BalajiSampath (born 17 January 1973)[1] is an Indian educationist, social activist, the founder[2] and secretary of a non-profit Organization, Association for India's Development, India chapter,[3][4] an India-based NGO that carries out science teaching and primary school programs for children to aid their educational development.[5]
AidIndia trains teachers in government schools with the goal of improving the quality of teaching, especially for science and mathematics by using innovative techniques and devising educational aids .[6] The mission of AidIndia is to empower socially disadvantaged and often forgotten sections of the society through socio-economic development programs, education, providing micro credit, and imparting training in the areas of health, human rights and utilization of resources for income generation.[7]
Balaji is also the founder and CEO of Ahaguru.[8][9] A pioneer education start-up in online coaching that engages in providing training courses on different subjects online.[10] Balaji has written many science books for primary and higher-level education to explain very complex concepts in a simple and easy to understand language for students.[11]
Balaji was born in Chennai, India on 17 January 1973 into a family where both of his parents were government workers.[1][12] Because his parents were often transferred to different locations for their government jobs, as a child Balaji was exposed to a number of schools across India. But one thing remained constant: his problem understanding scientific subjects because of ineffective teaching. Early in life, he devised his own system of analysis and arriving at solutions.[12]
Balaji appeared for IIT JEE and obtained All India Rank 4 in 1990,[13] considered one of the most difficult competitive exams in India. He completed his B.Tech. degree in Electrical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Madras in 1994,[14][15] and his doctorate in Electronics and communication Engineering from University of Maryland, College Park.[15][16]
Balaji started his career as a volunteer for AID United States chapter from 1994 while he was doing his doctorate.[17] After completing his PhD degree, he returned to India to work full-time on social issues in 1997 and founded AID India.[1][6][18] He worked with the Centre for Ecology and Rural Development and the Peoples Science Movement on Health and Education Programs. Balaji organized Peoples Health assembly campaign in 2000 at a national level and began campaigning for better public education and access to healthcare, especially in the rural areas.[1]
In 2011, Balaji started Ahaguru.com, an online education portal to enhance science and math learning and problem-solving skills of middle and high school students. Yahoo! News said: "This education startup,
www.AhaGuru.com, a pioneer in online coaching, provides training courses completely online. From CBSE to NEET and JEE Advanced, it covers physics, chemistry and math courses from class 7 to 12.Their best seller is the full year course, which is modelled like a classroom with an expert teacher explaining the key concepts and showing how to solve different types of questions.".[1][19][20][21] In 2021, his Ahaguru platform became a very big hit. He is known for his futuristic thinking by introducing tech-based learning in 2013 itself.
the . . . application was (previously) disapproved . . . because resident workers were available for employment as auditors in the local area. We must conclude, after reviewing your correspondence that these workers (in excess of 40 registered with the Division of Placement of the D.C. Manpower Administration)11 remain available for the position offered. A review of the application forms on file in this occupation with the Employment Service reveals that the vast majority of these individuals forsees (sic) the necessary qualifications to perform the job offered. There is no indication that these workers have placed travel restrictions on their employment. In the absence of such restrictions we must assume that these registrants have no objection to travel on the job and hence are willing and available, as well as qualified, for the employment opportunity described in the application.12
When the D.C. Manpower Administration received Doraiswamy's application and supporting data, it consulted its files and determined that it, the Manpower Administration, had files on over 100 persons in the D.C. area who had, at that time, the requisite qualifications and willingness for AMTRAK employment.15
When the Manpower Administration reviewing officer reconsidered the certification application as amended, he determined that more than 40 persons were available for this position. He specifically found, with respect to the travel factor asserted by (Doraiswamy's) counsel, that there was no indication from the file that any of these 40 persons had placed any travel restrictions on his availability for employment.16
The Professional Career Information Branch of the D.C. Manpower Administration has numerous qualified applicants listed in their files who are available for employment, and this is just one of the many recruitment sources available to employers in the Washington Metropolitan Area. These workers possess the basic education, training and experience in systems analysis normally required for proficiency in this occupation. In view of the available manpower to fill this position, the specific requirement of experience on 6000 series computers must be regarded as training which is normally required (sic) on the job.24
The . . . application was disapproved . . . because there were resident workers available in the occupation of systems analyst. This occupation is included among those classified as Professions, Sciences or Arts. In making a determination, the requirements indicated on the job offer were not considered. The initial determination was based only on the availability of and adverse effect on resident workers in the occupation. . . .
A careful review of the material submitted indicates that the alien has received only 19 days of formal training other than on the job experience gained with your firm. A more recent check . . . with the Professional Career Information Branch of the D.C. Manpower Administration revealed there are in excess of 150 persons qualified in computer systems available and in fact seeking employment.29
(i)t is not an abuse of the Secretary's discretion to ignore the job specifications offered by the prospective employer, if through his expertise in the labor market, he deems those requirements to be inappropriate to the job to be performed. Thus, the Secretary's decision that experience on the Honeywell 6000 series computer system was unnecessary to an entry level computer position is affirmed.32
(t)he legislative history of the Act clearly demonstrates that the Secretary need only survey the labor market, and if a pool of potential workers is available to perform the job, then the onus shifts to the alien or his prospective employer to prove that no qualified American workers are available. Absent such proof by the alien, the Secretary has no choice but to deny a labor certificate.33
Therefore, the Secretary's finding in this case that a pool of computer workers (was) available and absent any proof by the plaintiff (sic) to the contrary, that finding is affirmed. Plaintiff's (sic) contention that the Secretary must provide resumes of job applicants in order for plaintiff (sic) to test the Secretary's conclusions is without merit . . ..34
(t)he terms of the statute . . . are both direct and comprehensive. Its manifest purpose is to require that the Circuit Court of Appeals be composed in every hearing of judges none of whom will be in the attitude of passing upon the propriety, scope or effect of any ruling of his own made in the progress of the cause in the court of first instance, and to this end the disqualification is made to arise, not only when the judge has tried or heard the whole cause in the court below, but also when he had tried or heard any question therein which it is the duty of the Circuit Court of Appeals to consider and pass upon .... (T)he sole criterion under the statute is, does the case in the Circuit Court of Appeals involve a question which the judge has tried or heard in the course of the proceedings in the court below?87
Section 212(a) (14) . . . establishes a presumption against admission of aliens for the purpose of performing labor.95 This presumption is triggered by the Secretary's consultation with general labor market data suggesting the availability of workers to perform the job which the alien seeks.96 The burden is then cast on the alien or his would-be employer to show that no qualified domestic worker can be found.97 A court may overturn the Secretary's determination only if it can be said that he abused his discretion in concluding as he did.98
(14) Aliens seeking to enter the United States, for the purpose of performing skilled or unskilled labor, unless the Secretary of Labor has determined and certified to the Secretary of State and to the Attorney General that (A) there are not sufficient workers in the United States who are able, willing, qualified, and available at the time of application for a visa and admission to the United States and at the place to which the alien is destined to perform such skilled or unskilled labor, and (B) the employment of such aliens will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of the workers in the United States similarly employed.
The powers conferred upon, and the duties assigned to, the Secretary by 212(a) (14) have been delegated to personnel within the Manpower Administration of the Department of Labor. With exceptions not material to these cases, an application for alien certification is initially passed on by a certifying officer in the geographical area wherein the employment is to occur, 29 C.F.R. 60.4(a) (1976), and any denial of certification by the certifying officer is reviewable by the Assistant Regional Director for that area or his designated representative, whose determination is declared to be final. Id. 60.4(c)
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