Call centre to help harassed students

Parents of a class V student, studying in a corporate school at Khairatabad dialled the call centre and complained their child Sanjana (name changed on request) was harassed by her class teacher. In another call, this time from a Class X student brought out how 250 students studying in the government high school were facing problems due to lack of proper facilities like toilets, blackboards and others.  With a number of cases reported from different schools on sexual harassment, persistent attacks on students and other academic related issues, the Hyderabad district educational officer has set up a call centre with two different 10-digit numbers to receive grievances from parents, students, teachers and school managements.  In a different case, a senior faculty member of an international school expressed her displeasure over the management failing to give increments since the past two years. she requested the staff to forward her complaint to higher officials for further action. Interestingly, the call centre staff receive a number of complaints from parents on teachers giving corporal punishments in private schools, while students call about lack of proper facilities in government-run primary and high schools.  “Ever since we set up the call centre five days ago, we received as many as 120 calls on an average per day. We set up this to address problems of parents, teachers and managements. We have also trained zonal officials to tackle problems,” said P Suseendhra rao, district educational officer.He added that it was necessary to keep track of what was happening in all the district schools. “Once we receive a complaint from respective persons, we invite them to the nearby zonal office and take complete details of the case. then, we initiate counselling to the person who defaults. If any school is found guilty of giving corporal punishments to students, we will not hesitate to cancel their recognition,’’ he warned.  Rao said most students failed in coping up with their academics due to lack of attention from parents. “I have personally dealt a case where both parents are It professionals. they fail to give time to their only child studying in a corporate school. parents complained that the class teacher had punished their kid as their daughter had not done her homework. reason: parents never ask about their kid’s home work due to their hectic work schedule. this kind of attitude causes problems for most students,” Rao added.  Parents, teachers and school managements can lodge their complaints with the district educational officer at the following numbers: 9346283557 or 9346284556.   

By Mouli Mareedu

moulimareedu@gmail.com

THE RIGHT EDUCATION AND LEARNING IN LIFE

One young academically excellent person went to apply for a managerial position in a big company. He passed the first interview; the director did the last interview, made the last decision. The director discovered from the CV that the youth's academic achievements were excellent all the way, from the secondary school until the postgraduate research, never had a year when he did not score.

The director asked, "Did you obtain any scholarships in school?" the youth answered "none". The director asked, "Was it your father who paid for your school fees?" The youth answered, "My father passed away when I was one year old, it was my mother who paid for my school fees.

The director asked, "Where did your mother work?" The youth answered, "My mother worked as clothes cleaner. The director requested the youth to show his hands. The youth showed a pair of hands that were smooth and perfect.

The director asked, "Have you ever helped your mother wash the clothes before?" The youth answered, "Never, my mother always wanted me to study and read more books. Furthermore, my mother can wash clothes faster than me.

The director said, "I have a request. When you go back today, go and clean your mother's hands, and then see me tomorrow morning.* The youth felt that his chance of landing the job was high. When he went back, he happily requested his mother to let him clean her hands. His mother felt strange, happy but with mixed feelings, she showed her hands to the kid.

The youth cleaned his mother's hands slowly. His tear fell as he did that.It was the first time he noticed that his mother's hands were so wrinkled, and there were so many bruises in her hands. Some bruises were so painful that his mother shivered when they were cleaned with water. This was the first time the youth realized that it was this pair of  hands that washed the clothes everyday to enable him to pay the school fee.

The bruises in the mother's hands were the price that the mother had to pay for his graduation, academic excellence and his future. After finishing the cleaning of his mother hands, the youth quietly washed all the remaining clothes for his mother. That night, mother and son talked for a very long time. Next morning, the youth went to the director's office.

The Director noticed the tears in the youth's eyes, asked: " Can you tell me what have you done and learned yesterday in your house?" The youth answered, " I cleaned my mother's hand, and also finished cleaning all the remaining clothes' The Director asked, " please tell me your feelings." The youth said, Number 1, I know now what is appreciation. Without my mother, there would not the successful me today. Number 2, by working together and helping my mother, only I now realize how difficult and tough it is to get something done. Number 3, I have come to appreciate the importance and value of family relationship.

