NOV 10, 2009VOL 3 ISSUE 5

German volunteer:Traits of a specialeducator. Interview withMs Heike Freese. p 16

Homoeopathy: A special featureon the benefits of homoeopathyin an interview with Dr J AHelen Shanthi. p 13

LocaleA U N I Q U E P E R S P E C T I V E O F T H E N I L G I R I S

TRADITION I CULTURE I FLAVOUR I BUSINESS I NEWS

Next issue: Pasteur Institute

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Established in 1874 and named after J DSim, then Secretary of the Madras Club,Sim’s Park is a beautiful garden withdelightful flower beds, lawns and trees, someof which were planted over a 100 years ago.The lawns are interspersed with trees suchas the rudraksh, magnolia, pine, camellia,phoenix... Most of the trees are exotic, havingbeen introduced from different continents.A Botanist’s delight, many varieties of rarespecies belonging to eucalyptus, acacia,pinus, and cinnamomum are found

The intrinsic beauty of Sim’s Park.here.There is also a map of the world at thefar end of the park which shows the variouscountries marked by diverse plants! ThePark slope ends in a mini lake circling anisland garden where small boating trips areoffered.For a quiet afternoon with a book in hand,the park is just the ideal getaway. Some ofthe old world charm is retained with few ofthe original wrought iron-wooden benchesstill intact, though many have been replacedrecently.

Kurunji:The bright purple-blue, bell shaped Kurinjiflower is an atypical kind of flower, which growsmainly in the Nilgiris and Kodaikanal, the twofamous hill stations of Tamil Nadu. Botanists takespecial interest as it blossoms only once in 12years unlike the other common flowers.The botanical name for Kurinji, is StrobilanthesKunthianus. The Kurinji flowers grow on bushyshrubs, which are about eight, or ten feet in heighton the hill slopes of the Western Ghats at analtitude between 6000 to 7000 ft above msl.During the blossoming season, the Kurunji floweris seen carpeting the mountain slopes.

How to break a habit,like drinking?Question: Swamiji, My husbanddrinks ever so often claiming that hedrinks to forget his worries. Whatdo I do?

Swamiji: As I told you, this is acommon problem. Anyhow, if yourhusband was here it would havebeen helpful. If you analyze the habitof drinking, you will understand howself-contradictory you are. Let me tryto explain:You drink to feel joyful, but you endup becoming miserably miserable.You drink so that you can be calledsociable, so that society will acceptyou, but you land up becoming

Nithyananda teachings.

argumentative! You drink so that youwill look sophisticated but you endup looking insufferable. You drink sothat you can sleep forgetting all yourworries but you wake up feeling moreexhausted than ever! You drink toexperience ecstasy and end upfeeling depressed! You drink to feelconfident but end up becoming afraidof yourself. You drink to maintain theconversation but end up becomingincoherent. You drink to see yourproblems dissolve but end up seeingthem multiply!All these are the truth and you knowit better than I do! Now tell mehonestly, is it really worth drinking?This is how self-contradictory youare in not only this matter but in allmatters in life. If you clearly knewwhat you want to do and spent everyounce of your energy in that direction,you will grow steadily and experience

Contd on p 14

While in Coonoor.Popular tourist spots in Coonoor.

Sim’s Park

Lambs Rock

Is situated 8 km from Coonoor.On a sunny day this view pointcommands a fantastic view of theentire surroundings, right down tothe Plains below. The walk throughthe forests, towards the vantagepoint is itself exhilarating.

travel Fundamental rights explored.

‘A bout of cracker-bursting alongside theschool campus in the heart of Ooty towndisrupted the morning’s journalismworkshop momentarily, but helped put inperspective, the fundamental right ofstudents to a silence zone (which ought tobe maintained, by order, around schools,places of worship and hospitals) and theirresolve in bringing to notice the act ofdisturbance, however much out ofignorance, to the perpetrators.

HELP-LINESDISTRICTPOLICE

Police: Ooty - (0423) 100,Coonoor - (0423) 2221836,Kotagiri - (04266) 271100,Gudalur (04262) 261246.

call 108 in anyemergency

Please add the area code i f d ia l l ing f rom a mobi le phone or f rom outs ide the c i rc le

Children’s quiz

Subscriptions to The Local, are opened effective October 09. Please subscribe/renew yoursubscription through the following methods: Demand draft/local cheque favouring The LocalMedia Publishing Co,. (or) by a Money order to The Editor, The Local Media Publishing Co,. 10/363-Y-1, AVK Post, Nilgiris - 643202. Call: (0) 97905 90570. 1 Y1 Y1 Y1 Y1 Year subscriptionear subscriptionear subscriptionear subscriptionear subscription: Rs. 180/- for 12 issues, incl. postage & handling.Local

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A couple of kms from Coonoor busstand, Sim's Park is spread over12 hectares. It is situated at anelevation of 1768 to 1798 m.This beautifully designed parkoffers an excellent opportunity forwalks along the winding footpathsall over the slopes of the parkleading you towards the pictur-esque lake below. A variety ofindividual tree specimens broughtfrom across the globe, somemore than a century ago, add aspecial charm tho this touristspot.

Letters to the EditorReaders who wish to send letters to theEditor may do so by post to the followingaddress 10/363-Y-1, Indiranagar, AVK Post,Nilgiris - 643 202. Alternatively, you mayalso email your correspondence tothelocaleditor@gmail.com. In case ofany queries or clarifications please feelfree to call: (0) 97905 90570.

