For the First Time Since Independence, Four Girls From This Bihar Village Will Appear in Class 10 Board Exams

Gosalwar has the population of around 1,200 and although it is only three kilometres from the district headquarters, no person from the village has been able to appear, let alone crack the Board Exams. The village does not even have a primary school.

Writes : Vipin Kumar, For The News18

History is in the making for Gosalwar village in Bihar’s Darbhanga district – for the first time since independence, four girls from the village are set to appear for the Class 10 examination next year in March.

Gosalwar has the population of around 1,200 and although it is only three kilometres from the district headquarters, no person from the village has been able to appear, let alone crack the Board Exams. The village does not even have a primary school.

The grit and will of Kavita Kumari, Puja Kumari, Neha Kumari and Geeta Kumari has changed the stigma attached to Gosalwar as a mini world of uneducated people.

“We’ve faced many difficulties due to the distance but somehow my friends and I were able to convince our parents. They are naturally worried about our security,” said Neha, adding that the group was confident of getting good marks in the exams.

Puja was not even aware of the ignominious record till she was in Class 8 and said, “Most of the people thought that we would also drop out like others. However, things have changed and we are now preparing for the exam.”

The Principal of Anandpur High School, Arun Kumar Jha, said that everyone was hopeful that the girls would create history next year. “Many appear for the exams but this batch is different. We have planned to reward the girls if they pass the examination.” 

Most living in Gosalwar work as labourers in nearby villages, while their children are engaged in goat rearing

Source : News 18

Miss World Manushi Chhillar asks an important question to Indian skipper Virat Kohli

Indian skipper Virat Kohli was once again in news recently after he guided his team to an emphatic win over Sri Lanka in 2nd Test. India defeated the Islanders by an innings and 239 runs.

In other news, Manushi Chhillar recently won the coveted Miss World 2017 crown at a grand event in China, bringing to an end the country’s dry spell of 17 years at the top pageant contest. The two celebrities met each other at an event in the national capital on Thursday.

At the event, the 20-year-old from Haryana, who is a medical student, asked Kohli, "You are one of the best batsmen in the world today. You have been such an inspiration and you have really given a lot to the society. But there are  lot of young people who draw inspiration from you. How would like to give back, especially to children in the field of cricket?"

Kohli, who has changed the mindset of Indian players ever since he took over the captaincy, replied, "What's very important to understand is, when you do what you do, and you express yourself on the field, it has to be genuine, it has to be from the heart. Otherwise, people find out that you are trying to pretend and they can never connect to you. I have never tried to be anyone else. I have always been myself. I have always mentioned people had a lot of issues with how I was, how I conducted myself. I never had problems with that. The moment I started to think that I need to change, is the only time that I changed."

The captain also stressed on the fact that people should not lose their personal identity, as they won't be able to inspire others by trying to be someone else.

"Everyone has to go through a mutual process to be where they get to in life, to become more mature. What's very important to understand is that one should never lose their identity, character and personality. Because if you try to be someone else, you can never succeed and you can never inspire others," he added.

Source : www.timesnownews.com

Bengal Govt committed to the welfare of HIV+ people

Among the schemes started by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for the people of Bengal are several welfare schemes and programmes for AIDS and HIV patients as well.

The Bengal Government provides subsidised rice at Rs 2 per kg to poor HIV patients in the state, including sex workers.

The Food Department carried out surveys last year on the basis of which it is distributing the foodgrains. Since there is stigma attached to such people, the department has ensured that the details about these people are available only to its officials. Neither the ration shop owner of the locality nor the local food inspector and officials are privy to the details.

All schools run under the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE) have been instructed to include students living with or diagnosed with HIV as ‘child belonging to disadvantaged group’.

The student will get similar nature of facilities that SC/ ST or minority students get, including government grants, reservation, scholarships and hostel facility.

Sex workers are a vulnerable group who are at risk of contracting HIV. The Bengal Government has launched a scheme ‘Muktir Alo’ for the rehabilitation of women who have been trafficked for prostitution.

This scheme, a brainchild of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, was inaugurated by her in September 2015. It has been successful in providing succor to such women in its own small way. One such beneficiary, after receiving training, has opened a cafeteria named Mukti near the entrance of Alipore Zoo.

Similar cafeterias by beneficiaries have also been opened at other places in Kolkata – at Munshiganj in Khidderpore and at the court premises in Alipore. Another is slated to open at Bikash Bhavan in Salt Lake.

Clearly, the Bengal Government is committed to the well-being of all, and does not discriminate among beneficiaries while distributing services to people.

