In a fillip to the union school education ministries efforts towards addressing the learning crisis in India, IIT Bombay has developed an innovative mobile app, TARA (Teacher’s Assistant for Reading Assessment), designed to assess and improve oral reading fluency (ORF) in students across the country. The move comes at a time when the quality of education remains a major challenge, despite efforts to improve school attendance. According to the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2022, on an average more than half of Class 5 students in India struggle to read even simple Class 2-level texts, highlighting a major gap in foundational literacy. The ASER reading test assesses whether a child can read letters, words, a simple paragraph of first grade level or a story of second grade level of difficulty. The 2022 report also highlighted a concerning decline in reading levels among Class 3 students across both government and private schools. The percentage of students able to read text intended for second graders fell from 27.3% in 2018 to just 20.5% in 2022. This marks the lowest level since 2012, when only 21.5% of students demonstrated the same ability. For fifth graders, the percentage of children able to read at least Class 2-level text decreased from 50.5% in 2018 to 42.8% in 2022. Besides this NEP 2020 report further emphasized that over five crore students are yet to achieve foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) skills. The COVID-19 pandemic only worsened the situation, with a staggering 90% of students losing specific language abilities, such as reading comprehension or picture description. "As reading serves as a gateway to all other forms of learning, addressing this issue has become a priority for governments worldwide. In India, there is a concerted push to develop structured teaching methods and equip teachers with the tools to deliver effective education. However, one crucial area remains: monitoring learning outcomes. Regular assessments, particularly of oral reading fluency, are essential for measuring progress and guiding instructional strategies," read a statement issued by the IIT Bombay. Traditionally, oral reading fluency assessments require one-on-one interaction with trained evaluators, where attributes like accuracy, speed, and smoothness are manually scored. However, this method is time-consuming and difficult to scale. To address this challenge, IIT Bombay’s team of researchers, led by Professor Preeti Rao from the Department of Electrical Engineering, have developed TARA—a mobile app that automates the assessment of oral reading fluency through speech processing and machine learning technology. TARA app works by analyzing an audio recording of a child reading an age-appropriate passage aloud. It automatically extracts critical rubrics such as words correct per minute (WCPM), and also assesses expression by measuring phrasing, intonation, and stress in speech. These factors are key indicators of the reader's understanding of the text. “The system is trained on expert-annotated recordings and currently supports English and Hindi, with its reliability matching that of human experts,” said Rao. The app addresses a long-standing need for real-time data on student performance, according to Dr. Shailaja Menon, reading pedagogy expert and Lead of the Center of Excellence in Early Language and Literacy at Tata Trusts. TARA provides an end-to-end solution by enabling audio recordings and generating performance data for individual students, as well as for larger cohorts like classes, schools, and regions, all accessible via a user-friendly dashboard, Menon stated. The project has garnered significant attention and support, receiving funding from the Tata Centre of Technology & Design and the Abdul Kalam Technology Innovation Fellowship. In a major milestone, the app has been adopted by the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) for assessing oral reading fluency in English and Hindi for Grades 3-8, covering over 7 lakh students across 1200 schools in India. This initiative is now the largest oral reading fluency exercise ever conducted in the country. The collaboration with KVS is particularly vital in light of the NIPUN Bharat National Mission, which aims to ensure that all students achieve FLN by the end of Grade 3. KVS schools are expected to lead the way in this mission, serving as model schools for competency-based education and the adoption of learning outcome metrics. For now the TARA team continues to work closely with KVS to develop effective remedial strategies for students, with the first round of assessments providing valuable data to refine teaching approaches. Looking ahead, the success of this initiative will be gauged through regular test cycles and subsequent assessment phases, which will offer insights into how well the remediation strategies improve reading capabilities. "IIT Bombay is eager to expand partnerships and collaborations, with the ultimate goal of providing evidence-based solutions to transform the school education system in India," the institute's statement read.
