Govt school seeds its best in 'cloud'

NEW DELHI: In a tiny room in a south Delhi government school, runs another school "in the cloud".

There are computers here in place of textbooks; a flat-screen television in place of a blackboard and a "granny" from Canada instead of a teacher who, in a bizarre reversal of roles, sits at the back taking notes while the 'students' Skype.

The Delhi school in the Cloud is run from the premises of a formal school but constitutes an experiment which questions the fundamental principles of formal schooling.

"The assumption is that kids need to be lectured," explains psychologist Ritu Dangwal who's been collaborating with scientist and educator Sugata Mitra from the "hole-in-the-wall" experiment days. "But Prof Mitra has demonstrated that kids can learn on their own. Also, these kids have never been heard before," Dangwal added.

The more technical term for the School in the Cloud is "self-organizing learning environment" (SOLE) and the concept originated with Sugata Mitra's "hole-in-the-wall" experiment in the late 90s.

The Delhi laboratory has three computers with internet connection and a television. Students gather for hourlong sessions with the "granny" - a volunteer who's willing to help initiate and steer discussions with the group.

On Tuesday, a batch of seventh-graders introduce themselves to the 52-year-old Ron Grypma from Vancouver, and also tell him about their siblings and their favourite food - Khushbu says "cauliflower" and her teacher, Rekha Mishra, promptly goes into a giggling fit.

In turn, they learn that Grympa has three kids, his best friend is a lawyer called Cosmas from Netherlands, and that Netherlands is in Europe. If that doesn't seem much of an achievement, consider this.

By the end of their first hourlong session, a group that has never handled computers figure out how to type in their responses, shift back to full-screen when the window is accidentally minimized and re-establish connection when it snaps mid-conversation. Dangwal gets up twice to help, but each time the girls fix it before she can get to the laptop.

"I think the children didn't have much exposure to computers before," says Grypma, once the session is over. "I found what Prof Mitra is doing very intriguing," he says, "I heard his speech and read his research papers." Grypma himself is working on a master's degree in education technology.

The senior secondary school which houses the Delhi SOLE has a regular roll-strength of over 2,000, nearly all coming from the neighbouring slums.

The SOLE sessions are planned in a way they don't interfere with the school's regular schedule or require participants - each Class (VI-VIII) has three groups of 15. The school principal and teachers selected the candidates to attend these sessions following an equally informal method.

They went by "questions answered smartly", "a little bit of academic excellence" and that least scientific of all indicators - "the light in their eyes."

However, an initial reading and comprehension test had been conducted, says Dangwal, and the participants will be tested on their "aspiration and confidence" every four months. "This is part of a research study that will continue for three years," she adds.

But this education is practically contraband, smuggled in "clandestinely" as the principal puts it. Government permission for this project is yet to be obtained. As the 'file' traversed government departments, the principal launched the lab anyway arguing that if she didn't, she'd "always regret it".

"Now, with technology, a child's mind should gallop," she says, "But most of them come to school like blinkered horses." Computer labs were introduced but there's no maintenance of these. She says she's "past the stage" of fearing the government's disapproval. "If they question, I'll just say sorry."

(Name of teacher changed to conceal identity)

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'Transgenders can enter mainstream'

NEW DELHI: For long, transgenders have been an oppressed sexual minority in India. But the Supreme Court's landmark judgment on Tuesday is set to end the exploitation of the transgender community by giving them their most basic human rights.

A welcome step, as the legal fraternity likes to call it, the SC's judgment will help in bringing the transgenders in the mainstream. "The judgment has paved the way for the transgenders to be a part of the mainstream. It has made it easier for them to get jobs, education, like any other sex without discrimination. What still needs to change is the mindset of people and the judgement is a good start," said Anand Grover of the Lawyers Collective, who represented Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, a eunuch and transgender rights activist, in the matter.

