May 21 2014 : The Times of India (Mumbai) OFF THE BEATEN TRACK RURAL DEVELOPMENT Work for rural development & make a living too Vinamrata Borwankar   Has compassion or consideration for the needy been put on the backburner by the thought of earning your  daily bread? A career in the rural development sector is now rewarded with adequate compensation to sustain  he zeal.“The time is always be right to work for social good but with the CSR clause in the new Companies  Act, employment opportunities have increased manifold in the development sector. A quick search on Linkedin  will show that several companies are looking for candidates who understand the rural market. ,“ said Sahej  Mantri, manager (alliances) at Hopemonkey.org, a nonprofit organization involved in fund raising. STARTING OUT Social work or rural development as a discipline is available in many universities and  institutes, both at the graduate and postgraduate levels. Specialization in post-graduation could in clude topics  like human resource management, criminology and correctional administration, medical and psychiatric  social work, family and child welfare, rural and urban community development, and schools social work. However professionals say lack of a formal background in social work may not be a hindrance. “You can learn  the working of the industry through internships and volunteer work. Once you have been in the field for  some time you gain understanding about the beneficiaries to work towards their good,“ said Mantri. CAREER PROSPECTS The job would involve working to provide solutions for people's social, economic and  emotional problems through counseling, arranging conferences, increasing resources, spreading public  awareness and starting social programmes and health services. Opportunities in the development sector  are varied, which can range from working in various developmental projects of the government to working for  NGOs and international organisations.

IIT Bombay launches MOOCs

The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B), for the first time launches massive open online course (MOOC) in three courses. The session for two of the courses i.e. Introduction to Computer Programming (part one) and Thermodynamics will commence from July while the third course, Introduction to Computer Engineering (part two) will begin from September.

Professor Deepak Phatak, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Bombay stated that the MOOCs will allow students to learn anything from anywhere at a convenient speed.

The courses will be delivered in sessions grouped into several themes or topics. Each session will be made up to two to four 15-20 minutes episode.  Each episode will consist of a video recorded lecture of about eight to ten minutes which will be followed by some problem solving and quizzes.

There will be additional reading material, references which the participants can use for greater clarity, if required. Plans are also on to introduce regular interactive sessions through discussion forums, video conferencing and other such technologies.

Source | http://digitallearning.eletsonline.com/

Ratan Tata gets top UK award

Kounteya Sinha TNN 

London: Ratan Tata on Monday became the first Indian to be awarded the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) since India became a republic in 1950. British high commissioner to India James Bevan conducted the ceremony. He presented Ratan Tata with the GBE on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II. 
    Speaking at the ceremony, Bevan said, “Ratan Tata’s leadership, vision and integrity will remain the gold standard for generations of aspirational British and Indian business people. His contribution to the deep ties that exist between the UK and India has been invaluable.” 
    Tata said, “I am deeply touched and feel honoured to receive the recognition so graciously bestowed on me by Her Majesty. It has been a privilege to have our enterprises contribute to the growth of the UK. I am deeply appreciative of the support we have received personally from David Cameron and his government. through good and bad times. This support and faith have been of immeasurable value.”

Source:::: The Times of India, 07-05-2014, p.18,   http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIM/2014/05/07&PageLabel=18&EntityId=Ar01807&ViewMode=HTML

India tops world list of environment conflicts

Exploitation of natural resources to fuel economy to blame

MUMBAI: Massive exploitation of natural resources and mineral ores to fuel the economy has put India on top of the world list of environment conflicts. India has the maximum number of environment conflicts, according to a global atlas, which has mapped ecological struggles over the years and was released in Brussels last month.

In the list of environment conflicts, India (123) is closely f ollowed by Nigeria ( 122), Colombia (75), Brazil (61) and other countries.

Of the total 924 cases of agitations against extraction of natural resources across the world, 123 are from India. They are against mineral extraction; land acquisition for nuclear, thermal and hydroelectric plants, airports, dams and others carried out by both government and private players.

Most of these projects have come up after 1991’s economic l iberalisation. “A majority of people in India, unlike in developed and middle-income countries, depend on natural resources such as forest, land and water. In the name of socalled development, the government first lays its hands on these resources and those directly affected are the weakest,” said Himanshu Thakkar of Delhibased South Asia Network of Dams, Rivers and People.

Since 2011, more than 100 scientists and activists all over the world have been mapping spaces of resistance spanning 35 years, as part of the Environment Justice Org anisations, Liabilities and Trade (EJOLT), a European Union (EU) project that will conclude in 2015 with a target of covering 2,000 conflicts.

