These students overcame all odds

Kranti Vibhute and Veda Ramaswamy, Mumbai
June 14, 2012 - Mid Day

From a mother-son duo to a homeless student to a differently-abled student, Kranti Vibhute and Veda Ramaswamy report on the students who scripted their success stories despite many hurdles along the way 

Like mother, like son: Shiny and David studied together for their exams. Pics/Nimesh Dave

Exam’s a family affair for mum and son

When David Mathew (15) appeared for his exams, his mother wasn’t at home wondering how he would fare. Instead, she appeared for the same exams at the insistence of her mother. Shiny Mathew (37) secured 54 per cent while David secured 48 per cent at the board exams conducted by the National Institute Open Schooling (NIOS).

Shiny, a single parent, said, “I am very happy that I passed my NIOS exam with my son David. We both enjoyed studying together and also gave the exams together. I only decided to appear for the exams to help my son and to encourage him. My mother had encouraged me to appear for the board exam, and my son too. David’s friends also supported me a lot.” David said, “My friend, my mother and I used to study together. I enjoyed studying with her, and I forced her to give the exam with me. It was fun studying together and helping each other out. I am thrilled that we both passed this exam together.”

All play doesn’t make you dull

Shubham Premchand Sharma (16), a student of Balmohan Vidyamandir, Dadar scored 96.91 per cent under the sports quota. Shubham, a state-level baseball player was awarded marks for participating in 7th Junior Baseball competition. Shubham was never a bookworm. He only studied for four hours daily, playing games on the computer and practising in the afternoons. “I practiced rigorously two months prior to the competitions. My studies never took a backseat because of my interest in the game,” said Shubham, who aspires to become an IAS officer. He credits his family for being supportive and understanding his love for the game. “Initially, my father had gotten to know that I had scored 92 per cent. I was disappointed, since I was expecting more than 95 per cent. But the moment I saw my result online, I was ecstatic,” said Shubham.

SSC result was music for deaf and dumb student

He can’t hear and can’t speak, but Dev Shah (16), a student studying at Angel Land High School, Andheri (West), proved that success can be achieved if one has a strong will. Against all odds, Dev scored 85.5 per cent and topped in his school. Dev’s father, Ashish Shah, describes his son’s feat as nothing short of a miracle. “Dev was born three months premature, which gave rise to a hearing defect. Making it through the critical condition was the first miracle. Achieving his exceptional score, in spite of his disability, is the second miracle,” said Ashish Shah. Dev completed his pre-primary schooling from Shruti School, a special school in Juhu. “We decided that we would send him to a regular school with other children. The teachers were cooperative and gave him undivided attention. He was regular with his studies and homework. No stress-no pressure — this was his motto,” said Ashish. On being asked about his ambition for the future, Dev explained in sign language, “I want to score 90 per cent in HSC.” He plans to pursue further studies in the commerce stream.

Fast track to success

For 17-year-old Ankush Baleshwar Prasad passing the SSC with 80.91 per cent is nothing short of a dream come true. As a young lad who lived at Kanpur railway station, he overcame all odds to score a high percentage.

His story is one of triumph over hardship. Ankush, who currently stays at Sneha Sadan, a shelter for homeless kids, said, “When I was small I remember studying in kindergarten, but later when I got lost at the age of eight, I started living at Kanpur railway station. After that I was shifted to a rehabilitation centre where I stayed for three years. I learnt stitching there. Since many kids at the centre were running away, I too ran away and reached CST railway station. At a Amchi Kholi (Baal Ashray), a shelter for kids, I was asked whether I wanted to study by the volunteers. The NGO sent me to a municipal school. In 2006 when I was brought to Sneha Sadan I started my schooling from Std V and that too without any background of schooling. I always wanted to study. I wanted to score better than 80.91 per cent, but don’t know how I got less. I wish to study for a diploma in IT engineering.”

Determination kept him moving towards goal

Tushar Parmar, SSC student from Dalwai Educational Trust Goregaon English School, is not among those students who went for private tuitions for all subjects or had a special room in his house to study. A son of a BMC worker Tushar Parmar (15) scored 87.64 per cent. He said, “My mother is a housewife and my father works in the BMC. I fared well in my exams because of my elder sister’s guidance and my schoolteachers. I always had a curiosity to know what is the reason behind any particular thing and my ambition is to become a scientist and do a lot of research.”

Passed Muster?

88.94: Pass percentage for fresh examinees

0: Pass percentage for 23 schools spread over Mumbai, Thane and Raigad districts

682: The number of Mumbai schools out of a total 3,356 who enjoyed a 100 % pass percentage

48: No of cheating cases  

Leap of joy: Ankush Prasad passed the SSC exam with 80.91 per cent. 

Link to the original article here.

