SMART ERODE

FLY OVER near ERODE G H

A   good number of well meaning folks believe  that  the about to be built  4 DIRECTION FLY OVER near ERODE G.H will reduce the traffic congestion there.

But, their hope is based on mirage and illusion.

Because , despite numerous fly overs built  in CHENNAI and else where,  we have never seen easy and smooth passage of vehicles in congested urban centres.

The solution lies in reduction in number of vehicles and people  coming over there.

People are not coming there by choice.

They are forced to come through that congested place.

Then, what to do to solve this congestion?

We can do certain things with out single paisa investment. However, we need to do a lot of changes in our every day life.

1.      We should  motivate  educational  Institutions, public libraries to  evolve suitable timings for hassle free transport.

  By opening one hour earlier, the peak hour traffic jams can be managed in most of the
cases.

                           Let us consider the opening   of  the educational institutions by 07.00 a.m. onwards  ( well before morning peak hours ).

  They can complete the classes conveniently,  before the evening peak hours, say by  02.00 p.m. onwards

. If  second shift is considered, it can commence by 11.30 a.m. onwards. ( well after morning peak hours)
They can conclude the classes by 06.00 p.m. onwards

2.      Open   the Banks and financial institutions    ( and if possible  govt  offices  too  ) one hour earlier  and close them too one hour earlier. Their actual numbers may not be very large, but their influence is tremendous .

3.      Just like Railway  booking offices  and Head post offices, the public contact points of at least a few  Banks  &  financial institutions   and govt  offices  can work  7 days  a week (362  days) . Non policy issues, routine services  ( paying electricity bills, municipal taxes, getting a demand draft, registering birth /death  etc.)

4.      Charge  parking fees for all  MOTORISED TRANSPORT  vehicles  in  main public  roads according to their occupying space and time   ( Let us give the contract to local  body elected representatives  and their associates, so that they can earn their money legally)

5.      Encourage the usage of the CAUVERY  RIVER BARRAGE BRIDGES by providing    licenses / permits to Govt & Private bus / minibus / College Bus  operators. .  In fact they are the essential factors in our ring road concepts.

6.      Permit, develop, initiate, encourage  Bye – Pass services (  both  mofussil  & town buses).  Look at the   CONTINUING success of the age old ERODE GH – SPB colony  town bus service  and the  SALEM – COIMBATOE, SALEM – TIRUPUR mofussil  services )

7.      Provide Stoppages for some more trains  at SANKAGIRI, KODUMUDI, PERUNDURAI / ENGUR railway stations

8.      Provide  a stoppage for the YERCAUD  EXPRESS at CAUVERY R.S ( PALLIPALYAM / SPB and the neighbourhood area residents  will also be happy)

9.      As an aside, Permitting AUTO STANDS,  BUS STOPS, MINI BUS TERMINUS, SHARE AUTO
STAND, Two Wheeler parkings,  car parkings,  and   ATMs of BANKS at  the Railway Colony side of the   ERODE Railway Junction  will reduce the congestion at the  front side  and will generate
revenue for the railways without single paise investment.

.

Things to do with minimum investment  and maximum benefit.

First, relocate the BUS STAND to city outskirts.

Second, complete  the RING ROAD.

Third invest more in the IRTT medical college and hospitals   

 Finally, develop  the neighbourhood small towns’  Govt Hospitals, Primary Health Centres,  BUS STANDS, Whole Sale Markets of agricultural produces ( Chithode, Kavindapadi, Chennimalai, Kodumudi, Pallipalayam, Thindal, Perundurai etc) 

Ofcourse , the above remedies are applicable  universally.

Why not  ERODE   take a pioneering lead  in this generic problem of growing urban space ? 

>  Effective and Efficient  use of existing resources    in the    SALEM DIVISION  OF THE RAILWAY SYSTEM .

1.      In the Railway Colony side of the   ERODE Railway Station,
Permitting AUTO STANDS,  BUS STOPS, MINI BUS TERMINUS, SHARE AUTO
STAND, Two Wheeler parkings,  car parkings,  and   ATMs of BANKS  will
reduce the congestion at the station front side  and will generate
revenue for the railways without single paise investment.

Above all it will reduce the potential for accidents at station entry/exit.

2.       The   ERODE – COIMBATORE  passenger  train     leaves   ERODE BY
7.00AM AND RETURNS BY 8,30 PM AFTER MAKING TWO SHUTTLE TRIPS.  It can
very well be extended to SALEM  by starting it at  SALEM by 5.30 am
and terminating there by 10.00pm.    It will help both Tirupur  &
COIMBATORE bound PASSENGERS  from SALEM onwards and vice versa.
Further it will make the small railway stations more active with
regular  passengers  (Industrial workers , students , and  small scale
vendors )

3.  Similarly,  SALEM -     YESHVANTPUR    passenger train  can very
well start at ERODE  BY 4.30 AM  and terminated  by 11.00pm (It does
not involve any additional expenditure, no new space requirement ; 2
new   passenger services for  ERODE – SALEM SEGMENT)

4. The poorly patronised   ERODE – SALEM   segment of ERODE – METTUR
DAM        can be withdrawn  and it can serve as    METTUR DAM –SALEM
– VRIDDHACHALAM- CUDDALORE – METTUR DAM   operation. (Puducherry,
Chidambaram  passengers will also  use it will be near to them:
ofcourse NEYVELI  and Saint Ramalingasami’s Vadalore too )  Passengers
 from Erode onwards    can still use it by boarding the Erode –
Yeswantpur  passenger train.


