Jamia alumnus and Okhla resident Umar shines at Shanghai event
Jamia Millia Islamia alumnus and Okhla resident, Mohd Umar, shines at the BS2023 competition at Shanghai.
Son of Professor Asif Zameer and Gauhar Asif, he is a resident of Nazir Apartment in Okhla.
Four students from India – Arjita Gupta, Debanjana Das, Mohammed Umar, and Mohi Saxena – participated in the event.
Of the 19 entries received from the USA, Australia, China, Africa, and other European countries, the CEPT team from Ahmedabad, conducted an in-depth performance analysis of the Students’ Activity Centre (SAC) at Tongji University, Shanghai, China and brought home the trophy.
This year’s competition programme aims to design and optimise a nearly net zero carbon emission building by computer simulation, it said.
source: http://www.theokhlatimes.com / The Okhla Times / Home> JMI/EDU / by the okhla times (headline edited)/ September 15th, 2023
12-year-old Tania Begum is working as an ambassador of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World – India.
Tania Begum
Hyderabad :
“Who among you smokes?” Standing amidst the bustling Amberpet market, a little girl confronted a group of five to six people with this simple question. As the crowd pointed to one of them, she fearlessly launched into an impassioned speech about the adverse effects of cigarettes.
When not all kids of her age know much about addictions, 12-year-old Tania Begum is working as an ambassador of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World – India. Tania’s mind was sparked by the advertisements on television, prompting her to pose probing questions about drugs to her father. In response, her father, an activist himself, nurtured her curiosity and provided candid, age-appropriate answers to satiate her thirst for knowledge.
Gradually, Tania, the elder sibling in her household, began accompanying her father to various programmes in the city and marathons on Sunday mornings, related to addiction awareness. Witnessing the grim realities of addiction in the lives of many, Tania felt compelled to contribute. She found her voice and purpose in delivering heartfelt speeches during these events.
Reflecting on this unexpected turn of events, Tania’s father, Sallaudin Saikh, admitted, “As an activist, I never wanted my daughter to be part of any campaign. I even tried to dissuade her.” However, Tania’s passion only intensified as she delved deeper into her studies, devouring news articles, books, and YouTube videos on the subjects of addiction and drugs.
“I loved watching Doraemon, a cartoon with cool gadgets that help people. I always wished I had similar tools to fight addiction and drugs in real life,” Tania said. Her wish came true when a foundation gave her posters and booklets to help with her mission. It was like having a real-life Doraemon by her side.
When her video, showcasing her dedication to the cause, was shared on the social media platform, Drug-Free World – India, an international organisation approached her. They were so impressed that they appointed her as their youngest brand ambassador at the astonishing age of just seven. Armed with posters and booklets from the organisation, the young campaigner began spreading awareness in schools, colleges, markets, events, and wherever her tiny voice could make a big difference. With unwavering support from her parents and a dedicated team of two more individuals, Tania embarked on a mission to educate her community.
In her eyes, alcohol stood out as the most prevalent addiction in Telangana, followed closely by painkillers. She could rattle off a litany of drug names and toxic substances that many adults were unaware of.
Tania held a strong conviction that celebrities promoting such substances were setting a harmful example. “I couldn’t fathom how many young people, much like herself, might fall into the trap of addiction influenced by these stars,” she said. She took to Twitter to voice her concerns and request these celebrities to reconsider their participation in such advertisements. Instead of support, her account was banned, and she had to create a new one to continue her advocacy.
Tania’s dedication to combating addiction continues to evolve as she sets her sights on addressing the growing issue of student addiction, particularly concerning the rising prevalence of e-cigarettes among children her age. Having read about this concerning trend, she has taken it upon herself to gather information and raise awareness about the dangers posed by e-cigarettes.
