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Mumbai gets country’s first digital training centre for the disabled

Helen Keller Institute and NASSCOM join hands for country’s first NDLM centre to impart digital literacy training to the disabled.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

The Helen Keller Institute for Deaf and Deaf-blind (HKIDB) and NASSCOM Foundation yesterday jointly opened India’s first ever NDLM centre dedicated to training Persons with Disabilities in Digital Literacy. This will also be the first NDLM centre based out of Mumbai.

HKIDB will facilitate the training infrastructure and the trainers at the centre. Special care has been taken to make sure that it remains accessible to Persons with Disabilities. The computers inside the centre have been loaded with the latest accessibility hardware and software like Job Access with Speech (JAWS), speakers, mics, power braillers – braille keyboards and braille embosser (braille printer) etc. The course material has been fully tested for W3C level 2 accessibility level.

The centre will have beneficiaries trained on all digital devices, specifically, computers and mobile phones. Once trained, the beneficiaries will be able to send emails, connect on social media, buy from e-commerce websites, and even use the Internet to avail various Government services such as registering for Aadhar cards, ration cards, PAN cards, and others.

On the occasion, Yogesh Desai, CEO, HKIDB said, “Our aim is to develop the Deaf & Deaf-blind into self-sufficient human beings and integrate them into the regular stream of society to perform to the best of their abilities. The NDLM centre will address digital literacy needs of persons with other disabilities also. WE believe that no one is incapable of being taught and no one can do without education.”

Shrikant Sinha, CEO, NASSCOM Foundation said, “Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities has been one of the top priorities for NASSCOM Foundation. We are attempting to close the digital divide by helping Persons with Disability to harness the power of computers and mobiles and develop necessary skills to start using them with confidence.”

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All in one preparation for study abroad

Are you planning to study abroad? Read on to know a few rules for cracking the admissions and moving process.
by Adarsh Khandelwal, Co-founder, Collegify

In recent years, studying abroad has become an increasingly attractive option. While many dream about it, only a few make these dreams a reality.

Planning is the key to the entire process. One can significantly increase his chances of making it to a great university abroad by simply focusing on the right things at the right times. There’s no point of spreading oneself out too thin and resorting to multiple sources at once. You are only likely to be overwhelmed and confused with all that comes toward you. The first thing you need to do is gauge whether a foreign education is for you – academically and otherwise.

Do your research

Talk to students, alumni and possibly professors from the institutions you are considering to acquire an understanding of what you might be getting yourself into. Accordingly, gauge whether you would be interested in pursuing the option further. Next, talk to your parents and make your goals and plans clear to them while explaining to them the details, merits and demerits of the programs. You and your family need to take a hard look at yourselves financially and ascertain whether you will require external financial assistance or not.

Find professional help

Now that you’re firm on studying abroad, you need to strategise. For this, find an educational consultant who understands you and your goals and is committed to helping you realise them. The ideal counsellor will give you a comprehensive understanding of the application process, help you identify the best institutions for you, and assist you with the preparation of a timeline for standardized tests (SATs, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, TOEFL, IELTS, etc.) and essays. Prepare well for the standardised tests but account for time that may be required for a second or third attempt (with high costs, you should look to avoid them as much as possible). Essays are a crucial component of the application and you will need time to write and perfect multiple drafts.

Build your profile

Universities abroad seek holistically developed individuals, so you’re going to need a lot more than just good test scores and recommendations. You will need to start building your profile from a young age by pursuing your strengths and interests. A typical profile includes project work, summer internships, extra-curricular activities and volunteer work. If you already know where you want to go professionally, you could also start networking with individuals in the industry to understand the skill set required to succeed and begin working on developing those skills. This could help you land valuable summer internships in college that could lead to full-time jobs upon graduation.

The application process

Understand the details of the application process very well. Sometimes, colleges have nuanced differences in their application processes that might need to customise your application accordingly.

Help your school/college understand how to draft transcripts and recommendation letter that would portray you in the best possible light. Don’t hesitate to contact admissions committees with doubts. They are always happy to help and might even share information that may not be on their websites. Not just that, you might also gain an edge over competition by creating some recall value for your self in the committee.

Work on your applications in such a way that you have a month’s time to go over all your details and possibly edit some essays as well. Once satisfied with your work, compile all documents and mail them out or submit them online well in advance of the deadline. An early submission of an application gives you a better chance of being interviewed and sharing a side of yourself you were unable to in the applications. Also, if you achieve or do something significant in the period between submission and decisions, make sure you contact the admissions office and update them.