5. The   ERODE  - TRICHY  passenger train  can easily  be extended
to Tanjaviur  by  starting it at Erode an hour earlier.    Further ,
by clubbing     NAGAPATTINAM / NAGORE/ ANNAI VELANKANNI./ KARIKAL  bound
services  with this ERODE – TRICHY train we can integrate seamlessly
the  WESTERN DISTRICTS  WITH EASTERN DISTRICTS  . Tourism  will
flourish. All religious pilgrims  {Hindus, Muslims, Christians )  will
bless the RAILWAYS with revenue.

6.  Erode – Tirunelveli   passenger service can be extended up  to
Trichendur. (  Let us get the benefit of the UNIGAUGE  SYSTEM:  Let us
get rid of the shackles of long gone METRE GAUGE )

7. ERODE –  JOLARPETTAI  SERVICE can be extended up to THIRUPATHI  


KINLY READ ON.

BYE-PASSING of the Coimbatore junction by long haul trains  and  the
railways proposal   for  DOUBLING THE IRUGUR - POTHANUR single
railway line is generating strong opposition from a  influential
section of people.

With due respects to them ,  I would like to  draw your attention to
the possible benefits  of the above plans.



Not long ago GANDHIPURAM is the only destination for all city buses,
mofussil buses, THIRUVALLVAR STATE EXPRESS BUSES and expensive but
comfortable OMNI buses. It was convenient to all stakeholders;
travelling public and their friends and relatives  who are sending
them off  / receiving them, both public and private bus operators and
their staff, Taxi / Auto drivers,  traders, lodging and boarding
houses ; almost all.


Then the Ukkadam, Singanallur, Mettupalayam mofussil bus stands  and
the OMNI bus stand near GP / ELLEN HOSPITALS were came into service.
Perhaps some more mofussil  bus stands may come up on AVINASHI ROAD (
peelamedu / kalapatti / CODDISIA )  and SATHY ROAD ( ganapathy). All
these new developments are not convenient to all sections of people.
Still we accepted it because of the inevitability of the change
necessitated by ever increasing crowd.


If we use same logic, then we will not only accept  but whole
heartedly welcome the   BYE-PASSING of the Coimbatore junction by long
haul trains  and  the railways proposal   for  DOUBLING THE IRUGUR -
POTHANUR single  railway line.


No TIER II city is so endowed with a super most energy efficient form
of Transport which is already available in our  Coimbatore. An MRTS

of ready availability !
 To realize this potential, We must get away from the mind set of
Gandhipuram, RS puram, Race course centered city growth. Let us think
of Avinashi to Mettupalayam, Sathy to Pollachi, and Palakadu to
Somanur as part of Coimbatore Mega city
 We must treat Pothanur Railway Junction as  THE COIMBATORE DISTRICT
 ( or)  GREATER COIMBATORE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY JUNCTION for all the
Traffic passing through Coimbatore (Tirupur to Palakad and beyond
Traffic).   What is the point in   routing these long haul trains
through Singanallur, peelamedu etc.  to Coimbatore city junction
(without any stoppages  enroute ) consuming fuel, space, time  (of
both passengers and railways ) without any tangible / intangible
benefit to the common city folks, except the harassing / harassed
shopkeepers and the taxi / auto operators.
Frankly speaking, What is our problem with the Pothanur Railway
Junction? Lack of connectivity,  is it not?  It is not at all a
problem : rather it is a golden opportunity to   develop  a new  Bus
terminus near Pothanur Junction  with town buses,  mini buses, share
autos, ordinary autos, call taxies etc.  for the hassle free travel of
railway passengers boarding / alighting at pothanur. In effect , we
will have a satellite railway junction immediately  without any mega
investment.
 Thus freed railway line capacity between Irugur and Coimbatore
Junction via Singanallur and Peelamedu can be used for city commuter
traffic. THIS WILL BENEFIT ALL COIMBATOREANS (RESIDENTS AND VISITORS)
 It is not that we should abandon the Coimbatore junction. Rather, we
must make it more passenger friendly and congestion free for
Coimbatore city folks. Let us be very clear that all the trains
originating and terminating at Coimbatore junction should continue to
do so. Further, all the Coimbatore bound trains must stop at Irugur,
Singanallur, Peelamedu, Coimbatore North and some more stations/halts
to be created in proximity with Avinashi road (near CIT / CMC /
CODDISIA / IT PARKS), Avaram palayam Road ( near Sri Ramakrishna
Hospital),   Sathy Road (near Aswin Hospitals / Textool)  and a few
more if demand is there. In effect, it will make a significant segment
of the Coimbatore city roads free from traffic congestion. Especially,
it will make the Coimbatore junction    people friendly  and crowds
will be manageable. Also it will improve the connectivity and thereby
increase the  value of the residential / commercial / industrial
properties along the IRUGUR-PEELAMEDU-North Coimbatore railway line.
It will benefit not only the Coimbatore citizens but also the
frequently visiting populations from Palladam, Tirupur, Erode and
Salem, Palakadu, Mettupalayam etc, too.  And some more COIMBATORE
terminating  trains (both from Tirupur and Palakkadu ) can be extended
up to Mettupalayam so that we can reduce the enormous road traffic in
the Mettupalayam High way.  By applying the same principle, we can
serve commuters from Pollachi side too,  once the gauge conversion is
completed.