Statutory disclaimer: TheLocal disclaimsliability of any kind whatsoever, arising out of thereaders use, or inability to use the materialcontained in it. Adequate care has been taken tocompile stories for the reference of our users.TheLocal makes every effort to maintain accuracyof the information but does not acceptresponsibility for any and disclaims responsibilityfor any loss or damage which may arise from theinformation provided. All opinion expressed in theissue in the form of articles or any viewpoint issolely that of the individual or advertiserconcerned and TheLocal accepts no liabilitythereof. None of the Authors, Contributors,Sponsors or anyone connected to TheLocal canbe liable for any reproduction of the material.

Situated 10 km from Coonoor andoffers a panoramic view of the vastexpanse of the Nilgiri hills as welllthe famous Catherine Falls.

Dolphin’s Nose

Journalism, the spirit of it, involves courage,a questioning mind, unbiased judgementand sensitivity to others said The Localrepresentative, in response to a student’squestion on what qualifications one wouldrequire to become a journalist.

What if elders tell us not to question? ‘Ifyour questions are non-rebellious or of adisruptive motive but sincere and forthright,then you will get your answers.’

Students and teachers of CSI-CMM school, Ooty, engagewith representatives of The Local in a recent journalism workshop.

Children (and adults) will be surprised to know that Children’s Day, internationally, is actuallycelebrated on November 20, each year. In India, this day is commemorated on November 14,coinciding with Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s birthday. Happy Children’s Day to all the youngreaders of The Local and hope you find the little teaser below, a lively stopover! Answers areright below the clues! Quiz compiled by Bharathi Mani & Manisha Raju

local issue4

R e s i g n e d t o f a t e .

5

The warning signs for the ill-fated familyof the public transportation bus driver camewhen water began to seep through the floorof his house, this on the second day ofincessant rains that the district faced in theearlt part of November. Nearby residents ofAchanagal village had, it seems, advised thefamily to move out for the night and stay atthe community hall - an offer that theydeclined. It was to be their last decision.According to residents, water has alwaysbeen in excessive flow in this area, mostlyflowing down from the top of the mountain,above Grant Duff road near Valley view.Closer inspection along the top road showsrunning water flowing in torrents all along,almost upto Lovedale junction. Along itspath, near a school, the force of this waterhad torn a portion of the road, taking with itan electric post, a newly replaced andallegedly heavier-than-permissibletransformer, fences and a cottage downbelow, fortunately unoccupied. Resorts alongthe road were virtually untouched by thefury - the land and property alongside themstood devastated. 3 people lost their lives,crushed under piles of mud while theneighbouring resort, ironically, played hostto delegates of Life Insurance Corporationof India. ‘We are shocked by this incident’,said one delegate, who is based in Delhi.The way water flows is deadly - voluminous,not properly channelised and uncontrollable.Residents in the area trade accusations thateveryone is blocking off natural passage bycreating little bunds, resulting in the heavyforce of the water along this old road.Further on, the worst hit Ooty-Coonoorroad’s misery unfolds with a giganticeucalyptus tree lying across what was oncea view point of the valley below. Houseswere submerged the night before, atManthada (a burgeoning settlement nearValley View). Trunk boxes and kitchenutensils lay on knee-deep mud piles upon

the broken highway with the recently laidside-girders ominously dangling in midair.Below the road, the survivors argued aboutapathetic local councillors - they, apparentlydid not make adequate arrangements forburial of the unfortunate. Whether the restof the families residing below the road, inwhat looks like a tightly packed unplannedsemi-urban outgrow, are brave or simplybullheaded, it is hard to say. Did they getenough evacuation warning or any warningat all is not the point. Why must they live insuch dangerous settings? (20 or more, peopledied at a similar outgrow near Ooty - theywere literally washed away).

As with the driver’s family of eight, whoperished that night, none will ever know whatcircumstances actually led to their untimelydemise. The rest of us have hints - excessiveroad widening, unnatural species of trees likeeucalyptus alongside arterial roads, lack ofproper chanelling of running water,unchecked and unplanned commercialdevelopment on the upper regions leadingto soil erosion, improper housing growthbelow, lack of appropriate tree cover (sholatype), too much heavy vehicular traffic...And now there is the new threat - climatechange. 82 cms of rain was recorded in Ketti,on that fateful night!

local issue

Devastating effect: Mud flowing with the help of gushing water has literally inundated thishome near Valley View. Three people perished in this incident. Pic left, show the rescue efforts nearAchanagal village where an entire family was washed away along with their home.

Indiscriminate building has been thereason for the recent castastrophe that theNilgiris faced, was a strong opinion voicedby a local, recently. He was countered byanother who pointed out that this could notbe entirely true, since a particular large tree(eucalyptus), on a hill slope along the mainhighway, came down without having aconstruction or construction activity aroundit. Road widening is therefore the causeadded another, who was overhearing theconversation. Wherever large constructionslike schools and hotels were put up, landhad eroded, justified the first opinion maker.Which of these assumptions andallegations are true or baseless, how is the

lay person going to know? It is suchunfounded discussions that generateopinion which may result in knee jerkreactions by policy makers. When roadswere widened, it was lauded as tourismfriendly, when building were being put up,each of it, educational, commercial orresidential were amply justified. And mostwere built with due sanctions, a few evengoing the extra mile by being environment-friendly, particularly the leisure resort thatwe wrote of in the previous issue (which,apparently, for little fault of its own, sufferedmajor repercussions from the rains).

