The Observer An IIJNM publication
Nandi Hills fails to attract visitors after reopening as fear of Omicron variant weighs on their minds | P 5
Vol. 21, Issue 19
Friday, December 3, 2021
By Shristi Achar A and Swarali Bodas
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ew restrictions have been imposed in Karnataka amid the fear of spread of Omicron. It is unofficially determined as “not serious”, Revenue Minister R. Ashoka told a press conference on Friday. “From today, only double vaccinated people will be allowed into malls, cinema halls and schools. Parents of school kids should also be compulsorily double vaccinated.” Up to 500 persons will be allowed at weddings. All cultural activities in educational institutions should be postponed till January 15, 2022.
Sanitary pads continue to damage the environment
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anitary napkins containing plastic continue to cause environmental damage even when more eco-friendly alternatives to them are available. Women who have never tried tampons and menstrual cups, hesitate to try out these products, reports Kashish Sharma. According to a study, around 12 billion sanitary pads are generated every year. This menstrual waste takes 500 to 800 years to fully decompose. Improper disposal of sanitary waste can be seen at all levels. Very often, menstrual waste finds its way into landfills without being subjected to a prior chemical or thermal treatment. According to the Solid Waste Management Rules 2016, waste must be segregated into three parts” wet, dry and domestic hazardous waste. Sanitary waste should be properly wrapped. Details on page 3
Minister R. Ashoka announces the new Covid guidelines at a press conference | Shristi Achar A There will be compulsory testing for health workers, persons above 65 years. The Covid control room, which was dormant for a while, but will be restarted, he said. Testing for Covid-19 at airports is available for all. The RT-PCR test is available for Rs 500, while the rapid antigen test costs Rs 3,000 in Bengaluru. It’s Rs
4,000 or more in other states. People found not wearing masks in municipal corporation areas will be fined Rs 250. The penalty for other areas is Rs 100, according to a state government order. The winter session of the legislature in Belagavi won't be postponed. It hasn’t been happening for two years, Ashoka said. The decisions were taken at a meeting chaired by chief minister Basavaraj Bommai. “Covid testing was only 60,000 per day. But we will be increasing it to 1 lakh per day now. ICU beds, general beds, oxygen supply and oxygen plants… will be updated,” he added. Shilpa Nagraj has been appointed surveillance officer. About 10 foreigners who had travel history in Africa going missing in Bengaluru, the minister said they will be traced and tested by midnight. The matter has been referred to the police
commissioner. “Pediatric ICUs and purchase of equipment, everything is being taken care of," health minister K. Sudhakar told a press conference. Asked how many beds have been reserved for Omicron patients, Sudhakar replied: “It is too early to say…. We still have to see if normal Covid positive patients and Omicron positive patients should be kept together or in separate isolation wards.” He appealed to every citizen to be ethical. “One should not switch off their phones or become untraceable if they have tested positive,” Sudhakar said. “The state government will clear Covid risk allowance within 20 days, through the HRMS portal, all salaries which are due will be credited,” Sudhakar said. shristi.a@iijnm.org , swarali.b@iijnm.org ►Read full report on www.weeklyobserver.in
Going around sans masks, citizens show Omicron doesn’t bother them Team Observer
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day after Bengaluru reported its first cases of the Omicron variant of Covid19, The Observer discovered that people across the city are hardly following any protocols. The Observer went to different places in the city to see the ground situation. K.R. Market was flooded with people with masks hanging at their chins. Some were seen without masks as well. People were brushing against each other while walking. Some people were heard shouting saying “Please wear your masks”, but no one paid any attention to them. At the teeming Chickpet market, nobody wore a mask. The scene at the Kempegowda Majestic Metro station was familiar. People were rushing in and out of Metro trains with their masks at their chins or no masks. Metros were running at full capacity yet people kept rushing in-
https://twitter.com/ observer_weekly Epaper: https://issuu.com/ theweeklyobserver/docs Website: http://www. theweeklyobserver.in
Government schools in the city prove to be inaccessible for children with special needs | P 4
Only fully vaccinated people to be allowed into malls, cinemas Cultural events in schools, colleges put off till Jan.15
https://facebook.com/ iijnmbangalore
News briefs Omicron severity may be low, says Centre The Union health ministry has said that due to the fast pace of vaccination in the country, the severity of new Covid variant, Omicron, is expected to be low. The government has urged people to get vaccination as soon as possible. In a statement, the ministry said: “Given the variant’s characteristics, it is likely to spread to more countries, including India.”
