‍‍‍‍‍Are Telugu States Usher 'Privileges To Brahmins' Under 'Upper Caste Politics' Influence?

The Telugu States (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telugu_states) govts know that while Brahmins (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmin#:~:text=Brahmin%20(%2F%CB%88br%C9%91%CB%90,of%20sacred%20learning%20across%20generations) are electorally insignificant, they can influence others.

Telugu state governments in south India, representing both sides of the Hindutva divide, have strengthened their outreach programmes for Brahmins, in order to remain politically relevant among the community and counter opposition parties’ attempts to woo them.

In the Telugu-speaking non-BJP-ruled states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the Brahmin population is negligible and their mandate politically insignificant. But none of these states’ governments have taken their eyes off this influential community, frequently unveiling schemes to incentivise education and employment, or to perpetuate ‘their’ Vedic culture.

Of course, the benefactors of these initiatives must show proof of caste — that they are Brahmins by birth — as most of them are from the economically weaker sections.

In Andhra, the Brahmins have always thrown in their lot with the Reddy community since a fight with the erstwhile Chandrababu Naidu government. But are they happy with Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, particularly when the opposition BJP tomtoms itself to be the “protector of Hindu dharma?”

Meanwhile, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao publicly lives the life of a ‘devout Hindu’. And while there’s hardly any representation of Brahmins in his government, he continues to put them on a pedestal — now and then, he gets vocal in his demand for a Bharat Ratna for former prime minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, who hailed from the community.

Intellectuals, however, point out it is farcical to base policy outreach on the feudal concept that Brahmins are powerful.

The Andhra government’s Vedic education scheme for Brahmins has come in for particular criticism. Political scientist Pratap Bhanu Mehta wrote (https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/brahmin-welfare-schemes-social-justice-7495186/) that the state cannot provide support to a profession whose eligibility is determined by birth. If Vedic studies are good for Brahmins, they should be good for all, he argued.

Both the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments have designated Brahmin welfare departments — set up in 2014 and 2017 respectively — and portals, which describe the community as ‘brilliant’ and ‘big’ thinkers.

The Telangana Brahmin Samkshema Parishad — the government body working for the upliftment of the community — says on its website (https://brahminparishad.telangana.gov.in/FirstPage.do) that BRAHMIN stands for “Broad and Brilliant in Thinking; Righteous and Religious in Livelihood, Adroit and Adventurous in Personality, Honesty and Humanity in Quality, Modesty and Morality in Character, Innovation and Industry in Performance and Nobility and Novelty in approach”.

Andhra Pradesh’s site (http://www.andhrabrahmin.ap.gov.in/bwc/aboutus.aspx) defines the community as “Big Thinking, Resource Leveraging, Attitude (positive), Hard Work, Modesty, Integrity and Neo Thinking”.

Both state governments offer financial assistance for higher education, entrepreneurship, skill development, coaching for competitive exams — primarily for the economically weaker groups within the community.

Such schemes, however, are not exclusive to the Brahmin community in the states. There are designated departments working for backward communities, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, offering almost similar financial assistance to promote empowerment.

There is not a single Brahmin minister in KCR’s cabinet, nor in Jagan’s, except Deputy Speaker Kona Raghupathi. There are only a handful of Brahmin legislators in both states, which reflects the fact that Telangana has less than 3 per cent Brahmin voters while Andhra has 5 per cent. But Brahmins are important to both the CMs, say analysts.

There are also financial assistance schemes to promote ‘Vedic culture’ and ‘Vedic education’ in the community. The Telangana Brahmin Parishad offers a scheme named ‘Vedahitha — Vedic Students’, which pays each Brahmin student a sustenance grant of Rs 3 lakh after the successful competition of ‘Smarta’ studies and Rs 5 lakh after finishing ‘Agama, Kramantha and Ganantha’ studies.

A similar scheme in Andhra pays as high as Rs 36,000 annually for a period of six years.

In Telangana, the government bears 75 per cent cost of construction of ‘Brahmin Sadans’ at district and mandal levels under its ‘Brahmin Sadan Scheme’.

Andhra’s ‘Vasishta Scheme’ provides coaching for competitive exams such as the civil services, paying candidates’ boarding and lodging charges.

One of the eligibility criteria for all these schemes is that the beneficiary and the parents should be Brahmins.

From 2015 to 2019, mostly under Chandrababu Naidu, Andhra spent Rs 216 crore on welfare schemes for the community.

The Andhra government also offers financial assistance for funeral expenses of a deceased from a Brahmin family, if the family cannot afford it.

Political analyst Telakapalli Ravi told #KhabarLive, “Considering our society, Brahmins still play a major role in public opinion. They hold influential positions. Though their economic and political power may not be much, several government advisers belong to the community, and there are bureaucrats in top positions.”

Ravi added that chief priest of the famous Tirumala Temple, A.V. Ramana Deekshitulu, had a certain amount of influence in former CM Chandrababu Naidu’s government.

But that does not mean there are no poor Brahmins, he pointed out.

In Telangana, KCR’s most recent sop to Brahmins was the year-long Narasimha Rao birth centenary celebrations he announced in 2020. A statue of the former PM was erected in Hyderabad in June, which the CM himself inaugurated. The ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi, in the graduates MLC polls, named his granddaughter a candidate, and she ended up winning.

“KCR does not give the community much power but keeps them on a pedestal, conveys that he is respecting them,” Ravi said.

Prof. Kodandaram Reddy, founder of political party Telangana Jana Samithi, said the community is present mostly in urban pockets.

Brahmin voters dominates 12 urban assembly constituencies in the state out of the total 119, according to Telangana BJP leader Ramchander Rao.

Compared to Andhra Pradesh, the Brahmin community in Telangana was not initially influential due to the zamindar (landlord) culture and the Nizam rule. But things changed and certain sub-castes from the Brahmin community such as ‘Karnam’ took over maintaining village records and looked after revenue, Kodandaram Reddy said.

Meanwhile, political analyst Pratap Bhanu Mehta said that secularism and social justice have become “farcical ideas” in these states. He opined that politics and public policy were being reduced to “jati-based” mobilisation in the most absurd way.

“Can you think of anything more grotesque than the idea that in the 21st century the state provides support to a profession whose eligibility is determined by birth? If Vedic education is unalloyed good, why should it not be open to all, subject to conduct rules? How can the state discriminate and confine it to Brahmins identified by birth? This cannot pass any constitutional smell test,” he wrote.

“…this is exactly the perversion of social justice discourse that was set in motion post-Mandal where the question of deeply entrenched historical discrimination was confused with backwardness and poverty in general,” Mehta added.

Other analysts say the state governments continue to keep Brahmins in good humour because of their ‘reverential position’ in society, despite the negligible vote bank.

Independent activist Sky Baba said: “Decades-old feudal systems believed if Brahmins were in an authoritative position, everything would automatically be in place. These governments are still following that sentiment.”

But think of the regression this represents in politics. Recognising caste to overcome discrimination was one thing. But entrenching it as a compulsory identity, certified by the state, and reproducing birth-based entitlements are a perversion of social justice.

Politics and public policy is being reduced to jati-based mobilisation in the most absurd way. Dalits were poor on account of their caste, which is why caste was recognised.

Now the state wants to ensure that all who are poor are permanently stamped with their caste by an official seal. The free for all that is ensuing for reconfiguring caste-based benefits, the demands of local domicile reservation, are signs of pessimism about the economy.

Much heat will be generated about how to distribute the current and shrinking pie of jobs and resources along jati lines. But no one is getting seriously upset about the fact that the pie is not growing as fast as we need it to.

The benefits for Brahmins may seem like a reductio ad absurdum of our politics, a little farce. But behind it is a great tragedy, of a nation with diminishing prospects for everyone, encouraging them to reach into the narrowest-minded conceptions of identity and calling it social justice. #KhabarLive #hydnews

‍BPL Families Replaces Firewood Instead Of LPG In Rural Telangana As Gas Price Rises

As the LPG steep rise in domestic cylinder prices and drastic cut in subsidy amount over the past two years have been forcing consumers from BPL (below poverty line) sections switch back to firewood and kerosene.