The global atlas reveals that majority of the conflicts are related to land (226), arising out of mineral ore exploration and land acquisition. Water, electricity, crude oil, gold, coal dominate the list of commodities responsible for such struggles.

“Most people hear about major disasters. But the map shows t hat environmental impacts are part of the normal workings of the economy, and that extraction of resources carries ecological costs paid for by the most marginalised populations,” said Leah Temper, an EJOLT project manager, via email.

India has witnessed several protests in different parts with locals opposing projects with environment conflicts. “The regard for environment laws, forest rights, social justice have deteriorated rapidly and all projects are being sanctioned,” said ecologist Madhav Gadgil, who had chaired the Western Ghats ecology expert panel. “As a result, people are getting desperate because the government is flouting both people’s righ ts and environment rules.”

India has a history of environment movements and conflicts – the Chipko movement against deforestation in the 1970s, the Nar mada Bachao Andolan against the construction of large dams across the Narmada in the 1980s, and the Bhopal gas tragedy in 1984.

“In over 30 years of mobilisations, activists have managed to create networks and have been able to counter the mantra of modernisation and development,” stated the contents of the atlas for India.

According to the EJOLT team, 17% of the reported cases have been successes with regard to “environment justice”, where due compensation was paid, the project was cancelled, the investors pulled out or the movement or community was strengthened.

Source::: Hindustan Times, 06-04-2014, p.07, http://paper.hindustantimes.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

Dharavi class IX girls raise $4,795 to start library

Mumbai: Hidden in a tiny bylane of Dharavi is a bright blue room, where over 20 children are reading everything from Disney comics to science fiction. The small room, with wooden shelves on both walls, is the Friends library.

The best part? It’s run by eight class IX students. The girls, from the Guru Nanak High School and Kamarajar Memorial High School in Dharavi, started the library in February.
The library has now over 350 books, which children can borrow at a refundable deposit of Rs20. “Children in the area never got a chance to read as there was no library in the area,” said Menaga Nadar, one of the founders.

The idea of a library struck them at the Avasara Leadership Fellows programme, an intensive after-school enrichment programme for adolescent girls from urban slums. It was here that they first read books beyond their texts.

However, turning the idea into a reality wasn’t an easy task. “We started off with a plan. Initially, we wanted to run it for around six months. We realised we would need Rs60,000,” said Sweety Pavithra, one of the eight founders.

Hope came from the Avarasa programme. “We approached a teacher from the US, who was at the programme, to host a Kickstarter page for us.”
Kickstarter is an online funding platform for creative projects, which allows people to present an idea to raise funds. Also, the project requires an American citizen to be part of the idea.

“The girls soon started creating content for raising funds and also made a video explaining their concept. In three days, the project received $4,795, almost five times the requirement. The next step was to find the perfect space.

“Joba’s (one of the girls from the group) parents offered us the first floor of their house for a rent of Rs4,000,” said Mansi Singh. The girls took over the place with a bucket of paint and brushes to add colour to their dream.

“It’s so great to see these girls work on their own. From planning, execution and problem solving, they have managed all by themselves,” said Roopa Purushothaman, founder of Avasara Leadership Institute.

With more funds at their disposal, the girls are now planning to train a younger batch to run the library as they move to class X.

Source::: DNA, 12-03-2014.

