Monthly Archives: October 2018
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Washable sanitary pads in Hyderabad soon
Days for Girls is a global movement breaking menstrual stigma while improving access to quality, reusable menstrual care products.
Hyderabad :
In celebration of the UN International Day of the Girl on October 11, Happy Smiles Foundations, in partnership with Days for Girls International (DfGI), is inaugurating a social enterprise in Hyderabad to provide affordable, environmentally-friendly menstrual health solutions for women and girls.
The group is launching the enterprise this month. DfG Founder and CEO, Celeste Mergens visited Hyderabad recently and met with various organizations and government officials to discuss menstrual health management (MHM) and the needs of Indian schoolgirls and women when managing their menses. Days for Girls supplies empower women to make a choice that supports the Swachh Bharat initiative.
Days for Girls is a global movement breaking menstrual stigma while improving access to quality, reusable menstrual care products. The US-based nonprofit organization has a 10 year history of delivering menstrual supplies and health education to women and girls around the world; to date, they have reached over 1 million women and girls in over 120 countries with Days for Girls Kits, which include comfortable washable sanitary pads that are eco-friendly, and designed to manage menses without stigma or shame.
In India, more than 40% of women report lack of access to sanitary pads, and many social and cultural taboos leave women and girls feeling uncomfortable discussing their menses or purchasing sanitary products.
One in five girls drops out of school after starting menstruation. India has recently seen a surge in efforts to address this issue from local NGOs, community leaders, and government officials, especially as menstrual health management has become recognized as an important barrier to gender equality, women’s health, and girls’ education. DfG uses a multi-tiered approach to menstrual health challenges that involves a global network of over 50,000 volunteer Chapters and Teams. DfG has more than 80 Social Enterprises globally, like the one launching in Hyderabad, with a mission to increase access to menstrual care and
education.
Happy Smiles Foundation and Days for Girls International say they are partnering to forge change around the issue of MHM and ‘act as a catalyst for local leaders to continue speaking out and creating solutions to this taboo subject.’ Celeste Mergens, Founder, Days for Girls International and team members Stephanie Stewart Schmid, Starry Laurie took part in the city event.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Express News Service / October 10th, 2018
Harsha becomes GM
He is the second one from Telangana
Harsha Bharathkoti has become the second Grandmaster from Telangana having attained the mandatory ELO rating of 2500 during the on-going Gujarat International Grandmasters open chess tournament on Monday, according to his coach N.V.S. Rama Raju.
Raju, who also trained GM D. Harika, told The Hindu on Monday that the 17-year-old Harsha got all the three GM norms including the third one in Abu Dhabi Masters.
Now, Harsha will be now be officially conferred with the GM title having earned the eight points required after an impressive start to his campaign in the Gujarat Open. Arjun Erigaisi was the first player from Telangana to get the GM title.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sports> Other Sports / by V.V. Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – October 08th, 2018
Secunderabad sailor wins Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award
Secunderabad sailor wins Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award.
Hyderabad :
Secunderabad-based Navy sailor Lt Commander Aishwarya Boddapati who, along with five other Navy women, became the first to circumnavigate the world on a shipping vessel, was surprised when she learnt that she had won the Tenzing Norgay Award for Adventure.
“I couldn’t believe it. This is the highest award for adventure in the country,” a jubilant Boddapati told Express on Tuesday. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports informed the Lieutenant and the five other Naval officers via email late on Monday night. She is set to receive the award from President Ram Nath Kovind on September 25 at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.
She said, “The expedition was a gruelling challenge for all of us. It was never done before by women and we were given extensive physical, psychological and emotional training for six months before embarking upon the mission.”
She considers the Pacific Ocean to be the most gruelling part of her journey that spanned 254 days. “Even though we chose to circumnavigate around the world during the summer season, the average temperature in the Pacific Region was -six degree Celsius,” Bodapatti said.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New IndianExpress / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Aihik Sur, Express News Service / September 19th, 2018
Sneaking into the Guinness Book in a Gandhi garb
5,500 students gather in a record-breaking bid in Nalgonda
Gandhi’s iconic garb — a loincloth, khadi shawl and a stick — to identify himself with the poor, is meant to teach students the simple way of life the Mahatma preached and practised.
