The "Hamare Bus Ki Baat Hai" Programme

On Saturday, 23^rd July, 2016, I attended the “Hamare Bus Ki Baat Hai” programme, an initiative by Tata Motors at G.D Birla Centre for Education in Kolkata. The motto of the programme is to ensure that school children travel safely by bus to school and back to home.

Since it is such a noble initiative, I couldn’t stop myself from attending the programme. The sessions of the programme were very interactive and engaging. At first, a presentation was shown to the bus staff about how they should make sure that the school children are safe and comfortable in their bus. Through the interesting and simple presentation, the bus staff learnt how they should understand the needs of children and talk to them in a win-win approach.

The programme comprised of an interesting movie presentation, simple discussions and fun games, through which the bus staff were taught how to ensure safe travel of school children.

Movie presentation

The 5 things that were mainly highlighted in the “Hamare Bus ki Baat Hai” programme are as follows:

1.  The first thing that was talked about in the session was that the bus staff should be extremely responsible towards the school children.

2 . The second thing that was highlighted in the session was that the bus staff, including the bus driver must know the names of all the school children. This will allow the bus staff to communicate with the school children easily. 

Question/Answer session

3 . The importance of etiquette, manners and grooming was explained to the bus staff.

4. The next thing that was highlighted in the programme was how to handle emergencies and accidents. The bus drivers were told to check the condition of the bus before starting the bus. It was also told to the bus staff to carry a list of emergency phone numbers so that they can call for help, in case an emergency arises.

5. Finally, difficulties faced by the bus staff in handling school children were discussed in details. Solutions were given to each and every problem that the bus staff have to face.

Fun games

Kudos to Tata Motors for this wonderful initiative! They have already conducted close to 800 sessions in schools all over India. Safe travel of school children is extremely important. We get to hear about road accidents so frequently and therefore, I feel that this program of enlightening the bus staff about the safe travel of children is the need of the hour.

Moreover, this program will also help the bus staff to interact with the children and their parents easily. When the parents will see that the bus staff is very friendly and responsible, they can be assured that their kids are taken care of, properly by the bus staff.

The children will also be able to travel to school and back to home safely. They will not have any problem in the bus because the bus staff will communicate with them properly. 

What I really liked about the “Hamare Bus Ki Baat Hai” programme was that, through fun sessions, so many things were explained and taught to the bus staff. I am sure that the programme was successful in enhancing the safety skills and communication skills of the school bus staff that day. I could really connect to the exercise and I feel that such sessions can create a very positive change in metropolitan cities where accidents are so frequent.

I am sure everyone will agree with me that the safe travel of children is very essential. As responsible guardians and citizens, we must support this initiative. Follow their Facebook page to know more about their sessions!

You can also visit the site of Hamare Bus Ki Baat Hai, where you can take the pledge for children’s safe travel. This is the first thing I did after attending the program.  

I've pledged for safe travel of school children. Have you done your bit too? Pledge now: http://www.hbkbh.com/safe-travel-pledge.aspx

Providing a healthy environment in schools to promote better education!

The initiative

Support My School is a WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) initiative launched by Coca-Cola India and NDTV in association with the UN-Habitat, Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) in 2011. The motto of this initiative is to provide a clean and healthy ambiance in several government schools so that students get a holistic learning environment.

Schools in the rural and semi-urban areas

There are several government schools, especially in the rural areas which do not have separate toilets for girls and boys. The students don’t have access to water and a poor infrastructure. The schools also do not have clean playgrounds and clean classrooms. Without these basic amenities, schools can hardly provide a healthy environment for students which is favorable for learning.

Many girls drop out of schools because there is no separate toilet for girls. Sanitation issues and poor access to clean drinking water results in absenteeism. According to several studies, the drop-out rate is maximum in schools that are located in semi-urban and rural areas because these schools lack the basic amenities.

Mission of the Campaign

The future of a country depends on the quality of education provided to the students. If a large section of students drop-out of school due to an unhealthy environment, it is a serious matter to worry about.

Support My School is a campaign with a mission to revitalize 1000 schools in our country. The mission is known as Mission 1000.

The core activities that this campaign undertakes are as follows:

·        Improved access to clean, drinking water.

·        Proper sanitation facility for boys and girls.

·        Sports and recreation facilities.

·        Recharging groundwater through rainwater harvesting.

·        Overall improvement in the environment and the infrastructure of a school.

Conclusion

Such programs are the need of the hour to improve the education sector of our country. The Support My School initiative by Coca-Cola India and NDTV is in line with Swacchh Bharat Vision and promises to bring about a major change in the quality of education in our country. This initiative has already revitalized many schools in the districts. After getting revitalized, the schools have reported of higher attendance of students and increased enrollment.

Thus, we should wholeheartedly support this campaign, to our best abilities. Let’s hope that this wonderful initiative is able to bring more and more students to school and provide them with a holistic learning environment.

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

  

Surprise your Dad with flowers

Are you thinking what to gift your Dad on this Father’s Day? Do you want to make this Father’s Day a little special for your Dad? Now, you don’t have to worry much. You can buy Flowers online for your Dad and surprise him on Father’s Day which is on the 21^st of June this year. 

