New Strategies for Education
WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVE OF EDUCATION?
A)From the point of view of the SOCIETY or the NATION-
Is the society gorwing richer?
Is there enought material production and materialistic gains?
Does the socio-economic system permit equitable distribution of wealth and production?
Is there a reduction in the drudgery of the common man?
Does the environm,ent permit pursuit of excellence?
Does the environment permit inculcation and establishment of ethical and personal value systems alongwith pursuit of freedom and fearlessness?
Do the prople have a sense of commitment towards:
a) the society,
b) the cultural and philosophical heritage,
c) the nation?
Do people regard contentedness as a cherished value?
Does the society uphold truth as the ultimate goal?
B)From INDIVIDUAL’S point of view:-
The education for an individual,
- Must make him better equipped to earn his living.
- Must encourage him to the pursuit of excellence.
- Must build up the sense of belonging towards the society and the nation.
- Must build up the sense of compassion and friendliness towards others.
- Must bring in appreciation of social harmony.
- Must inculcate dignity of human life and human labour.
What system of Education can give us these? Read More
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Devdasi -- An attempt at Economic Rehabilitation.
My work with Devdasis of Sangli and Kolhapur has been narrated at:
The Integrated Rural Development Programme for Women in Developing countries:
What more can be done?
Published as a chapter in the book "Women Development & survival in the third world" Edited by Halesh Afshar Longman Publication U.K.(1989)
A feature article was based on this experiment :
Eradicating the Devdasi Cult- Article by Vimal Patil in Femina and Illustrated Weekly.
RIPA, Jaipur used it as the base for a seminar discussion -1990,
The Integrated Rural Development Programme for Women in Developing countries:
What more can be done?
Published as a chapter in the book "Women Development & survival in the third world" Edited by Halesh Afshar Longman Publication U.K.(1989)
A feature article was based on this experiment :
Eradicating the Devdasi Cult- Article by Vimal Patil in Femina and Illustrated Weekly.
RIPA, Jaipur used it as the base for a seminar discussion -1990,
Sati, the real Legend
Sati, the real Legend
Daily Pioneer, Delhi.
Ordinarily the word Sati has come to be associated with a backward looking, non-developmental mind. There is no dearth of words to describe how the illiterate, uneducated, dumb women of our country fall prey to the vision of Sati.
This is an issue where I consider the intelligentia guilty on more than one count. Firstly they have not made proper assessment of the enormity of the problem which is both quantitative and qualitative. We have nearly fifty crore women in the country out of which more than twenty crore are illiterate, and uneducated. Those who are educated are either steeped in tradition without knowing where the original idea came from or are extremely critical of present day tradition but have not tried to look into the origin and enlighten others about it.
Read more
Daily Pioneer, Delhi.
Ordinarily the word Sati has come to be associated with a backward looking, non-developmental mind. There is no dearth of words to describe how the illiterate, uneducated, dumb women of our country fall prey to the vision of Sati.
This is an issue where I consider the intelligentia guilty on more than one count. Firstly they have not made proper assessment of the enormity of the problem which is both quantitative and qualitative. We have nearly fifty crore women in the country out of which more than twenty crore are illiterate, and uneducated. Those who are educated are either steeped in tradition without knowing where the original idea came from or are extremely critical of present day tradition but have not tried to look into the origin and enlighten others about it.
Read more
female feticide and illiteracy... the 2 curses on a MAP
Oh! to be born and educated
Published Mainstream delhi July 2002]
To be born and to be educated are the most fundamental rights of anyone.The fast declining rate of female to male sex ratio as has been brought to the fore in the latest census of 2001 has created a wide- spread alarm among the government circles, the voluntary sector and academicians all over the country. There is no doubt that this kind of decline is not natural but is a result of rampant sex detection tests and female feoticide.
Apparently it would be expected that fmr (Female to Male sex ratio) should increase with increase in education. The actual trends are quite the reverse.
Read more
Payment of Subsistence Allowance -- A case study
Payment of Subsistence Allowance: -- A case study in systemic changes for office efficiency.
