“The freebie market”

All governmental freebies that are distributed to the public are being sold at whopping prices in the black market. This has grown so much so that every freebie comes at a cost!

Deeptha Sreedhar

“Rs. 10,000 is too high a price. How about settling it for Rs. 7,500?”

“It is a new laptop. I will not settle for anything less than Rs. 10,000. It is branded sir. Lenovo! If you are okay with this amount, call me back!” 

If you are wondering that this conversation is about a genuine sale of laptop, then you are mistaken. The laptops that are distributed by the Tamil Nadu government to college students, is a hot selling item on the private market. What was aimed at improving the standard of living and medium of education to students does not seem to serve its purpose. Many naïve students, who are unaware of the benefits of this electronic gadget, fall prey to those who lure them with money. Since they obtain these laptops at zero cost, many see this transaction to be a profit generating exchange than a loss.

The concept of Freebies has become synonymous with legitimate bribing in the state. This trend was started by the DMK government in 2006. They had promised a 15-inch portable colour television set to all voters if they come to power. Standing by their promise cost the government exchequer a whopping Rs. 3,000 crores. Since most households had a television of their own, this freebie started to roll out in the black market.

At a time when TN thought this saga was coming to an end, the new ADMK government announced that they will give free goats and cows to the voters from the rural regions and a laptop to all government college students in the cities. Some had anticipated cheap China model laptops as freebies. When the laptops were of top brands like Sony, Lenovo and Dell, they became a raging demand in the black market, where many buyers were ready to shell out Rs. 15,000- Rs. 20,000 for a laptop. From a time when people enquired each other whether they got their freebie, TN has advanced to the level where people ask how much do you want my freebie for?!

It is saddening when the humble tax payers’ money is wasted in such a freebie programme and even more disheartening when a black market racquet is made out of it! I hope that at least in the forthcoming general elections, parties understand that what people need is good governance and not freebies.

“Tamil Nadu: The investment hotspot”

With two phases of ‘Vision 2023’ being launched, Tamil Nadu is fast becoming the number one investment avenue in India.

Deeptha Sreedhar

Set at a target of Rs. 15 lakh crores, the Tamil Nadu government launched the phase-II of the economic plan Vision 2023. Aimed at making Tamil Nadu the best industrial state and most balanced economy, the second phase of this plan was launched on 23^rd February 2014. Among the major beneficiaries include the automobile sector (which has an exclusive plan) and the bio-technology sector.

The launch also witnessed the signing up of over 16 MOUs with MNCs, that will invested in a plethora of fields at Tamil Nadu including projects worth Rs. 5,081 crores. According to the Vision 2023 document, the two phase investments from MNCs stands at a whopping Rs. 33,000 crores with 33 MOUs being signed between the TN government and the MNCs. This is expected to generate employment for over 1.6 lakh people across the state. India being a developing country, it is important that a state like Tamil Nadu emphasizes on infrastructural investment and development. Because infrastructure forms the base on which most sectors develop, such an initiative to pump in investments in it is a welcome move.

India is heading towards rapid development and it is time that politicians understand the difference between governance and ego battles. There can be differences in two party’s ideals, but unless they share a common motto to serve the people, such economy worthy projects maybe tussled in political vendetta.  

The figures in investment are corrected to future inflation levels and so one should not equate the changes in direct form. The proposed projects are well planned and hence, I believe can be implemented over the time, as planned. Vision 2023 in a nutshell is a foolproof plan to make Tamil Nadu a leading state in India. If it is undisturbed by any political interference, corruption or delay in plan approvals, it will definitely change the face of Tamil Nadu, at both the national and International level. 

The Capital Chennai is already an automobile hub with companies like Hyundai, Mahindra, Nissan, Michelin and Ford setting up their factories here.  The project in proposal is an individual plan of action that shall not be affected with a change in government. Therefore, it can be accomplished as planned.

“A room for reading”

While the Chennai Corporation finds room for many public utility projects, it is sad that simple neighbourhood libraries do not find some space

Deeptha Sreedhar

However advanced the technology grows the scent of a book and the rustle noise it makes while flipping through the pages can never be replaced by a kindle or e-books. As a community, Chennaiites are fast losing the habit of reading, thanks to the dwindling public libraries at neighbourhoods. The functional and accessible major public libraries of Chennai include the Theyvanaya Pavar Library at Mount Road, Connemera – Egmore and the swanky new Anna Centenary Library.

Each of the 15 zones of the corporation has a minimum of 2 libraries or more depending upon the area population. However, if one decides to give them a visit in hopes of accessing newspapers or availing lending options, one always returns disappointed. Most corporation libraries cite that they do not subscribe to any newspaper or do not have a catalog. 

