SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA, HYDERABADMARCH 19, 20176 TIMES CITY

red in a tone of thunder thatsends movie fans into raptu-res, but would have shakenthe venerable Assembly buil-ding. It was a little chat with asmall group of reporters inthe lobby when Jana Reddy predicted the comingof Bahubali to rescue Cong-ress in the next elections inTelangana.

But that, apparently wasmore than enough for the mo-vie character to take centre-stage as MLAs walking in andout of the House stopped for aquick chat with reporters. OnSaturday, Congress MLA D KAruna joined in the discus-sions and then sought to deli-ver a blow that sought to rivalthose dispensed with ease by

Bhallala Deva in the moviewith his mace.

KCR, she said, is like Kat-tappa who stabbed people ofthe state in their back, butthat Bahubali 1. “Now it is ti-me for Bahubali-2 and one ofus will become Bahubali todefeat KCR. This is what JanaReddygaru said on Friday,”she said.

Incidentally, Jana Reddy’sfellow partyman and MLAfrom Nalgonda district, Ko-matireddy Venkat Reddy, alsoweighed in on the matter. Justin the event that anyone inparticular felt they couldmorph into the lean, muscu-lar and swashbuckling Bahu-bali in the party, Venkat Red-dy sought to set the record

straight. There are severalBahubalis in the party, he sa-id. And added for good measu-re: “It appears CLP leader Ja-na Reddy has caught the Ba-hubali fever.”

And it did not take long forG Jagadishwar Reddy, theTRS MLA and energy mini-ster, also from Nalgonda dis-trict to add his bit to the Bahu-bali story that was beingscripted by Congress MLAs.“Looks like, Congress lea-ders have finally realisedthey have none in their rankswho can face KCR or take himon. All this talk just goes toshow that Congress has cometo terms with the fact that no-ne of their leaders is capab-le,” he said.

Film Protagonist Takes Centre-Stage In Assembly Discussions

Cong blockbuster grit: Our‘Bahubali’ to demolish TRS

KCR is like Kattappa who stabbed people of thestate in their back, but that was Bahubali 1. Now it is

time for Bahubali-2 and one of us will become Bahubali todefeat KCR. This is what Jana Reddy garu saidD K Aruna | CONGRESS LEGISLATOR

Hyderabad: City doctorswarn that patients with bipo-lar disorder are more prone tosuicides. Early detection ofthe problem will not only savethe patient from mental trau-ma and suffering but alsofrom suicidal tendencies.

Though psychiatrists inthe city recommend that peo-ple with suicidal behaviourshould seek immediate medi-cal support, the city does nothave such a facility. Bipolarpatients do not have speciali-sed hospitals or medicalwards in the city.

“The most probable rea-son for people attempting sui-cides frequently could be bi-polar disorder. People with bi-polar disorder exhibit a highrate of suicidal tendency.There are 287 types of psychi-atry-related disorders. Ofthem, 40 types of disordersare linked with suicidal ten-dencies. Bipolar disorder hasthe highest suicidal tendencyamong them. It is followed bymajor depression and schi-zophrenia. Repeated suicideattempts are characteristic ofthe disease,” said Dr K Srini-vas, consultant psychiatristin MaxCure Hospital. About10% people in the country suf-fer from one or other mentaldisorder. The prevalence ismore or less similar in the ci-ty, he added.

“There is no permanentcure. It requires lifelong treat-ment. In an acute stage, pati-ents may need 15 to 20 days ofrehabilitation. They needpsychiatric care. The treat-

ment involves electroconvul-sive therapy (ECT), common-ly known as shock treat-ment.” said Dr Uma Shankar,superintendent of the Insti-tute of Mental Health (IMH)at Erragadda here.