28 November,2024 06:58 PM IST | Mumbai | Dipti SinghMaharashtra Congress president Nana Patole on Thursday demanded that the Election Commission (EC) clarify the rise in voter turnout by over 7 per cent after polling for the Maharashtra Assembly election 2024 ended on November 20 evening, reported the PTI. Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Nana Patole said the 'discrepancies' in polling figures put a question mark on the functioning of the Election Commission of India. Nana Patole claimed that the voting percentage was 58.22 at 5 pm but rose by 7.83 percentage points at 11.30 pm, as per the PTI. The EC must clarify this 'discrepancy' as it puts a question mark on transparency, he said. "This is theft of people's vote. We will seek legal recourse and hit the streets to make people aware," Nana Patole said, according to the PTI. After its crushing defeat in the assembly elections, many leaders from the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) have cast aspersions on ECI's voting process. Nana Patole said the ECI should publish photographs of those booths where polling continued till 11.30 pm. It is not who won or who lost, Patole said, adding that his party wanted to save democracy. In the Maharashtra elections, whose results were announced on November 23, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance scripted a stunning victory by winning 230 seats in the 288-member House. Recovering from its Lok Sabha elections losses, the BJP bagged 132 constituencies, the highest among all constituents of the Mahayuti. Its allies Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP bagged 57 and 41 seats, respectively. The Congress-led MVA suffered a setback. The grand old party registered one of its worst performances in the state polls winning only 16 seats. Sharad Pawar's NCP(SP) got just 10 seats, whereas Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) won 20 seats. In his Sakoli constituency in the Bhandara district, Patole scraped through with just 208 votes to defeat his nearest rival Avinash Brahmankar of the BJP. (with PTI inputs)
28 November,2024 06:36 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTop Mahayuti leaders Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar are likely to meet Union minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Thursday night as suspense over next Maharashtra CM continue, sources said, reported the PTI. The process of government formation in Maharashtra is expected to get a boost after a crucial meeting between them in Delhi, they said. The meeting assumes significance amid reports that the BJP leadership may be mulling over names of a few of its Maratha leaders, despite the perception that Devendra Fadnavis becoming the CM for a third time is a foregone conclusion, the sources said. Caste dynamics have assumed a greater role in the choice of the CM as an overwhelming number of the 288 MLAs from all the parties are from the Maratha community. Devendra Fadnavis is a Brahmin and first became the CM in 2014 and again for a brief while in 2019. "If the writ of RSS prevails, the chances of Fadnavis becoming the CM are bright," the sources said, according to the PTI. Despite vociferous demands from Shiv Sena leaders that Shinde should have a go at another term at the top post, the caretaker CM on Wednesday made it clear that he has told PM Modi and Shah that he abide by the BJP's choice for the post. As per the PTI, a close aide of Shinde said on Thursday that the caretaker CM is unlikely to accept the post of deputy CM in the new dispensation. Sanjay Shirsat, an MLA and spokesperson of the Shiv Sena, however, said Shinde would be a part of the cabinet. "He is unlikely to be a deputy chief minister. It does not befit a person who has already served as chief minister," Shirsat told PTI. The Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde will nominate another leader for the deputy CM's post, he added. Eknath Shinde's MP son Shrikant Shinde expressed pride in his father for exemplifying "alliance dharma" by prioritising collective governance over personal ambition. In a post on X, Shrikant highlighted his father's deep connection with the people of Maharashtra, emphasising his relentless dedication to serving all segments of society. "I am proud of my father and chief leader of the Shiv Sena. He kept faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah and set an example of the alliance dharma, keeping his personal ambition aside," he said. मला माझे बाबा आणि आमचे शिवसेना मुख्यनेते मा.ना.श्री.