But organisers of the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi in Nalgonda, went a step further, to create a record, teaching schoolchildren Gandhi’s practices — truth and non-violence — in a demonstration.
Bare-chested, with bald head caps, round glasses, watercolour moustaches and sticks, thousands of students reached the N.G. College Grounds here, for what they were told will be, “a historic exercise”.
Record-breaker
Organising the ‘largest gathering of people dressed as Mohandas Gandhi’ in the town, members from the Gandhi Global Family and Gandhi Gyan Prathishtan said the event was breaking a Guinness world record, of 4,605 students dressed as Bal Gandhis in Bengaluru in 2015. An organiser announced that the official count for the record on Tuesday was 5,500 students, all between age six and 14. “This is not only an attempt to get into the Guinness World Records (GWR), but to tell students to walk in Gandhi ways,” chairman of GGF G. Rajender Reddy said. He later read the ‘Gandhi pledge’ to the gathering. While no one from from the Guinness World Records was present, the organisers were meticulous in hiring a lot of photographers, videographers and a drone camera to record the event.
No Gandhigiri this
However, for parents who were at the venue, organisers teaching the students ahimsa or non-violence and truth, through the event was just ‘going overboard’, and was aimed only for a record.
“Like all parents, I dropped my son in school at 7.30 a.m. Why should they stand in the sun for four hours, for a ten-minute song and video recording for their competition? How will this help them learn about Gandhi?” P. Vara Prasad, a parent questioned.
Another parent pointed that all the 5,500 students were photo and videographed individually, for evidence, with numbered tokens, and then allowed into enclosures, causing the delay. Many were seen holding umbrellas and water bottles for their children in the 35 degree Celsius temperature, and some feeding them. By the end of the programme at 12 noon, tens of students were down due to dizziness, and were helped by volunteers.
Speaking to The Hindu, a member from the GGF justified the waiting. “If they are unable to be like Gandhi for four hours, how will they serve the country in future?” he asked. He eventually expressed regrets for missing out on amenities for some students.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Telangana / by B. Pradeep / Nalgonda – October 02nd, 2018
Keeping the passion alive
Carrom player Appoorwa continues to evoke admiration with her consistent performance
The young as well as the champions, who have already made a mark in carrom, continue playing the game with the same passion shown by yesteryear stars in the last four decades.
Also, carrom is one sport that has helped players in the State get more jobs in government and public sector undertakings than some of the Olympic disciplines.
And two of the finest women stars – P. Nirmala and S. Appoorwa – continue to evoke awe and admiration with their consistent performances at all levels.
When Appoorwa, a two-time world champion, was felicitated at Anand Nagar Welfare Association Sports Academy during the on-going State championship, it was an acknowledgement of not just her achievements, but her efforts to keep the sport alive.
For the record, the Hyderabad Carrom Association, founded 42 years ago, has been a pioneer in sustaining the interest of many in the sport, thanks to the efforts its founder-president B.K. Haranath and general secretary S. Madan Raj.
Dreaming big
“It’s always nice to be felicitated by your fraternity. It keeps you going and dream big,” said Apporwa in a chat with The Hindu.
“My journey began way back in 1991 and I am glad that I keep playing the sport, thanks to the Association officials, my parents and my husband Kishore Kumar. It’s never easy to be an Administrative Officer (LIC), take care of your family and a growing kid (son Kanishk),” she said.
“I am not even thinking of life beyond carrom. I will keep playing as long as I can. It’s an integral part of my life,” said Appoorwa.
Decent job
Former SAARC champion D. Ravinder Goud says the best part is that many achievers are still assured of a decent job. “This is a biggest motivating factor for many to continue playing,” he said.
Former U.S. Open carrom champion, R.D. Dinesh Babu, said the increasing number of players was a tribute to the way the State association has been organising the events with such regularity over the decades.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Telangana / by V.V. Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – October 02nd, 2018