The director said, "This is what I am looking for to be my manager. I want to recruit a person who can appreciate the help of others, a person who knows the sufferings of others to get things done, and a person who would not put money as his only goal in life. You are hired. Later on, this young person worked very hard, and received the respect of his subordinates. Every employee worked diligently and as a team. The company's performance improved tremendously. A child, who has been protected and habitually given whatever he wanted, would develop "entitlement mentality" and would always put himself first.

He would be ignorant of his parent's efforts. When he starts work, he assumes that every person must listen to him, and when he becomes a manager, he would never know the sufferings of his employees and would always blame others. For this kind of people, who may be good academically, may be successful for a while, but eventually would not feel sense of achievement. He will grumble and be full of hatred and fight for more. If we are this kind of protective parents, are we really showing love or are we destroying the kid instead?* You can let your kid live in a big house, eat a good meal, learn piano, watch a big screen TV. But when you are cutting grass, please let them experience it. After a meal, let them wash their plates and bowls together with their brothers and sisters. It is not because you do not have money to hire a maid, but it is because you want to love them in a right way.

You want them to understand, no matter how rich their parents are, one day their hair will grow gray, same as the mother of that young person. The most important thing is your kid learns how to appreciate the effort and experience the difficulty and learns the ability to work with others to get things done.

Swine flu loses steam in state

Has the dreaded swine flu virus lost its steam? Yes, the Andhra Pradesh Government Chest Hospital doctors confirmed that the virus has almost disappeared with no single positive case being reported from the twin cities and the other places in the state for the last two months. Dr. S V Prasad, superintendent of the hospital, said the fatal flu, which killed few and hospitalised many, might not have such bad impact in the near future.Besides, the World Health Organisation (WHO) also declared it officially, that the fatal disease lost its steam and that no positive cases were enrolled  since August 11. But it should not mean the virus has vanished completely. It will continue to cause infections some of which may still be serious.“Despite the night temperatures plummeting to 9 degree Centigrade and diurnal temperatures being recorded at 15 degree Celsius in the twin cities and in other parts of the state, there was no single positive case reported in the chilly weather for the last two months. The virus must have been eliminated in the primary stages itself as patients might have approached doctors even on having slight fever, cold and cough,” he explained.He said that the state was no longer in phase III of influenza pandemic alert. But the virus can cause mild infections, he said.He said that a few patients suffering from pneumonia, fever, cough and cold due to the onset of winter were admitted to the chest hospital. “We took their samples suspecting swine flu and the test results were negative. These reports reveal that there will be no major threat of swine flu in the near future,’’ he hoped. The first swine flu case in India was detected at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) in the city on May 16, 2009. Since then, as many as 54 people, including 10 pregnant women, died due to it of the total 800 cases reported from the state. In 2010, at least 30 deaths were reported and over 188 positive cases of flu were reported from the state. 

By Mouli Mareedu
moulimareedu@gmail.com

Crack down on boozing at public places

Its better to drink at home this festive season. With liquor sales likely to increase during Christmas and New Year, the excise department has decided to curb the menace of boozing at public places.Special teams comprising seniors officials have started a special drive to prevent consumption of alcohol near wine shops, bars, restaurants and dhabas. Anyone found consuming liquor openly would be fined up to `500 and cases booked against him. Most wine shops in the city sell eatables and disposable glasses along with alcohol to customers. Usually most drinkers consume right outside the wine shop. Even shop owners do not object to this practice. With the New Year fever, even dhabas which are barred from serving liquor have decided to cash in on the craze with offers like ‘buy two beers - get one free’. PV Sunil Kumar, director, Enforcement wing, Excise and Prohibition told Express the special teams will visit wine shops, bars, restaurants and dhabas to check on open liquor consumption. “We have warned all managements to comply with rules and regulations in supplying liquor to customers. They have to close their services by 11 pm,’’ he added. They should not sell liquor in loose pegs or allow customers to drink near their shops, according to Kumar. Meanwhile, a few dhabas and unauthorised bar and restaurants located on national highways are attracting customers offering liquor in various schemes. “With a number of complaints reaching us, we will initiate thorough checking on highways to prevent illegal sale of liquor,” he said. “We have bitter experiences while passing through SR Nagar- Balkampet stretch with a number of drunkards picking up fights,” complained K Srinivasan, a resident of SR Nagar.   

