The Observer An IIJNM publication
Indian students in Ukraine face anxiety, uncertainty about their future as the war continues | P 2
Vol. 21, Issue 23
Thursday, March 17, 2022
Many schools in B’luru unaware about the scheme By Swarali Bodas
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Owing to a shortage of Braille books in schools for the blind in the city, multiple students have to share one book | Courtesy: Pexels Prakash G, A teacher at The Divine Light School for the Blind, Whitefield, said the government sometimes does provide them books, but never on time. “More than a year goes by and then they send us some books... those are of no use then,” he said. Kannikka Rajamurthi, another teacher at the same school,
also spoke about the difficulties that she and her colleagues face as their students do not have access to enough books. “It is difficult to teach blind students. On top of it, if one book is being shared among four or five students, it gets really difficult. They aren’t getting quality education not because of their
disability, but because of lack of accessibility,” she said. According to the state budget for 2021-22, to assist visually impaired students studying in classes 1 to 10 in special schools, ‘Sushravya’ digital book banks were to be established. Digital books were supposed to be supplied to the special schools. However, the budget for 202223, presented by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on March 4, had no mention of Braille books or digital book banks. The administrative heads of most blind schools in Bengaluru have not even heard of the digital banks promised in the budget. Siddhesh Davekar, administrative head at Jyothi Seva, a home for blind children, said: “I am at this school for more than seven years. In these seven years, I have heard promises from the government about Braille books and other facilities, but we have never received them. This is the first time I am hearing of the concept of digital book banks.” ►Continued on page 3
Work from home during lockdowns raised mental anguish among women
Had more work at home despite help from men By Tina Freese
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omen working from home had more workload than men during the pandemic-induced lockdowns, affecting their mental health, as per a study. Deloitte’s study on the impact of pandemic on working women has revealed that 65 per cent of the surveyed women had shouldered greater responsibility than men for household chores, one-third believed their workload had increased, 58 per cent of those with children reported added childcare responsibility.
Gender roles and stigma in the society contributed to the increased workload on women during the pandemic | Courtesy: Apeksha Priya Nearly 82 per cent of women said their lives had been severely disrupted by the pandemic. Namrata Poptani, who works in GSS Architects, informed The Observer: “Sometimes it became
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Fitness watches and Fitbit trackers gained popularity during the lockdown as gyms closed down | P 3
Govt’s promise of Braille books yet to see the light of the day
harathi Kokade, 15, a blind student studying at Sri Rakum school, Indiranagar, still learns from old Braille textbooks provided by her school. At the Divine Light School for the Blind, one Braille book is shared among five students. The promised Braille books and digital book banks never reached the table of blind schools in Bengaluru. “Our seniors used these books and now we have been given the same books. We aren’t getting any new books,” said Bharathi. Jyothi Suresh, administrative head at Sri Rakum, said they never received any Braille books from the government. “We either get funding from NGOs or manage on our own,” she informed.
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very difficult to manage work and home at the same time. Besides household chores, if there is something going on in the house, we can’t ignore it, right? We have to attend to it. The men
in the family do help, but most of the work mostly falls on the women. That’s sadly how society is programmed to work.” Many women faced a lot of stress during lockdowns. Atashi Sharma, 48, a school teacher, had a similar experience. “The lockdown time was very stressful. Not just for me..., it was (so) for almost every working woman. With no domestic help all, work like cleaning, cooking and office work on top of it was a herculean task. Relief came only when things got better and I could get my domestic help back. “I could not keep track of time, it was like the days were passing so quickly, and all I did every day was just work,” she added. The workload was more on women, but family support helped many to cope with it. ►Continued on page 3
News Briefs
US Fed hikes rates first time since 2018
The US Federal Reserve has announced a 0.25 per cent hike in its benchmark short-term interest rate. Amid high inflation, the decision was taken at the Federal Open Market Committee meeting. The last hike that was approved by the committee was back in December 2018.
World court orders Russia to suspend invasion
The UN top court has ordered Russia to suspend its invasion of Ukraine. “The Russian Federation shall immediately suspend military operations that it commenced on 24 February on the territory of Ukraine,” presiding judge Joan Donoghue told.
Bus catches fire in MP, no passenger injured
About 60 passengers escaped unhurt after the bus they were travelling in caught fire on a highway in MP’s Betul district on Wednesday night. After smoke started billowing, all passengers safely disembarked from the vehicle. A probe is on to ascertain the cause of the fire.
Israel records 2 cases of a new Covid variant
Israel’s health ministry has said that it has recorded two cases of a new Covid variant. The strain, combining two sub-variants of the Omicron version of the Covid-19 virus – dubbed BA.1 and BA.2 – was recorded during PCR tests on two passengers arriving at Ben Gurion airport.
Rupee rises to 75.89 against US dollar
The rupee advanced 32 paise to 75.89 against the US dollar in the opening trade on Thursday, supported by positive domestic equities, broad dollar weakness and softening crude oil prices. The rupee opened higher, tracking overnight weakness in the greenback and crude oil, Reliance Securities said in a research note. “Risk assets rose, and the dollar declined despite the Federal Reserve signalling an aggressive monetary tightening cycle and could also lend support to the rupee,” it added.