Use Delta experience to tackle Omicron: WHO WHO officials in the Western Pacific say border closures adopted by some countries may buy time to deal with the Omicron coronavirus variant, but measures put in place and experience gained in dealing with the Delta variant should remain the foundation for fighting the pandemic.
New variant found in multiple US states The Omicron variant, undetected in the US before the middle of this week, had been discovered in at least five states by the end of Thursday, showing yet again how mutations of the virus can circumnavigate the globe with speed and ease. Just a day after the first known US case was found in California, tests showed the variant had infected at least five people in New York City, plus a man from Minnesota.
Cyclone Jawad to slam Odisha-AP coast today A cyclone called ‘Jawad’ is likely to reach the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh coast by Saturday. Special Relief Commissioner PK Jena said that the cyclonic storm might cause a landfall in Puri before heading to the Bay of Bengal. The state governments are taking steps to prevent any loss of life. People across the city were seen without masks | Credit: Saumyangi Y
Controversial singer Moosewala joins Congress
n’t. People who didn’t get tested said officials didn’t ask them. the teams in charge of the testing was busy testing police officers, allowing many travellers ( to go out. Some porters and autorickshaw drivers outside the train station also did not wear masks. ►Full coverage on page 2 ►Photo feature on page 6
Controversial singer Sidhu Moosewala will contest the upcoming Punjab polls on the Congress ticket from his hometown Mansa. Despite his videos glorifying gun culture and violence, chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi and state Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu welcomed him into the party on Friday.
stead of waiting for the next one. At the KSR railway station, not everyone was tested for Covid-19. This was contrary to what the BBMP Health Officer informed The Observer. Most people were not wearing masks at all, while others didn’t wear them properly. The Observer spoke to people who got tested and those who did-
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OMICRON
The Observer Friday, December 3, 2021
Amid Omicron, Bengalureans not following Covid protocols
Govt must act to avert 3rd wave: Citizens
Karnataka
By Simran Sharma
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eople in Bengaluru continue to flout Covid rules despite the emergence of the Omicron variant. Sneha S, a Metro commuter, informed The Observer: I travel by Metro regularly and I can say this new variant has no effect on people as of now. Most of them are not following Covid protocols. They rush into filled Metros instead of waiting for the next one.” The government should take action in order to prevent the variant from spreading. Another commuter, Chaithi S.P, said: “There is no need to panic as two waves are over, but people should follow Covid-appropriate behaviour as much as possible.” Sudhiksha N, a student , said checks on Metro stations have increased since last week in view of rising cases.Commuters are constantly directed to follow Covidappropriate behaviour. The superintendent of the Kempegowda Metro station said they try to maintain social distancing as much as possible. Most of the
New Cases
169
Active Cases
6,772
Total Cases
2,996,833
New Vaccinations
452,525 Total Vaccinations
75,942,395
India The Namma Metro was packed with commuters, without any social distancing | Credit: Simran Sharma time they have to tell people to follow Covid protocols. The Observer went to several places in the city and found people flouting Covid rules. Masks were hanging at the chin and people were brushing against each other. The situation at malls was no different. People wore masks but none maintained distancing. K.R. Market was flooded with people when The Observer reached there. Hardly anyone wore masks properly, leave alone
following social distancing. Contrary to this, one of the vendors at KR Market, Ghouse Pasha, claimed all the people there follow Covid norms. He even had figures to cite: ‘’80 percent out of 100 percent’. Most of the pubs in the city have organized events. ‘Friday Night’ at Chugg Bar one Church Street and ‘Sunday Blowout’ at Hangover, Koramangala, are two of them. Both are fully booked. Dr Praveen Kumar, Medical Su-
perintendent at Raja Rajeshwari Medical Institute and Hospital, said: “We will be able to control it unlike what is projected in the media. If it is detected, then I won't say that we will be able to stop it from penetrating in the country, but we will be able to contain it by following Covid-appropriate behaviour.’’ He believes they will be able to handle the situation much better than during the second Covid wave. simran.s@iijnm.org
Not everybody at the KSR railway station is being tested for Covid-19 Distancing norms flouted at testing centre
New Cases
9,216
Active Cases
99,976
Total Cases
34,606,541
New Vaccinations
736,230 Total Vaccinations
1,257,505,514
Twitterati Talk @NarendraModi On International Day of Persons with Disabilities, I would like to appreciate the stellar achievements and contributions of persons with disabilities to India’s progress. Their life journeys, their courage and determination is very motivating. @mla_sudhakar Two cases of #Omicron variant detected in Bengaluru. We are closely monitoring the situation and there is no need to panic at this point. People can carry on with their day to day activities but advise strict adherence to Covid appropriate behaviour.