-ANTC

असम के 11 बौने कलाकार सिलीगुड़ी में मचा रहे धमाल

By Prabhat Khabar 

सिलीगुड़ी: कौन कहता है बौने केवल सर्कस के जोकर या फिर समाज में हंसी के पात्र होते हैं. उनमें भी आम इंसानों के तरह ही जिंदगी जीने का जज्बा होता है. यह कहना आश्चर्य नहीं होगा कि उल्टे उनमें आम इंसानों से अधित क्षमता होती है. ऐसा ही कुछ जज्बा असम के कई बौनों में देखा जा रहा है. जो समाज में फैली भ्रांतियों को चुनौती दे रहे हैं. 

        
असम से बाहर पूरे देश में कई जगहों पर अपनी जिंदगी पर बनाये गये कई नाटकों का मंचन कर यह सभी अपनी प्रतिभा का प्रदर्शन कर रहे हैं. इसी के तहत सिलीगुड़ी में असम से आये कुल 11 बौनों समेत कुल 22 युवक-युवतियों की एक टीम ने बुधवार को स्थानीय दीनबंधु मंच (टाउन हॉल) में बॉलीवुड कलाकार सह नाट्यकार पवित्र राभा के सान्निध्य में ‘किनो कौन’ नामक नाटक का उम्दा नाट्य मंचन कर दर्शकों को दांतों तले अंगूली दबाने पर मजूबर कर दिया. सभी कलाकारों ने बौनों की जिंदगी से नाटक के जरिये रुबरु कराया और खूब वाह-वाही लूटी.

       
 नाट्य मंचन से पहले एक बौना कलाकार मैक्स तिरकी ने प्रभात खबर के प्रतिनिधि ने भेंट कर उनकी जिंदगी पर बातचीत की तो उन्होंने कई अनछुए पहलुओं पर बेबाक बातें की. मैक्स का कहना है कि मेरे नाट्य गुरु पवित्र दा हैं. उनके संपर्क में आने से पहले उनकी जिंदगी केवल घर के चार दिवारी के अंदर ही घूंट रही थी. वजह चौखट के बाहर कदम रखा  नहीं लोग तरह-तरह से मजाक करते और हंसी उड़ाते. समाज के बीच केवल हंसी का पात्र बनकर रह गये थे. लेकिन जब से पवित्र दा के संपर्क में आया तबसे उसकी बोझिल जिंदगी पूरी तरह से तब्दील हो गयी. मैक्स का कहना है कि आज केवल वह ही नहीं बल्कि उनके जैसे तकरीबन 25 बौने पवित्र दा के वजह से सम्मान भरी जिंदगी जी रहे हैं. 

उसने बताया कि आज सात साल पहले पवित्र दा ने हमारी प्रतिभाओं को पहचाना और हम सभी को अपने थियेटर ग्रुप ‘दपन द मिरर’ से जोड़ा. साथ ही असम के उदालगुड़ी जिला के तांग्ला नामक गांव में उनके द्वारा पांच बीघा जमीन पर बनाये गये ‘थियेटर विलेज’ में लाया. जहां हम सभी उनसे नाट्य कला सीखते हैं. वहीं पर खेती बाड़ी कर अपना संसार भी चलाते हैं. पवित्र दा के सान्निध्य में उन लोगों ने किनो कैनो व रांग नंबर जैसे अब-तक कुल पांच नाटकों को संपादित कर चुके हैं. जिनका पूरे देश में  मंचन भी किया जा रहा है. ऐसा ही कुछ कहना है दिलीप काकोटी, रंजीत दास, नयन दइमारी, तोरा सोना, रंजू वेश्य, थिमथियास तिर्की, धन दास, सिबिरिना देइमारी व अन्य युवक-युवती और महिला-पुरुष बौने नाट्य कलाकारों का भी.

असम के तांग्ला में बनाया थियेटर विलेज : वहीं, बॉलीवुड कलाकार सह नाट्यकार पवित्र राभा मूल रुप से असम के वासिंदा हैं. वह चर्चित बॉलीवुड हिंदी फिल्म मैरीकॉम, मुखबिर जैसे कई नामी फिल्मों में अपनी कला का लोहा मनवा चुके हैं. पवित्र ने प्रभात खबर को बताया कि वह 2002 से नेशनल स्कूल ऑफ ड्रामा से जुड़े. 

2003 में ‘दर्पण द मिरर’ नामक अपना थियेटर ग्रुप स्थापित किया. 2008 में बौनों को लेकर समाज की भ्रांतियों को दूर करने और उन्हें समाज की मुख्यधारा से जोड़ने की ठानी. इसके लिए सबसे पहले उन्होंने असम के विभिन्न क्षेत्रों से बौनों को अपने थियेटर ग्रुप से जोड़ा. बाद में तकरीबन 20-25 बौनों और उनके पूरे परिवार को लेकर असम के ही तांग्ला गांव में अपना थियेटर विलेज बनाया. नाट्य कला को लेकर सबसे पहले उन सभी को 45 दिनों के कार्यशाला में प्रशिक्षित किया. 

