Renowned social worker Farooq Siddiqui has launched a public awareness campaign urging students and eligible youth to register for the recently announced Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme. The initiative, aimed at providing valuable internship opportunities to one crore young Indians over five years in 500 top companies, has already gained momentum. Companies like Mahindra & Mahindra, Alembic Pharmaceuticals, and Max Life Insurance have listed over 1,000 internship positions as part of the scheme’s pilot phase on the first day of the portal’s launch.
Under the pilot, 111 companies have signed up, offering 1,077 internship positions across key sectors such as automotive, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture. The internship portal has been live for companies to list positions since October 3, and from October 12, eligible candidates can start registering for internships through the government portal http://www.pminternship.mca.gov.in
Siddiqui highlighted the scheme’s potential to empower unemployed youth by providing them with hands-on experience in top companies. “This initiative is a game-changer for our young people. I strongly urge NGOs and civil society organizations to help spread the word and encourage eligible candidates to register. This is a unique opportunity for skill-building and career development,” Siddiqui said.
The internship scheme targets youth between the ages of 21 and 24 who are not currently employed or enrolled in full-time studies. Eligible candidates must have completed high school, higher secondary school, or hold a diploma from an ITI, Polytechnic, or a degree in fields like BA, BSc, B.Com, BCA, BBA, or B.Pharma. The program, however, excludes those with higher qualifications such as CA, MBA, and graduates from IITs, IIMs, and other premier institutions.
Interns selected through this scheme will receive a stipend of Rs 4,500 per month via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). They will also be covered by the government’s insurance programs—PM Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and PM Suraksha Bima Yojana—at no cost. Additionally, companies will contribute Rs 500 per month, and a one-time annual payment of Rs 6,000 will be made to the interns, bringing the total annual benefit to Rs 66,000.
Siddiqui noted that the first pilot phase, which involves a government investment of Rs 800 crore, aims to place 1.25 lakh youth in internships by December. He further emphasized the importance of reserving opportunities for marginalized groups, such as SCs, STs, OBCs, and the disabled, in line with government policies.
To ensure a smooth process, nodal officers will be appointed by participating companies to address any concerns raised by the interns. The government has also established a negative list of ineligible candidates, including those from families earning more than Rs 8 lakh annually or having a regular government employee in the family.
As the registration date for candidates approaches, Siddiqui stressed the importance of collaboration from all sections of society, urging more companies, banks, and financial institutions to join the scheme and offer internships. “This is not just about internships. It’s about building futures and enabling our youth to contribute to the nation’s economy,” he concluded.
Siddiqui’s call to action has resonated widely, and it is hoped that the collective efforts of the government, companies, NGOs, and civil society will ensure maximum participation in this impactful program.
source: http://www.indiatomorrow.net / India Tomorrow / Home> Education / by India Tomorrow Admin / October 04th, 2024
On Teachers’ Day, over 150 educators from around the world were celebrated with the 8th AMP National Award for Excellence in Education 2024 at a distinguished ceremony held at Ravindra Bhawan in Bhopal.
The event was presided over by Bhopal Shahar Qazi Maulana Syed Mushtaq Ali Nadvi, with former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and current Rajya Sabha Member Digvijay Singh serving as the Chief Guest.
The ceremony drew attendees from various educational backgrounds, including award recipients who were present in person, special guests, AMP members and volunteers, and members of the academic community. Many other winners participated virtually, and the event was widely followed on social media.
In his address, Bhopal Shahar Qazi Maulana Syed Mushtaq Ali emphasized the profound role of teachers, citing a saying of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH): “I have been sent only as a teacher to you.” He highlighted the Prophet’s impact through education and quoted Allama Iqbal, who praised the fertile soil of Hindustan for nurturing good deeds. The Qazi reminded attendees of the honor and responsibility of being a teacher, suggesting that a dedicated educator can approach the level of Prophets.
Bhopal Shahar Qazi Syed Mushtaq Ali speaking on the occasion, with senior Congress leader and former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh Digvijay Singh on his right.
Digvijay Singh commended the AMP initiative for uniting Muslim professionals to contribute positively to society. He stressed the importance of prioritizing education and healthcare for national progress. Singh noted the underrepresentation of Muslims in government jobs compared to SC/ST categories and highlighted the need for increased professional education within the Muslim community.
Senior Congress leader and former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh Digvijay Singhspeaking on the occasion.
Singh also criticized the state of the education system, pointing to corruption and the prevalence of contract-based teaching positions, which he argued undermine the quality of education. He lamented the shortage of permanent teaching positions and the poor condition of many government schools.
A view of the audience
Prof. Furqan Qamar, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Rajasthan and Central University of Himachal Pradesh, delivered a keynote address advocating for increased participation in higher education and greater public investment to make education more accessible, particularly for rural populations, women, and landless laborers.
Dr. Usha Khare, a National Teacher Awardee and recently retired Principal of Jahangirabad Girls Government School in Bhopal, shared her inspiring journey of advocating for girls’ education in impoverished neighborhoods. She revealed that she donated her prize money from the Kaun Banega Crorepati show to her school and left significant assets upon her retirement.
The awards were presented in seven categories: Primary and Secondary Teachers, College and University Teachers, Principals/Heads of Institutions, Islamic Education (Arabic/Fiqh/Islamic Studies), Educational Institutions, Lifetime Achievement Awards, and the Late Ibrahim Qureshi Memorial Award. Prof. Furqan Qamar was honored with the Ibrahim Qureshi Memorial Award for his exceptional contributions to education.