By Swarali Bodas
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ot every passenger arriving at the Krantiveera Sangolli Railway station is getting tested for Covid-19 But Umashankar P, one of the persons in charge of testing, informed The Observer: “We do everybody’s testing. Does not matter from where they come: outside Bengaluru or from Bengaluru,” she said. Mishka and Devik Jaisingh, a couple coming from Hyderabad, said they were happy to get tested. “Testing should be done. But I saw not everyone is getting tested.”she informed. Migrant workers Manoj and Lalita Saru did not get their tests done. “They wrote our names but did not do the test. We also didn’t insist on it,” she said. The Observer noted that Manoj and Lalita, weren’t wearing masks. At one of the entrances, a team was busy conducting Covid tests on five or six police officials.
Covid tracker
@ShashiTharoor Remembering our first President Shri #RajendraPrasad ji on the 137th anniversary of his birth. A man of legal acumen and gifted with the common touch, he also presided over the Constituent Assembly. Our only President to have had two terms.
Passengers manage to slip through without getting tested for Covid-19 | Credit: Swarali Bodas Most travellers managed to get out without being tested. Dr Manoranjan Hegde, health officer in charge of the BBMP Southwest zone, informed The Observer: “We are doing rigorous testing. Till now,, we haven’t got anyone testing positive.” Asked about the test report results, he said: “In 24-36 hours,
you’ll get report through SMS.” What are the protocols that will be followed if someone tests positive for the Omicron variant? “If someone tested Covid-positive, officials concerned will be informed and the individual homeisolated. If the individual is tested with the Omicron variant, we have to ask the higher authorities
for necessary action." Two cases of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 — India’s first — were reported in Karnataka on December 1, Wednesday. Health minister K. Sudhakar held a virtual meeting with top medical and health professionals of Karnataka on Friday. swarali.b@iijnm.org
@MahilaCongress Why does the PM not have the dignity to around and say that 700 plus farmers have been martyred and I will give them compensation: Shri @RahulGandhi @ElonMusk Let’s set an age limit after which you can’t run for political office, perhaps a number just below 70... @ElonMusk Laws are one side, poets on other
CITY
The Observer Friday, December 3, 2021
Citizen’s Voice Without Congress, oppn unity is impossible On Wednesday, West Bengal Chief Minister Banerjee met with NCP leader Sharad Pawar, possibly to discuss the possibility of a third front without the Congress. However, the Congress, with all its failings, remains a key player in several north Indian states. The opposition needs to stick together if they want to stop the Modi juggernaut in 2024. Sourasis Bose
Silence of the bigwigs will kill comedy
Today I remember the revolutionary spirit of artistes like Victor Jara and Helin Borek. It is sad that no celebrated comedians came in support of Munawar Faruqui and Kunal Kamra, who had to cancel their performances in Bengaluru. As hate wins, the question is: Who is next? Jinit Parmar
The middle-order batting conundrum
With an under-performing Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane in the Indian Test team, I think the latter in particular is staring at uncertain future in the team. With a below-par average of 19.5 in 12 tests, the senior batsman has been given a long rope already. Besides, the lack of runs by the middle order has hurt the batting performance. Shubham Chohan
Is a new wave on its way?