By Mouli Mareedu

moulimareedu@gmail.com

RTC buses to sport iron grills from now

After a few private firms and shopping malls installed shields in front of their buildings as protection from stone-pelting, the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) has decided to follow suit.City buses will from now sport iron shields to protect them rioters.The measure comes supposedly due to apprehensions about law and order problems after the Srikrishna Committee submits its recommendations on the Telangana issue by December 31. Hundreds of buses plying in the twin cities are therefore gearing up to install iron safety grills at the front, rear and either sides of window panes.G Jaya Rao, executive director, RTC, Hyderabad zone told Express they had taken the decision to install iron grills on selected buses to protect them from agitators. “Any incident or statement made by political parties is leading to agitators targeting the state-run buses and damaging them. To protect our assets during bandhs and other disturbances, we have taken this decision,” he added.24 bus depots are situated in the Greater Hyderabad Zone which operate at least 3,520 buses on various routes in the twin cities. Jaya Rao explained they were planning to operate their bus services in select routes during disturbances. “Initially, we fixed 500 buses with iron grills under a pilot project and are already plying on their respective routes. We are also in the process of identifying sensitive locations where we operate bus services,” he added.He said the safety grills come welded on all four corners and installed at the front, rear and either sides of window panes, using tamper- proof bolts or screws. Since they are made to keep intruders out, there is a fast release mechanism situated within that lets the grill to hinge open within, in event of an emergency.He felt it was better to take precautionary measures to protect public properties. The RTC is also giving training to drivers on how to protect buses, if agitators attack.

By Mouli Mareedu

moulimareedu@gmail.com

EFLU students divided into two groups

Students of the English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU) have reportedly divided into two groups, Telangana and Seemandhra. This development just when university authorities are likely to issue a notification for student council elections by month-end nudges up the temperature on campus.In a disturbing development, it has come to light that a student hailing from Tamil Nadu and having the backing of students from Andhra and Rayalaseema, was beaten up by those supporting the Telangana movement.Former president of the student council and a PhD scholar in the English department, B Ravichandran was reportedly beaten up by a mob of Telangana supporters.Even as police officials are tight-lipped over the division of students on regional lines, a few students of EFLU confirmed the same. The injured student, Ravichandran, who is the presidential candidate in the ensuing polls, is taking an active role in student-related issues in the campus. According to sources, students from Andhra and Rayalaseema out number those from Telangana. Besides, most of the students who come from states like Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Delhi, Haryana, West Bengal are supporting B Ravichandran as a presidential candidate. Police said irritated students strongly demanding for Andhra Pradesh bifurcation detained Ravichandran in front of the publishing cell on December 17 was allegedly beaten up. The reason: Ravichandran was encouraging the Andhra and Rayalaseema students, eyeing their vote bank in the campus.Based on the complaint lodged by B Ravichandran, OU police has registered cases under sections 506 (criminal intimidation) and also under the SC/ST Atrocities Act against Pavan Chakravarthy, G Kiran Kumar and Janardhan, students accused of being involved in the attack. One of the accused, Kiran Kumar, however, claimed he was not involved in the beating up Ravichandran. “He was only warned by my friends when he made provocative statements against Telangana,’’ he added. However, students staying in the EFLU campus and hostels are in fear ever since the student clash took place. University authorities could not be contacted for their comment.A Ramchandran, assistant commissioner of police (ACP), Kacheguda division said, “I can not confirm that a clash took place on regional lines. I wrote a letter to the police commissioner AK Khan seeking permission to initiate preliminary probe,’’ the ACP said.

