To all the Journalists...

To all the Journalists who have lost hope in journalistic values inbetween corporate culture and money-minded editorial style...

Here are tips from P.Sainath, on how to get the developmental stories noticed, published or telecast...

1) Make yourself indispensable to your company
2) Always remember that there are spaces even inbetween corporate-culture, where you can do what is dear to your heart.
3) Be sharp enough to identify the space coming... and grab the right opportunity and act :)
4) Have faith in the values you believe ( this is most important of all I believe )

What the heart can not feel, mind can not see.
What the mind can not see, eye can not observe.

In other words, to see a good story, passion should be part of your blood...

People from nowhere

It was suggested by someone to create awareness in our program, on the roadside sellers who put a tent and sell "Ayurvedic" medicines, and promise to cure all diseases. Topic seemed quite interesting, and we started off.

The moment we got into the topic, all tent-sellers seemed like villains who indulge in anti-social activities. For the first two days we sneaked around their tents and took lot of video. Then many of their customers were interviewed. There was mixed response on the effectiveness of their medicine. There were doubts too, on their activities.

Finally we got to interview the sellers themselves. To our surprise, they faced the camera boldly, and told everything about themselves. Most of them come from Haridwara, Hrushikesh and parts of UP. Their forefathers used to practise native medicine, and these people have learnt that by default. They get to know about what makes a person suffer, by checking the pulse. There are people who come to them, and get their small ailments like gastrouble, acidity and muscle-catching cured. Some go to them for bigger diseases, and when they don't get relief, turn traitors to them.

They don't know anything else to do, other than practising this traditional medicine system. They travel from North India to farther places in South in search of their daily bread.

To quote them, "Yahan pe hamare yahan jo Jadee-boothi milthe hain, vo nahin milthe. Yahan use bech diya tho thoda zyada paisa milega.. isliye hum yahan aathe hain..."

" Humko yahan se bhaga denge kya behenji? Idhar nahin tho dusri jagah jayenge, lekin aap hi sochiye, hum kuch alag kaam jaanthe hee nahin, hum kyaa kar sakthe hain?"

When asked what is government doing for them, answers were like, "Humko yahaan se bhagaya nahi, rehne ke liye problem kiya nahi, uthna hi kaafi hai, sarkar our kya mangenge?" "Haridwar me sarkar ne ghar diya hai, bachchon ko padhayi-vadhaai ka inthzaam bhi hai, lekin hum jaise banjaare wahan kaise rahenge?"

You know when a person is bluffing, just by looking into the eye. And I knew, they were telling the truth. I had heard about those tent-sellers who reside nearby highways, sold illegal drugs like ganja and opium, or those who indulged in robberies, or those who mediated or resorted to prostitution in the nights. Atleast those whom I met weren't among those.

These sellers usually choose strategic locations, near bus-stations, railway stations, near slums, near highways and ringroads. Through their attractive banners in all languages, they promise to cure Asthma, Diabetes, Arthritis, Sexual Dysfunctions etc. completely. Saying or advertising so is punishable under Drugs and Magic Remedies Act. They dont even know that. Police never has done any harm to them, because they stay away from footpaths, and their existance never obstructs movement of people.

At the same time, various doctors and experts were interviewed. Most of them opposed the unscientific and unhygenic way of selling medicines by roadside. But some of them were of the view that native medicine sellers sometimes have precious ancient practices and unique herbs and medicines that cure come troubles. This precious knowledge has to pass on to the next generation, officially.

There'z a governmental body under health department to regulate the native medicine systems. It'z called AYUSH Directorate (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy). We wanted to know what this directorate is doing. The day we went, there was a "Fake doctor" surrendering to the directorate. He din't want to face the camera. He had told in his apology letter that he'd learnt Ayurveda from his dad who'z a pundit, and practised it, and that an official of AYUSH helped him in getting the certificates necessary for practising Ayurveda. And that he's realized his mistake now, and requesting the directorate to permit him to practise if there'z a lawful means to do it.

That day we din't get interview. We waited for three days, but never got the interview of the state director, despite sending detailed questionnaire and getting the permission from Health Secretary.