I’m afraid of the new COVID variant "Omicron”. This variant has more mutations and is more transmissible. What scares me the most is the possibility of a third wave in India. Things were starting to get normal after so long and I hope it stays this way. Nishit Arora
Quiz 1. Is it always obvious, if someone has a disability.? 2, The ADA, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, was signed into law by. 3. What is a hidden disability? 4. Give an example of a hidded disability. 5. What does AODA stand for? 6. What does the acronym SLP stand for? 7. What do the initials DDA stand for? 8. Approximately how many disabled people are there in the UK? 9. In which year was the wheelchair marathon race introduced to the Paralympics? ►Answers on Page 5
Around the city Resin Art and Craft Workshop by Pooja D Gupta - House of Hiranandani, Devanahalli, Bengaluru - Saturday, 4 December and Sunday, 5 December 11:00am to 1:30pm Visual Journalism Class Press Club, Cubbon Park, Bangalore - Sunday, 5 December at 8:00am
Sanitary napkins continue to cause environmental damage Menstrual cups and tampons are still neglected By Kashish Sharma
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he improper disposal of plastic sanitary napkins continues to cause greatdegradation to the environment. Organic alternatives are still struggling to get attention of womenl across the country. “During my under-graduation, I still remember how often when I used to enter the washroom. I used to find used pads lying all around the pot. It was disgusting to see mature girls behaving in such a manner,” said Saumyangi Yadav, 20, a Bengaluru student. Improper disposal of menstrual waste can be observed at all the levels of waste collection. “I try to segregate my menstrual waste from the routine waste, but when it comes to collection, they mix it all,” said Urmila Rao, a homemaker. According to a study conducted by Water Aid India and Menstrual Health Alliance India in 2018, there are 336 million menstruating women in India. Around 12 billion pads are used every year. And it takes 500 to 800 years to decompose. Many women avoid using tampons and menstrual cups because they don’t know how to use them. “I know that there are organic pads and more eco-friendly options like tampons, but since I have never worn them, I find myself a little hesitant when it
Central Pollution Control Board has made it mandatory for the manufactureres to provide disposable pouches | Credit: Pexels.com comes to trying it out,” said Heena Nazkani, a consumer of plastic sanitary pads. However, Urmila Rao, is comfortable in trying new and better alternatives. “I recently started using the G-cup. It is a good alternative, but on days when the blood flow is heavy, it is not that great to wear a cup, she said. As per the BBMP’s Solid Waste Management Rules 2016, menstrual waste has been kept under the head of solid waste, which includes only infected waste. However, the guidelines make it mandatory for menstrual waste to be treated through incineration or autoclaving before sending them to the landfills. Dr Sandhya, a medical officer with the BBMP, said: “Bengaluru did start with a good initiative following the solid waste management rules and segregating the dry waste from the wet waste. There was also a third unnamed category of sanitary waste which was supposed to be segregated and given the similar treatment
as biomedical waste at later stages of waste collection.” “ Once the collection of waste is done and it reaches the storage stage, the segregated sanitary waste is collected and taken for further treatment. The menstrual waste is supposed to be kept along the dry waste and colors like yellow and red are designated for these wastes separately. But sometimes people fail to differentiate and this waste goes along with the wet waste. Ideally, 5 percent of all waste must go to landfills, but the reality is very different.There are many gogreen volunteers who are encouraging women to go for cloth pads,” she added further. According to a study, 28 percent of menstrual waste is thrown with routine waste, 28 per cent thrown in open, 33 per cent sees burial and remaining 15 per cent is subjected to open burning. An official, from the Karnataka Pollution Control Board who did not want to be named told The Observer: “Everybody blames
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BBMP for not doing their duty but to collect the waste and segregate waste from every household is a very difficult job. Manufacturers must also take some responsibility.” The Central Pollution Control board made it mandatory for the sanitary -napkin manufacturers to provide disposable pouches along with pads, many manufacturers are following the rule. On asked whether they plan on using some eco-friendly products while manufacturing the pad, he said that we can think about using bamboo or other ecofriendly material but its import is costly and to stay in market, one has to remain profitable. Sandeep Aniruddhan, an environmental activist said: “There is always an alternative choice but the industry ethics is limited to selling of products. The consumer mind runs on ethics of convenience. We believe in use and throw and not exploration.” “There were times when women were using cloth instead of a pad. It might not be healthy but it can customized in a way that is both healthy and cheap.” “The call must come from government. A huge number of women out there who don’t know any alternatives to pads and others are afraid to explore. If there are subsidies or incentives promoting these eco-friendly options, many women will come up for these”, he further said. Many small firms and organizations have come up with biodegradable and reusable pads like Bliss Pads that make use of kenaf, a plant fibre like jute. kashish.s@iijnm.org
We must establish finest practices for the valuation, says minister Murugesh Nirani Industry must prep for tech, climate turmoil By Shristi Achar A
W
hile the practice of valuation in India is nothing new, it isn’t ready to take on the disruptions in the industry as people are largely unaware, industry veterans feel. Minister of Large and Medium Industries Murugesh Nirani, addressing the 52nd Indian Valuers Congress in Bengaluru on Friday, said: “The valuation ecosystem in our country needs to develop the best practices for research around development. I started as a sugar manufacturer. And now, in a span of 20 years, it has grown into being one of the largest in Asia. Such things happen only when one can properly determine value
Murugesh Nirani addresses 52nd Indian Valuers Congress held in Bengaluru | Credit: Shristi Achar A of product. Without that, no industry can grow.” Speaking virtually, Dr Narayanswamy, a retired professor from the Indian Institute of Management said: “Technological inventions like AI, robotics and drones have an immediate impact on valuation. Instead of a time-consuming process to conduct site visits, one can send in a drone to measure and draw reports, saving time in evaluation of assets.”