Now, citizens to fight illegal pubs with RTIs

Veda Ramaswamy, Mumbai,
July 2, 2012 - Mid Day

Members of Citizens for Better Mumbai urged residents to file RTIs in order to check legality of bars and pubs in their areas

Enough is enough: Local residents collected at Juhu under the Better Citizens for Mumbai banner demanding for illegal pubs and restaurants to shut down. Pic/nimesh dave

Angry and fed up of the noise and nuisance that goes with living near a lounge/pub, a group of residents have put their foot down this time and held a meeting asking residents to verify if pubs, restaurants and lounges in their areas were legal and had all the required licences by the using the Right to Information Act.

At a meeting held yesterday at Juhu, residents from Bandra to Goregaon collected under the name of Citizens for Better Mumbai — a forum spearheaded by film personality Ashok Pandit and others like Anandini Thakur — urged other citizens to take an active role in ensuring that pubs in their vicinities were legal.

During the course of the meeting, the members asked residents to file RTIs in order to identify which establishments had flouted rules and which ones were illegal.

Justifying their aim, Pandit said, “We have nothing against the pub culture but it is a nuisance for those who live nearby.”

He added that they had distributed pamphlets to all those who were present at the meet to show them how to use the RTI to their advantage.

Pandit told MiD DAY that once the RTIs were registered and they received the information on the restaurants, pubs and lounges, they intended to compile the information and send it to the local authorities and state government asking them to shut them down.

One such RTI was filed by Aftab Siddique of the 32 Khar Advanced Locality Management (ALM) complaining about Elbo Room, Hawaiian Shack and Firangi Paani in Bandra stating that they were disturbing the peace and order of the area.

“We are attempting to stop all violations by these places. There are several eateries that are illegal or have encroached on public property, said Siddique.

The members of Citizens for Better Mumbai also added that they wanted such eateries and pubs to be shifted to business areas so that locals would not be disturbed.

“We have been complaining for so long about the patrons of these clubs who make a racket outside the establishments and also throw bottles, glasses and sometimes even condoms polluting the area. This is our way of tackling the problem in a legal manner,” said one of the members.  

Link to the original article here.

Believe it or not, no one died here

Veda Ramaswamy, Mumbai,
June 30, 2012 - Mid Day

Car containing five men was crushed by trailer on EEH, occupants walked away with a few bumps and bruises

Life in the fast lane: The car after being struck by the trailer at Nehru Nagar police station

Five men are now probably indebted to their lucky stars after they miraculously escaped a horrific car crash with only minor injuries. In the first of monsoon-related accidents recorded this season, a trailer collided with a car on the Eastern Express Highway at Suman Nagar late on Wednesday night. Despite the car being crushed, all five occupants managed to walk away relatively unscathed.

Around 12.30 am on Thursday, a group of four friends and a driver were on their way to Pune. Premanand Singh (23), Rakesh Singh (23), Thangmin Mate (19), Naorem Singh (20), along with the driver, Sachin Bantawane (30), were returning home from a two-day trip to Mumbai, when the accident occurred. A trailer coming from the opposite direction hit the car, which was heading to Pune.

“The trailer was plying on the wrong side of the road. The city had experienced its first heavy showers that night, which left the roads wet and slippery, causing the front-left tyre of the trailer to come loose. The driver then lost control of the vehicle and rammed into the front side of the car,” said Dhananjay Bagayatkar, senior police inspector of Nehru Nagar police station. He also added that the consequences would have been disastrous had the two vehicles been speeding, but since they weren’t, there were no casualties.

The five passengers in the car were taken aback on realising their narrow escape from death. “Everything happened in a matter of seconds. When we saw the trailer coming towards us, there was no time to react,” said Thangmin Mate, a student. Recounting the moments before impact, Naorem Singh said, “I just closed my eyes when I saw the trailer approaching so close. The impact was huge, but fortunately, none of us suffered grievous injuries.”

After the passengers regained their bearings, they tried to nab the driver of the trailer, but he escaped. They then hailed a cab and rushed to Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General (LTMG) hospital, where they were admitted to the casualty ward at 2 am. “Premanand had pelvic injuries, while Naorem and Rakesh suffered from chest injuries. Sachin and Thangmin had to get a few stitches on the head. But considering the magnitude of the accident, they were lucky to get away with minor injuries,” said Dr Rajeev Singh, assistant medical officer, LTMG hospital. All were discharged at 2.30 pm on the same day.

The driver of the car, Sachin Bantawane, who also happens to be the co-owner of a travel agency in Pune that owns the car, said, “The car has been kept at Nehru Nagar police station. Once my health gets better, I will get the car back.”

While the trailer suffered minimal damage, the car bore the entire force of the impact. “The interiors of the car seem fine, but externally, it has been smashed in the front, dented on the right-side, with broken window-panes and cracked windshields,” added Bantawane.

Phoolchand Ramlakhan Saroj, the driver of the trailer who was also unhurt in the crash, has been arrested under Sections 279, 337, 338 and 427 of the Indian Penal Code. The trailer has been seized by the Suman Nagar police chowki. 