Once the course begins

Don’t be too hard on yourself when it comes to adjusting socially and making friends. Try – as much as possible – to be yourself. The more you try to put up an appearance, the more awkward and different you will appear to others. It’s okay if you’re not dressed like everyone else, or not in the popular clique. Relationships take time to develop and you can’t expect to forge ties like the ones you had with your friends back home within weeks.

Studying abroad is not about the fun, games, glitz and glamour of being in a first-world country. It is a serious life decision. You’re there for a reason – to grow to become an independent and resilient individual and push yourself to discover and realise the potential that may have never known you had. It is a once-in- a-lifetime opportunity offering exciting experiences ranging from learning about new cultures, speaking a new language, making new friends from diverse socio-economic,political and ethnic backgrounds, to discussing issues you might never have considered. With each of them, you can discover a new side of yourself, but it’s down to you to seize every moment.

(Picture courtesy www.youthincmag.com. Image is used for representational purpose only)

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New lens takes the sting out of cataract surgery

Pharma company Abbott has developed a new lens that corrects presbyopia and inferior quality vision problems after cataract removal surgery.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

The term ‘cataract surgery’ often conjures up scary images of elders and grandparents wearing spectacles, straining to read small text and having trouble with bright lights at night. Cataract surgery is one of the most common surgeries in India, with over 6.2 million procedures done in 2013-14.  The condition is also the leading cause of blindness, according to the National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB).

Cataracts require replacing the clouded natural lens in the eye with an intraocular lens (IOL). Intraocular lenses (IOLs) today may correct presbyopia (poor ability to focus on near objects), or offer quality vision only at distinct distances, such as near and far, while vision between these distances may be reduced. With almost a third of the world’s cataract procedures estimated to be occurring in India, and with elders having more active lifestyles, the demand for newer technologies that offer better functional vision and independence from spectacles is increasing.

Intraocular lensHowever, the problems associated with cataract surgery cannot be ignored: patients often complain of experiencing a ‘halo’ around light sources, or a glare in bright lights. This does not allow them to see as clearly as they should. .

Help is now at hand to combat these issues. Yesterday, the pharma company Abbott announced the launch of its revolutionary technology, the TECNIS Symfony® Extended Range of Vision IOL in India, enabling doctors to offer people with cataracts a continuous range of high-quality functional vision for far, intermediate, and near distances, with a reduced incidence of halo and glare, comparable to a standard monofocal lens.

The TECNIS Symfony® IOL is a first-of-its-kind presbyopia-correcting lens designed to reduce the need for spectacles and provide a significant advancement over traditional IOL technologies. The lens is designed to increase the distance over which an object appears in focus across a continuous range of distances, without sacrificing a person’s visual clarity or contrast.

“As people age, the inability to focus and see clearly is a major challenge. Constantly handling glasses can be cumbersome. This new technology offers vision correction for life. Post cataract surgery, patients have reported getting back vision which mimics the vision they had in their youth,” said Dr Ramamurthy, Chairman, The Eye Foundation, Coimbatore.

Studies in Europe and New Zealand have demonstrated significant improvement in visual acuity with this lens, where a majority of people reported being able to perform daily activities without spectacles, at far, intermediate and near distances.

“The people who come to us for cataract surgery are mostly in their 50s and 60s. They still have an active lifestyle, drive regularly, use computers every day and rely on mobile devices. For them, this technology provides better clarity at near, intermediate and far distances, without having to wear spectacles.” said Dr Sri Ganesh, Chairman and MD, Nethradhama Super Speciality Hospital, Bangalore.

(Pictures courtesy Abbott, en.wikipedia.org)

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5 things to consider when getting a new office

We present 5 factors to consider when you get new office space, to create a good working environment for staff.
by Reyna Mathur

Many start-ups don’t have the resources to open shop in swanky locations. At least for the first two years of a start-up’s life, unless it starts doing phenomenal business from the word go, there is no option but to take up a location that suits the owner’s budget. Staff members just have to go with the working space till a bigger, better one is acquired.

Though any person will prefer to work in an upmarket, well-equipped office, many start-ups begin their professional journey as a hole in the wall. However, if the business owners go beyond only economics and look for a space that meets at least the most basic needs of employees, everybody will be happy.

Here are 5 things to consider when getting a new office space.