"Similarly, if one looks at the recent trends of companies like Paytm and Nykaa going public, banking on their brand image..., intangible assets have become indispensable,” he added further. Commenting on Paytm’s recent valuation, G. S. Raju, Chairman of IOV, Bengaluru branch, informed The Observer: "Such misvaluations happen due to one; a general lack of awareness we have, and, two; those who conduct
valuations themselves aren’t equipped to undertake the process properly." Satish Chandra Chintamani, ED of the Institute of Agricultural Technology and Financial Management, was an awardee for his work on financial valuation. Talking to The Observer, he stressed on the importance of the linkages between the agricultural sector and their product valuation alongwith the rest of the economy. “If the agricultural sector falls, everything else falls behind. And much of it is based in the rural area, where the per capita GDP is about ten times less than urban. This gap needs to be bridged,” he said. P. K Thiagarajan, president of Institution of Valuers, told The Observer: "These events need to keep happening. Veterans in the field can provide knowledge, but new talent needs to learn and make the industry evolve." shristi.a@iijnm.org
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WORLD DISABILITY DAY
Government schools are not inclusive for PwDs No one cares to maintain CWSN toilets
Attracted to new toys, like those with disabilities
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ost government schools in the city lack in providing PWD- friendly aid. The Observer went to GKMM school in Karisandra and noticed that the school was far from being convenient for the children with special needs. Manjunath, the principal of the school said: “We don’t have ramps, tactical flooring or wheelchairs for the students. We offer admissions to the CWSN but they don’t really require ramps as they can still walk even if they are handicapped.” Things might be a tad better at Gollahalli government school but the road to become completely PWD-friendly, as per the law, is long. Geeta T., the school’s principal said: “We have ramps for disabled children. But, we don’t provide wheelchairs to them.” On the contrary, The Observer scanned the entire school and was unable to find ramps in every building, except just one standalone building which was at a distance from the main buildings. The buildings did not have tactical flooring which guides the vi-
Children these days love unconventional dolls By Saumyangi Yadav
By Ayndrila Banerjee
Ramps in government schools usually don’t meet the scientific standards prescribed by UNESCO I Credit: Ayndrila Banerjee sually impaired on their way through the school.” Dr Anjlee Agarwal from Samarthyam, a NGOworking for PWD and CWSN, highlighted the problems faced by them due to lack of accessibility, particularly in government schools. “There is little understanding of making the ramps and the so-called CWSN toilets accessible. But in spite of having so many facilities, no one has an understanding of accessibility standards. Also, CWSN toilets are identified at the corner of the building which is completely detached from the common toilets. And since these toilets are at the end of the building, no one cares to actually maintain them,” she said.
She further said that due to the segregation of CWSN toilets from common toilets, these toilets become areas of abuse and violence, especially for a girl child. Under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan the purpose of ‘Inclusive Education’ is to provide universal and equal learning to all. in India, inclusive education especially extends to the CWSN. According to a 2020 report of the Unified District Information System of Education, 5,605 out of 44,615 government schools in Karnataka have CWSN friendly toilets. Out of these only 9.89% are functional. Only 29,288 out of 44,615 schools in the state have ramps for the disabled students. ayndrila.b@iijnm.org
The Observer Friday, December 3, 2021
n recent years, children's toys have become more inclusive. Experts and parents believe this is a major step towards acceptance and body positivity. In 2020, toy manufacturer Mattel, released a new Barbie Fashionista line that for the first time included Barbie dolls with disabilities, prosthetic limbs and skin conditions like vitiligo. The vitiligo doll is a popular toy among kids in Bengaluru. Nikita S, an employee at Toys R Us store in Garuda mall informed