Hyderabad ironically do-es not have a rehabilitationcentre for bipolar cases. TheIMH has only 500 beds. Mostof the private hospitals do nothave psychiatry wards and avery few have outpatient con-sultation facility. This disor-der generally strikes in theage group of 15 to 20 years andrarely after 40. Experts saidthe common symptoms inclu-de excessive talking, highlyirritable with moods, negati-ve thoughts, and a false senseof possessing special abiliti-

es. When the disease is not inacute stage, the patients arecalm and maintain a low pro-file, said Dr Pravin Chinta-panti, psychiatrist with Tran-quil Minds.

The prevalence of bipolardisorder is high in the cityand it accounts for 30 per centof the people suffering frommental illnesses. Nearly 12per cent of bipolar patientsend their lives after repeatedattempts.

As the disease needs longterm care, often patients be-come financial and emotio-nal burden for the middle-and low-income families. Psy-chiatry disorders are not co-vered under any insurancepolicies, said Dr Uma Shan-kar of IMH.

Mind on brink: Bipolardisorder suicide trigger

Sribala.Vadlapatla@timesgroup.com NO METHOD IN MADNESS

10.3%populationin India has mental disorders

At least 7.5 lakh in Hyderabad sufferingfrom mental disorders, going by percentage calculation

Only one doctor per 700 patients in city

Bipolar disorder accounts for 30% mental illness among patients

Male-femaleratio of bipolar disease: 2:1

State-run Institute of Mental Health has 500beds, can handle only 500 in OPD

City has 100 qualified psychiatric doctors, only20 treat patients,others in academics

Only 3 private hospitals cater to psychiatric patients

with inpatient wards with 100 beds

No hospitals run by NGOsectorfor mental illness in

city

Poor facilities in Hyderabad, 1 tertiary institute in govt sector

Telangana registered 1980 suicides due to mental illness, as per National Crime Records Bureau, 2014

Census 2011

Hyderabad: The arrival ofsummer may be synony-mous with vacations for stu-dents, but many teachersdread this time.

The reason being they areforced to double up as mar-keting agents to increase theintake of students for thenext academic year. In somecases, salaries are put onhold and teachers asked toforgo summer vacations ifthey fail to complete the set‘targets.’

“All staff members arehereby reminded that thetarget fixed for each staff is10 admissions and this targetshould be completed by April 25 as the staff is sup-posed to attend a workshopand avail summer holidaysin the month of May. Howev-er, it is noticed that somestaff did not even completesingle admissions till dateand are advised to complete

at least 6 to 7 admissions byMarch 25, failing which theirsalaries will be kept onhold,” read a circular of a topcorporate school.

The circular of theschool, which also trains stu-dents for IIT and NEET, fur-ther says, “The given targetshould be completed withoutfail by April 25, if not staff,including non-teachingstaff, will not be permitted toavail summer holidays.”

Teachers for their partsaid this ‘compulsion’ hasbeen increasing their stresslevels and taking a toll on

their health. “In spite of go-ing on a door-to-door cam-paign in our locality, I am un-able to meet the target set bymy school. This uncertaintyof whether or not I will getthis month’s salary is givingme sleepless nights, which inturn is affecting my health,”said Shailaja M, a privateschool teacher.

While students who ap-pear for class 10 final examsare hounded by teachers orsome consultants to take ad-mission in junior colleges,they come on house visits toconvince parents of junior

classes with discount in fees.“This is my first year

teaching and I enjoyed itthoroughly till this monthwhen I was asked to get a cer-tain number of admissions.Now, I am seriously thinkingof reconsidering my deci-sion to become a teacher,”said Prashanti S, anotherprivate teacher.

Activists called for an endto the commercialisation ofeducation and said that gov-ernment should interveneand stop this practice.

“We strongly condemnthe attitude of corporate andprivate schools that are turn-ing teachers into sales per-sons. Fixing targets and ask-ing them to go door-to-doorand get more admissions isdegrading their profession.This is total commercializa-tion of the education and anunethical practice and gov-ernment should make surethat such practices are notfollowed,” said Achyuta Rao,a child rights activist.