Closing liquor shop near school Tania’s dedication knew no bounds. During her time at her previous school, Unison International, where she studied up to the 5th grade, she noticed a liquor shop in close proximity. Disturbed by the sight of her fellow students falling prey to addiction, she took it upon herself to approach the shop owner and advocate for its closure. With the support of her friends, she embarked on a daily mission to educate customers about the dire consequences of addiction. Their relentless efforts ultimately led to the shop’s closure, a testament to Tania’s indomitable spirit and unwavering commitment to creating a drug-free world.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by Renuka Kalpana, Express News Service / September 17th, 2023
The promising startup VTEC, operating under the wings of Jamia Millia Islamia, has reached a significant milestone by securing ₹4 Crore in seed funding from an angel investor.
New Delhi:
In a momentous achievement for Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) one of its talented MBA students and an ambitious entrepreneur, Mohammad Uwais, has successfully secured 4 crore in seed funding for his Startup VTEC.
This remarkable accomplishment has garnered attention and admiration not only within the university but also in the wider entrepreneurial community. The startup, initially bootstrapped, has now taken a significant step forward with this infusion of capital.
The promising startup VTEC, operating under the wings of Jamia Millia Islamia, has reached a significant milestone by securing ₹4 Crore in seed funding from an angel investor. This accomplishment marks a pivotal moment in the journey of the innovative venture, setting the stage for its rapid expansion and continued success.
The startup, VTEC, has thus far been a self-funded endeavour, demonstrating the dedication and perseverance of its entrepreneurial team. However, the recent infusion of ₹4 Crore in seed capital represents a major turning point. In exchange for this funding, the investor will acquire a 10% equity stake in VTEC, valuing the company at ₹40 Crores. This investment, which represents the pre-seed round for the company, will fuel VTEC’s ambitious growth plans.
VTEC is a multifaceted consulting firm that operates across various sub-domains, including political consulting, business consulting, finance consulting, and healthcare consulting. With a dedicated and dynamic team at its helm, VTEC has gained recognition for its expertise, innovative solutions, and commitment to delivering value to its clients.
This substantial injection of capital will allow VTEC to accelerate its expansion efforts, enhance its service offerings, and bolster its market presence. The funding will be utilized to develop cutting-edge solutions, expand the company’s client base, and invest in talent acquisition and development.
JMI takes immense pride in its association with VTEC and acknowledges the entrepreneurial spirit displayed by its students. The university’s commitment to fostering innovation and supporting its students’ entrepreneurial endeavours is evident through this collaboration.
The successful seed funding round reflects the confidence that investors have in VTEC’s potential to make a meaningful impact in the consulting industry. The company’s dedication to excellence, coupled with its commitment to serving diverse sectors, positions it as a valuable player in the consulting landscape.
As VTEC embarks on this exciting new phase of growth, the university extends its best wishes and unwavering support to the young entrepreneurs behind this venture. This accomplishment serves as a testament to the entrepreneurial ecosystem at JMI and underscores the institution’s commitment to nurturing talent and fostering innovation.
source: http://www.ummid.com / Ummid.com / Home> Business & Economy / by ummid.com news network / September 19th, 2023
The third edition of the Nawayath Cricket League (NCL) commenced in Mangaluru on Monday, September 18, held at the ‘Perfect Pass’ sports arena in Falnir.
This three-day cricket tournament is exclusively organized for students and young professionals hailing from Bhatkal and its surrounding areas who are currently residing in Mangaluru.
The event is being overseen by students residing in the Bhatkal Jamatul-Muslimeen (BJM) hostel. Seven teams have entered the competition, which will come to a conclusion with a closing ceremony on September 20, following the final game.
The tournament format comprises a group stage where each of the seven teams competes against the others.
The top four teams from this stage will progress to the next round, which mirrors the format of the Indian Premier League (IPL), featuring Qualifier-1, Eliminator, Qualifier 2, and the Grand Finale.
The tournament boasts ‘Spider Group’ as its title sponsor, with prominent Bhatkal businessmen Arshad Mohtisham, of Mohtisham Complexes Pvt. Ltd., Imtiyaz Damda of ILFA Realtors and Aziz Akrami of Spider Group also being notable sponsors.
source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Karavali / by Vartha Bharati / September 19th, 2023
A Muslim woman Principal of Mahatma Gandhi Government English Medium School in Jaipur has scaled new heights in educational excellence with her innovations, which have led to the inclusion of her school in the Rajasthan government’s pilot project for complete digitalisation programme. The school headed by her is among the first 11 institutions in the state which have been digitalized for their operations.
