Latest news with #Shekar
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Science
- The Hindu
AU launches quantum computing course
Andhra University has become the first State university to introduce a course in quantum computing. Vice Chancellor Prof. G.P. Raja Sekhar released a brochure at an event formally announcing the course on Wednesday. Prof. Shekar said: 'The course aligns with the National Quantum Mission and efforts are underway to set up a special lab for the course.' He recalled that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has been promoting quantum computing and envisions turning Amaravati into a ''quantum valley''.
Hans India
20-07-2025
- Hans India
Now, India's first structured certified naturalist course on offer
Bengaluru: Fornearly a decade, Siddesh Shekar (33) has been learning how to be a naturalist on the job, from private wildlife tour operators to national parks like the Jim Corbett National the three-and-half months he spent learning for Certified Naturalist (CNAT) Course, first structured programme in India -- which is certified by the government, and offers formal certification for nature guides, wildlife interpreters, and eco-tourism professionals -- Shekar said he learnt to look beyond tiger tourism. 'We picked up a lot of cognitive skills, and learnt about everything -- birds, reptiles and mammals -- during the course of three-and-half months,' said Shekar to PTI. While historically, people like Charles Darwin are tagged as naturalists, modern-day naturalists would include scientists, park rangers, and nature educators, who contribute to our understanding and conservation of the natural world. Shekar, for instance, wants to become an ethical tourism professional, designing his own tours across the national parks of India. He was one of the first batch students of the course being offered by Bengaluru-based The Naturalist School, a social enterprise. The course is designed to create meaningful career pathways in the growing fields of conservation, nature education, and sustainable tourism, said Prakruthi Subramanya, Program Director at The Naturalist School. 'The naturalists have largely been operating from a very informal space. Usually, they are motivated by a passion for wildlife. Sometimes, local youth living in and around forests would double as naturalists,' said Subramanya. Shekar recalled how as a young boy, he fell in love with wildlife after watching David Attenborough documentaries and wanted to do something with nature for a living. 'It helped that I was living near Mysuru Zoo, and that my mom, who was from Coorg, was a science teacher. I ended up having this fascination for forests, particularly for the biodiversity of Western Ghats,' said Shekar, who is working as a nature guide at the government-owned Jungle Lodges and Resorts, Kabini, perched at the edge of Nagarhole forest in Karnataka. It was around 2021-22 that the CNAT Course was accredited by the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) and aligned with the Skill India Mission, offering a formal pathway into the growing sectors of conservation education and sustainable tourism. 'Before then, Skill India Mission had many courses for chefs and housekeeping, but none for nature guide and nature interpretation,' added Subramanya. The third batch of the course began their three-and-half month (750-hour) long journey into being a naturalist from July 19 at Bannerghatta Nature Camp, Jungle Lodges and Resorts in Bengaluru. The course, with a fee of Rs 1.5 lakh, is based on experiential learning, said Subramanya. 'Among other things, they will also learn how to communicate to a layperson. Much of it is pegged on building curiosity and storytelling. We have also collaborated with the Red Cross to give them a detailed first-aid course,' said Subramanya. The students will stay at Bannerghatta Nature Camp for four weeks initially and then again two weeks towards the end of the course. 'They are expected to attend online classes for four weeks, working on assigned projects. There will also be on-the-job training – they will intern in one of the nature camps,' added Subramanya.
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Over 1 lakh gig workers affected: Bengaluru Bike taxi ban sparks demand for policy framework; riders say service was their only lifeline
BENGALURU: The ban on bike taxis has left thousands of riders in the lurch, stripping them of a livelihood that many had come to rely on. From college students riding to pay their fees to tech professionals laid off during the slowdown, bike taxis had emerged as more than just a quick side hustle. For many in Bengaluru, it became a reliable fallback, a way to stay afloat in tough times. Riders said they travelled over 100km of traffic-clogged roads and earned up to Rs 3,000 a day, a sum that covered a significant chunk of their monthly expenses. For others, especially those with weekday jobs, it became the perfect weekend gig. TOI spoke to several riders who described how the job offered more than financial support — it gave them a purpose and a human connection. "Riding helped me beat loneliness," said a college dropout trying to save up for higher education, adding: "Every ride was a chance to meet someone new, to feel useful and earn while doing something I enjoyed." Indra Shekar, a 25-year-old from Mahadevapura who rode on Rapido and Uber platforms, said he would save money for his business after he couldn't land a software job post his engineering course. "I've always wanted to start a business, but a regular monthly salary makes saving tough. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Perdagangkan CFD Emas dengan Broker Tepercaya IC Markets Mendaftar Undo That's when I turned to bike taxis — no pressure, no targets and full flexibility. This ban will hit many like me who use the mode to chase bigger dreams. I'm even considering shifting to Hyderabad to continue riding — I'm not giving this up," Shekar added. Another bike-taxi driver, Jagadeesh, a 24-year-old non-IT professional, said the bike-taxi gig has been a financial lifeline amid rising costs. "I earned around Rs 3,000 a day and managed to save at least Rs 2,000. These days, a full-time job alone isn't enough — especially if you want to set aside some money or make a big purchase in a city as expensive as Bengaluru," he said. Sagar, who works from 6pm till midnight, said the sudden halt in bike-taxi services has upended his routine and livelihood. "It's very disappointing. It had been a lifesaver, offering me the freedom to work on my own terms," he said, adding: "Now, I've lost my only source of income and am looking for a job." A 27-year-old techie chose to ride a bike taxi to overcome loneliness: "I stay in Whitefield, and after office hours, I take rides on my way home. It's a way to have some company during the long and often boring traffic jams. It also helps me build new relationships." We need framework: Namma Bike Taxi Association Namma Bike Taxi Association submitted a memorandum to CM Siddaramaiah and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, urging their intervention to support over 1 lakh gig workers affected by the ban. They demanded a policy framework to regularize bike-taxi services. "The drivers demand clear rules on licensing, insurance and safety rather than being criminalized overnight. "We are part of the same informal economy that Karnataka claims to support. Why are we being shut out without a conversation?" questioned Mohammed Salim, president of Namma Bike Taxi Association.