Link to the original article here.

Falling tree kills woman

Veda Ramaswamy, Mumbai,
June 29, 2012 - Mid Day

The torrential downpours have just begun in the city, and the monsoon menace has already claimed its first victim. Ashwini Satpute (24) lost her life in a tree-falling incident at Ganpatrao Kadam Marg in Lower Parel.

Crushed: As a strong gust of wind blew by, the tree fell on the victim. Pic/Sunit Mehta

“Around 11 am, she was on her way to work at Marathon Tower, accompanied by a friend. While her friend stopped for a snack, she decided to walk ahead. It was raining and suddenly a strong gust of wind blew by and a tree fell on her,” mourned Suresh Satpute, the victim’s father. 

Her friend and bystanders rushed her to KEM hospital. “She was brought here in a critical state, and she succumbed to her injuries at 12.45 pm,” said Dr Pravin Bangar.

An accidental death report has been registered at NM Joshi Marg police station. “We are yet to visit the accident spot. Only after our inspection can we comment whether the tree was on BMC or private land,” said PSI Dattatray Sanab. 

Link to the original article here.

10-yr-old caught in collision between two dumpers

Veda Ramaswamy and Anuradha Varanasi, Mumbai,
June 28, 2012 - Mid Day

The boy, who was playing with his friends, ventured into restricted area at Deonar dumping ground despite being warned against doing so

Dead end: As one of the dumpers was driving on the wrong side of the road, the two collided, with Shahrukh caught in between

Not paying heed to rules and warnings often leads to mishap, and yesterday afternoon was no different. A 10-year-old boy from Shivaji Nagar, who was playing with friends at Deonar dumping ground, was severely injured in an accident involving two dumper trucks. In spite of entry into the area being prohibited to all but the workers, the boy and his friends had ventured in, ignoring a warning from his own father.

At around noon, Shahrukh Sheikh, who was playing with his friends, went to the middle of the road, unaware of the two garbage dumpers that were approaching him from either end. As one of the dumpers was driving on the wrong side of the road, the two collided, with Shahrukh caught in between.

“The two vehicles were coming from opposite directions, and Shahrukh was playing with his school friends. He was so engrossed in the game that he failed to notice the dumpers plying on the road. We had warned him not to play in that area, but he did not listen to us,” said Ayub Sheikh, his father.

After the mishap, his friends alerted his family members, who immediately took him to Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General (LTMG) Hospital, where he was admitted to the emergency ward at 2:15 pm.

“He is suffering from blunt chest trauma and abdominal injuries. His blood pressure is very low. He is in a state of consciousness, but will be kept under observation tonight,” said Dr Rakesh Verma, assistant dean, LTMG hospital.

No complaint has been registered yet with the police. Ravikant Kadam, assistant sub-inspector of Shivaji Nagar police station, said, “One of the dumpers (MH01L5622) was driving on the wrong side of the lane. If a complaint is registered, the driver could be arrested under Sections 338 and 279 of the Indian Penal Code, but the family is reluctant to do so, as the victim had entered a prohibited area.”  

Link to the original article here.

13-year-old drowns in construction pit

Veda Ramaswamy and Saurabh Katkurwar, Navi Mumbai,
June 26, 2012 - Mid Day

Deceased failed to come up after jumping into a 30-feet water filled pit in the middle of a Navi Mumbai construction site, builders blamed for violating rules

Dead: Lifeguards pulled out the body of Abhishek Bharadwaj who was drowned in a 30-ft hole that was dug within a construction site opposite Sanpada railway station

Just a day after the tragic death of Mahi from Haryana, whose lifeless body was pulled out of a borewell on Sunday, a boy from Sanpada died under similar circumstances. Abhishek Bharadwaj (13) yesterday drowned in a 30-feet hole that was dug within a construction site opposite Sanpada railway station.

According to police officers from Turbhe police station, at around 1.30pm on Monday, Abhishek had visited the spot with two of his school friends to take a swim. He took a plunge into the water from a nearby wall, unaware of the depth. The hole was situated within the 22-25 meter long and 15-20 meter wide construction site.

When he failed to come up, Abhishek’s friends informed their school authorities immediately, who in turn alerted the NMMC fire brigade. The rescue operation continued for four hours, but his lifeless body was pulled out by Bholenath Chavan, a lifeguard at the NBC Club who happened to pass by.

“I was on my way to work when I noticed a huge crowd at the construction site. On knowing what had happened, I started searching for the boy myself. After a 30 minute search, I found his body, but he wasn’t breathing. I handed over the body to the firemen and left,” said Chavan. The NMMC officials took the body to a nearby municipal hospital, where he was declared dead.

When asked whether the construction site lacked vigilance, JN Sinnarkar, deputy municipal commissioner of NMMC, said, “As per rules, we are not bound to hire life guards. However, if a case of drowning happens, we call professional lifeguards. The land belongs to two developers, and it was their duty to have at least provided some security personnel at the site. It is not our responsibility to allot lifeguards at a private land,” said Sinnarkar. The NMMC have now filed a FIR against the two developers at the Turbhe police station.

