two days back...on 5th of Oct, students of Govt. Higher Secondary School, Anini went on strike. they saw to it that the offices and shops were closed for the day. their grievance: get them some more teachers. students have been writing board exams without senior teachers in subjects like economics for the last few years.
its a sad plight when students have to resort to such things for what actually is their right and govt's responsibility. mind you, anini is not some chota mota town: its a district headquarter, and a mla constituency. there are scores of people who go about criticising students for not studying..especially in govt schools in arunachal. but then they are not geniuses who can learn the abcd of economics or accountancy without someone guiding them through. there have been instances where teachers have left students in lurch during board exams since they have had to go to itanagar to see to it that they get transferred.
when i was in my 12th standard, we had a few off days during the early part of the academic session. there were two teachers of pol science..and both werent taking classes. one had just been transferred to dambuk and the other had come over as a replacement from changlang. the one for dambuk was hell bent on not leaving Roing. Roing, it seems, is a good town with all the facilities, compared to other places in AP. one fine day, i met the principal and told him of the situation. he laughingly told me: there are two teachers..take anyone of them.i told him that that its not a good precedent when students come requesting teachers to take classes when there are bunches hanging around.
this is not just about anini or roing. its an everyday reality in almost all govt. schools across the state.
now with our own unemployed youths, some deserving, others undeserving, being absorbed into the educational system through the SSA...its hard to predict which direction we are headed for.....hope those who have been entrusted with the responsibility of teaching really end up teaching.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Thursday, October 4, 2007
IAS OFFICERS...a tale of two states...
the other day...i came across two people with two different experiences...
one hailing from sikkim...and the other from arunachal.
seems like the person from sikkim was putting up in a hostel in delhi maintained by the state government....all expenses paid... there are a few more like her in the hostel....and their task...prepare for the civil services exam....and this includes the coaching expenditure in some of the best IAS coaching institutes in delhi... (no one has cleared prelims from the lot)...its a huge expenditure the state exchequer is bearing..if one considers the cost of living in delhi and the tuition fees in coaching centers...
the second part..... the guy from arunachal clears his prelims exams...works hard for the main exams...in the meantime with some others who too have cleared prelims, from AP, meet the Chief Minister. the CM promises them some financial support..and he does provide it too...Rs. 5000 each... its the officials in Arunachal Bhawan who are entrusted with the responsibility of seeing the task done... this guy who's also been pursuing his studies in delhi univ..goes to claim the amount...and he is for a shock....
he is asked whether he is receiving any financial support from the state...he admits that he's been getting his yearly stipend from the state government...now thats an amount of some 300 odd rupees per month...a measly sum when studying in delhi...( even in arunachal too...considering books are costly...and guys stay in rent houses for want of hostels).... and one that he is entitled too... he is told that he will be eligible only either for the stipend or the sum of 5 grands for clearing the prelims test....this is discouraging when one realises that in the all india test, with more than 2.5 lacs to 3 lacs...only some 8 to 9 thousand clear the prelims...and ones they clear the exams...the state stands to benefit from their service...
its a fact that not many people look at IAS officers with awe and admiration...though they would like to be one...theres a generaly tendency to criticise the bureaucracy in gen, and the IAS in particular, for being corrupt and inefficient....but the we got to realise a few things here...
not all bureaucrats are corrupt....and secondly, if the state wants a say in decision making process in delhi...we need to have some arunachalis among those. with a state thats reeling in debt, and thats being sidelined in most of the schemes thats being doled out by the center...it is pertinent that theres got to be someone from the state..bringing out the concerns of the state in the corridors of north and south block...the blocks where the decisions are taken...
an occassional demand from the CM in the meetings of all the Chief Ministers presided by the Prime Minister or in some other ministry meetings, at the most generates "15 minutes of concern".... and such 15 minutes of concerns are not good for the state demanding addl financial help or increase in grants...when the state doesnt even have the resources to pay for its teachers and doctors...or even the political clout to blackmail the center.... can two MPs in opposition, with one in Rajya Sabha, force manmohan to increase the grants...?
