be Ms. Meenakshi Raman, principal of Zion this could cause discord among students, or do not consume foods high in fat, salt and Nielsen said there were “very sample, and thus cannot be taken to delivered in school for their children, for International Public School, , said in families.” sugar. high concerns” over “fake news” be more broadly representative.” Edition 9 Page 2 final_Layout 1 3/29/2019 5:35 PM Page 1

THE WORD CHENNAI March 29, 2019 2 CITYSCAPE DMK will bring economic progress: survey CHIYA AHUJA industries- these are among a few JAYAKUMAR MADALA important issues that have not been ON THE LEAH THOMAS raised,” said a respondent in the BATTLEFIELD survey. CHENNAI: As many as 112 out of Civic issues, especially, the 174 or 68 per cent of the scarcity of water in the city, had not Chennai North: respondents in a sample survey been addressed at all. conducted by The Word feel that “There is all this talk about the DMK Alliance: the Secular Progressive Alliance Cauvery-Godavari linkage project Kalanidhi Veerasamy led by the DMK will bring in better but nobody talks about the economic development in the depletion of groundwater in the (DMK) State.. city. Manifestos should be AIADMK Alliance: The election scheduled on April addressing problems that affect 18 is set to see tough competition everyday life,” said Maria Joseph, a R. Mohanraj (DMDK) between two major alliances- student from Adyar. Secular Progressive alliance (DMK In fact, in 2018, the NITI Aayog and Congress) and AIADMK mean a change in fortunes,” said from government offices. warned that Chennai would be Chennai Central: alliance (AIADMK, BJP, PMK and the resident. Hopefully, the winning party will among the many cities that will run DMK Alliance: DMDK). Apart from proposals like the try to implement their promises,” of groundwater by 2020. Chennai’s Over 170 voters were picked at abolition of the NEET examination said Narayana Murthy, a voter from per capita water supply has already Dayanidhi Maran random Chennai North, Chennai and the introduction of reservations constituency. plunged to 60 litres a day, this year. (DMK) Central and Chennai South for the in the private sector, both parties Another respondent said the The per capita requirement is survey and asked for their opinion have also promised to make Tamil imposition of Hindi by the Centre around 120 litres. AIADMK Alliance: on the election manifestoes of the one of the official court languages was unfair when there were so Interestingly, few respondents Sam Paul (PMK) two alliances. in the State and an official medium many regional languages in the also stated their dissatisfaction with “The AIADMK alliance includes of communication in all central and country. the Prime Minister’s announcement the BJP, which brought in GST state government offices. Moreover, regardless of the changing the name of the Chennai Chennai South: (Goods and Services Tax) and Similar promises were made promises made in the manifestos, Central railway station to Dr MGR demonetization. So, I don’t want to during the 2014 elections without many respondents feel that there Railway Station. DMK Alliance: vote for such an alliance,” said any tangible result. Despite this, 74 have been issues that have not been “Changing names have become Thamizhachi Sundaram, a shop owner from per cent of the respondents still feel touched at all. the norm under the current regime. . that the recognition of the language “Regulating TASMACs (Tamil It is little use to the people,” added Thangapandian (DMK) Another respondent, remains an important factor in the Nadu State Marketing Corporation) Joseph. AIADMK Alliance: businessman Shibu Isaac, said that coming elections. throughout the State, reduction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the last four years had been difficult “Though it may look like a stamp duty for home registrations, during his visit to Chennai earlier Jayavardhan for his security firm. “Hopefully a small change, recognition of Tamil research and development for the this month, had announced the Jayakumar (AIADMK) change in the government would will help people seeking services agriculture and electronic decision to rename the station. Still a long way to go for transgenders “Job reservation DEEPIKA AGARWAL hopeful as we believe that the transgender people in India was Tamil Nadu Government is quite unanimously passed by the Rajya CHENNAI: A part of the friendly,” she said Sabha, the provisions of the bill not impossible” transgender community feels that The manifesto includes were changed when it was JAYAKUMAR MADALA said, “In a bid to attract the voters, its demands have not been included childhood policies for transgender presented in the Lok Sabha and it they may just promise to in the party manifestos ahead of the where discrimination by the family was still under debate. CHENNAI: The promise of both implement such a reservation. But upcoming general elections,. There will be prevented. It includes The ruling AIADMK does not the Dravidian parties in Tamil Nadu it will take a long time before are no provisions in the manifestos provisions for public sensitization, have any provision for the to bring in job reservation in the implementation.” for reservation in educational trans-friendly workplace and transgender in its manifesto for the private sector, if voted to power has Raja added that, “Even the institutions and for legalization of legalization of marriage and 2019 general elections. C. drawn both applause and women reservation bill was passed, marriages and adoption of kids. adoption. It calls for proper Ponnaiyan, the party’s scepticism over whether it is but at the end of the day it has never Nila, a transgender and the founder livelihood training, skill building spokesperson said, “We are against feasible to come into of Pharm Foundation, said that the and encouragement for self- the transgender group getting implement such a effect. Such an most affected was the Jamath employment of transgender. The married without conversion of sex. scheme in the State. order will be community comprising the manifesto also demands proper It is like homosexuality, unnatural Experts say the surely challenged runaway transgender. “They mostly data on the transgender with a and against nature. We are not scheme requires in the court.” engage in begging and sex work. Olga (third from the right) with her teammates at the Dis - categorization of literates and supporting it (legalization of pan India support Not all candidates have However Their families do not give them trict Social Welfare Office. | OLGA illiterates. marriage for transgender).” and both the Centre the skills which are private sector their identity cards and educational Delfina, a transgender person, “We live in a technologically and the State companies say the certificates which prevent them turn up for screening the people. and a lot of them were uneducated said that since the landmark developed world. A trans lady with Government effort required in the private election promise from getting jobs.” This is how the process keeps and unaware of their needs. judgment on transgender rights in more masculinity can be made into towards it. sector. Only if will bring in Nila added that the Social getting delayed, This has to be dealt As part of an all women NALSA vs. Union of India in 2014, a pakka male