കേരള യാത്ര

പതിവു പോലെ ഇപ്രാവശ്യവും എന്റെ കേരള യാത്ര തീരുമാനിച്ചത് വളരെ പെട്ടന്നായിരുന്നു. ചെന്നയിലെ ചൂടില്‍ നിന്നു ഞാന്‍ മാവേലിക്കരയില്‍ വണ്ടി ഇറങ്ങുമ്പോള്‍ നല്ല മഴ. അവിടെ നിന്നുഓട്ടോ പിടിച്ചു മാവേലിക്കര ടൌണില്‍ എത്തിയിട്ടും മഴക്ക് യാതൊരു കുറവും ഇല്ല. കൈയില്‍ ഒരു കുടകരുതിയിരുന്നത് കൊണ്ടു രക്ഷ പെട്ടു. അപ്പോള്‍ സമയം രാവിലെ 6 മണി. സാധാരണ വളരെ തിരക്ക്പിടിച്ച മാവേലിക്കര മിച്ചല്‍ ജംഗ്ഷനില്‍ വളരെ കുറച്ചു പേര്‍ മാത്രം. ഇപ്രാവശ്യം ഇടവത്തിനു പകരംകര്‍ക്കിടകം കൊണ്ടു വന്ന മഴയെ എല്ലാവരും വളരെ സന്തോഷത്തോടെയാണ് വരവേറ്റത്.

കുറച്ചു കഴിഞ്ഞപ്പോള്‍ ഒരു ഹരിപ്പാട് ബസ്സ് വന്നു. ഞാന്‍ അതില്‍ കയറി ഇരുന്നു. ബസ്സ് നിര്‍ത്തിയിട്ടിട്ടുഡ്രൈവര്‍ സ്ടിയരിങ്ങില്‍ തല വെച്ചു മയങ്ങുകയാണ്‌. കിളി ബസിന്റെ മുന്‍ഭാഗത്തുള്ള ഭഗവന്മാരെ ഒക്കെഒരുക്കുന്ന തിരക്കില്‍ ആണ്. ഭഗവന്‍മാര്‍ക്കൊക്കെ മാല ചാര്‍ത്തി ഗ്ലാസും വൃത്തിയാക്കി അന്നത്തെഓട്ടത്തിന് വണ്ടി റെഡിയായി കഴിഞ്ഞു . കുതിരപ്പന്തയത്തിനു കുതിരകളെ റെഡിയാക്കിനിര്‍ത്തിയിരിക്കുന്നത് പോലെ. ഇനിയൊരു പാച്ചിലാണ് രാത്രിയാകുന്നത് വരെ. ശരിക്കും വളരെബുദ്ധിമുട്ട് പിടിച്ച പണിയാണ് കേരളത്തിലെ ചെറിയ റോഡില്‍ കൂടി ഇത്രയും വലിയ വണ്ടി ശരിയായസമയത്തു കൊണ്ടെത്തിക്കുക എന്നത്. അതിനിടക്ക് അവര്‍ക്ക് പല പ്രതിസന്ധികളെയുംഅഭിമുഖീകരിക്കേണ്ടി വരും. സമയം കഴിഞ്ഞിട്ടും സ്റ്റോപ്പ് വിട്ടു പോകാത്ത ബസുകള്‍, സമയത്തിന്മുന്പേ എത്തുന്ന ബസുകള്‍, ബഹളം വയ്കുന്ന യാത്രക്കാര്‍, സൈഡ് കൊടുക്കാത്ത മറ്റു ചെറുതും വലുതുംആയ വാഹനങ്ങള്‍, പാരയാകുന്ന KSRTC വണ്ടികള്‍.

