GIC plans drive to dispose of pending cases filed under RTI

Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Friday, February 29, 2012
Gujarat Information Commission is planning to launch a special drive in every district to reduce pendency of cases filed under the Right to Information Act. Currently, 9,024 cases, including 1,973 complaints and 7,051 appeals, are pending with the commission.

To be held between March 14 and 30, the drive will begin in Surat where the commission will try to dispose of 250 cases.
An official, requesting anonymity, said, “We are sorting out cases according to districts and departments. Most complaints are from Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Vadodara and Rajkot. Since we will have to call the information officer and appeal officer from the concerned departments as well as the complainant in each case, we will be dealing with hundreds of people. Once we work out the logistics, we will announce the final schedule. We hope to dispose of at least 40 per cent of the cases.”
The officials might combine areas where the number of cases are few. The drive will be spread over a couple of days in areas where more cases are filed.
The commission also plans to include NGOs that work for RTI so that they can address people’s grievances. The organisations will also help officials interpret an application correctly so that relevant information is given. Between 2006 and 2012, officials of 151 departments have been penalised up to Rs 1,000 to Rs 25,000 for giving misinformation or not giving information at all.
Some of these complaints are pending since 2007 due to non-appearance of complainant or official.
Harnesh Pandya of Janpath, an NGO working for RTI awareness, said, “Every day 10-11 cases are filed. Thousands of cases are pending and the number is increasing day by day. Such a drive will be the first of its kind in the country. If it helps in disposing of even 40 per cent of the cases, it will be a good move.”
The commission plans to hold a separate drive for senior citizens and the differently abled so that they are not inconvenienced.

Mother of all tests

Kajal Chavda appears with her newborn for college prelims so she would save a year

Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Friday, February 24, 2012 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/2/20120224201202240218427443ddb026/Mother-of-all-tests.html)
Exams are always stressful. But it is more hassling if you are a mother still breastfeeding your newborn. That, however, did not stop Kajal Chavda — who gave birth to a baby on February 4 — from appearing for her prelims at B D Arts College for Women at Lal Darwaza.
The 24-year-old has been taking the newborn to college with her. She writes her exam on the same desk that her baby lies asleep. “The baby needs to be fed frequently so the college allowed the baby to be with me during the examination. There are two exams a day: 8 am to 11 am and from 11.30 am to 2.30 pm. The baby is asleep through most of it. If he wakes up, I feed him and hand him over to my husband Mukesh or mother-in-law who wait outside,” says Kajal.

Testing times
Kajal’s delivery was normal but she needed several stitches to close tears in the birth canal. This made it tough for her to move around. Seeing her in pain, her husband advised her against appearing for her exams. “He could not see me suffer. So, he asked me to take a drop. Exams began on February 18 and I was appearing for a retest. By skipping this chance, I would have wasted a year,” she says.
The retest was being held on the second floor but college authorities gave Kajal a room near their office on the ground floor so she would not have to climb the stairs.
“Post-delivery, I am off household chores. But the baby takes up a lot of my time. He does not understand that his mother has to study,” she says laughingly, caressing his head with love.
“I studied through the year but last-minute revisions are important. I read my textbooks while I feed him. I go through my notes at nights when he is asleep. It is tough but I find my strength in my family, and in the thought that my success will make life easier for the family,” Kajal says.

‘My husband, my strength’
When the Asarwa resident received news of her pregnancy, she was ecstatic and worried. A PTC graduate, Kajal had rejoined college so she could acquire a BEd degree to fulfil her dream of being a well-qualified teacher. Having a baby was great but she knew things were not going to be easy.
Her husband Mukesh, aware of her concerns, reassured the 24-year-old. Says Kajal, “Mukesh and I lived in the same neighbourhood. We fell in love and got married in May 2009. Meanwhile, I passed the Primary Teacher’s Certificate course with 81 per cent. I remained at home for a year. One day, while talking to Mukesh, I shared my dream of becoming a teacher. Since I had joined PTC after my Class 12 exams, he encouraged me to rejoin college so that I would become eligible to join a BEd course. I was reluctant but he really motivated me to go for it,” says Kajal.