The builder who dug the hole, apparently did not obtain permission from the NMMC to start construction on the land. Sagar Naik, mayor of Navi Mumbai, who visited the spot, declared that the builder will be reprimanded if he has violated the rules. “I have come to know that the builder, who has dug up the holes, has not taken any permission from the corporation. We do not know who has started the construction here, so we will take strong action against the builder after investigation of the matter,” said Naik.

Link to the original article available here.

Swallowing mystery object claims 4-year-old's life

Veda Ramaswamy, Mumbai
June 5, 2012 - Mid Day

Mother says toddler gestured with hands that something was stuck in his throat after he came home from play

Grief-stricken: Suvarna and Shashikant Sawant grieving Manthan’s loss

Tragedy struck Suvarna and Shashikant Sawant, when their four-year-old son, Manthan, was declared dead on arrival at Ghatkopar’s Rajawadi Hospital around 11 am yesterday. However, mystery shrouds Manthan’s death, as he was hale and hearty when he left home to play with his colony friends. The Sawants are residents of Gautam Nagar in Govandi.

“Manthan had chapati with jam and a couple of rava ladoos for breakfast following which he left home to play with his colony friends. However, he came back within 10 minutes. He was feeling restless and started vomiting,” said Suvarna. She also said that Manthan was gesturing with his hands that something was stuck in his throat and she thumped his back, hoping that it would help him get it out. But Manthan collapsed in her lap, and stopped breathing.

“The incident occurred around 10 am in the morning. We immediately rushed him to Sai Kripa Hospital in Chembur. The hospital staff advised us to admit him to Rajawadi hospital, as they lacked ICU facility. But he was declared dead on arrival at Rajawadi,” said Suvarna. His aunt said, “All of us had the same breakfast and sweets. Nothing has happened to any of us. I am certain that he might have swallowed some object, maybe a coin while playing, which led to his unfortunate death.”

“The autopsy report is not yet out. Once we have it, only then can we confirm the exact cause of his death,” said Pandit Sonawane, API, Deonar police station. A case has been registered under Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Code (doubt regarding the cause of death). Till last night, the police officials were still awaiting the report, so that they could give Sawants the permission to claim the toddler’s body and perform last rites.

“Two months ago, he had fallen off a moving truck, and had injured his jaw. But he made it through that. Little did I know that his life would come to such an abrupt end. He was supposed to start schooling this month,” mourned Suvarna. 

Remembering Manthan as an energetic and a playful child, Supriya, a neighbour, said, “He used to play all day long. He was a very active boy. We thought he would become a sportsperson someday. Of all the children, he was his grandmother’s beloved and she would fondly call him ‘Sonya’."

Link to original article available here.

Local NGOs teach disaster management

Veda Ramaswamy, Mumbai,
June 18, 2012 - Mid Day

With monsoons beginning in the city, local ALMs and NGOs have begun organising disaster management classes for citizens in the area. Kicking it off this Sunday was the AGNI K-East Joint Area Action Group (JAAG).

The class was conducted by Rajesh G Shirke, a certified health and safety auditor from the National Safety Council of India, specialising in damage control and advanced fire fighting.

In three hours, he covered topics like causes, prevention and control of fire. He also threw light on handling kitchen fires, LPG and pipe-gas leakages. He taught various survival and rescue techniques in case of fires and floods, first-aid for burn injuries, heart attacks, bleeding and CPR procedures. In the end, there were practical sessions conducted on how to operate fire extinguishers and douse live fires.

With the arrival of the monsoons, the probability of disaster striking has only increased. Shirke advises Mumbaikars to get their houses surveyed for leakages. “Once leakages are identified and dealt with, electrical fires can be averted,” he said.

Stressing on the philosophy that prevention is better than cure, he added, “Instead of fretting over the price of fire-alarm devices, people should install them. If you wouldn’t have a family to protect in the first place, whom are you saving up for?”

Dhanalakshmi Rao, a resident of Marol who attended the session said, “Despite owning a fire extinguisher, I never knew how to use it. Not only did I learn how to operate one here, I also doused a fire.”

Another attendee, Veronica Miranda, a resident of Dadar, found the class highly informative. “Such sessions should be conducted often. The public should be aware of fire-fighting and damage control techniques, especially during the rainy season when such cases occur frequently,” she said.

Link to original article available here.

It may be time to bid goodbye to these tongas

Veda Ramaswamy, Mumbai
June 24, 2012 - Mid Day

Dy Mayor writes to the BMC about rehabilitating horses out of the city and providing alternative employment to stable and horse owners

According the deputy Mayor, Mohan Mithbaonkar, horses pose a threat to the health of the citizens and are kept in dismal conditions themselves. File Photo

Soon, Mumbaikars may not see the horse-drawn carriages on roads as the Deputy Mayor of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Mohan Mithbaonkar on Friday wrote to BMC Commissioner Sitaram Kunte, suggesting that they be rehabilitated outside the city.

