If the summer is getting unbearable this year, blame high density of dust particles and pollutants in the air.
Nights offer no respite from the heat and this may only get worse in April as the days get longer, warn meteorological experts.
The short winter that preceded the current summer had given early signs of what was in store. Though the common man is of the opinion that there is an increase in heat during this summer, experts differ. Vikas Reddy, director of Andhra Pradesh Natural Disaster Management Cell (APNDMC), says that the mercury in Hyderabad has not soared as felt by the people.
Hyderabad temperature on March 29 was 40 degrees Celsius, but as per the statistics available it was an extremely hot day in March as the highest temperature in that month dates back to March 18, 1983, which was 37.5 degrees Celsius.
Blaming the increasing pollution for converting Hyderabad into an oven, Dr Acharya, professor, Agro Meteorology, University of Agriculture Sciences, says: “The incoming solar radiation is more.”
“The outgoing radiation in the afternoon, which we term as terrestrial radiation, is trapped in the atmosphere by the dust particles, which retain the heat emitted. This is the reason for increasing humidity. The dust settled in atmosphere holds more quantum of heat. Therefore the heat continues even after 10 pm and might continue even until dawn.”
Dr.Acharya said the situation is more man-made than a natural phenomenon which is due to increase in burning fossil fuel, extensive use of coolant systems (air conditioners and refrigerators) and rampant felling trees.
The short winter is another reason which resulted in the summer temperature shooting up. It will lead to convectional rain. Agreeing with him, Vikas Reddy said Hyderabad may get a spell of reprieve within a couple of days. “ It is a natural phenomenon, once the temperature crosses 40 degrees, there will be a spell of rain and the cycle continues until the monsoon,” he said.
Other than Hyderabad, cities like Ramagundem, Vijayawada and Guntur have witnessed extreme temperatures. Ramagundem recorded a temperature of 42 degrees Celsius on Sunday, while the highest temperature recorded in March was 37 degrees Celsius on March 31, 1925. Similarly, Vijayawada witnessed a temperature of 40 degrees Celsius on March 29, while its highest recorded temperature was 36.5 degrees on March 21, 1973.
They are no better than their counterparts back home, he says, wants from the govt. to rip off their NRI status.
With the news that Saudi Arabia has started implementing its new labour law reserving 10 percent of jobs for locals consequently endangering the "career" and "livelihood" of thousands of Indians of different religions and communities including Muslims working there, the focus is again on the Middle East "Non Resident Indians" who are said to be well off and earning handsomely, sending millions of rupees back home.
However, a book written by Mohammed Saifuddin - a young expatriate who is also a journalist, exposes the pathetic condition in which these "Non Resident Indians" especially the Muslims are actually living in the Middle East including Saudi Arabia.
He also exposes with the help of various survey reports and research studies a seemingly unconvincing fact that the Muslim expatriates are actually poorer than the expatriates of other religions, and are living literally under inhuman condition to save a miniscule amount which can be sent back home for the education, marriage and medical aid of their near and dear ones.
"Generally it is thought that the earnings of expatriates in the Gulf countries have changed the lives of Indian Muslims in a big way. It is undoubtedly true that the economic and financial condition of Muslims in several parts of India has improved after the Gulf‟s petrol boom. But it is not correct to say that Gulf countries became pasturing land for the Muslims only", Mohammed Saifuddin wrote in his book published by YaHind News Network.
"The non Muslim Indians in the six GCC countries may be lesser in number compared to their Muslim counterparts but, it is irrefutable fact that even in Gulf countries the non-Muslims are much better-off than Muslims when compared to their living conditions and standard of living", he added.
"Majority of the poor workers lives in bad conditions. More than 70 percent of the workers interviewed live in “overcrowded, unsafe, or unsanitary conditions,” the author writes quoting from a report prepared by the Middle East Regional office of the Inspector General of US Department of State and the Broadcasting Board of Governors on the Indian expatriates working at different consulates.
"The criticality of the situation could be understood by the most shocking fact that the among 77 workers interviewed, 20 workers are provided with the quarters having a personal living space lesser than the space provided to the inmates at the security prisons in the United States", he added.