The new English medium co-educational schools named after Mahatma Gandhi have been opened by the Rajasthan government in all districts of the state as part of an ambitious drive to give the students a level playing field to enable them to compete with the elite private schools. These flagship schools are an attraction for the public at large in view of low cost of education and an assurance for upward social mobility with the proficiency in English.
Sarwat Bano, serving as Principal of Mahatma Gandhi Government School, Adarsh Nagar, Jaipur, for the last four years, has taken steps to impart quality education to underprivileged children and empowered them with knowledge and skills. Under her leadership, the school has progressed so much that the number of applications received for admissions at the beginning of each academic session are many times more than the seats available.
Since the school functioning in the same building earlier was a girls’ Hindi medium institution, which was converted into the Mahatma Gandhi Government School in 2019, the English medium was introduced first for the class VI students. This first English medium batch of students appeared in the State Board of Secondary Education’s X class examination this year and came out with flying colours. The school’s result for the Board exam was an impressive 96.25% pass percentage.
Bano, 53, has played multiple roles while bringing laurels to her schools and guided her colleagues as a Master Facilitator at the State Resource Group in the Rajasthan Leadership Academy at Goner, Jaipur, functioning under the State Institute of Educational Management and Training (SIEMAT). Her efforts for improvement of academic standards and skill development of students have been widely acclaimed.
As part of the digitalisation of operations, Bano’s school is set to get a new and robust infrastructure, sponsored by an educational technology company with its corporate social responsibility (CSR) fund, for e-education, smart classes, virtual reality lessons, robotics lab and information communication technology lab. The similar digital education facility, approved by the Rajasthan School Education Council, is being provided to nine other schools in Jaipur district and one in Rajsamand district.
The State government’s Education Department has shifted teachers from the pool of its regular academic staff who were willing to join the Mahatma Gandhi Schools to create a separate cadre of English medium teachers. Private teachers have also been appointed as the guest faculty to overcome the shortage of teachers. The schools have been adding one class every year to accommodate the promoted students.
Bano’s salutary initiative to introduce an English language proficiency programme for underprivileged children of all communities through a unique microscholarship scheme during the COVID-19 pandemic, for which she invited the U.S. Embassy’s Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs to her school, has won her all-round praise. The programme has met with encouraging results. Incidentally, Bano has an educational background of chemistry, as she completed her post-graduation and M.Phil. in that subject.
The English access microscholarship programme has sought to strengthen the foundation of language skills among the selected students and enable them to avail of educational and employment opportunities in future. The children selected for the initiative were in the age group of 13 to 16 years. They learnt the linguistic skills with distinction and were later felicitated at a “graduation ceremony”.
After being taught in an online mode for more than a year, the students joined the after-school physical classes and intensive sessions in March 2022. The programme, implemented through New Delhi-based Learning Links Foundation, adopted a communicative approach to teaching English, infusing a spirit of participatory learning among the children and helping them groom their personalities. The students also attended the regular school for VIII to X classes.
Bano said the students selected for the programme had excelled in extra-curricular activities, with an all-round development visible in their personality, and they were winning awards in various other competitions as well. “Our students have developed confidence to overcome the impediments and improved their writing and speaking skills as well as critical thinking. Such a project is the need of the hour because students of government schools, coming from poor background, face language barriers,” she said.
American Embassy’s Regional English Language Officer Ruth Goode, accompanied by specialist Rachna Sharma, visited the Mahatma Gandhi School before the launch of physical classes. Goode interacted with the students and obtained their feedback, while informing them of the scope for studying in the U.S. through the exchange programmes.