Perhaps,  Railway administration can discuss these ideas in
appropriate forums. { Coimbatore city corporation,  District
Administration, Railway  user groups, Educational Institutions, Trade
unions, CII and the likes, media (both print and electronic )
CODDISSIA, SIMA, SITRA etc.etc }

METTUPALAYAM ( Tamil Nadu ) - CHAMRAJ NAGAR ( Karnataka ) connecting NEW RAILWAY LINE project is not in the newspapers for long time.

METTUPALAYAM ( Tamil Nadu ) - CHAMRAJ NAGAR ( Karnataka ) connecting NEW RAILWAY LINE project is not in the newspapers for long time. Atleast here, NO NEWS IS NOT GOODNEWS. This project is being kept in abeyance for decades due to the just opposition from the concerned environment groups. There are even newspaper reports about the SUPREME COURT appointed environment experts committee’s opposition to this project. But it is high time to revisit this matter and rethink about the potential damages to the possible hazards to environment. Surely, any human activity, at this level, in the forests , will definitely do harm to the environment. But, on the other hand, by not taking up and implementing this railway project, we are actually and increasingly do more harm to the environment. Because, as it is NOT A NO GO ZONE, due to the lack of railway connectivity, the only mode of transportation is road, which is more damaging to the environment than the railways, in terms of fuel consumption & pollution, frequent accidents, increased man - animal conflicts etc. THE RAILWAY LINE CAN BE BUILT ALONG THE EXISTING ROAD CONNECTIVITY WITH LEAST DAMAGE TO THE ENVIRONMENT. In railway being, a central govt establishment with more than a century and half expertise, we can have better compliance with environment norms. From the experience gained from the not so past gruesome, horrible, sad fatal accidents involving the majestic elephants throughout our vast nation including southern railways, we can surely build elephant friendly modern railway lines with better safeguards and easy pathways for the animals. It is time the railway activists and the railway administration to step up the individual and collective efforts to build this railway line to protect our environment.

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS PROPAGATION - role of technical education institutions