This trend is seen more in villages and interior areas when compared to cities and towns. The demand for refills has come down significantly from these sections indicating how consumers are shunning LPG and switching back to age-old methods of using firewood and kerosene for cooking purposes.

The agencies handling the mid-day meals scheme in government schools are also hit by rising prices of LPG and are switching back to firewood, unable to afford costlier cylinders.

"There are nearly 1.14 crore domestic LPG connections in Telangana. Of them, 30 lakh connections pertain to BPL sections. They were given connections under the state government's Deepam scheme and the Centre's Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana. There is a sharp reduction in ordering refills from these sections," said D. Ashok Kumar, president, Greater Hyderabad LPG Distributors Association and also the president of Association of Bharat Gas Distributors and Associates of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

"When PM's Ujjwala Yojana was launched in 2016 for BPL sections, the price of a cylinder was Rs. 590. Today, it has increased to Rs. 930. They are receiving a subsidy amount of just Rs. 40 into their bank accounts later as part of direct benefit transfer scheme. We have seen a 25 percent drop in refill orders from these sections for the past few months. However, this trend is seen more in rural and interior areas than in towns and cities, where firewood is available," Kumar added.

Government schools across Telangana reopened from September 1 after a 17-month break due to Covid-19 pandemic. Students are being served mid-day meals in all government schools from September 1.

Collectors and education officers of respective districts who are making surprise inspections of schools to assess the conditions in schools are shocked to find school premises filled with smoke as agencies cooking meals are using firewood unable to bear higher LPG price.

Nirmal district collector Musharraf Ali Farqui issued notices to two schools recently when he found agencies using firewood to cook meals against the norms. Though the Centre and the state government reimburse cylinder cost to these agencies later, it takes a few months to get the bills passed.

"They need one or two cylinders per week to cook meals depending on the enrollment of students in a school. They are finding it difficult to pay higher LPG price initially and wait for months to get their bills from the government. To overcome this, they are switching back to firewood in villages and interior areas," official sources said. #KhabarLive #hydnews

‍‍'‍Kolam, The Raj Gonds Riddles' Of Andhra Pradesh - A Sheer Reflection On Telangana Languages

“Riddles are probably the oldest extant forms of humour”, says Encyclopaedia Britannica. They are also the vehicles of heritage knowledge for every community. They were in vogue from the earliest literary texts of Vedas.

The following riddle from Rigveda is popularly cited (for ex: by Velaga Venkatappayya in Podupu Kathalu, 2008, p. vii).
Dwaanuparnaa sayujaa rakhaayaa samaanam
Vriksham parisha swajaate yoranyah
Pippalam swaadyatti ankyovashnannabhi baaka reti

Thereafter many Itihasas, Puranas, poetic works, stories, Jain and Buddhist texts and Bible mention the riddles and they are more popular among the rural people. The peoples’ memory is rightly emphasised by Devendra Sathyarthi (in “Indian Children’s Rhymes and Chants”, Modern Review, October – November, 1936, p. 39): “The people were the victims of great catastrophes, but none could kill the children’s indigenous games and home spun songs”.

During the evening times of leisure the village elders, boys and girls gather in the courtyard of a village/street elder and pose riddles to each other to uncover the intended meaning. Not only are they humorous in spelling out rhythmically by expressing the beauty of the language and vocabulary, but also carry the knowledge of their environs indirectly suggesting ‘learn to live’. This way the riddles are not only entertaining but also educative.

One of the most ancient races that have been carrying the heritage of riddles is of Kolams. Renowned anthropologist Professor Haimendorf made the following observations on the Kolams (The Raj Gonds of Andhra Pradesh, pp. 32, 38 & 345-48) — “The population that can best claim the epithet ‘aboriginal’ is the Kolams or Kolavars … several thousand members of the tribe are found scattered over the greater part of the Adilabad district from the uttermost corner of Kinwat to the taluqs of Sirpur and Lakshetipet in the east and south. Most Kolams speak a distinct tribal language, but some groups in the west have exchanged this for Marathi while in the east there are communities of telugised Kolams. In their own language, the Kolams call themselves Kolavar, but in Gondi they are called Pujari, in Telugu Mannevarlu, and in Marathi and in Urdu Kolam. Their tribal language known as Kolami is a Dravidian tongue and belongs, like Gondi, to the intermediate group of Dravidian languages, agreeing in some points with Telugu and in others with Tamil and connected forms of speech. The Kolami spoken in Adilabad is unintelligible to Gonds and judging from my limited word lists it seems, at least in vocabulary, to have closer affinities to Telugu than to Gondi… Those outlying groups who have fallen under the sway of either Marathi or Telugu culture and lost with their language many of their old customs occupy a different position; they are in the process of becoming a Hindu caste, and between them and the Gonds there is no feeling of common tribal tradition”.

His observations made some points clear — one, Kolams are one of the most ancient tribes in South India (across erstwhile Adilabad district in Telangana). This is why the Government of India recognised them as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PvTG). Their population is almost stagnant for the past three decades — 1991 to 2021 — oscillating between 40,000 and 45,000 while the population of all other communities in India are increasing. Two, the Kolams speak a language of their own and it belongs to “intermediate group of Dravidian languages”, like Gondi and Telugu. Linguists starting from Bhadriraju Krishnamurti (Telugu Verbal Bases Comparative and Descriptive Study, Berkeley and Los Angeles, 1961, p. 269) recognised Kolami as one among the 11 languages belonging to the Central Dravidian branch of proto Dravidian language. Third, the Kolams living on the borders are losing their language and culture to those of Marathi and Telugu. This is a threat to their ancestral heritage.

Fourth, the Kolam vocabulary is more akin to Telugu than to Gondi. Well-known linguist P. S. Subrahmanyam concludes that the Kolavagotti (language of Kolams as they call it) imbibed many words from Telugu. Therefore it can be presumed that their homeland might be the Telugu land itself (Draavida Bhaashalu, 1977, p. 42 & Kolavagotti, jstor, 1998).

However, other scholars like M. Rama Rao (Temples of Tirumala, Tirupati and Tiruchanur, TTD, 1999, p. 3) trace the roots of Kolams to the down south, i.e. Tirumala Hills called Vengadam in the remote past: “Vengadam was inhabited by an uncivilised tribe of hunters known as the Kalvar. Their chieftain was Pulli, who was a fierce and powerful master. He and his people spoke a language which was different from the language of Tamilaham. The Vengadam hill was known to many poets of the Sangam age as famous for its forests, for its elephants, for its streams and for its drunken bouts”.

It appears to be true, because the word Kalvar is similar to Kolvar; kal meaning offshoot. There are still some villages by name like Kollam Penta and Komman Penta (in Nallamala forests in Nagarkurnool district) that suggest their migration from south to north through the hinterland of Telangana, during the times of far histories.

The word kollam and even kolam also means rangoli. Rangoli is elaborate among the Kolams and festivals can not happen without them. And, kolam was very popular with the people of Indus valley civilizations, some 4,000 to 5,000 years ago. This way the ancestry of the Kolams goes back to proto-historic times and their language stands as a link between the south and north Indian regions.

However, now the two observations of Professor Haimendorf – losing of Kolam language and culture to their associated dominant peoples and its affinity to Telugu – prompt us to study the language of the ancient race of Kolam. As such, five years ago I started encouraging Athram Mothiram to collect folk songs of his own tribe Kolam. Initially he did not find ‘great things’ in the folklore, but as I went on convincing him on the importance of his ‘community memory’ which is entering the endangered zone, he finally utilised an opportunity and recorded the riddles spelt out in leisure time by Kolam students studying classes 3rd to 10th in the Government run residential school in Endha, Utnoor Mandal, Adilabad District, during the closing months of 2019.

