SWWA PARIVAAR Sahakarnagar Women’s Welfare Association [email protected]Ph: 91 98 806 66226 Volume 1, Issue 1 April 2014 NEWSLETTER FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION ONLY Meenakshi Seshadri President Shwetha D Vyshak Vice President My best wishes and heartiest congratulations to the SWWA family. In the past year, SWWA has emerged to be a forceful voice of the women in and around Sahakaranagar. I wish that the momentum and good work is maintained and more women come forward to be a part of this family. Keep up the good work. Prerana Arvind Singh Founder Member & General Secretary SWWA is an Association which is binding all the ladies and giving them an opportunity to learn new things and do things that they have always wanted to. Here they get a chance to learn and hone their skills in various activities which are regularly held. I wish SWWA will continue to live up to the expectations of its members. You are powerful than you know; you are beautiful just as you are; identify yourself and challenge the world. You have the power to create, nurture and transform. Congratulations swwa for the completion of one year and I welcome all the women around to join hands with us
Transcript
SWWA PARIVAAR Sahakarnagar Women’s Welfare Association
Volume 1, Issue 1 April 2014NEWSLETTER FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION ONLY
Meenakshi SeshadriPresident
Shwetha D VyshakVice President
My best wishes and heartiest congratulations to the SWWA family. In the past year, SWWA has emerged to be a forceful voice of the women in and around
Sahakaranagar. I wish that the momentum and good work is maintained and more women come forward to be a part of this family. Keep up the good work.
Prerana Arvind Singh Founder Member & General Secretary
SWWA is an Association which is binding all the ladies and giving them an opportunity to learn new things and do things that they have always wanted to. Here they get a chance to learn and hone their skills in various activities which are regularly held. I wish SWWA will continue to live up to the expectations of its members.
You are powerful than you know; you are
beautiful just as you are; identify yourself
and challenge the world. You have the
power to create, nurture and transform.
Congratulations swwa for the completion of one year and I
welcome all the women around to join hands with us
Honorary Advisory Board :Dr. Satyavathi, Sujatha Ashok, Nagalakshmi, Chandralekha, Girija Ramachandra, Ganga Guruswamy, Lakshmi Rajan
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EMERGENCE OF SWWA.....On 16th March, 2013 a young housewife from Sahakarnagar Mrs. Prerana Arvind Singh, Founder and the Secretary of SWWA, called for a meeting with a noble intention of getting women together to form a Women’s Association. The founder member got a good response and a few like-minded people joined hands and thus SWWA was born.
On 1st April, 2013 SWWA was inaugurated by our honourable President Mrs. Meenakshi and other dignitaries. It was decided to conduct free activities for the ladies to help them come out of their shells. Several classes like aerobics, pot and glass painting, knitting and crochet, bhajan, yoga, spoken English, Kannada and Hindi, etc. were conducted by a few professionals and volunteers. Meanwhile the search for the Committee Members was on. Eligible and enthusiastic women from various backgrounds were selected and a Committee and Advisory Board were formed.
On 17th July, 2013 the members of the Committee and Advisory Board were introduced to all the SWWA members. We the members of SWWA, in order to promote the well-being of women and our community, took this small step by joining hands and formed this association. A cultural program was also held.
Mission of SWWA: SWWA is purely a voluntary welfare organisation of women and a non profi t organisation. Imparting and exploring various welfare activities for ladies and community by large is our motto. The mission of the association is to serve the housewives, working women and aged, irrespective of caste, creed and community.
SWWA Privaar: SWAA started off with 85 members in the fi rst month. It boasts of nearly 500 members till date. Women from all walks of life are our members. Doctors,engineers, teachers, home - makers, entrepreneurs etc. enjoy equal status in the association. SWAA has taken an initiative of registering the maids as members for free. SWAA takes regular suggestions from its members to better itself.
I look around and wonder why do people look at a married woman differently?
She might look better dressed, maybe wearing an ornament or two, that mark her married. But she’s still a girl at heart,
sindoor and bindi don’t make her a woman. She may be still learning how to run a home, she still might be struggling taking
care of not just herself but two and more people, she might not always like to hear ‘what does your husband do’...