ഏതാനും മിനിട്ടുകള്‍ കഴിഞ്ഞപ്പോള്‍ ഡ്രൈവര്‍ ഞെട്ടി എഴുന്നേറ്റു വണ്ടി സ്റ്റാര്‍ട്ട് ചെയ്തു. പാതി ഉറക്കിത്തിലുള്ള ഡ്രൈവറുടെ വണ്ടിയില്‍ ഞാന്‍ സ്വല്പം ഭയന്നാണ് ഇരുന്നത്. പക്ഷെ വണ്ടി വിട്ടു കഴിഞ്ഞപ്പോള്‍ എനിക്ക് മനസ്സിലായി പുള്ളിക്ക് അങ്ങനെയുള്ള കുഴപ്പം ഒന്നും ഇല്ല എന്ന്. വളരെ കൃത്യതയോട് കൂടിയാണ് വണ്ടി ഓടിച്ചത്. രാവിലെ ആയതു കൊണ്ടു ഞാന്‍ പ്രതീക്ഷിച്ചതിലും നേരത്തെ ഹരിപ്പാട്ട് എത്തി. മണ്ണാറശശാലക്ക് പോകുന്ന ബസ്സ് ആയതിനാല്‍ ഞാന്‍ ടൌണ്‍ ഹാള്ളില്‍ ഇറങ്ങി. അപ്പോഴും മഴ പെയ്തിട്ടേ ഇരുന്നു. പക്ഷെ ചെന്നയിലെ ചൂടില്‍ നിന്നു വന്നത് കൊണ്ടു അത് എനിക്ക് ഒരു നല്ല അനുഭവം ആയിരുന്നു.



ബസ്സ് കാത്തു നില്ക്കുന്ന ഏതാനും സ്കൂള്‍ കുട്ടികളും അടുത്തുള്ള കടത്തിണ്ണയില്‍ തണുപ്പ് മാറ്റാന്‍ സിഗരറ്റിനെ അഭയം പ്രാപിച്ചിരിക്കുന്ന ഏതാനും പേരും ഒഴിച്ചാല്‍ സാധാരണ നല്ല തിരക്കുണ്ടാകാറുള്ള ഹരിപ്പാട്ട് ടൌണ്‍ ഹാള്‍ ജന്‍ക്ഷനും വിജനമായിരുന്നു. അവിടെ നിന്നും 7km ദൂരം ഉണ്ട് എന്റെ വീടിലേക്ക്‌. അപ്പര്‍ കുട്ടനാടിന്റെ ഭാഗമായ ചെറുതന എന്ന മനോഹരമായ ഗ്രാമം. ഒരു സൈഡില്‍ അച്ഛന്കൊവിലും മറ്റേ സൈഡില്‍ പംപയും. വളഞ്ഞു പുളഞ്ഞൊഴുകുന്ന ഈ രണ്ടു നദികളും ചേര്ന്നു ചെറുതന, ആയാപറമ്പ്, ആനാരി, വീയപുരം, പായിപ്പാട് എന്നീ പ്രദേശങ്ങളെ ഒരു ദ്വീപ് പോലെയാക്കിയിരിക്കുന്നു.

ആലപ്പുഴ ചിത്രങ്ങള്‍

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Vijay

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SBOA School and Junior College

We were skeptical about SBOA because everybody was saying that even though it is a good school it's standard getting deteriorated and they are giving admission purely based on donations. We were ready to give money but in our daughter's case admission was doubtful because there was a notice on the school gate saying that 4 years and above will not be considered. I dont know how they can put an overage notice like that when all other CBSE schools consider kids up to four and half years for LKG.

Since SBOA is a famous school in Chennai I expected a lengthy queue. But number of applicants were less compared to Chinmaya and DAV. For submitting the form also there was not much crowd. I think the total applications issued were less than 1000. Very very low for a school which has 500+ seats for LKG.

Most funny thing in the application form was a blank paper attached to it. We didnt know what was the purpose of that paper. We enquired about it with other people and they said we have to fill that paper with donation amount!! We filled the application form and filled the blank paper saying that we are ready to give 20,000. We thought of putting 30,000 but one person (who has good contacts in SBOA) told us to put 20,000.

Interview was scheduled for next Saturday. Interview procedure was very much OK. There were enough number of teachers to conduct the interview. So the entire process went very smoothly. The teacher who conducted the interview asked many questions and our daughter answered everything perfectly. She was very happy and said "Very Sweet Girl".

But when they published the result my daughter's name was not there. Then we came to know that they selected all the applications which quoted 25,000 and above. Interview was just a show. Even though we were ready to pay up to 40,000 we lost the admission because we believed somebody's words.

Then we met another person associated with SBOA and he asked us to give another letter to the correspondent stating that we are ready to give 40,000. By that time we were desperate about SBOA admission. Our daughter was selected in Velammal Vidyala but we were not much interested in that because it is a new school and CBSE affiliation is still under review. That due date was over before SBOA result. Since our daughter performed well in interview we were confident about SBOA admission.