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS PROPAGATION - role of technical education institutions We, technical education institutions , need to be proactive in the ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT KNOWLEDGE PROPAGATION and the associated SKILLS & PRACTICES DEVELOPMENT. We have the necessary organizational framework, basic technical knowledge, skilled people & interested pupils. For example, we can monitor rain fall, ambient atmospheric temperature, humidity, wind speed etc. on regular basis and record it too. What we need is a set of user friendly robust gadgets. They are readily available in the market. They can be procured and supplied by AICTE / ISTE /DIRECTORATES TECHNICAL EDUCATION / UGC and other similar bodies on cost basis. Further Bio , solar, wind energy equipments, ECO FRIENDLY TOILETS, Energy conservation systems etc. can be installed and demonstrated of their viability in the campus itself. The pupils of the host institution and the neighborhood community will become the ambassadors of these environment friendly energy resources.. What we need is an action plan to implement this ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT KNOWLEDGE & SILLS PROPAGATION programme. Obviously AICTE / ISTE /DIRECTORATES TECHNICAL EDUCATION / UGC and other similar bodies can play a catalytic role in this nation building mission. forAn Eco-friendly Solution for Human Waste Management Mr S Radhakrishnan, Director, Directorate of Industry Interface & Technology Management (DIITM), DRDO HQ, Rajaji Marg, New Delhi – 110011 • Ph No - 011-23013209 • Fax – 011-23793008 • Email- radkrishnan100@gmail.com • Col Atul Kumar Bhat, Jt Dir, DIITM • Ph No - 011-23007443, 9582705986 • Email- atulshubhra@gmail.com • Mr Nirankar Saxena, Senior Director, FICCI Federation House, Tansen Marg, New Delhi • Ph No - 09811839174 • Email- nirankar.saxena@ficci.com For SOLAR energy systems STUDENTS PLASTIC INITIATIVE We are all fed up with the discarded plastics. They spoil our mother earth. They clog our waterways. They are ugly. They cause painful death for animals both in the land and in water too. What we can do apart from cursing it? COLLECT PLASTIC ; SAVE EARTH Plastic items are so embedded in our every day life, it is practically impossible, to get rid of them in our world. Alternates are neither comfortable nor affordable. There are some ways and means to tackle this ever burgeoning problem. For example, a good amount of WASTE PLASTIC can be used in an environment friendly way if it is collected from households regularly and shred in to pieces which can be blended with hot asphalt (tar) to build better roads. And there are some more good examples in recycling them. The problem is contamination free collection of plastic waste at large volumes on a regular basis . Here comes the student power. We all know the students’ tremendous contribution in polio eradication, tree plantings, reduction of illiteracy, spreading socially necessary messages through rallies, distribution of any thing & every thing, crowd control, election booth queue regulation, blood donation, collection of new and sparsely used dresses, utensils, food items etc., for distribution to the people affected by natural calamities and many, many more. Already we have armies of well organized, nation wide student movements like NCC, NSS, YRC, SCOUTS & GUIDES, ROTRACT/ LEO/ JAYCEES CLUBS and their likes. Students can be motivated to collect ( from their own homes and from their neighbourhoods ) and bring the Plastic items to their classes periodically (say once a week ) where they can be collected enmasse, segregated scientifically, and sold for recyclers / Road builders. To keep it as an ongoing and sustainable mission, the collecting students must be recognized duly, rewarded monetarily and appreciated periodically in public. Demonstrate the benefits of ACTIVE MOBILITY ( WALKING & CYCLING ) Let us make the campus AUTOMOBILE FREE for individual students & staff too. Let us motivate them to walk and cycle with in the campus and venture outside too. In many states, students are given free laptops. (In states Tamil Nadu & Bihar , school students are given free bi-cycles ). AICTE / ISTE may recommend the governments (central & state ) to distribute bi cycles to the students. To begin with girl students, then NCC, NSS, YRC etc. can be offered free bi -cycles. Then the scheme can be extended to every one.

BICYCLES - OUR HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION TOOLS

Media support for bi cycle movement
In almost all the magazines and the daily newspapers, it will be very difficult to see bicycles either in the advertised pages or in the news / stories section; At the same time Not only in glossily advertised segments, but also in the regular columns , we can see numerous articles on the fossil fuel consuming vehicles : cars, mobikes, electric scooters etc.
Further, It is very rare to see news about cycle rallies, patrols, races, relays etc. We need to promote the bicycles in every possible media with celebrity ( sports / cinema ) endorsements.


It is high time to advertise the benefits and joy of cycling.






Put the pedal power in the proper perspective.
People in general, and youth in particular are proud in showing off their cars / motorcycles/ scooters. This addiction to fossil fuel consumption is surely dangerous for us, given our burgeoning oil imports and the pollution load they cause.
Pedal power promises a clean and green future for our children and grand children. It will ensure a healthy nation and healthier people. To succeed, we need commitment from the top people among the executive, judiciary, legislature and all segments of civil society including media, celebrities, sports and film stars, religious organizations and voluntary movements. Given the notable achievements in health care and environment protection, coordinated mission by the national authorities along with the UNDP, UNEP & WHO will achieve the desired results.


Presently, except for a very small segment of population , bicycles are the symbols of poverty / lack of affluence. We must promote them as environment saviors . The cyclists should be placed along with environment crusaders / warriors / protectors.
Human legs / hands powered transportations (Bicycles, Tricycles, Cycle Rickshaws, Pedi cabs) are among the viable environment friendly, healthy alternatives for personal short distance commuting. Also they are ideal for low volume, low speed, low weight goods transport with in towns, parts of cities and in between villages These environment friendly transport resources must be promoted with RESERVED, EXCLUSIVE space in roads and priority parking in addition to every tax break possible, subsidies and concessions. At the same time, the fossil fuel consuming vehicles for personal use (2, 3, 4 wheelers) must be taxed right from the manufacturing stage to selling, insuring, fueling, using and parking stages appropriately
How to do it?

Catch, hook, lure the young and the health conscious. Every school going girl / boy should have access to and availability & affordability of Bi-cycles. It is the season of freebies. Let the cartel / coalition /amalgamation of Bicycles manufactures, wholesalers, retailers, repairers, renters, health experts, educationists and of course the ultimate beneficiary students and their parents press for it with the power centres of various levels of Government bodies. {It can be given a suitable name: FOPPSAI - Federation of Pedal Power Stakeholders’ Association of India}
As of now, in TAMILNADU STATE the government school students studying 11th standard are being given free bicycles by the govt.( Bihar and some more states have similar programmes)
We must start the free distribution of bicycles from 6th stand onwards. And when they reach 9th / 10th standard , they should be rewarded with suitably larger bicycles.