The Departmental Enquiry Rules and Manuals provide for how to deal with defaulting govt servants. Two rules are crucial for present discussion (i) for a person under suspension, the enquiry should be completed in six months - but this time is extendable by authorities at various levels (ii) the person under suspension will be paid a subsistance allowance which will be 50% of his pay and allowances for the first 3 months, to be enhanced to 75% for the remaining period of enquiry - however the authorisation for allowing him to draw the SA has to be issued only for three months (or less) and has to be revised by appropriate authority every three months.
How, for a large office the second rule causes suffering and wastage and how a system change and reduce the two? Here is a case study
The Departmental Enquiry Rules and Manuals provide for how to deal with defaulting govt servants. Two rules are crucial for present discussion (i) for a person under suspension, the enquiry should be completed in six months - but this time is extendable by authorities at various levels (ii) the person under suspension will be paid a subsistance allowance which will be 50% of his pay and allowances for the first 3 months, to be enhanced to 75% for the remaining period of enquiry - however the authorisation for allowing him to draw the SA has to be issued only for three months (or less) and has to be revised by appropriate authority every three months.
How, for a large office the second rule causes suffering and wastage and how a system change and reduce the two? Here is a case study
Fuel does grow on trees
Fuel does grow on trees
Times of India, 1 july 2005
Art. by Leena Mehendale and Ranjan Goswami, PCRA
The burning of fossil fuels at the current rate is likely to create an environmental crisis. In India, bio-diesel, an alternative and renewable source of energy, is gaining momentum. Bio-diesel burns cleaner and is available from natural, renewable sources such as tree-borne oilseed and animal fats. Like petroleum diesel, bio-diesel operates in compression and ignition engines.
Blends of up to 20% bio-diesel (mixed with petroleum diesel) can be used in nearly all diesel and most storage and distribution equipment. These low-level blends (20% and less) generally do not require any engine modifications. Bio-diesel can provide the same payload capacity as diesel.
Read article
Times of India, 1 july 2005
Art. by Leena Mehendale and Ranjan Goswami, PCRA
The burning of fossil fuels at the current rate is likely to create an environmental crisis. In India, bio-diesel, an alternative and renewable source of energy, is gaining momentum. Bio-diesel burns cleaner and is available from natural, renewable sources such as tree-borne oilseed and animal fats. Like petroleum diesel, bio-diesel operates in compression and ignition engines.
Blends of up to 20% bio-diesel (mixed with petroleum diesel) can be used in nearly all diesel and most storage and distribution equipment. These low-level blends (20% and less) generally do not require any engine modifications. Bio-diesel can provide the same payload capacity as diesel.
Read article
Crime Profile of Maharashtra : Dowry Deaths Mainstream 22Sep2001
Crime Profile of Maharashtra : Dowry Deaths
Published Mainstream 22 Sept 2001
Dowry is undoubtedly a stigma on the Indian society. A girl leaves her parental house around the age of 20 years and accepts the matrimonial house as her home where she would spend the rest of life. Her well-being, sense of security, confidence and empowerment, everything depends on the treatment that she gets during the initial period immediately after the marriage. The menace of dowry torture increased so much during the last twenty years that now it has become a threat to the sense of well-being of the newly married girl.
Read further
Published Mainstream 22 Sept 2001
Dowry is undoubtedly a stigma on the Indian society. A girl leaves her parental house around the age of 20 years and accepts the matrimonial house as her home where she would spend the rest of life. Her well-being, sense of security, confidence and empowerment, everything depends on the treatment that she gets during the initial period immediately after the marriage. The menace of dowry torture increased so much during the last twenty years that now it has become a threat to the sense of well-being of the newly married girl.
Read further
Energy auditing india
This article suggests a methodology to carry out Energy Audit of India viewed from a systemic perspective.
Energy conservation is a multifaceted activity involving both promotional & regulatory measures. The level of energy efficiency in developing countries is very low. The reasons for this are lack of technical knowledge, non-availability of energy efficient equipment / machinery and energy subsidies. Energy subsidies, particularly those encouraging energy consumption by keeping the energy prices low, result in low efficiency, environmental degradation and increased energy intensity.
