Volume 15 | Issue 19
(Clockwise from top) Army jawans helping victims in Chennai (Picture: Indian Army); A bus stuck in flooded roads of Potheri in Kancheepuram district (Picture: Joyce Sara); One of the cars with supplies, before it left from Bangalore (Picture: Siva Mani); A part of the Vandalur Oragadam Highway that caved in (Picture: Sudhir Nambiath)
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Bangalore aid reaches Chennai’s flood of tears EXCLUSIVE Tanay Sukumar Five cars with essential supplies left Bangalore for Chennai today early morning to assist flood victims, after a Facebook post by a Bangalore-based youth went viral. Several other vehicles with volunteers were on the way soon after. Rains, transport and limited manpower created problems for volunteers going to Chennai. The five cars left Bangalore with large containers on
Thursday morning. Rakesh Haridas, a Bangalore-based entrepreneur, said that “overwhelming support” from the city had been a logistical challenge. However, he said they did not have enough people to deliver supplies to victims in Chennai. Haridas and several other volunteers in the city had been collecting consumables, readyto-eat stuff, sanitary napkins, candles, diapers, and raincoats, from 14 drop-off points in Bangalore since Wednesday afternoon. Siva Mani, another volunteer,
said that the next set of vehicles would leave Bangalore on Saturday. Volunteers like Aishwarya Thilak stayed back on Thursday to collect more supplies. Mani, a software engineer and photographer, took leave from work for four days to work on this. The drop-off points are in Indiranagar, Madiwala, Banasankhari, Whitefield, Shanthinagar, Maratahalli, KR Puram, Whitefield, Frazer Town, Kammanahalli, Banaswadi, Kalyan Nagar, Bannerghatta Road. contd. on Page 3
2 THE OBSERVER
Thursday, December 3, 2015
National park sees drastic drop in lion population
No security for workers in Muslim burials Regina Gurung
Under threat: Bannerghatta National park has seen a sharp decline in its lion population
Maqsood Maniyar At one point Bannerghatta national park had over a 100 Asiatic Lions in its rescue centre but now the numbers have dropped to 20. Dr. Manjunath, a resident veterinarian at the national park said: “We started the rescue centre back in 2001. We kept rescuing these Lions and managed to gather 120 of them. Today, we have only 20 left.” He added: “The average life span of the Lion of the Asian variety is 17 to 25 years. In our facility, many die of old age while others die because they couldn’t adapt to life in captivity.” Asiatic Lions are categorized as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). According to a 2015 census there are 523 Asiatic Lions in the Gir forest in Gujarat. However others remain in captivity as well. He defended the rescue, conservation and breeding efforts and claimed that they have had a huge impact. “The medical team here takes good care of the animals in captivity, they are monitored and special
care is taken. They face problems in the wild as well. Generally when a Lioness gives birth only half of her litter survives. Cubs face fatal danger from other predators like Hyenas and diseases as well. Then there is the threat of calamities like floods. The young ones suffer most in such cases.” Dr. Manjunath claimed that they used to get a steady supply of Lions in the past which has all but dried up. He also said: “We have only three Tigers in the rescue centre. In the Safari we have many more of them.” RESCUE OPERATIONS VS SAFARI There are differences between Safari and rescue efforts. In rescue operations, weak animals are taken in and given a new lease of life. However in a Safari one finds animals that are transported to Bannerghatta zoos and national parks from all over the country. These animals are then seen as a part of the greater conservation and breeding efforts. Dr. Manjunath said: “In the Safari, we have 20 Lions and 20 tigers. In the past two years, we have received only six lions
and four tigers. We get big cats from Nandankan national park in Odisha, Bhagwan Birsa zoological park in Ranchi, Jharkhand, Sepahijala zoo in Agartala, Tripura and Sri Venkateshwara national park in Tirupati among others. We have fewer problems in our Safari section.”