Lifetime Achievement Awards were given to:
Hazrat Maulana Sayyed Muhammad Aqil, Shaikh-ul-Hadith, Mazahir-ul-Uloom, Saharanpur, UP
Jamaluddin Ahmad Khan, Former Lecturer, Halim Musim Inter College, Kanpur, UP
Sharifa A. Azeez, Correspondent, Crescent Matriculation H.Sec. School, Chennai, TN
Sheila Lawrence, Former Headmistress, Lucknow Christian College, Lucknow, UP
Additionally, 78 educators received Special Jury Awards in various categories, and 50 “My Favourite Teacher” Awards were presented based on votes from students and parents nationwide.
In Bhopal, local awardees included:
*Bushra Parveen, Oakwoods School (Primary & Secondary)
*Dr. Shazia Ali, Campion School (Primary & Secondary)
*Dr. Mohammad Athar, Institute of Excellence (Higher Education)
*Dr. M. M. Malik, MANIT (Higher Education)
*Dr. Sana Khan, Azim Premji University (Higher Education)
*Dr. Siraj Ahmed, MANIT (Higher Education)
*Prof. Dr. Ghayur Alam, National Law University (Higher Education)
*Prof. Asma Rizwan, People’s University (Higher Education)
*Dr. Abid Husain Saify, All Saints’ College of Technology (Higher Education)
*Dr. Faiqa Saulat, Trailblazer International School (Principal/Head)
*Ms. Nikhat Ara, A.U. School (Principal/Head)
The ceremony was also graced by Guests of Honour including MLAs Arif Masood and Atif Arif Aqueel, and Mohammad Wazir Ansari IPS (R), Former DGP – Chhattisgarh. They praised AMP’s significant achievements in education and employment over the past 17 years and commended the thorough selection process and professional execution of the event.
Farooq Siddiqui, Head of the AMP National Coordination Team, hosted the event, reflecting on AMP’s growth from modest beginnings to its present reach across over 200 cities and many countries worldwide.
Kalim Akhtar, Zonal Head – Central India, AMP NGO Connect, presented an English translation of the Holy Qur’an to Digvijay Singh, who accepted it with reverence.
Sajid Qureshi, Acting President of the Ibrahim Qureshi Memorial Study Circle, thanked AMP for their support in organizing the event, and Rafat Iqbal Farooqi, State Head – AMP Madhya Pradesh, offered the vote of thanks to all attendees and the Bhopal Chapter team for their hard work in making the event a success.
source: http://www.indiatomorrow.net / India Tomorrow / Home> Education / by Pervez Bari / September 09th, 2024
On August 8, 2024, Kalaburgi city witnessed the successful launch of “Welfare Yuva Karnataka,” the youth wing of the Welfare Party of India for the Karnataka State. The event drew enthusiastic participation from youths across various districts of North Karnataka.
The day began with a vibrant rally leading to the conference hall, where participants energetically chanted slogans. Advocate Taher Hussain, the state president of the Welfare Party, officially inaugurated the event. The flag of Welfare Yuva Karnataka was then ceremoniously handed over to Mr. Muhammad Rafiq, the state general secretary of the youth wing.
The assembly saw the participation of hundreds of youths from North Karnataka. The inaugural address was delivered by Mujahid Pasha Khureshi, the state vice president of the party. During the event, two notable achievers from Kalaburgi were honored with the Welfare Yuva Award.
Key addresses were made by Muhammad Rafiq, General Secretary of Welfare Yuva Karnataka, along with state secretaries Riaz Ahmed, Talat Yasmin, Mubeen Ahmed, Asif Bilikudri, and C.H. Salaam. The program concluded with a closing speech by Habibullah Khan, the state vice president. The event was skillfully hosted by Afzal Hussain Humnabad, the district vice president of Bagalkote.
source: http://www.indiatomorrow.net / India Tomorrow / Home> News> Society / by India Tomorrow Admin / September 09th, 2024
Sarah Khan wins maiden race in Apache RTR 200 class.
KY Ahamed (33) edging out Jagan Kumar to win the Pro-Stock 165cc Open race on 15 June 2024. Photo by Anand Philar
Chennai :
Two sets of siblings from Chennai hogged the limelight by winning four of the nine races on Saturday at the Madras International Circuit to light up the first round of the MRF MMSC fmsci Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship 2024.
The 15-year-old Dave twins, Rakshith and Rakshitha took the honours in the Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup (NSF 250R) and the National Championship Girls (Stock 165cc) races. It was a maiden win for both of them, in their respective categories.
Two other siblings, 28-year-old KY Ahamed (Pro-Stock 165cc Open) and his 17-year-old brother Abdul Basim (Novice 165cc), also won a race apiece to set off celebrations in both families.
Elsewhere, Sarthak Chavan, the 17-year-old from Pune, led a 1-2 finish for TVS Racing along with Bengaluru’s Chiranth Vishwanath, also 17, in the premier Pro-Stock 301-400cc category. The race was cut to four laps from scheduled six after a red flag stoppage following a Turn-3 crash (riders ok) and Sarthak, starting from pole, virtually destroyed the field on restart. Chiranth came in second, ahead of Hyderabad’s Sairahil Pillarisetty (Gusto Racing).