AND WE ARENT EVEN TALKING OF LOANS...we are talking in terms of grants...
not that IAS officers are powerful enough to direct all funds from all schemes to the state..but with the background knowledge of some of the poorest regions of the state..they might be able to squeeze out something from the center...atleast for the state..
the state's got to give some due attention on this issue...its nice to encourage students to become engineers and doctors...but then....with the no of students pursuing higher education in the state, capable enough of competing with the rest of the students from the country, including those not being able to get into some engineering or mbbs courses due to want of seats, getting lost in the way... their enthusiasm, energy and ability, if redirected well, could be a source of empowerment and development...provided they dont turn out to be corrupt..and the risk is worth taking I suppose...
one hailing from sikkim...and the other from arunachal.
seems like the person from sikkim was putting up in a hostel in delhi maintained by the state government....all expenses paid... there are a few more like her in the hostel....and their task...prepare for the civil services exam....and this includes the coaching expenditure in some of the best IAS coaching institutes in delhi... (no one has cleared prelims from the lot)...its a huge expenditure the state exchequer is bearing..if one considers the cost of living in delhi and the tuition fees in coaching centers...
the second part..... the guy from arunachal clears his prelims exams...works hard for the main exams...in the meantime with some others who too have cleared prelims, from AP, meet the Chief Minister. the CM promises them some financial support..and he does provide it too...Rs. 5000 each... its the officials in Arunachal Bhawan who are entrusted with the responsibility of seeing the task done... this guy who's also been pursuing his studies in delhi univ..goes to claim the amount...and he is for a shock....
he is asked whether he is receiving any financial support from the state...he admits that he's been getting his yearly stipend from the state government...now thats an amount of some 300 odd rupees per month...a measly sum when studying in delhi...( even in arunachal too...considering books are costly...and guys stay in rent houses for want of hostels).... and one that he is entitled too... he is told that he will be eligible only either for the stipend or the sum of 5 grands for clearing the prelims test....this is discouraging when one realises that in the all india test, with more than 2.5 lacs to 3 lacs...only some 8 to 9 thousand clear the prelims...and ones they clear the exams...the state stands to benefit from their service...
its a fact that not many people look at IAS officers with awe and admiration...though they would like to be one...theres a generaly tendency to criticise the bureaucracy in gen, and the IAS in particular, for being corrupt and inefficient....but the we got to realise a few things here...
not all bureaucrats are corrupt....and secondly, if the state wants a say in decision making process in delhi...we need to have some arunachalis among those. with a state thats reeling in debt, and thats being sidelined in most of the schemes thats being doled out by the center...it is pertinent that theres got to be someone from the state..bringing out the concerns of the state in the corridors of north and south block...the blocks where the decisions are taken...
an occassional demand from the CM in the meetings of all the Chief Ministers presided by the Prime Minister or in some other ministry meetings, at the most generates "15 minutes of concern".... and such 15 minutes of concerns are not good for the state demanding addl financial help or increase in grants...when the state doesnt even have the resources to pay for its teachers and doctors...or even the political clout to blackmail the center.... can two MPs in opposition, with one in Rajya Sabha, force manmohan to increase the grants...?
AND WE ARENT EVEN TALKING OF LOANS...we are talking in terms of grants...
not that IAS officers are powerful enough to direct all funds from all schemes to the state..but with the background knowledge of some of the poorest regions of the state..they might be able to squeeze out something from the center...atleast for the state..
the state's got to give some due attention on this issue...its nice to encourage students to become engineers and doctors...but then....with the no of students pursuing higher education in the state, capable enough of competing with the rest of the students from the country, including those not being able to get into some engineering or mbbs courses due to want of seats, getting lost in the way... their enthusiasm, energy and ability, if redirected well, could be a source of empowerment and development...provided they dont turn out to be corrupt..and the risk is worth taking I suppose...
Friday, June 29, 2007
happy times are back!!!!!!!!
seems like great leaders of my beloved state have found out the panacea for all the ills thats afflicting the state...the latest reports emanating from the epicenter of apna politics: itanagar... aur kahan....(ita ka nagar and still the walls that protects all the high and the mighty havent been breached)... is that the 250 crores that the center is paying to the state for the numerous damming projects will be used for reviving the apex bank...nice idea...looks like the whole state will be dammed and damned...maybe they have some more tricks to conjure up...
as of now..i just feel the revival is going to be a joke...STATE PUTS IN MONEY..PUBLIC TAKES IT OUT..atleast they have the right to..they have waited for long..and what was lost was their savings.. THE BANK GOES BANKRUPT AGAIN..whos going to put in money there..knowing that some crook is again going to empty their hard earned money...
so taking a chance..i make this nice proposal...why not force people to do sth for the benefit of the state..they have already put up with so much...the could put up with more..let them all open account in APEX bank...and then...give away loans to some specified people...and then with the bank bankrupt...go for some more dams...hahaha...no work..only pay...no work for the high and the mighty...only the poor pays...
thank god that we atleast have leaders with foresight ( and i may add..sightseeing)... a novel way..the center is happy...the state is happy...all are happy..who wants people from IB AND CBI running around in itanagar... and by the way..they are outsiders...in our local parlance..they are non tribals..no need for non tribals to meddle in tribal affairs...
