Delhi treatment rates to apply in other states

Sushmi.Dey@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: 13.07.2020

Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) beneficiaries living in states that are yet to fix Covid-19 treatment charges in private hospitals will pay as per the rates prescribed by the Delhi government until their states fix their own charges.

In an official memorandum issued recently, the health ministry directed that CGHS rates for treatment of Covid 19 in private empanelled hospitals in respect of CGHS beneficiaries in acity shall be as per the package rate prescribed by the concerned state government.

“In case, no such rate has been prescribed by the state government in any CGHS city, the rates prescribed by the government of NCT Delhi, shall be applicable till rates are notified by the state government concerned,” the memorandum said.

According to the charges announced by the Delhi government on 20 June, an isolation bed at a NABH-accredited hospital is ₹10,000 per day, whereas that in non-NABH hospitals is ₹8,000 per day. Charges for an ICU without a ventilator in severe sickness are ₹15,000 in NABH hospitals and ₹13,000 in non-NABH hospitals. For very severe sickness, the charges for ICU with a ventilator jumps to ₹18,000 and ₹15,000, respectively.

Full report on www.toi.in

HC relief to doc who wants to pursue PG course

K.Kaushik@timesgroup.com

Madurai:  13.07.2020

Granting relief to a doctor who sought return of her certificates to pursue postgraduate diploma course, the Madras high court has directed her to furnish adequate security, instead of a bank guarantee as mandated by the health and family welfare department, taking into consideration that she hails from a middle class family.

R Elanthendral had completed MBBS in 2016. She joined diploma in child health course at government medical college at Thanjavur district. After completion of the course, the petitioner was appointed as an assistant surgeon in Avudaiyarkoil government hospital in December 2019.

After completing the diploma course, the petitioner appeared in the National Board of Examination Super Specialty post diploma centralised entrance test to pursue post diploma course in paediatrics. The petitioner had cleared the entrance exam and the last date for payment of fees and submission of certificates is August 5. Since the petitioner did not pay the bond amount, the original certificates were not returned to her.

A GO, dated April 13, was passed by the health and family welfare department which mandates to furnish bank guarantee of 20 lakh, if the medical practitioners who have not completed the period of compulsory service want to pursue further studies and to re-join the government service.

The counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that she hails from a middle class family and it would not be possible for her to execute a bank guarantee of Rs20 lakh.

The special government pleader submitted that GO has been issued to sternly deal with the breaches committed as people like the petitioner do not offer themselves after completing the course.

Taking into consideration the hardship of the petitioner, justice C Saravanan directed the petitioner to furnish postdated cheques in favour of the director of medical education for 50% (Rs10 lakh) of the bond amount and for the total stipend amount paid to the petitioner.

The judge directed the authorities to return the original certificates after the petitioner complies with the condition. After the petitioner joins duty after completing the course, the amount encashed by the authorities shall be refunded to the petitioner, added the judge.

SRM cancels engg entrance exam for 2020 admissions

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 13.07.2020

In view of the Covid-19 pandemic, SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST) has cancelled its joint engineering entrance exam SRMJEEE for BTech admissions this year. The exam was planned to be held in 127 cities and five overseas centres in Dubai, Doha, Muscat, Bahrain and Kuwait.

The admissions for BTech for 2020 will be based on Class XII/ pre-university/ equivalent marks in physics, chemistry, maths/biology. Those who appeared for JEE Main and SAT are encouraged to apply, a release from the university said.

The forms for providing the Class XII/ pre-university/ equivalent marks and JEE (Main)/ SAT score are available on the university website www.srmist.edu.in.

Applicants can swiftly update and complete their forms. In case the results of the class 12 board examination are not declared, the marks can be uploaded as soon as the results are known.

“SRMIST will continue to award a wide range of scholarships for deserving candidates, including the ones who scored high in JEE Main and SAT examinations, on joining. However, the SRMJEEE rank-based scholarships will not be available,” the release added.

The admission process at SRMIST will begin soon. Candidates can visit www.srmist.edu.in for applying online or for updates. “Classes for freshers will begin in September 2020, be it on campus, online or a combination of both, adhering to government notification and norms and taking into account the safety and security of students,” the release further said.

Faulty readings from cheap oximeters trigger panic

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai: 13.07.2020

With the demand for pulse oximeters increasing, low-cost devices have flooded market. Inaccurate readings of such kits are spreading panic among people, doctors say.

A pulse oximeter is a tool to monitor oxygen saturation level and can pick up Covid-induced hypoxia, lowoxygen level in the blood, early.

Tamil Nadu government, which has been campaigning the use of these kits and has so far procured 23,000 kits, will get another 20,000 kits by this week, said M R Vijayabaskar, state health minister.