Bight Future
She joined the BA English course at B D college and began studying in earnest when she found out she was pregnant. “I had a moment thinking it was all over. Then again I thought that by becoming a teacher with a BEd degree instead of just a PTC certificate, I would secure a brighter future for my child. The pregnancy fuelled my aspirations. Thankfully, my husband and college authorities backed me to the hilt,” says the 24-year-old.
Mukesh, who works with Havmor restaurants, ferries Kajal and their son to college and back. “My office has been helpful in letting me off for a while during the day so that I can bring Kajal and the baby home,” says the 30-year-old.
Principal Gita Mehta and the staff help Kajal in every way they can.
“She is a good student. We decided to help her after seeing how determined she was to give the exams.”
Kajal’s story does re-affirm that where there is a will, there is a way.

Help! I am scared of the word ‘Board’

GSHSEB officials claim despite the best efforts, board exam anxiety persists among students and parents in the state

Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Wednesday, February 22, 2012 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/3/20120222201202220156004899fe8b69d/Help-I-am-scared-of-the-word-%E2%80%98Board%E2%80%99-.html)
A nervous Class X student, who called the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board’s (GSHSEB) helpline, claimed “I am not afraid of the exams, the prefix ‘board’ makes me nervous”. This call for help sums up the anxiety faced by lakhs of students in the state preparing for their board examination.
In fact, according to the GSHSEB officials, three years after the board launched its helpline to ease anxiety issues of students, the problem persists. It’s not just students who feel the pressure, but also their parents. The helpline received only 400 calls in 2011, which is less compared to 2010. But still the numbers are high.
Nervous nail-biting, feeling dizzy at the sight of the question paper or going blank in the examination hall are few of the anxiety issues that students appearing for their board examinations face, say experts who field questions from anxious students daily.
A source in GSHSEB said, “Despite the best efforts by the board, the fear of board exam still persists. Some of the questions asked by the students remain the same through the years. The questions from the students are not just about emotional stress. They also come up with technical questions which cause them stress.”
For instance, last year the helpline received a call from a child who was contemplating suicide because he felt under-prepared for his board examinations.
“We counselled him and his parents. We explained how board examination was just like any other exam. It didn’t have to be stressful. In another case, a child wanted to drop out of his class to escape from giving examination. We told him the cons of wasting a year, when he had studied so hard for most part of it. He was a bright student and eventually appeared for examination and scored well,” said GSHSEB counsellor.
Officials believe that parents and teachers need to take a more active part in solving the problems and reducing stress among students appearing for board examinations.
Board Chairman R R Varsani said, “Parents and students need to treat board examination normally. Parents have to understand that putting pressure on their ward will not help them score well. But it will put undue stress on the child. Students sometimes forget what they have studied dur to anxiety. Please be relaxed when you give your exam ”
Psychologists stress the need to drive away the fear of the unknown and failure to meet one’s own expectations among students taking board exams. “Children need assurance because they have the fear of unknown (it is a board exam and they do not know who is setting the questions or who will evaluate it) and fear of failure (the child might not meet his own expectations). In such a situation, relaxation techniques and the right mindset can make them comfortable. The children need listening to and guidance so that we can show them their strengths,” a board expert said.
The problems addressed during counselling include symptoms of stress anxiety — be it physical (headaches, nausea, excessive sweating), emotional (fear, depression, anxiety, uncontrollable crying), behavioural (fidgeting, substance abuse, avoidance) and cognitive (going blank, difficulty concentrating). “Most students spoke about their fears and apprehensions and that their mind goes blank no sooner did they see the answer papers,” said a helpline counsellor.
Moreover, experts suggested that GSHSEB should try to alleviate the fear of boards by explaining it to the students that ‘board’ is just an educational body. And also that failure is not the end. Family members need to support the children and give them a conducive environment to study.
GSHSEB helpline, which will start today will be functional till March 23, from 8 am to 8 pm.