What the government must do is to haveexperts, independent of any bias, to assessthe situation, engage local fraternity,builders, educationists, citizen’s bodies andwelfare organisations alike and to jointlycome up with a future action plan that is allinclusive. The time to relook the Master Planhas also come.In short, all round and responsibleleadership is the need of the hour even ifit must come from the least expectedsource, the political class.Our deep felt condolences to the families ofthe bereaved. Editorial

It is time to stop talking.

interview6

Directions: Roast the beans till theysplutter and soak in water for 10 mins.Grind the coconut, tomatoes, small onionsand garlic. Keep aside.Heat the oil. Allowthe mustard seeds to splutter. Addchopped onions and fry till golden brown.Add the coconut mixture, roasted beans,chilly powder, salt and sufficient water. Letit cook till the beans are soft. Garnish withcurry leaves. Serve hot with rice orchapattis.(Good for a bad cold!)

Recipe sent in by subscriber of TheLocal,Mrs Shanthi Mani, Coonoor.

Spirited strokes:M Ravichandran’s artinspires. His conditions ofwork do not. The artistnevertheless, presses onwith self infused hopeand inspiration.

are essential but the message is moreimportant.’

What made you take up art?‘My parents did not think I will get toofar in school,’ admits the artist, laughing,‘The art college was a chance’.The move turned out correct - the youngM Ravichandran was awarded thecoveted ‘best artist of the year’ ongraduation.There were bigger awards in store, onebeing the President’s gold medal whichhe received in 2007 - some of hispaintings adorn the Rashtrapathi Bhavanchambers! Awards and accoladesnotwithstanding, the conditions at theart gallery are supposedly not veryencouraging. ‘I have to work against oddshere at Ooty, being the only employeeof this art gallery. It is crucial that theGovernment gives more attention to thisunique facility but for several years now,it has been a lone and uphill strugglefor me,’ says Mr Ravichandran, adding

that financial support for the place is alsomeagre and he, more often than not, dipsinto his own pockets to keep thingsgoing.Locally, several schools have showninterest in sending their students to learnthe nuances of painting and the artist hasconducted numerous workshops to helppropogate the interest for art andpainting.

‘Visitors to the district must make it apoint to drop in. The gallery will givethem a deeper understanding of variouscultures.’

This timeless and rich form of humanexpression that is painting, must besustained and passed on, especially in thetrouble torn times that beset us today forart provides relief and hope. It alsoinspires the human spirit to go beyondboth enforced or self imposed prejudicesof the world. It unifies.Perhaps this is what keeps the galleryand its guide going.

Artist-curator-gallery guide,M Ravichandran’s life is his art,despite constraints.

Strokes, against odds

Within the first couple of years ofgraduating from the Madras School ofFine Arts, Mr M Ravichandran took onthe onerous job of managing andmaintaining the one and only Govt ArtGallery in the State which had then beenrecently commissioned in Ooty by theDept of Art & Culture.What is the purpose of an Art Gallery?‘It helps provide artists a platform topresent their work while introducing tothe public, the wonderful field of art andits intricacies.’The Govt Art Gallery, situated a littlebeyond Charing Cross, enroute ATCmarket, houses numerous paintingsdepicting local traditions and the cultureof various communities belongingmostly to South India. Some paintingson local Nilgiri tribes are on exhinit too.

One painting that this curator-by-defaulthas done, is of an Irula musician(background in pic, right). ‘It took mearound 4 days to finish this painting,’says Mr Ravichandran. ‘I usually makea lot of notes while on site, that is whenI am at a tribal settlement. Plenty ofobservation is the key to a good finaloutput. It is important to project theessence of the subject. Colour and design

RelayI have run my lap of the relay,In the race for justice;I want to hand over the baton,but there is no one to take it.It is not a level playing-field,There are too many hurdles,And insolent might stillholds swayOver committed right.I find myself batting againstThe wind of Power Politics.I have run my lap of the relay,I am tired, and want to hand overthe baton,Will somebody, anybody, take it?

IngredientsDried Bean Seeds 1/2 cup Coconut [grated] 1 cupRipe Tomatoes 4 nosSmall Onions(peeled) 1 cup Garlic 8 to 10 podsCurry Leaf (as desired)Big Onions(finely chopped) 1 Oil 3 tspMustard 1/4 tsp Chilly Powder 2 to 3 tspAdd salt to taste

Recipe: Maasu Neeru or Benguvae Udhakka (A Badaga preparation)

Special Correspondent

Indu K Mallah

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Sruthi Herbal Laboratories,a decade old family run herbalsand cosmetics enterprise, usestraditionally acquired knowledgecombined with scientific methodsof manufacturing processes.Our production facility has thelocational advantage of apollution-free environmentand the availability of naturallygrown herbs from the Nilgiriregion and beyond.

The firm is dedicatedto providing the highest

quality Ayurvedic herbalformulations at an affordable

price. We believe that theregular use of Ayurvedic herbscan promote a unique lifestylethat encompasses healthy diet,

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Diabetes is a chronic life-long disease in which the body cannot properly convert foodinto energy. Most food that a person eats, is eventually broken down into bloodglucose (also called blood sugar) which cells need for energy and growth. Insulin(produced by the pancreas), is a hormone that helps glucose to enter cells. In peoplewith diabetes, the body does not make enough insulin, or it does not respond to insulinproperly. This causes glucose to build up in the blood instead of moving into the cells.DiabPowder TM is a combination of some unique herbs like Meshasringi, Meghavarna,Sriphal which have the power to check the pathological conversion of starch intosugar in cases of increased production of Glucose. DiabPowder TM controls the releaseof glucose from the liver and helps achieve tighter control of body glucose levels andkeeps it within safe limits.

Herbal remedies for Diabetes

Some of the naturally procuredherbs being processed for use indiabetes related herbal remediesshown below.

