Varsity faculty promotions streamlined

R. Sujatha

CHENNAI, MARCH 23, 2019 00:00 IST

Madras varsity syndicate nod to consider past experience of teachers

Career advancement scheme benefits for newly appointed teachers of the University of Madras will accrue faster now. The univeristy syndicate, which met on Friday, has approved the decision to take into account the previous experience of the teachers in other universities or colleges for promotions.

The university will add two years to the teachers’ experience and they will be promoted to the next scale of pay. This would also reflect in the retirement benefits.

In 2009, the university decided that such teachers would be eligible for salary arrear benefits for the two years they were entitled to till retirement. The calculations of the amount due was laborious and difficult. The university has dispensed with the arrears disbursement.

Nod for selection panel

The syndicate has approved the decision to allow minority-administered colleges to constitute their own selection committee and include an expert from the university in the panel to appoint the teachers and principals.

A minority college had sought legal intervention as the appointment of principal had been stalled by the university. The syndicate has also decided to constitute a committee to look into the complaints of a section of non-teaching staff who have been overlooked for promotion as their educational qualifications do not comply with the requirements stipulated by the government.

Academic resigns from Central University of Kerala’s board of studies
The ‘clarification’ is silent on research topics in art, literature, and humanities.

Published: 22nd March 2019 06:42 AM 

By Express News Service

KASARGOD: A top academic has resigned from the Board of Studies of English and Comparative Literature Department in Central University protesting against a circular restricting research to topics of “national priorities”.Meena T Pillai, professor, Institute of English, University of Kerala, said the circular was a “fundamental violation of the spirit of research and academic freedom”.

In her resignation letter, Pillai said the university’s order limited prospective research to select areas which are in accordance with “national priorities” is highly detrimental to the purpose of higher education in public universities, especially at a time when the spirit of education is increasingly being subsumed to the interests of neo-liberalisation, privatisation and corporatisation. “Who will decide what national priorities are?” she said.

Central University of Kerala (CUK) has dismissed the resignation as a “political” stunt. In a “clarification” issued on Thursday, CUK’s Vice Chancellor G Gopa Kumar listed out the “national priorities”. The statement said: “The usage of national priority in the circular means those topics that would benefit the economic, social and technological advancement of the nation and society.The research areas may include latest developments in information and communication technology, nano technology, nano medicine, artificial intelligence, space research, nuclear science, sustainable development, climate change, and organic farming.”

The ‘clarification’ is silent on research topics in art, literature, and humanities.On March 16, Express reported in detail about the circular which asked faculty members to create a ‘shelf of projects’ in accordance with ‘national priorities’ to be given to new research fellows. Several teachers said the circular was issued without the Academic Council discussing it, let alone clearing it.


Justifying the circular, Vice Chancellor G Gopa Kumar said a ‘shelf of project’ would be helpful for the young researchers because “a 25-year-old will not know what the country needs”.He said the circular was issued to ensure researchers did not take up “repetitive and out-dated topics”. He repeated the same in the clarification issued on Thursday. “It (the circular) will never affect the academic freedom of the student community for selecting their research topic.

There are no limits for research works,” the statement said. Several faculty members said the original circular served no particular purpose as the areas listed out by the VC could also have repetitive and out-dated topics.Pillai said the use of the term “national priorities” itself was problematic within academics as it curbed the autonomy of the researcher and compromised the ethics that should form the base of any academic endeavour.

Madras University staff condemn promotion of Open University graduates

There are 24 staff in the university, who fall under this category.

Published: 23rd March 2019 04:50 AM

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: A section of Madras University staff on Friday observed a one-day token fast on its campus, opposing promotions given to the staff who had not studied through the regular pattern of education, but only through Open University.

Speaking to Express, T Kalidas, president, Madras University Dr Ambedkar SC/ST Employees Association, said, “The Madras University management is giving promotion to staff, who have studied through Open University, not through the regular pattern of classes X, XI and XII.

“There are 24 staff in the university, who fall under this category. We oppose the move because it is against the order of the Supreme Court and Syndicate and also a State Government Order.”

“As per the Supreme Court order, these staff are not eligible for promotions. They should remain in the same post. We have also submitted our demands to the management,” Kalidas added.


M Maya Kannan, a Section Officer, said, “Based on the Supreme Court order, the State government issued a Government Order in 2011, against promoting those who had not studied through regular pattern. But in 2014, the university management promoted Assistant Section Officers (ASO), who had not studied in classes X, XI and XII, to Section Officers (SO).”

Young doctors do well, 81 per cent pass out of RGUHS

The Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS), Bengaluru, has recorded the highest pass percentage in the past five years.

Published: 22nd March 2019 07:35 AM

By Express News Service

BENGALURU: The Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS), Bengaluru, has recorded the highest pass percentage in the past five years. The overall pass percentage for the academic year 2018-19 is 81.11%. In 2017-18, the overall pass percentage was 70.44%. This year, over 37,670 candidates appeared for various undergraduate, postgraduate and other para clinical courses, of who 30,556 candidates cleared the exams.

At the 21st annual convocation scheduled to be held on March 26, more than 90 candidates will receive their convocation certificates on stage.Dr Sachidanand, vice-chancellor, RGUHS, said, “Governor and Chancellor Vajubai Vala will hand over convocation certificates to the students, and Prof CNR Rao will deliver the convocation address.”