Mithbaonkar has also suggested that the tonga and stable owners be employed at the 180 BMC kiosks that were set up through a private company seven years ago. The kiosks function as information centres for the public.

“The stables and tongas encroach upon public spaces, footpaths and areas near the sea shore. Horses are potential carriers of tetanus. Affected horses can spread the disease to people, too. Citizens of South Mumbai have complained that their health is affected,” said Mithbaonkar.

Last June, the NGO, Animals and Birds Charitable Trust, filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Bombay High Court. In accordance to the court order, a committee was set up to survey the stables and examine the health of horses. According to their report, out of 371 horses in Mumbai, 25-26 horses were kept in unhygienic conditions. “Apart from the stables in Gorai, Borivali and Malad, most other stable owners were not following the rules and regulations laid down by the BMC. According to Section 394 (4) of the BMC Act, we can confiscate the horses,” said Mithbaonkar. BMC Commissioner Sitaram Kunte said he was aware of the issue. “I have acknowledged Mithbaonkar’s request. I will look into the matter and take a decision,” he said.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, Nukri, an eight year-old mare died because of the ill-treatment meted out by her owner, Raju Ghodewala. She was rescued from an illegal stable at Tabela Chawl, near Pila Haus in Kamathipura by YODA (Youth Organisation in Defense of Animals) three days before her death. She succumbed to her injuries at the BSPCA. A complaint has been filed by Mili Gandhi, a member of Mumbai for Horses, against the stable owner in VP Road Police Station. The owner blamed the hospital for her death. 

Link to the original article available here. 

17-yr-old cyclist dies under BEST wheels

Anuradha Varanasi and Veda Ramaswamy, Mumbai
June 4, 2012 - Mid Day

Teenager sustained grievous head and chest injuries after bus rammed him from behind; succumbed to injuries before he could reach the hospital.

In yet another case of rash driving by a BEST driver, a 17-year-old boy lost his life when the bus driver rammed the teen’s bicyle from behind at Dadar (W) yesterday.

The boy, identified as Shubham Shinde, a Std X student of Sharadashram Vidyamandir School, was on his way to his tuition classes when tragedy struck.

The bus conductor rushed the youth to KEM Hospital, but he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Police said the accident happened close to Portuguese Church at 10.45 am, in which Shubham suffered severe head and chest injuries.

The bus driver Sanjeev Jandev Bholnagale (44) has been placed under police custody and has been booked under section 304A of the IPC (causing death by negligence).

The young boy’s father, Ram Krishna Shinde (48), is a head constable at the Mumbai Police’s Social Service branch (SS) at Crawford Market, and the family resides at Worli police camp.

In mourning

“The family members are in a state of shock right now. The post mortem of the boy has been conducted and an FIR has been lodged against the bus driver by the father,” said Balakrishna Ghadigaonkar, assistant police inspector at Dadar police station.

Speaking to MiD DAY, the victim’s father said, “My son had breakfast and left home as usual for his classes. But at around 11:30 am we got a call from KEM Hospital notifying us about the accident. When we reached the hospital, we were informed about his death. My family will leave for our native place in Satara to perform his last rites.”

They were informed about what happened at the scene by the cops. “I wonder why God has snatched my son away. We are devastated,” he added.

Link to the original article available here. 

Priceless service for free

Veda Ramaswamy, Mumbai
June 1, 2012 - Mid Day

Two sides of the bandh: Commuters queue outside Dadar station waiting for a share taxi

The Roychowdhurys had chosen a particularly bad day to come to Mumbai. But they had no alternative. The family from West Bengal was here seeking treatment for its patriarch at Tata Memorial Hospital. The paralysed transport system wasn’t helping matters. They found their saviours in the form of two charitable trusts that were ferrying patients for free from Dadar railway station to their desired hospitals and back. Hari Om Charitable Association and Shri Sanatan Dharam Sabha proved saviours for many.

The services were available between 9 am and 8 pm yesterday. Three vans were running from Dadar station to hospitals like KEM, Tata Memorial and Hinduja. “Each vehicle took around 10-12 rounds on an hourly basis, accommodating as many patients as possible. We chose Dadar as the centre because of its proximity to main hospitals in the city,” said Suresh Vijan, secretary of Hari Om Charitable Association.

Their voluntary initiative has been well appreciated by the many who benefited from it. “My father is undergoing treatment for cancer. Being new to Mumbai, we aren’t familiar with the roads either. Because of the strike, we were apprehensive about finding means of transport. But we are grateful to them for providing this service,” said Sumona Roychowdhury, who used the service to travel between Dadar and Tata Memorial Hospital.