Marriage doesn’t suddenly turn a girl into a woman. For that matter having kids doesn’t necessarily do the same either.
Celebrate who she really is, celebrate the child in her, she may be anyone around you, ur friend, ur sister, ur mother, a total
stranger. She’s not supposed to be responsible for in-numerous things, countless chores, it’s just her desire for perfection
that she does what she does. This is for every wonderful woman I know. Grow up... but take your own sweet time & let the
li’l girl in you live forever. And for all my male friends... cherish her, spoil her and most importantly let her be... She wasn’t born
to take care of you, it’s her heart that makes her do so....!!
Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.
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DEV-IN National School
disciplines over last few years. Dev-In National School is
spread in 3.25 acres campus with separate complex for
academics and a separate sports arena which is a rare
thing to find across most schools within the city limits. We
believe in providing ‘holistic education’ to children. We have
certain strategies of imparting education of which I am sure
they have stood the test of times. Thus, it is palpable that
Dev-In National School will also be able to score high in the
education sector.
JM. The so called ‘holistic education’ and schools
supporting the theory are many. What is the one
factor, which you put out to attract the parents?
SV - We are open to innovation and rubbing shoulders with
the changing times and the requirements of the students.
Our school has fixed ratio when it comes to seeking
admission in our school. We do not entertain more than 30
students in a class i.e in a particular section regardless of the
number of admissions we are offered. The school guidelines
are followed faithfully. Another advantage our school is that,
it is located in a calm vicinity accessible to all. Students are
allowed to take up sports and co-circular activities of their
choice and we have specialized coach faculty to provide the
necessary trainings. So, in a nutshell we concentrate on a
child’s ‘holistic’ development.
SWWA takes pleasure in presenting the excerpts of the
interview with Mrs. Shwetha Vyshak who is a member
and the Vice-President of SWWA. Mrs. Shwetha Vyshak
is the administrator of Dev-In National School,a prominent
CBSE school with International school facilities situated in
Sahakaranagar, Bangalore North with Jayashree Mrutyunjay,
a Committee Member of SWWA.
Jayashree Mrutyunjay-(JM) - How do you classify
Dev-In National School? Is it a National School or an
International School?
Ms. Shwetha Vyshak (SV) – I am very proud to say that ours
is a National School. Our idea behind Dev-In National School
is to provide children with International school facilities and
at the same time keeping our cultural values and ethics.
Our infrastructure is set up as per the International school
or IB norms. We have adopted best of the sports and
co- curricular activities found across most International
schools. In short, It’s a combination of CBSE curriculum and
International school facilities.
JM. How different is it from any other schools in
Bangalore North?
SV- We are having 20 years of experience in the field of
education and we have produced students who have done
achievements in academics, sports and various other
If you judge people, you have no time to love them.
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JM. There is always an argument that in a holistic education scenario, a child fails to adapt to the final board examination. Hence, they fail to perform well. What’s your take on it and how do you handle this?
SV - It is true that we can’t turn our head away from board examinations and keeping this in mind, we introduce students to formal teaching in eighth standard and from sixth standard the school curriculum takes longer reviews of students into spotlight. The school is not adhered to a particular time table of examinations unlike other schools. The curriculum is devoted to reviews which are implemented after the completion of a concept. Regular assessments, project work are a regular thing here which are aimed at the learning of a child.
I feel students will be able to adapt themselves and balance their routine till the time they sit for board examinations. Even CBSE has modified and moderated their course over the time, which ultimately lowers down the pressure on students. The stress on pen and paper has substantially declined over the years. Students need to balance their education and interests after eight standard because somewhere down the line taking examinations is part and parcel of the game.
JM. Since holistic education is about teaching the kid , what is important in life rather than bookish knowledge. Do you have special classes, teaching them about how to deal with social media, how to handle emotional changes, puberty and how to handle gadgets?
SV - Yes, our school will take life skills program into loop, which I feel is imperative for every single child. Reading programs, circle- time programs and other interesting activities have been included into the school program with an intention to awaken the interest of children in learning new things. I believe bookish knowledge can only assist you to score good marks and can make you a graduate but they won’t teach children the importance of life skills.