or the one with more In their election opportunities are given to confusion. Welfare Department took more with,” Nila added. federation, Olga and her teammates there had been no significant X chromosomes can be made into manifesto released Bhavani, Manager than six to seven months to provide Olga, a transwoman and founder have devised a manifesto for attempt to uplift the community. a pakka lady,” he said. on March 19 for the learn, the other at Royal Bank of the third gender identity card. of the Bravoh movement said that transgenders. “We will send this to Although the Rights of “We will support their education April 18 election, candidates can also Scotland, says, “Every time we call them, they the demands of the transgenders the government before the election Transgender Persons Bill moved by if their families do not support the ruling become on par. So, I feel it “We hire say there are 100 people in the went unnoticed by the Gov ernment and we will keep lobbying with it Tiruchi Siva of the DMK to end the them these are social reforms AIADMK and the employees based queue. Mostly the doctors do not because they were a minority group even after the elections. We are discrimination faced by which we encourage.” Opposition DMK is a welcome move. on their skills. We announced that need efficient they would bring in - Daniel, a student workers, but if reservations in candidates are private sector jobs. picked based on Feasibility of education loans questioned Suhrith Parthasarathy, a lawyer reservation, it will not give us the at the said, “In most suitable employee”. HARSHITA MISHRA banks will only rise. lakhs. Education loans under Rs. 3 “There has been a lot of the moratorium period (course the current constitutional Utsav Chatterjee, Manager at “We get these queries all the lakhs are unsecured and most loans delinquency in the recent years. For duration plus one year) as one of framework it is not possible to Bank of Paribas, says “The CHENNAI: Experts and bankers time about when the loans will be availed in the State range from Rs. those who took education loans the major causes of rising NPAs bring in such reservations. But to pressure in the private sector is to have questioned the feasibility of waived. Such promises were made 3 lakhs to Rs. 5 lakhs. On the other before KYC, 6 or 7 years back, and suggests introduction of bring in reservation in the private work with fewer employees in a waiving educational loans as before the 2014 Lok Sabha election hand, private sector banks and they often get away with unaffected flexible interest rates. sector an amendment needs to be most efficient manner. If we are promised by the DMK and the and the 2016 Assembly election too Non-Banking Finance companies CIBIL scores. Moreover, the “What the government can do is passed, which can be done only forced by the government to hire a AIADMK in their manifestos for and nothing was done. But many usually fund secured loans of over promise of such waivers introduce more scholarships for with the support of the Central certain number and type of the upcoming Parliamentary students defaulted on their loans Rs. 5 lakhs. This also contributes to encourages others to default on needy children and interest-free or Government”. employees, it will be difficult for us election. thinking that it will be waived. The the rising NPA’S in PSB-financed their loans too. It is misleading,” low interest loans during the study Recently the Central to reach our targets.” Both the DMK and the default then affects their CIBIL education loans. says Ramnath Diwakar, Assistant period and moratorium. Even the Government announced a 10 However, Daniel, a student AIADMK, releasing their scores and seriously dents their According to Srinivasan, there General Manager of Corporation interest subsidy scheme is a great percent reservation for looking for employment said, “Not manifestoes on Sunday, promised chances to avail themselves of are a number of reasons that have Bank, Adyar branch. initiative but it has not been economically weaker people in the all candidates have the skills which to waive education loans taken by credit in future,” he says. led to rising NPAs in the State. Meanwhile, some students see implemented well,” he says. General Category in government are required in the private sector. students belonging to the According to the Finance “Education loans are treated as the move, if it is implemented, as a jobs. Parliament passed the Bill and Only if opportunities are given to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribes, Ministry data, Tamil Nadu accounts commercial loans by the RBI, much-needed relief. “It is hard to QUICK TAKES President Ramnath Kovind has learn, the other candidates can also Backward Classes and Most for nearly 20 per cent of all the when there is no immediate income get well-paying jobs these days, given assent to the legislation. become on par. So, I feel it is a Backward Classes. education loans given in the supporting it. And the accounting and the fees of private colleges are “We never imagined that welcome move.” However, experts in the State country and Tamil Nadu and Kerela systems are inefficient, if you also very high. Education loans are 1. TN has NPAs totalling reservation can be brought on the Recently, Union Human have termed the move ‘populist’ have about 40 per cent of the total default for three months, the loan is needed but it often becomes hard to Rs.2659 crore across 1,71,744 basis of economic status. But now Resource Development minister and even ‘misleading’. K NPAs in the sector in the country. declared as an NPA automatically,” pay them back,” says engineering education loans we have a bill passed for such a Prakash Javadekar announced that Srinivasan, convener of the A report by CARE ratings he explains. student Saritha (21). 2. Highest number of loans are move. In the same way, even this reservation for SCs, STs, OBCs in Education Loan Task Force, an agency reveals that over 90% of all However, bankers also point out Srinivasan cites the inefficient taken for nursing and decision could be made as a law,” higher education will be extended organization that assists students education loans in the country are the problem of willful defaulters implementation of the existing engineering courses in the State he added. to all private institutions from the for taking loans, says the already financed by Public Sector Banks, who availed loans before KYC interest subsidy scheme which Meanwhile, Kumana Raja, an new academic year beginning in high Non Performing Assets of and are usually less than Rs. 3 verification was introduced. provides full interest subsidy for advocate at the Madras High Court July. Catering to kids from cradle to college Chennai to see hotter days HIMANSHI LOHCHAB basic etiquettes, for example, table part-time. Otherwise we give become self sufficient.” MANJIRI CHITRE weather website. Celsius in Salem. manners, healthy habits etc. weekly training to mothers of these The NGO is also organising Speaking to people about the Generally, a heat wave warning CHENNAI: With it’s new initiative Nobody tells these kinds of things children who would like to recreational activities for pregnant CHENNAI: Chennaites will have heat conditions in the city, Radhika is issued when the maximum called ‘From Cradle to College’, in government or Corporation