Another patient, Santosh Kumar, who commuted from KEM, said, “Not everyone can afford a private vehicle. And at a time when there is a dearth of autos and taxis, this facility has proved to be a boon for patients like me.”  

“If the strike continues, we will carry on providing this free transport service,” said Kuldeep Kumar Phul, a member of Shri Sanatan Dharam Sabha. 

Members of the charitable trusts offered free rides to patients wanting to go to Tata Hospital. Pics/Shadab Khan

Link to the original article available here.

BMC and hospitals set to fight malaria this monsoon

Team Sunday Mid Day, Mumbai
June 10, 2012 - Mid Day

A BMC worker carries out fogging at Parel ahead of body’s drive to control malaria and dengue during the monsoons last year

Although malaria cases in the city have dropped by almost 60 per cent for the period of January to May as compared to the same period last year, this monsoon, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will also survey abandoned buildings in addition to under-construction sites to keep a check on the spread of the disease.

According to Additional Municipal Commissioner (Health) Manisha Mhaisakar, “There has been a 50 per cent drop in cases from 2010-11. Over 6,000 cases of malaria have been recorded in the city from January to May. This shows a reduction of almost 60 per cent as compared to the same period last year.

This time we will also conduct 100 health camps across the city.” A BMC official from the health department added, on condition of anonymity, that as soon as cases of jaundice and gastroenteritis are reported at any of the civic hospitals, hydraulic engineers will be directed to the locality where the patients reside, to repair any leakage.

Of 2,622 construction sites, civic officials have visited 2,078. They found water stagnation and vector breeding at 619 buildings, of which 600 have been cleared. This year, the BMC has marked G South ward, E ward and K East ward as critical malaria-prone areas in the city. Six thousand posters have been distributed and an awareness campaign will be conducted across 1,38,000 buildings in the city.

“Data for 2012 shows a positive trend, with 6,762 cases of malaria registered in five months, as compared to 21,366 cases for the same time duration, last year. There was a 48 per cent decline in 2011, with 39,822 cases registered as compared to 76,755 cases in 2010. We hope to tackle malaria successfully this year as well,” said Dr Mangala Gomade, head of epidemiology, BMC.

Hospitals ready

City hospitals say they are ready to combat an outbreak, if it happens. At KEM Hospital, Lower Parel, AMO Dr Pravin Bangar said that no cases of malaria or dengue have come in so far. While part of the ground floor in the old building continues to undergo renovation, an OPD is scheduled to be set up on Monday to provide treatment for monsoon-related illnesses.

One hundred and eighty, 120, 140 and 590 beds have been set up for malaria and dengue cases in KEM, Nair, Sion and Kasturba Hospital, respectively. There are 2,147 beds at the other 16 peripheral hospitals of the BMC in the city.

While the malaria menace has started to blanket the Chembur suburbs, it is yet to become a peril in areas like Ghatkopar and Sion. The medical superintendent of Rajawadi Hospital, Dr Shubhash Poyekar, said, “Our hospital has not yet registered an outbreak of malaria cases.

Being a malaria-endemic region, receiving 10-12 cases a day is a regular trend in the monsoon.” Dr Rajeev Singh, AMO, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital, Sion, added, “The monsoon has just hit the city. Cases of malaria will increase soon.”

Reality bites

6,762 cases of malaria have been registered in five months, as compared to 21,366 cases for the same period last year. There was a 48 per cent decline in 2011, with 39,822 cases registered as compared to 76,755 cases in 2010

(With inputs from Rinkita Gurav, Aditya Hariharan, Anuradha Varanasi & Veda Ramaswamy)

Link to the original article available here.

Online Admission Made Easier

Veda Ramaswamy, Vashi,
May 14, 2010 - DNA Navi Mumbai

During its introduction last year, the online admission process for first year junior college (FYJC) had faced several administrative and technical glitches. This year, in order to improve the process, Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation Limited (MKCL), the company that handles the process, has implemented certain changes. 

Previously, the state Board issued admission brochures to MKCL which distributed it to the Authorized Training Centre (ATC) and Applied Language Centre (ALC) from where children were made to collect it. But this year, the process has been made simpler with the ATC and ALCs no longer associated with the procedure. 

Jyoti Nikam, administrator of the ATC in Vashi, said, “Last year, we were in charge of the brochures and the online admission system but this time we have been excluded from the process.” Now, the Board has directly issued the required brochures to schools across Maharashtra for the benefit of the students. Along with the brochures, the schools also provide students with their unique login IDs and passwords which have been allotted by the Board. 

An official from St. Lawrence High School, Vashi, Nisha Peter said, “We have distributed the brochures along with the login IDs and passwords to the students a week ago. We had allotted students specific timings as per their division. This new process has proved to be more systematic than before.” Similarly, other schools as well, have arranged particular timings for the distribution process for the convenience of their students. 