Kids need to move out of their comfort zone, excel in handling the peer pressure and should learn to say ‘NO’ to certain temptations. Hence, these are some of the things, which our school throws light on. Progressive schools take best of both the worlds i.e.- traditional approach with International methodologies.
DEV-IN National School
We also have incorporated extensive report cards of children and we call parents every 45 days to discuss about their kids. The main motive is to keep kids and their parents on the same page. The school program is designed in a way that enables children to churn out their thoughts.
JM. School buses are a big concern among parents as drivers don’t drive well or kids are not treated well. What are the safety measures that you undertake to ensure that these kinds of things do not happen?
SV – Firstly travelling to school over long distances in not good for the kids and they waste valuable energy and time during travel. Hence the current students who are travelling longer distances to school can plan and shift to Dev-In National school. I am sure it will bring in drastic change in them and the output would be their improvised performance in the academics and sports.
About our school transportation facilities, we have taken lot of safety measures into consideration. All the buses are GPS enabled, plus the drivers are not on the contractual basis. They have been hired by the school authorities and they are on our regular pay rolls. We also have support staff, traveling along with the children. All school buses are filled with appropriate ratio of students and I am telling you this not because I want to proclaim this, it helps children to stay calm and composed during their travel to school.
JM. Where do you see Dev-In National School ten years down the line?
SV – It is very palpable that I want my school to be counted in one of the best schools in the country and I hope children passing out from this school would excel in their field.
SWWA’S opinion:
The Committee Members of SWWA visited Dev-In-National School and found that the school has a good infrastructure with spacious classrooms, good student- teacher ratio, vast library, individual spacious lab and a unique forum for Science-museum. The sports facilities are outstanding with a large swimming pool and indoor games arena for skating, badminton, martial arts and handball to balance the curricular and co-curricular activities. There are auditoriums and seminar halls for various activities and conferences.The teachers were courteous and soft spoken.The residents of in and around Sahakarnagar are indeed privileged to have such a school
with multiple facilities in their vicinity.
Anger is never without an arguement, but seldom with a good one.
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SWAYAMRAKSHAN - TIPS FOR YOUR SAFETY
It is unfortunate that women today have to live each day with fear in our minds. Fear of our Safety! News of rape, molestation, murder of young children, girls, married women and elderly is only increasing each day. While we can and must demand for more stringent laws and a more vigilant police, isn’t it better that we are proactive and be prepared for an eventuality? “God helps those who help themselves”.
Here are some tips that could make you feel more secure.
1) Carry with you, one or more of these items that can save your life –
A Pepper Spray, A Paper cutter, A Whistle. Do ensure they are easily accessible in your bag. They cost only a few rupees! Wear a whistle always. Blow it hard to get attention from people. If you are walking, there is a good chance that your attacker will run away. An easy weapon for the elderly and children too. If you are carrying a paper cutter, slash the attacker ,not pierce him.
2) When taking an auto, taxi or bus
a) Read the ID card details of the driver placed in front of the passenger seat. AVOID getting into an auto, if there is no identity card.
b) When feeling uneasy with the driver,
i) Message the vehicle number and name of the driver to someone (parent, spouse, friend ).Better still, call up and tell the same loud enough to be heard by the driver, so he knows he cannot abscond for long.
ii) Be in continuous conversation with someone, informing now and then where you are. Pretend
to talk TOUGH to someone on the phone, like a friend or co-worker. The driver will think twice before attacking you!
iii) If in a bus and harassed by a man, remove the paper cutter and simply hold it in front of you for him to see.
3) When walking on the road -
With chain snatchers on the prowl, always walk on the side facing the oncoming traffic. It will be difficult for someone to rob you from the back, and escape against the traffic. Also, you will be able to see any chain snatchers on motorcycles coming towards you and react. The whistle could be handy at such times!
4) Store the phone numbers -
Store the phone numbers of the nearest Police station, Police control room and Hoysala on your mobile phone. This could help the police reach you faster. Police control room- 080-22943060. Kodigehalli Police Station and Hoysala- 080 22943703.
5) At home, keep a Pepper Spray or an open chilli powder packet close to the front door to counter any attack.