एकनाथजी शिंदे साहेब यांचा खूप अभिमान वाटतो. त्यांची महाराष्ट्र आणि येथील जनतेशी असलेली अतूट बांधिलकी अतुलनीय आहे. त्यांनी अहोरात्र अथक परिश्रम केले. समाजातील प्रत्येक घटकाची निस्वार्थ सेवा करून त्यांचे प्रेम, विश्वास आणि प्रशंसा… — Dr Shrikant Lata Eknath Shinde (@DrSEShinde) November 27, 2024 The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance scripted a stunning victory in the recent state assembly elections by winning 230 seats in the 288-member House. Recovering from its Lok Sabha elections losses, the BJP bagged 132 constituencies, highest among all constituents of the Mahayuti. Shinde's Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP also performed well. Sena won 57 while NCP won 41 seats. Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) suffered a setback. The grand old party registered one of its worst performances in the state assembly polls after it won only 16 seats. Sharad Pawar's NCP(SP) won just 10 seats, whereas Uddhav Thackeray's (UBT) won 20 seats. On Tuesday, Eknath Shinde tendered his resignation as CM to Governor C P Radhakrishnan. The Governor requested Shinde to continue as caretaker chief minister until the new government is formed. (with PTI inputs)
28 November,2024 06:08 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMumbai Police on Thursday issued a traffic advisory for motorists in Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) ahead of the Feeding India Concert where singer Dua Lipa is scheduled to perform on November 30. Dua Lipa on Thursday landed in Mumbai and the pop sensation will perform at the Feeding India Concert at MMRDA Ground in BKC. Mumbai Police in a traffic notification said that on November 30 international singers will be present for performing at the 'Feeding India Concert' and a large number of people will attend the event. The police said that since there will be a huge crowd of people in the MMRDA Grounds in BKC for Dua Lipa Feeding India Concert, it will affect the traffic and hence it is necessary to issue a temporary notification to close some roads for traffic and divert the traffic for a certain period of time. The traffic notification was issued by Samadhan Pawar, DCP, (H.Q. & Central), Traffic, Mumbai Police. The police said, In order to prevent danger, obstructions and inconvenience to the public following diversions were being made. Following roads shall be closed for vehicular traffic on 30/11/2024 between 13.00 hrs. to 24.00 hrs. on temporary basis and as per requirement. Road Closed : Traffic coming from Western Express Highway (WEH), Dharavi, Bandra-Worli Sea Link proceeding towards Kurla shall be restricted to go through Bharat Nagar Junction towards Kurla. Alternate Route : Vehicular traffic from Bharat Nagar Junction will take right turn for Sebi Junction - right turn from One BKC Junction - Left turn at Canara Bank Junction towards MCA Club - American Consulate junction - left turn at Tata Communication and shall proceed from MTNL junction towards Kurla. Road Closed : Vehicular traffic coming from Sant Dyneshwar Nagar proceeding towards Kurla shall be restricted to go through Bharat Nagar Junction towards Kurla. Alternate Route : Vehicular traffic from Bharat Nagar Junction - take right turn for Sebi Junction - take right turn from One BKC Junction - take Left turn fromCanara Bank Junction towards MCA Club - American Consulate Junction - Tata Communication left turn - from MTNL Junction - Razzak Junction and shall proceed to Kurla. Road Closed : Vehicular traffic coming from Kherwadi Govt. Colony, Kanakiya Palace, UTI Tower towards BKC, Chunabhatti and Kurla shall be restricted. Alternate Route : Left turn from Gurunanak Hospital - Mumbai Bank - Income Tax Junction - NSE Junction - right turn at Bharat Nagar Junction - Sebi Junction - One BKC and shall proceed from connector Junction to Kurla and Chunabhatti. Road Closed : Vehicular Traffic proceeding from Kurla & Razzak junction towards Western Express Highway, Dharavi and Bandra-Worli Sea Link shall be restricted to proceed from Platina junction to Bharat Nagar Junction. Alternate Route : U turn at Platina Junction - right turn at MTNL Junction - right turn at Tata Communication - American Consulate Junction - MCA Club - Canara Bank Junction - NSE Junction - towards Western Express Highway through Family Court Junction and proceed to Dharavi & Bandra-Worli Sea Link. Road Closed : Vehicular traffic from CST road to MMRDA ground - JSW building - shall be restricted to proceed UTR Tower - Kanakia Palace. Alternate Route : CST road - MTNL Junction - right turn at Tata Communication - American Consulate Junction - MCA Club - Canara Bank Junction - left turn at NSC junction - Western Express Highway - Kalanagar Junction - Bhaskar Court Junction and proceed through Kherwadi Junction. Road Closed : Vehicular traffic from Ambani Square towards Diamond Junction and from behind Laxmi Tower towards NABARD Junction will be restricted. Alternate Route : Vehicular traffic from back side of Laxmi Tower - will take left turn at One BKC - right turn at Connector Junction - N.S.E. Junction and proceed to their desire destination.
