Category Archives: Amazing Feats

No fancy clinics, doctor couple achieves success through home visits

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology

The couple now aims to start three more centres in other parts of the city, and bring in two nutritionists for patients facing dietary issues.

The team now comprises other doctors and many nurses and physiotherapists
The team now comprises other doctors and many nurses and physiotherapists

Bengaluru :

It’s been five years since Dr Navneeth Motreja and his wife Nithya decided to do something meaningful with their MBBS degree. Realising that many patients, especially senior citizens, find it tough to travel to a hospital and then wait in a long queue for consultation, the doctor couple decided to launch a service to examine patients at their homes.

From just one or two appointments a day to 20,000 patients in the last five years, they have come a long way, and now have a team comprising eight doctors, six nurses and three physiotherapists. They later also launched two clinics, at Halasuru and Malleswaram, that work as a reporting centre for the staff.

“We have a centre in Frazer Town for call coordination. The coordinators receive calls from patients and inform the nearest clinic. In case the doctor cannot reach their house immediately during emergency cases, the coordinators check with the hospital nearest to the patient and get an ambulance free of cost,” Motreja said.

Celebrating the fifth anniversary of their joint venture, Care on Call, this Saturday, he said, “We found that it was difficult for the elderly, bed-ridden and the sick to get dressed and drive to the hospital. So we decided to go the old-fashioned way, and carry a tool-kit to the patient’s house. Care on Call now receives over 50 appointments a day.”

The venture is also getting popular with people visiting the city. “Many visitors do not know about nearby hospitals and would prefer to get treated at their hotel room. So we also started receiving calls from hotels to consult their guests,” Motreja told CE, adding that they provide 24×7 service. “Pharmacies are closed during the night and we provide basic medication. The fee is Rs 100 for a one-hour consultation if the area is within 5km of our clinics,” he added.

The couple now aims to start three more centres in other parts of the city, and bring in two nutritionists for patients facing dietary issues. “We may also expand to other cities if this goes well. This is the best way to ensure quality and affordable healthcare,” said Nithya.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Preeja Prasad / Express News Service / May 16th, 2019

Bengalurean pursues soccer dreams in Spain

Amazing Feats, Records, All, Sports, World Opinion
The footballer from Bengaluru has a foot in the door - an opportunity to play for the reserve side of Madrid Club de Futbol Femenino, a La Liga Division 1 side. She feels that’s all she needs to kick open that metaphorical door to be a full-time professional
The footballer from Bengaluru has a foot in the door – an opportunity to play for the reserve side of Madrid Club de Futbol Femenino, a La Liga Division 1 side. She feels that’s all she needs to kick open that metaphorical door to be a full-time professional

Brishti Bagchi has a dream. One that sees her kicking a football on the sun-soaked pitches of Spain. And unlike many, she even has a chance to realise it.

The footballer from Bengaluru has a foot in the door – an opportunity to play for the reserve side of Madrid Club de Futbol Femenino, a La Liga Division 1 side. She feels that’s all she needs to kick open that metaphorical door to be a full-time professional.

But the stumbling block remains finances, forcing her to turn to crowd-funding.

“I made the reserve team in Madrid and I want to return there in August,” she puts it matter-of-factly. “So I have to go back and train for four to six months with the reserve team before I can play for the first team.”

“Yes, because I have a visa based on that. The visa would be a student visa and I have the license to compete for the reserve team. Only once I make the main team and get a contract can I get a work permit and be paid. But until I do, I have to take  care of my expenses.”

Brishti, playing for Bangalore United FC in the ongoing Indian Women’s League in Ludhiana, had a trial towards the end of 2018 with the Spanish club. After being scouted during her time with Dallas City FC B in the Women’s Premier Soccer League in the United States, she was picked for the reserve team at the end of her trial.

Having played in the National Association for Intercollegiate Athletics league for the Oklahoma City University side before moving to North Texas University Club while pursuing a degree and research in Kinesiology, the attacker knows the level needed to make it as a professional.

“I had a trial for Houston Dash (in the US). I made it to the second round and they said international players have only four spots in the team and they were taken,” she opens up about her path.

The 25-year-old, coached by BUFC coach Chitra Gangadharan during her early years for SAI, was in the state and national circles before moving to the US. has knocked on many a door to help pursue her passion. The midfielder started a fundraising campaign on Milaap where she has detailed her ambitions and struggles. So far she has raised Rs 3,55,400. There is still a long way to go.

