Vol.

12 Issue 1

Indian Institute of Journalism & New Media, Bangalore

06 September, 2012
INSIDE

CLEAN OR FAIL!
Exclusive by Udita Chaturvedi

Bangalore University is not disabled friendly yet due to lack of funds

> Pg. 2

Dozens of guest houses operate at Madivala, without any licences.

> Pg. 2

Late delivery of gas cylinders and subsequent malpractices lead to problems in the city.
> Pg. 3

Students are made to clean toilets instead of engaging domestic help in Devegere School. STUDENTS are graded for cleaning toilets, scrubbing floors and washing up in the government schools of Kumbalgudu. Children as young as six are using toxic substances to clean toilets. These students are even marked on how well they clean up. Ms. Padma, Devegere government school principal, said: Students are marked in class for cleaning. Since the school opened in 1995, we have never hired any staff for cleaning. The government schools dont have enough money and the government doesnt give them any money for hiring cleaning staff. Bhagya Lakshmi, teacher at Gollahalli government school, said: The classrooms, school toilets and utensils for mid-day meals are cleaned by the students themselves. There is no staff hired for this purpose. The total strength of Devegere government school is 39 students and two teachers. There are100 students and five teachers in Gollahalli Government School. Gollahalli Panchayat Development Officer, Mr. Loknath, said: The panchayat is only responsible for providing the school with infrastructure, water and electricity while the rest is handled by the authorities comprising of the school teachers. Mohd. Zabi Ullah, a student of Golahalli government school, class V, said he sometimes does not enjoy the cleaning routine of the school. Students are more or less familiar with cleaning toilets and scrubbing floors. They take their duties seriously. When asked if they enjoyed doing this work, they said, Yes, this is my school, my home. Students take turns to clean the toilets on a daily basis. Vanajha, one of the teachers at the Devegere government school for five years, said: Its a

Photo: Udita Chaturvedi small school so there is no money, no staff and the government provides us with no money to hire. Afraj (9), a student of Devegere School said: The school is cleaned every morning at eight and I clean the toilets and the classrooms on Saturdays. In Gollahalli government school, the junior class students are mostly assigned to clean the classrooms. The senior classes VI and VII are assigned to clean the toilets every day. Even Mrs. Nagaratnam, another teacher in Golahalli School, found nothing unusual in students being complete in charge of the cleanliness. She said: "The cleaning duties are shuffled between students regularly. The teachers do not participate in the process.

E-ticket machines accept only old Rs.5 coin which are not easily available now.
> Pg. 3

The school is cleaned every morning at eight and I clean the toilets and the classrooms on Saturdays,says Afraj, a student.

A new law to install rainwater harvesting in government buildings has been ignored by the BBMP.
> Pg. 4

Criminals treated as chained animals

By Debanti Roy SUSPECTED criminals in New High Ground police station are being chained to tables for up to four days at a time. A criminal charged with robbery was tied to a table with chains and handcuffs for four days in the police station. Speaking about the criminal, Mr. Raghavendra, sub-inspector, said: He has criminal records for past 8 years and without chains it will be difficult to keep him here. Situated in Miller RoadCunningham junction, the condition of the police station is pathetic. The department had to struggle to get a permanent address for more than 5 years. On July 20, 2011 it shifted to an 80 year old quarter. There are 105 officers in the police station and only one common toilet for both male and female staff. Even the criminals use the same toilet. One of the officers said: A leaking roof creates lots of problems and we have to shift the furniture and files when it rains. But the major problem which looms large is the condition in which the prisoners are kept. For days they are kept tied to chairs and tables and for every small need they call for the station guard. According to Article 958, of the Karnataka police guidelines manual, each police station should have properly constructed lock-ups; one for female and another for male prisoners. But, the New High Ground police station has neither. Human rights legislation state that no prisoner should be subjected to torture or any form of inhuman or degrading punishment. This police station violates all such rules. We provide criminals with everything they need, said Mr. Raghavendra. He admitted that while keeping a watch on the criminals is an important responsibility and not an easy job, taking care of them is equally necessary and difficult.

Government schools closed down due to lack of infrastructure and proper teaching staff.
> Pg. 4

Weather Forecast