Highlighting that the poor working condition is adding stress to the expatriates, more often creating health problems for them, the author writes, "Seventy percent of those who commit suicide in Dubai are Indians. Indians in Gulf countries are more prone to heart diseases. Higher cost and poor standard of living coupled with the financial crisis, leads the poor Indian labors and blue collar employees in the Gulf countries to the situation of uncertainty leading to mental and psychological problems."
At the same time, the book also highlights some of Indian achievers especially women who excelled brilliantly in the Middle East. "It may tend some readers to surprisingly raise eyebrows but Indian women proved their prowess even in the deserts of Arabia. Five women became the part of the powerful Indians list. They represent Healthcare, Media and Marketing sectors", the author writes giving details of some of them including Dr. Zulekha Daud, Shobha Menon, Gulshan Kavarana and few others.
A very interesting phenomenon which the author has highlighted is of the 'Hindu Maulvis'. This is the term he used for non Muslims who after learning Arabic language and graduating from the Madrasas of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, are now working in the Middle East on plum posts.
Another very surprising thing the author writes is that the Indians in the Middle East are actually demanding from the government to rip of their NRI status. This because, the author writes, there is a lot of difference between the lifestyle and standard of living of those in the Middle East and the others who have migrated to other parts of the world.
"The major benefit to those who migrated to other countries is that they can get the citizenship of the country after spending a specific time there. But, the situation of Indians in Gulf is different. Their condition is similar to that of the transit passengers; irrespective of the length of stay, they have to finally return home one day or the other", he writes.
The author also writes in details about the poor wages the Indian workers are paid. He comes out with a little know fact about the expatriate who instead of sending money back home, survive on the money sent from India. "The poor economic and financial condition of these workers in Gulf countries was revealed in the recently published news stories about the emerging trend of Reverse Hawala", he writes.
"According to these reports the Indian workers in the Gulf countries are facing such a hard time that instead of sending remittances to their families, many of them are forced to seek financial support from their families and friends back home, in India. Their families and friends are sending them money from India to ensure their survival", he adds.
"The shocking trend of Reverse Hawala is another indicator of pitiable condition of the Indian labors and blue collar employees in the Gulf countries", he writes.
The book also educate the expatriates on various rules and acts including the importance and effectiveness of Right to Information (RTI) Act, and also schemes announced by the government
Though the books is a collection of articles by the author published in YaHind.com and some local newspapers, and relies more on survey reports and research studies which can be debatable, it gives a good insight of the Indians especially the Muslims living in the Middle East. As Sameera Aziz, Int'l Editor Saudi Gazette puts it, "It is easily legible and well-presented. It can stand on its own merits and I can rate it on a scale leading up to "Must Read". The book can be certainly useful for NRIs as well as other expatriates living in the Middle-East to come away with some very vivid images in mind."
If charitable giving in India is to rise to the next level, the social sector needs to take more serious note of donors' preference for active involvement in the use of donations.
Azim Premji’s decision to donate Rs.12,300 crore to his foundation has brought to the forefront the debate on why people donate to charities. ‘Why has he given to his own foundation?’ is an additional question the discerning few ask. As is to be expected in a decision of such large magnitude, there is a wide range of motives attributed to his action. I often wonder if the attributed motives mirror the mindset of its proponents. Turning to the second question, are they being asked by individuals who plan to emulate? In either case, it is worth exploring the alternative answers.
Skeptics search for the narrow personal benefit that accrues to donors. They wonder, could donations be merely a tax-planning ruse? However uncharitable this view is, it needs further examination. Skeptics forget that donations do not increase post-tax income. Instead they lighten the load of the donor by reducing the tax they would have otherwise paid without the donation. To put this in perspective, can we quantify the donations made from which tax-payers were benefitted in our country?
Earlier in February this year, the Union Government pegged the tax revenue foregone in 2011-12 on account of 80G deductions for donors at Rs.847 crore. This amount is not the quantum of donations made but only the tax saved by the donors, who include all classes of income tax assessees—individuals, firms and companies. A liberal extrapolation based on this tax savings would quantify the donations made that year at around Rs.6000 to 8000 crore.