Board anxiety: Students call the helpline with their quesries and fears. The most
Frequently posed questions are:

» I am not prepared for the exam, I want to committ suicide
» I am not sure I will be able to deliver as per my parents expectation.
» I can write only if I recite the answers loudly
» I am afraid of the examination centre, moderators
» What study material should I refer to perform well?
» I have very low self confidence
» I don’t want to appear for exam
» What if I lose the hall ticket?
» What should I do if I put the wrong barcode sticker on my answersheet?
» Can I correct my answer using white ink? Is it valid?
» How can I score more marks?
» I have problems in my family and can’t study properly

A green entrepreneur at 18

A diploma holder, Sharad Parikh overcame barriers of a middle-income group family and set up his own firm that produces solar water heater

Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Tuesday, February 21, 2012 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/3/2012022120120221193846122c874b5df/A-green-entrepreneur-at-18-.html)
A diploma holder, 20-something and an entrepreneur. Sharad Parekh’s introduction doesn’t end here. Surpassing his friends and batchmates who are yet to take their first step towards their goal, he is already living his dream.
“Where there’s a will, there is a way. But the most important thing is to believe in self,” says Sharad who went through all the hardships a boy of a middle-income group family faces but realised his dream of setting up a firm that produces eco-friendly lifestyle product.

A futuristic
After obtaining a diploma in mechanical engineering from Nirma University in 2010, Sharad lapped up a job with IFB at Pune as service engineer with a Rs 2.4-lakh package. “But I quit the job in three months because I couldn’t convince myself for it. Family and friends, all ridiculed my decision.
But I was unmoved because I was determined to pursue what I believe in. As I was interested in renewable energy development since college days, I decided to start a venture on the technology of my college project ‘design and fabrication of parabolic through collector’. I had asked two of my friends to join me in the venture, but they didn’t agree,” says Sharad who always wanted to make it big in life.
Incidentally, when Sharad first proposed his project to his teacher, he didn’t encourage him much. “But this failed to deter me and I continued working on my idea. Finally, when I presented the model, the same teacher looked at it just for a second and gave me A+. Since then, there is no stopping,” says Sharad.

Start-up with Rs 8,000
While Sharad was working on his formula, an MNRE report on “Future of Solar Water Heater (SWH) by 2022 in India” inspired him to focus on solar water heater. “I found that the total installed SWH in china is 66 per cent of the world. I visited china and I studied their working strategy and other aspects of the trade,” he says.
His year-and-a-half-old firm that manufactures solar water heaters has 25 dealers and distributors in the state. “I imported a sample from the China and started further research on the technology to produce an Indian-market driven product. My motto was: efficient, economical and easy. But convincing investors was a difficult task and one of the reasons was my age. I started my company with start-up capital of Rs 8,000 only,” says the techie. “We are planning to expand our business. As an innovator, I have developed thermal-based technology and have patented it,” says the entrepreneur.

GTU guest speaker
Three IIT scholars have been doing technology research for Sharad’s firm. “I have a staff of 10. I am also pursuing my BE. So I am juggling between studies and work. But I am happy because I am putting my effort where my soul is,” says Sharad whose father is into transport business.
On February 25, Gujarat Technological University has invited him to deliver a lecture at the varsity to encourage students. “GTU Innovation Council has called me to share my experience as an entrepreneur and motivate students to take up their own ventures,” he says.

Let’s make it legal

State Higher Education Department to introduce law as a subject in first year for BA, BCom and BSc students from the new academic year

Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Sunday, February 19, 2012 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/2/20120219201202190135294867c50c5e2/Let%E2%80%99s-make-it-legal.html)
College students in the state are set to take a leap in awareness about their rights at home, in society and at the workplace if the state government’s programme to introduce law as a compulsory subject is in place from the new academic year.
At present only about 5 per cent of students who study Bachelor of Law know the fundamentals of law and its application, while 95 per cent of students, other than management students who might have some knowledge about business laws, are mostly unaware of the laws of the land and its applicability.
To ensure that youngsters learn the basics of law which will be useful to them at every stage of life, the state Higher Education Department has decided to introduce law as a compulsory subject in the first year for BA, BCom and BSc students from June this year.
Knowledge about issues that concern everybody will be the focus of the subject. So, whether it is human rights, forced labour, sexual offences, protection against domestic violence, rights of women against sexual harassment at the work place, property rights, compensation for victims of crime, prohibition on smoking, traffic laws or ban on ragging, the students will get to know about them.
Following a suggestion by former chief justice of India P N Bhagwati to the state government at a seminar last year that every person should have knowledge about law and the government should design a syllabus for non-law students, the proposition was set in motion by the government.
A high-level official in the Higher Education Department on condition of anonymity told Mirror, “The subject is easy to understand and conveys in simple language the different laws and its applicability. The course has been designed in English and Gujarati. Experts, including high court judges and senior lawyers, IAS, IPS officers, NGOs and educationists have designed the course material, 95 per cent of which is complete. The course is now at the editing stage.”
According to the official, all universities in the state will implement it. The course material will be printed by Gujarat State Textbook Board. Frequently Asked Questions on law have also been incorporated with examples for easy understanding.
Regarding faculty to teach the subject, the official said, “College teachers will be given a short training during the vacation. Besides, services of visiting faculty will be taken.”
About the government’s initiative, S P University Vice Chancellor Harish Padh said, “It is a welcome step as it is very important to have basic knowledge of law and finance in this time and age. At every step in life, it will come in handy in society and at the workplace.”
High Court senior advocate Dharmistha Raval, who is involved with the project, said, “The course will be useful for the students in every phase of their life. If their interest in the subject is boosted, they can even pursue it further.”
Bimal Patel, vice chancellor of Gujarat National Law University said, “It is a good thing to provide a basis for law in college. This would help students in life whenever they are faced with difficult situations. It would also help in the furtherance of their career.”

Financial literacy course
To help students understand the intricacies of the market and know about investments early in life, the government has also prepared a special course — Financial Literacy — for college students.
Securities and Exchange Board of India had created a short court for school students in Maharashtra which was successful.
Taking a cue, the state government contacted SEBI to design a course for college students. A meeting between SEBI and government officials was also held in this regard recently in Gandhinagar. The course will have an entry level 1, which will be basic and include information about banking — savings account, current account, demat etc. The entry level 2 will be about mutual funds, equity, listing and how one can do business in the share market.
Dharmistha Raval said, “We are taking help from the National Institute of Security Market, an educational initiative of SEBI, in preparing the syllabus.”
The SP VC said, “Students will know how to make the most of their money. They will stop wasting money and look for opportunities to increase their income. The subject is a need of the hour.”

Placements give 88% undergrads a miss

Of 34,300 students eligible for recruitment, only 4,300 students have received job offers this year. By 2015,  lakhs of students will have to compromise on salary, job profile if colleges do not improve on quality of education and skills being imparted

Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Saturday, February 11, 2012 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/2/2012021120120211021707263589690ce/Placements-give-88-undergrads-a-miss.html)
The job market is not so welcoming, especially for new graduates. Of 34,300 youths studying engineering, MBA and MCA across the state, only about 4,300 have managed to secure jobs during placements. And several of those who found employment, compromised on salary and job profile, say experts.
Today, few students except those with above average marks, can expect a come-hither from a deep-pocketed firm. Nearly, everyone else is struggling. Of about 15,000 engineering students in the state, only 2,700 found jobs during placements held between June 2011 and January 2012. Only 1,200 of 14,500-odd MBA students secured jobs. The situation is worse for MCA students as only 400 of some 4,800 students have been placed so far.
If this situation persists, then in the next three years, several colleges will close down. An estimated 1 lakh engineers will either take on menial jobs or remain unemployed, opine experts.
Says Prateek Kanchan, placement officer at B K School of Business Management (Gujarat University), “Till last year, 90 pc of our students were offered jobs during placements. But the scene is dismal this year. After analysing the market, we asked our students to be flexible in their demands for position/salary and grab what was being offered. Despite this. the 18 firms that arrived on campus hired just 24 students. That is not even 50 pc of the student strength. Even the minimum salary package dropped from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh. Most firms do not want to hire and train fresh graduates.”
Experts attribute this scenario to various elements: disconnect between industry and institute, lack of branding, dropping demand for manpower, and inferior students. The major factor, however, still remains the deteriorating quality of education.