28 November,2024 05:39 PM IST | Mumbai | Asif RizviDomestic stock markets faced selling pressure on Thursday, driven by declines in tech-heavy stocks, a lack of significant global cues, and weak performance in Asian markets, news agency ANI reported. The Nifty 50 at the National Stock Exchange (NSE) closed at 23,914.15, down by 360.75 points, while the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) Sensex ended at 79,043.74, falling by 1,190.34 points. Both major benchmarks dropped by more than 1 percent during the trading session. Market experts attribute the downturn to investor concerns about President-elect Donald Trump's policies, particularly regarding the trajectory of US interest rate cuts, ANI reported. "The Indian stock market is under pressure today due to a combination of factors, including the absence of significant international cues, as the US stock market is closed. Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) are closely monitoring developments ahead of the Indian Union Budget 2025 next month. Foreign institutional investor (FII) selling, coupled with a strong US dollar, is dampening sentiment. Additionally, geopolitical concerns are contributing to the pressure," said Vinnaayak Mehta, Founder of The Infinity Group. At the close of trading on NSE, sectoral indices for Banking, Auto, Financial Services, FMCG, IT, Metals, Private Banks, Pharma, Realty, Healthcare, Consumer Durables, and Oil and Gas all declined. However, sectoral indices for Media and PSU Banks traded in positive territory. Major gainers during the session included Adani Enterprises, Shriram Finance, and State Bank of India, while key losers were SBI Life Insurance, Mahindra & Mahindra, Infosys, HDFC Life Insurance, and Bajaj Finance, ANI reported. "External factors such as recent anti-dumping measures in the steel sector and trade disputes over China's solar energy components are further straining the Indian economy. Weak growth and the declining value of the rupee are driving foreign portfolio investor (FPI) outflows, which may persist until the rupee stabilises," said VLA Ambala, Co-Founder of Stock Market Today. However, analysts cautioned against overinterpreting the market fall. Ajay Bagga, a market and banking expert, noted, "With F&O volumes down, expiry-day volatility is increasing. Given the shortened US trading week due to the Thanksgiving holiday, trading volumes are lower. Don't read too much into today's market decline. With the new series starting tomorrow, we expect the markets to rebound." (With ANI inputs)
28 November,2024 05:26 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA search operation is currently underway in Thane to recover the body of a 33-year-old man who reportedly jumped into Kalwa Creek near the Ganapati Visarjan Ghat on Khartan Road. The incident was reported to the Disaster Management Room at 09:58 am on Thursday. The man, a resident of Anand Nagar in Kalwa (East), is believed to have jumped into the creek from the Ganapati Visarjan Ghat. According to the initial information provided by an informer, Hanumant Shinge, the man has been reported missing and is feared to have drowned in the creek. Upon receiving the distress call, a coordinated response was launched by local authorities. Senior and sub-inspectors and officers from Kalwa Police, along with the Disaster Management Cell staff are on the scene. They have launched a search operation with the help of a pickup vehicle, local fishermen with a boat, and fire brigade staff with a high-rise vehicle. Additionally, one tempo vehicle is also assisting with the search. The operation has been ongoing for around two hours, with the local fishermen trying to comb the creek. Woman sets herself, two minor daughters on fire in Gujarat In another case of suicide attempt, a 32-year-old woman purportedly set herself and her two minor daughters in the Bhavnagar district of neighbouring Gujarat on Wednesday. The woman and the children have suffered serious burns and are battling for their lives in a government hospital, a police officer said.While one of the girls is nine years old, the authorities have not provided the other daughter's age. The incident took place in Hathab village, the officer added. According to news agency PTI, the woman's husband rushed his wife and daughters to a nearby hospital in a private vehicle. They were then taken to a government hospital in Bhavnagar city, the police said. The woman has been admitted to the surgical intensive care unit (SICU), while the two girls are in the emergency ward of the trauma centre, the officer informed. A probe is underway and the police are trying to ascertain why the woman took the drastic step. (With PTI inputs)