contribute to the cause,” said women, a concept similar to to brace themselves for hotter days Rathi, a student from SRM temperature goes up to 4.5 degree the Pudiyador Charitable Trust is schools,” said, Gauri Bhaskaran Ashwini , Director of anganwadis. “We are trying to ahead as the temperature is likely to University, said, “It is very difficult Celsius to 6 degree above normal aiming to cater to the needs of (56), a retired Labour Officer, who the Trust. educate them about the importance rise in the coming weeks. to keep a sane mind with the temperature. underprivileged kids in Besant has been working at the Elliot’s Talking about the challenges of nutrition, exercise and emotional According to the weather experts, increasing heat. Not only there is “The heat wave conditions are Nagar and Ramapuram area, right Beach centre for more than seven they face, she said, “Infrastructure happiness during pregnancy,” Chennai will experience extreme humidity, but it is very horrible to prevailing due to the changed wind from birth to graduation. years. “For teenagers we use is the biggest problem because Chidambaram added. heat conditions from the second go out in the afternoon for pattern. In March, the winds are For the mission, which is in pilot project-based methods to teach most of the sessions happen in open The organisation runs four week of April, and is likely to anything.” supposed to be Easterly or North stage, the NGO is trying to them about team spirit and community spaces in the area. centres in Besant Nagar and three continue till the end of June. Another person working in the Easterly, however, this time, the integrate its current programs leadership qualities. At the onset of Others are rented buildings or in Ramapuram and also provide The Regional Meteorological IT field in Chennai, Akshay Shetty, State is experiencing Westerly called the ‘Children's Program’ puberty, it is important for government schools.” evening snacks and dinner to the Department of Chennai said that said, “How much ever you try to winds, which are bringing in the (Grade 1 to 5) and the ‘Teenagers’ teenagers to learn howtodealwith “For Cradle to College, the kids. The food is donated by the the city will soon experience protect yourself from the heat, it hot air,” said Dr. Puviarasan, Program’ (Grade 6 to 9), which gender sensitive issues. Poor major challenge is going to be Rotary Club of Madras. extreme humid climate. seems impossible to travel during Scientist D, Indian Meteorological provide part-time educational and parents and conservative funding. Currently, we receive Approximately 180 children are Currently, the temperature is the noon.” Department. life skill training to kids from slums government school teachers cannot funding from the US, which currently enrolled in the programs ranging from 33 to 35 degree The Indian Meteorological The temperatures in some parts and other backward areas. provide environment for this kind requires hefty paper work and across all the centres. The sessions Celsius; however, it may go up to Department (IMD) had issued a of the city may go back to normal “Apart from helping them with of learning,” she added. multiple inspections and is time are held from 4:30 P.M. to 8 P.M. 38 to 40 degree Celsius soon. The heat wave warning two weeks ago soon, however, Chennai’s humidity homework, we focus on activity “The staff comprises of mostly consuming. So, we are eagerly on weekdays and from 11:00 A.M. city is witnessing around 79 in Tamil Nadu, when the highest may not decrease till the next two based play-way methods to teach college students who want to work looking for local funding to to 7:00 P.M. on Saturdays. percent of humidity, according to a temperature had reached 40 degree months. Edition 9 Page 3_Layout 1 4/1/2019 12:35 PM Page 1

CHENNAI March 29, 2019 THE WORD CITYSCAPE 3 Drug resistant IPnstaitutde o f mMenatal kHeailnth tgo se ta up spa d ama kpinga marchtin eo wifth int three mronaths py DEEPIKA AGRAWAL making for the canteen. Under bananas, brinjals and lady’s fingers; The bakery and dietary food made by the sales of the items goes ITC’s occupational therapy make notebooks, case files, baskets items are made available in the back to the ITC. The improved TB on the rise CHENNAI: The Institute of Mental schemes, they grow vegetables like and clothes. canteen for the inmates, staff and patients who help in running the LEAH THOMAS treatment of the disease is only 40 Health (IMH), home to 547 female students. Vegetables, bread, baskets stalls are paid salaries in cash. We per cent. “Patients with MDR-TB patients, is planning to set up a and notebooks are put up for sale in are also planning to set up bank CHENNAI: There has been an are resistant to the first line of drugs sanitary pad making machine in its the outpatient department stalls accounts for them.” She added that alarming rise in multi-drug resistant given to patients, such as premises within three months under where they can be purchased by other patients received merit tokens tuberculosis (MDR-TB) cases, and rifampicin and isoniazid. Hence, its Industrial Therapy Centre (ITC). people from inside as well as for their work which could be used Health authorities have been able to they have to be given a second line The initiative is being undertaken outside the IMH. to buy goods from the canteen and detect early cases and arrest the of drugs that include injectables, in partnership with the Corporate According to S. Ambika, Social stalls. spread of the disease. the side effects of which can cause Social Responsibility (CSR) unit of Welfare Officer at the IMH, the Dr. Kanmani, a doctor at the “There is no one reason for the kidney failure, mental health a private company. vegetable outlet makes a sale of Rs institute, said the vocational development of MDR-TB in disorders and hearing loss,” she Dr. P. Poorna Chandrika, 4500 to Rs 5000 a month. She therapies helped in relocating the patients. A low immunity system, said. The drugs are tailor-made Director of the IMH, said that the added that the bakery outlet made patients into the community and over-the-counter drugs and according to what the patient is pads made would be distributed a sale of around Rs 1, 00,000 a made them feel better about improper treatment, are among a resistant or not resistant to. “Each among the patients as well as sent month, including the purchase in themselves. few reasons for the mutation of the case that comes has to be for sale. the canteen, but the profit came Another doctor said, “It helps bacteria. A major reason is the lack monitored carefully throughout the “Training for operating the down to around Rs 25,000 after remove stigma of mental illness of adherence to a prescribed treatment for results.” machine and the sale orders will paying the salaries of the workers and proves that the patients can fit treatment by the patients One of the more effective drugs both be provided by the partner and meeting the machine into the society. These therapies themselves,” said Dr. J. Lavanya, to treat MDR-TB and or the next company,” she added. maintenance cost. Notebooks and help enhance motivation. Our District Programme Officer at the stage XDR-TB (Extensively drug- At IMH’s Industrial Therapy case files were mostly bought by agenda is to help them live better District TB Centre, . resistant TB) is