While hearing the matter, the SC also came across the stories of a few transgenders who were discriminated against and were exploited for their gender identity. Laxmi, who was an intervener in the matter, also shared her story with the apex court to drive her point home. As the SC pronounced its order on Tuesday morning, an elated Lakshmi said, "I am very happy with the judgment. The progress of the country is dependent on human rights of the people and we are very happy as the SC has given us those rights."

This judgment comes at a time when the apex court has agreed to consider the curative petition filed in the Supreme Court against Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code that criminalizes same-sex intercourse. Whether it will have a positive influence, it is premature to ascertain, yet the legal fraternity feels that it's a start. "They are two opposite judgments. We hope that this judgment will help us in the other case," Grover said. Grover's remarks were second by human rights lawyer Ashok Arora, who said the verdict will help the society grow better.

The SC's order giving hijras and eunuchs 'Third Gender' identity and ordering their inclusion among Other Backward Class (OBC) communities to avail 27% reservation in government educational institutions has put India on the world map as a country which is sensitive towards sexual minority. The apex court observed that the recognition of "sex identity gender" of persons, and "guarantee to equality and non-discrimination" on the ground of gender identity or expression was "gaining acceptance in international law and, therefore, be applied in India as well".

Last year, Germany came out with a new law which allowed the parents to register the sex of the children as 'not specified' in the case of children with intersex variation. In 2012, the Senate of Argentina passed a law on Gender Identity that recognizes right by all persons to the recognition of their gender identity as well as free development of their person according to their gender identity. It also allowed a person to request that their recorded sex be amended along with the changes in first name and image, whenever they do not agree with the self-perceived gender identity. The same year, the Supreme Court of Pakistan also held that transgenders be given equal basic rights as all citizens.

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No more invisible: Hijras celebrate new 'weapon'

NEW DELHI: "We have been given a weapon to defend ourselves," Simran Shaikh, a hijra activist of India HIV/AIDS Alliance, said about the SC judgment which has made the third gender official. So far, hijras and transgenders were legally invisible in India, making it very difficult for them to find mainstream jobs, education, proper medical treatment, and use their voting rights. But now they are celebrating and describe the judgment as "landmark" and "revolutionary". Some of them believe it can help end historical exclusion, oppression and violence towards transgenders.

"Hijras have the worst quality of life that we can imagine," said Vikram Sahai, member of the Gender Studies Group at Delhi University. They lack access to crucial public services and are discriminated against and harassed on a daily basis, he explained. Left without options, many hijras are forced to beg or do sex work, which deepens the stigma attached to them.

All the activists TOI interviewed stressed that changing people's mindset is most important and the judgment can make it possible. Abhina Aher, a hijra activist who works for India HIV/AIDS Alliance, said prejudice, discrimination and violence make life hard for transgenders. "A strong statement has been made about it."

Aware of this, workers of Society for Peoples' Awareness, Care & Empowerment (SPACE) are planning to conduct awareness meetings-first with transgenders and then with the general public. "In the same way there were myths about AIDS back in the 1980s, there are myths and lack of awareness about hijras," said Shaikh. Activists said a lot of work needs to be done within the community to spread awareness about their right to get education and work.

Akkai Padmashali, transsexual activist from Karnataka, said changing their legal status will eventually change hijras' social, medical and emotional position in society. "It gives us the right to choose our gender identity and will help our families accept us," she said, adding, "Finally, the state has taken the responsibility to take care of one of the most socially backward groups."

The third gender will be entitled to special welfare programmes and equal access to services. Amitava Sarkar, who identifies herself as a transgender, stressed that educating healthcare and educational service providers is very important. "We have to sensitize them and make it clear that they should help the third gender as much as they help the others", Sarkar said. Small needs, such as special public toilets for the third gender, also need to be fulfilled. Using women's or men's conveniences often becomes a pretext for grave violence against hijras, social workers told TOI.