28 November,2024 04:20 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra’s school education system is encountering strong opposition from teachers' unions as the state government resumes the recruitment of contractual teachers for schools with fewer than 10 students. The move has ignited widespread criticism from educators across the state. The decision comes in the wake of a persistent teacher shortage in government-run schools, further intensifying concerns about the quality of education in these already underserved areas. The recruitment process, which had been stalled due to the election-related Model Code of Conduct, has now gained momentum following the announcement of election results. Tushar Mahajan, Deputy Secretary of the School Education Department, confirmed that applications for the positions are being invited, with newly recruited teachers expected to join schools in the coming days. However, these positions are temporary, and the government has promised to eventually replace the contractual teachers with full-time staff. The Policy Change Initially, the Maharashtra government had proposed appointing contractual teachers in schools with fewer than 20 students. However, due to strong opposition from teachers’ unions and educational advocates, the policy was revised, limiting such appointments to schools with fewer than 10 students. Despite this adjustment, critics argue that the new policy still falls short of addressing the core issue of teacher shortages and threatens to undermine the quality of education in these small, rural schools. A spokesperson from a prominent teachers' union stated, “The state needs a long-term solution to the teacher shortage problem. Contractual appointments are merely a temporary fix that doesn’t address the underlying issues or guarantee job security for educators.” As part of the new policy, the government plans to appoint one teacher per affected school on a contractual basis, offering an honorarium for their services. While the government argues that these appointments are necessary to fill immediate vacancies, critics warn that this approach may ultimately harm the educational prospects of students in rural and underserved areas. Ongoing debate over teacher recruitment The government’s decision has sparked a broader debate about the future of teacher recruitment in the state. Teachers' unions are demanding permanent positions for qualified educators, claiming that only permanent appointments will provide the stability needed to improve the quality of education in Maharashtra’s schools. The issue is further complicated by a controversial amendment to a Government Resolution (GR) issued on September 5, 2024. Following pressure from unions, the state revised the GR on September 23, lowering the threshold for staffing cuts from schools with fewer than 20 students to those with fewer than 10 students. Under the new guidelines, one of the two teachers in these small schools will be permanently removed and replaced by a temporary, contractual teacher. Despite this revision, unions argue that the amendment only delays the inevitable and does not solve the underlying problem of teacher shortages. They contend that these cuts violate the Right to Education (RTE) Act, specifically Sections 19 and 25, which mandate the recruitment of qualified teachers in adequate numbers for all schools. The unions further warn that the move could eventually lead to the closure of many local self-government schools, particularly in rural areas, thereby depriving poor and underprivileged children of their right to an education. Vijay Kombey, President of the Maharashtra State Primary Teachers' Committee, voiced his concerns while talking to mid-Day, he said, “The only change the government made was lowering the threshold from schools with fewer than 20 students to those with fewer than 10 students. But this is not a solution we can accept. Removing permanent teachers and replacing them with temporary staff will only disrupt education and eventually lead to the closure of many schools. This is unacceptable. We demand the recruitment of qualified individuals for full-time, permanent positions with proper salaries.” As the recruitment process moves forward, it remains to be seen whether the state government's temporary solution will alleviate the teacher shortage or further deepen the divide between the government and educators. Number of schools with low enrolment (Data source: UDISE) Student Enrolment Number of Schools Number of teachers Number of students 1 to 5 1734 3041 6105 6 to 10 3137 5912 255488 10 to 20 9912 20754 153814 Total 14783 29707 185467
28 November,2024 03:55 PM IST | Mumbai | Dipti SinghRenowned writer Sarayu Ahuja was bitten on her left arm by a langur at the upscale Otters Club in Bandra West on Wednesday morning when she was having coffee with friends. “Yesterday, as per my routine, I was having coffee with some friends at the club. This monkey came and joined us at the table. Sighting the monkey was not a surprise; it has been spotted at the club quite often. It hops onto tables, sometimes members give it something to eat. So I was not startled to see it,” Ahuja said. The outside of Otters Club in Bandra West on Wednesday. Pic/Nimesh Dave The writer added, “Some of my companions got up and left though. I did not as I had been taught never to move or get up abruptly when near an animal so as not to startle it. I reached for my coffee and suddenly this monkey grabbed my hand. I was wearing a windcheater, which acted as a sheath. I felt his claws but not the teeth. The monkey then bent down, tasted the coffee, and spat it out.” A monkey cools off in the Khar Gymkhana swimming pool a month and a half ago; (left) the simian on the diving board at the club Ahuja said, “I had not quite processed what had happened. I was more worried about my mobile phone which was on the table and it seemed to have disappeared! The monkey jumped off and hopped into some trees thereafter. Dr Sandeep Chopra, a club member and friend, told me to first wash my arm, which was bleeding. Then, he gave me a tetanus and an anti-rabies shot. I need to have five anti-rabies shots in all, spaced out over a few days.” The Bandra resident said with a laugh, “Incidentally, I located my mobile phone, maybe I should