यहीं उनकी प्रतिभा को परखा गया. जिसने नाट्य कला में रुचि दिखायी उन सभी को नाटक के हरेक पहलुओं की जानकारी दी गयी और कला का पूरा अभ्यास कराया गया. बाद में 2012 से उम्दा नाट्यकारों को लेकर पवित्र ने कई नाटकों को संपादित किया जिसे आज पूरी दुनिया के सामने पेश किया जा रहा है. पवित्र की माने तो आज उनके थियेटर ग्रुप की ख्याति इतनी फैल चुकी है कि देश के विभिन्न प्रांतों से भी कई बौने कलाकार उनकी ग्रुप में शामिल होना चाहते हैं. हाल ही में पुणे से चार बौने कलाकार उनकी ग्रुप से जुड़ चुके हैं.

URGENT: China spying through 42 apps, delete them: Intelligence Bureau to soldiers

In a fresh advisory issued to the troops posted at the international border, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) has warned that China could be collecting vital information about the Indian security installations through its popular mobile phone apps and devices.

According to reports, the advisory issued by the DIG (Intelligence) has directed the troops posted along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to either delete a number of mobile applications from their smartphones or reformat the devices altogether to guard against online espionage attempts from across the border.

The IB advisory contains a list of about 42 popular Chinese apps, including WeChat, Truecaller, Weibo, UC Browser and UC News, which pose a grave threat to India's security.

There is a possibility of these apps transmitting sensitive personal data to the Chinese authorities, which could be a major security disaster, the advisory states.

The fresh advisory comes at a time when the troops from both sides continue to maintain high alertness levels along the LAC after the resolution of a bitter border stand-off over Doklam.

Based on inputs received from the intelligence agencies, the armed forces regularly warn its officers and other ranks to avoid using Chinese apps in a bid to thwart the possible leak of vital info to the hostile neighbouring country via China-made mobile devices.

The Army, as well as the central armed police forces like the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, are deployed along the 4,057km LAC, which stretches from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh.

The IAF, for instance, had earlier asked all its officers and airmen as well as their families to avoid using Chinese Xiaomi smartphones and notebooks on the ground that they could transfer user data to remote servers located in China.

The note comes at a time when several Indian cybersecurity experts have raised concerns about the possible espionage attempts by the Chinese hackers and various military intelligence agencies of China.

The warning from IB pertains to Android as well as IoS apps.

[Via: Zee News]

Master plans to control floods in north Bengal

The state Irrigation department is preparing two master plans to give respite to the people of North Bengal from the devastating floods.

While replying to a question in the state Assembly on Thursday, state irrigation minister said: “Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee directed us to prepare the master plan and we have taken steps to develop the same to check floods or flood-like situation in North Bengal. The work for that has already begun.”

One master plan is for Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Darjeeling districts while the other is for Malda, North and South Dinajpur. The Chief Minister mentioned that a consultant is being engaged to conduct a survey and prepare necessary assessment for the master plan for Malda, North and South Dinajpur.

The detailed project report (DPR) will be prepared after the assessment report is ready. The process to engage a consultant for the survey to prepare the master plan for the four other North Bengal districts has also already begun.

Execution of the master plan will ensure strengthening of the existing embankments where necessary, including building proper drainage channels t and other infrastructural enhancements for better irrigation. At the same time, all the 32 sluice gates in north Bengal will be upgraded.

The funding pattern has not been finalised yet, according to the minister: either the State Government will fully fund the master plans or it might approach the World Bank for part of the funding.

Source : https://goo.gl/RWHn3S

Bengal Govt felicitates President Kovind

Honourable President of India, Shri Ramnath Kovind was felicitated by the State Government today at a cultural programme at Netaji Indoor Stadium.

Hon. Governor Shri Kesari Nath Tripathi, Speaker of Bengal Assembly, and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, along with luminaries from various fields, felicitated the President.

Speaking on the occasion, the CM said: “We are privileged by the august presence of Shri Kovind. We are honoured that he accepted our invitation, and has visited Bengal within weeks of assuming office.”

She reminisced the days when they were parliamentary colleagues. Mamata Banerjee said, “When I was a member of the Lok Sabha, you were a member of the Rajya Sabha. You always maintained a low profile and were always immersed in your work.”

The Constitutional post of the President is above religion and deserves respect, maintained the CM. She wished the President a long and healthy life.