Finally we winded up shooting session, and series was ready. First episode was based purely on the bytes of public, on roadside medicine sellers. Second episode was on the condition of the roadside sellers, their genuine problems, and the need for solutions. Third episode was on what is wrong with their practice, and the laws under which they are punishable. Fourth was on what is real Ayurveda, and what is not. Fifth was on when Home remedies will do, when to go for Ayurveda, and when Alopathy could be better option. Concluding episode warned that practising Ayurveda without proper knowledge and self-medication in Ayurveda could have side-effects, and could prove dangerous. It emphasized on the need to find a logical, humane solution to the genuine native medicine sellers who had to sit by roadside to earn their bread. Doctors and general public acclaimed our efforts. By the response we received, we know ratings too are going to be good.

But, on the day we aired third episode, I got a call from one of the sellers whom I interviewed. He said people are coming and telling him that there are wrong things about them getting telecast in TV, and he asked me, "Behenji, aap kyun hamare pet par laath maar rahe hain? Hum sadiyon se yahee karthe aa rahe hain, ye hamaaree khaandaanee cheez hai, hum iske lava kuch nahin jaanthe... "

My efforts to explain him what we did were in vain, and he disconnected the phone by telling... "Hum yahan nahin tho dusree shehar jayenge, lekin yaad rakhna, aap hamaree baal-bachchon ke pet par laath mare hain...."

His words lingered for a long time... I started thinking why did we put our hands to this Pandora's box. True. I'm no one to judge these poor sellers. I wonder what we telecasted can really solve problems of these poor people who belong nowhere. I know what they say is truth for them. I know that they have genuine problems to be solved. I know they have to be guided in the right direction, their kids have to be educated, they have to have right means of earning their bread. If government bothers about them a bit, they could even have a sort of do's-and-don'ts provided by a regulatory body, and a sort of licensing? But what if I know? What if I express all these? Who am I afterall?

**************************************

Few months back I had seen a printout stuck on the wall of a Unani doctor's crowded clinic. It said, "IF YOU HAVE A GIRL CHILD, AND IF YOU WANT A MALE CHILD, WE WILL HELP YOU TO HAVE MALE CHILD, PROVIDED YOU COME TO US WITHIN THREE MONTHS OF PREGNANCY, INSHA - ALLAH". I was stunned looking at that, and at the crowd at the clinic.

There are bigger fishes in the sea, who are violating laws and cheating people systematically. Do I, or anyone for that matter, dare to catch them? Does any law prevent them from what they are doing? 2007-2008 has been declared as year to spread awareness on Female Foeticide. But what has happened practically? Does anyone care?

**************************************

Couldn't help writing this, though I know this permeates the boundary of a blog and gets to the dilemmas of personal feelings and professional life.

Water Woes - 2

Problems with Water make me write again.

Off late there are many reports of polluted water getting supplied to residents of few areas in Bangalore... The mis-information in a sector of media on cholera outbreak... denial of the reports by BWSSB... People suffering with Gastroentitis... Few cases of confirmed Cholera too...

Well, what'z the way out? BWSSB has few water-treatment plants, which clean up the water to certain extent, supply it to the needful industries nearby, and leaving the rest of it to flow back to the rivers from which the city gets water supply. This just means that the water you drink in Bangalore could be the water that has flown from drainage nearby your home, which went back to the river and was brought back to the city... The expense for this by BWSSB is claimed to be crores of rupees per month.

There was supposed to be a plan to treat the sewage water in the treatment plant - Tertiary Treatment - and supply it back to the city. God alone knows what happened to this plan. But the plan is good, as it saves lot of money, and the water got by this will be cleaner than the chlorinated fresh drinking water got from ThippagonDanaLLi Dam.

Same experiment done in Cubbonpark by BDA has got positive results, with odourless clean water being got after treatment. They say the lab-test results show that the cleaned water is perfect and could be used for drinking.

Water bodies and sources are drying up day-by day. We have to accept this solution, if implemented, as there's no other go in the near future... and may be forever.