Viewed independently of tax deductions too, this quantification looks reasonable, as an independent study conducted in November 2012 extrapolates the annual donations made to charity organizations at Rs.5000 crores. Further, this study titled India Giving conducted by Charities Aid Foundation, found that only a quarter among donors gave to charities. The rest gave to religious organizations, prompted by pious motives. Considering that three-fourths of the people give for religious reasons, pious motives cannot be ignored.
A common factor found in all religions is their emphasis on charity. Charity is seen as going beyond the bodily self and reaching out to the divine. Among Christians, charity is seen as connecting with God by loving God’s creations. In Islam, charity is one of the five duties of a Muslim. Any income earned is impure, i.e. haram and can be purified or made halal only by sharing it with the needy. Among the Buddhist, charity is seen as an expression of kindness arising from universal love and the first step in the path of salvation.
Compared to the relatively distinct and clear logic for charity in other religions, Hindu tradition considers multiple motives. Using the triguna lens of viewing human nature, charity is seen as manifesting from satva, rajas or tamas instinct. Sharing as a natural trait without any conscious effort is seen as satvic; in contrast, motive driven giving is seen to be rajas behavior. At an individual level, such motive could be a variety of triggers — such as the desire for success, longevity, offspring, blessings, happiness and the like. In contrast, tamasic giving would be due to laziness – to avoid additional work or responsibility for managing assets or incurring additional costs. This is often seen in current day practices where partially damaged and broken-down equipment are ‘gifted’ while shifting residence.
While the motive for giving may be individual specific, the methodology for giving changes significantly with the quantum of giving. Philanthropic methods seem to evolve with quantum – from a passive role of giving at the end of a lifetime or giving ‘away’ with no strings attached, to more active or involved giving. Donors not only give but also want their donation to be put to good use. This is reflected in the results of donors surveyed by India Giving, where 52 per cent agreed with the view that lack of transparency in NGOs deters donors from giving.
This concern brings to the forefront the two distinct aspects of ownership: the concept of beneficial ownership or enjoying the fruit, as distinct from fiduciary ownership where the fruit is ripened and preserved. In religious giving, this distinction does not appear critical as it is more in the nature of giving a ‘fish’ as opposed to charities where the focus is on ‘teaching fishing’.
In charities, while the donors are willing to part with beneficial ownership, on the fiduciary front they do have concerns. The simple and transparent nature of beneficial ownership is in contrast to fiduciary ownership that has four distinct aspects. At its core fiduciary ownership consists of responsibility for decision making and being acknowledged as the decision maker. In philanthropy, this translates to a more active role for the donor. However, not in all cases are donors competent to take decision; especially in areas that require expertise such as resolution of complex social and environmental issues. In our personal life too we see similar challenges when we deal with doctors and lawyers.
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Just as in these instances, in philanthropy too, trust in competence and integrity of professionals is the key. In these instances, where decision making is handed over to an expert, fiduciary ownership is reflected in the owners being informed before a decision is acted upon. In philanthropy we see this in action when donors choose the end-purpose for which their resources can be used. If for any reason, they are not consulted before the decision is implemented, they are kept informed on priority basis.
Decision making, acknowledgment as decision maker, consultations before implementing decisions and regular intimation of decisions are the four distinct elements of fiduciary ownership. Given the two clearly distinct aspects of ownership, large donors willingly transfer beneficial ownership but may want to retain the fiduciary ownership to ensure that their money is well spent. Realizing the need for it, Andrew Carnegie the first among the great philanthropists of the 20th century remarked, it needs more ability to spend wealth that benefits the community than to earn it. Given the obvious truth inherent in his observations, will we see more people emulating the Carnegies and Premjis?
The stark ground reality of abject poverty and child malnutrition demands more. It does not matter where it comes from—taxes or philanthropy. Only taxes can be mandated, not philanthropy. Hence, the immediate need is to enhance the credibility of the social sector for enabling greater participation. This requires the Indian social sector to pay greater attention to fiduciary ownership of their resources and proactively involve donors in it.