For book lovers, it is a sad state of affair that a big city like Chennai does not have ample libraries. Although people might question that the major public libraries cater to most needs, it is necessary that each neighbourhood has a functional library so that loals can access them.

In a recent proposal, the state government has allocated 60 crores to rejuvenate public libraries. Digitisation, upgrading stocks and constructing additional wings to enhance storing capacity of the public libraries are being listed as the key agenda of the ministry of education. However till the government’s game plan takes a concrete shape, Chennaiites are keeping their literary tastes alive with the help of privately-run neighbourhood libraries. 

There are not many quality books available in the institutional libraries and most of the public libraries are not located close to our homes. The popularity of these libraries proves that the state libraries need to do much more than merely allocate funds to meet the literary demands of Chennaiites.

By-heart the text and forget learning

Memorising and reproducing the content: the pattern of education in India

Deeptha Sreedhar

The problem with Indian educational system is that we forget to actually learn something. We only memorise and reproduce the text. “According to Archimedes when a solid immerses in a solvent, it is misplaced,” read an answer script in my sister’s class. What was even worse to know is that the children did not understand the mistake in it! When told that it is displaced and not misplaced, the student retorted saying, “that is how it is printed in the book!” Such is the sad state of affairs in learning. 

The disease called ‘by-hearting’ has grown deep roots to an extent that it is a national disease to which we are yet to find a cure. The disease has started to spread in DNA with every generation slowly forgetting what is meant by actually studying something. From a point where learning meant understanding concepts and writing them, Indian education has evolved to memorising and reproducing the content, verbatim. 

While our counterparts are analysing ancient Indian educational system by going back in time and implementing learning outside the classroom and et al, Indians are fast imbibing all negative aspects of western education and are losing their essence. Learning is a process. Somewhere down the lane, we lost its original meaning when marks were given importance over sparks. It does not matter whether we understood the concept and are able to explain it. It only matters if we are able to photocopy what is given in the book.

As Rancho of 3 idiots rightly puts it, “This is college, not pressure cooker. Students are not taught, but are trained!” Frustrated, if one tries to analyse where it all started to go wrong, we realise it is not what we learn is a mistake, but rather how it is taught is the problem! 

The minds are curtailed from imaginations and the only questions students ask about are marks. What learning will take place if the communication is singular like a mono acting session? Learning is best done when kids make mistake and learn to correct it. This way, the mistake is never repeated. However, in today’s upside-down scenario, it is okay if we are not correct in what is learnt, it only matters if there are any errors in what is memorised. 

There is no use in being proud of the fact that India has the largest youth population in the world when the youth produced are useless. It is high time that educationists come to their senses and realise that learning needs to earning and not vice versa.

“Entrepreneurs at educational institutions”

As a vocational training support, many colleges at Chennai are offering Entrepreneurial training and business ventures to their students. More than 60% of these budding prodigies go on to become successful entrepreneurs

Deeptha Sreedhar

A popular meme goes around in the Social networking site as follows: “In India, everyone first becomes an Engineer. Only after that people decide what to pursue in life!” The joke is actually the harsh reality in today’s world. One might have chosen their major stream of study and have discovered sudden passion towards something in contrast. What if that new found passion is business?

Encouraging the new and successful breed of student entrepreneurs, most colleges in the city are offering professional entrepreneurial training and attention through ‘Entrepreneurial Development cells’. From Mark Zuckerberg to Bill Gates, geniuses have carved a niche whilst still at college. Instead of waiting till graduation and spending few more months trying to do a SWOT analysis by trial and error methods, these young business minds are given ample freedom to explore the stalls of their college fests to get some hands on experience in business. 

If you thought just providing some space and electric sockets makes one an entrepreneur, then you are wrong! Colleges offer much more than this. From analysing the idea from scratch to giving suggestions on the product/service launch to even promoting them, the ED cells of these colleges offer more.

What is more surprising with this concept is that it is more popular at women’s colleges than elsewhere. To quote my friend Tanvi, a student entrepreneur: “It is not the gender but the idea that sells!” 

The acquaintances one makes as a student helps them in building the business to a good shape after college. Moreover, the option of part-time business allows women to lead a balanced personal and professional life. Such ideas help in diversification of business ventures and promote self-made businesses. 

Ventures such as Tohfa, Paduka, Scan on Wheels from city colleges have gone on to become viral business hits in the recent times. Ideas are fresh, so is their energy! The next time you search for a college to your dear ones, ensure that an ED cell is functional in it!