Articles by Swati Amar

The pandemic has had a crushing impact on the educational framework of the country in various ways. One of the fall-outs has been the cancellation of Class XII (and Class X) final examinations by all the major boards of education in the country, in view of the aggressive second wave of COVID-19. However, under the said circumstances, each has come out with a different model of evaluation for Class XII students. The results of Tamil Nadu State Board Class XII were declared on June 19, 2021. For the first time ever, students got their results on their registered mobile number,…

[Translated by Sandhya Raju] சென்னை பள்ளிகளில் நடந்த முந்தைய மற்றும் சமீபத்திய பாலியல் தொல்லைகள் குறித்த புகார்கள், பெரும் அதிர்வலைகளை எழுப்பியுள்ளன. பாதுகாப்பான இடமாக பள்ளிகள் இல்லை என்பதையே இது உணர்த்துகிறது. ஆனால், ஒரு சில ஆசிரியர்கள் இது போன்ற குற்ற செயல்களில் ஈடுபடுவதற்கு பள்ளிகள் பொறுப்பேற்க முடியுமா? பாதிக்கப்பட்டவர்களுக்கு நீதி கிடைக்க கல்வி நிறுவனங்கள் என்ன செய்ய வேண்டும். முக்கியமாக, இது போன்ற சம்பவங்கள் நிகழாமல் தடுக்க என்ன செய்ய வேண்டும்? சிறார் நீதி (குழந்தைகளின் பராமரிப்பு மற்றும் பாதுகாப்பு) சட்டம், 2015 படி, குழந்தைகளுக்கு அருகாமையில் இருந்து, தேவைப்படும் கல்வி அல்லது பயிற்சியை வழங்குவதில் எந்தவொரு பள்ளி, நிறுவனம் அல்லது தனிநபர்கள் ஈடுபட்டுள்ளனரோ, அவர்களின் பாதுகாப்பை உறுதிப்படுத்த பொறுப்புணர்வு மற்றும் சொந்த பொறுப்பு ஏற்க வேண்டும் என கூறுகிறது. பள்ளி வளாகத்திற்குள், பள்ளி பேருந்தில், ஆன்லைன் அமர்வுகளின் போது அல்லது மாணவர்களுடன் பள்ளி ஊழியர்களின் எந்தவொரு ஈடுபாட்டிலும்,…

The world is still grappling with the onslaught of COVID-19, its aftermath and its impact on global health and economy. Even after more than a year since it first surfaced, there are several things that we do not know about COVID-19 yet. While it has claimed many lives, it is also true that innumerable people have come out of COVID-19. But in some cases, post COVID complications have proven to be complex, lingering, even debilitating ─ impacting the daily life of recovered patients. In extreme cases, post COVID illness has proved to be fatal. Not only has this affliction altered…

The revelation of several old and recent cases of child sexual abuse in schools in Chennai and its suburbs has left the city in shock. Educational institutions no longer appear to be the safe spaces that they were meant to be. But can an institution be held responsible for crimes committed by individuals within their premises? What should they do to ensure justice for the survivors of such abuse. More importantly, how can they prevent the occurrence of such abhorrent crimes in the space?  The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 says that any school, institution or…

The recent exposé in the social media on sexual harassment of students by some school teachers in Chennai has shocked the city. But while there is outrage across the city, and rightfully so, there is perhaps not enough awareness about how to prevent or even seek redress against crimes of child sexual abuse. In the backdrop of the incidents that have come to light recently, it becomes even more important for parents, teachers, caregivers and society as a whole to know more about the legislations, law & order framework as well as institutions that work for protection of children. Here…

On September 8 2020, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India released an SOP for partial reopening of schools from September 21st and for students of classes 9 to 12 on a voluntary basis to clarify doubts and take guidance from their teachers, in keeping with the government’s phase-wise unlocking activities. This has facilitated partial reopening of schools in several cities in India starting this week, though parents remain uncertain and concerned, and schools are also mulling over how to get back to the regular regimen in view of the prevailing COVID-19 situation. Schools grappling with multiple…

The recent surge in COVID-19 cases in the city is a matter of great concern for Chennaites. Swati Amar unearths special problems of certain sections of people that are facing the pandemic differently. Baby on the Way Dr Priya Selvaraj, a fertility specialist, clinician and embryologist, and the assistant director of GG Hospital has been witness to how pregnant women are facing the COVID-19 situation: “We never stopped seeing pregnant patients during COVID (the pandemic). In fact, obstetrics care was one of the specialities where we instituted specific recommendations as per the norms of both international and national committees."” Dr Selvaraj…

While the Tamil Nadu government has extended the lockdown till August 31st, urban communities in Chennai are preparing to strengthen their resilience to handle side effects of such a prolonged period of lockdown and restrictions. How is the pandemic affecting them? What are the lessons learned? Swati Amar meets people from different neighbourhoods of Chennai: Royapuram and the neighbouring areas Chennai Zone 5 comprises Royapuram, George Town, Mannadi, Sowcarpet and areas adjoining the Government General Hospital and Madras Central Station. Head & chief diabetologist at M V Hospital for Diabetes Royapuram and president-elect at D-Foot International Dr Vijay Vishwanathan says,…

It has been over four months now that schools in the country are shut, due to the lockdown following the COVID-19 pandemic. While there has been a big shift towards online schooling over this period, mostly through synchronous classes on platforms like Zoom or Google Meet, parents of schoolchildren have raised a red flag about the massive increase in screen time for their children when schools replaced classroom learning with online classes. The HRD ministry stepped in to assuage their fears and  announced guidelines called Pragyata, which laid down a cap on the duration and the number of sessions in…

Watched Bulbbul? The film, released in OTT recently, throws light on the all-pervasive male violence that existed a few decades ago and continues even today. Set in a fantastical background, the film is heart-rending, as it highlights the disastrous consequences of a deeply entrenched misogynistic and feudal outlook. But if you think that the film is just an anachronistic fictional tale, you couldn’t be more mistaken.  Consider this report from about a fortnight ago, in which at least five minor girls at a shelter home in Kanpur – who were being tested for COVID-19 – were found to be pregnant.…