bedaquiline, which Centre, patients engage in art and the new patients and the students. livelihoods by making them According to NIKSHAY, an was approved and added to WHO craft, bakery and dietary food Bakery therapy: breads made by patients | DEEPIKA AGRAWAL Dr. Chandrika said, “The profit operational.” online database of tuberculosis recommendations in 2018. cases maintained by the Union Patients in India had a hard time Ministry of Health and Family getting hold of this drug, said Dr. Welfare, Tamil Nadu stood sixth in Ranganathan. the country in detecting new TB Reasons for this include the A ‘dramatic’ form of therapy cases with over one lakh new cases bureaucratic delay in getting the Police refuse to DIVYA SETHU have a major impact on a person, a board that recognises and certifies being reported in 2018. At least, 2.9 drug, the government’s control over and most people don’t realise that. psycho-dramatists in the country. per cent of new patients and 7.78 the accessibility of the drug CHENNAI: The Indian Institute of “In classic therapy, finding “Our aim is to create a viable and per cent of previously treated because of the fear of patients file FIR at Psychodrama (IIP) is one of the solutions to problems can take affordable avenue for psychodrama patients in the State had MDR-TB. developing resistance and other few places in the country that offers time,” says Jeyarathnam. “In in South and South East Asia. We The estimated number of MDR-TB side-effects, and the availability of psychodrama as a form of therapy psychodrama, articulation is not want to give proper training to cases in India is 1.47 lakh, as of the drug mostly to the private to patients. The five year old always necessary. Even silences people interested in learning the March 2018, according to the sector. “Hopefully, restrictions on night: students institute in Alwarpet is an affiliate say a lot.” science of psychodrama.” Health Ministry. In fact, the the drug will be reduced this year,” member of the International Speaking more on the Patients of all ages seek this country accounts for one-fourth of said Dr. Ranganthan. CHHAVIANSHIKA SINGH “We had a really tough time Association of Group importance of psychodrama, he form of therapy. For children, these the total MDR-TB cases globally. Additionally, the Tamil Nadu convincing the airline authorities Psychotherapy and Group Process therapists often incorporate the use A disease caused by bacteria health department introduced a Students in colleges that fall to let her board the plane because (IAGP). of water colours, clay, collages and called Mycobacterium tuberculosis, nine-month anti-biotic regimen to under the jurisdiction of the we did not have a hardcopy of the Psychodrama is a form of other forms of art to express their tuberculosis is usually treated with treat drug-resistant TB in the State and Adyar police FIR, and they refused to accept a therapy wherein groups of people emotions. This is an easier way to a combination of antibiotic drugs. in April 2018. “Instead of a two- stations have alleged that officials softcopy of the LDR,” Lijith act out events of their lives as a way get children to talk, says Mr. The bacteria usually attack the year course, patients will be at the station refuse to accept a Balakrishnan said. to gain insight into their problems In psychodrama, Jeyarathnam. “Many times, issues lungs, but can also damage other prescribed to a short nine-month complaint if they approach them Sethu Madhavan, a lawyer and find solutions. This involves articulation is not that might not directly come up in parts of the body. However, treatment, available free at all late in the night. practicing at the Madras High role play and dramatic self- always necessary. Even traditional forms of therapy are patients with MDR-TB are resistant government hospitals in the city,” Shloak Prabhu, a student at the Court, says that “technically they presentation under the guidance of brought out through psychodrama.” to the first line of drugs and need said Dr. Lavanya. An effort has ACJ, had his phone stolen can’t refuse to accept a trained professionals. These people silences say a lot. These sessions conducted by the additional lines of toxic drugs. been made to even reduce the recently in Adyar around 10 p.m. complaint.” assume different roles in their institute are helpful for patients to Doctors, too, do not bother to number of injectable drugs during He said he immediately “But in practice, they would say respective life events while -- Magdalene determine both short-term and track the progress of their own the treatment, she added. approached the J2 Adyar police that the inspector is not there and recreating a scenario. long-term goals. “We see many patients, said Dr Lavanya. But, according to Dr. station, no later than 10:30 p.m., ask you to come tomorrow. But “The roles do not necessarily Jeyarathnam people from the LGBT community While treatment for TB can go Ranganathan, she has not seen even but was told by the constable there once an FIR is filed, the informant have to be of a person,” says who come to seek this form of up to six months, a patient with one such patient undergoing the that he could not lodge a is entitled to a copy,” said Sethu Magdalene Jeyarathnam, the says that it “offers people an therapy to solve their internal MDR-TB needs close to two years short regimen, ever since its complaint because it was too late Madhavan. director of the institute. “It can be outside perspective to their conflicts.” of continuous treatment to be inception. “Our project works with and the person responsible for Police Constable Vizhivittan, of non-living objects, fictional problems”. He adds that it is a well The IIP plans to launch India’s finally rid of the disease, she said. around 40 hospitals in the city to taking his complaint had already has been with the Kotturpuram characters, and anything else that rounded form of therapy which first Post Graduate course in According to Dr. Ragini monitor TB cases and notify the left the station. police station for the past three the patient wants to identify as.” He involves the body and mind to treat Psychodrama in association with Ranganathan, Pulmonologist and a government. Till date, I have not Prabhu said he was told to years. adds that it takes only one session a wide range of problems. the Tata Institute of Social Sciences Technical Coordinator for Project seen a single patient undergoing the come back at 10 a.m. the next day. Vizhivattan said that for lost to bring to light problems that can The institute wishes to establish in the coming year. Reach, the success rate for treatment,” she said. However, upon visiting the station wallets, documents, or stolen the next morning, he was made to mobile phones, people could file a wait for about an hour before his Lost Document Report (LDR) FIR (First Information Report) online at the Tamil Nadu Police was filed. Citizen’s Portal. Thiruvanmiyur labourers want permanent jobs The official at the police station “We will have to file an FIR JOYDEEP SARKAR labourers can vary, whereas the should also be fixed wages for refused to give a copy of the FIR even if it is late night because we contract labourers earn a fixed masons and labourers,” he said. on the same day saying that he had cannot refuse, but the FIR copy CHENNAI: Getting work regularly wage of Rs 