if this is the state that the state is stated to be in for some time to come..i would rather desist from making some statements that might state the present state of the state..but then..i think i already made the state of the state known...
as of now..i just feel the revival is going to be a joke...STATE PUTS IN MONEY..PUBLIC TAKES IT OUT..atleast they have the right to..they have waited for long..and what was lost was their savings.. THE BANK GOES BANKRUPT AGAIN..whos going to put in money there..knowing that some crook is again going to empty their hard earned money...
so taking a chance..i make this nice proposal...why not force people to do sth for the benefit of the state..they have already put up with so much...the could put up with more..let them all open account in APEX bank...and then...give away loans to some specified people...and then with the bank bankrupt...go for some more dams...hahaha...no work..only pay...no work for the high and the mighty...only the poor pays...
thank god that we atleast have leaders with foresight ( and i may add..sightseeing)... a novel way..the center is happy...the state is happy...all are happy..who wants people from IB AND CBI running around in itanagar... and by the way..they are outsiders...in our local parlance..they are non tribals..no need for non tribals to meddle in tribal affairs...
if this is the state that the state is stated to be in for some time to come..i would rather desist from making some statements that might state the present state of the state..but then..i think i already made the state of the state known...
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
NEW SEVEN WONDERS
well..the craze got over me and i ended up voting...for the taj off course...maybe i would have done for the sheer pleasure of watching it on the list..but i actually saw the taj..and it was my luck that i ended up in agra on that particular day, watching the taj...despite the happenings on my departure from delhi...
coming out of my room, as i was bout to start off..i was greeted by the monsoonal rains early in the
morning..fully drenched from top to toe..as i waited agonishingly for the next half an hour in the metro station...waiting for the dudes: aba and apiya hindu...the tempestous part of me gave in...as my bad luck would have it..i ended up getting a call from the tour operator..seems like he had waited for long in arunachal bhawan..that was the place where we were supposed to be picked up..we four...the fourth being my close pal: gote... delhi wallas can blurt out some of the choicest of abuses..here i was in the metro..drenched fully and getting the most of it from a delhite...couldnt stand it..and i decided..well enough is enough...am not going to agra...as i reached bhawan..my brooding temper had taken over me and i handed my camera to gote..and said
bye..they would not let me just go away like that..somehow i was coaxed into the air conditioned bus...and well..it was hell of a journey...the cold clime inside the bus made me shiver...and i started abusing those who had coaxed me into getting into this situation...but as we neared agra... my clothes started drying up..and we were welcomed by a pleasant afternoon..after the mandatory tours to the agra fort and the UP handloom and craft building..we were headed for the taj..the taj stood before us..an architectural marvel...well..i just couldnt have enough of it..it was just
BEAUTIFUL...no words...we had a nice time..i had a nice time..i forgot to thank my brothers for that..i dont want to miss the chance now..thank you..my bros...to vote: www.new7wonders.com
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
hamare samay me...
maybe a far fetched notion..but in trying to not to be pretentious ..am being
one.....a prob that afflicts one and all...and am being pretentious in writing this...
i was lucky in studying in some very good instutitutes of repute..to start off..vkvs during our days were considered pretty good (seems like quantity over quality seems to be norm of the day..and maybe one of the factors for vkvs loosing much of their sheen..some other time...maybe i could go back to my vkv days)...was lucky to have stayed on till my tenth....had applied for loyola for my grad..and ended up in MCC...madras christian...seems like its also loosing its charm...not that it happened after i left..the seeds of the fall had been sowed years earlier..and during my times..i could see the signs...
and ended up for my post grad in jnu, delhi...
jnu for me will be an enigma..one that i tried to understand..and the more i thought i understood it..
the more it baffled me..not much for its academic acclaim but for the wastage of public money and the human resource...pretension all around...standing ovation to hugo chavez..but black flags to the Prime Minister and the HR minister...all in the name of democracy..
its got some of the best minds in the country...in terms of the faculty and the students...but then..thats just a number game...ala the proverbial tip of the iceberg...down..under..below...thats where the game really is on....
during my early days...by some chance..i was asked a simple question...how long do u plan to put up here..and curtly i replied: two years..and then see...the gentleman wanted me to think of staying for atleast the next 9 years...thats a long haul i thought...Prof. G.K. Chadda...the vice chancellor..i was told later ...was the person..