As per world energy outlook, India’s Specific Energy Consumption per unit of GDP is higher by 3.7 times that of Japan, 1.4 times that of Asia and 1.5 times that of USA, indicating very high energy wastage and thus potential for substantial energy savings.
READ FULL ARTICLE
Energy conservation is a multifaceted activity involving both promotional & regulatory measures. The level of energy efficiency in developing countries is very low. The reasons for this are lack of technical knowledge, non-availability of energy efficient equipment / machinery and energy subsidies. Energy subsidies, particularly those encouraging energy consumption by keeping the energy prices low, result in low efficiency, environmental degradation and increased energy intensity.
As per world energy outlook, India’s Specific Energy Consumption per unit of GDP is higher by 3.7 times that of Japan, 1.4 times that of Asia and 1.5 times that of USA, indicating very high energy wastage and thus potential for substantial energy savings.
READ FULL ARTICLE
Cycling as a National Sport
Automotive vehicle population in the country is increasing at an alarming rate.
As per EPCA survey, Delhi is the 5th most polluted city of the world. Auto vehicle emission is responsible for serious lung diseases including lung cancer. A study on Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) in Pune city has shown that lung capacity of the student community has gone down by 50% because of air pollution.
READ FURTHER
As per EPCA survey, Delhi is the 5th most polluted city of the world. Auto vehicle emission is responsible for serious lung diseases including lung cancer. A study on Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) in Pune city has shown that lung capacity of the student community has gone down by 50% because of air pollution.
READ FURTHER
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Dr Gopalrao Modak : A journey of dedication and sacrifice
Dr Gopalrao Modak : A journey of dedication and sacrifice
(Nominated by PCRA for Padmashree Award 2004)
Born on 15th September 1914 in the family of active freedom fighters, with his father and three uncles in the forefront of freedom struggle, Gopalrao Modak inherited a legacy, which called for commitment to the cause of the nation, sacrifice and concern for others. This was a period when the struggle for the independence was on and young Gopalrao Modak and threw himself completely in national activism.
With a Diploma in Medicine and commitment to social service, Dr. Modak left Pune in 1938 to live in a tiny, sleepy village Khanapur in Haveli Taluka of Pune District. Dr. Gopalrao Modak took inspiration from Gandhiji and devoted his whole life for village development activities.
READ FURTHER
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Posted by Leena Mehendale at 10:01 AM
(Nominated by PCRA for Padmashree Award 2004)
Born on 15th September 1914 in the family of active freedom fighters, with his father and three uncles in the forefront of freedom struggle, Gopalrao Modak inherited a legacy, which called for commitment to the cause of the nation, sacrifice and concern for others. This was a period when the struggle for the independence was on and young Gopalrao Modak and threw himself completely in national activism.
With a Diploma in Medicine and commitment to social service, Dr. Modak left Pune in 1938 to live in a tiny, sleepy village Khanapur in Haveli Taluka of Pune District. Dr. Gopalrao Modak took inspiration from Gandhiji and devoted his whole life for village development activities.
READ FURTHER
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Posted by Leena Mehendale at 10:01 AM
Reforms in Examination
Reforms needed in the system of Examination
This article suggests some essential modifications in our present method of examination.
It is an important argument here that actually carrying out these modifications is not a very difficult task. Secondly, these reforms can be carried out on modular basis.
Most importantly, any investment in Human Resource Development will pay far richer dividends hence all efforts on carrying out these reforms are most relevant.
read the article
This article suggests some essential modifications in our present method of examination.
It is an important argument here that actually carrying out these modifications is not a very difficult task. Secondly, these reforms can be carried out on modular basis.
Most importantly, any investment in Human Resource Development will pay far richer dividends hence all efforts on carrying out these reforms are most relevant.
read the article
EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN IN COMING YEARS
EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN IN COMING YEARS
---Leena Mehendale
I recall that way back in my student days I always considered myself lucky for having been born in free India and in an environment where access to education was not denied. Happily, it never occurred to me then or now to question the luck for being a woman.
Read the article
---Leena Mehendale
I recall that way back in my student days I always considered myself lucky for having been born in free India and in an environment where access to education was not denied. Happily, it never occurred to me then or now to question the luck for being a woman.
Read the article
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