have shared my coffee with the rude intruder!” Cage scene The Otters Club moved quickly contacting Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW). Ashok Motwani, chief executive officer (CEO) of the club, said, “I informed them and they answered that the forest department has been informed and will take the necessary action.” Otters Club in Bandra West. Pic/Nimesh Dave Pawan Sharma, founder and president, RAWW and honorary wildlife warden with the forest department, said on Wednesday evening, “We are leaving for the club to evaluate the situation and see how we can best handle it. We must remember this is an intelligent animal, it may not be lured into a cage we install in order to rescue it. We will also have certain dos and don’ts for members, after talking to the club management.” Table manners Shocked Otters Club members claimed this was a familiar monkey and a friendly one. A member recalled seeing the monkey at a breakfast table, where he was sitting days ago. “He eats the choicest food, even drinks something and disappears. He has a black face and a very long tail. I think black-faced monkeys are friendly while red-faced ones are more aggressive,” he said. The Khar Gymkhana, too, had witnessed a monkey on the club premises around a month and a half ago. Pawan Sharma, founder and president, RAWW Gaurav Kapadia, Khar Gymkhana president, said, “We had a monkey visiting the club often at the time. There was a video doing the rounds on WhatsApp of the monkey swimming in the club pool. I think we called the BMC and were informed that we had to call the forest department. However, the monkey disappeared in a day or two post that.” One can hear people speaking in the video in the background stating, “See this monkey, I believe there are a lot of monkeys in Goregaon.” Another person says, “I spotted one outside my building.” A woman had the last word, stating, “At least these monkeys can access clubs where memberships are simply unaffordable for most. These clubs are out of our league, but the monkeys, they have a free membership to these swish clubs.” Monkey business in Mumbai Three species of primates are found in Mumbai—the rhesus macaque, bonnet macaque and langur. There has been an increase in the number of negative interactions between humans and primates. Range Forest Officer Rakesh Bhoir from the Mumbai Range, Thane Forest Department (Territorial), said, “On an average, my office receives two to three calls complaining about monkeys entering buildings and housing societies daily. One reason for the negative interactions between humans and primates is people feeding them. A woman was injured in an encounter with a langur on Wednesday. We have created awareness in the area and our teams are taking efforts to rescue the langur.” Sources from the forest department told this newspaper that in the past 10 days, there have been three instances of human-primate conflict in Mumbai. On Monday, an 11-year-old boy was injured by a monkey at Mahalaxmi but, thankfully, he sustained minor injuries. On November 21, a monkey had charged at a railway employee at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus yard. Honorary Wildlife Warden of Thane and President of NGO RAWW, Pawan Sharma said, “All three incidents are quite unfortunate, the forest department has evaluated the situation and is initiating necessary actions as per the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The officials have visited the spots where the negative interactions occurred, and all three victims have already taken preventive treatment. To prevent any further conflicts, the department has decided to rescue the animals and rehabilitate them. Similarly, the authorities concerned from each area have been given an advisory to follow until the rescue operation is completed.” Sharma said the incidents at CSMT, Mahalaxmi and Otters Club involved a rhesus macaque, bonnet macaque and langur respectively. “All the animals had been ranging freely near the locations for many days without any negative interactions with humans. We are trying to find out what caused such unusual behaviour,” he added. Managing monkey menace mindfully 1 How to prevent monkeys from entering your surroundings?According to experts, this is not an easy task as monkeys are a part of urban biodiversity and the food chain. However, keeping premises clean, managing edible garbage and not feeding or entertaining them at all helps stave them off. Bamboo scaffolding should be removed as soon as repair work is done so that monkeys don’t get easy access to homes as they are creatures of habit. Apart from scaffolding, they use gas pipelines to gain access to kitchens and drain pipes to enter other spaces. 2 What to do if a monkey invades your space?Make sure you secure yourself, children and elders. Allow it to go away on its own by giving way. Keep calm. Do not scare, entertain or provoke. 3 What is immediate medical care if a monkey bites/attacks you?One must immediately clean the area with antiseptic lotion and rush to the nearest doctor. Precautionary tetanus and anti-rabies vaccines are necessary if one is scratched or bitten. Sparse history of violence In the past two years, there have rarely been any serious attacks on people. Most monkeys are free-ranging solitary animals. They usually try to snatch food from people or attempt to scare them to show territorial dominance. What happens if a rogue monkey is trapped? Any primate trapped amid a conflict situation is first medically and psychologically examined for behaviour triggers. Most of the time, it is the element of surprise or confrontation that causes them to attack. Animals showing unusual behaviour are sent to rescue centres for lifetime care and those which have the scope are rehabilitated. With inputs from Ranjeet Jadhav