1.Account for the number of people you are hiring. If the nature of your business is such that staff will have only desk jobs, then you will need more seating space. Some of your staff members may have roving jobs, ie marketing and sales personnel, who will require a desk. However, you can have them share their desks with other staff when they are not at work. If possible, zero in on a space that has seating for at least two extra members in the team, plus a seat for the office boy.

2. Ensure the place has a toilet and water connection. Most offices, especially the ones located on the ground floors of residential buildings do not have water connections, so there will not be a toilet inside the office. Your staff cannot spend the day without a visit to the washroom, and they can suffer health complications because of it. However, if you find that there is simply no scope to put in a toilet in the office, find out what alternate toilet arrangements you can provide the staff. You must consider that if there is no toilet inside your office or a common facility close by, women will be the first ones to refuse to work for you.

Pantry for office3. A pantry is a must. Every office should have a small pantry space, where the staff can brew tea or heat up their lunch or afternoon snacks. If you get an office with a spacious pantry space, your staff will love you for it. People like to share their lunch with each other and sit together and gossip over their afternoon tea, so if there is space to put in a common dining table, it will be a big advantage for your office. However, if there isn’t enough space for a pantry, at least ensure that you create a space for a hot plate, a microwave oven and a storage space for Styrofoam cups, sugar cubes, soup packets, spoons, plates, forks and knives. It can simply be created by segregating a suitable corner with a partition. A small refrigerator is also a bonus.

4. Check all electricity connections. When buying or leasing out an office space, you will need electricity connections for your mains, the air-conditioner, computers, water filters (if there is a water connection), printers, scanners, etc. If there are not enough plug points for all your machinery, you might need to get the space rewired and new points created as per future use. You should also check if the existing connections and fixtures work properly and all lines have been properly earthed. Take a look around to see if there is any existing leakage – if there is, there is a chance of it causing short circuits in the monsoon season. Get it rectified before you move in.

5. Check for security. In today’s times, we have to take care to ensure that our work environments are secure and there is no internal or external threat to the staff. Do not get an office in an area that suffers power outages in the evenings, and look for well-lit access roads leading to the office. Second, inquire what security measures the building has in place for the shops and offices in its premises. An armed security guard who takes down details of all visitors to the office is a bonus. However, if there is no security provided, you can install CCTVs at the entrance door, as well as a live security access door that can be clamped down under five seconds in case of a threat from outside. It is a good idea to install biometric access systems so that only bonafide staff can enter. Also ensure that the front door is fixed with shatter-proof glass panes. Inside the office, you must ensure your employees’ safety and security from theft. If necessary, install a CCTV system to keep a watch on the office floor.

(Pictures courtesy www.alliancevirtualoffices.com, www.tripadvisor.com. Images used for representational purpose only)

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Turtles on silk: Original Jatin Das serigraphs unsold

The noted artist donated his depiction of Olive Ridley turtles as Vishnu’s ‘Kurma’ avatar in 2010, many serigraphs unsold yet.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

Every year, Olive Ridley turtles turn up at Odisha for mass nesting. This is a sight too wonderful for words, and it always invites artistes and photographers to capture the image for eternity.

In 2010, however, noted artist Jatin Das made a visit to Rushikulya in Odisha during the mass nesting season, and inspired by the sight, made a special serigraph (art on a silk screen) depicting the Olive Ridley turtle as Vishnu in his ‘Kurma’ avatar. The serigraph was given as a donation to the Dakshin Foundation in a series of 500. Numbered and signed serigraphs are normally quite expensive, but this special edition sells at Rs 10,000 each to forward the cause of marine conservation. The unsigned serigraphs are sold at Rs 1,000 each. However, several of the serigraphs are still unsold.

In an email interview with The Metrognome, the Dakshin Foundation’s Dr Karthik Shanker and Murali M explained the concept of the serigraphs and why the artwork is important. Excerpts:

How was this project conceived?

Dakshin Foundation and the International Sea Turtle Society (ISTS) approached Jatin Das with the prospect of making an artwork for the occasion of the 30th annual Sea Turtle Symposium in Goa in 2010. This was in keeping with the tradition of creating a special memento for the Symposium which is held at a different location each year. The 30th Symposium was held in Asia for the first time and was co-hosted by Dakshin Foundation and the ISTS.

How did you get artist Jatin Das on board?