No summer vacation, teachersturn ‘recruit agents’ for schools

Nirupa.Vatyam@timesgroup.com

Teachers forced to double up as marketing agents and increase student intake

ONE TEACHER, MULTIPLE ROLES

Salaries kept on hold if they fail to meet targets

Asked to forgo summer vacation

Hyderabad: Energy ministerG Jagadishwar Reddy saidthat Telangana is set to beco-me the biggest solar power ge-nerating state in the countryby the end of this year. Cur-rently, Rajasthan, which gene-rates 1,300 MW solar power,tops the list. As of now, Telang-ana expects to have an instal-led capacity of 1,456 MW of so-lar power by April this yearand that is expected to touch2,000 MW by the end of this ye-ar. The state has set itself a go-al of generating 5,000 MW ofelectricity from solar power inthe next few years, he said.

The minister was replyingto a question from MLAs So-marapu Satyanarayana, AllaVenkateshwar Reddy andMarri Janardhan Reddy in the

Legislative Assembly on Sa-turday on hydel and solar po-wer generation in the state. Ja-gadishwar Reddy said thatChina built hybrid generatingstations combining hydel andsolar units but to generate onemega watt in this manner, wo-uld require an investment ofRs 20 crore.

On hydel power genera-

tion, he said that TSGenco isstudying the viability at Ka-leshwaram lift irrigation pro-ject. He said the earlier Cong-ress government studied thefeasibility of power genera-tion at Dummugudem projectbut the plan was shelved overenormous investment requi-red, among other reasons.

He also said that the lowerJurala Hydro Electric projectwith 240 MM (6x40 MW) wascommissioned in October 2016and Pulichintala hydro powerproject in September 2016 andthe remaining three units wo-uld be completed in 2017-18 fi-nancial year. The minister as-serted that the governmentwould complete Yadadri Ther-mal Power Plan at any costand advised the Congress notto create hurdles in the comp-letion of these projects.

T set to lead India in solarpower generation by yr-end

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Hyderabad: Toddy is goodfor health and will make abetter choice as a refreshingdrink than soft drinks thatcan be harmful, TRS legisla-tor V Srinivas Goud said inthe Legislative Assembly onSaturday. The Mahbubnagar

After KCR, partyMLA praises toddy

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

BETTER CHOICE?

Hyderabad: The Congress onSaturday walked out of theLegislative Council during adiscussion on irrigation pro-jects in the state. The party de-manded that the state govern-ment should not rename theIndira Sagar and Rajiv Sagarprojects in Khammam.

On Saturday, during theQuestion Hour, Congress de-manded that the names of theprojects be restored. The op-position party was allegingthat the Telangana govern-ment was attempting to erasethe fact that the two projectswere launched by a Congressgovernment in united AP andwas instead seeking to claimentire credit for the projects.

Oppn walkoutover irrigation

projects’ namesTIMES NEWS NETWORK

Hyderabad: As many as 75motorcycles were gutted in afire near Shadnagar busstop on Saturday evening.

According to officials ofthe state disaster responseand fire services depart-ment, the fire broke out aro-und 6 pm and was broughtunder control by one firetender from the Shadnagarfire outpost.

“The fire broke out neara transformer at Shadnagarbus stop. There was some re-pair work that was being ta-ken up at the transformer.After they had opened thetransformer, they were wel-ding some parts together. Atthe same time there were alot of bikes that were parkedaround the transformer andone of them was leaking pet-rol. The sparks generatedduring the welding set offthe fire,” said regional fireofficer V Papaiah.

Fortunately, while therewas no loss of life reportedin the accident, there washeavy property loss, say offi-cials. “We are still estima-ting the extent of loss of pro-perty,” he added.

Incidentally, there wasanother fire reported nearCity Light Hotel, but it wasbrought under control bythe locals.

75 motorbikesgutted in fireat Shadnagar

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Hyderabad:In tune with the agree-ment signed by the Telangana go-vernment with the Centre on joi-ning the Ujwal Discom AssuranceYojana (UDAY) scheme, the state go-vernment has sanctioned Rs 6,990crore to TSTransco as additionalfunds towards equity in Discoms.