700. He has two sons whose ages are to first file a complaint and then will be available only next isn’t an easy task for the labourers The women workers not only get 27 and 30. For the younger one’s go to the court, Prabhu said. morning since we have to follow who gather in front of the fewer work days, their wages are education he had taken a loan eight The police gave him a copy of certain procedures,” said Thiruvanmiyur bus depot around 7 also lower than that of their male years ago while for the older one he the FIR after four days, he added. Vizhivattan a.m. every day. counterparts. Angamma, a 40-year- took a loan ten years ago. Now he A former M.tech student at IIT- However, Vizhivattan said that Elumalai, a 48-year-old old labourer, said, “Typically we is facing problems repaying it. M (Indian Institute of Technology “if the complainant is a woman, construction worker said, “We get work for 2-3 days, even though “The loan amounts to Rs 4.5 lakhs. - Madras), Lijith Balakrishnan, then we ask them to come the next usually get work for 4-5 days a many are willing to work for 7 days They are the first graduates from said that he had gone to the morning because we generally week. Our wages vary from Rs a week. Moreover, our wages are our family. But their education has Kotturpuram station around 11 prefer that they don’t come to the 650 to Rs 800. If we don’t get significantly lower than that of borne no fruit. The older son p.m. at night. police station at night, especially work, we have to sit at home. Ten men. So if a man gets Rs 650 for recently got a job at a private His cousin, who was visiting if there is no woman police years ago, I got Rs 250 for a day’s construction work on a day, a company with a salary of Rs him in Chennai from Mumbai, constable or personnel present in work. Now I get about Rs 700. woman will get Rs 550 or less. It is Labourers waiting for work in the morning | JOYDEEP SARKAR 20,000 a month while the younger lost her wallet, along with her the police station at that time.” Many people here are from difficult to pay a rent of Rs 1000 one is still jobless. Such a loan can PAN card (Permanent Account The Kotturpuram and Adyar Ulundurpet. Lack of economic and and Rs 1500-2000 for a child’s employer may reduce the amount. labourer should himself be allowed only be repaid by someone doing a Number) just four hours before Police stations have more than 25 agricultural opportunities makes education with such wages.” This makes the labourers hesitant to negotiate. That is why I give my government job,” he said. she was to take her flight back to schools and colleges under their people come here.” Durai, a maistry, said that he to work,” he said. personal number to employers The influx of north Indian Mumbai. jurisdiction, including the Indian The labourers said that the often got work for a group by N. Balakrishnan, a 59-year-old looking for work,” he said. labourers has also made work But, when they went to the Institute of Technology - Madras, arbitrariness of employment is a promising a fixed rate, only to see it labourer, said that he came here 15 He said that labourers should competitive. “They are willing to police station to file a complaint, , Central major concern for them. They changed. “For example, I promise years ago. His agricultural land in have identity cards. “The work for lower wages in the range they were told to file a Lost Polytechnic Institute and the prefer permanent employment. a group of ten that they will work Ulundurpet is barren. He has government should issue them. of Rs 450-500. And they get to stay Document Report (LDR) online. Asian College of Journalism. They usually wait till 10 am for for an employer for a fixed number studied till SSLC. He says that the Through it we should be allowed to at the site itself. The language work. The wages of non-contract of days for Rs 650 a day. Later the middleman should not exist. “The access medical insurance. There barrier adds to the issue,” he said.

MODERN SLAVERY The ugly reality behind the spinning mills of India’s ‘Textile Valley’ HIMANSHI LOHCHAB and young girls were forced to lay off their middle-aged male menstruation period become work in the mills. So we created workers, many of whom took to anaemic.” CHENNAI: Freedom Fund, an community self help groups and drinking when they were not “Workers are not aware of international organization based in vocational centres in villages to working. Thus, women and girls medical aid provided by the the UK, says it is fighting against teach skills such as tailoring and were pushed to the mills to run the government. For serious medical bonded labour in four districts of sewing,” said P. Bala Murugan, family and pay for alcohol for their issues they take up high interest Tamil Nadu namely, , Program Advisor of South India for men. loans. It is a vicious cycle that they , and . the campaign. “There is a lack of transport to are bound to work at a place where The institute of Development The IDS report listed out several most of the villages here and the they suffer from diseases and pay Studies (IDS), UK, wrote a review reasons for proliferation of the spinning mills provide free for it as loans,” he added. report on the Freedom Fund practice. It said that workers have commutation service to labourers. According to a report by the campaign which said that women to work six days a week and This enhanced the attractiveness of Government of India published in and girls typically earn 180 rupees sometimes may even have to do working in the mills despite harsh 2015, a total of 270,768 people are a day, though some get as little as three shifts (i.e. 24 hours) in conditions because when people working in 2,023 spinning mills, 12. The most experienced can earn succession. If a day worker does are in a captive market they have weaving mills and Export Oriented 250 rupees, which is still less than not come, then a hostel worker has no bargaining power,” said M.A. Units in the State. In addition, the the Indian minimum wage i.e. 322 to work day and night. According Britto, campaign district power loom industry accounts for rupees. to their survey, all mill workers said coordinator of Namakkal. 1,013,360 workers working in “The major challenge we faced that doing nine shifts a week rather Talking about the health issues 81,530 power loom units. while creating awareness about than six is fairly common. faced by workers, Mr. Murugan, With a funding of Rupees 31 workers’ rights was that there was Men used to work in the mills, said, “Due to perpetuation of hard crores received from the C&A no alternative source of long term but in response to the advent of labour their mental health is Foundation, the Freedom Fund employment in the villages. Most labour unions in the 1990s, the seriously disturbed. Exhaustion claims to have impacted 85,287 of the labourers are landless who textile industry started to target from long work hours, malnutrition lives so far by spreading awareness, cannot do subsistence farming and young women for employment by and depression are the primary providing rehabilitation, and the construction contracts from offering a lump sum for their concerns. Women, while working introducing vocational training in cities are seasonal. Thus, women marriage. This allowed the mills to Rani, a mill worker, learns tailoring on weekends at a vocational centre| THE NEWS MINUTE long hours, during their several villages. Edition 9 Page 4_Layout 1 4/1/2019 10:03 AM Page 1