Needless to say, We must ensure bi -cycle repair shops in or near all the campuses.
.Health is Wealth
Let us create or improve or improvise cycle paths in and along every arterial road and city roads also. Let the importance of cycling in the overall management of health of all the active people both at the individual and institutional level be reinforced.
Promotion through sports
Why don’t we have “tour – de – india” cycle race like the “tour – de – france”. We can have state/ region / zone / city/ district level races / rallies to begin with. And with experience we can have national and international events
Trendy, fashionable light weight carbon frame bicycles, Sports bicycles, multiple geared versions, All Terrain / Mountain bikes etc. can be easily promoted in the rich, affluent, private schools and universities. (It is marvelous to see thousands of students riding the modern cycles in the MIT, MANIPAL campus ). .

Among the possible places for these high end Bi cycles ( let us call them the pedal powered Rolls Royces, Porches, Ferraries, BMWs, Mercedeses ) are the new and upcoming cluster of gated communities, resorts, sports hostels, Training academies for armed forces & civil services, industrial townships , Offcity Software campuses etc .
Foldable Bi-cycles are fairly common in Europe. People used to carry them in trains, buses, ferries, boats and cars. In the late 1990s , in India , we have a foldable bi-cycle named FOLDMAN.
Can we revive it ?

Let these MODERN bicycles be the FASHIION STATEMENT of the deep pocketed youth. Infact in rural regions the simple bicycles are already perceived as SYMBOLS OF WOMEN EMPOWERMENT, Let them furnish their bicycles with accessories like brief case / bag holders, strap ons & hooks, covers, reflectors, speedometers, odometers, stands, carriers & baskets , Dynamo powered head lights , signal indicators and what not.



Financial support:
Just like wind mills and solar energy devices the pedal power industry should lobby for Zero tax status and liberal consessions at every stage. Let the FOPPSAI devise its schemes.
PEDICABS
It is impossible to miss the proud rider / driver along with happy pillion rider / passenger comfortably sitting there in almost every fossil fuel guzzlers. Here , We need the support of bicycle designers / fabricators. Couldn’t we develop pedals for pillion riders also. Also what about the Low weight PEDICABS in which a family of three / four can conveniently to move around ( In NEWYORK CITY these pedicabs are making their appearance)
If they are properly promoted in our country, we too can hook a few environment conscious families/ couples / groups towards these pedicabs.

LET US PEDAL DAILY FOR SHORT DISTANCES AND KEEP OURSELVES FIT FOR LONG TIME : ALSO LET US HAVE THE SATISFACTION OF SERVING HUMANITY BY SHUNNING FOSSIL FUEL

Realistic and Practical answers for questions due to Fee fixation and UES

Realistic and Practical answers for questions due to Fee fixation and UES


Never in the recorded history of Indian civilization, this many number of people from every segment of the society have access to education at every level, be it primary or secondary or tertiary. Some of our institutions are among the best in the world. Many of our teachers and students are truly of world class in terms of knowledge, skill and research capabilities. The extra-ordinary contribution of the products of our education system (Scientists, Doctors, Engineers, Technocrats, etc.) in Humanities, Basic and Applied Sciences, Engineering, esp. IT, Aerospace, Nuclear and other core sectors, not only in India but throughout the world, is a telling testimony for the successful side of our education system. We should not be complacent and rest on our laurels.

We have unarguably a very large mass of educated individuals in terms of absolute numbers and titles. However, as a data factor of human development index, it may not be very impressive compared with many other nations due to the huge population base of our nation (about 120 crores in 2011). Further, we must admit the fact that with enormous quantitative expansion in the education sector, the over all quality is definitely and surely deteriorating. Also the affordability factor of quality education for the vast majority of the society is diminishing day-by-day. Be assured, it is not a new or recent phenomena. Earlier, it was even worse; apart from economic barriers, numerous other barriers were prevailing since time immemorial.


Let us go to the good old days of Mahabharatha. Remember the bright student (Ekalaivan) from the down trodden society was cruelly punished (cutting away of the thumb) for his self acquired skills and knowledge which was equivalent if not superior to the King’s son (Arjun). Considering the historic and unique inequalities (based on gender, caste, colour, creed, religion, region, race, language, etc., etc.) being professed, planned, practiced, permitted, perfected and preached in our Indian Society, the imbalances prevailing in our education systems are not that bad, as some section of media, politicians, bureaucrats and educationists portray.

Having said this, we should not apt for status quo which is very easy or the path of least resistance in this sorry state of affairs.

Improving the quality and productivity needs innovative solutions coupled with lateral and linear thinking, flexibility and active involvement of all stakeholders and last but not the least, an open mind.

How to improve the quality in our education system?

The problems pertaining to Deemed Universities, ill equipped colleges, un-recognised schools etc. etc. are always in the headlines and every one takes their whips for the sake of publicity. Why these doomed (pun intended) universities, colleges and schools are mushrooming? It is a simple fact of life : Supply and Demand. To think practically and philosophically, earnestly and earthily, why people are living in slums, unsafe buildings and unhealthy locations? Why poor people are eating poorly prepared and hygienic foods? Because the alternatives are not available or unaffordable or inaccessible. The same universal logic applies to education sector too.