So far, it has been almost impossible for hijras to get jobs in banks and public offices. But transgenders will now be treated as socially and economically backward classes, which means they will also be employed in the civil service. "We can use this law to influence the corporate sector," said Shaikh. "Recognition as other backward classes (OBC) could change the whole scenario, even politically. This will help the community to access and exercise its due rights," said Anjan Joshi, executive director of SPACE.

However, nothing will change overnight, he stressed. "It will take quite a while to sensitize the general community." And there are many doubts. Sahai called the Supreme Court judgment a minor symbolic victory. Akkai Padmashali wondered how many political leaders will speak in favour of the community. And the others announced they will pressure the government, ministers, and educational and healthcare institutions to include the third gender.

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Exclusive club gives hijras space & dignity

NEW DELHI: Mehek lost her behind-the-scenes job as an embroiderer at a Hyderabad boutique four years ago when a client came to know she is a transgender. For two years she couldn't find a job in the southern city, and finally packed up and came to Delhi.

"I slept on the street and went without food for days, but couldn't find work as the social stigma against transgenders is deeply ingrained," she says. Mehek's luck turned when she found her way to Zeenat Club in Khajuri, northeast Delhi. An exclusive club for the hijra community and other transgenders, it works against transphobia and provides free grooming, legal aid and entertainment, as also employment. The club has a parlour, boutique and free counselling centre.

Like Mehek, who teaches embroidery at the club, hundreds of harassed transgenders have found refuge there. Prema is one of them. A beautician, she is always in demand. "We are like any other woman. We also need to go to a parlour regularly but hardly any allows us in." Prema gives free beauty treatment to all the hijras in the area. It's a hijra-exclusive parlour, so men and women aren't served.

Mallica, a counsellor at the club, visits her family in Ashok Vihar every alternate day. "We are disowned by our families, but here I have found home. My family took a lot of time to accept me," she said.

Like its transgender members, the club has had its share of travails. It took them a month to rent a place in Bhajanpura, in 2012. Last year, they shifted to Khajuri but ran into opposition from the other residents. "They said we would be a bad influence on children. They even threatened to install an iron gate at the entrance of the lane but we got an order from the corporation," said Anjan Joshi of the NGO, Society for Peoples' Awareness, Care & Empowerment (SPACE). The NGO has now got land from the government in the Kashmere Gate area to build a recreational centre for transgenders. "Kapil Sibal came for the inauguration on April 13," he claimed.

Last year, the NGO organized a fashion show. However, all the designers it approached refused to let transgender people model for them, fearing their image and business would get hurt. "Being gay is still fine, but the situation is bad for hijras," said Joshi. Welcoming the SC order, he said he hopes more Zeenat Clubs will be formed in the city. "Zeenat means beautiful, and all hijras are Zeenats in this club.

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Gas shortage cripples power plants in capital

NEW DELHI: The Delhi government's 1500MW gas-based plant in Bawana has been in the news for the past few years because of the gas crisis. The plant was pitched as a solution to the capital's dependence on other states for meeting its power demand. But, shortage of gas to operate the plant has made it more of a liability.

Discoms have not yet sourced power from the plant this season. But with the temperature rising, they may be left with no choice. The peak demand this year is expected to be about 6200MW.

Currently, discoms are able to source power from other places at a cheaper cost. "The plant functions irregularly because of gas shortage. This raises the cost of power generation. Regular gas supply would bring down the costs substantially. However, the government doesn't run the plant to full capacity and that deters us from sourcing power from it,'' said a discom official.

It is not just the Bawana plant which is suffering because of the gas crisis, Tata Power's 108MW plant in Rithala has become almost redundant because of no gas availability. "We try to source the cheapest power available. If the power produced from Bawana costs about Rs 5-6 per unit, even DERC will ask why we are sourcing power from there when economically viable options are available. Power from Bawana will not become affordable till they have a regular supply of gas,'' said an official. At present, the Bawana plant is in shutdown mode because of which discoms have not sought power from it yet.