Kashish Sharma, 25, shared: “I think this is where our insecurities begin as a child. As a kid, I thought that these dolls were the standard of beauty. That your hair, your outfit, your body needs to be… doll-like or pretty. As a brown kid, my hair and skin never matched any of these dolls. I am happy kids now have dolls that look more like them. “Another thing I remember is that whenever I broke a doll’s arm or something, I would just throw it away and not play with it anymore. If children have access to dolls that portray disabilities and prosthetics, children will grow to be more empathetic towards others,” she added. In recent years, doll-manufacturing companies are making Barbies with different body types as well. The new range of Barbie
Bengaluru ATMs not disabled-friendly Lack of ramps and railings inconvenient
By Swarali Bodas
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ome Bengaluru ATMs are not disabled-friendly. Most PwDs aren’t able to access the entrance staircase. Kipisha Thakur, 32, informed The Observer: “I cannot climb the stairs since I am wheelchairbound. I have to ask my mother to withdraw cash from the ATM.” Devarsh Makhijani, a Bengaluru resident who is blind, informed The Observer he can't access ATMs as they don’t have Braille support. “It is difficult for me. I rely on net banking most of the time,” he shared. Abha J, another wheelchairbound person, said she can neither use an ATM nor can she reach it. “I can only manage UPI or net banking. If my network is not stable, it puts me in a difficult situation,” she added. On asking her what she does when she urgently requires cash, she replied: “I have to ask my family members or friends.” Rukmati Dhiraj, a Mumbai resident, agrees with Abha. “I am entirely dependent on my immediate family if I have to ac-
ATMs with an entrance staircase are inaccessible for the wheelchair bound I Credit: Swarali Bodas cess ATMs.” Asked about the RBI recommendation that one share ATM PINs with anybody, she laughed and replied: “Then how can people like me access ATMs? We have to ask for help.” A press release by the RBI said: "To promote safe digital transactions among the general public it is reiterated that users should take care by (i) not sharing with anyone their ATM / Card (Debit / Credit / Prepaid) details; (ii) not sharing their Password, PIN, OTP, CVV, UPI-PIN, etc.; (iii) avoid undertaking banking or other financial transactions. The Observer noticed many ATMs around Bengaluru that either had a seven- or eightstep staircase or one big step.
According to the Rights of People with Disabilities Act, 1996, the government shall ensure that the persons with disabilities enjoy the right to equality, which includes the right to access ATMs. Clause 1 of Article 45 says all public buildings shall be accessible in accordance with the rules and regulations formulated by the central government. Anjali Agarwal from Samarthyam, an NGO, sighed with disappointment when asked about the Accessible India campaign. “Yes, the government has done some things to make many day-to- day things accessible for differently abled people, but it is still a long journey,” she said. The Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) is a nationwide campaign for achieving universal accessibility for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). It is being presently implemented by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. “It has been six years since we started the Sugamya Bharat Abhiyaan. Step by step we are implementing it,” said Niranjan Bhatt, Assistant Director of the Department of Empowerment of Differently Abled and Senior Citizens which works towards creating awareness about the disabled. swarali.b@iijnm.org
Childrens toys are becoming more inclusive as a step towards promoting body positivity and acceptance I Credit: Saumyangi Yadav
The Observer: “Kids love this doll. It is Barbie, after all, which is very popular among children. Every day, at least four or five kids come and choose this doll.” Parents support the initiative. Ronika Mukherjee, an English professor at Jain University and a parent, said: “It is a step towards more inclusivity. Such toys are normalizing obesity and pigmentation and disabilities that should have been normal for all of us from the very start.” Asked whether she would like her child to have these dolls, she said: “Of course. I want her to play with these dolls. But at the end of the day, it is her choice. Whatever she chooses, I let her buy it. So far, she has been more into conventional dolls, but I would love her mind to nudge towards these dolls as well.” Meanwhile, young adults wish they had access to these toys during their childhood days. Ashmita Mohan, a 21-year-old college student, said: “I remember that when I was a kid, I loved to play with Barbies. But at that time, Barbies came in just one form —- slim, white with blonde hair and blue eyes. I wish this variety was available back then.” The conventional barbies reflect society’s rigid beauty standards.