Unlike BBMP burial workers who get a monthly payment of Rs1000, workers working under private Muslim burial ground have to depend on the family of the deceased to get paid. None of the Muslim burial ground in Bangalore comes under BBMP and the burial ground workers do not get any salary for their work. Basha, a 60-year-old caretaker of Double Road Burial Ground says that his family starves when no dead body comes for months. He has been working there since the time he was eight years taking over his ancestor’s job. He gets Rs1000 a year and a new set of clothes from Mavalli Masjid. Syed Sharif,29, who works in a burial ground in Baramakan locality says that he charges Rs2000 to each family who
I have been working here since I was eight, now I am 61. Mavalli Masjid gives me Rs1000 a year and a new set of clothes
EXISTENTIAL THREATS Dr. Manjunath then goes on to say that epidemics constitute a fatal threat to big cats and other animals alike. “In 2011, three tigers died in our facility because of Salmonella which is a bacterial infection. A large number of elephants died in Bandipur due to the same reason some two years ago. Moreover in 2013, antelopes in our Herbivore Safari section suffered from an outbreak of “foot and mouth disease”(FMD). Thankfully we brought it under control with a swift and professional response.” In April 2013, the supreme court had passed an order saying that some Asiatic Lions be transported to a conservation facility in the forests of Madhya Pradesh in order to better protect the big cat from epidemics and possible extinction.
Generally when a Lioness gives birth only half of her litter survives. Cubs face fatal danger from other predators like Hyenas and diseases as well. Then there is the threat of calamities like floods - Dr. Manjunath, a resident veterinarian, Bannerghatta National Park
come there to bury. Minimum of one and maximum of three dead bodies come in a month so he says it is better than getting paid. “Offering him salary means that he cannot take money from the community. I had offered him that offer but he refused it” said Syed Abdul Rasul, area secretary of Baramakan. The locality is out of interest from the BBMP, allege residents. “They come here only during election time making false promises and after they are elected, this locality which has immense heritage as the advisor of Tipu Sultan, Syed Hazrat Atullah Shah donated this land to Muslims, has been ignored post independence” said Rasul. According to Syed Shutari, religious head of the community “paying the burial workers is a bad idea because they start boozing.”
Basha, a 60-year-old caretaker of Double Road Burial Ground
Murder suspects held Sanskriti Talwar Maqsood Maniyar Three men who are beleived to have murdered a senior citizen in Kacharakanahalli village last year have been placed under arrest by Banaswadi police station. Mary Lucas aged 62 was found dead in her home on April 29, 2014. Her hands and feet were tied up and her mouth was stuffed with a cloth before she was choked to death. Besides the murder valuables worth Rs. 2,60,000 including 94 grams of gold were stolen. The Police have tracked down three suspects namely Thangaraju Kuppaswamy (20),
V.G. Kashinath (23) and Prabhu Doraiswamy (20) who hail from Dharampuri district in Tamilnadu. They used to live in Kacharakanahalli working odd jobs as carpenters and newspaper delivery boys. They fled after the murder. The suspects were nabbed by the Banaswadi Police station in coordination with K.R Puram sub division Police station. A case has been registered under – Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 302 (murder) and 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention and them being liable for that act equally). The accussed will be produced before the Chief Metroppolitan Magistrate court on Monday.
Left to right:Thangaraju Kuppaswamy, V.G. Kashinath and Prabhu Doraiswamy
Thursday, December 3, 2015 3
THE OBSERVER
No rescue operation by govt in Cuddalore, say residents
Bangaloreans help Chennai
Laxmi Narayani Parvathi Benu The residents and volunteers in Cuddalore say that there is nor rescue operation by the defence forces and government. Cuddalore, a district in Tamil Nadu, 180 km away from Chennai is one among the worst hit area by the Tamil Nadu floods. Vetri, a volunteer helping people in Cuddalore said that they have received no help from the government’s side. “Many residents have shifted to safer places. But some have stayed back in their houses itself, so we don’t know how many people have actually died,” he said. “No government body is helping us here. Right now, locals have moved to the nearby government schools and I help to get them food,” said Ramu, a resident. He said that out of the 67 villages, more than 40 villages are affected by flood and all the crops have been destroyed. “No army or navy people saved us from the problem. Everyone is concentrating on Chennai and no one has time to look at Cuddalore,” he said. Another rescue volunteer
A truck with over 3000 blankets that will leave Erode for Chennai on Friday morning (Picture: Keevan)
contd. from page 1
Lawrence Road, Thirupulliyur, Cuddalore Nazurudeen also said that there is no rescue operation from the government’s said. “More than 60 people had died from the same village. Many residents do not have the title deed to the property and so the government cannot support these people,” he said. “The families of dead people had received the compensation from the government. Also the officials blame these people who occupied sites near the lake for their loss,” he added.