two years were the years for me...and i thought i had seen and had enough...keeping aside the few serious jnuites...its all a hotch potch thats happening around there...a nice way to cool ones heel for sometime before the heavy sense of resposibility starts taking a toll of the carrier's shoulders..guys lazing around doin
g research since they have nothing to reserach upon...others not knowing what..where..how..and why of some erstwhile basutoland..but writing a thesis on the political parties and the democracy in that land...and a lot more enjoying the privacy guaranteed by the single rooms either for their civils dream..or as a rendezvous for the adam and eve tales....on govt. subsidy..in city that ensures that nothing is private...
but a nice place to be around seeing people of all hues ....people around arguing for the world to change..when they themselves wouldnt change for ages to come..the lal salaams...the che guevaras...the kattar desi's hell bent on defeating the left agenda...and in some corners...by the PSR ROCK..and the tennis court and stadium..there are some who neither believe in left and right..for them..everything is allright...and they are lucky if cos....you are not a sting operator...
in the fotos:
the PSR: parthasarthy rock
the view of Qutb Minar and IIMC from the rock
open air theatre : usual venue for the North East Night
usual scenes on the walls of the main entrance to different schools/departments.
the library
one.....a prob that afflicts one and all...and am being pretentious in writing this...i was lucky in studying in some very good instutitutes of repute..to start off..vkvs during our days were considered pretty good (seems like quantity over quality seems to be norm of the day..and maybe one of the factors for vkvs loosing much of their sheen..some other time...maybe i could go back to my vkv days)...was lucky to have stayed on till my tenth....had applied for loyola for my grad..and ended up in MCC...madras christian...seems like its also loosing its charm...not that it happened after i left..the seeds of the fall had been sowed years earlier..and during my times..i could see the signs...
and ended up for my post grad in jnu, delhi...
jnu for me will be an enigma..one that i tried to understand..and the more i thought i understood it..
the more it baffled me..not much for its academic acclaim but for the wastage of public money and the human resource...pretension all around...standing ovation to hugo chavez..but black flags to the Prime Minister and the HR minister...all in the name of democracy..
its got some of the best minds in the country...in terms of the faculty and the students...but then..thats just a number game...ala the proverbial tip of the iceberg...down..under..below...thats where the game really is on....
during my early days...by some chance..i was asked a simple question...how long do u plan to put up here..and curtly i replied: two years..and then see...the gentleman wanted me to think of staying for atleast the next 9 years...thats a long haul i thought...Prof. G.K. Chadda...the vice chancellor..i was told later ...was the person..
two years were the years for me...and i thought i had seen and had enough...keeping aside the few serious jnuites...its all a hotch potch thats happening around there...a nice way to cool ones heel for sometime before the heavy sense of resposibility starts taking a toll of the carrier's shoulders..guys lazing around doin
g research since they have nothing to reserach upon...others not knowing what..where..how..and why of some erstwhile basutoland..but writing a thesis on the political parties and the democracy in that land...and a lot more enjoying the privacy guaranteed by the single rooms either for their civils dream..or as a rendezvous for the adam and eve tales....on govt. subsidy..in city that ensures that nothing is private...but a nice place to be around seeing people of all hues ....people around arguing for the world to change..when they themselves wouldnt change for ages to come..the lal salaams...the che guevaras...the kattar desi's hell bent on defeating the left agenda...and in some corners...by the PSR ROCK..and the tennis court and stadium..there are some who neither believe in left and right..for them..everything is allright...and they are lucky if cos....you are not a sting operator...
in the fotos:
the PSR: parthasarthy rock
the view of Qutb Minar and IIMC from the rock
open air theatre : usual venue for the North East Night
usual scenes on the walls of the main entrance to different schools/departments.
the library
DAMN THE DAM
since the last few months...seems like the whole of dibang valley has become a happening place...both the districts..lower and the upper...its the dam (damn) thing...
people have been left with no choice but to come out opposing it...seems like some committes have come out to study the feasibility..the educated lot have taken the onus on themselves to educate the ignorant...the latest news coming out from the place is that the three mlas from the dibang region had a hard time during a public meeting.
the NHPC thinks its done with its job...its given the eia to the public for their perusal...and seem hell bent on building the dam..the latest govt initiative is geared towards building ten to eleven dams in the basin area..got it from some guys..so not so sure bout the news...lekin arunachal works in hawa bazi...so...maybe i can put up with this hawa..
my thoughts..earlier..with no dams...assam was in flood..now with ten dams...they wont have the water to flood..the arunachalis are going to have some nice big swimming pools at the govt expense...
the link to the EIA REPORT: www.sfri.org/apspcb.htm
IF THERE IS ANYONE INTERESTED IN KNOWING MORE...GET IN TOUCH...
people have been left with no choice but to come out opposing it...seems like some committes have come out to study the feasibility..the educated lot have taken the onus on themselves to educate the ignorant...the latest news coming out from the place is that the three mlas from the dibang region had a hard time during a public meeting.