has five body types, 22 skin tones, 94 hair colours and 13 eye colours. Similarly, Ken dolls are much more varied than they used to be, with four body types, 18 sculpts and 13 skin tones. Dr Nitya Parvar, a professor of psychology in Delhi University, explained how the new initiative by doll manufacturers makes a change. “Cognitive development starts as soon as a child is 5 or 6 years old. Toys play a major part in how thoughts and beliefs of a child are formed. Toys are like a miniature version of the world for them. Kids try to mimic the people around them through these toys and so on. That is why representation is really important when it comes to toys. If a child doesn’t feel represented by the dolls they play with, they will not be able to feel completely connected to that process.” Fuller or skinnier dolls promote body positivity among children as they would never consider a doll to be ugly, Parvar added. In 2020, Mattel also worked with dermatologists, cancer patients and people with disabilities to make sure that the disabilities were represented correctly in the dolls and help establish a more inclusive society for us all. saumyangi.y@iijnm.org
CITY
NFT art spaces challenge galleries Give amateur artists a layer of security
By Shristi Achar A
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hile NFT art spaces and small galleries aim to democratize art for beginners and amateurs, established galleries are finding it hard to cope, especially since the pandemic began, say the representatives of the art gallery. NFTs (Non-fungible tokens) are digital art pieces where each and every art piece created is unique and traceable. This has enabled a lot of small artists to find new buyers for their art without patronage from big galleries. But art galleries often give space to local artists to showcase their work. For example, the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishad. Vinayak Sunder, administrative officer at Chitrakala Parishad, said while gallery bookings for exhibitions have come up to precovid levels, the beginners are much less in number. Talking to The Observer, he said: “Our art complex is open to all kinds of people…from students looking for inspiration to established artists who want to showcase their artworks. But the number in which newcomers or amateurs come here are very less. Students of fine arts are more (in number), but those who have
NFT arts are stored digitally and are traceable and hence, it is difficult to pirate as the blockchain ID is displayed | Credit: Srishti Achar A learnt on their own are not able to find much support here.” Harsh Dsouza, owner of Kadri Rocks Art Gallery, Mangaluru, feels people should prefer galleries as keeping art in public memory is important. “Due to digitalization, people can see and buy art online. However, coming to an art gallery is always educative as well as therapeutic. People feel relaxed in the atmosphere of art. Instead of spending on a weekend party, if a family decides to buy a piece of art, then the art community will be encouraged.” But NFT artists have a quiet different take on the issue.
Samyadeep Purkayastha an NFT artist, said: “I don’t know about traditional artists, but digital artists were not even considered as artists. I have seen some pretty popular artists share their older DMs to different galleries where they were mocked when they approached them to showcase their work. But with NFTs, especially with @beeple_crap's (Mike Winkelmann) breaking news regarding his 5,000 Days NFT sale, finally the world has started to accept digital artists as artists and all digital artists be it 2D or 3D have actually got some respect in the space.”
Ketan Chandekar, another NFT artist, said the scope of earning with commission and better exposure is what attracts people to the field. “In a traditional art space, the artists will know the first buyer but won’t have any idea on who buys it from them. But as an NFT, we can trace every time the same piece is bought and even earn a commission. And since it is stored digitally and can be traced, it is difficult to pirate it…even if someone does produce a fake copy, their blockchain ID is still displayed and can identify that it isn’t theirs,” he explained. While there is an apparent divide between the mediums, veterans of the field believe there are pros and cons to both mediums. Royalkris Thangjam, guest faculty in graphic art at the Bangalore School of Visual Arts, said: “It is all based on one’s reputation. The speed of one’s name goes faster online than it does anywhere else. But in a gallery, especially smaller ones, if I talk like a gallery person, I have to invite the press and other people to make it recognized first. So it is a more tedious process.” But Thangjam believes that a combination of the two can be made to move forward. “Only picture art can be based online, while there are other performance-based art forms as well. So while NFTs can take a part of the art scene, there is still a lot of scope for artists in the arena.” shristi.a@iijnm.org
The grass is not yet KRS wants govt to scrap green for Nandi Hills Anti Corruption Bureau
People fear increasing cases of new variant By Tina Freeze
V
ery few visitors for Nandi Hills, this season amid Omicron fear. Will face another period of loss, say resort owners and travel agencies. R K Shree, the owner of R K Tours and Travels informed The Observer, “There have been many enquiries this week for Nandi Hills. We did get a few bookings too but all are cancelled as of now. Nandi hills is a very prominent tourist spot and since its reop ening this week, we were expecting a rush of tourists but due to the new variant and the general fear of covid-19, people are avoiding a trip to the hills. It is going to be yet another hard year for the tourism industry.” ”The recent landslide might also be a reason behind lack of interest by travellers, he further added. Neha Sharma, from Brigade travels had a similar story. They got many enquiries for but only two bookings for next week. “Although we were expecting a good number of bookings since people