6) Visualise what you will do if you are attacked by someone under different situations, outside or at home. This will help you to act faster if you are attacked.
7) Educate your children and elderly family members.
8) Learn to use the tools effectively by practicing.
9) Learn Self-defence techniques from a Qualified tutor.
- Lakshmi Rajan
You cannot believe in god until you believe in yourself.
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The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.
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PARENTING TIPSParenting is a continuous task … so it is called PARENTING. Parents should be learners themselves. Whenever your child does something good or bad calling them as “good boy” or “good girl”, “bad boy” or “bad girl” is a wrong practice. Instead of labelling the child as good or bad label the activity as GOOD JOB or BAD JOB. This sends a clear signal to the child that whatever task he/she has done is liked/not liked by parents. This is one way of developing self-esteem in the children.
- Jayashree M
An example from Mr. Chetan Bhagat’s diary:
One night when his mother cooked dinner after a long day’s work the rotis got extremely burnt. The same were served to his father who came home after a tiring day. Chetan was waiting to see his father’s reaction. To his surprise his father just ate the rotis and went to bed. Later his mother apologised to his dad for which he said, “A burnt roti never hurts anyone but harsh words do. Accept each others faults and learn to celebrate relationships. Life is too short to wake up with regrets! Love the people who treat you right and have compassion for the ones who don’t “
Chetan learnt a very big lesson on that day and became what he is today.
ENJOY LIFE NOW!!!It has an expiry date…
How human beings can be humble and down to earth?
Being humble and down to earth is not about sacrificing our materialistic pleasures. Instead it is all about the little acts of kindness that we are responsible in doing to the society. It is about introducing social service as a part of our daily life. Providing a helping hand to our counter parts in need is an initial step. These small steps not only make us socially active but productive as well. It boosts our morale. I strongly believe that humility and being down to earth has to be the first lesson in parenting for the children of this era.
- Sangeetha
PAPER BLOOMS
SWWA takes utmost pride in introducing a local talent. Ms.Kamala Bhute has magic on her fingertips. Not only does she nurture roses, chrysanthemums and dahlias, but she also has plants and creepers in pots – complete with leaves, buds and flowers. All of these are made of PAPER. If artificially scented, it would be almost impossible to differentiate between real flowers and these paper beauties.
This is not an expensive hobby. All you need is colour paper, scissors, glue, cane and copper wire.
She makes nearly 30 varieties of flowers, garlands, creepers, fluorescent paper flowers, multi-coloured door hangers, fish scales and velvet flowers. She makes amazing Kanakambara
flowers & necklace and bangles with paddy. Kamala shares her skills by teaching hundreds of eager students, the art of making paper blossoms thereby making it a rewarding
experience.
Kamala is a proud recipient of various awards both at individual as well as state levels. She has been certified by Rotary Club for excellence in “Artificial Flower Making”.
Despite her innumerable works of art and despite her achievements there is a very humble human being within her. It would not be out of place to conclude that Kamala is one flower that can never wither away.
Interviewed by
Nalini Prithviraj
We want deeper sincerity of motive, a greater courage in speech and earnestness in action.
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Recipes
Mango Raita:
Ingredients:
Raw Mango- 1Coconut - halfGreen Chillies -3 nosCurd – 5tbspCurry leaves – a fewRed Chillies – 2 nosMustard – ½ tspOil – 2 tsp
Salt to taste
Method: Grate the mango and keep it aside
Grind the coconut, green chillies into fine paste. Add this to the grated mango in a separate pan. Give a seasoning of mustard seeds & red chillies. Add this to the mango mixture when cool. Finally add curds and serve with hot chappatis, rotis and pooris.
- Sangeetha
Mango Lassi:
Put four cubes of ice in a blender. Add two cups of plain curd, 3/4th cup sugar(or as per taste)a pinch of cardamom powder, 2 cups of alphonso mango pulp, 1/2 cup water. Run the blender. Serve in a long glass. Garnish with a spring of Mint and two tbl.sp. of fresh cream.
- Nalini Prithviraj
Easy mango ice-cream:
Take one bowl of mango pulp, sugar, milk cream and milk each.