Despite its warts, India’s democracy has fired global imagination for over six decades. It is not the politest thing to do, but it has to be done. We need to drop Brics, or at least not take it too seriously, and step out on our own. Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa may look a little like us, but deep down this resemblance is superficial. Brics is a catch-up club that turns to richer, fatter countries for inspiration, but India, in many ways, is inspiration itself.
When India dared to birth democracy, many thought it was premature and that it would soon be history. Sixty-six action-filled years later, India’s democracy is now a little too old to die young. What is more, the world watches every move we make; in fact, cannot have enough of us. This is not because India is efficient and affluent – far from it. Rather, it is the way India goes wrong that fires global imagination.
In any other country of comparative vintage and want, ethnicity, once introduced, would have run wild. Indian politicians too have repeatedly played this dirty trick, but our democracy has limited its appeal. The ultra corrupt may be ultra rich but because of India’s judiciary and the press they often wake up in jail to swill bad tea. Even army officers might face court martial if they mess with the rules. Political bosses, and their cronies, are forever bending and twisting the law, but for all their power and pelf, they can never quite ignore it.
Indian politicians err time and again, but their overbites serve as object lessons because procedures hold. This not only pulls us out of periodic crises with a just-backfrom-the-dentist feel, but also tells the world, the advanced West included, how easily democracy can be lost. If India had been another underperforming tin-pot dictatorship, it would not have been the thought experiment it is today.
Take a look at the following:
Corruption, assaults and political conspiracies happen worldwide, but when they strike India they excite the mind like nothing else. For example, South Africa is
a serious centre of gang rapes, or “jack rolling” in the local lingo, but that does not cause an international stir. Yet the news of the December rape and murder in Delhi ricocheted within minutes across the world.
This was not because the protests were passionate, or because the police should have gone to a finishing school. What was being observed was whether our Constitution would hold. Eventually it did; false cases were withdrawn and, boorish cops notwithstanding, no bullets were fired.
Ethnic intolerance again is an international affliction. When Putin tells Russian minorities to put up or shut up he gets a standing ovation at home and hardly any press abroad. In Burma, Rohingya Muslims foxhole themselves in fear, but that does not make big news. With India it is different. If the western world was horrified with the 2002 Gujarat killings, it was because our free press and civil society, also gifts of democracy, brought things out in the open.
Corruption in China is monumental. It periodically fells bridges and schools, killing hundreds. Brazil has a homicide rate three times higher than India’s and political violence in Russia is just too bad to be true. The world may condemn all of this, and it does. However, it is only when India goes wrong that tongues wag the mind just about everywhere.
That India can make this happen again and again is what makes us special. Had we been too perfect, we would be Scandinavia, and nothing unique. On the other hand, had we been too violent, we would have been just another Honduras, or maybe Zimbabwe. But because our stubborn democracy has held to its frame, our leadership blunders light up the sky. This is our real USP!
India’s imperfections make for its significance. In terms of economic underdevelopment and dodgy politicians, we have a fair amount in common with many troubled nations, some of whom are our neighbours. But even in the darkest of times, we hardly expect military coups and mass arrests, as they do. To their credit, millions of Chinese bloggers also noticed that Delhi’s anti-rape agitations did not turn Vijay Chowk into a Tiananmen Square.
Advanced democracies too owe us a debt of gratitude. For years India has acted as a not-forprofit laboratory so that they might remember the fundamentals of citizenship that made them rich and kept them that way. It is now payback time and they should tell us how exactly they set up universal health and education that served their citizens so well.
When democracies reach out to each other this way, the world becomes a better place and friendships stay secure. This is something that neither G-20 nor Brics meets can do as it is in the nature of the economic beast to cross wires and compete. For starters, South Africa is as unhappy with Brazilian chickens flying in as it is with China’s promiscuity with other African countries. The distant hope of a Brics Development Bank or of currency swaps will not blow these fears out of the water.
Indian politicians could also do us a favour by occasionally learning from their mistakes. The importance of being Indian would then become obvious to all.
Why American universities are keen to let our leaders have their say!