“This is a short-term investment so I’m hoping for a corporate sponsor.”

While her future remains in the balance, Brishti is keen to help in raising the popularity of women’s football and don the national colours. “Women’s football in India definitely has gone up. I think there is more hope but there needs to be more support. I know they are working on it and hopefully it will happen in the future,” she says.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Sports> Football / by Sandeep Menon / DH News Service / Bengaluru – May 15th, 2019

It’s a perfect 100 for Bengaluru boy in JEE Main

Amazing Feats, Education, Records, All

Kevin, also a Karnataka topper, is a  Class 12 student of Nehru Smaraka Vidyalaya in Jayanagar.

Kevin Martin
Kevin Martin

Bengaluru :

Bengaluru boy Kevin Martin (17) is among the 24 students across the country who scored a perfect 100 and will be qualifying for the JEE-Advanced examinations. The National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the exams, declared the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main Result on Monday night.

Kevin, also a Karnataka topper, is a  Class 12 student of Nehru Smaraka Vidyalaya in Jayanagar.This time, the exam was conducted twice in online mode: from January 8 to 12, and on April 7, 8, 9, 10, and 12. Kevin who appeared for  JEE Main in January secured 100 percentile then. Despite topping, he took the JEE Main in April and got an NTA score of 100 again. He is also appearing for  the ongoing Karnataka CET.

A total of 11,47,125 candidates appeared in JEE Main in January and April.  The top 2,24,000 rankers in JEE Main (including those who appeared in January exam) will be eligible for JEE Advanced 2019 exam.
JEE Main is held for admission to undergraduate engineering programmes offered at NITs, IIITs, SFTIs, and CFTIs.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Express News Service / April 30th, 2019

Mysuru auto driver’s 19-year-old daughter sprints her way to Italy

Amazing Feats, Education, Records, All, Sports, World Opinion

The daughter of Manju, an auto driver and MB Rukmini, a homemaker, hails from KR Nagar, and was inspired to take up in sports professionally by her elder sister MR Anusha, also an athlete.

MR Dhanusha. (Photo: EPS)
MR Dhanusha. (Photo: EPS)

 

Mysuru :

Financial obstacles need not come in the way of dreaming and achieving big, proves 19-year-old MR Dhanusha, an athlete from Mysuru, who is the only girl to have qualified from University of Mysore, to represent India at the 30th Summer Universiade World to be held in Napoli, Italy from July 3 to 14.

The daughter of Manju, an auto driver and MB Rukmini, a homemaker, hails from KR Nagar, and was inspired to take up in sports professionally by her elder sister MR Anusha, also an athlete. So far, she has participated in more than 30 nationals; 50 state events and hundreds of district-level heptathlon events, a track of events consists of seven combined events, which include, 100 metre hurdles; 200 metre dash; 800 metre run; high jump; shot put; long jump; and javelin throw.

Unlike most of her college mates and friends, Dhanusha, a first-year BBA at Basudeva Somani College spends most of her time on the field practising track events. “Heptathlon events are tough and require stamina and endurance. I practice relentlessly for 8-9 hours a day. My dream is to win a gold medal for India,” she said.

While she was considered an extra player during school days, it was in middle school that she started participating in taluk-level events and was selected to undergo training in the Department of Sports and Youth Services for five years. “That was the turning point in my life,” she said.

In the history of the University of Mysore, she is the only girl to win gold at the All India Inter-University event held at Japan and this is the second time she has qualified to take part in the World University event.

“She is the only athlete selected from Mysuru to participate in international events. Despite hailing from a poor family, her achievements are remarkable, and we are confident that she will win more medal for our country,” said M Puneeth, coach, Sports Authority of Karnataka.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by K Rathna / Express News Service / April 17th, 2019

Retired forest officer promotes green earth through paintings

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, World Opinion

A team lead by Rao visited the village Pangti to do their job and such was the success of the 2013 campaign that not a single bird was killed.

Bengaluru :

As the principal chief conservator of forests and head of forest force, Lokeswara Rao was the man who spearheaded various environmental campaigns that spread awareness about afforestation, birds and the ill-effects of plastic pollution. While stationed in Nagaland, the officer was asked to create awareness about the migratory Russian falcons that were being hunted by villagers. A team lead by Rao visited the village Pangti to do their job and such was the success of the 2013 campaign that not a single bird was killed.