Time of India
16-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Bike taxi ban in Bengaluru: Thousands of riders struggle to find their footing
Bengaluru: The ban on bike taxis has left thousands of riders in the lurch, stripping them of a livelihood that many had come to rely on. From college students riding to pay their fees to tech professionals laid off during the slowdown, bike taxis had emerged as more than just a quick side hustle. For many in Bengaluru, it became a reliable fallback, a way to stay afloat in tough times. Riders said they travelled over 100km of traffic-clogged roads and earned up to Rs 3,000 a day, a sum that covered a significant chunk of their monthly expenses. For others, especially those with weekday jobs, it became the perfect weekend gig. TOI spoke to several riders who described how the job offered more than financial support — it gave them a purpose and a human connection. "Riding helped me beat loneliness," said a college dropout trying to save up for higher education, adding: "Every ride was a chance to meet someone new, to feel useful and earn while doing something I enjoyed." Indra Shekar, a 25-year-old from Mahadevapura who rode on Rapido and Uber platforms, said he would save money for his business after he couldn't land a software job post his engineering course. "I've always wanted to start a business, but a regular monthly salary makes saving tough. That's when I turned to bike taxis — no pressure, no targets and full flexibility. This ban will hit many like me who use the mode to chase bigger dreams. I'm even considering shifting to Hyderabad to continue riding — I'm not giving this up," Shekar added. Another bike-taxi driver, Jagadeesh, a 24-year-old non-IT professional, said the bike-taxi gig has been a financial lifeline amid rising costs. "I earned around Rs 3,000 a day and managed to save at least Rs 2,000. These days, a full-time job alone isn't enough — especially if you want to set aside some money or make a big purchase in a city as expensive as Bengaluru," he said. Sagar, who works from 6pm till midnight, said the sudden halt in bike-taxi services has upended his routine and livelihood. "It's very disappointing. It had been a lifesaver, offering me the freedom to work on my own terms," he said, adding: "Now, I've lost my only source of income and am looking for a job." A 27-year-old techie chose to ride a bike taxi to overcome loneliness: "I stay in Whitefield, and after office hours, I take rides on my way home. It's a way to have some company during the long and often boring traffic jams. It also helps me build new relationships." We need framework: Assn Namma Bike Taxi Association submitted a memorandum to CM Siddaramaiah and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, urging their intervention to support over 1 lakh gig workers affected by the ban. They demanded a policy framework to regularize bike-taxi services. "The drivers demand clear rules on licensing, insurance and safety rather than being criminalized overnight. "We are part of the same informal economy that Karnataka claims to support. Why are we being shut out without a conversation?" questioned Mohammed Salim, president of Namma Bike Taxi Association.
NDTV
30-05-2025
- NDTV
In Bengaluru, Man Bites Another Man's Finger For Splashing Rainwater
Bengaluru: In Bengaluru, a man bit another man's ring finger after the latter's car mistakenly splashed rainwater on his vehicle. The man, identified as Jayant Shekar, had to undergo surgery costing him nearly Rs 2 lakh. Mr Shekhar's wife has registered a First Information Report (FIR), accusing the fellow driver of threatening to murder. No arrest was made till the time of filing this report. On Sunday night, Mr Shekar, a resident of Magadi Road, was driving home with his wife, Parvathi, and mother-in-law after dinner. At around 9 pm, Mr Shekar was near the Lulu Mall underpass, waiting to cross the signal and take a turn. While crossing, he unknowingly splashed rainwater on another vehicle. For this innocuous mistake, Mr Shekar was allegedly assaulted and threatened. "After crossing the signal, I noticed an i20 car driving adjacent to my car. A woman, seated on the passenger seat, started shouting at me. The man in the driver's seat repeatedly asked me to stop the car," recalled Mr Shekar while speaking to NDTV. "The woman had her car's window rolled down. Since it was drizzling, I requested her to roll up the window, but the couple kept verbally abusing me. Within minutes, the man intercepted my car," he added. The verbal altercation soon turned physical. The man took Mr Shekar's right hand into his mouth and bit the ring finger, leading to a deep cut, requiring surgery and stitches. "It had been raining; the roads were slightly waterlogged. At the time of the incident, it was drizzling. I didn't realise when the water splashed onto another vehicle," said Mr Shekar. Police are investigating and believe both parties may have been involved physically, but no counter-complaint has been filed by the accused.