Sarthak, however, had a disastrous outing in the Pro-Stock 165cc Open race as he crashed when in the lead. On his exit, Sathak’s two TVS Racing team-mates, KY Ahamed and multiple National champion Jagan Kumar, were involved in a tight finish. Ahamed pipped his mentor Jagan in a photo-finish with another TVS Racing ace, Deepak Ravikumar, who had started the race from the pit lane, completing the podium. Chiranth, who was running second, also crashed, but resumed to finish fourth.
Also finishing on top step of the podium was Chennai’s Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan (RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate) who won as he pleased in the Novice 301-400cc class that gained National championship status from this season.
Earlier, pole-sitter Abdul Basim, held off a strong challenge from Mysuru’s Tasmai Cariappa (Motul Sparks Racing) who led briefly in the penultimate lap but conceded the advantage. Basim went on to win with Tasmai and Coimbatore’s Abhinav G (Chandra LGE Racing) finishing second and third, respectively.
Rakshitha Dave, starting from P2, moved in front by Turn-2, deftly avoiding any jostling that was happening behind her, and enjoyed a trouble-free run for a commanding win. Another Chennai rider, Jagathishee Kumaresan (One Racing) and Ryhana Bee (Motul Sparks Racing) settled for second and third spots, respectively, while pole-sitter Ann Jennifer (Alpha Racing) came in a disappointing fourth.
“I am very happy to score my first-ever win in the National championship. I had a good start today and a trouble-free run after going into the lead early in the first lap. The bike too performed very well,” said a delighted Rakshitha.
Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup: Rakshith Dave reigned supreme in the NSF 250R race after initial battle with the more experienced Mohsin Paramban (Mallapuram) with Bengaluru’s AS James finishing third. It was Rakshith’s first-ever win in this class. Incidentally, Rakshith’s twin sister, Rakshitha made her debut in this class and finished 13th.
TVS One-Make Championship: Coimbatore’s Senthilkumar C took the honours in the truncated Open (Apache RR 310) race that was reduced to three laps from six due to a red flag stoppage following an on-track incident. Jayanth Pratipathi (Chennai) came in second, ahead of Nagercoil’s Ajai Xavier M.
Harshith V Bogar from Bengaluru notched a dominating win in the Rookie category with second-placed Saranjith KM (Thrissur) finishing some 10 seconds behind. Vijayawada’s Akarsh Jangam was a distant third.
Mumbai’s Sarah Khan won the Girls (RTR 200) race untroubled from Pune’s Saimah Ajaz Baig and Aisvarya V (Coimbatore).
The results (Provisional, all 6 laps unless mentioned):
Novice (Stock 301-400cc) Race-1: 1. Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan (Chennai, RACR Castrol Power 1 Ultimate) (12:17.257); 2. Lokesh V (Bengaluru, Pvt.) (12:23.458); 3. Varun Nanjundegowda (Mysuru, Gusto Racing India) (12:27.927).
Idemitsu Honda India Cup (NSF 250R) Race-1: 1. Rakshith S Dave (Chennai) (11:12.157); 2. Mohsin Paramban (Malappuram) (11:16.226); 3. AS James (Bengaluru) (11:16.669)
Winners will benefit from tailored development programmes and mentoring from experienced motorsport professionals at Iron Dames.
Mir will compete in the Iron Dames Young Talents selection round in Italy on July 29-30
Nine-year-old Atiqa Mir, from Kashmir, has been shortlisted for the Iron Dames Young Talents programme. The new initiative has been launched by the same squad that made history last year as the first all-female team to win a race in the World Endurance Championship (at the 2023 8 Hours of Bahrain).
Mir is the only racer from Asia to be shortlisted for the first selection round that will be held at Italy’s Franciacorta karting track on July 29-30.
First selection round in Italy on July 29-30
Mir has top three results in the DAMC and UAE IAME Series
Iron Dames Young Talents programme
Iron Dames says the main goal of its new Young Talents initiative is to “identify and develop young kart racers between the ages of eight and 13”. A total of 20 young female racers have qualified for the selection round at Franciacorta, where they’ll compete in a series of scouting events.
Junior racing giant Prema Racing will help assess the candidates based on their driving skills, work ethic and “ability to embody the spirit and attitude of the Iron Dames”. Those who impress will earn the chance to join the Iron Dames stable and benefit from tailored development programmes, mentoring from experienced motorsport professionals and access to world-class training facilities.
Besides being the only Asian, Mir is also the youngest racer shortlisted in the Mini Category. “I’m truly honoured to be shortlisted for the Iron Dames Young Talent selection process. It motivates me further to perform and improve my skills as a driver. I will work hard and prepare myself better than ever to come out on top in the selections and make India proud,” she said.
Atiqa Mir: Climbing up the karting ladder
Mir has already built an impressive racing resume with outings in India, the UAE and Europe. She started karting at the age of six and made her competitive debut in 2021. Since then, she’s gone on to finish third overall in the 2023-24 DAMC (Dubai Autodrome Motorsports Club) Cup and second overall in the 2023-24 UAE IAME Series Rookie Championship.
Of course, racing runs in Mir’s blood. Her father, Asif Nazir Mir, was India’s first National Karting Champion and also raced in Formula Asia. “[My motorsport journey] started when I was three-four years old, watching my dad race at the Dubai Kartdrome,” Mir told Autocar India. “He gives me a lot of tips on the track, and we practice everything on our home simulator, which I drive on every day.”
Mir had competed in the Indian National Karting Championship in 2022. And she’s back this year, competing in all five rounds in the Micro Max category this time, racing for team MSport. And she’s already made a podium appearance, having finished third in Round 1.