Our VIPs’ dils are Hindustani – but their minds have much to offer the whole world beyond. And they aren’t the only ones who think so – going by the leagues of Ivy Leagues sending invites to come lecture, clearly the world’s best minds are enamoured of our most unpredictable ones. The latest Ivy-invite flew from Harvard to Hazratganj, landing in the bicycle basket of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav. But Akhilesh hasn’t pushed UP from bicycle to rocket-state. In fact, under him, law and order’s become a vicious cycle, revolving from bad to worse, his now-ex cabinet minister Raja Bhaiya – a former convict put in charge of jails – allegedly involved in the murder of a cop.
With such bumpy judgment puncturing his cycle’s wheels, why would Harvard invite Akhilesh to share his deep thoughts? Here’s the answer – Harvard wants Akhilesh to lecture on managing the Maha Kumbh. Desi critics point out the avoidable Allahabad station mishap but presumably, Harvard has other management angles to consult Akhilesh on – let’s hope these don’t include power management for he could show them how to trip a national grid, leaving many in darkness that isn’t UP-lifting.
But surprisingly, their snafus endear our leaders overseas more. Take Lalu Prasad – Harvard went ‘oooooh’ over rail minister Lalu, credited with putting new steam into our broke-back engines. Prestigious universities invited Lalu to explain how he chook-chook-ed into profit – but few quizzed him about the math or physics involved as old tracks had to bear new freight-weight. Nay-saying natives pointed out such annoying fine print even as Lalu lived it up in la-la land, bestowing words of wisdom as generously as feeding fodder to the cows. And the Ivy League remained unstoppable in its desi pursuits – another screamer, sorry, dreamer on its list was Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, invited to Harvard after slaying the giant Left. Sadly, Mamata-di couldn’t go, thus depriving those so agog valuable tips on Kolaveri Di – misplaced rage – at cartoons, critics and crimes.
Similarly, seeking Indi-insights, Wharton too played desi beats when it invited Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi across. But biting off more than it could eschew, it clumsily retracted his card, making Modi seem so gracious even Arvind Kejriwal showed Wharton a stiff dandiya of reproach. It’s not all smooth sailing across that lecture scene – another university left reeling behind a desi guest was Yale which invited Bollywood badshah Shah Rukh Khan. Call it fan-fare but Khan got detained by the authorities at entry, leaving his hosts red-faced. Yet, King Khan turned misery to gold by highlighting his peacenik picture, the box office buoyed along by his Yale wail. The lesson – every situation can be glibly flipped from pain to gain. And you don’t need to learn how from an Ivy League. Just listen to our wise desi celebs.
Stone-Pavement Work On Madina-Charminar Stretch Drew Locals’ Ire Due To Haphazard Implementation. The Charminar Pedestrianisation Project (CPP) planned more than a decade ago envisioned paved roads, broad pavements and smooth traffic to perseverethehistoricidentity of the400-year-old area around the monument.
But, after a much-delayed initiation three years back, whatever little has been done in the name of CPP has far from helped the monument. That successive authorities have been negligent is an understatement, best exemplified by the foundation stone of the stone paving works that stands jarringly in front of the Charminar. Not only does it seem an irony in its environs, it is loaded with spelling errors for the world to see.
“The project is heading directionless. There is a sequence of works to be carried out. But works are picked up randomly for execution and only when there is an opportunity to gain recognition, does the government wake up to do something,” said heritage activist Sajjad Shahid. “But attempts are hardly serious,” he said.
After the government decided that the Charminar should enter the fray for the coveted Unesco World Heritage Tag in 2010, it hurriedly initiated the CPP. The GHMC, which was entrusted with the project, began road-widening and stone-paving works on the stretch from Madina to Charminar.
The important aspects of the plan, include traffic management, development of a uniform façade keeping in tune the heritage character of the place and stonepaved stretches extending from Charminar to Gulzar Houz, Sardar Mahal, Mecca Masjid and Laad Bazaar.