The social media users have also taken up this issue and are tweeting about this. A few tweets say, “People worries only #chennai ..Govt should take initiatives to save #Cuddalore people.They r eft homeless with no hands to help” “Have an eye on #Cuddalore too. Pls help them in finding the rescue options or help them with the funds.” No government authority was available for comments on this issue.
However, they took help of local volunteers in Chennai to assist in waterlogged areas. Benjamin Jeevanraj, 26, the marketing head of a restaurant chain, said: “We connected through a Facebook status message from Ram Kashyap. He was initially planning to drive down with rice and sambar and was willing to take whatever he could fit in his car.” Such initiatives gained momentum on social media after 25-year-old Ram Kashyap posted on Facebook, asking for Bangaloreans to help. He posted: “I plan to shuttle between Bangalore and Chennai during the next few days on my car with food (Rice and Sambar) in large containers.”
Jeevanraj said: “I don’t even know the people involved in this. In fact, none of us knew each other before today. We all volunteered to help out.” He said that a donation page was set up and people came out in support with money and in kind, as the post went viral on social media. Kashyap said he would go to the volunteers’ doorstep to collect food supplies, containers, paper cups and plates, raincoats and umbrellas and money for fuel. Ganesh, an IT employee in Bangalore, said that another group of 25 engineers is not able to get enough trucks to transport the essential items. The group will send its first truck with food and other necessities from Whitefield at 6pm today.
Met dept predicts more clouds
Cuddalore: One of the worst flood affected areas in Tamil Nadu. Veeranam Lake to almost reach its full capacity. Many residents were sent to other parts of the district. (Picture: Ganapathy)
The Indian Meteorological Department, in its last update at 8:30pm, said that the sky condition would be generally cloudy. It also said that rain and thundershowers in some areas were possible. An earlier update had expected the sky condition to be “overcast”. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Chennai on Thursday to assess the situation. He had an aerial survey of the city, after which he announced Rs.1000 crore for relief measures in the state. The Centre had released Rs.940 crore earlier. The state of Tamil Nadu received 741 mm of rain in November, which is more than twice the average rainfall for the month. Victims faced lack of food and essential supplies, power and mobile network. Most parts of the city were flooded. Social media and WhatsApp groups were used to extend support to trapped victims. Jayashankar E Warrier, an MTech student from IIT Chennai, said: “I cannot go home in Kerala since all trains are cancelled. There’s been a power cut for 40 hours and we cannot go out of the hostel. The condition is getting worse outside.”
4 THE OBSERVER
Thursday, December 3, 2015
C o lleg es b la m e t ea ch er shortage for evaluation row Oindrila Sarkar Colleges under Bangalore University have blamed shortage of teachers for the delay in the evaluation of papers of the undergraduate semester exams. Prof.K.N Ninge Gowda, Registrar Evaluation had said ,”Though we have enough number of faculties eligible for evaluation work, a majority of them are not turning up.” However the colleges in question have contradicted the allegations. But the Principal of Government Arts College, Bangalore, Prof.Venkatashyama Reddy said,”Bangalore University has not communicated with us as to when and where the evaluation will take place. They have to inform the Department of Collegiate Education which they have not done. The Principal cannot ask the teachers , its the university which calls them.” He brushed aside the allegations that a majority of teachers are not taking part in
the evaluation work. The Bangalore University College Teacher’s Association (BUCTA) President, R.Ramachandrappa said,”The actual problems are different. We have the aided and unaided colleges, but in both the staff is not permanent. Most colleges bar their contract teachers from attending evaluation.” He said, “The government colleges have the maximum number of guest faculty who are not eligible to evaluate. It is English and commerce subjects which face the biggest problems every year. In the Bangalore University (BU) alone, we used to have more than 3,000 University Grants Commission (UGC) staff which has currently come down to around 800.” D.Shivanna, principal, National College, Bagepalli, said, “We do send teachers , but most of them are not permanent, especially the English and commerce faculty. But most importantly the Registrar Evaluation has not informed us