Quietly tucked away at the far end of the Ootylake is the Deer Park, managed and maintainedby the Forest Deparment. The concept is simple:a set of deer, of a particular species is broughthere from the wild, to be returned after a shortspell. The next set will be another type of deer. The species in picture is the Samber Deer(Cervus Unicolour). Its average height is 75cm to 100 cm and weight is 175 kgs. They aregood swimmers and are more active at night,taking rest during day. The Deer Park is 3 kmfrom Ooty town. Children will be delightedat the up front and close experience.

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Fire extinguisher systemFire alarm systemFire sprinkler systemFire hose reel systemFire hydrant systemFire & safetyFire extinguisher refillsFire training class

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UBC Fire Safety (P) Ltd is one of the largestfire safety solutions provider in the region.Incorporated in 1997, the organisation,headquartered in Coimbatore, with over adecade of providing fire safety solutions,offers the entire range right from home firesafety products to industrial fire safetyrequirements. Call our local office in the Nilgirisfor more details: (0423) 223 2101 or mobileno 98949 90523.98949 90523.98949 90523.98949 90523.98949 90523.email:email:email:email:email:international@ubcfiresafety.com.

No. 18, Church Road, Bedford;Coonoor, Tamilnadu.

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cover story

Involuntary joy: Volunteering, especially in the sphere of special education, brings agreat sense of fulfilment and happiness, feel long time volunteers like Mrs Mala Ramasamy(inset) of Udhavi, a centre for children with special needs. ‘Enough hands are hard to come by nevertheless’, says the co-founderof this successful centre. Pic above, shows the structured agenda for children with special needs, at a special school locally.

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Special attention required.Special education is yet to gain the momentum itrequires, inspite of enough laws covering rights ofchildren with disability. Efforts locally, by a clutch ofinstitutions and individuals are encouraging.

The Local Correspondent

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The Integrated Education for Disabled Children Scheme, launched in 1974, to admit children with disabilities in regular schools. * The DistrictPrimary Education Programme, 1985, which acknowledges the fact that universalisation of education is possible only if it includes childrenwith disabilities. * The National Policy on Education, 1986, which promotes the integration of children with mild disabilities into the mainstream.* The Project Integrated Education for the Disabled, launched in 1987, which encourages all schools in a neighbourhood to enroll childrenwith disabilities. * The Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, which recommendsmaking changes in assessment and curriculum, and removing architectural barriers, to support inclusion. It also recommends providing freebooks and uniform for children with disabilities. * The National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Retardation and MultipleDisability, 1999, which recommends promotion of inclusive education. * The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA, 2000), which pledges that the "SSAwill ensure that every child with special needs, irrespective of the kind, category and degree of disability, is provided education in anappropriate environment". * The Amendment to the Constitution in 2001, to make education a fundamental right for those in the 6-14 agegroup, which covers children with disabilities.

Isolation of children with special needs(CWSN) was not uncommon until the 18thcentury. Early efforts include the school forthe blind started by Valentine Huay in 1785,in Paris. Fr. De L’epee developed an earlyversion of finger spelling for the deaf andJean Marc Gaspard Itard’s case study of ‘TheWild Boy of Aveyron’ is a pioneering workin the field of education for the mentallychallenged.

In India, the first school for the deaf was setup in Mumbai in 1883 and a school for theblind in Amritsar in 1887. Since then, thereare nearly 4000 schools today, that meet theneeds of special children. However, in tryingto provide a solution, the problem ofsegregation became more stark.How inclusive is society today? The questionhas been raised time and again. For example,at the governmental level itself, the principalof a leading school in Delhi had noted in herdissertation that while education comesunder the Ministry of Human ResourceDevelopment, education for those withdisabilities comes under the Ministry ofSocial Justice & Empowerment. ‘Nothingcan be a more telling statement of howdisability is perceived in this country,’ shewrites.The culture of segregration of the disabledis rather wedged in. Locally, therepercussions of this culture is evident when

LikLikLikLikLikeeeee never before, we see today, amongst us, somany children with difficulties. And we oftenask ourselves, “Is it only nowadays that so manychildren are born with so many differentdifficulties or is that they were always thereamongst us and we did not really think of themas very different from us, probably because wewere not aware of disabilities then as we arenow?” While it is true that the incidence ofdisabilities is increasing, it is also true thatthere is more awareness (not enough though)and therefore we are able to identify children orpeople with disabilities more frequently.A “Taare Zameen Par” is possible today. Whatthe movie showcases, however, is only a verysmall percentage of the various neurologicaldisorders that affect our children today, the worldover. What is ironical is that with awarenesstoday, there is also greater expectation fromchildren about what they should accomplish andwhen. This creates a deeper rift between childrenwith special needs and those without. There ismore exclusion now than inclusion.While on the one hand, sensitizing society tochildren or people with disabilities must takeplace, children with special needs must beequipped with the life skills they need to survivein this world and help them overcome theirdifficulties so that they may live an independentlife in future. This can only happen with earlyintervention.A child’s development is greatly influenced byfactors in his/her environment and theexperiences she/he has through their interactionwith the environment. This interaction bothstimulates and influences the pattern ofconnections made between nerve cells at a veryearly age. These connections in turn influencethe development in all areas – social, emotional,physical, communication and in learning.Children with special needs are deprived of thisenriching experience that promotes developmentdue to their disability. This results in an unevenprofile – lagging behind in some and doing wellin others. Research has shown that by age 6 mostof the brain structure is mature and it becomes

