Free TV sets for people below poverty line by the Tamil Nadu Government

The Tamil Nadu Government had given free TV sets for people below poverty line. This will not benefit them in any way as there is no power in villages and remote places most of the time. Moreover, their valuable time in fields and workplace will be affected by their watching useless soap operas which is addictive and gives only negative impact on the psyche of people
Instead, the government should have provided free seeds or technology tothem tobetter their harvest or given them training in some vocation which would enable them to be self sufficient
Being populist is fine but do we know how much harm we make by doing such useless acts unknowingly in the long run. People become lazy their fields get neglected, they depend more onthe government for their day to day existence thereby becoming a bigger burden on the exchequer as also increasing their poverty. I was witness to a mid day meal scheme of the Tamil Nadu Government during the late MGR's time. I was passing by a corporation run school during luch time in chennai. I saw parents standing outside the school with their children and a plat or bowl intheir hands. the children just go inside the school get their share of lunch and give it to the parents waiting outside. This is repeated by the child till they felt the family's share of lunch is obtained including that of the parents. I felt very bad that day. Aren't we spoiling them by our very act of so called generosity. Instead of providing lunch, free they should have given some incentive to the child to get the lunch by way of regular presence in the school and good performance or keeping a tab on the greedy parents who want the share of their children's meal without doing any labour. Are we creating a society to our selfish benefit especially the politicians with an eye on their vote bank without realising how much long term burden they are causing on the government exchbequer. There are lots of ways in which the government can help the people by which the people also will benefit and the government also will not suffer. It is by making them earn their livelihood be it in cities or in rural areas. Make them accountablefor every paisa theyearn let them be given some training in some vocation like carpentry, electrician, weaving, etc if they are in cities or town and in agricultural technology and benefits if they are in villages. This way people will bless the government as also will increase the income of the government in the long run as they will not be perennially dependent on the government for their day to day existence. Hope the government of the day will come out of its selfishness and do the needful for the vast majority of the population thereby increasing the income of the country
Meenakshi Kamath

standard of education today

standard of education has increased considerably in india in the last decade or so with computerisation and implmentation of computer aided teaching in the schools. Children enjoy the methods today which is partly audio-visual and partly conventional using what is known as smart class which is a web based white board and another is blackboard which has been used down the ages.
But the moot question is are the children able to perform in their exams where hours of written work and recollection of notes and ideas is a must.
Somestimes I feel the conventional method of teaching is a must for the primary classes upto class 5 wherein they learn the concepts of the subject in the traditional manner which has been carried forward down the ages and it has been successful also. How then shall we explain the number of IAS officers and other government exams are cleared by the students of the rural areas and from government schools rather than by the students of the public schools? One the students of rural areas and government schools are known to live in adverse circumstances and learn to adjust anywhere while those of the public schools are lacking in it and hence are unable to put in the hard work required to pass such tough exams though exceptions do exist.
Through web based education and computer aided teaching intellect do develop for it to materialise into a full fledged academic success is a distant dream if not very distant. Unless the government will come out with changes in the examination pattern in the near future. with all the save paper save tree slogan rummomg the ground maybe that will also be possible. Until then let us stick to both the methods of teaching in our schools which will benefit the students to face the practical realities of life much better.
Meenakshi

Girls Education in rural areas

18/5/09

It gives me immense pleasure to read the newspapers about increase in girls going to schools in the rural areas especially in states like Bihar and UP where there is severe discrimination against girls and women.

Are the women still contented with what they get or achieve. Partly women are getting or started getting empowered thanks to government's various schemes to that effect. Solid example of this is of a girl of a small town in Sehore, M.P. who got through the IAS in her very first attempt even though from a very poor family. I hope her clans increase in the days to come.

We need to use more self reliant measures to empower women in rural areas by using the locally available resources to good effect like jute, bamboo, wool, milk etc., so that they can use their talent to earn their livelihood apart from the farm or poultry products in their vicinity. They can also become health care professionals with a little help from the government or some doctors in the area who can guide them on basics of hygiene and sanitation.
We need to go a long way before they become truly self-reliant.

Meenakshi Kamath