THE WORD CHENNAI March 29, 2019 4 CITYSCAPE

Rich and ruined Tragedies and endings No profit for local BHAVINI MISHRA Tamil Section and the Children’s JOYDEEP BOSE Section. The editions prior to 1950 travel agents CHENNAI : The Madras Literary are for reference only,” says Ms. “If it means death, it will not be the Society in Thirupurasundari worst of deaths – death without CHHAVIANSHIKA SINGH According to the Statista report Sevvel, the honour,” Antigone’s words too, in 2017, the majority of Indian that has a General resonated across the pervaded travelers making online bookings collection of Secretary of the chamber of the Alliance Française CHENNAI : According to global (74.8 per cent of consumers polled) approximately Society. of Madras, “The daughter of statistics and database company were between the ages of 18 to 34. 55,000 books has The library Oedipus would rather die for faith Statista’s market forecast, revenues Samuel says that in 2015 an initiative also organizes than yield to a tyrant.” in the Indian online travel booking business had slumped so much that called ‘Adopt a monthly events If words could truly mark the sector amount to upwards of 8,000 there were no earnings for six Book’ that lets like book spirit of the World Theatre Day, Million US Dollars as of 2019. months. It picked up somewhat in volunteers take launches, talks, they would be from this soliloquy As the share of online bookings 2017, after he hired a marketing up old books for and at the stage production of in the travel and tourism sector team and focused on booking restoration. | BHAVINI MISHRA performances Sophocles’ ‘Antigone’, performed ‘Antigone’ performed on World Theatre Day | JOYDEEP BOSE increases, that of brick-and-mortar corporate package deals. The initiative which was on the second by the Masquerade Performance travel agencies continues to Samuel compares the entry of launched in 2015 offers citizens an Saturday of each month. “We have Group at the Alliance Française of resolute in putting a respectable Athenian democracy upheld what plummet, and independent travel online travel booking in the tourism opportunity to pay towards the also been participating in The Madras on March 27th. end to her brother’s memory, defies are today discarded. An opportunity agents are among the worst hit. sector with Jio’s entry in the restoration of a book which will Hindu which has Masquerade’s staging, however, Creon’s orders, and in the process, to note this contrast was lost out on. Allen Samuel, 28, owner of Telecom industry. extend the lifespan of the book by helped MLS immensely in terms of leaves a lot to be desired. The play, becomes a victim of state cruelty. Mitra Visvesh, as Antigone, Blessing Tours and Travels Pvt. “Airtel used to charge such high another 50-60 years. The volunteer creating awareness. Many visitors broadly set within the ambits of the Tragedy involves conflict. stands out in her act, along with Ltd. in , says that while rates, but with Jio’s entry they had can contribute a minimum of Rs contributed towards our ‘Adopt a original tragedy, loses itself among Melodrama represents a struggle of Abhishek Ramabhadran, in the business has gone down because to slash their prices by more than 1000 to restore a book and his/her Book’ programme,” says Sevvel. its inspirations, ranging from good against evil, whereas tragedy robes of Creon, and K.K. himself, clients, especially college students half. Our profit margins have contribution will be acknowledged Currently the library has three William Hölderlin to Bertolt represents the battle of right against as the blind prophet Tiresias. The and young professionals, have reduced drastically too. Earlier we by printing their name on the pages staffs, and nine members in the Brecht, and misses out on several right. Antigone becomes the rest are at one with the chorus, moved towards travel booking used to keep a margin of 15-20 of the restored book. The initiative managing committee excluding the contemporary inputs that were embodiment of the absolute right, never seeming striking enough. websites, “once they experience dollars per person, but now we’ve also allows the person to show this Chairman and General Secrectary perhaps expected of the director, the representative of ethical The production, too, lacks online travel bookings, most of had to cut it in half, to 5-10 dollars contribution as part of the out of which four members visit the Krishna Kumar (K.K.), a veteran of conscience in opposition to the ambitious design. Confused them never repeat that mistake per person.” Corporate CSR and an 80-G library frequently. the Chennai theatre scene. state. The relationship of the between operating under again, especially for international Sanjog Gill (19), a college certificate for claiming tax The heritage library is Defiance, of course, is the fuel individual to the state, and that of proscenium theatre and the French tours. There is no one to guide student from Noida, had booked a exemption. “A volunteer maintained entirely from small that this play feeds on. Creon, the morality to law have been basic chamber’s intimate staging, the them. All online agencies have a room at the Holiday Inn hotel in contributed Rs 25000 for the donations, grants and member ruler of Thebes, decrees an unjust questions since humans first play ultimately doesn’t make use of toll – free customer care number Thiruvanmiyur, at the Make My restoration of a book last month,” subscriptions which fall short. The fate for Polyneices, the hero who formed societies. These issues the space adequately, instead which they answer immediately if Trip website, last month when she says Uma Maheswari, the librarian. books available to library members died fighting for his birthright. confront us today, as they have relying on its amateurish set design, it is for a booking, but if you have visited the city for a function. The library has books on are not easy to locate as they are not Branding him an enemy of the audiences for the past two and a props, and lighting. The sound to reschedule or cancel, they make However, when she checked in Religion, Philosophy, Literature, organized by genre. A number of state, Creon condemns his corpse to half millennia. However, this design, however, aided by Pranav you wait for one or two hours.” to her room, it turned out much Travel, History, Geography, books have been damaged by dust, rot in full public view and be a audience has also changed Diwakar (Guitar) and Madhav Nair “Those travelling with family, smaller than the pictures and videos Biography, Art and Fiction. The age and humidity and need to be fodder to carrion and vultures; significantly over the years. During (Flute), manages to drive home prefer to make their bookings online. “If we had been allotted the titles are mostly in English restored. The library infrastructure while Eteocles, the hero preferred the fifth-century BC, the Greek somewhat of an emotional impact through us, usually because of bad room that I saw on the website, it although there are some in classical needs upgradation and the place by Creon, is given a proper burial, city-states were gradually moving that otherwise seemed lacking from experience with online bookings in