So we decided to meet the correspondent. But we didnt know it was so difficult to meet the correspondent. Whenever we ask he is not there. Finally we met another senior person and submitted our new letter with 40,000. He was telling that money is not the problem. Then why our daughter was not selected when she performed exceptionally well. At the same time he was telling "we dont blame children too". He told us that all seats are filled and if there is any vacancy he will inform us.

But from a reliable source we came to know that they filled only 50% of seat. Out of 500+ seats they filled only 300. Also we came to know that out of 300 selected students only less than 50 paid fees in first week. I dont know why they are playing this drama when there are many seats vacant.

I am not against collecting donations. But it should be in a professional way. In SBOA it was like an auction. There are many schools in Chennai which clearly says that you have to pay this much donation to get admission.

DAV Senior Secondary School, Mogappair

Initially we thought not to apply in DAV schools because we heard that it is very difficult to get an admission there. But we changed our mind after some parents told us that it is not that difficult. We reached the Senior secondary school for girls in Mogappair around 9:30am on 26th. As expected there was a long queue.

But the most shocking part was the treatment by the DAV management. There were around 1500 parents standing in the queue to collect the application forms. There is a ground in front of the school large enough to hold all 1500 parents. But the management didnt allow the parents to go inside and they put the counters near to the gate so that only few will be allowed in to collect the forms and rest have to wait on the roadside under the hot sun, blocking the road traffic as if the DAV management wanted to show to the outside world that these much people are coming to DAV for admission.

To issue around 1500 forms there was only two counters. Also in the counters the process was going on very very slowly. First we had to fill up a slip with details like applicant's name, date of birth etc. Then the person on the first table take the details and write it down in a notebook. Then it is passed to the second table and there she take a new application form and fill the applicant's name and date of birth. It takes long time because she confirm the applicant's name with parents again to avoid spelling mistakes. I dont know why they wanted to fill the application form in the counter itself !!! Then it is passed to the final table to collect the fee. The tables were arranged under a tree so they had to change the position every 15 minutes to avoid direct sunlight !! They complicated the whole application issuing process so we had to wait for 4 hours under the hot sun on the road side to collect the form !!!!

But it was better in other two DAV schools in Mogappair. Even though there were more applicants in DAV Boys the process was comparatively better with more counters but like DAV girls queue was on roadside and parents were standing under hot sun. In DAV Matriculation School the crowd was less and the process was simple so they finished it fast. No idea about other DAV Schools in Gopalapuram, Velachery and Choolaimedu.

Even the application form was very funny. Apart from applicant's name and date of birth the main columns was distance from school. In the form the management was even threatening the parents that the admission will be canceled if there is a 100 meter difference in the distance calculation !!!! Plus they needed a copy of passport, ration card, driving license or voter's id card as proof of residence. Also the forms says that if the child is selected the parents have to give an affidavit. In the application form no need for a photo, parents education details, income etc..

Selection process was also funny. They selected 150 students from the 1500 applications without even seeing the applicants !! I dont know what was their selection criteria. Many people feels that it was purely based on distance from school !! But one of my friend who is staying next to choolaimedu DAV didnt get admission for his daughter. So it is not only distance. Now there are rumors that they selected students based on recommendations and donations !!! I dont know it is true or not... Sad to hear and hard to believe.. Because we heard lot about DAV schools, everybody was praising their commitments to education. So sad to hear that they also going in the commercial way. But one thing I am sorry to say is that they treated parents very badly.. even the language in the application form was very arrogant. Treatment was far better in all other schools we applied.....

Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Anna Nagar

We started with Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Anna Nagar on December 5th. We went to the school to pick up the application form on the first day itself. On the gate, the security people stopped us because we were carrying only a Xerox copy of the birth ertificate. To issue the application form they needed the original birth certificate !! Then we rushed to our bank to collect the original birth certificate from locker. After producing the original certificate and paying Rs200/- we got the application form. Just for 150 LKG seats there were more than 1000 applicants..

We submitted the filled application form on 10th and interview was scheduled on 17th. Our daughter performed well in interview by answering most of the questions. But her name was not there in the list when they published the result on Jan 2nd. Same case for many people we met there. Many people say that admission was mainly based on recommendations.

But the overall treatment by the management was good. There were enough space for parents to sit and wait while issuing the apllication form and at the time of interview. Also they didn't ask for any donations.