Turtle_Kachua Serigraph by Jatin Das(Unsigned)Jatin Das was contacted with the proposal and invited to Dakshin Foundation’s field station in Odisha to witness the mass nesting of Olive Ridley turtles, a grand phenomenon also known as an arribada (Spanish for ‘arrival’). Of the seven surviving species of sea turtles, only two species of Ridleys (Olive and Kemp’s) nest simultaneously in large numbers on specific beaches. Jatin Das himself was born in Odisha. On witnessing this unique event in 2010, he created the serigraph depicting the Olive Ridley as the ‘Kurma’ avatar of Vishnu.

Are there many artists working with serigraphs today?

As per our information, not many artists work on serigraphs. However, some very prominent artists such as Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Andy Warhol, MF Husain, FN Souza and SH Raza have brought out serigraphs. Serigraphy is a versatile, elaborate and intricate technique. As the Saffronart blog puts it, ‘serigraphs are a great way for art lovers and art investors to start collecting, because they cost a fraction of the price of the paintings or other works of renowned artists’. Also, limited edition and signed serigraphs are a good investment as their value increases over time.

What is the current status of the project?
The project was completed in 2010 itself, albeit a couple of days after the Symposium ended. Hence, the serigraphs were not sold out.

How many serigraphs have been sold yet?
Not many serigraphs have been sold. We are still in possession of 500 signed serigraphs and 60 unsigned ones.

What are you doing to spread awareness about the project, and about Olive Ridley turtles in general?
We have a dedicated outreach and awareness programme as part of the Sea Turtle project. Direct efforts include publication and distribution of various posters, books and manuals to schoolchildren, forest departments and a network of NGO partners working on sea turtles and coastal conservation (Turtle Action Group).

To buy the special edition Jatin Das serigraphs depicting Olive Ridley turtles, contact Dr Shanker at kshanker@ces.iisc.ernet.in or call Dakshin Foundation at +91 80 42113509.

(Featured image courtesy www.greenpeace.org. Serigraph image courtesy Dakshin Foundation)
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10 things to know about Yakub Memon

This chartered accountant will be the first to be executed among those accused for the 1993 serial bombings in Bombay.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

The country is currently discussing the upcoming execution by hanging of Yakub Memon (52), one of the many accused in the horrific 1993 bomb blasts of Bombay. A Mumbai resident, Yakub is a chartered accountant by qualification, and has been lodged in lodged for the last 21 years.

But who is this man, and why is his execution so significant? Here are 10 pointers on his involvement in the case.

1. Yakub is the younger brother of underworld don Tiger Memon. They grew up with their family in Byculla, Mumbai, in a largely Muslim neighbourhood. Tiger later shifted to Mahim with his family. The Memons were known to be hospitable and generous, often inviting everyone for family celebrations.

2. Yakub studied chartered accountancy from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Mumbai. He completed his course in 1990. Previously, he studied for M.Com at Burhani College of Commerce and Arts.

Yakub Memon3. He was arrested from New Delhi in 1994, though he has maintained all along that he and his wife surrendered to the police instead of fleeing the country. His confession about the 1993 blasts and the roles of everyone concerned was compiled into a thick dossier that laid out the entire conspiracy with names and timelines. He admitted that the plot was masterminded by his brother Tiger, who has since fled the country and is said to be living in Pakistan and UAE.

4. Handsome and articulate, Yakub was the obvious choice for his role as bookkeeper and back end planner for the 1993 blasts operation. He confessed to keeping a track of expenses, arranging for funds, ensuring money reached the handlers, and also arranged for some of the vehicles used in the bombing.

5. Judge PD Kode, who presided over the 1993 bombings trial at the TADA Court, held Yakub guilty on four charges: Criminal conspiracy, Aiding and abetting and facilitating in a terrorist act, Illegal possession and transportation of arms and ammuntion, Possessing explosives with intent to endanger lives.

6. While in prison, Yakub added to his educational qualifications with two Masters degrees – one for English literature and the other for Political Science – from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).

7. Yakub’s lawyers previously argued for leniency in his case, citing schizophrenic tendencies in their client. However, this appeal was later dismissed by the court.

8. In all, Yakub has filed three appeals for clemency in the matter. After the third was rejected by the Supreme Court of India, the Court upheld the Government of Maharashtra’s demand for Yakub’s execution.

9. Jab We Met and Highway director Imtiaz Ali played Yakub Memon in director Anurag Kashyap’s critically acclaimed film Black Friday, which was based on the 1993 serial bombings.

10. Yakub will turn 53 on July 30, 2015, the day of his execution by hanging. He will be hanged at Nagpur Central Jail.

(Pictures courtesy www.talaippu.tk, www.ndtv.com)

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