The Bawana power project, built at a cost of Rs 4,500 crore, could produce at least 750MW from the first cycle if it had enough gas. But it has barely managed to produce 250 MW since the first cycle was commissioned. Similarly, the proposed power plant at Bamnauli is also stuck as the government has been unable to arrange any gas for the plant, an official said.

Out of the six power stations that supply electricity only to Delhi, four are dependent on gas. Coal-based Indraprastha power station had shut in 2010 and another thermal station-Rajghat powerhouse-with an installed capacity of 135MW is also due to close operations soon. There are also plans to convert three out of five units at NTPC's coal-based Badarpur power station to gas.

"The government is phasing out coal-based power stations for Delhi due to environment concerns. But with gas shortage looming large, production by gas stations is severely limited. There is hardly any gas available in the country and the cost of producing power from imported gas will make it too expensive," said a senior official.

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Ex-Army officer’s house razed, wants Rs 10 crore

NEW DELHI: A retired general of the Army has dragged the Delhi Development Authority to court and demanded damages of Rs 10 crore for demolition of his farmhouse.

Accusing the DDA of conniving with encroachers to demolish his residence that was built in a farmhouse in Masoodabad area in south west Delhi after securing all required clearances, the ex-army officer has argued he should be compensated for the loss.

A division bench of Chief Justice B D Ahmed and Justice Siddharth Mridul recently issued notice to the DDA, the state government, the Centre and the Delhi Jal Board seeking their response to the petition. HC has given the agencies time till May 12 to furnish their explanation on the issue.

Seeking exemplary damages, the petition filed by the general informs the court that he owns a farmhouse in Masoodabad which he acquired only after taking all the required clearances from concerned civic authorities.

The petition further informed the court that his property is also registered in the gazette notification of 1963 that allowed urbanization of the primarily rural area. It was almost a decade later that he constructed a building making sure that municipal authorities and the government approve of his building plan.

The officer has blamed DDA for conducting a bogus survey in order to launch a project to build a 100-metre wide road in the area and by falsifying facts the agency included his property in the list of land acquired for the widening of the road. Alleging that agency officials are hand in gloves with encroachers whom they wish to shield, the petition questions why the agency zeroed in on the area precisely where government-approved farmhouses stand after completing all legal formalities.

Justifying the need to recover damages, the former general has told the HC that once DDA identified his farmhouse for the road widening project, the Delhi government and the Centre also gave their nod without finding out the truth, with the result that DDA team came and demolished his building.

According to the petitioner, the agency didn't even provide him a chance to remove his belongings from the house and razed it causing him untold misery and financial loss.

On its part the Delhi Jal Board said the property is holding up the completion of its project to supply water to west Delhi.

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Man posing as magistrate held for duping hoteliers

NEW DELHI: Hotel owners at Paharganj in central Delhi were in for a shock on Saturday when a man posing as a magistrate came to their shops to check their licence papers and business permits. None of them dared to question him since his driver came up to them and introduced him as a senior magistrate from court who wanted to personally check their documents. He was later arrested when one of the hoteliers decided to call the police.

Police received a call around 5pm on Saturday from a shopkeeper at Paharganj market who informed them that a man who was ostensibly a magistrate, later identified as Kishan Lal Gupta (65), had come to the market in a silver Innova, cancelled a few licences and even taken Rs 5,000 as bribe from one of the shopkeepers for waiving a Rs 80,000 penalty. He even showed an identity card issued by the union law ministry. The driver did most of the dealings for the man.

The driver, identified as Munilal, asked one of the hotel owners to call other hoteliers in the area to a spot where they could get their licences verified and settle disputes. Even after a PCR van arrived at the spot, the man, wearing a black coat, threatened police not to interfere since he was under orders from senior judges. This had even made policemen cautious about questioning him.

His lies were, however, nailed when he took out his identity card. The issuing authority was shown as the Chief Justice of India, 'S Swamy'. The man and his driver were taken to Nabi Karim police station where they confessed the crime.