Further, few months earlier Athram Mothiram participated in another similar evening session in a Kolam village Choupanguda, Wankidi Mandal in Kumram Bheem Asifabad District with six teenagers and a youngster – Athram Ravi (12), Anasuya (15), Kova Renuka (15), Sidam Kavita (15), Kova Prasad (13), Kova Bheemrao (26) – and recorded the riddles (altogether 112).

The riddles in their language Kolami are labelled sitah and are posed randomly in an enthusiastic flow. Yet, earlier scholars tried to present the riddles in a systematic manner and a scholar on the subject Archer Taylor divided them into five groups – animal related, human related, tree related, things related and non comparable riddles. But a primary study of the riddles of the Kolams leads us to divide them under the following categories:
1. House, food and health related riddles
2. Forest and environment related riddles
3. Agriculture related riddles
4. Culture and education related riddles

Till recent times, the Kolams lived upon food gathering, hunting and a primitive agriculture stage. Therefore, we find more number of their riddles (62) revolving around the things related to the ways of acquiring food in the forested environs (25) and from their primitive cultivation (18). Since they are strong believers in appeasing their deities by playing musical instruments during their fairs and festivals, we come across those things in the riddles (4). Education is a relatively latest addition to the social system and this is also evident in their riddles (3).

The house related riddles are about house plastering, swing, clothesline, door, pot hanging ring, wooden pillar, sweeping, termites, bore pump, lamp, ladder, dog tail, neem fruits, umbrella, andugu tree, oil presser, log and thorns. Food related items include popcorn, spatula, custard apple, tamarind fruit, egg, castor oil, mahua flowers, fire ash, bean support log, stove, cake piece, pan, millstone rawa, bitter gourd, match stick, fire, salt, onion, brinjal, nutmeg and maize. Human related things are shade, spit, nose, cry, leather sandals, old people, kid, comb, navel, eyes, nails, teeth, tattoo and lice. Forest related riddles are about Vemapli tree, Buduma fruits, Morri nuts, Aare leaf, wild bitter gourd and bamboo shoot. Birds like sparrow, gijigaadu and peacock and terrestrial animals like rats, ants, porcupine, boar, scorpion, chameleon, squirrel, fishermen – fish, burrowing quail and partridge appear to be humorous riddles. Environment is reflected through the riddles to unfold the intended meanings of stars, valley, stream, air and moon.

Agricultural equipment is expressed through the riddles on machan, paise, axe, ship, causeway, goad, blacksmith, cart axle. Cattle related riddles include the meanings of cow, cow udder, tail and the crops include millet, sesame, fangs, cotton, groundnuts and maize.

There are riddles that talk about musical instruments like Dol, Kaalikom, Dandaari cap and flag. Book and pen are also dealt in few other riddles. The above words are very close to Telugu vocabulary.
To cite a few riddles: the Kolami riddle “iduput mudipi” can be translated as “idupulo mudi” in Telugu; another Kolami riddle “thutthur thummeng, netthur thothed” can be translated as “thurrmane thummedaku netthuru ledu” in Telugu; the Kolami riddle “sikding ver thod, jinkskung jaaga thod” can be translated as “chikkuduku veru ledu, jinkaku jaaga ledu” in Telugu.

A general observation of the Kolami words let us find them with similar spelling and phonetic sound of the Telugu words. For example: the Kolami word gol is gollu in Telugu; chimni is same in both the languages; neenda in Kolami is needa in Telugu; satri in Kolami is chatri in Telugu; cheeme in Kolami is cheemalu in Telugu; the Kolami word pelaa becomes plural word pelaalu in Telugu. Thus, there are slight differences between the two languages, especially in respect of prepositions and verbs. Most of the Kolami words end with nasal sounds which can not be written so easily.

This appears as one of the reasons for the absence of script for the language.
Several scholars made considerable efforts to understand the language and vocabulary. Emeneau’s classic work (1955) presents a detailed grammar, vocabulary (with cognates for Dravidian words and identification of loans from Indo-Aryan and other sources), a discussion on the relationship of the language with the other ones of the Dravidian family, a chapter on the features of the Adilabad dialect as found in P. Sethumadhava Rao’s work (A Grammar of the Kolami Language, 1950) and a few texts. Other tribal languages Naikdi and even Naiki of Chanda can be considered as dialects of Kolami for all practical purposes, say linguists P. S. Subrahmanyam.

Thus, Kolami is not only related to the Telugu language but also to other tribal languages and carries historical community memory through the folklore like riddles. All the dialects of the language Kolami are on the edge of disappearing now. If their folklore is not studied and recorded, the humankind will lose the much needed diversity. I hope this benign effort will serve the interests of the scholars on the subject to take up further works like this to preserve the endangered community’s heritage memories. #KhabarLive #hydnews 

‍‍‍Teachers Are 'Real Architect' Of Children’s Future

On the special occasions like Teacher’s Day we say all sorts of noble words about the vocation of teaching, and some teachers are awarded by the State, the fact is that as a society we are not very serious about the role of teachers as the messengers of emancipatory education.

To begin with, let us dare to be “impractical” and imagine what the vocation of teaching ought to be. Well, we might find amid ourselves a spectrum of “knowledgeable” people — experts and specialists. 

But then, a teacher is not just a subject expert. She teaches not merely quantum physics or medieval history; she does something more. She walks with her students as a co-traveller; she touches their souls; and as a catalyst, she helps the young learner to understand his/her uniqueness and innate possibilities. She is not a machine that merely repeats the dictates of the official curriculum; nor is she an agent of surveillance — disciplining, punishing, hierarchising and normalising her students through the ritualisation of examinations and grading. 

Instead, she is creative and reflexive; and it is through the nuanced art of relatedness that she activates the learner’s faith that he is unique, he need not be like someone else, he must look at the process of his inner flowering, and the artificially constructed binary of “success” and “failure” must be abandoned.

There is another important thing a teacher ought to take care of. She must realise that there are limits to teaching and sermonising; and she is not supposed to fill the mind of the learner with a heavy baggage of bookish knowledge. 

Instead, her primary task is to help the learner to sharpen the power of observation, the ability to think and reflect, the aesthetic sensibility, and above all, the spiritual urge to experience the glimpses of the Infinite. In other words, once these faculties are developed, one becomes a life-long learner — beyond degrees and diplomas. 

In fact, teaching as an act of communion, and studentship as a project of the integral development of the physical, vital, intellectual and psychic states of being, can create the ground for emancipatory education. And emancipatory education is not a mere act of “skill learning”; nor is it pure intellectualism with academic specialisation.

On the other hand, on September 5, the Teachers Day is celebrated to honour the memory of India's first Vice President and to commemorate the importance of teachers in our lives. It is supposed to be a special day for the appreciation of teachers who are the real fountain head of a strong nation.

Indian culture had always treated them as most important pillars. Even Lord Krishna, Rama or any kings during medieval period who ruled the country had taken lessons under a Guru and this speaks a lot about the importance of a teacher.

The teachers have a very difficult task and play the role of torchbearers, work with dedication even in adverse conditions to make the young generation prosper in all respects. It is time for the political executive and the teachers to have a serious introspection about the role of teachers then and now and see what kind of reforms needed to be brought in the system to ensure that the core values of education and the healthy relationship between the teachers and the taught is restored.

As a matter of fact, emancipatory education is the willingness to live meaningfully, creatively and gracefully. It is the ability to identify and debunk diverse ideologies and practices of domination and seduction — say, the cult of narcissistic personalities that reduces democracy to a ritualistic act of “electing” one’s masters, the doctrine of militaristic nationalism that manufactures the mass psychology of fear and hatred, or the neoliberal idea that to be “smart” is to be a hyper-competitive consumer driven by the promises of instant gratification through the ceaseless consumption of all sorts of material and symbolic goods. 

And a teacher ought to be seen as the carrier of this sort of emancipatory education that inspires the young learner to question sexism, racism, casteism, ecologically destructive developmentalism, hollow consumerism, and the life-killing practice of “productivity” that transforms potentially creative beings into mere “resources”, or spiritually impoverished and alienated robotic performers.