Early intervention

one chooses to see a little further than theobvious, the obvious being children goingto schools, learning what they should andscoring marks enough to compete and co-habitate in the outside world. Ask, forinstance, the average rural inhabitant in theNilgiris if there are any children with specialneeds in the vicinity and you will hear, aftermuch hestation, that there are indeed, casesof CWSN to be found. Why do the parents Contd on p 13

not seek assistance? From a more criticalstandpoint, why is awareness lacking onearly detection (see section right) ? It isrelated in large part to the stigma attachedto having a child who is perceivably, notnormal. The grandmother of a two and ahalf year old special child, in a rural pocketnear Coonoor, hastily points out to thiscorrespondent that her two other granddaughters are ‘quite alright and are doingwell in school’ . The bottom line here isevident - the child is considered notcompetent or is incapable of doing what theso-called normal children do. But, on whatbasis society decides to classify what isnormal or otherwise, is an elusive question.

‘When we try to fit the child with specialneeds into a fixed agenda (curriculum) we,as a society, are considered to be non-inclusive. To be inclusive is to buildeverything around the child’, states MrsLeela Krishnaraj, a veteran in the field ofspecial education locally. ‘ What is needed ishigh levels of acceptance and a deepunderstanding that there are those amongstus who are, as is termed, differently-abled.It is important to spot the abilities and honethem. Otherwise, it is us who are creatingdisabilities by making them conform to ourgeneral practices and structures’, the seniorlady emphasises. Day care centres for specialchildren, like Udhavi in Coonoor, provide a

stepping stone to inclusion but with thenumbers of children managed by a clutch ofother special schools in the Nilgiris includingthe 12 children here and the 27 residentinmates of the school set up by the NationalTrust at Ooty totalling barely fifty, there isdefinitely much more that needs to be done.

‘We feel there are many who we need toreach out to and support’, says Mrs ShrimatiContd overleaf

Early interventionContd from previous page

difficult to make significant changes in growthand development after this time. So the needfor early intervention.Parents (prospective parents included), mustbe familiar with the standards in the growthand development of the child – to be alert tosigns that may indicate delay in developmentin any of the areas mentioned above.As parents, if we are interacting with our childclosely enough as required at any stage ininfancy, we are bound to sense this delay. Why,for instance, is my baby not exhibiting thatsmile of recognition when she sees me? Didmy child skip the crawling stage? Why is myboy not using both hands during play? Is therea pattern in my child’s behaviours? Why is henot babbling? My child was speaking at least10 words at 1½ years. Why has she stoppedspeaking them now? Parents must be proactive

Why is my baby not exhibiting thatsmile of recognition when she seesme? Did my child skip the crawlingstage? Why is my boy not using bothhands during play? Is there a patternin my child’s behaviours? Why is henot babbling? My child was speakingat least 10 words at 1½ years. Whyhas she stopped speaking them now?

The writer runs a special school In Chennai.

She can be contacted on her telephone, 98840 86940

12

Sridhar, social worker and experiencedvolunteer at the Coonoor centre, who, it wasevident, took a lot of effort to reassure theparents of the little girl from the rural pocketnear Coonoor, who has a severe disability,that the child and the family will experiencea certain level of alleviation through thevarious activities at the centre and that theymust be regular to their therapy sessions.On further querying, the mother of thisspecial child had disclosed that there weretwo other children with special needs thatshe knew of, near her place of residence!

Laws governing this sphere are numerous(box, previous pg). However, in reality,legislation hasn’t seemed to have helped.The National Sample Survey Organisation's2002 report on 'Disabled Persons in India'and the draft policy for persons withdisabilities, prepared by the Ministry ofSocial Justice & Empowerment, stated that55 percent of those with disabilities areilliterate. This is a ‘very large andunacceptable percentage,’ said the draft.A study conducted by the National Centrefor Promotion of Employment for DisabledPeople disclosed shocking facts ofdiscrimination against those with disabilities.

In a survey of 89 schools across the country

Special attention required...

it was found that a mere 0.5 percent of thetotal number of students were those withdisabilities, though the Persons withDisabilities Act recommends a reservationof three percent seats in institutions fundedby the government. Twenty percent of theschools polled were not aware of the 1995Disability Act at all.The special school in Ooty, set up underThe National Trust for the Welfare of Personswith Autism, Cerebral Retardation andMultiple Disability, under the purview oflocal bodies, supervised by the districtCollector is a move in the right direction.With a strength of 27 children the facility ismanned by a special educator and trained

Call 97905 90570 or email yourqueries to thelocaleditor@gmail.com

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staff (incidentally mothers of two residentchildren) and is a model school for otherregions, it is stated.

But the line of demarcation is growing.Inclusion is a philosophy built on the beliefthat all people are equal and should berespected and valued as an issue of basichuman rights. It also means an ‘unendingset of processes’ in which children and adultswith disabilities have the opportunity toparticipate fully in all community activitiesoffered to people who do not have disabilities.

It is also widely accepted that children withspecial needs learn better in the company ofcommon school children. Mrs Krishnaraj’sschool is an inclusive model. 14 of herteachers are trained special educators whoare continuously innovating and adaptingtheir approach and internal systems to matchthe evolving needs of all children. ‘It is aconstant challenge but it is fulfilling’, saysthe Principal. She adds that a lot of effort isusually required to help parents come toterms. Mrs Krithika Jayaraman who startedMaanas, a day care centre for special childrenin Kotagiri, agrees, pointing out that mostparents of special children still don’t seethemselves as part of the solution, insteadplacing too much dependence and

expectation on the schools. ‘Specialeducation is a joint effort which includes theparents and their immediate society too. Itis the preconditions that the family andcommunity places on the child and itsparents that is overwhelming,’ ,’ she reiterates.