Free school mixes work and play for underprivileged tots

Mithila Phadke TNN 

    When four-yearold Sakshi joined school last year, she spent the first few months trying to bolt out of the classroom at the slightest opportunity. There were frequent tantrums, and sometimes, she bit and scratched the male teachers. It was a survival tactic the little girl had learnt from living on the streets near Regal Cinema. With her father often arriving home drunk at night, accompanied by unknown men, Sakshi had learnt to hit back at strangers, by observing her mother. 
    Little Kishore too grew up in an environment that rattled him. He fought, hit people and was agitated all the time. Neighbours called him “mad” and assumed he would never amount to anything. 
    Today, both Kishore and Sakshi are among the brightest students in their Masjid Bunder class. They are part of the 3-2-1 Education Foundation, founded in 2012. Currently operating out of a municipal school building with 10 teachers and 240 students, the initiative focuses on providing free, quality education at the kindergarten and grade 1 level to children from low-income communities. 
    The programme is the brainchild of Teach for India alumnus and educationist Gaurav Singh, a 29-year-old social entrepreneur who is also an Ashoka foundation fellow. “In this country, we do not believe in our children. The assumption is that because of their economic background, there is something inferior about them,” Singh says. “But science and common sense tell us that this is not true.” 
    While the number of out-ofschool children in India has reduced, the quality of education has some catching up to do, he adds. The Annual Status of Education Report 2013 shows that only 42.2% children in grade 5 could read a grade-2 text. The figure has dropped 6.3 %from the previous year. 
    Building on the idea that the environment in which learning happens is crucial, 3-2-1 helps kids recognise the school as a safe space. Many live in slum settlements nearby, grow up in chaotic environments and are used to fighting for everything, says Singh. “Now when a new kid comes in and they want to hoard the books, one of the older students helps them understand,” he says, smiling. 
    This peer-regulation carries over to other activities. When a group reads, one child is put in charge. He or she ensures the rest concentrate and put away books tidily. When a queue has to be formed, the little ones nudge each other into place. Asking questions is encouraged. Children animatedly discuss why they might prefer apples over oranges, give star ratings to cartoon characters, and weigh in on their classmate’s opinions. “If someone is not getting a concept right, another kid willsay, let me help you with that,” says teacher Nikhat Aga. 
    The academic content, comprising language, mathematics and co-curriculars like science, art, physical exercise and yoga, follow. Children learn about shapes and numbers by playing with building blocks and Lego bricks, with concepts like sharing, settling differences peacefully and tidiness woven in. 
    The 3-2-1 team has decided to keep adding grades to the programme as the children grow. “So the current lot of first-graders will move on to second grade next year,” says Aga. “3-2-1 will grow with its students.” 
    The initial skepticism from families has been overcome. “I love hearing the children chatter in English while playing with their friends,” says Raja Arunduthiyar, who has two kids studying at 3-2-1. “Bahut mast lagta hai (It feels great).” 
    Mast was how the 3-2-1 team must have felt too, the day little Kishore left his gossipy neighbours speechless. One of the teachers was talking to his parents, during an at-home visit, and filling out some forms. “Kishore was peering at what she was writing, and reading it out loud,” recalls Singh. “The neighbours, who had earlier called him things like ‘mad’ gazed at him in awe. It was such a proud moment for him.”

BUILDING BLOCKS : At the 3-2-1 Education Foundation, peer regulation helps the children learn teamwork and independence.

Source::: The Times of India, 12-03-2014, p.04,   http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIM/2014/03/12&PageLabel=4&EntityId=Ar00400&ViewMode=HTML

75% Indian aspirants got temp jobs in 2012: Study

Sovon Manna TNN 

Kolkata: Only 12% job seekers in India got a permanent recruitment in 2012 while as many as 75% of aspirants were placed in temporary agency jobs and the rest found other services as their livelihood, says a study carried out by Staffing Industry Analysts, the global adviser on contingent work. The exclusive study pegs the Indian staffing market at around Rs 26,650 crore. 
    According to the study, the Indian labour market is unique as approximately 90% of Indians work in the unorganixed or ‘informal’ sector and only 10% work in the organized or ‘formal’ sector. Of those working in the organized sector, a large proportion (68%) are employed in the public sector. The unorganized or ‘informal’ sector jobs include home-based work, selfemployment, employment in household enterprises, small units, on land as agricultural workers, labour on construction sites and a myriad of other forms of casual or temporary employment. The recruitment and revenue figures have been calculated in the study for the calendar year 2012 because Indian companies will release financial figures after the fiscal ends in March 2014. 
    Replying to an e-mailed query, Adam Pode, director (international research) at California-based Staffing Industry Analysts, told TOI, “There is nothing ominous in the temporary job market having the lion’s share of the staffing industry. This is similar to all the largest staffing markets in the world and shows the sophistication of the Indian market. Employers understand the importance of temporary workers to aid them through the peaks and trough of the economy.” 
    According to the study, Bangalore-based Adecco topped the list of HR solutions firms in India with Rs 1,460 crore in revenue and a 5.5% market share pipping India-headquartered Team-Lease, which is also based in Bangalore. According to the study, the top-three firms account for approximately 15% of the total market and the top-ten firms 26% with the remaining 75% or 20,000 staffing companies — mostly niche or boutique firms employ the rest.

Source :::: The Times of India, 04-03-2014, p.19,  http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIM/2014/03/04&PageLabel=19&EntityId=Ar01905&ViewMode=HTML