Staff shortage
A recent survey held by the Local Inquiry Committee of GTU states 453 self-financed technical colleges affiliated to Gujarat Technological University have staff scarcity of over 40 pc. Nearly 50 pc of private technical colleges remain headless. Several colleges were found lacking laboratory equipment making it impossible for students to carry out practicals. To rectify the situation, GTU made it mandatory for the colleges to furnish attendance of its students daily instead of once a year. Colleges were required to send attendance details online every day. However, varsity authorities are facing stiff competition in this regard.

Reputation matters
Says Kunal Bhoyania, placement officer at L D Engineering College, “Companies have grown smarter. They check the quality of education and faculty provided by the college. They check the college’s local and national ratings. They ask colleges to fill up forms or send teams to check on the facilities that the colleges give students. Most companies look only at those students who have scored 60 pc or more in all their semesters. Students can achieve such grades only if they are taught by the best.”
He adds, “Reputation matters when it comes to attracting recruiters. Colleges like LD, Nirma, BVM in Vidyanagar, SVNIT in Surat, MSU, DAIICT, DDIT and a couple of others in the state do not face problem inviting headhunters as the firms are assured of the quality of workforce we can provide. Companies whet candidates very carefully. Technical skills is not their only priority. They check if the student has effective communication skills, dynamic personality and even how they dress themselves. Recruiters tell us that several times, they fix a candidate just by the way he carries himself/herself. Such confidence comes only if a student is trained to believe in themselves and their education. Only quality education can instill such faith.”
He adds, “We conduct mock interviews and several extra-curricular events to prepare students for the job market. Most colleges in the state do not have staff to conduct classes. How can one expect them to hire placement officers to ‘sell’ their students to the industry? It is the job of a placement officer to turn the college into a brand.”

Bridging the gap
Experts believe recruitments have fallen because the skills imparted are ill-adapted to market needs. “It is important to study what the industry looks for in recruits and make sure that their demands are met. Courses should be amended to incorporate suggestions made by companies. If syllabus stagnates, students will be ill-equipped to meet market demands,” they say.
Agreeing there is deterioration in the quality of education imparted by colleges in the state, GTU Vice-Chancellor Akshai Aggrawal says, “We are trying to rectify the situation by developing courses that cater to requirements of the industry. We have introduced new rules to ensure that classes and practicals are held regularly. We need to convince companies that we impart good education and appropriate skills to students. Only then, will they approach us. Meanwhile, we have set up an integrated training and placement cell so that students from rural areas also get equal job opportunities and exposure.”

Increased seats
The imbalance is also being blamed on the increase number of seats. Principal M N Patel of L D Engineering College says, “Engineering seats have increased from 7,000 to 50,000. But job openings remain static. A good student will always secure a job. Our job is to ensure that we churn our quality students.”
Syndicate member Manish Doshi says, “Till now, students who scored well, gained admission to professional courses. In the past 2-3 years, however, colleges have lowered the eligibility criteria to admit even those who scored just 35 pc. One cannot expect them to excel in these courses which are anyway very demanding.”
Principal Jitendra Patel of Chaudhary Technical Institute that runs MCA and MBA courses, confirms the gloomy placement scene. “Packages being offered to MCA students are pathetic. MBAs are being hired mostly by insurance firms as agents,” said a college official, refusing to be named.

Scared students
Parth Prajapati, who is a sixth semester student of Silver Oak Engineering College near Gota, is aware of the harsh reality. He says, “Our college has assured us that placements will be held. But after spending lakhs on educating ourselves, we are not sure if we will secure a job. This is worrisome.”
Chetna Patel (name changed) of Sigma Institute of Management Studies at Bakhrol near Vadodara says, “Only 10 pc students of our college have been placed. The minimum salary offered is very low. I have not received an offer and am very scared. I have placed all hopes on March placements. If I do not find a job, I don’t know what I will do.”
To curb the situation, GTU V-C urges parents and students to pull up lax colleges. “Parents pay lakhs to educate their wards. If the colleges do not provide facilities or take lectures, students and parents should take the college authorities to task. If that does not work, they should file a complaint with the varsity so that appropriate action can be taken,” he says.