Experts involved in the project explain that traffic management requires vehicles to be diverted from proceeding towards Charminar. The no-entry zones begin at the start of the stone-paved stretches. Vehicles going to Charminar from Madina would have to divert at Gulzar Houz and those coming from Falaknuma sidewouldhavetotake a detour atMecca Masjid. This was done with a view to protect Charminar from air pollution and make the area around it tourist-friendly.
Cutting off traffic also requires creation of expansive parking facilities along the stretch from Madina to Charminar. Nine parking facilities were planned to accommodate more than 5,000 vehicles, increasing the existing parking capacity tenfold. Of these, five have notbeen created asthe authorities have not been able to get locals and politicians on the same page.
The stone-pavement works, first taken up by authorities on the Madina-Charminar stretch, drew locals’ ire thanks to haphazard implementation. The stones laid on Gulzar Houz stretch in the first place hadtobe removed astheGHMChad gotten its specifications wrong. The delay cost traders dearly during the month of Ramzan in 2011 and the GHMC was forced to abandon the work. As a result, only one half of the stretch from Gulzar Houz to Charminar was paved.
Conservation architects are also concerned about urbanisation which the authorities have overlooked. “The Jama Masjid is overshadowed by a commercial complex that stands in front of it which the authorities did little to stop from coming up. There should be concerted efforts like routing permissionsfor newstructuresthroughtheheritageconservation committee to ensure that the plan meets its objectives,” said Vasanta Sobha Turga. The Jama Masjid was constructed in 1598, seven years after the Charminar was built.
The GHMC got off on the wrong foot when it took up the Sardar Mahal-Charminar stretch early this year as it did not involve the locals who later, pulled down a barricade installed cordoning off traffic.
Architects pointed out that the stones being laid are done without digging the road which may cause drainage problems around Charminar. Stones being laid this time are different in size and shape from those that were laid on the Gulzar Houz stretch.
When contacted GHMC commissioner M T Krishna Babu maintained that the corporation is working in close coordination with professionals. “What we have done is what was suggested by our architects keeping in mind the load bearing capacities of the stones,” he said.
HC notice to authorities
The plight of the historical monument Charminar, which is facing threat both from the ever-growing pollution and unauthorized structures that are being allowed within the restricted area of the monument, drew the attention of the AP HC. Taking suo moto cognizance of the report published in TOI on Thursday, the high court, treating the report as a public interest litigation, issued notices to the authorities directing them to explain the steps being taken to protect the monument. The division bench comprising acting Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justice Vilas V Afzalpurkar asked the chief secretary, the secretaries of home, archaeology and municipal administration, DGP, GHMC commissioner, member secretary of PCB, etc. to file their replies within a week. The case will be heard next week.
Of all the world's major religious groups, Muslims are the least likely to have sex outside of marriage, new research found. And as a country's Muslim population grows, the rate of premarital sex declines for all residents, even non-Muslims, according to the study.
Researchers analyzed the responses of over 620,000 people (ages 15-59) who were interviewed as part of the Demographic and Health Surveys in 31 mostly developing nations from 2008 to 2012. Most countries included in the sample had either a Muslim or Christian majority, except India and Nepal, which have Hindu majorities, and Cambodia which has a Buddhist majority.
They found that, overall, the odds of married Muslims reporting premarital sex are 53 percent lower than for Christians. Hindus are 40 percent less likely to report premarital sex, compared with Christians. Meanwhile, Jews and Buddhists have greater chances of having sex before getting hitched than Christians do, according to the study.
The researchers believe these results could be linked to Muslims' greater adherence to strict religious tenets that only allow sex within marriage. As many Muslim leaders place heavy importance on fidelity in marriage, it might be no surprise that Muslims also are less likely than Hindus, Christians and Jews to report extramarital sex, as the study found.
What's more, the religious values of a Muslim majority in a country seem to exert a big influence on the wider population's sexual norms. A 1 percent increase in the percentage of Muslims in a nation caused a 2 percent decrease in the likelihood of premarital sex for all citizens, regardless of their religious identity, the study found. (The researchers note that an increase in the Muslim population in a country did not further reduce the odds of premarital sex among just Muslims.)
"All major world religions discourage sex outside of marriage, but they are not all equally effective in shaping behavior," wrote the researchers, led by Amy Adamczyk, an associate professor of sociology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York. Their study was published in the October issue of the American Sociological Review.