would have been very economical and modern languages as well. needs better lights and up-to-date complete with state honours. towards patrilineal kinship. Civic a period piece so lost in time; a the past, and don’t want to repeat for us, but for this room, I feel I “We have recently started the computers to digitize the books. Antigone, Polyneices’ sister, institutions of the rudimentary ghost of tragedies past. that.” have paid more than it is worth.” Schools don’t meet exam needs 21,000 cases disposed JOYDEEP SARKAR specific exam, such as SSC, NEET, not be affordable for everyone, he Krishnan Parnesh, a student at BHAVINI MISHRA overburdened judiciary,” she says. the awareness of free legal aid. TNPSC, IAS and banking exams. said that his institute provided the Shankar IAS Academy, said The settlement awards granted However, she says that the CHENNAI: Over the past decades, Thus the institute develops study scholarships to poor students. “At coaching institutes one gets CHENNAI: The National Lok during the resolution of such cases awareness programmes should go coaching institutes have become a material and prepares tests A faculty member of Shankar competitive environment. It is not Adalat organized by the Tamil are not appealable in a court of law. beyond the ‘judicial circle’ and thriving industry and have gained according to needs of the exam,” he IAS Academy said, “There is a gap possible with self-study. Study at Nadu State Legal Services The Lok Adalats in the coming reach out more to the common priority over schools and colleges between qualification of students school and college is very general, Authority (TNSLSA) on March 9 year are to be held on July 13, people. “We provide legal as education centres. and the requirement for the whereas in coaching institute one across Tamil Nadu disposed off as counseling over phone, via M.A. Sadik, Director of the competitive exams they appear for. gets specialized training. ” many as 500 pre-litigation cases applications by affected parties and Smart Leaders IAS Academy, said, The qualification is outdated and He also alluded to the issue of and as many as 21,000 pending in person. When the judge feels like “Personal guidance and counseling There is a gap between theoretical knowledge. And state language. “At the prelims level, the cases in Chennai alone. a person needs legal representation is not available at schools or qualification of students and boards give data oriented paper is provided in Hindi and Lok Adalat (People's Court), one he/she also refers the affected colleges. Preparing for competitive the requirement for the education. But competitive exams English. A Tamil student does not of the Alternative dispute person to us and sometimes even exams is like preparing for a battle. competitive exams they demand analytical skills.” know Hindi, and English is not his resolution mechanisms in India, is a the State Bar Association may refer The school can’t orient the student He said that CBSE’s curriculum mother tongue. Students sometimes forum where cases, pending or at an aggrieved party to us,” she adds. for competitive exam. Their appear for. was more analytical than that of the get confused. At the interview pre litigation stage are settled in a Ravichandran says that the priority is to have the students - Faculty of Shankar IAS other boards. stage, even though translators are court of law. According to Section process of legal counseling goes up secure high percentage in exams. Academy “Coaching institutes teach the provided, communication gap can 19 of Legal Services Authorities to six months sometimes.”We talk The purpose of the school is to students about dos and don’ts for still exist. Even the government Act, 1987, every Lok Adalat shall to the aggrieved paries and try to provide fundamentals whereas the said. an exam. The students are trained schemes such as Jan Dhan Yojana be presided by a serving or retired Madras High Court reach a settlement. If a settlement institute helps in career guidance. Regarding student pressure, he about specific focus areas. Reading are named with the Hindi people in judge and two other members as | WIKIPEDIA is not reached we advise them The coaching institute knows the said “The parents are to be blamed is not the only criterion for mind.” specified by the Legal Services September 14 and December 14. about a remedy and if they qualify nitty-gritty of the exam. In schools for it.. Students should be allowed competing in the exam. The student Karthick Ram, a faculty member Authority in the State. The State Legal Services for legal aid, provide them with and colleges, students only need to autonomy to plan their life.” must also have analytical mind.” at Jai Hind IAS Academy, linked The National Lok Adalat, Authority also provides free legal one,” she says. pass. For UPSC, they need to excel. He criticized schools for their About student pressure, he said, the growth of coaching centres with conducted once in every three aid to women, children, people TNSLSA also publishes In competitive exams, the student inability to foster creativity in “At the first attempt, the family and the appeal of government jobs. months had 17 benches across belonging to the SC/ST notifications via regional public has to perform under pressure.” students. “Schools need to give society is supportive. But after “Parents and students want to play Chennai this month. B. Padma, 55 communities and people whose channels, regional newspapers and The diverse school syllabus more exposure to students and second or third attempt pressure safe. Thus, they prefer government year-old panel advocate in the incomes are below 3 lakh per even private channels to inform across India is often disconnected develop skills innate in them. The builds. Sometimes the student jobs. The opinion is that it gives Tamil Nadu State Legal Services annum (earlier the limit was 1 lakh people to approach the Authority with what the exams ask. fact is that our school system is exhausts all attempts. Thus, there is good salary, and has good office Authority says that the matters that per annum). Anuradha for free legal aid. “We only provide “Different boards such as CBSE poor. How many Nobel Laureates an opportunity cost. Even if the hours. Even after doing are being dealt with are usually Ravichandran, a 53 year-old Panel counseling on civil matters and and Tamil Nadu State Board have have we produced? As of now they student hasn’t passed the exam, the engineering, many are jobless. An credits (debt mediation), bank Advocate that counsels people on most of the time a settlement can be different syllabus, which will not are only giving memory-based work he has done and knowledge IAS officer has power and social loans, insurance claims and family family matters says that the State reached between the parties in match the specific needs of an education.” he said. he has gained will help him to build status. That is why they come to the matters. “Alternate bodies like Legal Services Authority has family matters. The process is exam. Every institute focuses on a Since coaching institutes may his character.” coaching centres.” these help to ease up the conducted a lot of programmes for quasi-judicial but legally binding. Curfews: gender specific Laughter is the best medicine CHIYA AHUJA college while she was “chilling” register was not