Thursday, October 05, 2006
"Slum Jagathu"
Isaac Arul Selva is the editor and publisher of India’s first news magazine called “Slum Jagathu.” Ever since its debut four years ago, “Slum Jagathu” has become a leading success in Bangalore.
This non-profit magazine “focuses on life in overcrowded and neglected settlements, where most of India's urban poor live.” It hopes to inspire a movement to fight for the basic rights of the poor people living in India. “The magazine covers issues from human rights violations in slums to government apathy in implementation of slum development programs.” It also provides advice as well as reassurance for people who are struggling to survive in these slums. For example, the magazine informs people about “the various government-aided projects and the budget allocated for slum development." They provide this information for the purpose of trying to improve their society. Isaac Arul Selva informs the public about the disturbing living conditions of the poor people living in India. His tactics are very similar to Jacob Riis, a famous journalist who wrote How the Other Half Lives which exposed life in the tenements. Isaac Arul Selva and Jacob Riis are very similar because they expose these terrible living conditions in an effort to improve them.
This magazine also includes stories about people who used to live in the slums but worked hard to enhance their lives. For example, in the latest issue of “Slum Jagathu” Mr. Hanumanthappa began his life living “in a slum where hospital waste and animal carcasses were dumped.” His dreadful experiences provided him with the motivation to go to school and work hard to improve his way of life. His efforts paid off because Mr. Hanumanthappa is now “working as an office assistant at the prestigious Indian Institute of Management.” This is one of the success stories that are found in this magazine. It shows how people in the slums have successfully fought and obtained a better life.
Even though many people living in Bangalore are poor, it was surprising to learn that “Internet access has become affordable even for those living in the slums." Because of the ubiquity of the Internet, Isaac Arul Selva is hoping to broadcast "Slum Jagathu” on the Internet so that it could be easily accessed by anyone who has a computer.
This non-profit magazine “focuses on life in overcrowded and neglected settlements, where most of India's urban poor live.” It hopes to inspire a movement to fight for the basic rights of the poor people living in India. “The magazine covers issues from human rights violations in slums to government apathy in implementation of slum development programs.” It also provides advice as well as reassurance for people who are struggling to survive in these slums. For example, the magazine informs people about “the various government-aided projects and the budget allocated for slum development." They provide this information for the purpose of trying to improve their society. Isaac Arul Selva informs the public about the disturbing living conditions of the poor people living in India. His tactics are very similar to Jacob Riis, a famous journalist who wrote How the Other Half Lives which exposed life in the tenements. Isaac Arul Selva and Jacob Riis are very similar because they expose these terrible living conditions in an effort to improve them.
This magazine also includes stories about people who used to live in the slums but worked hard to enhance their lives. For example, in the latest issue of “Slum Jagathu” Mr. Hanumanthappa began his life living “in a slum where hospital waste and animal carcasses were dumped.” His dreadful experiences provided him with the motivation to go to school and work hard to improve his way of life. His efforts paid off because Mr. Hanumanthappa is now “working as an office assistant at the prestigious Indian Institute of Management.” This is one of the success stories that are found in this magazine. It shows how people in the slums have successfully fought and obtained a better life.
Even though many people living in Bangalore are poor, it was surprising to learn that “Internet access has become affordable even for those living in the slums." Because of the ubiquity of the Internet, Isaac Arul Selva is hoping to broadcast "Slum Jagathu” on the Internet so that it could be easily accessed by anyone who has a computer.
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A good, substantial post.
What happens when you have high-tech affluence right on top of enormous poverty? Can they coexist? Or is the digital revolution pulling the bottom up out of poverty in India?
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What happens when you have high-tech affluence right on top of enormous poverty? Can they coexist? Or is the digital revolution pulling the bottom up out of poverty in India?
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