Yet, the irony is that we do not desire to create an environment that promotes emancipatory education, and nurtures the true spirit of the vocation of teaching. Look at the state of an average school in the country. 

With rote learning, poor teacher-taught ratio, pathetic infrastructure, chaotic classrooms and demotivated teachers, it is not possible to expect even the slightest trace of intellectually stimulating and ethically churning education. It is sad that ours is a society that refuses to acknowledge the worth of good schoolteachers.

Moreover, because of nepotism, corruption and trivialisation of BEd degrees, there is massive devaluation of the vocation. 

Likewise, while the triumphant political class has caused severe damage to some of our leading public universities, and fancy institutes of technology and management see education primarily as a training for supplying the workforce for the techno-corporate empire, teachers are becoming mere “service providers” or docile conformists. Here is a society hypnotised by the power of bureaucracy, the assertion of techno-managers and the glitz of celebrities. Not surprisingly then, it fails to realise that a society that has lost its teachers is dead.

However, those who love the vocation of teaching and continue to see its immense possibilities should not give up. 

After all, ours is also a society that saw the likes of Gijubhai Badheka, Rabindranath Tagore and Jiddu Krishnamurti who inspired us, and made us believe that a teacher, far from being a cog in the bureaucratic machine, carries the lamp of truth, and walks with her students as wanderers and seekers to make sense of the world they live in, and free it from what belittles man. We must celebrate this pedagogy of hope.

Teachers Day should not end with some celebrations. Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan saw education as the most important tool to metamorphose our society into an inclusive one. The question now is whether our present education system is inclusive. Are teachers playing the role of Shilpis (sculptors) and making children strong enough mentally to face any situation in life?

The role of a teacher is multifarious one. "Teaching is an ongoing process, which like mercury never settles at a particular place but keeps flowing with everlasting grandeur." They should be sharp, enlightened, updated, innovative, perseverant and ever ready to learn new things and unlearn old ones so that they produce the best of human resources, who are not only employable but should have enough resilience to absorb highs and lows of life. Does such a situation prevail in our country? 

Under Gurukul system, the Gurus (teachers) used to lay emphasis on practical education, developing observation skills of a student and above all there used to be a system of questioning, discussion and debate. A week student was always attached to a bright student so that the bright student would help the weak student.

But now it is other way round. The weak students are segregated from so-called cream and made to sit in a separate section which leads to negative impact on them as they are stamped as weak students. All this is part of commercialisation of education.

The system of listening to what teacher says, copy what is written on black board, learn by rote the so-called important questions is resulting in a situation where students are committing suicide if one gets 85 per cent marks instead of 90 per cent.

There are also cases where students are committing suicide, thinking that they may not get good marks. The political executive of the country and the teachers should ponder over such issues and bring major reforms to restore the values of education and importance of teacher that was seen in the olden times. The governments too should free the teachers from doing other works like door-to-door enumeration work or drafting them for election related work. #KhabarLive #hydnews

#Sponsored: Embracing E-pharmacy - The ‘New Normal’ In Healthcare Industry

In today’s technology-driven world, telemedicine is considered to be one of the most progressive technology models that have made it possible for mankind to get access to the finest doctors just at the tap of a button. 

However, the space of healthcare is experiencing a recent innovation called e-pharmacy. It simply refers to internet-based vendors that sell medicines. Fortune Business Insights™ states in a report that the e-pharmacy market is expected to reach USD 177,794.9 million by 2026. Such platforms are gaining more popularity on account of the increasing geriatric population worldwide. Besides, the rising adoption of internet and smartphones in the developed and developing nations would also bolster their demand. 

How is E-pharmacy Proving Beneficial for Consumers?

• Data Recordings: Each and every medicine purchased can be tracked, thereby reducing the issues of self-medication and drug abuse.

• Convenience: You can easily order the required medicines right from your computer or mobile phone. This will prevent patients from visiting a pharmacy. 

• Authenticity: Counterfeit medicines can be traced back to their suppliers, manufacturers, or channels with full tracking systems. It will enable the platforms to become more transparent.

• Education: E-pharmacies possess an innovative technology infrastructure for providing crucial information to consumers, such as cheaper substitutes, medicine reminders, side effects, and drug interactions. This will surge awareness amongst patients about certain medicines.

• Accessibility: Many times, you may not find the medicine that you’re looking for at local pharmacies as they only keep limited inventories. This would further make you visit a few more stores until you find that particular medicine. But, e-pharmacy platforms can aggregate supply. Hence, you can purchase the otherwise hard to find medicines easily.

• Sustainability: This model would help the existing pharmacies to commence online operations and provide better service to consumers. At the same time, it would increase margins, eliminate wastage from the system, and lower working capital requirements.

COVID-19 Pandemic: Indian E-pharmacy Platforms Exhibit Surging Sales 

Several e-pharmacy stores based in India, namely, PharmEasy, 1mg, and Netmeds that have been facing numerous regulatory issues for the past three years, are presently showcasing an astonishing surge in sales because of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the government implemented lockdown measures across the country, many consumers are rapidly inclining towards these e-pharmacy platforms owing to the fear of getting infected by coronavirus. However, multiple brick-and-mortar pharmacies are continuing to operate across India. 

The founder of PharmEasy, Dharmil Sheth mentioned that the demand for medicines category has currently gone up to almost 100%. Pradeep Dadha, the founder of Netmeds declared that the company worked closely with its suppliers for stocks right after realizing the severity of COVID-19. It started utilized artificial intelligence (AI) to prevent hoarding by customers. All its delivery centers are following strict sanitization and cleaning measures to ensure safety. 

Truepill Raises $25 Million to Broaden its Pharmacy Distribution Centers

In July 2020, Truepill, an online pharmacy based in California, announced that it raised approximately USD 25 million from Sound Ventures, Initialized Capital, Optum Ventures, and TI Platform Fund. The company will use this new fund to develop its existing infrastructure. At present, it possesses 6 pharmacy distribution centers that have a capacity of around 100,000 prescriptions per day. It would soon be able to add a fully automated, larger distribution center, probably in Arizona or the Midwest. The company’s president, Sid Viswanathan indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic has suddenly spiked the demand for medicines. Hence, patients are no longer visiting brick-and-mortar pharmacies. With this new development, the company’s total funding stands at USD 39 million. 

CVS Pharmacy Launches Spoken Rx Prescription App for Visually Impaired 

In July 2020, CVS Pharmacy, an American retail corporation headquartered in the U.S., announced the launch of its new app, Spoken Rx. It will be able to read medicine labels for people who cannot read typical print labels or those who have visual impairments. This new feature will provide patients the prescription information whenever and wherever they need it. By the end of 2020, the company will put up radio frequency identification (RFID) labels on every prescription bottle at almost 1,500 locations. 

E-pharmacy of the Future

E-pharmacy platforms must explore other hidden requirements rather than just offering price discounts. The need may be to ensure the patients are never out of dose for their daily medication or to purchase medicines for loved ones from distant areas. Besides, they can provide other value-added services, such as counselling and personalized diagnostics. E-pharmacy is here to stay side-by-side with retail chemists. #KhabarLive #hydnews 

‍Will ‍BJP Expose Ruling TRS Party Corruption In Telangana?

As a matter of fact, this time any political party will easily grab the power from ruling TRS party with gaining public confidence, solving the much awaited promises and assure the easy life without much hard work. All these BJP can provide in the state if the party becomes Secular and much transparent in terms of getting vote bank in Telangana.

https://youtu.be/W1ybKQKOsVU

Time is running out for the seven-year-long dictatorial rule of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.KCR has played with the lives of students who led the separate statehood movement. He became the CM by playing politics, not leading the movement.

In 2014, on the Floor of Assembly, he vowed to fill 1.07 lakh vacant posts in various departments. In 2017, he announced filling up of over 1.12 lakh posts and promised to issue notifications annually.