The students trained in the programme will later be selected for attending the South Asian meets, where they will be exposed to the educational atmosphere in India’s neighbouring countries. The global microscholarship programme is operative in as many as 90 countries, where an assistance is provided for development of curriculum, textbooks and English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teaching methodology.
The learning material provided to the students in Mahatma Gandhi School laid emphasis on content creation by writing unified paragraphs, developing vocabulary with the talks about hobbies, interests and people, using visuals to support comprehension, identifying sequence of events, asking questions and understanding the cause and effect of natural phenomena. The science of fun, wonders of the sea, long ago and today and “good idea” were some of the lessons taught to the selected students.
The State government has recently honoured Bano with a “certificate of excellence” in recognition of her leadership skills, tireless efforts and valuable role in building the foundation of children’s future in the school. The Joint Director, School Education, signed the certificate presented to the Principal on July 25. Muslim organisations of Jaipur, including the Association of Muslim Professionals, have also praised her educational innovations.
Bano told India Tomorrow that she was inspired by the Muslim woman from Tunisia, Fatima Al-Fihri, who had founded the world’s first university, the University of Al-Qarawiyyin, in Morocco more than 1,000 years ago. “If a Muslim woman in the 9th century could have the vision for promoting education in her community, nothing stops the women today from taking similar initiatives with the help of modern technology,” Bano said.
Bano shared an anecdote about a class IX girl student of her school, who was given the responsibilities held by the Principal for a day on International Women’s Day on March 8 as a fun activity. The student, Pragya Patel, played the role with perfection and said at the end of the day that she desired to become a Principal in future. “Her reaction made me think that if only one initiative can help a student in having a clear vision about her career, then we should continue to take such innovative steps in future as well,” she said.
source: http://www.indiatomorrow.net / India Tomorrow / Home> Education / by The Correspondent, IndiaTomorrow.net / September 19th, 2023
The midfielder played a crucial part in Simon Grayson’s BFC.
Bengaluru FC midfielder Danish Farooq Bhat has signed a 3.5-year deal with Kerala Blasters, Khel Now can confirm. “Earlier, the player agreed to sign a three-year pre-contract with Kerala Blasters, but injury concerns forced the club to cash out Danish Farooq before his contract expired with Bengaluru FC,” a source close to the development told Khel Now.
The source added, “Kerala Blasters have paid approximately 25 lakhs transfer fee to Bengaluru FC to obtain his service. Danish will earn approximately 90 Lakhs* per year as his salary.”
About the Player
Danish Farooq was born on May 9, 1996, in Jammu & Kashmir. He started his playing career at a very young age for a local team called Chinar Valley. At the age of 13, Danish joined the J&K Bank Football Academy where he perfected his game as a youngster. Danish had major success with this club as he went on to win 12 league titles for them.
In 2015, Danish signed a professional contract with Lonestar Kashmir and played for them in the 2015-16 I-League 2nd division. He helped his team to reach the final round, however, the team fell short and failed to qualify for the I-League.
Danish Farooq rose to fame in the latter half of 2016 when he signed for Real Kashmir. He helped the Snow Leopards to secure the championship of the 2017-18 I-League 2nd division and was also the joint top-scorer of the team with four goals. He helped his team to qualify for the I-League during his tenure.
In 2021, Danish Farooq made a big step in his career by joining Bengaluru FC as a free agent. He had instant success with the Blues and soon became a key player in their midfield. Danish has scored four goals and assisted twice for the Blues in the ISL.
Danish Farooq is a versatile player who can handle multiple positions on the ground. He can be deployed as a midfielder and winger at the same time. His versatility will certainly help Kerala Blasters who wished to add more depth to the squad.
Kerala Blasters in ISL 2022-23
Kerala Blasters are having a dream run under Serbian head coach Ivan Vukamanovic. The club was able to continue the heroics from the previous season and are currently doing very well. They’re currently a team who has a higher probability of qualifying for the playoffs. Even with so many outgoings before the start of the season, KBFC managed to top the game on several occasions.