the NHPC thinks its done with its job...its given the eia to the public for their perusal...and seem hell bent on building the dam..the latest govt initiative is geared towards building ten to eleven dams in the basin area..got it from some guys..so not so sure bout the news...lekin arunachal works in hawa bazi...so...maybe i can put up with this hawa..
my thoughts..earlier..with no dams...assam was in flood..now with ten dams...they wont have the water to flood..the arunachalis are going to have some nice big swimming pools at the govt expense...
the link to the EIA REPORT: www.sfri.org/apspcb.htm
IF THERE IS ANYONE INTERESTED IN KNOWING MORE...GET IN TOUCH...
india gone..sachin's ton
India 242-8
South Africa win by 4 wickets with a few balls to spare.
Tendulkar scores 99... is run out attempting a second run.
I think the result is justified. South Africa played well and they won as a better team.Notwithstanding the viral
fever that seems to have already brought down half the indian cricket team. It felt nice watching India play. They didnt play bad. Just that the better team won. The conditions were tough to start with. With Ganguly and Gambhir playing tentative shots and getting out...it was the experience of Tendulkar and Dravid to which the team looked forward to.
I felt that Tendulkar played well..despite India losing the match. One of his good knocks in recent times..and a good knock of his that will count in my memories. With the ball seaming a bit and the conditions not going for him..this was a test through which he came out unscathed. despite being an an ignoramus on the gentlemens gamet..my guess is: Sachin will be happy and this could possibly count as one of his fav knocks.
Watching the news after the Ireland India match, the plight of the indian news broadcasters could be seen...this has been the trend for since the numbers have gone up..all in the race to increase viewership and their ad rates...just a group of babblers... no substance in the news...thats what they all are...Sachin getting out to someone unknown..out of touch..time to say bye...think its too far fetched.. he still has it in him...maybe he hasnt done well in the recent times as he had been doing for the last 16 years..but then theres no denying the fact that he is way above and far better than others..and a treat to watch even on his off days....some of his cover drives just brings to life..in the short life he has on the pitch on his bad days...the pleasure of being a cricket fan...
thank god..he didnt score a century...else..with the result..indian losing...it would have led to same reactions: SACHIN SCORES A CENTURY AND INDIA LOSES...he batted for the team.....else...think of others who followed...and the way the scene would have folded out in the match...
thanks sachin...
South Africa win by 4 wickets with a few balls to spare.
Tendulkar scores 99... is run out attempting a second run.
I think the result is justified. South Africa played well and they won as a better team.Notwithstanding the viral
fever that seems to have already brought down half the indian cricket team. It felt nice watching India play. They didnt play bad. Just that the better team won. The conditions were tough to start with. With Ganguly and Gambhir playing tentative shots and getting out...it was the experience of Tendulkar and Dravid to which the team looked forward to.
I felt that Tendulkar played well..despite India losing the match. One of his good knocks in recent times..and a good knock of his that will count in my memories. With the ball seaming a bit and the conditions not going for him..this was a test through which he came out unscathed. despite being an an ignoramus on the gentlemens gamet..my guess is: Sachin will be happy and this could possibly count as one of his fav knocks.
Watching the news after the Ireland India match, the plight of the indian news broadcasters could be seen...this has been the trend for since the numbers have gone up..all in the race to increase viewership and their ad rates...just a group of babblers... no substance in the news...thats what they all are...Sachin getting out to someone unknown..out of touch..time to say bye...think its too far fetched.. he still has it in him...maybe he hasnt done well in the recent times as he had been doing for the last 16 years..but then theres no denying the fact that he is way above and far better than others..and a treat to watch even on his off days....some of his cover drives just brings to life..in the short life he has on the pitch on his bad days...the pleasure of being a cricket fan...
thank god..he didnt score a century...else..with the result..indian losing...it would have led to same reactions: SACHIN SCORES A CENTURY AND INDIA LOSES...he batted for the team.....else...think of others who followed...and the way the scene would have folded out in the match...
thanks sachin...
Monday, June 25, 2007
home is where the heart is
sitting in delhi...before my table...there are times one gets lost. lost in thought and time...and thats the time when i realise what i have missed in life...and a feel of loss comes to the fore..loss of an experience...home is where the heart is...all my life..i have always been away from home...and thats where i want to be...among the grasses and the mist...
my first post
well...feeling nice starting this blog....but with apprehensions...dont really know what face this blogs going to sport once the process is on...hope i dont end up with my own sense of writers block...but thats the situation am in now..
anyways..good luck to me
anyways..good luck to me
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