However, the number of vacancies in government departments has now piled up to 2.5 lakh. There are many vacant teaching and non-teaching posts in universities even as many government schools have been closed. There has been no instance of filling even one teacher post.

No efforts were made to fill Group-I, junior college, degree college teacher and university teachers posts. In fact, except in the police department, no other vacancy has been filled.The number of districts has been increased, but no effort was made to recruit people needed to administer the districts.

For the post of police constable, PhDs, and those who have done MTech have applied, indicating the desperation of the unemployed. The number of unemployed has shot past the 50 lakh mark if the number of applicants for various posts is any indication.

https://youtu.be/UqgXe-1HHUc

A glance at the Statistics and Programme Implementation Department’s periodic labour force survey statistics or state-wise unemployed data being maintained by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy reveals that the unemployment rate has reached 25 to 33 percent in Telangana. At many places, the unemployed are resorting to suicide.Is this the Bangaru Telangana promised by KCR?

It’s clear that KCR is victimising students who played a crucial role in the Telangana statehood movement.It’s clear that during the past seven years, those who benefited the most are his family members and those nursed by him.Corruption under the KCR regime has reached dizzy heights.

Thousands of crores of corruption is taking place in projects, contracts, construction of projects, sand quarrying, liquor sales and in almost every transaction but nobody raises a voice against KCR.For example, the Kaleswaram project, which was estimated to cost less than Rs 40,000 crore, has been revised to Rs 1.30 lakh-crore. Not surprisingly, the government is accused of swallowing the funds meant for migrant workers.

KCR has shown the door to many leaders – like Ale Narendra, Vijayashanti and now Eatala Rajender – who questioned his activities.His coterie consists of all those who play second fiddle to him. After coming to power for the second time, his ego has become inflated as he feels he cannot be challenged.

KCR went back on his promises like three acres of land to Dalits, construction of 7 lakh 2BHK houses, stipend for unemployed, waiver of crop loans, free KG-to-PG education and construction of a hospital in every constituency.

The Covid second wave exposed the shortcomings of the public health infrastructure. He is also accused of diverting BC, SC and ST Sub-Plan funds to other purposes. Besides misusing Central funds, KCR diverted the funds meant for infrastructure development projects to implement vote bank politics.

The government did not build new projects, but re-designed old ones and inflated the cost many times over to loot public money.KCR claimed credit for implementation of the free vaccination programme, five kg of rice to the migrant workers and old age pension. In fact, the Centre should be given credit for these programmes.

Buying votes by spending crores, bringing MLAs elected on other party tickets into the TRS fold, repressing those who question him are some of the skills nurtured by the CM.The debt burden of the State in 2014 was Rs 60,000 crore and has now risen to Rs 4 lakh-crore.

KCR promised to celebrate September 17 as Telangana Liberation Day, but failed to implement it. Moreover, KCR is in league with communal forces who are heirs to Razakars.

Against the Constitution, he provided 12 percent quota for Muslims. There is no check to the atrocities of the Majlis because of the appeasement politics being practised by KCR.

Majlis leader Asaduddin Owaisi, who opposed triple talaq, is supporting the atrocities perpetrated against women in Afghanistan saying that even more severe atrocities are being perpetrated against women in India.KCR joining hands with people like Owaisi, who wants to see Muslims confined to the Medieval Age to protect his interests, is atrocious.People are realising that the seven year rule of KCR exploited the state.

Cracks are now appearing in the fort of KCR.The people are witnessing the failures of KCR; his popularity graph is on the decline. People have realised that there is no congruence whatsoever between his sayings and doings.

That is why the Praja Sangrama Yatra by BJP Telangana president Bandi Sanjay has received overwhelming support. It shows the fall of KCR is imminent. #KhabarLive #hydnews 

‍‍Parents Rattled Between Govt Orders And Schools For Schools Reopening On September 1, Court Stayed GOs In Telangana

Several schools in Hyderabad have asked parents to sign 'consent forms' that say management takes no responsibility for health of children on reopening from September 1. Now, Telangana High Court stayed the government orders on reopening of schools. This is considered as a major relief to parents and educational institutions in the state.

The “lack of clarity” and “suddenness” with which the Telangana government has ordered the reopening of educational institutes has left parents in the state worried. And this has been exacerbated by ‘consent forms’ from three schools that seek to absolve the management of all responsibility towards children’s health.

After last week’s state government order asking all educational institutions — from kindergarten to post-graduation — to resume physical classes, several schools in Hyderabad sent forms to parents seeking their consent for children returning to schools from 1 September.

However, at least three schools also asked parents to sign a declaration, which states that the school management is not responsible for children’s health or any “untoward incident”.

In a form sent by Sujatha High School, one of the oldest schools in the city, the management asked parents to take responsibility for their child’s health.

They were asked to undersign a statement on the form, accessed by ThePrint, which read: “I declare that I am sending my child to the school at my own risk and responsibility and that I will not hold the school responsible for my child’s health.”

Delhi School of Excellence, which has branches across the city, sent out a similar form in which parents were asked to declare they are “sending their ward to the school willingly and will not hold the school responsible for any untoward incident”.

Another well-known institution in Hyderabad, the Gitanjali Group of Schools also asked the parents to take sole responsibility for their child’s health and asked them not to hold the school accountable in case he or she is infected despite the precautions taken.

“It is impossible to determine who has it and who does not given the current limits in virus testing,” read an internal circular from the school.

All three of these forms, meanwhile, also listed out the precautionary protocols the schools will be taking against Covid to keep the children safe, such as social distancing and mandatory masking.

Ashish Naredi, member of the Hyderabad Schools Parents Association (HSPA) — an independent organisation that mostly includes parents of children who attend private schools — and a parent of a Class 8 student, called the language used in the forms reprehensible.

“Parents and schools are not against each other. What we have to ensure is the safety of the children. The language used by these schools in the consent form is reprehensible. It’s like schools are shrugging off the responsibility of child’s health. How will a parent sign such a declaration form in such times,” Naredi told #KhabarLive.

When #KhabarLive reached Delhi School of Excellence via call and Gitanjali Group of Schools over email for a comment but received no response till the time of publishing of this report. Sujatha High School, meanwhile, declined to comment over a phone call.

No response was received from Hyderabad District Education Officer R. Rohini either, when reached over text message and call, till the publishing of this report.

Parents of school children have also criticised the lack of clarity in the state government order calling for reopening of schools. Unlike other states, the K. Chandrasekhar Rao-led government has not designed a formal modus operandi for the resumption of physical classes.

The Telangana government released a memo on 24 August announcing the reopening of educational institutions. On the same day, in another circular, the government released a list of basic Covid protocols to be followed which included sanitising premises and taking symptomatic children to healthcare centres. No other protocols specific to resumption of schools have been released yet.

According to Seema Agarwal, another member of the HSPA, “No clear instructions are given to the parents. It is left to their whims and fancies on how they want to operate.”

She further noted that a survey conducted among 300 parents of the association, revealed that about 87 per cent of them were not willing to send children to offline classes.

“I am actually surprised how the government just said that all institutions can re-open without listing out some detailed guidelines. I think the first step before calling any child to school is making sure all teachers are vaccinated, at least with first dose,” Naredi said.

Meanwhile, It is known that the Telangana government has decided to reopen schools and colleges in Telangana from tomorrow after a halt for a long time. However, the Telangana High Court on Tuesday ruled that the opening of schools is not mandatory and imposed a week-long stay on the Government Order.

The High Court said that students need not attend classes in any of the public schools or private schools.

The High Court has also ordered that no schools should force the students to come to school and also asserted that the management should not take any undertaking from the parents regarding the Covid-19. The High Court agreed with the petitioner that there is no scientific study to start the schools. It remains to be seen how the government would respond to the High Court order.

The High Court heard the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by private teacher Balakrishna against the direct teaching to pre-primary and primary classes in the schools. The petitioner contended that direct teaching was inappropriate amid the coronavirus third wave thread.