are vaccinated and cases are less . However, the bookings are not even close to what they used to be.” She said. Business hasn’t been very good and with this new variant we don’t expect it to be any better,added Sharma. Resorts in Nandi Hills and near the foothills do see a rise in the number of visitors but the number is relatively less considering the pre-covid times. Neha V, manager of Discovery Village resort in Nandi Hills said, “We have a few visitors this week and for the weekend too. We try to follow all the covid- appropriate protocols in the resort. We either ask for vaccination certificate or RT-PCR report before allowing them inside the property. The safety of our staff is also equally important for us considering the new variant. The footfall is very less. With the opening of the hills we had expected more bookings but as of now there aren’t much.” Hangouts @Nandi Hills, a resort and camping site on the foothills of Nandi hills said that the footfalls of visitors has been good these days especially on weekends. “There have been many visitors but also some cancellations this week. The resorts nearby too have seen a similar situation and are handling it.” tina.f@iijnm.org
Protesters insist on boosting the Lokayukta
By Saumyangi Yadav
K
arnataka Rashtra Samithi (KRS) Party staged a protest against the AntiCorruption Bureau (ACB) and demanded its scrappage as well as the strengthening of the Lokayukta on Friday at the Mourya Circle, Bengaluru. Deepak CN, the General Secretary of KRS party, told The Observer: "ACB is not doing enough. It is not sufficient for a corruption-free society. Today, Karnataka is among the topmost corrupt states in India. What does it say about the situation?" He said that people are suffering because of the rampant corruption in the state. "In every single government office, people can only get their work done either if they are authoritative or if they are willing to pay good money for it”,he added further. Samaj Parivartana Samudaya, a non-profit organization in Karnataka, had filed a petition against ACB in the Karnataka High Court, but no action has
been taken as of now. A protestor said: "There needs to be a stronger Anti Corruption body at work. We want honest policies and we want free and fair elections to be held. We want the former power of lokayukta to be restored at the earliest hour." The KSR party is unhappy with the way ACB is functioning currently. Indira Reddy, Kolar district president of KSR, said. "They (ACB) are taking away the rights of the people. That is why we want the powers of ACB to be scrapped at the earliest." Deepak CN also said: "Ever since the ACB gained power back in 2016, 4 ADGPs, 4 IGPs, and 7 SPs of Bangalore Urban district have been transferred... How do you expect a free and fair investigation and bookings when the officers in charge are a part of this corrupt system? ACB is controlled by the government. If you want to book an FIR against some government official, you will have to go through the ruling government itself. This will not do." Their demands included restoration of Lokayukta’s power or establishment of an independent body in place of the ACB. On the future of this protest, the General Secretary of KRS said: "It is a very long process.” saumyangi.y@iijnm.org
5 This day, That year On this day, in 1971, India and Pakistan engaged in a war that lasted for 13 days. The war was waged during the Bangladeshi Liberation War in East Pakistan. Sixteenth December, the last day of the war, is celebrated as ‘Vijay Diwas’ in India.
Quote of the day “When I dare to be powerful – to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.” --Audre Lorde
Weather Maximum temperature- 24° Minimum temperature- 19° Precipitation- 50% Humidity- 67% Wind Speed- 6km/h Forecast- Scattered thunderstorms is expected
Quiz answers 1) False 2) George H.W. Bush 3) A disability that is not obvious 4) Autism, Bipolar, ADHD 5) Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act 6) Speech-Language Pathologists 7)Disability Discrimination Act 8) 10 million 9) 1983
The Observer Friday, December 3, 2021
Team Observer Editor: Kashish Sharma Reporters:Ayndrila Banerjee, Kashish Sharma, Saumyangi Yadav, Shristi Achar A, Simran Sharma, Swarali Bodas, Tina Freese Copy Editors: Anwesha Singh, Arshreet Singh, Ayndrila Banerjee, Chhavi Vohra, Kashish Sharma, Saumyangi Yadav, Simran Sharma, Shristi Achar A, Swarali Bodas, Tina Freese Photo Editors: Anwesha Singh, Arshreet Singh, Ayndrila Banerjee, Chhavi Vohra, Kashish Sharma, Saumyangi Yadav, Simran Sharma, Shristi Achar
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COVID UP MASK DOWN
The Observer Friday, December 3, 2021
Omicron is here, but where are masks? Omicron’s arrival has failed to make people wear masks. Bengalureans are going about freely, flouting Covid norms. Metro and train stations, and markets, are seeing no social distancing
The Karnataka Rashtra Samithi protested against the Anti Corruption Bureau at Maurya Circle. Covid norms were nowhere to be seen. | Credit: Saumyangi Yadav
A man relaxes in a cart outside the K.R. Market Metro station — without a mask | Credit: Tina Freese
Overcrowded KSR railway station where people seem to have forgotten the “Do gaz doori, mask hai zaroori” slogan. | Credit: Swarali Bodas
Social distancing is a myth at Metro stations. People seem to be unbothered by the arrival of the new Covid-19 variant in Karnataka | Credit : Simran Sharma
Krishna Rajendra Market is full of vibrant colours, but what is not visible is Covid-appropriate behaviour | Credit: Tina Freese
Street vendors do not follow Covid norms as they go about their daily business | Credit: Tina Freese
A man ready for his day on Chruch street with a mask resting on his chin | Credit: Simran Sharma