This year, she also had her first taste of racing in Europe as part of the CEK (Campeonato de España de Karting) series. “The drivers are really competitive there,” she shared. “But the tracks there are like my style. That’s why I’m getting better and progressing.”
We’ve seen growing female participation in motorsport recently, further propelled by the new F1 Academy and even the success of Iron Dames. But there’s still a long way to go. “There are only three-four girls [competing in Europe with me], so not many, but they’re more than in Dubai. But that motivates me a lot,” added Mir.
She already has her sights on F1 and highlights Max Verstappen as a racer she looks up to. “I want to race in F1 because it’s the top 20 best drivers of the world, so it’s really rare to compete with them. I want to be the first girl driving in F1, and I want to do what’s never been done before.”
During the months of lockdown last year, NSS units in colleges across Gujarat mobilized resources for food, masks, sanitation.
More than 5,000 student volunteers associated with NSS units in universities carried out COVID relief projects during the initial phase of lockdown
New Delhi :
The risk of contracting a life-threatening virus and the lockdown did not discourage Shaikh Afzal, a final year student of LD Engineering College, Ahmedabad from stepping out to collect food grain for the people in need.
A volunteer with the government-led National Service Scheme, in his case the NSS unit of Gujarat Technological University, Afzal felt the need to be on the ground despite the inhibitions of his family members. While the country was under a nation-wide lockdown in March last year, volunteers like Afzal risked their lives to help migrant workers stranded for days without supplies.
“I have faced a shortage of food for days at home during the lockdown and I understood their situation. They have extremely limited means. I decided to help them despite the risks,” said Afzal who resides with his 70-year-old grandmother and five other family members. He spent two months distributing food kits in various parts of Ahmedabad.
Soon after the central government announced the countrywide shutdown to control the spread of the coronavirus, a wide range of problems emerged, especially for the working class. The lockdown was extended for nearly four more months. Having lost their jobs, thousands of migrant workers attempted to leave major cities for home. In the absence of food reserves, many were pushed into starvation and others struggled to make ends meet.
Like Afzal, more than 5,000 student volunteers associated with NSS units in universities across Gujarat carried out COVID relief projects during the initial phase of lockdown. From providing masks, hand sanitizers and dry ration kits, to managing large crowds along with the police, students participated in several measures.
Prompt relief in Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad, one of the major cities employing daily wage workers and construction workers from bordering states, experienced food shortages amid the extended lockdown. NSS units in various colleges kicked into action to provide ground relief.
Along with Afzal, a team of 15 NSS and National Cadet Corps (NCC) volunteers in coordination with Ahmedabad’s district magistrate’s office conducted an extensive COVID relief drive. The team under the leadership of Chaitanya Sanghvi, the college’s NSS program officer, raised Rs. 3.69 lakh in donations from teachers and students’ parents to arrange for food kits. The volunteers distributed more than 12,500 kits in two months.
“A lot of parents were concerned about their [students’] health but my personal assurance that COVID safety measures will be taken while helping others made them feel confident,” said Sanghvi. “The students were given training by the GIDM [Gujarat Institute of Disaster Management] on how to respond to various challenges on the field,” he added.
Student of LD Engineering College, Ahmedabad distributing ration kits
Each day, for nearly two months, the team distributed 500 kits that sustained families of four for at least 10 days. On several occasions, the team members recalled being overwhelmed by the gravity of the situation on the ground. “Every day we would find a new challenge before us. We had to be cautious about our own safety while maintaining safe distance among those who came to collect the kits. The chaos escalated at times and we had to call the local police to maintain order,” said Deval Naika, a final-year mechanical engineering student.
The relief work began with 16 volunteers but the group expanded into a large team of 100 students after the initial phase of the project ended in success. The students were asked to work on the field in rotation. The effort, according to Sanghvi, helped families that were severely starved amid the lockdown. “I remember providing a food kit to a migrant worker’s family of 12 members. They told me that they were going to eat solid food after 12 days of starvation. There were small kids delighted at the sight of food. I will never forget that day,” recalled Sanghvi.
The team, in a tie-up with the Indian Red Cross Society, also conducted a blood donation drive for thalassemia major patients who were facing a shortage of blood supply during the lockdown. To allay the fear of blood donors, the team remotely reached out to the willing donors on mobile donation vans in various parts of Ahmedabad.
Porda village, Anand
Another NSS volunteer, Kishan Nileshkumar Dave, studying in Natubhai V. Patel College of Pure and Applied Sciences, Vallabh Vidyanagar, managed to provide relief to 100 families in his village, Porda, in Anand district. The volunteers carried out a multifaceted relief drive which included the distribution of food, masks, sanitizing common gathering areas and distribution of Ayurvedic immunity boosters.
Dave and his group of 10 volunteers started a fundraiser to provide relief to the families struggling without any financial help in the period of lockdown. With the help of the village sarpanch and some of its well-heeled families, Dave managed to collect enough funds to feed the hungry for more than a month.
“The money was utilized to cook food and deliver to each villager in need. We also maintained meticulous records of people who require urgent help and avoided missing out on anyone who needed attention,” said Dave. This group also served food to the policemen and health-workers on COVID-19 duty.
The team also engaged local tailors to sew 2,100 masks to be distributed in the community. In this way, they supplied masks to 920 families of the village and surrounding areas.
The volunteers also prepared herbal tonic under the supervision of the Ayurvedic Aushadhi Kendra of a nearby village, Aradi, and distributed it in Porda and the surrounding areas. Around 1,500 villagers received the immunity booster.