The petitioner alleged that the government has decided to start educational institutions without any scientific study and guidelines. The High Court heard the case on Tuesday and stayed the re-opening the schools.  #KhabarLive #hydnews

‍‍‍‍‍Can Poor Equipped Educational Institutions Shield Students From Covid In Telangana?

Fortunately or unfortunately we all have come to a situation where 'caution' and 'precautions' have become the watchwords of 'normal' life. Covid-19 has caused inestimable damage to human life, shattering norms in sphere.

Despite reeling under the impact of the pandemic, the governments in many states, including Telangana, are readying to reopen schools. At this point, nobody knows at what cost. Reopening schools implies a lot. Students will not be airlifted from homes to schools. They will take crowded buses. Apart from enough number of buses, schools need to be equipped with everything that prevents Covid infection so as to shield students completely. That is a tall order.

We are yet to overcome the impact of the second wave and the third way is said to be round the corner. Are we prepared to cope with the impending third wave? What steps have been taken to shield the future citizens of India from the virus? Just reopening schools is not enough. The authorities should have taken all precautionary steps before announcing the reopening of schools. We have had a bad experience of opening schools and closing them immediately after the surge of the second wave.

It is a fact that virtual classes have had a negative psychological impact on students, with everyone glued to smart phones or laptops for hours together during classes. The governments had made arrangements to make online classes trouble-free and tension-free. During the last two years schools have been virtually abandoned, with even basic staff not attending to their duties due to fear of Covid.

As education has become a lucrative business, many educational institutions do not flinch from admitting students into different courses even if they do not have the capacity to accommodate them. Most of the classrooms are overcrowded. For a classroom that can accommodate 20 students, double the number is admitted. It means students will never have proper space among them, let alone social distancing norms of keeping alternate seats vacant.

After the second wave peaked, claiming a lot of human lives, oxygen plants were opened in most of the hospitals. Now everything said to be 'right'. Restrictions on cinema halls have been lifted. Ultimately, students, whether they go to schools or cinema halls, will be exposed to the virus. Are all the schools or classrooms spacious enough to accommodate students as per the prescribed norms? Except for a few private and government schools or colleges, most of the educational institutions are in a bad shape.

They operate in private and congested buildings with no proper ventilation in the classrooms. In this pathetic condition, if schools and colleges are allowed to open, and students attend classes; will there be a shield to protect them from the deadly Covid, particularly the Delta variant that is spreading fast? So, pragmatic steps are required to prevent incalculable damage.
Even nations that have the best of medical facilities are cautious in this regard.

In spite of massive vaccination and spacious schools, they are protective of students' lives. There is strict implementation of Covid norms. Medical experts are warning that the new wave is slow in spread, but will be massive in its impact. The rising Covid cases Kerala is indicative of this.

All told, the vaccination of Indians leaves much to be desired. Against this background, if schools and colleges are opened, where is the guarantee that nothing untoward will not happen? Opening of educational institutions can wait.

The spread of the virus must be contained first. For that to happen, a well-planned strategy is needed. As students are engaged with virtual classes, there is no urgency in driving them to schools or colleges without making the institutes completely safe. #KhabarLive #hydnews

Telangana government mandating physical classes from September 1, is causing serious concern among parents.

The safety of children, who are required to go to school starting September 1 with the government mandating physical classes from that date, is causing serious concern among parents.

It is not that parents do not want to send their children to school, it is just that the absence of assurance of safety against Covid-19 once out of home is what appears to be holding parents back from fully backing the government decision to reopen schools for physical classes.

“I do not have the kind of money to take care of my six-year-old daughter if something happens to her. But, with no online classes, I have to send my daughter to school because I do not want her to miss any class,” says Kavita Konaboina.

For Namish Mehta, sending his two children to school is not a difficult choice to make, provided every safety and sanitation measure is attended to. The school they go to has security cameras and parents should be given access to them so they can check how things are being run, he says.

It is not just the practically enforced sending of children to schools that is bothering parents. Crowding, says Ashwin Kumar, is a serious concern.

“I have two little daughters going to the same school, but should I take the risk when there is no vaccination available for children,” he asks.

On other hand, social media platforms such as Twitter, some parents worried over how easy it was for their kids to catch a cold or a fever, while others were hoping that the state will have a change of mind and allow a mix of online and in person classes, so parents can choose an option that works best for them.

There is utter confusion among school and college managements, and parents, on the reopening for physical classes from September 1 as the state government continues to push educational institutions to reopen their doors to students.

Not every parent wants to send his or her child to school given the fact that there has been no assurance from the government on student safety other than ordering that every school and college should take up a thorough physical cleaning.

A post on Facebook that asked the question “How many of you are ready to send your kids back to schools or colleges from 1st September?”, and the responses to it pretty much summed up the mood with respect to how ready people are to see their children back in classrooms.

“Once the Covid caller tune ends then we will think,” was one witty response, but that summed up the biggest worry over sending children to schools and colleges – the possibility of children catching Covid-19.

On other social media platforms such as Twitter, some parents worried over how easy it was for their kids to catch a cold or a fever, while others were hoping that the state will have a change of mind and allow a mix of online and in person classes, so parents can choose an option that works best for them.

The challenges of safety, and student attendance are particularly acute when it comes to primary classes with children as young as five years being required to attend physical classes.

“The parents are not ready, we are also not ready to have little kids in classes. Some children may be looking forward to going to school because they may be missing out on playing with friends. But if something happens to a kid, can the parents take it? The school managements I am certain, cannot,” said Suman Earth, founder and chairman of Abode Montessori and Multiple Intelligence School. “No chance can be taken with pre-school and primary school students,” he added. #KhabarLive #hydnews 

‍‍#Sponsored: Why 'TheHinduZone' Is The Right Choice For Preparing Competitive Exams?

Thehinduzone helps students in getting information about the best coaching available for all competitive exams, such as UPSC, NEET, IAS, CLAT, etc.

Preparing for competitive exams can be a stressful experience and the right guidance can make all the difference. As online education expands its reach, especially in recent times, students can now access information on coaching classes and career guidance (https://thehinduzone.com/) from the safety and convenience of their homes. 

This is where Thehinduzone steps in to guide students from the start to the end of the examination process, with live interactive sessions, dedicated mentors, appropriate study materials, and video lectures. The website helps students in getting information about the best coaching available for all competitive exams, such as UPSC, NEET, IAS, CLAT, etc. Mentors will also assist them in evaluating exam series and managing their schedules for each subject.

With so many coaching options available online, it can be a complex and time-consuming process to decide on the best institute. Thehinduzone.com takes a personalised approach, since students come with individual needs, such as affordable fees, a preference for tests versus theory-oriented sessions, while some may wish to cover the course in a shorter duration. For instance, Plutus IAS, Yojna IAS, Topper’s Academy, Kautilya IAS, among others provide assistance and online classes. For students or institutions that cannot afford to pay for their education, Thehinduzone is also available in a free edition.

Choose the right institute

Thehinduzone collaborates with a wide range of institutions, large and small, with various batch sizes to ensure there are no barriers when it comes to exam preparation. The teachers and institutes affiliated with thehinduzone.com can post their content, study materials, questionnaires, exam assessments, syllabuses, and video lectures, etc, so that students can access them as required. This allows students to save time by not having to browse study materials of multiple coaching institutes and instead focus on high-quality content that will benefit them.

Different institutes come with different strengths, for instance, Plutus IAS, considered the best for IAS coaching online (https://plutusias.com/), offers a batch size of 50 students while Toppersacademy, rated the best for online NEET Coaching, had a batch size of only 30 students for its 2020-21 batches.

Get customised coaching

To help students in locating the best coaching for them, Thehinduzone utilises reviews from other websites, Google evaluations, past and present student experiences, among other resources. It provides customised coaching results based on one’s requirements for timings, study materials, faculty, and prices, etc.