Make a fine paste in the mixer until frothy.
Put the mixture in an airtight container and put it in the freezer until the ice-cream is ready.
Mango fruit can be replaced with other fruits like chikoo, banana and strawberry.
- Jayashree M
SWWA ACTIVITIESSWWA HABBA
SWWA celebrated a one of its kind women’s Habba on October 5th and 6th at the Sahakarnagar ground. It was an extravaganza of music, dance, drama and games. Various competitions were held. Rangoli and Fireless cooking were huge hits. Many stalls were put up to promote women’s products and participation. Dandiya was introduced for the first time for women and couples in Sahakarnagar. People came in large numbers and made this event by SWWA a great success.
REPUBLIC DAY
SWWA took an initiative of celebrating Republic Day at Sahakarnagar. The National Flag was hoisted by a retired school teacher. People came in large numbers. “SARE JAHAN SE ACCHA... HINDUSTAN HAMARA....” reverberated in the air. A clean up drive was held involving the BBMP workers. Major stretches of Sahakarnagar were cleaned. Sincere and dedicated garbage collectors were appreciated and rewarded.
WOMEN’S DAY
WOMEN’S DAY was grandly celebrated on March 8th in the temple premises. Women came in large numbers and participated in games, dance and music. Prizes for “best dressed woman”, “best dancer”, etc. were given away. Lunch was arranged for all the members. Indeed a day to remember.
A Nation’s strength ultimately consists in what it can do on its own, & not in what it can borrow from others.
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KEY NOTE ON LAWS
LAWS RELATING TO RIGHT TO PROPERTY WOMEN IN INDIA
The Constitution of India guarantees to all Indian women equality (Article 14), no discrimination by the State (Article 15 (1)), equality of opportunity (Article 16) and equal pay for equal work (Article 39 (d)). In addition, it allows special provisions to be made by the State in favour of women and children (Article 15 (3)), renounces practices derogatory to the dignity of women (Article 51 (A) (e)), and also allows for provisions to be made by the State for securing just and humane conditions of work and for maternity relief (Article 42).
Prior to enactment of Hindu Succession Act 1956, a Hindu wife was not capable of holding any property separate from her husband Except Streedhan and women’s estate, the holder of the later enjoyed the right during her lifetime and did not have right alienate the same. Hindu Succession Act 1956 came into force, enabling women to have absolute right of ownership over property and also the right to alienate it.
Unfortunately, the daughters could not become members of the co-parcenery and the Act did not afford the right of natural inheritance to daughter because of the very concept of right by birth and by reason of sex as only males can be coparceners. Taking into consideration that the daughters were not given the Right by concept of birth, the parliament passed the Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005. By amending sections 6 and 23 of the amended Act, daughters were given equal status to that of sons. It now provides that the daughter shall have a right to claim partition in the joint family properties as well as the right to claim right of partition in the dwelling house of the joint family and she shall also have a right to claim partition during the lifetime of her father. This privilege is only given to Hindu women.
- Shwetha AnandAdvocate
BEAUTY AND HAIR TIPS
FOR OILY SKIN : Mix two
tablespoons of papaya pulp with
ten drops of lemon juice. Leave it
on for twenty minutes on the face
and rinse well.
FOR DRY SKIN : To one
tablespoon of honey add fifteen drops of orange juice, one
tablespoon fuller’s earth and one tablespoon rose water.
Mix well and apply on the face. Wash off after ten minutes.
HAIR CONDITIONING : Tea and beer rinses are known
to improve the look of the hair and condition it. Used tea
leaves should be boiled again in enough water. Strain the
liquid, cool and use as the last rinse after your shampoo.
Beer is said give the hair volume and make it manageable.
FOR DARK UNDER EYE CIRCLES : Almond helps to
remove dark circles as it is a mild natural bleach.
- Kumari CS
How to become a Member of SWWA?
Lifetime Membership Fees – Rs. 500/-
Application forms are available at the SWWA Office # 1407, A Block, Railway Parallel Road, Sahakarnagar, Bangalore – 560092. Kindly get 2 passport size photos, Photocopy of Address Proof and Id Proof.