This season has witnessed the rise of Nihal Sudeesh, Bryce Miranda, and Saurav Mandal among the Indian players. Their forward Dimitrios Diamantakos is currently in top form as he continues to score screamers for the side. The 2022-23 ISL season also witnessed the transfer of Puitea to ATK Mohun Bagan for an undisclosed transfer fee.
source: http://www.khelnow.com / Khel Now / Home> ISL – Indian Super League / by Sattyik Sarkar / January 31st, 2023
Also present at the event were Gujarat Congress MLAs Amit Chavda and Imran Khedawala, former Congress MLA Gyasuddin Shaikh, AMC leader of Opposition Shehzadkhan Pathan, and late Congress Rajya Sabha MP Ahmed Patel’s daughter Mumtaz Patel.
Arnazbanu Sipahi from Mehsana at the IMCR event on Saturday. (Express File Photo)
The Indian Muslims for Civil Rights’ (IMCR) Gujarat unit on Saturday felicitated 15-year-old Arnazbanu Sipahi from Mehsana, who was not called for a felicitation ceremony by her school despite holding the first position in the Class X board exams at her school, on Independence Day.
A former student of K T Patel High School, who had topped her school in Class X state board exams in March, Sipahi has now shifted to a nearby grant-in-aid school for her Class XI studies.
K T Patel High School principal has maintained that the August 15 award ceremony was organised by the school staffers and the school would felicitate Sipahi instead on January 26, next year.
Speaking to The Indian Express , Mehsana District Education Officer A K Modhpatel had earlier said, “I had checked with the school and learnt that the August 15 award ceremony for first three toppers from Class X and XII was organised by the teachers. They had collected funds to motivate school students. The girl and those who were not studying in the school (when the felicitation ceremony was held on August 15), will be awarded on January 26.”
Maintaining that she was “wronged” by the school, the IMCR – at a state-level conference on constitutionalism and secularism held in Ahmedabad – called Sipahi on stage to felicitate her in the presence of a host of Muslim leaders. Azam Baig, national general secretary (organisational) of IMCR, announced that he would personally fund Sipahi’s education, including higher studies.
Handing her a plaque and a flower bouquet on stage were former IMCR trustee and Congress leader Salman Khurshid, former member of Planning Commi-ssion, Syeda Saiyidain Hameed, as well as Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi, among others.
Addressing the conference on the topic of ‘constitutionalism and secularism and the way forward’, Hameed cited Arnazbanu’s “experience” and the recent viral purported video of a Muslim boy being hit by his classmates upon being goaded by their teacher at a Muzaffarnagar school, as “examples where children are being discriminated against (on religious lines).” “We have to build a common front… work in an organised way (to counter the polarisation)… The Gujarat riots’ blueprint, which is now being attempted to be implemented elsewhere in India, we must not let it succeed.”
K Rehman Khan, former deputy chairman of Rajya Sabha , urged Muslims to be “givers” and not “seekers”, emphasising that they must empower themselves and “saving the Constitution should be the first priority”. “Only if the Constitution and secularism is saved, can we live a life of dignity,” Khan added.
Former Union minister Salman Khurshid said that “it is not acceptable that rule of law is replaced by rule of bulldozer”. He added that the “public must understand that what is happening today at someone else’s household can also happen at your household”. “We want that the majority speaks for the minority and the minority speaks for the majority,” Khurshid said.
Also present at the event were Gujarat Congress MLAs Amit Chavda and Imran Khedawala, former Congress MLA Gyasuddin Shaikh, AMC leader of Opposition Shehzadkhan Pathan, and late Congress Rajya Sabha MP Ahmed Patel’s daughter Mumtaz Patel.
source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> News> Cities> Ahmedabad / by Express News Service, Ahmedabad (headline edited) / August 27th, 2023
Social media was awash with people talking about the wilful insult of the Muslim girl. Although mainstream media, as is their wont, did not report the issue, some news outlets gave a prominent space to the sordid affair. Muslim individuals and organisations and some secular-minded people also vociferously raised the issue
New Delhi:
Over a week after denying the topper award to a Muslim girl student on the occasion of Independence Day, the school authorities in Gujarat’s Mehsana district have tendered an apology and facilitated the meritorious student at a special event on Thursday.