Revolutionising edtech

Thehinduzone has revolutionised the edtech business with superior technology, planned strategy, and progress mapping tools. The platform showcases an enriching collection of learning materials, such as video courses and quizzes for a rewarding learning experience.  

The platform recently hosted a live virtual webinar aimed at assessing a candidate’s traits to determine if they have the necessary attributes to serve as a government servant to prepare them for the final test.

Thehinduzone.com intends to grow its reach by focusing on advising students on the best online IAS coaching, best online NEET coaching (https://instituterank.com/best-online-ias-coaching/),  and establishing a global presence, while providing holistic solutions and overall development to young candidates who aspire to be tomorrow’s leaders. #KhabarLive #hydnews

‍#Sponsored: Important Tips To Study In Australia

Australia is regarded as one of the most varied and friendliest countries across the globe. With over 1,100 schools and 22,000 courses to select from, Australia offers a varied choice of education possibilities for overseas students.

The Australian Qualifications Framework distinguishes the Australian education system from that of many other countries by providing primary, secondary, and post-secondary education (AQF). The AQF is a national strategy that lays out how qualifications at different levels of education are linked.

International students can pursue education at all levels, from elementary and secondary school to vocational education and training (VET), English language courses and higher education (including universities).
Higher education (universities) and vocational education and training are referred to as 'tertiary education’ in Australia (VET and TAFE colleges). Higher education and VET institutions are governed by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) (https://www.teqsa.gov.au/) and the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) respectively. These organizations are in charge of institution registration and re-registration, as well as course accreditation and re-accreditation.

Australia's laws support great education and protection for international students, regardless of what you're studying for or how long you're studying. National standards for international education and training providers are set by the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act of 2000 and the National Code of Practice for Registration Authorities & Providers of Education & Training to Overseas Students 2007 (National Code).

Before Studying in Australia, there are certain things one should be keeping in mind. Read through the following to explore the necessary steps that may be required before planning to study in Australia. 

You may be enthralled by the prospect of studying in Australia, having heard tales of cute animals, endless beaches and lengthy summers. While Australia has a lot to offer, shifting countries may be difficult. So it's worth planning ahead of time if you're going to be an international student.

There's a lot you should know about studying in Australia before you go. Some things you'll learn when you get there, but here are a few highlights to help you get ready for your new life in Australia.

A visa is required

To study in Australia, international students require a Student Visa (subclass 500). This allows you to study in Australia full-time and is valid for the duration of your program. You must have been accepted into a registered full-time course in Australia to be eligible for this visa.

You might require health insurance 

Unless you are a student from a country where the cost of international healthcare is paid by the government, you will need to purchase Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of your stay in Australia. This is a requirement of the student visa since it helps pay for any medical treatment that may be required during your period of stay.

In addition to meeting the criteria of your visa, OSHC may assist you in obtaining insurance to cover you in the event of an accident or injury.

Make an effort to improve your English skills 

It's always a good idea to brush up on your English abilities so you can keep up with your professors, especially if English isn't your first language. Try watching formal English-language television news and chat shows, reading books, or listening to podcasts (https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/general-english/audio-series/podcasts). Learn some Australian slang and have a good time. Even though they all speak English, Australians (or "Aussies" as they are known) have a wide range of terms (and accents).

Your educational institution's grading system may be different 

The grades in Australia are not the same as those in other nations. A first-class mark, for example, could be assessed with an HD (High Distinction) rather than an A or A+. If you're intending on finishing your course in your native country, find out how this may affect your grades.

Consider carefully where in Australia you want to study 

You can choose from a range of destinations for your study abroad vacation to Australia.It might be intriguing for you to study in the UK, but do you prefer to live in the city or on the outskirts of town? Do you want to spend all of your leisure time at the beach (that is something pretty much everywhere in Australia ), or do you prefer to go into "the bush"? Depending on what you study, certain regions may be better for you. Australia is where you’ve got to land.

If you're interested in marine biology, Queensland, which is home to the Great Barrier Reef, might be a suitable fit. If you're a business major, studying in Sydney might be a better option for you. Apart from Sydney, there are numerous possibilities in both large and small places. Consider attending events in Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne, or Canberra, to mention a few.

Australia is an expensive country

In comparison to many other nations, you may perceive Australia's cost of living to be quite excessive. It's a good idea to figure out what kind of weekly costs you'll have and how much each one will cost.

To get a student visa, you'll need to show that you can afford a minimum living cost of $19,830 per year, but you might end up spending more, especially if you plan on studying and living in one of the larger cities.

What Does It Cost to Study in Australia?

The cost of studying in Australia is determined by the institution and degree of study that you select. The table below illustrates the range of course expenses for various types of qualifications.

If you think you are ready to bear the expenses of studying abroad, it is suggested that rather than forcing your mind with the mainstream thought to study in the US, it would be far more attractive to be experiencing a whole different sphere of education from Australia.  

However, you might be able to work 

In term time, a student visa allows you to work up to 40 hours per fortnight, excluding any employment required as part of your degree. During the holidays, you can work full-time. However, you will not be able to work in Australia until your studies have commenced.

The public transportation system might be confusing 

Buses, trains, ferries, and trams make up Australia's public transportation system. International students are entitled to discounts on some or all of these in some, but not all, states.

Driving rules vary by state, while most will allow you to drive with a valid international driver's license — again, do your homework before you go. Keep in mind that we drive on the left side of the road in Australia.

The seasons are inverted! 

If you're traveling from a Northern Hemisphere location, such as Europe or the United States, you will notice that the season you left behind has changed. You'll need to pack for the Australian heat as if it was your winter. Furthermore, Australia operates in a separate time zone from the United States, so expect some jet lag when you arrive.

In fact, to experience an all-rounder of seasons and living an educational life amidst the beauty of mother nature, studying abroad in Sweden or Australia would make you a good choice. 

Australia is a hugely diversified country 

Although Australia's population is small in comparison to its size (approximately 23 million people), it is home to over 25% of the world's population. This is one of the reasons why there are a number of languages spoken here. English is the official language and is likely to be the language in which you will be expected to learn. 

Some of the meals may be odd to you 

You might be able to obtain some familiar flavors from home depending on where you study in Australia. Australia has a diverse cuisine scene to go along with its cosmopolitan society.

Kangaroo, lamingtons, Tim Tams, and (if you're feeling daring) Vegemite are all good options for a traditional taste of Australia.

Don't underestimate Australia's size

Australia has a vast landmass of 7.96 million km2. So, unless you have a lot of time and money to spare, it's quite doubtful that you'll be able to see all of our key sights and towns in one trip. Plan the things you truly want to visit and determine if your expectations are reasonable; this will help you avoid disappointment later on. 

If candidates can consider smaller countries like, studying from Hong Kong while reviewing the size and area, studying from Australia would anyday be a winning streak  with the upper hand. 

Knowing what to expect when studying in Australia will help alleviate any concern you may be experiencing about such a significant life decision. There'll be plenty to learn once you arrive, so pack your bags and prepare for education outside your university's walls.

Scholarships 

Many scholarships are available to students of various nationalities, but the requirements of each grant are specified by the institution or organization that is offering it. Applications must be sent directly to the scholarship giver, and you must contact the scholarship provider to find out if you are qualified for a scholarship.

Studying in Australia would be a journey worth experiencing. Once you walk out with that degree from Australia, you would see in yourself a new change, a person with a global outlook and brimming with self confidence. Not just will your life change, studying programmes from universities abroad can change your identity as an individual and shall be touching newer heights. #KhabarLive #hydnews

Extracurricular Activities To Do While Studying Gives Your CV A Great Boost

We intend to study abroad to gain that academic excellence and an edge over the others compared to students back in your own country. However, when you plan to study abroad and then work there, you need to stand out amongst the diversity of international students who already exist there to land that progressive and dream job.