So, it comes as no surprise that the now retired forest officer has joined an international body that works towards nature conservation as its director for a campaign called ‘Protect Our Species’. As part of Earth Day Network USA, Rao will be in-charge of the aforementioned campaign and spreading awareness about protecting the environment and its species along with another country head Karuna Singh. The team is working on a ‘Clean Ganga’ and a ‘Clean Juhu Beach’ project, apart from various programmes on plastic pollution.

Rao’s efforts to conserve nature and spread awareness about the need to do so doesn’t end there. This upcoming Earth Day (April 22), he will also exhibit 35 new paintings which will showcase depictions of Buddha in relation to nature through abstract and semi-abstract means. The connection between the two is inseparable, says Rao, who adds, “Nature is present in the four main events of the Buddha’s life: Birth, enlightenment, first sermon and death. Moreover, he always appreciated nature and encouraged others to do the same.” Rao started painting over a decade ago.

 BuddhaBF18apr2019
His favourite, however, are Buddha and nature. According to the latest Living Planet (2018) Index (an indicator of the state of global biological diversity), the population abundance of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish has decreased by more than half (60 per cent) in less than 50 years, from 1970 – 2014. The report attributes it to habitat loss, pollution, climate change, over-exploitation and the spread of invasive species and diseases.

Rao believes art has the ability to interact with and educate the viewer about such issues. “Art can open our eyes to the beauty of the nature. It can simply be a pretty picture that appreciates nature for what it is… Or it can be a challenging piece expressing our complex human connection to nature,”
he says.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Express News Service / April 16th, 2019

Gymnast shows how to shake off agony and pick yourself up

Amazing Feats, Records, All, Sports

Anantha Rao B, a former national-level gymnast, is defying all odds to make a return to the sports field after being involved in an accident which left him paralysed.

Anantha Rao
Anantha Rao

Mysuru :

It’s 4 in the evening. A 30-year-old man in a wheelchair comes out of his house and takes ad 1.2 km-long ride to the nearest public park. After a 10-minute-ride, he reaches the park. His wife assists him by locking the wheelchair brakes, moving the footrests out of the way of his feet and putting the armrest on the side. He then takes out a wooden club from his bag and throws it from the sitting position. His wife picks it up and gives it back to him. He again makes the farthest throw…

Anantha Rao B, a former national-level gymnast, is defying all odds to make a return to the sports field after being involved in an accident which left him paralysed.  He has bagged over 100 medals at the state, south zone and National level gymnastic events.In  2010, while he was doing a somersault at the Mysuru Dasara games,  he landed on his neck which injured his spinal cord and made him immobile.

Nine years after this incident, he is now trying to achieve something in the field of Para Sports. He is preparing to compete in the Club throw — a sport which is currently practised only by athletes with disabilities.Following the tragic incident in 2010, doctors found that Anantha’s spine was shattered. He underwent treatment in a hospital for nearly two years but showed no improvement. That’s when the doctors of HCG Foundation came to his rescue. In an attempt to regenerate the  cells in his spinal cord, a team led by Dr Ajay Kumar gave Ananth stem cell therapy and injections.

This helped him sit – he was bedridden for two years. In 2014,  he approached Ayurvedic therapist Chandraprabha who suggested new treatments.  They both fell in love and got married.  Chandraprabha became his support system. Anantha who always kept himself busy in the sports field was missing something and he became interested in video editing, VFX making. He spent hours browsing and watching video tutorials on VFX and started acquiring editing skills.

During this period he browsed about various para-athletes, their achievements and how they set their goals. He then became determined to pursue sports and shine. In the meantime, Satyanarayana, National Para Athletics coach,  appealed to him to take part in a Para Sports event like Club throw.

Ananth, who was not ready to let fate have the final say, started learning the skills of Club throw. Over the past one year, he has been practising this track and field event. To improve his throwing skills, he ordered a wooden club, weighing around 400 gm,  from the United Kingdom as they are not found in India. Every day he and his wife visit the nearby park, spend an hour practising the Club throw. His wife helps in getting his throw measures and picks up the club and gives it back to him.

When he initially started throwing clubs he could throw it to a distance  of just 9.75 m. But after a few months of practice, he can throw up to 16 m. Last year, he participated in the 18th National Para Athletics championship held in Haryana. Though he did not bag a medal, it gave him a great learning experience, he says. He is hoping to participate in an international Para Sports event this year.

