One more medical college for Hassan?

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

HASSAN, FEBRUARY 07, 2019 00:00 IST



The Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences was sanctioned during the JD(S)-BJP coalition rule in 2006.


Hassan district is expected to get one more government medical college when the budget is presented by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on February 8. This time, according to sources, the CM will sanction a medical college for his native place Holenarasipur.

The Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences (HIMS), established in Hassan city, was sanctioned during the JD(S)-BJP coalition rule in 2006.

Public Works Minister H.D. Revanna, who is also in-charge of Hassan district, had instructed Revenue Department officers to identify suitable land of 25 acres in Holenarasipur for the medical college last week. The officers have proposed a few places. The Minister will finalise one among them soon.

Holenarasipur Assembly constituency, now represented by H.D. Revanna, has seven government first grade colleges, considered to be the highest in any Assembly constituency in the State. Recently, the government approved a government engineering college and a polytechnic college at Mosale Hosahalli. Tenders have been floated for construction of engineering college at a cost of Rs. 58 crore and polytechnic college at a cost of Rs. 12.5 crore.

Besides this, the district is expected to get a Horticulture college sanctioned in the budget.

Withdraw Universities Amendment Act’

STAFF REPORTER

DHARWAD, FEBRUARY 07, 2019 00:00 IST



Students taking part in a protest demonstration demanding withdrawal of the Karnataka State Universities (Amendment) Act 2017 in Dharwad on Wednesday.SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT


Students from different educational institutions take out protest rally in Dharwad


Students from different educational institutions took out a protest rally under the aegis of the ABVP demanding withdrawal of the Karnataka State Universities (Amendment) Act 2017, which, they said, is detrimental to the higher education sector.

The protesters later held a protest dharna in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office and submitted a memorandum addressed to Governor Vajubhai Vala.

They said that without discussing thoroughly with educationists, thinkers and stakeholders, the government has brought amendments to the State University Act 2017, which were against the very purpose of establishing universities.

They were also against UGC norms, they said. This Act has been tabled to allow politicians spread their tentacles in university education and spoil the learning atmosphere. Hence, the amended Act should be withdrawn.

This new Act is a den of confusions and hence, it should be replaced with a comprehensive policy for the progress of higher education and to safeguard the interests of students and also protect universities.

This apart, almost 50 % of teaching and non-teaching posts in State universities have fallen vacant and there is pressure on the existing faculty to complete the syllabus in time. The government without much delay should fill all vacant posts, they said.

The students said that the government’s move stipulates commercialisation of the education sector.

Education is not a commodity and the fruits of education should reach people of all communities and classes. The State is considered an education hub, the students said.

But in the last few months, the quality of higher education is deteriorating due to new policies. The Higher Education Minister is, in a hurried manner and lacking vision, bringing in several new policies which are detrimental to the education sector in the State, they said.

Applications invited for the post of V-C in KSOU

STAFF REPORTER

BENGALURU, FEBRUARY 07, 2019 00:00 IST

Karnataka State Open University, Mysuru, has invited applications for the post of Vice-Chancellor from eligible professors.

According to a release, applicants should have a minimum of 10 years’ working experience as Professor or equivalent post as per the guidelines of UGC and KSOU.

They should submit their application in triplicate, furnishing information such as educational qualification, research, academic and administrative experience in the specified format available atwww.ksoumysore.karna taka.gov.in, along with a self-declaration through the proper channel to the Special Secretary to Governor, P.B. No. 5033, Raj Bhavan, Bengaluru - 560001 by February 20, before 5.30 p.m.

Medical college asked to refund excess fees

STAFF REPORTER

BENGALURU, FEBRUARY 07, 2019 00:00 IST

Committee comes down heavily on the Davangere-based private college

Coming down heavily on a private medical college in Davangere, the Admission Overseeing Committee (AOC) has asked the college management to refund the excess fee charged over and above the tuition fee stipulated by the government.

The committee, in an order last month, asked J.J.M. Medical College to refund the excess fee collected from students for two academic years with a 6% interest.

The committee has also raised objection against the college asking institution-quota students to pay Rs. 1.13 lakh from the first year towards clinical fees. The fees was allegedly collected by the college as the students have to utilise facilities in the district government hospital.