Authorities at the K.T. Patel Smriti Vidyalaya in Lunava village of Mehsana district did not give the topper award to Arnaz Banu, who had secured the highest marks in Class X, during the prize distribution event held on the occasion of Independence Day. Instead, the student who was in the second position was called on the stage for felicitation. Banu broke down at the deliberate denigration and informed her parents.
The dismayed parents immediately contacted the school authorities but could not get any satisfactory response.
Former Congress MLA Gyasuddin Shaikh visited the student’s home and felicitated her this week. He told Clarion India that Banu’s parents informed him that the school principal had come to their house on Wednesday evening and apologised.
“After a lot of outrage on the issue, they felt ashamed. Then, the principal visited her house yesterday evening (Wednesday) and apologised. On Thursday, they felicitated the girl at a small function at the school,” Shaikh told Clarion India over the phone.
Earlier, Shaikh had tweeted a report about the school authorities apologising to the student.
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After the incident was reported, social media was awash with people talking about the wilful insult of the Muslim girl. Although mainstream media, as is their wont, did not report the issue, some news outlets gave a prominent space to the sordid affair. Muslim individuals and organisations and some secular-minded people also vociferously raised the issue. This pressurised the school authorities to rethink and they decided to apologise to the girl, Shaikh said.
“This is wrong. It should not have happened. The incident had a very discouraging impact on her mind. This is disgusting. Hatred has made people do so. PM Modi (Narendra) talks about ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao,’ and ‘The Qur’an in one hand and Science in another’. But, such incidents happen,” Shaikh said.
Shaikh told Clarion India that he and his colleague, Jamalpur MLA Imran Khedawala, had also written to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Gujarat chief minister and education minister about the issue.
“It is truly disheartening to witness such unjust behaviour from responsible individuals within the school itself. This incident tarnishes the reputation of the sacred field of education. Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel’s Gujarat was known for treating innocent children without discrimination, irrespective of their background. Such acts go against the principles of humanity and the teachings of these great leaders,” reads the letter written to the state Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel.
Describing the incident as “a discriminatory act against a student in school solely based on their Muslim identity”, the letter urged the chief minister to conduct a thorough probe and called for strict action against the erring officials.
“The individuals responsible, whether school administrators or the principal, must be held accountable for this shameful act. We request you to take strict action against those who engage in such discriminatory practices,” stated the letter.
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source: http://www.clarionindia.net / Clarion India / Home> Big Story> India / by Waquar Hasan, Clarion India (headline edited) / August 24th, 2023
Nooniya Basti under Mahingaon Gram Panchayat in Kishanganj district of Bihar is largely inhabited by Shershabadi Muslims, who trace their origins to Bangladesh.
It is in this conservative milieu, where girls are not allowed to even step out of their homes unchaperoned, that Ziratunnisa Khatun, 14, and her friends have been leading a campaign on family planning since the last two years.
The Kishori group members of Nooniya Basti interact with older women showing them samples of contraceptive pills, Copper T and condoms and telling them about the merits of keeping a five-year gap between children (Photo: Ajitha Menon\WFS)
“Our group comprises girls between 12 and 18 years and we have been trained to create awareness on the need for family planning, the ill effects of child marriage, related maternal health issues and the importance of good nutrition, water conservation and sanitation,” informs an articulate Nasera Khatun, 16, President of the Nooniya Basti Kishori group.
Since October 2012, activists of the Bihar Voluntary Health Association (BVHA) have been running the Kishori programme, as part of the Department of International Development (DFID) supported Global Poverty Action Fund project, ‘Improving Maternal Health Status in Six States in India’, initiated by Oxfam India.
Shares, Meraj Danish, Thematic Coordinator-BVHA, Kishanganj, “I remember how tough it had been for us to convince the elders in the Shershabadi community to give permission to their adolescent daughters to get involved in our maternal health intervention.
