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Hans India
17 hours ago
- General
- Hans India
Villagers, alumni lend help to develop govt schools
Karimnagar: Many schools in the united Karimnagar district are on the path of development with the participation of the villagers and former students. The schools that were once on the verge of closure due to low student enrollments are now a match for private schools as a result of the efforts of the villagers, teachers and former students. People and public representatives are solving the problems in the schools where their children study and from time to time ensuring that the number of students does not decrease. They took collective decisions for developing Donur and Jain government schools in Dharmapuri mandal. Jain Primary School used to have 32 students. In 2018-19, the villagers, parents of the students, teachers and public representatives decided to jointly develop the school. Attention was paid to the construction of school buildings with the help of the government. The youth handed over 40 benches. Plates and drinking water facilities were provided to the students. Since there was only one teacher then, two private volunteers were appointed. Currently, there are 75 students and two government teachers. Donur Government Primary School was functioning with 32 students in the 2018-19 academic year amidst meager facilities. Due to the presence of only one teacher and other problems, the villagers used to send their children to private schools. In 2018, a teacher named Kasetti Ramesh, who came here on transfer, paved the way for the development of the school. The construction of additional classrooms, drinking water, electricity facilities, and wall structures were completed after representation to the authorities. The villagers also used their own funds to install a sound system, distribute smart TVs, and appointed a volunteer. They painted pictures on the walls. They drilled a borewell and provided water facilities. As part of the Mana Ooru-Mana Badi scheme, dual desks, green boards, staff furniture, and toilets were installed. Currently, there are 3 classrooms. This academic year, 102 students are studying and four teachers are working. Donur school headmistress Swapnapriya told The Hans India that the parents of the students and the villagers are playing a key role in the development of the school. They actively participate in the monthly meeting and solve problems. They are doing things like painting the walls, sanitation, and providing drinking water facilities. We will work to make the school more efficient. Although Kannegondla is the last village of Dornakal mandal (Todella Gudem), installing a school bell made of bronze in our village is a unique thing in the joint district. The construction of this school took place 70 years ago with the intention that everyone in the village should study and everyone should develop is a testament to the leadership skills of the village elders of that time. The school's Alumni, Padala Lachaiah and Sunkara Srinivas who are currently working as Government teachers, said that their school has made many people intellectuals, employees, businessmen, and ideal farmers and they are now supporting its development. The former students have set an example by providing necessary equipment worth Rs 1 lakh to a primary school in Kolanur, Peddapalli district. The 'Mana Ooru-Mana Badi' WhatsApp group platform has already developed the government school in many ways. In addition to painting the school in colours to match the private school, they have also provided the necessary facilities. A donation of various equipment worth Rs 1 lakh was made recently. The 2002-03 SSC batch and several former students jointly donated desks, benches, clocks, podiums, two-in-one boards, trampolines, and water tanks. NTPC employee Jeeguru Ilaiah donated sports equipment to high school students. Speaking on the occasion, several former students said that there is an indescribable joy in studying in a government school and growing up. They explained that they are working hard to provide all kinds of facilities to the children studying here. The MEO and former students praised the role of teachers in increasing the number of students from 49 to 150. In ZPHS Girls School, Peddapalli around 456 students are present, Katta Karuna Sri, SA Physical Science(HM) and Thandra Aruna played a crucial role in strengthening the school.
Hans India
2 days ago
- General
- Hans India
Temple waste turns into organic fertiliser through ‘Swachh Devalayam'!