Anantha’s wife Chandraprabha says, “He has the passion for the sports. I can sense the improvements in his throw and there is a meteoric rise compared to his initial days. He  possesses great confidence. What he needs now is a good trainer and coach who can train him and suggest some good techniques.”

FINANCIAL CRUNCH Anantha receives 
Rs 3,000 as pension from the government. His father, an auto driver who stood by him,  passed away three years ago. Though a few individuals and organisations had provided funds in the past, he needs financial support to continue his passion.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Karthik K K / Express News Service / March 24th, 2019

Christian Missionaries used Panchatantra translation to convert Japanese: expert

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, World Opinion
Monika Zin, KHK Visiting Research Fellow 2015 and Associate Professor, Indian Art History in the Department of Asian Studies, Institute of Indology and Tibetology at Ludwigs-Maximilian Unversitat Munchen in Munich in Germany, delivering a lecture at the Central University of Karnataka at Kadaganchi in Aland taluk on Tuesday.— PHOTO: ARUN KULKARNI
Monika Zin, KHK Visiting Research Fellow 2015 and Associate Professor, Indian Art History in the Department of Asian Studies, Institute of Indology and Tibetology at Ludwigs-Maximilian Unversitat Munchen in Munich in Germany, delivering a lecture at the Central University of Karnataka at Kadaganchi in Aland taluk on Tuesday.— PHOTO: ARUN KULKARNI

‘They, based on the Jataka Tales, claimed that the Buddha was originally a Christian’

Research Fellow and an authority on Buddhist art and architecture Monika Zin has traced the root of a beautiful, early third century Buddhist relief found during excavations in the Amaravathi sites to the Jataka Tales in the Panchatantra and how the Christian Missionaries, who used the translated version of the Panchatantra from Persian, Arabic and other languages, converted a large number of Japanese to Christianity with the claim that the Buddha was originally a Christian.

Delivering a lecture at the Central University of Karnataka at Kadaganchi in Aland taluk in Kalaburagi district, Prof. Zin, who is a KHK Visiting Research Fellow 2015 and Associate Professor, Indian Art History in the Department of Asian Studies, Institute of Indology and Tibetology at Ludwigs-Maximilian Unversitat Munchen in Munich in Germany, said that the relief found at the Nagarjunakonda Museum in Telangana has striking similarities in the figures shown in the Panchatantra translated into Pahlavi language and later into Arabic and other languages.

The beautiful relief

Prof. Zin said that the beautiful relief, which is still intact, shows an unidentified king, initially looking angry, being prevented by a couple of women from attacking a sage and later, paying obeisance to the sage. It has an interesting scene of a man hanging over a well holding onto two branches of a tree over which are a tumbling elephant and a white and black mice. In the well below, there are four figures of serpents creeping up and another with its fangs open.

She said that this picture of a man hanging from two branches of a tree over a well and all the other details is found in all translations of the Panchatantra in other languages. The Panchatantra tales were first translated for the Persian royals in Pahlavi language in the sixth century and later, into Arabic in the eighth century. In both these translations, the sequence of this relief is brought out in a pictorial form with all the details. It was the translation of the Panchatantra first to Pahlavi language and later to Arabic language that led to the translation of the tales into other languages.

However, the translation of the Jataka Tales by John of Gapna in the 13th century to Latin language was significant as it also carried the details of the relief in pictorial form.

The Greek translation in the 10th century of the Panchatantra titled “Barlaam and Josephat” was used by the missionaries working in Japan to claim that the Josephat in the tale was the original Buddha and that he was a Christian, leading to conversion of a large number Japanese to Christianity.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu /Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Kalaburagi – January 13th, 2016

Meet ‘Walking God of Davangere’, a doctor who gives to the poor

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Patients don’t get tired of talking about how he distributes, for free, medicines that he gets as samples from pharma companies, or recommends free tests for the poor at his diagnostics centre.

Dr Siddalingappa Murugeppa Yeli.
Dr Siddalingappa Murugeppa Yeli.

Davangere :

It’s around 2.30 pm when Dr Siddalingappa Murugeppa Yeli walks in. The faces of his patients, who have been waiting for him at his clinic, light up as they catch sight of his entry. The 80-year-old general physician has just returned to his clinic at MCC B Block in Davanagere after conducting rounds at the JJM Medical College Hospital. The patients flock around their favourite doctor. Yeli patiently hears their complaints before prescribing medicines.

