A security guard at a migrant labourer’s work place shaped the topper of the first ever recruitment examination in Telangana. It is not just about this incredible feat, but the fact that a labourer’s son has emerged topper in a government recruitment test itself infuses confidence in the system.

Yadaiah, who worked as a labourer during his school days with his parents always on the move in search of work, is topper of the first two recruitment exams conducted in the new State. A Mechanical Engineer from Osmania University College of Engineering (OUCE), Yadaiah tasted success despite the adversities he faced as a child. Educated in social welfare schools and getting into OUCE on merit, he had many an opportunity to pursue a career in the corporate sector.

“Seeing Telangana agitation unfolding on the campus as a student I decided to be part of the building process of the new State,” says Yadaiah, who turned down offers from Infosys and L&T in Gujarat. “I had seen enough migration as a child and now I want my parents to be at home in K.C. Thanda (a hamlet of Ambatipalli village in Lingala mandal of Mahabubagar district) and enjoy their life,” he adds.

The young man says he will always be indebted to the security guard at a company in Palvancha where his parents worked as labourers for sometime. “He generated interest in education when I was just six or seven years old, teaching me as I played around him. Later, I was directly admitted in 4th class in A.P. Tribal Welfare School in Camp Rayavaram,” the topper adds. He then moved to AP Social Welfare Residential School, Chityala in Wanaparthy mandal. Sri Chaitanya institutions offered him free Intermediate education given his talent, leading him to OUCE for his B.Tech and also M.Tech in Production Engineering.

The most emotional moment of his life was when the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) Chairman Ghanta Chakrapani said, “You are the ambassador of TSPSC’s efforts.”

“The test and the interview shattered views that jobs in the government sector are always managed with money and influence. This has reinforced my desire to work sincerely for the new State,” says Yadaiah.

Prof. Chakrapani agreed that they could send a positive signal to lakhs of government job aspirants, that only merit prevails and not money and connections. The statement gains credence as Yadaiah is not alone in the list of achievers. Sandhya Rani, daughter of a washerman also figured in the top with her hard work and determination. “I always thought interviews in recruitment exams are fixed, but what surprised me was my selection and the way they made me comfortable during the interview,” says the B.Tech graduate from JNTU Jagityal, brimming with confidence.

As a school student, Sandhya helped her parents in washing clothes after collecting them from different households. Her parents continue to wash clothes in Siddipet though they could educate two of Sandhya’s sisters who are married and well settled now. “They believe in dignity of labour and I will similarly respect my job as the Assistant Executive Engineer for which I am selected,” says Sandhya.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Telangana / by R. Ravikanth Reddy / Hyderabad – February 15th, 2016

The book discusses gender in its composite form without limiting itself to crime against women.

Telangana has become the first State to introduce compulsory gender education at the graduate level; without repeating gender stereotypes in its bilingual textbook titled, ‘Towards a World of Equals.’

The book introduced on a pilot basis in engineering colleges affiliated to the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU-Hyderabad) discusses gender in its composite form without limiting itself to crime against women. From information on unacknowledged women writers of Telangana to problems of sex selection and women’s work in politics and economics, the book attempts to cover it all.

It also touches upon complex subjects like female-centric history and male-female relationships.

Structured in simple language and form to suit under-graduates, the book discusses different strands of women’s movements across the world, introducing students to political movements of Afro-American, Caribbean, African, Dalit and minority women.

And coupled with the book is a collection of visual teaching tools which include documentary films.

The book is being taught over 14 weeks in a semester at the rate of two classes per week.

Credits earned in the end semester examination add up to students’ GPAs.

A nine-member, all-women, panel which drafted the syllabus and developed its content has already held four training workshops for groups of 15 to 40 teachers and is expected to take up yet another session this week.

What makes the textbook interesting is the gamut of reactions and classroom discussions which it attempts to generate. For instance, in its first chapter on Socialisation, the book hints at initiating a discussion in the classroom on “Are boys taught household work while growing up? Discuss your experiences at home.”

Optimistic
Editors of the textbook published by the Telugu Academy are optimistic about the results.

“We have received a lot of good feedback from teachers,” said A. Suneetha, one of the editors.

The book discusses construction of gender stereotypes through pictures on male and female hairstyles, clothing and discussions on popular songs like ‘Kolaveri’, advertisements and films.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Telangana / by Nikhila Henry / Hyderabad – January 11th, 2016