Visakhapatnam: As floral offerings in temples find their way to landfills like the rest of the garbage from households, offices, hotels and industries, members of Rotary Club Vizag Couples (RCVC) decided to convert them into a valuable garden resource through their initiative. On a daily basis, most devotees offer fresh flowers, fruits and coconuts to deities of the shrine to perform puja. How about collecting and converting them into organic manure instead of allowing them to pile up in the premises corners that eventually enter landfills. It is the same concept that nudged the club members to work on a sustainable project known as 'Swachh Devalayam.' After deriving a desirable outcome from its first edition of the endeavour implemented at Panduranga Swamy temple, the club members took the project forward to Kali Mata temple located at RK Beach in Visakhapatnam. Even as organisations, institutions and departments have been taking up plantation and cleanliness drives as part of the Swachh Bharat mission, the club members explored ways to convert temple waste into organic manure. 'Apart from using them for temple gardening, the fertilisers generated through composting temple waste are given away to people to help them cater to their garden requirements,' shares Sravani Chitturi, secretary of the RCVC. Temple waste can effectively be recycled into nutrient-rich organic fertiliser through composting. The process not just minimises landfill waste to an extent but also provides a valuable resource for healthier gardening. 'It is one of the sustainable methods to adopt improved management of temple waste. Through 'Swachh Devalayam', we want to encourage other shrines too to follow suit,' shares Asha Jasti, RCVC youth services director, with The Hans India. As part of the exercise, dried flowers, leaves, fruit peels and other plant-based waste are segregated and added to a large bin for composting, following a layered approach with microbes for the next 40 days. Later, liquid compost is extracted from the collection and used as plant fertilisers. In addition to recycling temple waste and setting up rainwater harvesting pits, the club members also plant 'sacred trees' such as 'bilvam', 'maaredu' 'tulasi', among others, in the premises of theshrine.
Hans India
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Hans India
Devotee-cum-donor transforms temple & its ambience
Vijayawada: The Ramalingeswara temple in Yanamalakuduru, Vijayawada, situated on a hillock, is no longer a standalone pilgrim centre that attracts thousands of devotees during the Prabha Mahotsvam held as part of Sivaratri celebrations. Thanks to the steely resolve of an ardent devotee, Sanga Narasimha Rao, who is also a donor to the temple's enhancements, the shrine today has a multi-level parking complex that can accommodate 600 cars, 15,000 two-wheelers and capacious halls on the top floor for spiritual gatherings. It was built at a cost of Rs 50 crore. The temple now also has an an Annadanam complex, built at a cost of Rs 12 crore, in which 2,500 devotees can be served food at a time. Besides, 50 cottages are being built with expert guidance from engineers drawn from Mumbai, Madras and Kharagpur IITs. With the foregoing enhanced facilities and improved amenities, pilgrims can now afford to stay there comfortably and visit other prominent temples across Krishna district, particularly the Sri Kanaka Durga temple in Vijayawada, Subrahmanyeswara Swamy temple at Mopidevi, and Pandurangaswamy temple in Chilakalapudi near Machilipatnam. Narasimha Rao, the moving spirit behind these new facilities and improved amenities, when contacted by The Hans India, shared that the multi-level parking complex would meet the parking demands for the next five to six decades. He expressed his strong resolve to further enhance facilities for pilgrims, considering the increasing number of devotees visiting the temple. About infrastructure development around the temple, which bustles with activity during Maha Sivaratri celebrations, Narasimha Rao said developing temple infrastructure would be easy 'if individuals are given a free hand'. In the context, he pointed to the multi-level parking complex. The top floor of the complex, with its expansive 50,000 square yards of carpet area, which can be utilised for spiritual gatherings, with space for accommodating thousands of people coming for pravachanams. Narasimha Rao said that 50 cottages are being constructed near the temple to provide accommodation, which will greatly benefit thousands of devotees who visit Vijayawada daily. By staying in these cottages, visitors can conveniently explore all the important temples in the combined Krishna district. Regarding the widening of the narrow ghat road at certain points, Narasimha Rao highlighted that it was a specially designed project where engineers ingeniously used girders with remarkable engineering expertise. Narasimha Rao pitched for prioritising infrastructure improvement and proper upkeep of temples across the state.