The order states that the college, instead of charging tuition fee of Rs. 77,000 as prescribed for a student admitted under the government quota, collected Rs. 1.54 lakh. Further, students who were admitted under the institutional quota, who were supposed to pay Rs. 6.32 lakh a year, had to pay Rs. 8.23 lakh.

B. Manohar, chairman of the AOC, said the college should refund the excess fee for second year students admitted for the 2017–2018 as well as 2018–19 academic year with a 6% interest within a month.

The committee has also said that the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) will be directed to impose a fine of twice the amount collected and make recommendations to the Medical Council of India (MCI) to withdraw recognition and affiliation granted to the college.

S. Sachidananda, Vice-Chancellor, RGUHS, said they were awaiting the government direction.

Despite repeated attempts, authorities at J.J.M. Medical College could not be contacted for their response to this development.

MOs for Rs. 17 sent to PM

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

THANJAVUR, FEBRUARY 07, 2019 00:00 IST

Members of the Federation of Thamizhaga Vivasaya Sangangal on Wednesday sent money orders for Rs. 17 each, addressed to the Prime Minister at the Head Post Office, Thanjavur.

Disclosing this to the media, the federation’s State vice-president Sugumaran said that 15 farmers had sent money orders to the Prime Minister to register their protest against the income support scheme announced in the interim Budget.

“The Union government had failed to heed our demand of waiver of crop loans availed by farmers from the year 2016. And also it had turned a blind eye to the M.S.Swaminathan recommendations for enhancing income of farming community. Instead they had announced the annual support scheme which will work out to Rs. 17 per day,” he said.

Two more chances to clear UG, PG arrears

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

PUDUCHERRY, FEBRUARY 07, 2019 00:00 IST



This will help those admitted from 2003-04 onwards

All undergraduate and postgraduate students (except MBBS course) of affiliated institutions of Pondicherry Central University have been granted two additional chances as a one-time opportunity to clear arrears from the 2003-04 academic year.

According to a press note from the university, Vice-Chancellor Gurmeet Singh had obtained the concurrence of the Academic Council at its meeting on October 16 for this proposal. It would enable students to clear their arrears and get a degree.

The Academic Council (vide resolution 2018.80.48) had resolved to grant two additional chances (May 2019 and November 2019) as a one-time measure to all the undergraduate/postgraduate students of the affiliated colleges (except MBBS) admitted from the academic year 2003-2004 onwards and who could not complete the courses within the prescribed time.

The notification of the examination will be put up on the university website shortly, the press note said. The online registration for examination will be enabled after the notification is published.

Interested students should check the university website regularly for any updates in this regard or be in touch with their respective colleges.

MKU to start new courses

Pon Vasanth B.A

MADURAI, FEBRUARY 07, 2019 00:00 IST



Madurai Kamaraj University officials said steps would be taken to start the new courses in the coming academic year.


Madurai Kamaraj University has decided to offer new masters courses in Anthropology, Psychology, Gene Technology and Biomedical Sciences. Resolutions to this effect were passed at the meeting of the university’s Syndicate on Tuesday.

According to officials privy to the proceedings, the Biomedical Sciences course will be offered in collaboration with Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University. Similarly, the course in Psychology was likely to be offered in collaboration with M.S. Chellamuthu Trust and Research Foundation, university sources said.

Stating that steps would be taken to commence these courses in the coming academic year, officials said the existing faculty members and infrastructure would be adequate to handle the new courses.

Health Centre

The university had also decided to rededicate the health centre at the university with better facilities so that it could serve not only the staff members, but also people in rural areas around the university, a senior official said. “Everything is ready. The facility will be rededicated to the public within a few days,” the official said, adding it would be open from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Stating that there were a number of villages around the university, the official said the facility would be beneficial to the economically backward people from these villages as they could get basic tests for diabetes and hypertension done at a minimum cost of Rs. 10 to Rs. 20.

Stairs

Interestingly, 31 years after the installation of the statue of late Chief Minister K. Kamaraj, the university has taken steps to construct stairs to facilitate garlanding of the statue.

Until now, on important occasions, a wooden ladder would be brought on which the dignitaries would precariously climb to reach the top of the pedestal to garland the statue installed near the main entrance of the university.

The new Vice-Chancellor, M. Krishnan, had to do the same when he garlanded the statue before taking charge on January 2. Sources said a public sector bank had assured to sponsor the funds for this.