While some offer him Rs 10, Rs 20 or Rs 30 as consultation fee, a few don’t pay anything. Those who pay more than Rs 30 are returned the excess amount, with Yeli telling them, “Keep it with you. This is more than enough.”

As patients wait for their turn, they don’t get tired of praising him, talking about how he distributes, for free, medicines that he gets as samples from pharma companies, or recommends free tests for the poor at his diagnostics centre, or even gives bus fare to those in need. Reasons enough for local people to call him ‘The Walking God of Davanagere’.

People outside the clinic | Express
People outside the clinic | Express

“While Dr Shivakumara Swamiji of Siddaganga Mutt, who offered free education, food and shelter, was a Walking God, our Dr Yeli is the Walking God of Davanagere,” says K M Kuberayya, a resident of Shagle, who has been consulting the doctor for 25 years. He adds that Yeli has solved his nerve weakness problem successfully.

Laxmi, who has been consulting Yeli for 15 years, says, “He has charged me a maximum of Rs 20 or sometimes nothing at all.” Dr Yeli has been serving the poor in Davanagere for 50 years. Patients say he also conducts free medical camp at Shivayogi Mandira once a year. “It is my duty to serve the society as I have benefited from it greatly. There is nothing special in this,” the doctor says in the midst of examining his patients. “I am honestly doing my duty. I decided about this long ago,” he adds.

When asked about his low consultation fee, he explains, “Many people cannot afford medical services. We should not burden patients who are already suffering from diseases that incur expensive treatments. We must give them mental support.”

Dr Yeli, who lives next to the clinic, begins his daily duty at 8 am. He attends to his patients at the clinic till 11 am, after which he goes to JJM Medical College Hospital to check the in-patients there. He returns to his clinic around 1.30 pm, and examines patients till 5 pm.

He again goes to the hospital at 5.30pm for rounds and returns to his clinic at 7.30pm, seeing patients till 11 pm. He makes two rounds a day at JJM Hospital, taking only Rs50 per round. Even if he makes an additional trip if required, he charges for only two rounds.

The diagnostic centre, owned by Yeli’s son, also conducts free tests for the poor patients referred by him. It, however, collects a fee from other patients. Dr Yeli also urges budding doctors to serve everyone without expecting much in return. He welcomes the one-year compulsory medical service in rural areas for medical students. “When they can take help from the government, they must render service for at least one year at government hospitals,” he says.

HIS JOURNEY
Dr Yeli was born in 1939 in a poor family at Hamsabhavi in Dharwad district. He completed his school education at Hamsabhavi and intermediate science education at Karnataka College Dharwad. He pursued MBBS at Karnataka Medical College in Hubballi in 1962 and earned his MD (General Medicine) from Topiwala National Medical College in Mumbai in 1968.

He joined JJM Medical College as a lecturer, and worked at the institute as professor and head of the department. He retired in 2005 but continues to visit the hospital for rounds. Yeli has two sons — Dr Vinay Yeli and Dr Suman Yeli — who are also doctors. He treats nearly 100 patients at his clinic every day. He has a Maruti Zen car which he bought 15 years ago.

FOR THE POOR
Dr Yeli’s compassion for the poor was there for everyone to see when he was conferred the honorary doctorate by Davangere University this year. The function got over at 1.30pm, and all the dignitaries were requested to have lunch. However, Yeli politely refused, saying his patients were waiting for him at the clinic. He then rushed to the clinic to examine them.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Arpitha I / Express News Service / March 10th, 2019

The women who keep Karnataka’s buses going

About Bangalore(Bengaluru) / Karnataka, Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology
Women mechanics at a KSRTC depot in Bengaluru. | Photo Credit: G_P_Sampath Kumar
Women mechanics at a KSRTC depot in Bengaluru. | Photo Credit: G_P_Sampath Kumar

The number of women signing up as technical staff is on the rise

Depots and workshops of Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) may be labour intensive work places, but that has not deterred women from signing up as technical staff. Along with their male colleagues, they are responsible for maintenance and electrical work, repairing engines and working on the exterior of the bus.

Deepa Dinesh, who works at the premier AC bus depot of KSRTC at Shantinagar is in charge of inspecting vehicles, fixing technical issues raised by drivers and clearing the vehicles to ply on roads.