maintained, they DIVYA SETHU complex. We’re dealing with made to take injections—which of real medicine.” with her male friend in the hostel were barred from going out for a patients, not just a general scares them—and pretty much are The biggest challenge they face, CHENNAI: Female students say even after 6 p.m. “The vigilance week or a month, depending on CHENNAI : Laughter emanates audience. Patients are highly at the mercy of the doctors and however, is the lack of support of they face unchecked moral policing team, the Hostel Disciplinary what the warden would decide. from the wards of the Government sensitive, especially children.” nurses. With hospital clowning, the doctors. “There are so many and biased rules in college hostels Committee invaded the room as “The warden told us to start acting Hospital for Children, as five “The first step in training is control is given back to the patients for the doctors to treat here. Even their mundane and they found my actions to be like an adult woman,” she added. ‘clowns’ showcase their magic improvisation, which is extremely children. Clowns seek their every day that they don’t often look everyday activities come under the suspicious,” she said. She was Shruthi Suresh M.O.P. Vaishnav skills to patients. important. Since most of the shows permission to conduct whatever at the psychological welfare of the scrutiny of the authorities and tend charged with possession of alcohol College for Women, said “We had Hospital clowning is a form of we put up are totally dependent on show they have put up. We ones they are treating. We want to to define their character, they and “immoral behavior by to follow a dress code and we were healthcare which involves visits tell the doctors that psychological claim. westernizing Chennai’s culture.” not allowed to use mobile phones from professionally trained clowns. welfare is an integral part of While there are no curfew “There is no room to breathe for on campus. In a lot of engineering Introduced in India by the Little recovery. We want to break the restrictions in IIT-Madras, the girls girls here,” Avantika added. Boys colleges, men and women have Theatre Group in 2015, this method status quo. Patients should not be need to show their ID cards and are not allowed to stand and loiter different entrances and exits.” focuses on the psychological intimidated by their doctors. So we sign the register for entry if they around the women’s hostel after 9 S Anandhi, a Women’s Studies wellbeing of patients, especially let the doctors and nurses guide us. come back after 9 p.m. at night. p.m. “The campus is not a safe professor at the Madras Institute of children. The idea behind this All the games and shows we put up The boy’s hostel has no such rule. space at all. If we wear shorts, we Development Studies, said “One concept is to create a happier, more revolved around the treatment “Getting caught hanging out are treated differently by our own needs to understand the missionary trusting environment in the drab process of these kids.” with a boy is the worst. Anytime a professors who teach us liberal arts type of morals and values that setting of a hospital. Trained While ‘hospital clowning’ is not girl and boy are seen together, the and women’s emancipation.” guide the campuses. There is close professionals, and sometimes The Little Theatre Group as hospital clowns | LITTLE THEATRE yet a nationwide concept, the Little girl will have to face added The students allege that linkage between what was learnt in doctors, dress as clowns and put up Theatre Group hopes that restrictions,” said Avantika Singh, vigilance officers barge into their the classrooms and the existence of shows for children admittedThe the kids, actors have to be able to incorporate magic shows in our eventually it will be. “We want to who is studying Integrated Masters rooms, insult them and click the college hostels as an extension theatre group was started by Dr. improvise to suit their moods and enactments, and unless the kids say extend and expand the fraternity of in Development Studies. pictures without consent violating of those teachings. These spaces Aysha Rau, who discovered this needs at that time. Most elements the ‘magic word’, the story will not hospital clowning. As of now, our While the girls have fought over the students' right to privacy. then become breeding grounds for method of healthcare while doing a of our shows are created on the move forward. Magic happens if reach in Chennai is only of one the futility of maintaining a register Johanna Afra, who graduated ideal modern femininity.” course online where she mentored spot.” the patient wants.’ hospital, and our demographic does when they have a biometric system last year from the Women’s Joan Sony Cherian, an activist, people. She met professional “There is also a very specific Speaking of the challenges they not include rural areas. But rural installed, they have only faced Christian College “Our college had said “Curfews and other rules are actors who wanted to diversify, and physical protocol to be followed in faced while introducing this areas need this concept even more. added reprimanding by the warden, day outs till six in the evening for imposed on women students in the conjoin art with healthcare. And so, hospital clowning. The children concept, KK says, that ‘clowning’ So we eventually want to reach professors and the administration weekdays and the third year name of ‘safety and security’. This along with her daughter Dr. Rohini need to feel safe and comfortable. in general is a western concept. them as well.” staff. “Since the ratio of girls to students could stay out from 9 p.m. logic is often a farce which is used Rau introduced the idea to the This method isn’t just about “Indians aren’t very used to the KK adds that the idea of this boys is 1:8 and the number of boys to 12 a.m. on Wednesdays. We to restrict women's mobility.” group in 2015. Dr. Rohini is also laughter—that’s a by-product. The idea of clowns. So the hospital theatre group is to involve people is too many to deal with, they end were not allowed to go out on “How long will women be India’s first hospital clown. whole principle revolves around clowning we practice is tailored to with empathy and passion. “ up not following any protocol. I weekdays.” policed in the name of safety? It's B. Krishakumar, also known as the concept of control. We want to suit Indians. We try to look as We need professional actors with don’t know if it is intentional, but In cases of emergency, the only when woman come out KK, the artistic director of the give control back to the children. human as possible, without looking experience to be involved with us. this is the case,” Avantika added. students had to get a letter signed collectively in large numbers and group, provides the training. When they’re patients, they feel like actual doctors. So the whole Since this program is so sensitive, A foreign exchange student by the warden who asked a lot of reconfigure spaces that we achieve Speaking about the process, he like they have no control over their concept is ‘indianised’. Older we need these people to be highly faced harassment at the same questions and when the entry emancipation sense of the term,” says, “The training process is bodies; they are forcefully fed, people often think this is a mockery trained.”