He said he had resorted to the crime after suffering a loss in business. He claimed he earlier worked as a supplier of soft drinks and owned a property in Kamla Nagar. DCP (Central) Alok Kumar said he has been charged with cheating, impersonation and extortion.

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Seasonal viruses on prowl: Treat illnesses in time as they might prove fatal, doctors say

NEW DELHI: Deepak Gupta (51) was rushed to a local hospital from his office last week after he complained of breathlessness and coughing bouts. His condition became worse despite medication and Gupta, who underwent cardiac bypass surgery recently, had to be admitted to the emergency department of Max Hospital, Saket, for two days.

Doctors said that the problem was due to viral infection and that it could have proved fatal if it was not tackled in time.

"Viral illnesses and upper respiratory tract infections are quite common during change of season. But the number of such cases being reported this year is worrying. Our OPDs are flooded with patients complaining about fever, running nose, difficulty breathing and persistent cough," Dr Romel Tickoo, senior consultant internal medicine at Max Hospital, Saket, said. Chronically ill, diabetic and heart patients, for example, often require admission to control symptoms.

According to Dr Anoop Misra, chairman, Fortis-C-DOC Centre of Excellence for Diabetes, Metabolic Diseases and Endocrinology, elderly and those with weak immunity should be administered with preventive vaccination to avoid serious consequences. Asthma patients are advised to keep nebulizers and medicines handy to avoid emergency situation.

With obesity becoming a common problem in children, there is all the more reason to worry. Doctors say it might trigger wheezing or an asthma attack. "It is often seen that obese children run short of breath if they do even a small amount of physical exercise. These kids have lower lung reserve and are not able to exhale properly," Dr Sanjeev Bagai, paediatrician and CMD at Nephron Clinic, said.

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More mild weather in Delhi, but wet spell round the corner

NEW DELHI: The extended run of mild weather in the capital is likely to continue till at least the coming weekend. The Met office has said more rain is headed towards Delhi and NCR from Wednesday to Saturday, which will bring maximum temperatures down by 2-3 degrees Celsius.

The weather office attributed the likely wet spell to another western disturbance (WD) that's set to hit north India from Tuesday. A WD is a wave of moist winds, originating from the Mediterranean, Black and Caspian seas, which comes into northern India from Pakistan and brings rain and snow into the region.

"Light to moderate rain, including thundershowers, would occur over some parts of Delhi and NCR during April 16 to 19. Thunder squalls may occur at one two places," an update from the Regional Meteorological Centre said on Monday.

This is the fourth WD to hit northern India this month and closely follows the previous one that brought light rain to some parts of NCR over the weekend.

Due to successive wet spells in March and April, day temperatures have remained close to or below normal so far. As a result, pleasant weather has extended to the middle of April, when normally the mercury starts to inch towards the 40-degree mark. The maximum temperature on Monday was 34.5 degrees C, one notch below normal.

"The WD will bring intermittent spells of rain to entire north India, causing moderate, scattered to fairly widespread showers over Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh from April 15 to 20; light to moderate, isolated to scattered rain or thundershowers over Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, west Uttar Pradesh and adjoining east Uttar Pradesh from April 16 to 19," a Met official said.

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4-year jail for Dawood Ibrahim's shooter

NEW DELHI: Brajesh Singh, the dreaded gangster from Bihar who was once considered a prized sharp shooter of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, has been sentenced to around four years imprisonment in an attempt to murder case by a trial court. Considering Singh's good conduct, his economic status and the fact that Singh has already spent around four years in jail, the court has ordered his release. However, as Singh is facing trial in other cases, he may not be set free.

"Keeping in view the economic status of convict, pleading of guilt by convict, my inference is that convict deserves leniency. Therefore, convict Brajesh is hereby sentenced for the period already undergone by him in the present case," additional sessions judge Daya Prakash said.

The incident took place in July 2007 when police got a tip off that Singh had shifted to Janakpuri. During police's raid, Singh opened fire at the police.

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