28 November,2024 03:09 PM IST | Mumbai | Hemal AsharThe Bombay High Court on Thursday sought details from the city police of the probe into a case registered against NCP leader Nawab Malik under the Atrocities Act on a complaint of IRS officer Sameer Wankhede, reported news agency PTI. Wankhede, the additional commissioner in the Directorate General of Taxpayer Services (DGTS) and a member of the Mahar Scheduled Caste, last week moved the HC seeking the case to be transferred to the CBI, alleging inaction by the police. A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Prithviraj Chavan directed for Mumbai's Goregaon police station's officer concerned to remain present on the next date along with the case diary, reported PTI. The court said it shall be apprised of the details of the investigation in two weeks. Wankhede, in his plea filed through advocate Sana Raees Khan, has alleged that the police's inaction in the matter has caused him and his family significant mental distress and humiliation, reported PTI. In August 2022, the Indian Revenue Services (IRS) officer lodged a complaint with the Goregaon police against former Maharashtra minister Malik under provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, reported PTI. The complaint alleged that Malik had during interviews and in his social media posts made defamatory remarks against Wankhede and his family members based on his caste, reported PTI. Malik has neither been arrested in the case nor has a chargesheet been filed in it till date. In his petition filed on November 20 in the HC, Wankhede claimed the police have not carried out any probe into the case till date and hence sought for the same to be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The IRS officer also sought for the probe to be monitored by the court. "The lackadaisical approach of the police machinery has caused grave injustice to the pain and mental distress suffered by the petitioner (Wankhede) and his family members on being humiliated and defamed on the basis of their caste and race," the plea claimed, reported PTI. In 2021, Wankhede's father filed a defamation suit in the HC against Malik and the court then directed Malik to desist from making any further remarks, it said. Despite the restraining order, Malik continued to make slanderous and defamatory comments against Wankhede and his family members, the petition claimed. "The Respondent No 2 (Malik) wields political power and has hence influenced the police machinery and thereby tampering with the probe in the case," it added, reported PTI. Wankhede claimed Malik's remarks came after he arrested his son-in-law Sameer Khan in a drugs case in 2021, reported PTI. The IRS officer alleged that after Khan's arrest, Malik launched a sustained campaign to defame and humiliate him and his family on social media and television, targeting their caste and questioning the authenticity of his caste certificate. The officer earlier also filed a complaint with the Scheduled Caste Commission in October 2021, seeking action against Malik. (With inputs from PTI)
28 November,2024 02:28 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentShiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde has said he is proud of his father Eknath Shinde, who is currently Maharashtra's caretaker chief minister, for setting an example of following the "alliance dharma" while setting aside personal ambition, reported news agency PTI. In a post on X on Wednesday night, the parliamentarian said his father has an unbreakable bond with the people of Maharashtra. He toiled for every section of the society day and night, said the Shiv Sena leader, whose party is an ally of the BJP and NCP. His statement came after Eknath Shinde (60) on Wednesday announced the Shiv Sena would support the decisions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to name the next Maharashtra CM, paving the way for the BJP to head the new government. The caretaker CM has said he had spoken to PM Modi and Union minister Shah and assured them that there will be no "hindrance" from his side in the formation of new government in the state, reported PTI. "I am proud of my father and chief leader of the Shiv Sena. He kept faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah and set an example of the alliance dharma, keeping his personal ambition aside," Shrikant Shinde said, reported PTI. He further said his father worked as the "Common Man" and opened the doors of Varsha, the chief minister's official residence here, for the people, he said. It is said that power allures almost everyone but Eknath Shinde is an exception. For him, service towards the nation and people is of paramount priority and his legacy will inspire future generations, the Kalyan Lok Sabha member added. The BJP-led ruling Mahayuti alliance in the state achieved a stunning victory in the November 20 assembly polls. With Shinde declaring the Shiv Sena would not be a "hurdle" in the formation of new government, two-time BJP chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, one of the architects of the Mahayuti's grand win in the polls, is emerging as a front-runner for the top post, reported PTI. Shinde, alongside his outgoing deputies Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), is expected to meet with Shah in New Delhi on Thursday to further discuss modalities of the government formation, reported PTI. Maharashtra NDA leaders are also likely to meet the top BJP brass here on Thursday, BJP sources earlier said, indicating the formula of one chief minister and two deputy CMs representing the all three major Mahayuti constituents (BJP, Shiv Sena, NCP) will be followed in the new government. (With inputs from PTI)