Life's too hectic... Can't come out of the silence here... :(

Water woes....

This wasn't the Bangalore I had stepped in during last April. I never knew Bangalore can be so hot. I used to joke with my friends that my new home I stepped in was like a fridge. It's not anymore.

I never know when the corporation releases water. Calling BWSSB and keeping track of that to fetch some water for cooking has become a big deal for me now.

******************

My home town had lots of water. Lot of ground water and natural water bodies, small rivers, lot of rain. As kids we played in water, wasted so much of water. As if we owned the water and it was our right to spend it.

I never saw any water problem, even in my 7 years of hostel-life, unless pump got spoilt sometimes. But was getting to know about the existing water scarcity in other parts of world, and in northern parts of Karnataka.

*******************

Got my first job and had to move to Hyderabad. There life taught me how precious was what I wasted in vain.

Corporation released 'Manjira' (it's like 'Cauvery' in Karnataka) once in two days. For half-an-hour. That was meant for drinking and cooking, and for additional needs house owner had to dig a borewell.

My first house din't have borewell for ground water. We were dependent upon Manjira for all our needs. Since we couldn't manage, we had to shift soon to some other house with borewell.

The second house we stayed had 2 families. Whenever Manjira came we had to fetch it. But, somehow, the water we received smelled of iron, and wasn't tasty. I don't remember how I have managed with that for about 2-3 months.

******************

By the time we moved to next house, summer had stepped in. We took a rented house in ground floor. It had plenty of borewell water, and our owner aunty helped us whenver we had trouble wth catching Manjira. So water wasn't much of a problem, but we had to bear with the frenzy of Hyderabad- heat.

Every evening we came back from office and pour bore-water to the floor of house, so that the hot floor can cool down. Then we would go to Raithbazaar, and get Mango fruits which were sold at very less price, and Palak and other green vegetables, which were meant for beating the heat of Summer.

At night I used to sleep on open floor without bed, with fan running at high speed. All the windows had to be kept open to avoid the hot air. But then, mosquitoes of Hyderabad were so strong that they managed to sneak in and bite, without caring for fan..!!!

We had another option too. We used to clean the terrace every evening and pour water, and sleep there. Open sky... stars... moon... old melodies played from Radio somewhere nearby... mosquitoes... and abundant of hot wind, which would cool as early morning hours neared. Still I cherish this home, bcoz of all these memories without water-woes.

******************
By this time we had become wise. We took care to move to houses with borewell and Manjira facilities. But by then, the trend of building multi-storied buildings and renting every bit of it had started in the area we stayed. The last two houses I moved belonged to this category.

For every vessel of Manjira water, we had to stand in cue for long time, fight with those who do injustice in sharing the water and get our share. Owner aunties couldnt help much, bcoz they themselves had to fight to get water.

******************

While I was in Hyderabad, I never saw any other area apart from Mehboobnagar. But recently in an official tour, I had the chance to visit other districts of AP like Nellore, Ongole, Guntur, Prakasam, Khammam, Vijayawada, Krishna, West Godavari etc. The coastal Andhra was greener than what I imagined, with enough water for agriculture and domestic uses. But again, the water wasnt potable in most of the areas, with excess of flourine content or excess of salinity.
The tribals in interiors of AP din't have any access to what we call 'potable' water. They have been living like this for ages. There were too many questions haunting me, and in an effort to get answer, I drank water from a tribal's home. It did taste bit salty. But was better than what we got from local towns in bottles in the name of 'purified mineral water'.

******************

Now back to where I belong. Bangalore. Water crisis is serious here. All the fights caused between neighbouring states are an ongoing history now. But Cauvery is a bone of contention between neighbours too. Verbal exchanges... for overflown and wasted water by switching on the pump and forgetting to switch it off in time... for the water which came silently without anybody's knowledge which nobody took note and resultant empty underground tank...

There are too many NGO's working here, to spread the awareness and inculcate the habit of rainwater harvesting, saving water etc. I'm not able to measure the impact of such small efforts, on citizen of this ever-growing metro. But one small incident I would like to share here, before signing off...