In addition, Dave also conducted a sanitization drive for 20 days. “Providing food and masks was not enough, we also used a sprayer machine and fogging machine provided by the Gram Panchayat and sanitized all the streets, milk collection centres, banks, and other areas of the village,” said Dave. Close to 900 houses of the village were sanitized. The volunteers also raised awareness among the villagers about the significance of personal hygiene, wearing the mask, washing hands frequently, and maintaining social distance.
As the lockdown caused huge losses for the farmers, this group brought vegetables from the village farmers and sold them at fair price to the villagers and residents of slum areas of the village like Indira Nagari. While some group members sold the vegetables, others helped maintain social distancing among the buyers.
Food delivery on national highway
With education institutions shut for months, many students had left the college campuses. They planned to contribute from home. Several NSS volunteers of Vishwakarma Engineering College, Ahmedabad, stepped up to help the migrant workers heading home along the National Highway eight. “Our NSS volunteers living close to the NH provided home-cooked food whenever possible to several families traveling on foot. Since the lockdown was sudden, it was difficult to provide funds. Therefore, each student utilised their own resources,” said Shiza Sheikh, a second-year student of electronics and communication.
At the beginning of COVID-19 lockdown, to meet the sudden rise in demand of masks, the students also distributed 1,500 hand-stitched masks from unused cloth they found at home and distributed it in various parts of Gujarat. “Even though students were scattered throughout the state, the NSS volunteers of our college were determined to help people who were in need. The students learned how to make masks through YouTube videos or by learning stitching from their parents,” Sheikh added.
source: http://www.news.careers360.com / News Careers360 / Home / by R Radhika / April 24th, 2021
Sarah Rizvi has done her bit to issue a blow to the stereotype of the Muslim woman, moderately educated and socially subjugated, ensconced in hijab. She has cleared the IAS exam, ranking 86th among 734 successful candidates. More remarkably perhaps, she has achieved the feat with Urdu literature as one of her optional subjects.
“Urdu is my mothertongue. I learnt Urdu and Persian from my late grandfather, Khalid Hussain Khan, who was a lawyer in Uttar Pradesh. I have read Urdu poems and novels since childhood. My Urdu writing speed was bad but I wrote a page a day and that improved my pace of writing,’’ Sarah said. Mohammed Iqbal was, for her, the most difficult poet to understand. “But his shayeri is fabulous,’’ she said of the Kashmiri poet who wrote Sare Jahan se achchha, Hindustan hamara.
After finishing BCom from MMK College in 2003, Sarah attended a lecture on competitive exams by K M Arif, educationist and chairman of Alliance Foundation. That inspired her to go for the IAS. “I tried twice but could not clear even the preliminary stage. This was my third attempt and, masha Allah, I passed,’’ the 25-year-old said, adding that her success was the outcome of 10-12 hours of study a day.
While doing her BCom, Sarah also completed her foundation course in chartered accountancy. “I wanted to become a CA but Dr Arif suggested I study for the IAS exam instead. I was clueless about the exam procedure and the requisite study material but my family supported me,’’ she said. Sarah was also awarded a scholarship by MESCO, an NGO.
Sarah is now posted as section officer in the Haryana Accountant-General’s office.
Sarah’s father, Afzal Ahmed, a science graduate, and mother Nigar, an arts graduate from Aligarh Muslim University, run a small garments business.
Her elder brother, Wasif, a civil engineer, is working for a company in Dubai and Sarah’s twin sister, Sameera, a graduate in computer applications, from National College, is married and lives in Bahrain. “I feel more Mulims, especially women, should go for the competitive exams. Many women don’t even know what these exams are about but awareness is spreading,’’ Sarah said.
“This subject gives us an inside knowledge of government administration. And the topics are similar to the business administration course matter I read in college,” Sarah said, explaining why she chose public administration over accountancy as one of the optionals.
Sarah did her schooling from Canossa Convent School and St. Louis Convent High School in Andheri. She later joined CWC College for Commerce and Economics and eventually graduated from MMK College with 75.7 per cent marks.
(Courtesy Times of India)
source: http://www.ummid.com / Ummid.com / Home / by Mateen Hafeez, TNN (headline edited)
31 Muslims figure in the list of 791 recommended candidates.
New Delhi:
A girl student topped the list of the successful Muslim UPSC candidates when the results were announced yesterday. Of the total 791 candidates recommended by the commission in its list for various government posts, 31 are Muslims and the girl student topping them in the list is among the top 100 Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) successful candidates.
According to the press release issued by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Sufiyah Faruqui ranking 20 in the list of 791 candidates is among the list of 100 toppers for which the results were announced by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) yesterday. Sufiyah is on top in the list of 31 Muslim candidates who figure in the list released by the commission that includes three other Muslim girls besides her.
While Sarfaraz Ahmad ranking 26, Shaid Iqbal ranking 51,Tamboli Ayyaz ranking 75 and Sadre Alam ranking 90 are other Muslims who are in the top 100 list, Koya Praveen ranking 120, Ayesha Rania ranking 139 and Sabiha Rizvi ranking 303 are the other three Muslim girls who stand in the list of 791 successful candidates.
The results were announced yesterday based on the written part of Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2008 held by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in October-November, 2008 and the interviews for Personality Test held in March-April, 2009.
A total of 791 candidates have been recommended by the commission for appointment including 364 General (including 13 Physically Challenged candidates), 236 Other Backward Classes (including 07 Physically Challenged candidates), 130 Scheduled Castes and 61 Scheduled Tribes candidates.