“When I joined the corporation 18 years ago, I had my doubts about surviving in this work environment. But the support I received from my colleagues helped me to stay in the profession for all these years.” Today, she oversees maintenance of 32 AC buses, including the high-end Club Class buses. “After attending to technical issues raised by drivers, I sometimes drive the buses inside the depot to check whether problems have been rectified,” she added.

Her colleague, Chaitra, says there is no discrimination in the work done by male and female employees, except when it comes to heavy lifting. Usually, maintenance work of an AC bus is done every 30,000 km. “There are women technical staff who have also got expertise in exterior work [including paint jobs], which gives brand value for the buses,” she added.

KSRTC operates more than 8,700 buses across Karnataka. It has been recruiting women for technical support work since 1999. There is, however, room for more women as the ratio is skewed towards male employees. Currently, the corporation has 5,068 technical staff of which 826 are women.

A similar trend is seen among BMTC’s technical staff. At its Indiranagar depot for instance, of the 80 technical staff, 24 are women.

“I was the first woman technical staff to join this depot 21 years ago,” said Rangamma. “Over the years, the number of women joining this profession has been on the rise. We don’t just do repair work, but also contribute to maintaining the interior of the bus,” she said.

The BMTC has 338 women technical staff out of which 80 are working in central workshops.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Special Correspondent / March 07th, 2019

How this small group of women at NAL has been critical to the Saras programme

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology
Some of the scientists who work on the Saras programme. | Photo Credit: Sudhakara Jain / The Hindu
Some of the scientists who work on the Saras programme. | Photo Credit: Sudhakara Jain / The Hindu

Nearly 10 years after a crash seemed to have ended the Saras dream, the turbo-prop plane soared over the crowds at Aero India. The sorties of the 14-seater twin-engine propeller aircraft were perhaps overshadowed by the roar of jet fighters. But for the women of National Aerospace Laboratory (NAL), the anticipation was thick, and their pride soared higher with each sortie.

“Saras is like our second child,” says Manju Nanda, Principal Senior Scientist, Aerospace Software and Information Systems Division (ASISD), NAL.

Following the crash, when funding for the project stopped in 2013, the scientists felt a sense of betrayal.

“We have seen each and every component being developed, every hurdle being crossed. After the crash, we were angry. We did not avail the passes for the aero show… but our passion remained, and now it has risen from the ashes,” says Akshatha H.T., a senior scientist at NAL’s Centre for Civil Aircraft Design and Development who was part of the team that designed the structure of the plane.

The small group of women — as per their estimates, women form just 17% of NAL’s staff — has been critical to the Saras programme. Among them are J. Jayanthi, Chief Scientist, ASISD, and Dr. Nanda who led the team that developed India’s first Stall Warning System software that has been approved for use in aircraft. Lakshmi Devi, Senior Scientist, C-CADD, plays an important role in the team that looks after the electrical systems and their indigenisation while Sivasakthi M., who has worked her way up from a trainee intern to a scientist, is a part of the flight test instrumentation team that keeps an eye on telemetry.

Ms. Jayanthi was among five girls in the B.Tech course in Madras Institute of Technology. By 1989, she was at NAL when there were less than 10 women scientists in the two divisions she was associated with. “More women have joined since then. NAL and other defense PSUs give equal opportunity for women, but the society’s mindset is such that women do not apply in the numbers we desire,” she said.

Over the years, though more women have completed engineering, it is still the private sector that beckons. The prevalent mindset is that aviation is a place suited for men. But, the women at NAL are determined to change that, whether it is an electrical technician who hauls 200kg batteries, or Sivashakti M. who has to climb 20 feet to check tracking antenna as part of her job.

Women in defence

By rough estimates, women now constitute 24% of the armed forces and defence PSUs. However, this is not evenly spread out, with women having lower representation as pilots or technicians.

The International Women’s Pilots Association, which has over 1,000 members across the country, had opened a Bengaluru chapter last week. The chapter is headed by Tessy Thomas, Director General of Aeronautical Systems at Defence Research and Development Organisation, and the first woman to head a missile programme in India.

“In the coming weeks and months, there will be more collaboration with women professionals from DRDO. We want to highlight opportunities not just as pilots, but as mechanical engineers, flight safety officers and the technical side of aviation,” Harpreet A. De. Singh, President of IWPA had told The Hinduduring Aero India 2019.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Staff Reporter / March 07th, 2019