With the government and doctors promoting the use of such kits, many households and commercial establishments began buying them, leading to a shortfall in the market. Several companies tried to cash in on the panic buying by selling oximeters at ₹800-₹1,000 online. A standard kit costs around more than ₹1,500 online and also in the drug stores.

But reviews posted by several buyers online suggest that readings of these kits were unreliable and fluctuated wildly.

Raghavan, a resident of Madipakkam, who bought one such low-cost kit, said the kit showed 98% oxygen saturation level for all his family members. “But that’s not possible. If we were to rely on this, we wouldn’t have known if there was an emergency that needed one of us to reach a hospital,” he said.

Public health expert K Kolandaisamy said the devices usually were accurate when showing high levels of oxygen saturation (above 90%) and might have slight variations while presenting lower levels.

“Readings might drop by three points in the afternoon and another two points further in the evening. Any significant drop beyond that indicates that either the patient needs medical attention or the equipment is faulty,” he said.

Medical experts said oximeters can be cross-checked by comparing readings with those taken using proper equipment at hospitals. Since it is not practically possible for all, it is better to get them from neighbourhood pharmacists whom residents are familiar with or from recognised medical equipment stores. One should not rely on cheaper products online or at fly-by-night suppliers in department stores and roadside shops, a doctor said.

Also, many WhatsApp messages and online videos recommend usage of oxygen canisters if the readings drop below 90%.

“Use of such cans without proper medical advice, particularly by smokers who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), could cause death and the best thing to do is to approach a nearby hospital,” said A B Gopalamurugan, senior interventional cardiologist from Kauvery Hospital.

UGC to univs: Exams must, mode flexible

UGC to univs: Exams must, mode flexible

Manash.Gohain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:13.07.2020

Cancellation of final year exams will not be in the interest of the students, the University Grants Commission (UGC) said, stating that it has given ample time and options to the universities to conduct the exams. The regulatory authority said its guidelines are aligned towards bringing uniformity in terms of assessment and pointed out that even the best universities across the world are conducting online examinations due to the pandemic and no one is awarding any certificates without any assessment.

The UGC guidelines of April and the revised guidelines of July changes the examination window from July to September. However, it directed all higher education institutions to conduct the terminal semester/ final year examinations either in offline, online or blended mode. The first and second year students were exempted from the exams and will be assessed based on previous semester’s performance and internal assessments.

Stating that the UGC’s expert committee issued an inclusive guideline, Rajnish Jain, secretary, UGC said: “Examinations should be conducted. The UGC issues broader guidelines and decisions of conducting exams have to be taken by the universities. In order to bring uniformity in terms of assessment it should be based on examinations and universities are given the option of conducting them in offline, online and blended mode.”

Govt to review states’ plea for nixing exams

The Centre told states that assessment for the final-year students has to be conducted in the long-term interest of students as many states and over 200 universities have already completed their terminal semester/final-year exams. While saying the Centre will examine the requests of six states for cancellation of exams due to Covid, a senior HRD official said UGC regulations are mandatory and central directions take precedence over states’ opinion.

UGC guidelines must for all higher education institutes

Jain said, “If for any reason a student cannot take the exam the guidelines have made provision for a special exam to be conducted by the university at a conducive time.”

Stating that the UGC has come to know of the announcements of some states from the media, only the Punjab government has written to it.

“We have received a letter from the Punjab government and we replied back giving a number of reasons about how the decision has been taken in the long term interest and life time credibility (of students). This decision has been taken with admissions to higher education and employment opportunities in mind and we have asked them to reconsider their decision,” said Jain.

The guidelines of the UGC are mandatory for all higher education institutions – government and private universities and deemed universities.

However, these guidelines are not applicable for the 155 institutions of National Importance.While the conduct of exams have been tagged as a move that puts students’ in harm’s way, Jain said that the government will not do anything which jeopardises lives and it has been a well-considered decision.

“Nobody is giving any certificates without assessment. The best institutions globally are opting for online and blended modes of examinations, but are not cancelling examinations...our primary concern is the teaching and we are concerned for their well-being.”

Full report on www.toi.in

'Sheer Violation Of Students' Fundamental Rights': MP Law Students Writes To CJI Against MHA Order Permitting Conduct Of University Exams

Livelaw

'Sheer Violation Of Students' Fundamental Rights': MP Law Students Writes To CJI Against MHA Order Permitting Conduct Of University Exams 

Akshita Saxena

11 July 2020 6:13 PM 

A letter petition has been sent to the CJI, stating that the Government order directing Universities to compulsorily conduct examination of final year students is in "sheer violation" of the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution of India, as it fails to consider the principles of health, safety, fair and equal opportunity for the students. 

The representation has been made by Yash Dubey, a final year law student in the Bhopal University and also the Circle Head at the Youth Bar Association of India (Student Wing). He has urged the Apex Court to take suo-moto of the issue and to put the Academic Calendar for the Universities "in abeyance", till the situation of Covid-19 normalizes. 