Owing to the poor representation of Muslims in the Union Public Service sector, the Muslim Institutions like Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Jamia Hamdard, Delhi and Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi are running special coaching classes for UPSC students since past three years.
“The result shows that Muslim representation for this year’s UPSC exams stands at 3.92%, a better progress compared to 3.6% in 2006 and 3.1% in 2007”, Omair Anas of Center for West Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University said to ummid.com adding, “However the achievement is still not at par and the institutions engaged in coaching the Muslim students for UPSC exams should pay special attention to contribute substantially in administrative services.”
The recommended candidates would be eligible for various coveted government posts including Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Central Services-Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’.
Appointment to the various services will be made according to the number of vacancies available with due consideration to the provisions contained in Rules 2 and 19 of the Rules of the Examination and subject to the final decision of the Supreme Court / High Court / C.A.Ts. on the S.L.Ps. / R.As/ W.Ps. O.As. pending therein.
The number of vacancies reported by the Government for the Indian Administrative Service is 120 (60 General, 33 Other Backward Classes, 17 Scheduled Castes and 10 Scheduled Tribes); for the Indian Foreign Service is 26 (13 General, 08 Other Backward Classes, 04 Scheduled Castes and 01 Scheduled Tribe); for the Indian Police Service is 130 (65 General, 36 Other Backward Classes, 20 Scheduled Castes and 09 Scheduled Tribes); for the Central Services Group ‘A’ is 546 (282 General, 146 Other Backward Classes, 81 Scheduled Castes and 37 Scheduled Tribes) and for Central Services Group ‘B’ is 59 ( 34 General, 13 Other Backward Classes, 08 Scheduled Castes and 04 Scheduled Tribes). This includes 20 vacancies for Physically Challenged candidates.
List of the 31 Muslim Candidates with their Ranks:
20: 002666: SUFIYAH FARUQUI
26: 010669: SARFARAZ AHMAD
51: 192126: SHAID IQBAL
75: 079564: TAMBOLI AYYAJ FAKIRBHAI
90: 001339: SADRE ALAM
120 003004 KOYA PRAVEEN
128: 024509: MASOOM ALI SARWAR
134: 003602: IMTIAZ ISMAIL PARRAY
139: 131443: AYESHA RANI A
169: 056251: ZIAUL HAQUE
244: 114573: ASHIQUZZAMAN
257: 043392: BASIR AHMED
303: 004357: SABIHA RIZVI
304: 010883: ANEES AHMAD ANSARI
353:008606 PATTAN IMTIYAZ KHAN
382: 010383: MASHHOOD UR REHMAN FAROOQUI
393: 104282: SHAHNAWAZ UL RAHMAN
398: 039145:0020: CHAN BASHA M
460: 102384: KAZI SUHAIL ANEESAHMED
472: 147935: T K SHIBU
499: 102579: TARIQ MABOOD
502: 051643: GEELANI BASHA K S M
523: 290928: R GULZAR BEGUM
540: 056907: MOHD SHAHID ALAM
546: 108290: MOHD FAIZAN NAYYAR
582: 303331: MAHFOOZUR REHMAN
595: 004523: MD SADIQUE ALAM
603: 002722: MD SALIK PARWAIZ
606: 018478: MD FAIZUL HAQUE
619: 079717: MOHAMMED YUSUF QURESHI
664: 055051: ABDUL HAKEEM M
source: http://www.ummid.com / Ummid.com / Home / by Staff Reporter / May 05th, 2009
Shagufta Hanaphie’s story is incredible, starting from a child as a shy girl who could barely speak, chronically ill with many complications to the point she would fall unconscious. Yet, at one point in her life, a “magic wand” touched and transformed her. She rose to become an Event Curator, Storyteller, Digital Creator, Author, Womenprenuer, Award Curator, and Philantropist.
She is also the co-founder of Best Friendz Society along with her friend Rajiv, and founder of SHE – Shagufta Hanaphie Events – which is a PR and event boutique, and many other organizations.
A turnaround came during COVID 19 – pandemic when Shagufta along with a team provided food for a village of 400 people in Ernakulam, Kerala.
Post Cyclone Amphan that hit Bengal, she and her team also traveled to places in Sundarbans where they provided food, dry rations, and clothes to the needey persons.
Again, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Best Friendz Society reached Sundarbans.
She started a campaign with her team called Hunger Free Bengal. She coaches people who are emerging with startups and does personal counseling for the lonely, and divorcees, and on occasions, has even match-fixed singles. She works with suicidal people and conducts counseling sessions with young girls and boys.
Titled with many monikers such as Event Organizer, Author, founder and Director, CEO at Teacher’s Excellence Award, Founder Director, Owner of SHE Founder, Director, CEO at Inspiring Women Achievers Awards – IWAA, she tells Awaz-the Voice, “I am not a brand but I want to honour, felicitate people for their outstanding work. While I may not be able to give a formal award, I want to prize people for the recognition for their incredible work and dedication which otherwise gets overshadowed by other giants.”
Shagufta Hanaphie
Shagufta lived with her parents and three sisters in a joint family of 17 members in the 100-year-old bungalow-style British-styled house in Kidderpore, South Kolkata.
Her uncle and aunt adopted her. As a little girl, Shagufta was emotional and shy, she hid behind her mother; and never spoke to people outside the family circle. She struggled with illnesses, and due to this could not study well.