Also, MKCL has changed the online admission process by dividing it into two phases — registration and selection. In the registration phase, once the students have been allotted their unique login IDs and passwords, they can fill up the online forms and get themselves registered for admission. The declaration of result begins the second phase. Once the students are aware of their scores, they can opt for colleges accordingly. 

The manager of the MKCL branch in Vashi, Darpan Deoghare said, “The alterations have been made to prevent the server breakdowns which were observed last year due to the last minute rush. This year, the registration process has commenced well in advance. We hope to be successful in avoiding the errors this time.”

Craving for home-cooked food? Check out Mother's Tiffin

Veda Ramaswamy, Airoli,
April 29, 2010 - DNA Navi Mumbai

Craving for your mother’s home-made food in her absence? Mother’s Tiffin might just be what you are looking for. Located in Sector 8A, Airoli, Mother’s Tiffin has slowly but steadily gained recognition in a span of just four months. The tiffin service which was launched on January 4 this year delivers simple yet delicious food to various customers in the node. A joint venture of Ashwini Gavaskar and Nilesh Nair, Mother’s Tiffin caters to clients of different age groups, right from children to bachelors to elders.

Gavaskar, a textile designer by profession, who took up catering in the recent months to fulfill her passion for cooking, said, “Since last five years, I have been planning on this endeavour, but my dream turned into a reality four months ago.” The service aims at providing good nutritious food to people who are unable to find time to prepare it for themselves, thus keeping them away from unhealthy junk food. The place was also an eatery joint in the initial months of its run, but due to large crowd and lack of space, the service limited itself to home and office deliveries besides accepting party orders.

The timings of Mother’s Tiffin are divided in two sessions, morning session from 8 am to 2 pm and evening session from 6.30 pm to 10 pm. It is open seven days a week with evening session on Sunday remaining closed. Its menu boasts of variety of dishes which differ as per the session and includes vegetarian and non-vegetarian food as well. The pricing is very affordable and has been decided keeping in mind the comfort of every common man. 

The vegetarian thali comprises of two vegetables, three chapatis and a bowl of dal and rice and costs Rs 35 only. The non-vegetarian thali consists of chicken, three chapatis and a bowl of rice at Rs 50. Majority of the food is prepared by Gavaskar herself, with the help of her employees. During festivals, they voluntarily prepare special dishes like puran polis to interest their clientele. 

On being questioned about any obstacle faced during realization of the project, Gavaskar said, “I did not encounter any difficulty whatsoever. The plan clicked and all the ideas fell into place. My younger sister, Vaishali Gaitonde supported me immensely during the initial period to make this dream come true.” The response of the customers has been extremely positive. 

Savita Pote (37), a regular client at Mother’s Tiffin was all praise for the service. She said, “It is the most convenient option for a working woman like me. One cannot afford to have the rich food of restaurants daily. The simple food catered here gives us a homely feel.” The work staff engaged at this joint is content with their work and admires the culinary as well as business skills of their head. Vinaya Patil (37), an employee said, “We share a great working relationship. There is no inconvenience caused and we are very happy with our work.”

The dishes served at Mother’s Tiffin symbolize the simple food cooked with love by a mother for her family and hence the unique name. After gaining an encouraging response, Gavaskar now plans to open a similar branch in Thane within six months and expand her business across Mumbai.

Special Expo by Special Children

Veda Ramaswamy, Belapur,
April 29, 2010 - DNA Navi Mumbai

Articles displayed were made of recycled paper and other waste matter

The Education and Training Centre for Children with Different Abilities (ETC) Institute based in Airoli had organised a two-day art exhibition on April 27 and 28 at NMMC Headquarters in Belapur. The exhibition drew a lot of attention from visitors as students put their best foot forward to bring out beautiful artefacts.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Municipal Commissioner Vijay Nahata in the presence of Varsha Bhagat, the director of the institute on Tuesday. A wide range of attractive and useful items like showpieces, paper and pen holders, Ganesh idols, envelopes, torans, flower vases, wall hangings, paper roses, bouquets made of artificial flowers, beaded curtains, ornaments, glass and Warli paintings were on display during the exhibition. These items were made by the students themselves.

The ETC Institute has been working diligently towards the welfare of special children and has won the trust of parents and children in a short span of time. The exhibition based on the theme of ‘best out of waste’ comprised articles made of recycled paper and many other waste articles. The main objective of the exhibition was to showcase the ability of special children, who are otherwise sidelined by the society. Bhagat said, “Through this exhibition, we wish to show the world that these children are no less talented. This initiative will help make them independent and develop their social mind set.” The children are taught art, craft and painting by the creative team of ETC comprising eight teachers. Vaishali Patil, one of the teachers said, “Teaching special children is a challenge, which we love to face. We are doing our best to brighten up their future.” The items on display were reasonably priced. No wonder, the exhibition received a positive response from visitors. The exhibition is held every six months.