On the occasion of Children’s Day the keyshift in our minds must come from one ofthe ten-points found in the Declarationfrom Disabled Peoples International.It states; ‘We call upon the world’s media torecognize us as equal members of our ownsocieties and to portray us as such and notas passive objects of charity!

in their interactions with their pediatrician.They must not rest when they have doubts;they could go for a second opinion, read upinformation from books, the Internet (authenticsources are available)... If we find that ourchildren are not doing what they ought to, at aparticular stage, we must offer stimulation thatwill help them achieve required skills, quickly.Professional help can and should be sought ifparents are at a loss. The earlier theintervention, the better will be the chances ofhelping children acquire the skills they lack.

Contd from previous page

Contact details of some of the schools and organisations featured in this article: UdhaUdhaUdhaUdhaUdhavivivivivi, Darlington Bridge, Coonoor, contact Mrs Shrimati Sridhar, 94436 09669. MaanasMaanasMaanasMaanasMaanas,C/o Havakal Estate, Kotagiri contact Mrs Krithika Jayaraman, (04266) 271756, National TNational TNational TNational TNational Trust Schoolrust Schoolrust Schoolrust Schoolrust School for Welfare for Persons with Autism, Cerebral retardation and Multipledisability, Garden Road, Ooty, contact Mrs Arul Mary, 94887 66616. Tiny TTiny TTiny TTiny TTiny Tots Nurots Nurots Nurots Nurots Nursery & Primary sery & Primary sery & Primary sery & Primary sery & Primary SSSSSchoolchoolchoolchoolchool - - - - - CentrCentrCentrCentrCentre for e for e for e for e for IIIIInclusnclusnclusnclusnclusiiiiivvvvve e e e e EEEEEducationducationducationducationducation, Coonoor, contact Mrs LeelaKrishnaraj, (0423) 2231076.

Lakshmi Satish

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Dr Helen Shanthi BHMS, FCIP, trainedat Father Muller Homoeopathic MedicalCollege, Mangalore. Her association withthe discipline began at an early age itselfdue to her father’s influence (a staunchbeliever in homoeopathic remedies).

Dr Helen, in a recent interview, respondsto key questions on specific areas such as curefor diabetics, child health and ailments inthe elderly, like arthiritis. Clarifications onmisconceptions regarding the discipline werealso addressed during the interaction.Some excerpts:

How would you explain homoeopathictreatment to a lay person? Homoeopathyis scientific, logical, safe, quick and anextremely effective method of healing. Itoffers long lasting to permanent cure for mostof the ailments. Homoeopathy does not treatsuperficially by just driving away thesymptoms but heals the patient from within.It works on a clear understanding of theindividual, using remedies that arehomogenous to the person’s physiologicalnature, hence the term homoeopathy.

At what age and upto what age, can oneresort to homeopathic treatment ? Everyage group responds well to homeopathictreatment. It works well in little children aswell as it does in the elderly. In fact, expectantmothers can also take to homoeopathytreatment to bolster the child’s immunity. In

“The highest ideal of cure is rapid, gentle and permanent restoration of the health, or removal andannihilation of the disease in its whole extent, in the shortest, most reliable, and most harmless way, on

easily comprehensible principles.” - Dr Samuel Hahnemann, German scientist & founder of Homoeopathy.

the case of any untoward infection in themother-to-be, homoeopathic remedies workbest since there is no adverse impact on thefoetus.

Is homoeopathy treatment very stringent?What about side effects? I would certainlysay homoeopathic treatment requiresdiscipline on the part of the individual. Thereare strict timings of dosage that need to befollowed. The important aspect to notehowever, is that homoeopathy treatmentreduces over time and the ailmentprogressively cures. As for side effects, thereare none.

Are there any specific diet restrictions?There are no diet restrictions except for coffeeintake, which is discouraged. Caffeine in thecoffee has a negative reaction on thetreatment.

What if an individual is already onallopathy treatment? If the individual isunder allopathic treatment, stopping thetreatment and adopting homoepathicremedies will not have any adverse influence.I must add here that homoeopathy also helpsavoid surgery. Many diseases which arelabelled as ' surgical' can be cured throughhomoeopathy. Some such ailments aretonsilitis, piles, fissure in ano, fistula,appendicitis, vocal cord nodules, kidney andBiliary stones, small size uterine fibroids,ovarian cysts, warts, corns, varicose veins andnon-healing ulcers.

Homoeopathy is excellent also forpsychosomatic ailments like migraine,asthma, acidity and peptic ulcer. As I hadmentioned earlier, treatment is based on thepatient's mental make-up and the remediesact at the level of mind and body together.

What type of conditions are best suited tohomoeopathic treatment? Homoeopathy,being a near complete system of medicine isapplicable to all kinds of ailments anddiseases, including even new age diseasesuch as H1N1. One can resort tohomoeopathy for any ailment from cold tocancer though in the case of chronic ailment,it is essential to treat in the early phases. Atthe later stages, when the disease advancesto an incurable level, homoeopathy can offerlittle for cure but even then, it can helpalleviate the pain.

What are the most common types of casesyou encounter in the Nilgiris? Here, in theNilgiris, I come across chronic conditions ofarthiritis, diabetes and hypertension. We alsoencounter several cases of asthma. Thefulfilling aspect of being a homoeopathicdoctor is that there is the confidence thatevery case can be treated and cured,provided it is not in an advanced stage.