The team speculated that in Muslim-majority countries, strict laws on women's mobility and interaction between the sexes might cut down the opportunities for sex outside marriage. But the researchers found no significant relationship between a country's restrictions on women and the odds of premarital and extramarital sex, suggesting religion plays a greater role than those laws in policing sexual behavior.
The same was true for age. Muslims and Hindus are more likely to have an arranged marriage and to marry younger than Christians and Jews. Though the likelihood of premarital sex increased with age, the study found that age was not a significant factor in driving down rates of premarital sex for these religious groups.
"One of the most surprising findings was that religious affiliations have a real influence on people's sexual behaviors," Adamczyk said in a statement. "While a lot of research attention has been given to understanding differences between the major world religions in adherents' attitudes, much less attention has been given to understanding differences based on behaviors."
The researchers considered that social pressure could have caused some respondents being interviewed in the Demographic and Health Surveys (funded by USAID) to lie. But the survey mandates that interviewers be the same gender as the respondent and try to conduct the questionnaire in private. The latter is not always possible and interviewers are instructed to note the presence of others. They are also told to flag inconsistent responses (For example, if a respondent says she was a virgin at the time of marriage, but her reported age at first intercourse is younger than her age at marriage, that would get flagged.)
Do you want to be a Citizen Journalist? Do you want to cover events and news from your area or city? Please send email with your details, contact numbers, email and a sample news contribution to understand your writing potential. Email to hydnews@gmail.com to reach us and start reporting as a "Citizen Journalist" for India News Network (INN).
Based on your performance, you can be designated as your city/area's representative. You can contribute through photos, videos, podcasts, articles, news reports, interviews and event reports etc.
Please note that this will be a volunteer activity and you will not be paid for your writings. However, you will be provided exposure and experience of working for INN platform with all credentials.
Please register with us by sending an email (HYDNEWS@GMAIL.COM) and join the team of citizen journalists.
Hey! Want to be a Journo?
Do you fancy the idea of becoming a citizen journalist? Would you prefer to skip the university education, the experience, the nine-to-five working hours – you know, the boring stuff – and cut straight to the chase?
It’s not impossible, but the short route is not for the faint-hearted.
At the very least, you should know how to recognise a story and be able to tell it as succinctly and accurately as possible – and remember, pictures are very good at telling stories. If your subject matter is unfamiliar, do your homework before committing words to your PC, tablet or smartphone and passing it on for public consumption. Whatever you do, don’t be tempted to go the cut-and-paste route; there’s nothing quite as depressing as the discovery that a news provider has plagiarised another person’s work.
Citizen journalists (the term refers to non-professional journalists) have accomplished great things, especially since the advent of digital communications. Operating all over the world, with varying degrees of proficiency, they have focused public attention on grave miscarriages of justice, addressed important social issues and even helped to bring down oppressive governments. They have also produced mountains of entertainment. That’s the good part.
Unfortunately, a small minority have abused their chosen medium – which could be Twitter, Facebook or one of many other channels of communication – to rubbish their enemies, pursue private vendettas or harass perfectly innocent people.
Next step?
So, do you want to become a citizen journalist and embrace fame and fortune? If untold riches are your thing, don’t hold your breath. You’ll be competing in a tough arena and the potential earnings aren’t exactly extravagant. And the fame thing? That won’t be easy, either.
Start off small… select a news organisation and feed it a regular supply of relevant/entertaining/informative/newsworthy tip-offs (if it’s a really good one, call the newsdesk and try to work past the jaundiced groans).
Your next step – or possibly your first step, depending on time, talent, connectivity and resources – would be a blog on WordPress (or similar). Again, be aware that you’ll need to produce something very good and very different to stand out from the crowd, especially if you want the search engines to notice and rank you (SEO is another subject entirely).
Okay, off you go – and remember, “ambulance-chaser” is not just a rude term for lawyers. If you want to be a real citizen journalist, you need to move away from your computer and get out there, where the real people live, work, play, and occasionally get into trouble.
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