"I am completely against gym culture"

Veda Ramaswamy, Vashi,

May 11, 2010 - DNA Navi Mumbai

Good sense and good health are life’s two greatest blessings and Koparkhairane resident Nupur Sinha believes she has effectively used the former to gain the later. Mother of two, Sinha now has ample time to pursue her interests as her children have grown up and are independent.

An active sportsperson during her school and college days, Nupur always laid emphasis on fitness. All through her younger days, she boasted of a lean and athletic figure. The birth of her children, however, proved to be a turning point as she failed to lose the excess weight gained during pregnancy. 

Family commitments remained top priority and Sinha got too engaged in nurturing her children, rather than trying to get back in to shape. In no time, she had put on oodles of weight. Reality struck her only when she could no longer fit in to her swimming costume. An ace swimmer, Sinha spent many years honing her swimming skills before marriage but repented not being able to pursue the sport anymore. 

She realised her folly and again began regularly devoting her time to fitness. That was three years back. She has now successfully lost 22 kg, thanks to her new exercise regime. 

Instead of enrolling in a gym, she opted for conventional forms of weight loss like walking. She said, “I was always against the idea of going to a gym as I found it monotonous. I had promised my husband that I would become fit without losing a penny and I fulfilled it.” 

Since the last three years, she has engaged herself in various activities like brisk walking, yoga and swimming, which helped her regain fitness. She walks for 50 minutes in the morning and evening, covering a distance of 12 km daily. Sinha also learnt water ballet and practices yoga each day. 

Sinha said, “I credit my weight loss to the powerful combination of walking, swimming and pranayam. I practice these sincerely, thoroughly and religiously.” According to her, walking is the best exercise one can do as it not only helps lose weight but also provides an individual with enormous amount of energy and enthusiasm to carry out day-to-day chores.

She also follows a nutritious diet which has helped her a lot. For breakfast, she has one bowl of oats or cornflakes. Her lunch comprises one bowl of rice and dal and dinner comprises two rotis and sabzi. She munches on a few almonds in case of sudden hunger pangs. Her favourite food remains simple dal chaval with ghee. She believes that one must never skip meals or cut down on nutrition. “One should enjoy eating everything in moderate quantities,” she advised. 

Sinha’s journey was not easy though as her efforts failed to show any positive results initially but her determination, hard work and patience saw her through. “It was disappointing initially as there were no immediate results but gradually my efforts showed and that gave me immense motivation,” said Sinha. 

Her foremost source of inspiration has been her friends and family who supported her throughout this journey. She has gained a whole new perspective to life with her new-found personality. Exercise helped her gain confidence and Sinha is much more enthusiastic now than before. Her stamina has increased incredibly. She said, “I receive compliments that I look younger by the day. Such a response makes me happy and inspires me to maintain my fitness regime.”

Even during vacations with family and friends, she makes it a point to follow her fitness regime. In fact, she sees such vacations as an opportunity to exercise and have fun with all of them. “Health is not valued till sickness comes. Many people spend their health gaining wealth and then have to spend their wealth to regain their health. People should devote some time from their hectic work schedule to exercise and enhance their fitness levels,” she advised.

Grandmothers make a Solid Statement on Mother's Day

Veda Ramaswamy, Vashi,

May 9, 2010 - DNA Navi Mumbai

What does May 1 mean to you?

Veda Ramaswamy, Vashi,
May 1, 2010 - DNA Navi Mumbai

How to make ice-cream at home in a matter of minutes?

Veda Ramaswamy, Belapur,

May 6, 2010 - DNA Navi Mumbai

Resident of Belapur, Namrata Saney (35) is a doting mother of two. She took up cooking only after marriage and loves trying newer recipes. Her forte remains preparing ice-creams of different flavours and teaches the same in her locality. By doing so, she has succeeded in unifying her interest in cooking with her zeal for teaching. She refers to books and magazines to draw ideas for newer recipes to please her family. She shares a cool recipe with the readers of DNA Navi Mumbai.

Ice-cream Ingredients: 

Whole milk 1/2 litre, 

GMS powder 1/2 teaspoon, 

Corn flour 1/2 teaspoon, 

Sugar 8 tsp, 

Cream 2 tbsp, 

A pinch of SMS powder, 

Essence/ Pulp (flavour as per preference)

Method: 

Boil the milk. Add sugar to it. Take little quantity of milk in a bowl and mix it well with corn flour, GMS powder and a pinch of SMS powder. Add this mixture to the boiled milk and stir it for five minutes. Switch off the gas and let the mixture cool. Put the mixture in a vessel and close it with a lid. Keep it in the freezer for 8-10 hours. The ice-cream base is ready. Now beat the cream for five minutes. Cut small pieces of the base and add it with the whipped cream in a juicer and mix until a white batter is formed. Add the preferred essence (for example, vanilla, strawberry etc.) or fresh fruit pulp like mango, chikku to the batter and mix. Keep the mixture in the freezer for four hours. Your ice-cream is ready.