What we need is a systemic and methodical overhauling of the system both at micro level and macro level too. Criticizing the existing systems without offering alternate practicable solutions will lead us no where, except sensation mongering speeches, alarming newspaper headlines, coupled with lengthy television broadcasts / panel discussions. Don’t throw away the baby with the bath water.



1) Now, we have the vicious cycle of unfair competitions for admissions by concentrating only on examinations and marks (SSLC to HSC to DEGREE to POST GRADUATE DEGREE), It leaves no time for sports, games, arts, hobbies, inculcation of moral values, holistic developments and social values. Ofcourse, parents themselves are to be atleast partly blamed for this rat-race orientation towards marks, more marks and centum marks. But still, educationists should evolve suitable remedy for this swallowing and vomiting of the subjects for the sake of marks and marks only.

The remedy is facilitating the quantum jump increase in the number of seats in the quality education institutions. How can we achieve it? Not by rules and regulations and a plethora of supervising bodies. (More the layers of bureaucracy, less the teaching process; more the inspection by regulatory and certificating bodies more the paper work and less the student-teacher interaction & contact hours) It can be prudently and sensibly done by encouraging the existing quality institutions to go for shift system so that, without additional immediate capital expenditure, they can increase the number of seats in their campuses. Also let us encourage the normally retired & VRS teachers with soft loans from banks and financial institutions to become education entrepreneurs with the support of unemployed and under employed teachers. Of course, liberal view of permitting the starting of new Educational Institutions is to be opened up to individual and association of professionals like Doctors, Teachers, Engineers, Bureaucrats, Auditors etc. etc. These experienced professionals will bring the much needed new ideas and innovations to the education sphere. The evil effects of LICENCE PERMIT RAJ system should be eradicated.

2) Teacher Quality : - Due to the enormous expansion in the education sector, we have many a under qualified and unqualified faculty in our education institutions, despite their nominal suitability by way of their acquired degrees without any corresponding knowledge or skills. It is a sad fact that many a harassed, overloaded, under appreciated teachers (leave alone the helpless students) are even unable to write a simple leave letter without errors. They are just surviving with the help of the junk notes printed by the mushrooming publications in every nook and corner. It happens more as a rule than as an exception. But we should not blame the teachers alone for this sad state of affairs. Because they themselves are the products of this rotten system. What is the remedy? Refresher Courses, Reorientation Programmes and Mentor Integrated Development Programmes of personal nature will help the faculty to improve their performances. The faculty quality upgradation programmes should be mandatory and they must be organized professionally and regularly.

3) Teacher Qualifications: Theoretically speaking, teachers with higher education qualifications hailing from branded institutions will be better teachers. But, in real life, it is not always the case. Many a normally qualified teachers with bare minimum educational qualifications are doing commendable job throughout the country. But their services are neither recognized nor rewarded (For example, in Engineering Colleges, we may come across, many a second class B.E. Graduates who are handling classes wonderfully, even compared with First Class Post Graduates. Like wise in Diploma level institutions mere Diploma Holders are holding fort commendably in the classes as well as laboratories. Therefore, the rigid insistence of higher education qualifications can be counter productive in case of new and budding education institutions with limited resources. Also, people will bend over backward / adopt corrupt practices to upgrade the educational qualifications in conformity with the rigid norms of the certifying / accrediting / approving bodies. It will help only the degree mills : neither the student community nor the society at large got any benefit out of this rigid insistence of norms of educational qualifications. Having said these, we must ponder over the question of who are the best judges of teachers quality? Truly speaking, alumni students, parents and employing industries along with the current students are the real touch stones of the teacher quality and qualifications. The proof of the pudding is in the eating, not in window dressing.

4) Teaching Process :- It is less said the better; but still we must ponder over it carefully and objectively. We can not by overnight, improve the teaching process with the unqualified, and under qualified often under paid army of teachers. But, we should make efforts to improve it by evolving guidance and motivation sessions, seminars, experience sharing programmes by Retired Teachers with suitable incentives for quality performers. Good teaching is an art coupled with elements of Science. It needs constant nurturing. Peer evaluation, Alumni evaluation and all the more important, self evaluation will help a lot.

Hand holding of students:- Could not we hand hold the students by the same teachers during their stay in the campus (I Standard to V Standard, VI Standard to VIII Standard, IX to X and entire +2). The same can be continued by arranging for a mentor in their college days also. What is the benefit of the hand holding? that means the same teacher moves up with the children from I to V and like wise. Of course, it may not be possible when teachers are transferred and retired or vacancies are large. But, the idea behind the suggestion is to develop a long close contact, rapport and familiarity with students and teachers.

The same logic can be adopted in the secondary and tertiary education systems too.

