Article
Opportunity to raise people’s mind
I passionately believe that we need a public library system that is on par with the best in the world, and is accessible to all. I have not met any Indian who has not returned from the US, glowing with praise for the public library system there. I myself think most of my real education […]
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Making the system respond
t’s been a good year in Bangalore and Karnataka for primary education. The Right to Education Bill will soon become law and the state is gearing up to put mechanisms and resources into place to get the last child into school. The numbers of children enrolling into class one, has shown continuous improvement. Some infrastructure […]
Interview
Rohini Nilekani wants to make available high-quality, low-cost books to as many children as possible
ROHINI Nilekani is involved in a big way with Pratham India education initiative network. She’s on the board of directors of this 10 year movement that has attracted individuals and corporates to its mission of education for underprivileged children. “Many corporates, the government and individuals have been our partners in the community based action on […]
Article
Answer is blowin’ in the wind – Today, the situation is such that even the mighty Cauvery is not enough to slake the thirst of this city.
In all the crises that have overtaken the city, one that looms grey and large is the effect of excess ram. Overflowing lakes, tanks and drains have almost made us forget that other and worse crisis that often affects the city – water scarcity. When rainfall is inadequate, the water supply dries up alarmingly. And […]
Article
It is strange that after 5 7 years we have not managed to create an emergency access number such as 911 In the US
SPEEDING to somewhere. Suddenly… .Craaaashhhhhh! Imagine if you were cruising happily along a segregated highway on an arterial road in Bangalore. Imagine if you were knocked down by a truck rumbling along on the wrong side of the road. I know of two cases that played out like that scenario. The ones who died were […]
Interview
Desi IT Moguls Too Spread A Charity Bill
BILL AND Melinda Gates have pledged to give away a substantial chunk of their multi-billion dollar fortune to their charitable foundation. Indian software moguls and their spouses are showing that they are equally keen to give away significant portions of their wealth to causes they believe in. Wipro Chairman Azim Premji and Infosys CEO Nandan […]
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At Ashvasan it’s future perfect
WORLD Elders Day came and went as a feeble reminder that even though India as a whole is getting younger, senior citizens are growing rapidly in absolute numbers. Yet others, such as the ever-elegant 77-year-old Lalita Ubhayaker, are busy knitting safety nets for their less fortunate peers. Ashvasan Foundation, set up more than a decade […]
Article
It’s elementary, education matters
Across sectors, parents want to educate their wards, at great cost to themselves. Can India Inc engineer, or partner in a revolution to elevate our performance in elementary education? APPARENTLY, Indians have begun to believe in themselves. We all think we belong to a country with a future. For 50 years we were not quite […]
Article
Imagine there was no illiteracy
Countries in the West have autonomous school boards that report to citizens and encourage participatory practices. Sure they have their share of problems, but at least these problems are aired and responses are required to be made. Let me start with Akshara Foundation, with which I am most familiar. Since early 2000, we have had […]
Interview
Western Ghats symbol of bio-diversity: Nilekani
The Western Ghats is a symbol of unique bio-diversity, said Nandan Nilekani, CEO of Infosys, at the release o f ‘Sahyadris: India’s Western Ghats – A Vanishing Tradition’ authored by Sandesh Kadur here on Wednesday. The book was supported and produced by Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) and Kamaljit Bawa, […]