Gaining academic excellence and knowledge should be your ultimate goal while going to study abroad. New language, new friends, new cuisine, new insights, and new learnings come along while learning with other students from diverse cultures. Well, there is something that you should add to your profile seriously while studying abroad consciously. Yes! It involves yourself in extracurricular activities. What does that mean?? Where can I find time for them? What exactly do I need to do? How will it help? Confused? Don't worry; this blog then is just for you. Read till the end to know about extracurricular activities to do while Studying Abroad and why. Get started.

Things to do while studying abroad that can give your CV a boost

We intend to study to gain academic excellence and an edge over the others compared to students back in your own country. 

However, when you plan to study abroad and then work there, you need to stand out amongst the diversity of international students who already exist there to land that progressive and dream job. So only academic achievements may not be enough all the time to make yourself stand out from others. So if you do want your CV to stand out once you graduate from university, get started with some extracurricular activities along with your study right away!

Do we understand that you must be thinking about these extracurricular activities that I need to take up? Well, they can be anything of your interest ranging from things like joining the university sports team, learning a new language, or becoming a peer mentor. It will add to your CV and display your existing skills and interests besides your academic achievements to the recruiter. It makes your personality attractive!

We would sincerely advise every student not to underestimate the importance of extracurricular activities on your CV. There is a lot of competition for picking up that dream job, so anything you can do in your free time that leads to developing new skills will surely help make your CV stand out from the rest! 

We bring you 10 extracurricular activities that you can think about and pick up based on your interest. However, more choices can be vast; take up anything substantial you feel will stand out in your CV!

1. Become a Volunteer

Volunteering is a great extracurricular activity to opt for. It allows you to give back to society and is rewarding as well. It proves to be an excellent addition to your CV that demonstrates to the recruiter that you have a good work ethic and possess good organizational skills, too, as you have juggled between volunteering and studying.

You can find some volunteering opportunities in the locality of your university or where you stay in case off-campus.

2. Join a sports team

Playing a sport is a great extracurricular activity. Playing a sport requires various skills that are recognized and appreciated by a recruiter. Well, you can play any sport, be it football or basketball, join a sports team and play for the team. You can find such opportunities within the university or even in your local area.

3. Join some societies.

Make an attempt to join any society, and it is going to shine on your CV. You can even boast about it to your recruiter, especially if it is a friendly society. You must be thinking, what kind of society should you be joining? Well, it can be related to your degree or future professional aspirations. You can even join a club that teaches you something completely new too! 

4. Be actively involved in events related to your university

Become an active member for all events related to the university. This involvement of your university activities will showcase to the employer that you are social, possess leadership skills, take the initiative, manage time, and be a good communicator. 

5. Part-time job

If you can finish your university or college work well in time and efficiently, then you can consider picking up a part-time job too. This will give definitely give your resume a boost because it showcases your time management and organization skills.

6. Peer mentor

Becoming a peer mentor if helping other students is your calling is a great extracurricular activity to try your hands on. Most of the universities have peer mentoring and tutoring schemes. In this, the second and third-year students support the first-year students to adjust to university life. You could be involved in taking the new students for a campus tour, addressing their queries over an email, and being there as a friend on campus for them.

7. Take up an internship

Internships are a great way to get into the industry's workspace that you will finally work in. It is an experience that teaches you a lot and gives you the practical experience of your theory learned.

Internships are a great extracurricular activity to add to your CV. It is because it shows your natural ambition and passion, as you have worked for free or for a negligible amount during your internship.

8. Get Political

Think what strikes a chord with you. Is it teaching someone free of cost or helping people with mental health issues. Identify the cause dear to your heart and join a political society or campaigning group to work towards that cause. You will surely come out with excellent leadership skills and an excellent addition to your CV.

9. Start your Vlog

Pick up a passion that is close to your heart, and you can start your Vlog on social media. This extracurricular will definitely showcase the commitment and education that you have towards things you enjoy to the recruiter. A great addition to your CV for sure, keeping in mind how the world is moving regarding social media.

10. Launch your podcast

This is also a new innovative extracurricular picking up nowadays. It does not require much, just a microphone, a phone, and an idea to make it unique. Identify your passion and start your own podcast. It's a tremendous extracurricular to add to your CV and implies the excellent communication skills you possess.

You may go to the best university and gain academic excellence, but when you begin to work in the real world, what is also required is a set of skills. Leadership, communication, teamwork, time management, organization are all skill sets that are a must in your workspace. Start early by indulging in various extracurricular activities while you study. Push your limits and explore. At the end of the day, it will add to your CV and help you stand out with employers. 

Remember, extracurricular activities are not only an excellent way to demonstrate your interests and individuality to the recruiters, but it also showcases to them that you have a range of valuable skills that you could apply to the job if selected. #KhabarLive #hydnews 

‍Telangana ‍Private Schools Urge Govt Aid To Overcome Financial Distress

In Telangana, about 9,500 of the total 11,500 private schools are categorized as budget schools. These schools cater to about 33 lakh students. Almost 3500 schools already closed in this about a lakh of teachers lost jobs and upto 15 lakh students career gone in dark.

According to the Telangana Recognised Schools Management Association (TRSMA), about 3500 private budget schools are closed and about a lakh teachers from these schools have changed their professions to sustain their families.

While welcoming the Telangana government’s decision to reopen all educational institutions from September 1, managements of private budget schools in the state have sought monetary support in the form of unsecured loans to help them overcome the financial distress as a result of remaining shut for nearly 18 months.

According to the Telangana Recognised Schools Management Association (TRSMA), about 3500 private budget schools are closed and about a lakh teachers from these schools have changed their professions to sustain their families. In Telangana, about 9,500 of the total 11,500 private schools are categorized as budget schools. These schools cater to about 33 lakh students.

“After the Telangana government’s announcement that students would be promoted to the next class without mandatory attendance and assessment, nearly 75 percent of students have stopped attending classes.

About 50 percent of these schools could not conduct online classes. Many of the students are unreachable. Many have started going to work along with their parents for daily wages. As per our date, 3500 private budget schools in Telangana have been shut down,” Madhusudhan Sadula, general secretary of TRSMA and national vice-president of National Independent Schools Alliance (NISA) told #KhabarLive.

Speaking to #KhabarLive, Dr. Kulbhushan Sharma, national president of NISA pointed out that the grim situation has led to many school owners across the country ending their lives by suicide. He said about 30 crore people associated with education and allied sectors have been affected nationwide due to the shutdown of schools.

30-year-old Pradeep who ran a budget school in Telangana’s Jagtial district and a young couple, Subramaniam and Rohini, who ran a school in Andhra Pradesh’s Koilkuntla had died by suicide recently unable to deal with the financial constraints. “These are not suicides. These are institutional murders due to policy failures. In today’s scenario, it is not easy to run a budget school and we don’t need any more deaths,” said Sharma, demanding support from the government.

“Schools have remained shut for long. Over a lakh teachers have found other professions, and students are not interested in education. It is an education emergency,” added Madhusudhan.

TRSMA state president Yadagiri Shekhar Rao appealed to parents to send their children to schools without any concerns. “We are ready to open schools, duly following all Covid protocols. It is our responsibility. But we want the government to support schools with an unsecured loan of Rs 10 lakh to Rs 25 lakh to stand on our feet,” he added.

According to TRSMA, these schools are mostly run from rented spaces. As they have been shut for 18 months without any operations, owners have not been able to pay rent, electricity charges, property taxes, and EMIs for loans availed for establishment and expansion.

The association has demanded the state government to extend the moratorium period for existing loans of all schools for one more year. Many school owners have availed loans from private financiers and are facing harassment as they are unable to repay them. “The Centre has now extended the support under the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) to traders too. This should be extended to schools too,” he said.

As the Telangana government is yet to issue guidelines for the reopening of private and public educational institutions, the managements have called for a comprehensive policy to allow operations of schools while containing the spread of Covid-19. NISA and TRSMA have sought an inquiry into the deaths of school owners and demanded an ex-gratia of Rs 50 lakh to the families of the deceased. #KhabarLive #hydnews