“We say bhagwan ka ishara alag hota hain, maybe if a person does not do well in early life, perhaps later in life he will do something different or great.I was a very sick child right from the beginning making me heavily pampered and if I didn’t want to study, they would say don’t put pressure on her. My mom was very strict but others were soft on me. We lived in an extended family, Baarey Papa, Baari Ma used to lavish love on me, to the point that I became lethargic. I had a ligament injury in class 6 which affected the left side of my body. I sometimes even became unconscious.
“When I was 9, I underwent surgical removal of gall bladder; it had 72 stones.This story was reported by newspapers. When I was in class 8, I did not take my exams so I lagged one year. At that time, an angel in the form of my Dad’s friend, Uncle Junaid took the imitative to help me to study saying, “Let us bring back her motivation to study and let me teach her.
“Bedridden, with traction around my neck, my body aching, lying down, he taught me Maths and I started to like the subject. After being bedridden for three months, I returned to school in a robotic dress. My principal called my father and asked him to take me home saying, “You don’t understand, she is going through a mental trauma right now.
Glimpses of events organised by Shagufta’s NGOs
“I repeated classes, and with mocking classmates around, I changed the school and got an A. I could not believe it and thought the mark sheet got mixed with someone else!
“The talk of marriage exasperated me and decided to go to Ranchi and stay at my Aunt’s home to do college.
“After Baari Ma had a fall, I returned in 2002 and refused to go back to Ranchi. Dropping out of college, one day I attended a workshop where Ruby Bhatia and Michele Pinto came to Kolkata. That was a defining moment in my life because I never knew what the other world was.
“This workshop was a beautiful learning experience where I met these amazing people who told me, “Since you don’t want to study higher, help us, since your English is good.” With them, I learned oratory skills. Earlier, I never spoke to anyone outside, but presently, not only am I doing public speaking but now everyone meets me and I am well known.
“My first salary was Rs. 3200 and I spent more money going by taxi to reach my workplace. My Baari Papa used to say, “Let her travel so at least she will learn to talk and mix with people.” All these were life-learning lessons. It falls into place later on in life.
“After this, Rajiv, a good friend and I launched a new brand called Launchers. I have worked with Rajiv for 17 years as a PR Director in a partnership firm.
“My parents got hold of a very handsome boy, who is my husband now. My husband works the whole day; he is very supportive, most of my photographs are clicked by him, travels with me to all the places, and my parents stand right behind me.
“My life changed in October 2018 when my Baarey Papa was diagnosed with cancer. We spent long hours talking till he passed away in 2019. I was shattered.I felt uprooted and disconnected and took a break from work. It was a break tha my Baari Papa used to encourage me to take.
“In 2020 I did my first event and soon went on to do 5 events. On March 22, 2020, lockdown closed everything. People say lockdown was bad, for me lockdown was a boon. Our NGO called Best Friendz Society was helping people.
A wall celebrating women from dfference backgrounds in Shagufta’s office
“One day, one of my friends Nisha, a fashion designer, asked me to help people in an area in Kerala during the COVID 19 Pandemic. I was into PR and media. First I wondered how could I reach out to people in Kerala. I told myself: Okay, we will find a way to them even though we are not into this.
“At first, we heard there were four people, turned out to be 40, and finally they turned out to be 400 people stuck in Bengali Para in Ernakulam. While the BSF was providing food in the general area they were not reaching out to the red done. We had to locate the exact place and then Nisha and I arranged for food for 400 people for a month. I felt new energy and joy rising in me. I started gathering people, and communicating with them.
“While people speak up for daily wagers, I started to have a burden for a class of people that are largely ignored such as models who barely get Rs. 2,000 for an assignment which may be all they have for that month, photographers, and even school teachers. I started to post about and for them and personally WhatsApp them telling them if they need help, let me know. I assured them help will reach theirplace, they don’t have to let anyone know about it.
“I got a huge response from many photographers and models.I learned that many people were on the verge of suicide, and sitting at home. I started helping them and listening to their woes. Under the umbrella of Best Friendz Society, we started a campaign called Phone a Friend.
“I am blessed to have amazing clients. I would message PR clients who were on Facebook and tell them, “Sir, I am going to this area to help so-and-so, if you can help me out, it will be a big support to this person. They were responsive and kind, some sent sacs of rice, dal, and many other goods. They told me that they wanted to help but had no idea what to do. Here, many NGOs are misusing funds and are running corruption rings. They told me that they knew could trust me and that I would use their money honestly. They stood behind me while I ran around with their help. This is how our connection happened.
“I organize a philanthropic club, which is a virtual club and I tell our helpers that they don’t have to go around; just help us with money or goods. Those days, I used to get out of the house at 4 a.m. and visit Sundarbans, and other areas during COVID-19 almost 18 times in 2020, and attend to everyone. Sanjay Mondal, a photographer and boat owner told me point blank that he doesn’t want money, only cash for the diesel tu run his boat. He travelled with us. He had three boats. We went to the village where we found their homes submerged under water. We helped the boat owner families.
“We returned from Sundarbans at 11:30 night, reached home by 12:30 night and my mother woke me up at 3:30 a.m. to tell me to catch the vehicle going for another trip for the COVID team. She said, “They are waiting for you. Since you promised, you have to go, whether it is raining or whatever it is, even if you are sick, you have to go.”
