Be a Masked Hero!

“Have to learn to live with Covid-19” Govt. of India.

“Coronavirus new reality, we will have to learn to live with it” – WHO

           These are the disheartening statements from national and world’s top authority. A frightening truth. A virus that started in Wuhan China around the beginning of 2020 has seized the world- the whole world order. The nations around the world are fighting their own battles for the safety of their citizens. The scientists, researchers, scholars are on their toes to find a lethal weapon for this newfound enemy of the world. To date, as I write this, there are no vaccines and no cure for this virus – SARS- CoV-2. The world has already crossed 3, 50,000 deaths. Every one of us is a genuine concern about our loved ones and our health at this moment.

 The only confirm information about the virus is that it is spread by :

1.       Respiratory droplets.

2.        By contacts.

Therefore, the countries around the world have had lockdown their cities, airways, railways, roadways, and citizens locked up in their houses so that governments could be better equipped to combat the infected and lessen the spread of the diseases. Success or failure of this strategy would come only soon when we have won the battle.

Studies have also given very important information about the virus.

1.       The maximum transmission distance of the virus aerosol- is about 4 meters.

 (Virus Aerosol – particles generated in the air during breathing, talking, coughing, and sneezing)

2.       Even after speaking saliva particles remain floating in the air for 8 minutes (According to study conducted National Institute of health)

3.       The Virus remains on the surface for 7 days longest in plastics and stainless steel surfaces (Study by Lancet)

4.        Outer and inner layers of masks can contain viruses up to 7 days. Higher contamination rates over the inner layer of the face mask.

      By now at large we know that mask has become a priority. It is the only weapon against an invisible enemy that can be maintained by every one of us diligently and can be accessed or at least DIY a mask. Much has been talked about the virus, let us put our minds on the mask- the weapon since there is very insufficient information on the role of mask play in the containment of the virus. Let us see the mask use, mask etiquette, and mask maintenance in pointers. This could go a long way to combat this virus with the participation of the individual.

Very important mask use, mask etiquette, and mask maintenance are below:

1.       Don’t just wear a mask chose a good one.

2.       Ensure your masks cover your mouth, nose as much as possible

3.       Avoid touching your masks once you have worn them.

4.       While removing your mask, do not touch the front of it.

5.       Mask must be untied from behind.

6.    Before and after use, clean your hand with alcohol-based sanitizer or wash with water and soap.

7.       If the mask becomes damp/moist, change it immediately.

8.       Avoid reuse of the surgical masks – it has an extreme drop in efficacy after a single-use.

9.    Cloth masks can be washed and reused.

10.   Soak it for 15 minutes and rinsed in Lukewarm water.

11.   Don’t reuse cloth mask after 20 washes as it reduces its filtration capacity over time.

Above is the least a responsible citizen could do and we should be doing this to help our government in these battles against the virus as well as to keep safe our loved ones around us. If every individual does their part, this battle can be won. Follow the above, wear a mask, and be a Masked Hero!

Wear Masks! Stay Indoor! Stay Safe!

Is Shutting Down The Defunct Schools, A Solution?

(Ngaleko Residential School.PK District. Classrooms constructed by the Public, Officers and the Senior Students.
 School adopted by Er. Hano Techi)

              Replying to a question the Education Minister of Arunachal Pradesh in the assembly session stated that 311 Government Schools would be closed down and the govt. had constituted a committee on how to utilize the assets and the infrastructure left behind. As per the educational Minister  311 Schools are defunct due to ‘zero enrollments’ and those would be closed down to focus on strengthening the functional schools.

             The ‘Zero Enrollment’ reason had been lingering in mind for long with a basic question. Basically Is the Education minister trying to say that there are no children of the age 6-14 yrs in the places of that govt. declared ‘defunct’ 311 schools?  Has the rural population in Arunachal Pradesh stopped giving birth? Definitely NO! Rather the population of the state is ballooning year after year though sparsely distributed.

Hence the Minister in the assembly gives some of the main reasons behind the closure. They are:-  

a.      Most of the schools are located in remote areas

b.      Lack of infrastructure facilities in the remote areas

c.       Lack of students due to the migration of parents towards the headquarters

           What surprises more here? He puts out the reason as if it is the fault of those children of those ‘defunct’ 311 Schools. Not surprisingly, there were no questions from the Opposition, or Activists, Vocal Student Unions or the intellectuals. Which meant people of Arunachal Pradesh agrees that the above reasons are valid or they have no idea of this development.

Let me present to you a case.

           There was/is a Middle School at Veo Village, Pappu Valley just 30 Mins. drive from Seppa the headquarter of East Kameng Dist. and roughly 2-3 hours drive from Itanagar or the Capital Complex thanks to the Trans-Arunachal Highway. This is the same school that produced stalwarts like the Former Education Minister Lt. Dera Natung and now Hon’ble Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Mama Natung. There are some galaxies of engineers and officers of different pay grades too. But sadly today, if you visit to see the splendid Papu Valley, You will find the abandon buildings & hostel turned to cattle sheds. It is supposedly defunct now! if you ask the villagers, they will say,” There are no teachers” and Office Papers will say there is ‘zero enrollment’. The Veo village is in Pijerang Circle. However Circle Officer doesn’t reside how would he? There is no electricity, no network, no clean drinking water facilities basically no basic amenities in the village. The buildings were used last for the General Election only!

           Also, in no way, there are no children of age group 4-16 years. Neither migrated to headquarters nor the village is located in a remote area. They sustain with their ‘hand to mouth’ survival.  Rice from paddy, vegetables/meat from the garden & forests. Nothing to worry, they live purely organic and are all healthy otherwise. Except they are addicted to Pepsi, winter, summer. Monsoon or spring Pepsi is a must!

           This is the condition of a village just nearby a district headquarter Seppa and today Pijerang Circle comes under a new District of Pakke-Kessang. Rest, I leave it to your wisdom and imaginations and blame the children for being born in their remote villages.

Moreover, a few more questions that bother here are:

a.       Should Children born in the remotest area to be deprived of education?

b.       Lack of infrastructure is govt.’s failure why should remote area children bear the wrath.

c.        Just because few migrated, the rest of the children won’t get their Right to Education?

          

          Right to Education is a fundamental right and the state must provide ‘free’ and ‘Compulsory’ education to all children of age group 6 to 14 without discrimination on the ground of a child’s economy. The reasons above given are discriminatory in nature. With a mammoth hierarchy set of bureaucracy from Secretary, directorate for Elementary Education, Higher Educations, RAMSA, RUSA, etc. to DDSE in Districts cannot look after 1771 Schools in a state (1300 Primary Schools, 300 Middle Schools, 103 High schools and 68 Higher Secondary Schools). What else does the government want its people to expect? Who had recently given tremendous support, All reasons given above by the education minister shows the weakness of a popularly elected govt. and no political will to revamp the schools.

           

          A great soul, Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam said “The best brains of a nation may be found on the last benches of the classroom’ as such we may lose some best brains in those remote areas devoid of infrastructure facility and closure of schools.

           Therefore, It is also for the civil societies, migrated parents (urban settlers), educated people of the state to ponder and think upon the education scenario for those children at the remote villages. If possible adopt them, nurture them and provide them the best gift of life i.e Education.

         And would put up a question and urge the intellectuals, scholars, think-tanks and the policymakers to ponder upon.  Is shutting down defunct Schools, A solution?