Among the rankholders and gold medal winners, there are more candidates from private medical colleges compared to government-run colleges. Asked about it, Sachidanand said, “The university does not discriminate between private and government colleges. The only reason there are few students from government colleges is because the number of government-run medical colleges is also few.”

Golden boy comes from Mangaluru this year


Vallish Shenoy, an MBBS student of AJ Institute of Medical Sciences, Mangaluru, has become the ‘Golden Boy’ of RGUHS, Bengaluru, this year by securing seven medals and a cash award.

More girls got medals

Of the total 136 gold medals, 86 were bagged by girl students and 22 by boys. These medals have been shared by total 108 students. For the first time. the university has instituted 39 gold medals of 4.8 gram each, which costs around `16,000 per medal.

Allow diabetics to carry insulin into examination hall: HC

STAFF REPORTER

MADURAI, MARCH 22, 2019 00:00 IST

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Thursday directed the Centre and the State to issue circulars permitting type I diabetic patients to carry water, snacks, insulin pen and glucose monitors to examination hall.

A Division Bench of Justices N. Kirubakaran and S.S. Sundar observed that the patients should be allowed to carry insulin pen, glucose monitors, sugar tablets, chocolates, candies and fruits such as apple, orange, along with water into examination hall. Also, they should be allowed to go to toilet as and when required, the court said. The court sought the report and adjourned the case to April 4.

Taking cognisance of the fact that a sizeable population of Indians were affected by type I diabetes, the court sought a report from the Centre and State on the statistics. The court also asked whether medical camps were being held, especially in schools, to detect if children were affected.

If there were sufficient number of diabetologists engaged at rural level and asked if the Central had any proposal to include type I diabetic patients under Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights & Full Participation) Act, 1995 so that they could enjoy the benefits of the Act.

Dhinakaran releases AMMK manifesto, says party will ensure formation of secular front at Centre

TNN | Mar 22, 2019, 03.22 PM IST

CHENNAI: Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam deputy general secretary T T V Dhinakaran, who released party’s election manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections as well as for the 18 assembly bypoll segments on Friday, said AMMK will extend support to a secular front to form the government at the Centre.

He said people are keen to have a change in government, both at the Centre and in the Tamil Nadu. "In 2014, people wanted a change after being fed up with a Congress-led government at the Centre for 10 years. They voted for the BJP. Now, they again want a change, not only at the Centre, but also the state which facing a mini-assembly election. Only regional parties like AMMK will be able to take care of the interests of the state," Dhinakaran said.

"Our support at the Centre will be for a secular party/front. It need not be Congress alone. Even Mamata Banerjee and Mayawati are secular leaders. AMMK MPs, who will be elected with the support of the people of Tamil Nadu, will ensure the formation of secular front coming to power at the Centre," he said.

In its manifesto, the party listed agriculture and water management, as well as linking of rivers as it's priority focus areas. "No industry that impacts agriculture or environment will never be allowed. Cauvery Delta will be declared as protected agriculture zone. Projects like methane extraction or hydrocarbon or gas pipelines will never be allowed to come up in that region" Dhinakaran said.

Highlights of AMMK’s election manifesto

Employment priority for Tamilians in state and central services in the state. 80% employment for locals in PSUs.
Rs 2 lakh interest-free loan to private sector employees to meet marriage expenses.
Rs 50,000 - Rs 2 lakh trade loan for youth in villages.
Free power supply for handloom weavers.
Farmers who don’t river water or irrigation facilities will be offered free borewell services to help them to sustain farming.
Hydrocarbon, neutrino, Sterlite, high tension power line towers and gas pipelines affecting agriculture and environment will be opposed.
No industrial project which affects the interests of Delta farmers will not be permitted.
Cauvery Delta will be classified as an agri protected zone.
To promote natural farming.
Linking of rivers will be the focus.
A committee will be formed to decide on MSP for farm products including sugarcane and paddy. The committee members will include farmers representatives.
Free tablets for students. All government run colleges to have free Wi-Fi facilities.
Cable TV subscription rates to be controlled. Minimum 100 channels will be free to people.
Chinese crackers will be completely banned. Restrictions over bursting of crackers will be removed, by taking up the issue with SC.
Tamil Nadu to be divided into six zones to generate employment.
A separate national calamities board to be formed to react faster and deliver quicker relief measures to the affected.
Amma motels will set up on highways which would be run by local women self-help groups and youth.
Converted dalit Christians to continue to get all benefits as dalit Hindus.
Party will strive for a Supreme Court bench in Chennai.
Efforts will be taken to reopen MSMEs that were shut down recently.
Education will be brought back to the state list.

VIT's second international conference on power and advanced computing begins

TNN | Mar 22, 2019, 08.48 PM IST

CHENNAI: The second annual international conference on Innovations in Power and Advanced Computing Technologies (i-Pact’19) began at Vellore Institute of Technology on Friday.
The two-day conference was inaugurated by Kailash Sharma, vice-president of Schneider Electric, Bengaluru.

More than 800 papers in the areas of power and advanced computing technologies were submitted and 400 among them were selected for presentation, said a press release.

The presentation was aimed at creating a platform for exchange of ideas among the participating delegates apart from entrepreneurs from all over the world.

More than 320 students, faculty and researchers from the United States, Japan, Egypt, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore took part in the conference, the release added.

G Viswanathan, founder and chancellor of VIT, in his presidential address, pointed out that India stood third globally in power generation, yet there were several places that witnessed power scarcity.

"Developed nations should share their surplus power with those countries experiencing deficient power supply," he added.