There was an event conducted in Bangalore few weeks back, with folk-dance and desi songs. Aim was to spread Environmental awareness. I went to the rpogram along with my friend and her family members.

On the way wife told husband that they should have rain-water harvesting unit in their new house, now in construction stage. Husband agreed with her and told her to speak with contractor. She said contractor is the main enemy here, he promised to have it in the building but hasn't left enough space needed for the tank. Husband promised to speak with contractor himself and settle the matter.

I don't know whether this is the result of awareness campaigns and genuine efforts, but definitely a small positive thing. An incident which makes me feel better...
....

The Flowers at the Feet...

This has been boiling inside me since so many days... the education system around me.

Multiple languages, multiple religions, multiple political ideologies, multiple cultures... India is already torn into hundred and one pieces. We claim of Unity in diversity, but the fact remains to be seen by all...

There are very few elements that bind all Indians together, most powerful among them being Cricket. If we search for such elements, there are very rare positive instances of this country becoming united... in expressions, views, deeds etc.

Added to this is the inequality planted by our education system, which makes privileged get good education, and underprivileged get government education. Of late I’m in dilemma... government education system is meant for whom, and what is the purpose. The rural children who are bright but don’t have access to the private schools are getting educated in government schools, deprived of the courses running the current trends.

Education is a booming business today in this country. Too many International Schools, Residential Schools etc, with hi-fi syllabus. All the privileged kids reared to international standards. Much sophisticated, capable of speaking English and meant to go places. India’z developing finally at a faster rate!! Sounds good. Feels good.

On the other hand there is Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, meant to ‘universalize’ the education system across India. More of activity-oriented, performance of student measured with grades, no marks, no ranking. The idea is novel.

Everything would be fine with this system till the kids reach 10th standard. Later they will have to enter same privatized / governmental colleges. Same entrance tests for Engineering/ Medical. (No other occupation is fascinating enough for most of the Indians..!!) Same old system with examinations, marks, ranks, merit-based assessment. The novel idea dies there.

The fear now is, these kids may not be competitive enough to deal with the system of examinations, marks and competition. A doubt, that how can a kid who doesn’t have the practise of writing any exam till 10th cope with answering so many questions in so and so time. The kids who learnt in private schools with the conventional exam-based system for 10 years would obviously be better than these..!!!

I see those innocent kids in my village who don’t know what is central syllabus or international syllabus, content with what they are learning. And the parents who are worried about the future of these kids, and how to make them competitive enough to be an engineer or medical graduate.

These kids are going to end up being second-class citizen, with no white-collar, high- earning jobs. The divide is going to be bigger.

No one cares a damn. Not media. Not educationists. Not the government. The few shrill voices against the wind are not heard.

The Sarva-Shiksha Abhiyan and the privatized education look like two opposite poles to me. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan appears like an ointment applied to a wound, keeping the thorn inside. If the media, educationists, government, and constitution can wake up so that something is done to remove the thorn...

Let’s not forget the flowers at our feet, while we aim high up in the sky...

Sleep... Dream... and Small Things...

There was a time when there were expressions of what I felt, musings about everything around- about society, media, development, ideas, my own interpretations...

But then, being a nobody, there were dilemmas too...

What'z the contribution of a small water drop to a sea...?

Does a small creature count in the world too big...?

What does a small expression of one person do amidst the sea of expressions and ideas floating around...?

With all these thoughts, was fed up of 'expressions' ... tired of the journey...

Wanted to sleep... And I slept.

And there were Dreams.

So many dreams, that din't let me sleep...

Dreams that showed the small drops of water that merged with sea happily to make it bigger...

Dreams that familiarized those small little creatures that moved mountains...

Dreams that scrolled those small quotes and words of big people that created history...

Dreams that peeped into the world of smaller things in life which meant a lot to people, small ideas which made big difference in human history...

I saw that Big things always started Small...

I've slept for a long time now...

Enough, now got miles to go before I sleep again...

Small things, Small happinesses, Small satisfactions...

Making my world a Bigger and Better Place to Live in...!!!