28 November,2024 02:20 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFacing criticism from the Union government over low student registration for APAAR IDs, the state education department and the State Project Director of Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, have directed all schools to ensure that their students are registered within the next two days. The Union government had set a deadline of November 30 for all students to receive their APAAR IDs, but as of November 25, only 65 lakh students—just 35 per cent of the total—have been issued IDs. To accelerate process, the state has designated November 29 and 30 as APAAR ID Days, during which schools are expected to ensure maximum registrations. To address the challenges, schools are coordinating with municipal officers, block education officers, cluster heads, and education inspectors, who have been instructed to visit campuses during the designated days to oversee the progress. “All schools must observe APAAR ID Days with special campaigns to facilitate registrations. District-level online review meetings will also be held to assess progress and provide further guidance,” state project director of Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan R Vimala stated in the directive issued on November 26. To ensure success, all districts have been directed to maximise efforts during APAAR ID Days. Officials have emphasised the importance of collaboration and accountability at every level, with district and block-level officers tasked with monitoring the initiative’s implementation. The state government has also mandated special review meetings at the district level to evaluate the progress of APAAR ID generation and address any bottlenecks. Schools and parents speak Prasad Gokhale, a Borivli resident and parent, said, “I am still not clear about what this APAAR ID concept exactly is. If it’s for an online record of results and progress of a child, then that’s fine. The information must be properly safeguarded, otherwise, it could be harmful to both students and parents. I strongly suspect that this data will be provided to private companies in the education sector to increase their customer base.” Rohan Bhatt, chairman of Children’s Academy Group of Schools “We had sent the consent forms to parents and explained to them what they need to do just ahead of elections. Still, many parents have returned to us with concerns about data privacy and other queries. We sent these forms to parents across all three of our schools, which is a total of 8,000 students. It’s not easy to collect data from such a huge number of students and upload it on the government site. We also have to verify all the details. Completing this in two days is simply not possible—it will take time,” said Rohan Bhatt, chairman of the Children’s Academy Group of Schools. Sunita George, principal, Bombay Scottish School, Mahim “For parents who are not sending their consent, we have requested them to share their reasons for refusal. The work of gathering data is ongoing. However, due to exams, Diwali vacations, and then the elections, we couldn’t collect much data during this period,” said Sunita George, Principal of Bombay Scottish School, Mahim. “Many parents ask for official government letters or clarification. Now, there’s even a refusal format, but indirectly, officials are pushing us to get parents to consent. They question why we couldn’t obtain consent, why data hasn’t been uploaded, what actions we’re taking as principals, and how many meetings we’ve held to explain the process to parents,” said a principal from a school in South Mumbai. What is APAAR ID? The APAAR ID (Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry) is a unique lifelong identification number introduced under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Designed to track a student’s academic journey from pre-primary to higher education, it stores records of learning outcomes, extracurricular achievements, and skills. Unlike Aadhaar, APAAR focuses solely on education, acting as an “edulocker” for academic data. The Union Education Ministry has instructed schools to secure parental consent for APAAR enrolment. The system aims to address issues like student dropouts and ensure consistency in monitoring educational progress. Roles of schools and parents Schools:>> Update Aadhaar details for students. >> Obtain parental consent. >> Upload student data on the UDISE+ portal. >> Ensure compliance with deadlines, now extended to November 30. Parents:>> Provide consent for data sharing. >> Verify Aadhaar details for accuracy. >> Engage with schools to understand APAAR’s benefits and address concerns. APAAR registration process1. Verification: Visit the school to confirm demographic details. 2. Parental Consent: Secure consent for minors. 3. Authentication: Identity is verified through the school. 4. ID Creation: APAAR ID is generated and linked to DigiLocker.
28 November,2024 01:56 PM IST | Mumbai | Dipti SinghADVERTISEMENT