“We drew them in by facilitating their access to rations given to teenage girls under the government’s Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (Sabla scheme).
“The scheme provisions for three kilos of rice, two kilos of lentils and 40 iron supplement pills in a month to every out-of-school girl in the 11-14 age group and all girls between 14 and 18 years.
“As we managed to rope in more girls into Sabla, the trust quotient between us and the community increased. These were people who were anyway battling with poor infant and maternal health, anaemia and lack of nutrition in adolescents, so eventually they came around and agreed to let their girls attend our training sessions.”
Girls, for whom family planning had been a taboo subject, were in for a huge surprise at the training sessions conducted by the BVHA volunteers.
“The meetings were a real eye-opener. As we listened to the volunteers, we soon figured out the reasons behind our mothers always feeling weak and lacking energy. We realised that most of our brothers and sisters and, in fact, we ourselves, were suffering from the ill-effects of under nutrition.
“We also understood the need for family planning and the fact that spacing between children is critical for ensuring the good health of the mother and child. Above all, we learnt to improve our eating habits as well as maintain proper personal hygiene,” elaborates Habiba Khatun, 17.
Nooniya Basti’s Kishori group began its family planning advocacy by first speaking to their own family members, relatives and friends.
“We used to carry samples of contraceptive pills, Copper T (intrauterine device) and condoms and go door-to-door, talking to our mothers and their friends. Rather than insisting on use of contraceptives to limit the number of children, we told them about the need to have at least a five-year gap between each child,” explains Tanzera Khatun, 16, adding, “this automatically brings down the number of children per couple and removes any concerns regarding forced family planning.”
Till a couple of years back, most women living in and around Nooniya Basti had no clue about family planning and were mostly bogged down by three-four children, born within just a year of each other. Consequently, the mothers and their children used to be very weak and sickly.
“This is why the women immediately related to our conversations regarding the need for the body to fully recover between pregnancies and showed a keen interest in knowing how to use contraceptives to ensure spacing between children. By and large, we spread the message that it was alright to use contraception to achieve spacing between children even if family planning per se was taboo,” reveals Sabina Khatun, 16.
Of course, it certainly was not always smooth sailing for the girls. Many women were quite unwilling to talk to “children” on issues of family planning and contraception.
“The fact that we could talk proficiently about the use of contraceptive pills and their possible side effects and demonstrate how to use Copper T and condoms added to our creditability in their eyes. After a few interactions, during our house visits, there was no hostility or shyness and the women could voice their different issues and concerns openly before us,” adds Ruksana Khatun, 16.
Whereas the community women have benefited from the Kishori group’s active engagement, the girls too have learnt a lot in the process. This has prepared them well for the future and set them apart from their lesser fortunate peers across the country.
“Thanks to this intervention, most of us have become vocal against early marriages. Moreover, we have become particular about eating nutritious food and taking iron supplement pills to fight anaemia,” points out Nasera Khatun.
The other advantage for this group has been in the form of access to better education. “Once the community elders saw how well the girls were faring, it was possible for them to seek permission to join mainstream schools to acquire better quality education, along with studying at the local madarsa. Many girls in the group are now attending regular school,” says Danish of BVHA.
At present, there are three Kishori groups in Kishanganj. Though there are about 20 girls in each, the health awareness campaign related to family planning and contraception is spreading effectively across several villages in the district, as the peer and friend circles are absorbing the knowledge and experiences of the core Kishori units and putting them to good use by reaching out to women of their own localities.
by Women’s Feature Service
source: http://www.weekendleader.com / The Weekend Leader / Home / by Ajitha Menon, Kishanganj / Vol.6, Issue 12 / May 23rd, 2015
It seems, on Thursday all roads led to a Swedish Furniture Store in Hyderabad — IKEA. The company’s name is an acronym — Ingvar Kamprad the name of its Founder, Elmtaryd name of his Farm and Agunnaryd the name of his Hometown in Sweden.