Tell us about diabetes treatment throughhomoeopathy? Homoeopathy is best fordiabetes, where the medicines rejuvenatethe body cells to maintain normal bloodsugar, stimulate pancreas to secrete insulin

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Legal Provisions regardingremoval of a liquor shopfrom a locality.

‘Sister Ed‘Sister Ed‘Sister Ed‘Sister Ed‘Sister Edwwwwwararararard d d d d was the kindest person I havemet,’ says Mr Augustine, one of the oldestresidents at The Little Sisters of the Poor -Home for the Aged, in Coonoor. ‘I believed shewas a saint. To be in her company was to havebeen blessed,’ says Mrs Suarez, long time donorand well wisher of the Home.‘Even as she got older, Sr Edward was veryobservant; she would instantly know whenanyone at the home was not alright. “Somethingis wrong with him”, she would tell us. “He isunwell”... Sr Edward would know everythingabout every body at the home,’ recalls thepresent Mother Superior.An American national, Sr Edward first came toIndia in 1950 where she began her service atthe Little Sisters of the Poor in Chennai. As aProvincial (a highly senior position within theOrder), the senior lady travelled to severalcountries in the region, ably guiding the variousHomes for the Aged in these places. Alwaysready to listen to and comfort people, SrEdward’s services at the Home for the Aged inCoonoor, where she spent her final years since2002, will be remembered with deep gratitude.Sr Edward passed away at the age of 88.She died on October 27, 2009.

tribute

Sister Edward passes away

Special CorrespondentPic, courtesy: Little Sisters of the Poor

Homeopathy questions answered Contd from previous page

joy. You will then never be self-contradictory.Every time you drink, drink withcomplete awareness. Let meexplain: Every time you drink,drink consciously, slowly, watchingevery movement of yours, tastingevery drop of the drink, watchingthe reaction of your body to it.Make it a process filled with acuteawareness. I assure you, if you dothis every time you decide todrink, you do not have to dropthe habit, the habit will leave youforever.

Addiction to anything is anunconscious or mechanicalprocess. It is not just addiction todrinks or tobacco. It is addictionto even religion. People who prayunconsciously and mechanically,following a routine, will find it veryhard if they miss even one day’sprayer. For them, it is an addictionand so it causes anxiety whenmissed. Just like when analcoholic misses his evening drink,he starts trembling in insecurity,the mechanically religious personwill feel a big void if he misses hisroutine prayer.The key is to understand thedifference between doing thingswith awareness and doing thingsmechanically and out of fear.Doing things in the formerfashion will never bring you underany sort of binding. It will not bindyou in space and time. You willbe a master. Doing things in thelatter way will bind you and causemisery to you. You will be a slave.To drop an addiction, flood itwith awareness; it will transformin the right way. Remember:Never think that you need to dropan addiction. Anything that youresist will persist. You simply needto transform it by deep awareness,that’s all. When you understandthe language of transformation,you are on the right track; youare on the path of openness.

Nithyananda teachings.Contd from p 2

To watch video clips ofParamahamsa Nithyananda’stalks, log on to http://youtube.com/lifeblissfoundation. You may also logon to www.nithyananda.org formeditation program details.

and prevent diabetic complications. At firstdetection of diabetes, resorting tohomoeopathy rightaway gives quick results.Even if the person is under any other formof treatment, the homoeopathic remedies canbe administered alongside it. If allopathytreatment was being given, it will begradually tapered off. One important benefitof homoeopathy is that it can be stopped forlong durations after sugar levels are broughtdown and may be resumed when necessary.Regular check ups are essential, however.Diet and exercise is also key.

What is contained in homoeopathicmedicine? Homoeopathy is the only systemwith the ‘magic of minimum dose’. It has aunique approach of the method ofpreparation of the drugs in which the endresult will contain only the 'dynamic curativepower' of the drug. The over 2500homoeopathic medicines, despite beingprepared from sources such as vegetables,minerals and chemicals, among others, aredevoid of any original crude substance by amode of preparation called potentization.Hence homoeopathic remedies with its ultra

minute dose are non-toxic, absolutelyharmless and bring about safe and sure cure.

What is the key element in the patient-doctor relationship? It is very important, inthe initial interactions, for both the doctorand the individual (in homoeopathy wegenreally do not refer to anyone as a patient)to communicate freely. As I mentionedearlier, it is vital for the doctor to not onlyunderstand the physiological condition of theperson but to also assess the psychologicalaspects. Likewise, the person must clearlyunderstand the concept of homoeopathy.I would like to add here that once the doctorunderstands the individual thoroughly, inthe event of any future ailment, thediagnosis and treatment is much quickerand more effective now that the person’sunique information is readily available andis understood by both!

Dr Helen Shanthi has a homoeopathyclinic in Coonoor. She may be contactedon her telephone no. 98420 48070. Tovisit: Redeemer Homoeopathy Clinic,ISSU Building, Bedford, Coonoor.

15local issueenterprise

Do people care about history?‘I believe that if we don’t learn from it,history has its way of repeating itself,’says the visiting writer from the US,Punjabi-born, Mrs Neena Kahlon.