By Mouli Mareedu

moulimareedu@gmail.com 

EFLU students divided into two groups

Beware of flyover up ahead!

Flyovers on city roads are supposed to facilitate smooth flow of traffic. Instead, they are turning into road to hell for commuters. Reportedly, at least one person is dying and three are being injured every week in accidents due to narrow entrances of flyovers and unplanned alignment of dividers on them.Once the cement barricades are put in place on the flyovers, there is none to look for their regular maintenance. With many flyovers designed with narrow entrances and haywire alignment of dividers, they are only leading to frequent traffic jams and claiming lives of unsuspecting motorists.Of the five flyovers on the Secunderabad - Nagarjuna circle stretch, the ones located near the Begumpet airport and the St Ann’s flyover are posing threat to commuters. Recently, two BTech students -- Chaitanya Prasad (21), resident of Moulali and Sandeep (21), resident of ECIL died on the spot at the Paradise flyover, after their bike rammed a parked vehicle.Police said the mishap occurred due to narrow entrance of the flyover.In another case, two persons were injured when a Scorpio in which three were travelling, rammed the 30 feet long divider, protruding towards the main road. The driver had reportedly got confused to find out the way in the dark.GHMC officials have not made the problems of motorists any easier. They have forgotten to paint the black and white colours for dividers making them completely impossible to be noticed by motorists at night. At the Narayanaguda flyover for instance, dividers are completely coloured in black posing a genuine threat to vehicle riders.The Begumpet flyover has narrow entrances added to a protruding 20 feet long divider being a cause for dangers to motorists. In most other flyovers, dividers have been set up with cement barricades thrown in a haphazard way, posing problems for heavy vehicle movement.Traffic police have already written a letter to the GHMC for taking up regular maintenance of dividers but to no avail. CV Anand, additional commissioner of police (Traffic) said they were in the process of identifying various flyovers which has narrow entrances and build permanent dividers with iron and steel rods.“We have identified the Masab Tank flyover at first as an accident- prone place. Initially, we will construct a divider throughout the whole flyover under a pilot project. We also plan to fix radium stickers and set up danger lights to create awareness on slow and safe riding on flyovers,” Anand said.

By Mouli Mareedu,

moulimareedu@gmail.com

Racing gangs rule city roads at nightfall

After city police organised a special counselling sessions for bike racers, who were caught participating in illegal bike races, they are keen to take stern action against second-time offenders. With the police obtaining authentic reports of bike racing and betting teams, they have posted special teams to catch the youngsters in Begumpet, Banjara Hills, Jubilee Hills, Madhapur, Necklace road and other localities.The betting ranges from `10,000 to `30,000 and the races are held for 5 km, 10 km and 12 km distances. Deputy commissioner of police M Stephen ravindra, however, dismissed the racing activity in his limits as ‘rumours’ but said special teams had been deployed to check such activity. “there are several check-points at Banjara Hills, Jubilee Hills and other parts to nab such bike racing gangs,’’ he added.At a time when the city slowly falls into sleep, these groups of youngsters take to city roads for a ride. Several bike racing gangs are taking advantage of traffic-free roads and lack of police vigil at night. Zooming past on roads at break-neck speeds and honking continuously, these youngsters are ruling roads in Banjara Hills, Jubilee Hills and Necklace road.Reportedly road accident cases have increased in those localities due to the illegal racing activities. According to police, seven youngsters lost their lives while indulging in racing. recent deaths of two youngsters has brought to fore the menace of racing.According to sources, police have identified at least 10-20 street racing groups and their activity. races are organised taking all precautions to avoid being caught. “One team surveys the route before the racing starts and warns about police check posts on the route,’’ sources said.

By Mouli Mareedu

moulimareedu@gmail.com