Hans India
4 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Redevelopment of Tirupati Rly Station on fast track
TIRUPATI: Tirupati Railway Station, the main gateway for thousands of devotees visiting the famous Lord Venkateswara temple at Tirumala, is finally getting a modern upgrade. After years of delays, the much-anticipated Rs 300 crore redevelopment project was initiated in 2022, with an initial completion deadline set for February 2025. However, due to technical challenges, the project timeline had to be extended. The station is now expected to be completed by December 2025. The redevelopment works are meant to provide a seamless experience for the passengers whose numbers are expected to cross one lakh mark in the next 2-3 decades. To meet this growing demand, the Indian Railways is transforming Tirupati into one of the most modern railway stations in the country. The old entrance on the north side had become too cramped for the ever-growing crowd of devotees. To ease the pressure, the railways have focused on developing the southern side also with a new building by providing all advanced amenities. Station Director K Satyanarayana told The Hans India that around 95 per cent of the work on the southern side is already done. Once it's completed, the focus will shift to speeding up construction on the northern side. The southern side features a large G+3 building, which will later be expanded by another 10 floors under a public-private partnership. These extra floors will be leased out for commercial spaces. The new station is being built with passenger comfort in mind. The southern basement alone offers parking for 200 cars and 300 two-wheelers. The ground floor will have ticket counters, arrival and departure concourses, and waiting lounges. The second floor will host waiting halls, a women's waiting area, a food court, toilets, and a cloakroom. The third floor will house facilities like a running room for staff, resting rooms for TTEs and railway offices. To make moving around easier, altogether 20 lifts and 22 escalators are being installed. All platforms will connect to two spacious air concourses, each 35 meters wide, making it easier for passengers to reach any platform once their train is announced. Security has also been taken into account. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) offices will be located on the ground floor, close to the platforms for better accessibility. On the northern side, the new station building will cover 10,800 sq m and the G+3 facility will include waiting halls, a VIP lounge, cloakroom, shops, kiosks, reservation office, retiring rooms, and railway offices. To ease traffic, a new road is being built on the southern side to connect DR Mahal Road with Rayala Cheruvu Road. This 80-foot-wide road will also connect the southern side building directly, once the existing running room is demolished and relocated. The Station Director said that with the final touches progressing fast, Tirupati Railway Station is well on its way to becoming a landmark facility that not only serves pilgrims better but also offers a modern, hassle-free experience for all passengers.
Hans India
4 days ago
- Health
- Hans India
Strengthening holistic child development through PTMs: Andhra Pradesh leads the way
In a transformative stride toward improving education outcomes, the Government of Andhra Pradesh has reimagined Parent-Teacher Meetings (PTMs) as a powerful tool to support holistic child development. Under the Mega PTM 2.0 initiative, these meetings are no longer routine check-ins—they have evolved into structured forums fostering academic support, emotional understanding, and community participation. Sarala Devi told The Hans India that this initiative aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes developing the 'whole child,' not just academic performance. Andhra Pradesh's model sets a compelling precedent for integrating multi-dimensional growth into the school system—one that includes academic, emotional, social, behavioral, and physical well-being. A Shift from Marks to Meaningful Development Traditional education in India has long been critiqued for its focus on rote learning and exam scores. Andhra Pradesh's approach redefines success in the classroom, placing equal importance on emotional health, social interaction, and behavioral discipline. During PTMs, teachers now engage with parents on a broader spectrum of issues: Academic Growth: Teachers share subject-wise progress, learning styles, and engagement levels. Parents, especially those from first-generation learner backgrounds, receive guidance on supporting their child's learning at home. Emotional Well-being: Signs of anxiety, withdrawal, or distress are flagged early. Teachers and parents collaborate to ensure children feel safe, heard, and supported. Social Skills: PTMs highlight how students interact with peers and adapt to class environments. Participation in group activities and respect for diversity are encouraged. Behavioral Development: Discussions include habits, ethics, and discipline. Early intervention in cases of irregular attendance or disruptive behavior often prevents long-term issues. Physical Health: Teachers and parents jointly monitor indicators such as fatigue, nutrition, and medical needs. Emphasis is placed on regular physical activity and participation in sports, especially for girls. A Ground-Level Experience: Mega PTM 2.0 in Kurnool Speaking at the Mega PTM 2.0 event at Zilla Parishad High School, Muzaffarnagar, Kurnool, "I witnessed the initiative's impact firsthand. The event brought together students, teachers, and parents in a shared commitment to children's growth". "In my address, I emphasized the importance of parental involvement—not just academically, but emotionally and morally", stated Sarala Devi. The response was overwhelming. Many parents expressed their willingness to become more involved in their children's lives—listening, guiding, and nurturing their holistic growth. This renewed partnership between home and school is the cornerstone of a resilient education system. A Replicable Model for the Nation The Andhra Pradesh government's proactive approach demonstrates how community engagement and structured dialogue can transform schooling outcomes. PTMs have become platforms not just for feedback, but for joint problem-solving and advocacy. This model offers valuable lessons for states across India. By embedding holistic development into the education framework and equipping families to participate meaningfully, we build not only better students—but more compassionate, confident, and capable citizens. Conclusion In every child lies the future of our nation. Andhra Pradesh's evolving PTM framework is a reminder that education is most effective when it is inclusive, empathetic, and collaborative. As this model gains ground, it offers hope—and a blueprint—for educational reform across India.