So the world famous furniture store IKEA opened its first store at HITEC City in Hyderabad and it lured so many people that traffic in the area came to a halt. Was it just curiosity that drove people there or a real desire to buy? Because Indians love heavy teak furniture that lasts forever and IKEA doesn’t really sell that kind of furniture.
IKEA produces light wood furniture and for the most part it’s a ‘Do It Yourself’ (DIY) project. Which means, when you go to an IKEA store and buy furniture, you will not get a fully assembled product. Instead, you take home all the required components and a detailed manual so you can assemble the furniture yourself.
When I mentioned IKEA’s DIY style of business to a friend he said, “What is this DIY? It’s like going to a restaurant, ordering a dish, and the waiter brings all the ingredients; you have to cook it yourself?” IKEA well understands this reluctance among Indians and has partnered with a company called Urban Clap which will send over a carpenter to assemble the furniture for a fee of Rs. 900.
Apart from contemporary furniture and lifestyle products, companies like IKEA bring something to a nation’s industrial landscape — they make our local companies globally competitive.
A month ago, I visited MAS Furniture, a Mysuru-based furniture manufacturing company headed by Shabbir Vagh. When I met Shabbir he was busy planting trees at the factory premises. When I enquired about it he replied saying, “We’re now manufacturing for IKEA and they have a requirement which states that every factory must have a certain amount of green cover.”
It seems to be qualified as an IKEA supplier one has to follow IKEA’s IWAY policy. IWAY is short for the IKEA-Way of doing things. One such IWAY is that vendors that partner with IKEA must have a healthy male to female ratio in the factory.
Shabbir says that ratio is 1:1 and now he has hired a whole lot of women to make for a 1:1 workforce. IKEA also wanted pay parity that is based on merit and experience rather than gender.
Strict standards have been laid out for workers’ safety, which means all workers on the shop floor have to wear gloves, bright vests and goggles. Apart from this, the vendor has to maintain clean accounting standards.
As for the raw materials, Shabbir shows me a beautiful vegetable crate made from pine wood which he supplies to IKEA and tells me the varnish on the wood has undergone innumerable tests to the point that the wood is safe enough even for a child to chew on.
He also informs me that every piece of wood used by IKEA is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, an international body governing the sustainable and responsible use of forest resources.
So how has all of this helped Shabbir’s family furniture business? Thanks to following the IKEA way of manufacturing, the company has attracted new global partnerships. MAS Furniture now supplies furniture to the Trump Tower being built in Pune and is making furniture for the world famous French product designer Philippe Starck.
This is proof that when global companies with good practices partner with local manufacturers, they improve their standards making them globally competitive. When our industrialists can learn, adapt and become globally competitive, why can’t our politicians and bureaucrats? Well, it turns out politicians and bureaucrats of Telangana already have.
It was reported that IKEA was first to open in either Mumbai or Bengaluru but suddenly chose Hyderabad. The reason being that the Principal Secretary of Telangana, after reading about IKEA’s plans for India, contacted them and deputed a few proactive bureaucrats to help them get all the approvals and allotted land in HITEC City. The speed at which things moved ensured that IKEA opened its first India Store and the country’s largest retail space in Hyderabad while providing employment to 950 people in the store alone!
In contrast, a mobile phone brand based in Bengaluru approached the Karnataka government for industrial land to setup a mobile research and development lab in 2015. They even met the previous Chief Minister but nothing came of it. Later, Telangana heard about this project, called the owners, held talks and soon offered them 1.6 acres in Gachibowli to set up their Lab. Today the construction is on track and is expected to be completed by 2019 and will employ over 300 people.
The manufacturing philosophies of companies like IKEA are very relevant for a growing economy like ours. Karnataka needs such companies and for that our leaders have to be proactive. The last time we had such a Chief Minister was S.M. Krishna, who ushered in the IT boom. Now we have a coalition government and there is an atmosphere of industrial gloom.
e-mail: vikram@starofmysore.com
source: http://www.staromysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Columns in Black & White / by Vikram Muthanna / August 11th, 2018