5) Input quality: We are sure the system of promoting, all the students in the Government Schools and in some of the Private Schools, to the next class without accounting for their capacity to learn,their performance in the class, results obtained in the class tests and final examinations must be based on some good intensions of ensuring the presence of children of school going age in the class rooms and reduction of drop outs. But, now this process of promotion of all students without adequate skills and knowledge, slowly and steadily kills the students motivation to study and perform well. Numerous sample studies both at the regional and at the national levels repeatedly informs us that many of our 9th Standard completed students do not have the basic 3Rs (Reading, Writing and Arithmetic). To put it frankly and honestly in black and white: we are denying the poorly performing school children to learn, relearn and evaluate themselves by automatic promotion of them to the next class without considering their suitability for the same. Instead of promoting the under achievers, we should help them to learn by remedial measures including special care and nutritious food, medical care, special counseling etc.


In equality practices among faculty:
i. The pathetic case of fully qualified, but appointed as temporary or guest lecturers along with better paid regular full time permanent teachers is a grey area in the annals of employment in Government educational institutions. To rectify this cruel anomaly, we can employ temporary, short tenure teaching assistants with minimum qualifications and possibilities to upgrade their educational qualifications during the contracted period of temporary employment in the Government and Government Aided Institutions (in Universities and Post Graduate Colleges, P.G. students are handling the bulk of the UG classes). This system of Part-time Teachers-cum-Part-time Higher Education students will help us to keep their salary bill low and at the same time attract right quality candidates with keen interest and attitude in teaching & learning.


6) We should involve the neighbourhood community of stake-holders in the functioning of the educational institutions in whatever way possible. The community must be proud of the institution and vice-versa. If we achieve this honourable equilibrium, we can have affordable, meaningful, equitable and quality education for one and all at every level. It can not be a top down movement to be achieved by planning in the head-quarters and capitals alone. It should be a grass root people’s movement with bottom up approach.

A typical list of stake-holders may consist of the following categories:
a. Current Students, Alumni and their Parents / Guardians
b. Serving & Retired Teachers, Supporting staff and
Education department officials
c. Neighbourhood Community of people, NGOs working in this field and elected Representatives

7) Needless to say, School Education in general and primary education in particular is the foundation for Quality of Education at higher levels. We must ensure sufficient investments in terms of money, infrastructure, human resources and above all prestige and honour for the school education system.

To begin with the school students annual progress report should be made mandatory part of the educational documents, just like the SSLC, HSC, College Mark sheets. As of now, only one mark sheet is given for all the ten years of students achievements and accomplishment in the schools. To bring responsibility and accountability, the teachers’ name and signatures should be there in every year’s academic record. It will be a faithful testimony of his / her contribution in the students growth pattern and achievements. It will not increase their workload, because already they are doing it. Every year, students are tested, examined, evaluated and the results& remarks are recorded. Only lacunae is the record is not given official sanction in the higher education system. It should be laminated and issued to the students every year.

The physical environment of the institutions must be made students friendly. Plans for continuous and phased improvements should be evolved realistically in consultation with all stake-holders. ( From safe compound walls, sustainable sanitation facilities, clean and safe drinking water facilities, comfortable class rooms, convenient furniture, relevant education aids to enviable ultra modern campuses and transport facilities). We must tap the local community , parents and the well to do alumni for raising resources. It is not easy to do. But doing nothing will result in catastrophic situation in our education sector.

` With the VI Pay Commission implementation , Govt. & aided institution teachers are paid better now-a-days. But, they are overloaded with every official, semi-official and unofficial work under the sun. (Electoral Voter List Updation, Census Enumeration, Survey of Left out children in the neighbourhood, Ration Card Verification, etc.).More often than not, Govt. Schools are the temporary and the habitual shelters for the victims of flood / fire / storm. They are the regular venues for government official meetings, election classes and booths, ration card distribution centres, polio immunization centres and accommodation for security forces. The list is endless. It affects the learning environment to the extent they are disturbed / disrupted. Why don’t we spare the teachers for the mission for which they are selected, appointed, trained and placed?
Then who will do this census related duties?

To begin with, postal authorities, part time angan wadi workers, noon meal staff, sarva shiksha abyan staff, and house tax collectors supported by sanitation staff can form the back bone of these missions.They are physically close to the target population and they know the neighbourhood well due to frequent face to face contact. Especially the sanitation workers’ morale and skill set will improve. Further they can be guided / supported by retired govt servants including retired teachers and assisted / accompanied by NSS / NCC / HOME GUARD VOLUNTEERS.

8) Presently both the Central & State Governments, NGOs, International Funding Bodies etc. are taking enormous efforts in providing sufficient physical infrastructure and teaching staff also. But, still a lot more should be done, due to the overwhelming back log and the prevailing socio-economic conditions of our masses.

9) To begin with, we must institutionalize the consulting, guiding and supervising mechanisms both in formal and informal methods to ensure accountability at all levels individually and institutionally.