Another tranche of nearly Rs2,000 crore is expected to be releasedin the next 10 days. As per the Uday

scheme, the state government hasto take over 75 per cent of the debtsof the two power distribution com-panies as on Septeber 30, 2015.

Officials said the two discoms inthe state are having a long term debtof Rs 1,1897 crore (TSSPDCL- Rs7,392 crores and TSNPDCL - Rs 4,505crore) as on September 30, 2015 andunder the Uday Scheme, the stategovernment has taken over 75 percent of the Discoms debt amoun-ting to Rs 8,923 crore.

“The balance loan amount of Rs2,974 crore is being restructured bythe discoms by issuing bonds with aGovernment Guarantee. As a resultof taking over the loan by the stategovernment, there is a relief of in-terest burden of Rs 890 crore per an-num to the two Discoms and consu-

mers at large,” a senior official said.Discoms will be able to raise

funds with competitive rates fromthe financial institutions towardscapital expenditures. The Govern-ment of Telangana is already provi-ding a subsidy of over Rs 4000 croreto the Discoms towards free powerbeing given for nine hours to the ag-riculture sector.

It may be mentioned that the in-stalled capacity of the state was5863 MW as on June 2014 and therewas huge power shortage in Telang-ana with power-holiday for indu-stries, 8 hours to 10-hours power cutin rural areas and four-hours powercut in capital city itself.

To overcome the power shorta-ge and ensure 24x7 uninterruptedpower supply, Discoms raised loansand purchased power at higher costfrom private power producers, re-sulting in the debt burden increa-sing on the power utilities.

Though the TRS governmenthas initiated short, medium andlong term measures to overcomethe power problem, it will take at le-ast two years for pending power pro-jects to be completed that would ta-ke total installed capacity of the sta-te to about 27187 MW by 2019, ma-king Telangana self sufficient onpower sector front.

The central government cameout with the Uday scheme to bail outDiscoms from the financial mess assuch bodies in every state was neckdeep in debts due to purchase of po-wer by raising loans. However, thefinancial support or reimburse-ment from the government was noteven 25 per cent of the debts of theDiscoms. The Centre has offered aslew of benefits to the states joiningUAY scheme.

UDAY scheme: Statesanctions `̀6,990crfunds to TSTransco

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Power lines get a coat of paint atJalvayu Nagar in Kukatpally

A teacher’s job is to impartquality education and not

recruit students. It’sunfortunate that severalschools have turned them intomarketing agents. It is time the government puts an end to this practice by taking strong action

Times View

Hyderabad: A thief who wasreported missing in 2015 inDundigal, was actually mur-dered and buried by his fri-end. The police who came toknow about this startling inci-dent on Saturday exhumedthe body of the victim.

Dundigal police said thatthe complaint pertaining tothe missing of Ravinder, 35,was received in 2015.

Following a tip-off, theynabbed his friend Nagaraju,who killed the victim by smas-hing his head with a stone.

During the investigation,Nagaraju had an illicit affairwith the victim’s wife. Ravin-der who came to know aboutthis had threatened to killhim. Fearing threat to his life,Nagaraju had called Ravinderto meet him at Bachupallywhere they consumed alco-hol. Later Nagaraju had killedRavinder.

Police said that after themurder, Nagaraju buried Ra-vinder’s body at Sainath Hou-sing Society, which is close toBachupally. Since then, thewhereabouts of Ravinder re-mained a mystery.

Nagaraju blurted out themurder secret to Ravinder’swife and the information lea-ked to others.

Finally, the news reachedthe police who exhumed thebody in the presence of dis-trict revenue authorities. Themissing case was altered toSection 302 (murder) of the In-dian Penal Code.

Friend turnsout to be

thief’s killerTIMES NEWS NETWORK

VICTIM’S BODYEXHUMED

Advertisement published in the Hyderabad edition of "The Times of India" Newspaper on 18th & 19th March. (Pg. No. 10 & 6 respectively)