“You need parents like that. While we went out so much during COVID, by the blessings of Allah we never got COVID, but people in 5-Star Hotels got COVID. Believe in yourself, believe in your God who has that specific blessing on you, keep doing good to others, and good will return to you and you don’t have to look back, all blessings are there, and people’s prayers are on your life. Just keep doing your work. When the government is doing 98 percent, I am doing my 2 percent.”
On the difficulties they face, she said, “Bengal is a politically disturbed area so to meet the right person is very difficult. In the last five years since 2020, I have opened small centers in every place I have worked with around 20 people or more in each center. We have adopted 23 orphans, senior citizens, teachers, and daily wagers who sum up to over 70 people and every month we send them food and other goods to help them run their daily lives. Nothing is fixed on what we send, but it is enough to ensure them good nourishing food and other commodities so that they can sleep peacefully without going to bed hungry.
A Poster of the event of Shagufta’s NGO
“In October 2020, the Phone a Friend campaign opened our lives to many people. Each night, we got calls from senior citizens- 65 or 70 years old – or young girls or men, and I listened to and counselled them over the phone. One woman did not even have time to have a cup of coffee and was always serving others suffering mental and physical abuse. Due to this, I launched my new campaign called Abuse Durga, which became Amar Durga, Amar O Durga, with a question mark. I asked the public a lot of questions, such as, “If this is my Durga, who are you to ask me a question whether I should celebrate or not?” Being a Muslim, people found it unusual.
“I felicitated people who had running cases against them for 15-20 years who were not guilty and celebrated 11 people. Last year, we held an exhibition to give table space to NGOs which cannot invest; awarded the LGBT community and single mothers. We will be holding another event for the LGBT community soon.
“My NGO is my charity partner. I did this because I was feeling bad to keep asking people to fund my NGO, so I decided to promote my events, and whatever money I got would go to my NGO so I could help the maximum people with the blessings of the Almighty. I do not want to work to mint money, want to work to make my stand.
“My breakthrough came when an old client called and invited me to his office. He is Rajendra Khandelwal, MD, Dhanwantary. During my meeting, he kept saying, “Very nice, very nice,” I asked him, “Who are you speaking about and he answered, “The event you held, the Teachers Excellence Award, I am going to support you,” and to my amazement, he handed over a cheque. At that moment, I knew I was doing the right thing. He asked me, “Why did you choose this topic, I replied, I am alive because of my teachers. Uncle Junaid who taught me how to hold a pencil and I want to do something in his memory. Without teachers’ investment, I would not be where I am today.”
“I do not work with an experienced group of people because there are a lot of young people looking for work, always take new people and give them scope, If they say, we cannot speak, I tell them you will learn to speak, If they are graphic designers, content writers, etc, I take them on board.
‘While we are a modern family, where I used to wear sleeveless and backless clothes, and my father even took us to Trincas to get us on the dance floor, I got to wearing hijab permanently unexpectedly. On my birthday in 2013 or 2014, my Baari Maa gifted me a hijab. I wore it to my office that day and since then, I have been wearing it. I changed as a person totally after that. While earlier, I was highly strung and emotional, I started to calm down after wearing the hijab believing it was my symbol of strength. My family was cool about my hijab.
“My dream is to meet 10,000 people with their inspiring stories and lift them on all my platforms. I highlight lives through events or writing about them. During the lockdown, I started to write in 2020. While my target is global, I also want to cover the map of West Bengal. I believe everyone can do anything but they just need a spark inside with a belief they can conquer the world, and they end up doing great things. Sometimes, to create that spark, that road is blocked so I just need to push these people and bring that change within them.”
Rita Farhat Mukand is an independent writer and author
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Rita Farhat Mukund / August 24th, 2024
Two students from TGMREIS have secured Scholarship for Higher Education under INSPIRE by virtue of performance of being within top one percent in class XII Board Examination held during the academic session March 2024.
Hyderabad :
Two students of Telangana Minorities Residential Educational Institutions Society (TGMREIS) have secured a Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) under Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) of the Department of Science & Technology of the Government of India.
According to Aisha Masarath Khanam, Secretary TGMREIS, students of TGMREIS are continuing their excellence in academics.
Two of our students from TGMREIS have secured Scholarship for Higher Education under INSPIRE by virtue of performance of being within top one percent in class XII Board Examination held during the academic session March 2024.
Asma Sultana and D. Saniya from Vikarabad Girls’ Junior College have made TGMREIS proud.
INSPIRE is an innovative programme sponsored and managed by the Department of Science & Technology for attraction of talent to Science.
SHE component of the INSPIRE aims to encourage meritorious students to study basic and natural sciences at undergraduate level through attractive scholarship and mentorship opportunities. SHE offers 12,000 scholarships every year to meritorious students in the age group 17-22 years.
Mohammed Faheemuddin Qureshi, Vice-Chairman and President, TGMREIS, Shahanawaz Qasim, Secretary to Chief Minister, Tafseer Iqbal, Special Secretary to Government, Minorities Welfare Department and Aisha Masarath Khanam have congratulated the students and teachers on their achievement.
TGMREIS, earlier called TMREIS, was launched in 2017 with the aim of providing quality education and holistic development opportunities to the minority communities in the state.
The society was formed under the Telangana State Public Societies Registration Act with a vision to bridge the educational gap and promote social inclusion among minority communities. TMREIS aims to create an environment where students from minority backgrounds can access quality education, develop their talents, and build a strong foundation for their future.
TMREIS runs 204 minority residential schools and junior colleges across the state, where about one lakh students are getting education.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Education> Focus / by Radiance News Bureau / August 23rd, 2024