Her recently launched book, JuiceMango, is based on the collateral damagethat the partition of India caused tothousands along the present borders of

History, if we don’t learn from it, can repeat itself.

the nation. The perspective is that of a 9year old Sikh girl who comes to termswith what is happening around herduring that terrible period, without quiteknowing why it is happening. She hasresponsibilities to fulfill amid herpersonal loss and tragedy.‘The book will especially help ouryounger generation to understand themagnitude of that event, allowing deepintrospection and comparisons into thestrife that afflicts the globe today.On an individual level, hope is theunderlying essence of Ratna’s story.Calamitous times and pain is an integralpart of life. Not everyone has to seesuffering of this kind but if it must comeupon us, the human spirit is capable ofcoping and conquering. It is the spiritthat prevails, himmat, as they say inPunjabi, ’ says the scholarly lady,emphatically.Did it take a lot of research to puttogether this gripping work (an NDTVnewsreader, based in Delhi - where thewriter had visited a week earlier, tolaunch the book, is said to have sat uptill 2 in the morning to finish it!) ? ‘Somuch of the examples and episodes ofeveryday life, in rural Punjab, are etchedin my own memory as a little girl,’ saysthe writer. ‘I would frequently dip into

‘The book will especially help our younger generation to understand the magnitude of that event (Partition of India), allowing deepintrospection and comparisons into the strife that besets the globe today with the glimmer of hope that the human spirit kindles...

that reservoir of memories. The ‘mangoparties’ that we would have is one ofthem.’ The metaphoric effect that thejuice mango has, right through the book,is rather evident. It has a leading effect.It conveys hope amid strife.

What type of leadership is essentialtoday? ‘I think change is vital for all ofus to comprehend and facilitate in ourlives. I see, for example, many deep setcultural aspects in our society which arebeing followed just because they havebeen followed. It is time to shrug off theyoke of unquestioning acceptance and tochange. It is what the world is inspiredby today. In all the strife and strugglethat is around us, leadership that believeschange is not only imminent but in ourown hands, is to be upheld. There must,at the same time, be a consensus anddeep sensitivity to the concerns of others.’

In her own quiet storytelling way, thewriter has shown leadership through herwriting. ‘Sheer advice goes unheeded.Information and interpretation based onhistorical events and episodes willengage the reader.’

Juice Mango, by picking up the pieces ofour history, deliberately reconstructingthe travails and its triumphs, is boundto go a long way down in history.

A miraclea day.

‘AAAAA miracle happens every day’, says Sr Maria Goretti, head of the Little Sisters of the Poor, Home for the Aged, Coonoor. With 75 inmates and 12little sisters, the Nilgiri wing of this worldwide organisation founded in France in the late 1700s, by Saint Jeanne Jugan (recently cannonised) is a fineexample of efficiency, where everyone pitches in to keep the wheels moving. Donors keep the engine running. The Home runs on collections that thesisters tirelessly collect from generous locals, following the example of their foundress, centuries ago. ‘Some benefactors land at our doorstep andmake a contribution. That’s our miracle of the day!’, says Sr Goretti with a smile.. To know how to make a donation: Call: (0423) 2206738

Happy home:From left, Mr ‘ever ready’Maria Das, the MotherSuperior Sr Maria Goretti,Mr Augustine, Sr Odile,Mr Kandaiah.

Published on behalf of The Local Media Publishing Co,. by Edwin David from 10/363-Y-1, Indiranagar; Avk Post, The Nilgiris. Printed at Satya Press, no. 50 Kariappa Street; Purasaiwalkam, Chennai - 7. Editor: Edwin David

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special education

A green sock and a red sock is what HeikeFreese, special educator from Bremen,Germany, wore one day to the special schoolUdhavi that she is volunteering at inCoonoor. ‘I drew the attention of the youngchildren to my odd socks and there was greatamusement all around’’, says the spiritedlady, adding ‘but there was a bigger purposeto my actions.’ The next day when this six-and-a-half footer walked in to the day school,it seems the young lad at the entrance,Aashiq, focussed his sight on her feet andwouldn’t look up until Heike lifted hertrousers slightly to reveal the green-red!

‘Children with special needs are a lot moreintelligent than we realise. Only that theircomprehension of everything around themis different from what larger society believes.Which is why inclusive methods of teachingand guidance must be woven around eachchild and not the other way around.’

Heike’s unusual approach took many bysurprise, including the neighbouringshopkeepers and passers-by on theDarlington Bridge road in upper Coonoorwhere the day school is situated. ‘Peoplefound it odd to respond, I could tell, whenPrakash (one of the older children at thecentre) would say namaste on some of ourinitial walks outside the centre. It’s thegetting used to, that matters. The challengeis with society and its acceptance.’

What does it take to be a special educator?Definitely, an open mind, one that isconstantly identifying the needs of the child

and thinking up innovative ways to reachout’. How long does it take for a child todevelop trust? ‘Sometimes a couple of daysbut sometimes even a few months!’‘I recall when I first began work with thechildren, Mrs Latika Rao (the chiefcounsellor and special educator at Udhavi)would encourage the children to point outto signs, words and diagrams on the speciallyconstructed boards helping themunderstand where I come from. Aashiq,who likes to communicate with us in English,pointed to the ‘where’ chart quite easily. Ithen gestured with my arms wide open,moving up and down to show a plane toexplain that I am from overseas. We are yetto introduce him to an atlas but that willhappen soon enough!’Ms. Freese’s community work back inGermany involved working with largesections of society towards a ‘violence freeenvironment’. It was a decade long collectiveobjective in Bremen and other parts of theworld. From here, the volunteer leaves forSouth Africa to work with children livingwith HIV.

‘I find working with children here fulfillingand it is of course a huge learning for me.Some of the challenges that the specialchildren face here are tremendous.’

The special educator also taught maths-music-sports at a German school in Mumbaiyears ago, which marked her first visit toIndia. Parting message from this multi-talented individual for locals? Greater

Special educators constantly innovate.

contribution and support from society forspecial education is the need of the hour,both in the form of donations and helpinghands. More attention needs to be paid tothese wonderful people amidst us.’