10) The formal mechanism is to be strengthened with periodic checks and quality upgradation opportunities by the relevant authorities. Finding errors / mistakes / blunders should not be the principal objective of these official mechanisms. Organic Home Grown Evolution and Pragmatic Evaluation road maps for improvement should be the primary objective of this exercise.

11) But more importantly, the informal mechanism will work wonders, if all the stake-holders understand the necessity of their participation (howsoever small) for the development of strong and quality education at the grass root level. An alumnus’s considered well thought out suggestion / opinion / idea will touch the heart of the teacher than the lengthy lecture / letter from the top officials. A parents’ open hearted talk in the PTA Meeting will wake up the entire fraternity of teachers than a lengthy verbose from the top. The retired teachers can offer practical solutions to the serving teachers’ headaches easily due to their experience gained in the same environment. An employing industrialist can tell the teachers what is important in the curriculum, which will be realized by the teachers either through curriculum or out of curriculum.

12) We propose a monthly meeting of current students’ parents and teachers at the school itself. During this meeting, many a trivial and not so trivial items may be discussed and solutions can be evolved. In the beginning itself, we should not expect miracles. In fact, more often than not parents may not turn up even once in a year. Perseverance will only pay with rich dividends in the long run.

13) Further, the retired teachers and officials may meet once in six months (say, January 26th & August 15th) to discuss all the matters under their purview. This opportunities can be used to invite the interested alumni and their parents to contribute in terms of ideas, criticisms, cash & kind.

14) Annual Days, Sport Days, Festival days etc. may be used for the informal meeting of the stake-holders. (Knowledge is dynamic; not stagnant).

15) A hungry stomach is an unforgiving villain in the education process. Free Mid-Day Meals System is one of the best quality assurance tools. It can be strengthened with inputs from local community, parents, alumni, well wishers and philanthropists.
i. An Aided Elementary School at Trichy is providing morning break-fast (in addition to the State Govt. sponsored Mid-Day Meals) for the needy poor children due to the innovative efforts of the Headmistress Mrs.Vishalakshi and the Trichy DIET Faculty Mr.Sivakumar. As of 2009 itself, more than 35 schools are doing this noble service,
ii. Puducherry Administration is providing Break-fast, Midday Meals and evening snacks too for the poor students in the schools.
iii. Noted Educationist, Applied Psychology Practitioner Prof. Periyar Dasan provides Mid-Day Meals to 200 graduate students every day at Pachaiyappa College, Chennai on his own initiative.

I am sure there are many more illustrations like the above mentioned examples in every part of our education sphere.



16) Transport Harassments:
The dangerously maddening (some times fatal, but always stressful one for the the young students, especially girls, who are harassed by words, deeds and vision) crowded buses and other public transports can be eased with change of working hours, suitable to the specific environments of the institutions. There is no point in blaming public transport authorities alone for this crushing crowds and unreliable schedules. Institutions must evolve suitable timings for hassle free timings. By opening one hour earlier, the peak hour traffic jams can be managed in most of the cases. Let us consider the opening hours for the first shift of the education system 07.00 a.m. onwards. They can complete the classes well before the evening peak hours, say by 02.00 p.m. onwards. If second shift is considered, it can commence by 11.30 a.m. onwards. They can conclude the classes by 06.00 p.m. onwards.

17) A good no. of students are partially if not totally supporting themselves by doing part-time jobs / holiday jobs. We must evolve and encourage suitable earn while you learn schemes. (Retailing, Seasonal Catering and festival based service opportunities, Photocopying and similar workshops, etc. are in need of part-time employees. Volumes of real life stories are existing regarding the help rendered by students in seasonal agriculture / handicraft sector ).

18) Given the prevailing increasing tendency of vices like uncontrolled, unsupervised alcohol and killer tobacco abuse and obscene visuals in the print and electronic media in the society, we must wean the students away from them by suitable intervention programmes. In this regard, to begin with it is better to ban the video showings / audio blarings in the public transports. Display of vulgar banners / posters should be curbed. These vices are gripping the young minds tyrannically and many a youth are spoiling their future.

What to eat and not to eat? We always preach our students to renounce junk food, carbonated junk soft drinks, narcotics substances, alcohol, tobacco, etc. Are we telling them what are the alternatives? Are we arranging them nutritious food? Why don’t we offer tender coconuts, butter milk, curd, fortified sugarcane juice with lime juice, fresh fruit juices and fruits, vegetable salads, sweetened palm toddy, jaggery blended lime juice, home made food items, snacks, natural mints, ginger and cardamom added mouth fresheners, sweet sombu, etc. in the campus canteens and hostel messes.

What to view and listen? Let us introduce them good movies, drama, thought provoking debates and discussions, inspiring speeches and narrations, socially relevant short films, lively telecasts and broadcasts, worthy websites, etc. There are numerous good items are in our vast world. Let them see, feel and hear them.