Father’s Day is a special occasion to let our fathers know how wonderful they are and how blessed we are to have them in our lives. I am sure every daughter would agree with me regarding this. Flowers can serve the perfect medium to let your Dad know how special he is and how lucky you feel yourself to be his daughter. Flowers are the best way to express a personal sentiment or a feeling. They are warm and can convey a message perfectly. 

The best thing about buying flowers online is that you get to choose a wide range of flowers within a few minutes. Moreover, the facility of midnight delivery is available which means that just at the stroke of midnight, when the day changes to 21^st June, you will be able to give your Dad a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Buy fresh flowers online without thinking twice. We can assure you that the flowers you would receive will be fresh and beautiful. 

You would find an exclusive range of flowers online at an affordable price. The best thing is that there won’t be any problem of delivery as Floweraura delivers across 150 cities (2000 pin codes pan India). The facility of same day delivery is also available as per your preferred timing. Therefore, buy flowers at best price with just a few clicks.

Father’s Day is the time of honoring our fathers and to show them how much we love and care for them. Our Dads fulfill our wants and whims without any complaints right from our childhood. All he wants is to see his princess happy and smiling. A Dad is a daughter’s first hero and with a bouquet of fresh flowers, we can make a big smile appear on his face. 

Just imagine the bell ringing at the stroke of midnight of Father’s Day and your father is surprised to find that his princess has ordered fresh flowers for him. It will make him feel blessed for having a wonderful and expressive daughter like you.

Think no further. Make this Father’s Day special with flowers.

Nature needs you, the way you need Her!

Peep into your soul

See what it desires;

A walk in the woods

Or imprisonment within the four walls;

The feel of moist-laden grass

Or a carpet beneath your feet;

Rain after sweltering heat

Or coolness by an air conditioner.

Whether you admit or not, Nature is the reservoir from where we draw an abundance of happiness and tranquility. Therefore, we choose to have our vacations amidst the hills or in a sea-beach or within lush green meadows. We feel the desire to unwind ourselves from our busy schedule in the lap of nature.

 

Ironically, it’s again we and our folks who seem so nonchalant about nature being destroyed. Trees are cut and in its place high rise buildings are constructed and we seem so unaffected by it. Be it water or air pollution, we still seem so unaffected. It rains rarely when it is supposed to rain and we face such extreme weather conditions. Yet, we choose to stay ignorant.

Is it ignorance or apathy

That we pollute the air we breathe

Contaminate the water we drink

Kill the healer who soothes?

It’s high time that we realize that we, and only we can make the earth a greener place and save our Mother Nature from being destroyed. It is time to save our healer, our soul soother, our Mother Nature. Nature needs us, the way we need Her.

Here are 20 simple ways by which we can make the Earth a greener place:
 

·        Paper and plastics must be recycled so that we can reduce waste to some extent. You can learn about local recycling regulations to do this.

·        Instead of paperbacks, prefer to buy eBooks so that you can save paper.

·        When you are going to a grocery store, bring your own bag. Avoid using plastic bags and rather use paper bags as they can be easily recycled.

·        Instead of taking a car always, walk for some time every day.

·        Whenever you leave a room, don’t forget to switch the lights and fan off.

·        Practice gardening. Even if you do not have adequate space, plant a small indoor herb garden.

·        Eat plenty of vegetables. Consider being a vegetarian.

·        When you are not using an appliance or electronic machine, remember to unplug them. Do not put your cell phone in charge overnight. Consider buying energy efficient appliances.

·        Compost organic waste from the kitchen.

·        Use organic cosmetics and beauty products.

·        Do not burn crackers in Diwali or in any other ocassions. Consider celebrating an eco-friendly Diwali.

·        Do not waste water unnecessarily when you are doing the dishes, brushing your teeth or taking a shower. 

·        Always print on both sides of the page. Do not waste paper. Scribble your to-do list and grocery list on your phone. Use technology cleverly.

·        Use rechargeable batteries always.

·        Do not buy food that has excessive packaging.

·        Instead of plastic food containers, use glass containers.

·        Instead of plastic water bottles, use water jugs.

·        Spend time with nature so that you realize its value and protect it with every bone in your body.

·        Buy fresh herbs to make herbal tea for yourself. 

·        When giving a gift to a loved one, skip using wrapping paper and ribbons. Rather, use recycled paper or old magazines. Be a little creative.

As you will put in every little effort to make the world a greener place, you would be able to feel the love of Mother Nature in a more profound way. Be one with Nature and protect it from destruction.

 (Image Source: here)

As the first sunray

Kiss my skin today

With affable tenderness;

I feel I am a young sapling

Or a new born flower bud.

  

I feel divine grace

Seeping all over my body;

Nothing can be more fulfilling

Than a green world

And every soul on it protecting the earth.

Visit the website: http://greenyatra.org/ and watch this beautiful song sung by Studio NH 47, a Bangalore based band for Earth Day which is celebrated on 22^nd April every year. You would surely be inspired to make the world a greener and beautiful place to live in. 

 

Wake up and act!