Though we have enough number of faculties eligible for evaluation work, a majority of them are not turning up -Prof.K.N Ninge Gowda, Registrar Evaluation,Bangalore University
about this.” The Evaluators are paid Rs.15 per paper with travel and Dearness Allowance. To this he further said, “They pay the teachers Rs.300 for travelling which does not suffice. It is too meagre. Moreover we are having examinations and the teachers have invigilation work.” On the financial problems, R.Ramachandrappa from BUCTA said, “We have been demanding an increase in the allowance for a long time but its fallen on deaf ears. Each evaluator gets a minimum of 36 scripts which makes it Rs.900 for the day. Some lecturers don’t find it worth the trouble due to this.” M.Jayappa, principal, RBANMS first degree college, said, “We have always deputed teachers from our college especially the commerce and management teachers. How am I supposed to depute English teachers when all have retired and only a year’s service people are there. We don’t have guest faculty also now.” The Registrar Evaluation has complained that out of 450 eligible faculty members, only 248 are attending. To this Jayappa said, “They need to evaluate the situation first before misinforming people that our college has not sent teachers for evaluation.” Ramachandrappa denied that teachers gave silly reasons such as back pain and spending time with family to get out of their evaluation duties. He said, “I will meet the Registrar K.M Ninge Gowda today and
Government Arts College Bangalore University: Teachers here have not been informed about the present University undergraduate evaluation
@MNReddi_IPS #ChennaiRains Attending High level meeting by Addl CS Home, Karnataka, to take stock n examine emergency help to be rendered to Chennai. Thimme Gowda,Vice Chancellor,Bangalore University discuss the actual problems which is related to a shortage of faculty.. So many have retired and the vacancies are unfilled. The management was on a recruitment drive in 2015, but it was again for guest faculty. We want to give a petition for regular appointments. From 1990 onwards no appointment has been made. The Guest lecturers are living in a pathetic situation as they have no job security.” Murali, a student from Vishveshwaraya Technological University said,”The next semester is going to get delayed because of the delay in results. The schedule given to us at the beginning of the year goes all topsy turvy by the end of it. Internals, university examinations, vacations nothing happens on time when things are not scheduled. This is because of the uncertainity created by the evaluation process.” Bangalore University had decided to go digital with evaluation in 2013. Results were supposed to come out within 10-15 days instead of 25. A new computer lab was to be opened at the Central College campus to train faculty in digital evaluation but that never happened. The ex Vice Chancellor (V.C) of Bangalore University Mr.Prabhu Dev had said, “there have been instances of wrong marks being awarded due to incorrect totalling, digitization will eliminate such errors.” When asked about the digitization,the present VC B Thimme Gowda did not comment on the project the University had taken up. He did not want to talk about the idea. If it is implemented then it will enable posting of answer scripts online so that evaluators can access them from anywhere.
@Karnataka_News Karnataka announces Rs.5 crore for flood-hit Chennai: Bengaluru, Dec 2 : Karnataka on Wednesday announced Rs.5...
@the_hindu #ChennaiFloods IAF sends rescue boats, drinking water from Hyderabad : @CMofKarnataka Our govt has sanctioned Rs.5 crore along medicines and relief items. Have asked Chief Secy to coordinate with TN. #ChennaiFloods
@PMOIndia I have directed that Rs. 1000 crore be released immediately by the Govt of India to Tamil Nadu for immediate relief: PM @narendramodi
@Actor_Siddharth No network. Putting up #ChennaiMicro volunteer team info. Tweet me. Also call them of they are near you. Food water blankets. Please.
@ndtv Delhi High Court expresses displeasure over 'unchecked rising pollution,' asks whether government has time-bound action plan
@ndtv Delhi High Court expresses displeasure over 'unchecked rising pollution,' asks whether government has time-bound action plan
THE OBSERVER Editor: Mouli Shree | News Editor: Irien Joseph Chief Sub-Editor: Maqsood Maniyar | Picture Editor: Parvathi Benu | Layout Designer: Ankita Sil Sub-Editors: Aparajita Khandelwal, Oindrila Sarkar and Laxmi Narayani | Reporters: Aditi Mallick and Mathew Joy Mathew