Grit, Guts and Gumption

Her 90% disability has not prevented Himani Dave from living life on her terms; she is an S Y BCom student and wants to make a career in computer animation

Yogesh Avasthi

Posted On Friday, February 10, 2012 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/2/201202102012021002252847963389ad3/Grit-Guts-and-Gumption.html)

It cannot get better than this or it cannot get worse than this. It depends on how you look at it. A 23-year-old girl with multiple deformities and 90 per cent disability has set an example for normal human beings with her never-say-die-spirit.

Every moment is a struggle, every day a battle. For more than two decades, Himani Dave has persisted, to enjoy every moment and live life on her own terms. Her parents, Arun Dave and Sunita, have been her pillars of support.

Life has never been easy for Himani, a second year BCom student of Umiya Arts and Commerce College for Girls. At birth, she was detected with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, a condition causing extremely fragile bones. Sunita was in her seventh month of pregnancy, when doctors found an abnormality in the foetus. Just two years into their marriage then, the Daves decided to go ahead with their ‘special’ child. The MCom, B Ed mom had made up her choice: To become a fulltime mother and put paid to her wishes of becoming a teacher. Their second child, a son who is normal, was born two years later. He now studies MBBS in Sangli.

Mum’s the word
Day in and day out Sunita would delicately tend to her little one, taking care that her brittle bones don’t break. This continued for around six years. When other girls of her age were jumping their way to school, Himani couldn’t even sit. After umpteen visits to doctors, the Daves took their 7-year-old girl to Apollo Chennai, where after multiple surgeries, she was finally able to sit. Something that we all take for granted.
Since it was difficult to get her admitted to a normal school, Himani was admitted to Apang Manav Mandal in Vastrapur when she was 8. Despite in pain with steel rings fixed to her arms and legs to keep her bones intact, she attended classes daily.
Daily, Sunita would lift Himani and put her on the footrest of her two-wheeler and take her to school, sit there the entire day, carry her from class to class and then take her back home. This continued till her class 12.
Sunita said, “More than our fortitude, it was Himani’s tremendous courage and will to fight all odds that made it worthwhile. If it was 20 per cent perseverance by us, it was 80 per cent by her. Whenever we felt tired, her smile would light up our lives and reenergise us to start afresh.”
The dad, too, did his bit. Arun Dave kept her 14-year-old girl close to his chest and ran down the five storeys of his apartment when the earthquake struck on January 26, 2001. Dave, who works as an engineer with ONGC, said, “We have tried to fulfil all her wishes. We took her to Disneyland in the US and to all parts of India. If she is happy, we are happy.”

Learning the hard way
What should inspire today’s class 10 and 12 board students is that Himani studied on her own and wrote her exams without a writer. She cleared her HSC exam in her first attempt with more than 50 per cent and took admission at Umiya Arts and Commerce College for Girls.
Dr Sangeeta Ghate, principal of the college, is all praise for Himani, “When she took admission, we were not sure how we will cope and how other students will take to her. But it has been such a wonderful journey. Her classmates enjoy her company, take her from class to class on a wheelchair and wait till her mother comes to pick her. The entire atmosphere is one of bonhomie.”
Himani who is learning multimedia said, “I want to make a career in computer animation. I would have liked to become a dancer if I was normal,” but she is quick to add, “If it was not for the support my family I wouldn’t have reached so far.”
When asked about today’s youth who commit suicide, she said, “I just can’t understand how people can take their own life when there is much to look forward to, so much to live for.”
Himani loves to sing and has sung songs in college during their annual day. She loves to watch TV serials and movies. Her only wish: “I would love to meet Daya and Jethabhai of Tarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chasma fame since it is my favourite serial.”
Ami Joshi, Hardika Patel and Dimple Vishwakarma who have been her companions in college say in unison, “Since the time we have met her, we’ve learnt a lot from her. If she can do so much and still smile, why can’t we.”