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs had permitted the conduct of exams by Universities and Institutions vide notification dated July 6, 2020 and had ordered the Universities to compulsorily conduct examination of final year students as per UGC guidelines and Standard Operating Procedure. 

In furtherance of the aforementioned notification, UGC has issued revised guidelines for University examination for terminal semester students whereby it instructed Universities to conduct exams in offline (pen & paper)/ online/ blended (offline + online) mode. 

In his letter, Dubey has asserted that in addition to the health risks, it will also be extremely difficult for a large section of the students to pay their examination fee or to bear stay and travel expenses to the source where the examination will be conducted. 

"The UGC has cited examples of top-ranking Universities such as MIT, Cambridge for conduction of examination during Covid-19 Pandemic. However, by doing so, the UGC has totally neglected the unprecedented difficulties that our country is facing in times of pandemic. To say the least, in these testing days, a section of our society is not able to arrange bread and butter for a day. Therefore, in view of the current difficulties that our country is facing, it is quite unrealistic to justify the reasoning of conduction of virtual examination by relying on examples of the premier institutions of the world," the letter states. 

Dubey has challenged the compulsory conduct of examination of the final year students, inter alia, on the following grounds: 

· The Revised Guidelines are in sheer violation of the fundamental rights enshrined under Article 14 (Right to Equality) and Article 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty) of the Constitution of India, as it fails to consider the principles of health, safety, fair and equal opportunity for the students; 

· In view of rising numbers of the Covid-19 cases in the country, the conduct of examination (either online/offline/blended) will expose both the examiners and examinees to great health risks; 

· The conduct of offline exams will entail students (who have already travelled to their hometown) to migrate from one place to another, in order to attend the examination. This will also involve risk of staying in shared accommodation as various colleges and hostels have been converted into quarantine centres; 

· It will be absolutely unjust to neglect the problems that will be faced by thousands of students, who will sit for online examination as the same will indubitably work against the interest of students whose access to internet is precarious and who do not have personal computers or laptops in their house, which are imperative to conduct online examination; 

Further he said, 

"The suggested model of conduction of compulsory examination takes the students backwards rather than forward. It effectively brings in second phase of postponement of examination, which creates a cloud of uncertainty for the states like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chattisgarh, Punjab and West Bengal, which already decided to cancel examination." 

He has therefore urged the Top Court to take steps for formulation of "alternative system of evaluation", so as to do complete, equal and fair justice to the students and to exclude possibility of discrimination, disadvantage and risk of life. 

The letter has been supported by 34 other signatory students from the State. 

Earlier, a law student from the Delhi University had addressed a letter to the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, Justice DN Patel, highlighting the plight of students in view of the said Government order. "Academic evaluation and examination system shall not outweigh the lives of students," the letter urged. 

பொறியியல் கல்லூரி மாணவர்களுக்கு முக்கிய அறிவிப்பு! AICTE அதிரடி!

பொறியியல் கல்லூரி மாணவர்களுக்கு முக்கிய அறிவிப்பு! AICTE அதிரடி! 

By Sabarish Updated: Friday, July 10, 2020, 14:31 [IST] 

கொரோனா ஊரடங்கின் காரணமாக அனைத்துக் கல்வி நிறுவனங்களும் கடந்த மார்ச் மாதம் முதல் மூடப்பட்டுள்ளன. தொடர்ந்து, கல்வி நிறுவனங்களை திறக்கமுடியாத சூழல் நிலவி வரும் நிலையில் பள்ளி தேர்வுகள் ரத்து செய்யப்பட்டும், கல்லூரி தேர்வுகள் ஒத்திவைக்கப்பட்டும் அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. 

இந்நிலையில், பொறியியல் கல்லூரிகளுக்கான எவ்வித அறிவிப்பும் வெளிவராத நிலையில், தற்போது ஆகஸ்ட் 16ம் தேதி முதல் பொறியியல் கல்லூரிகளை திறக்கலாம் என அகில இந்திய தொழில்நுட்ப கல்வி கவுன்சிலின் (AICTE) அறிவுறுத்தியுள்ளது. AICTE கூட்டத்தில் முடிவு அகில இந்திய தொழில்நுட்ப கல்வி கவுன்சிலின் (AICTE) 62-வது கூட்டம் சமீபத்தில் நடைபெற்றது. அந்த கூட்டத்தில் பல முக்கிய முடிவுகள் எடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. அதில், தொழில்நுட்ப கல்வி நிறுவனங்கள் எப்போது வகுப்புகளை தொடங்கலாம் என ஏற்கனவே தகவல் வெளியிடப்பட்ட நிலையில், தற்போது அந்தத் திட்டத்திற்கு மாற்றாக புதிய அறிவிப்பை ஏஐசிடிஇ வெளியிட்டுள்ளது 

புதிய அறிவிப்பு வருமாறு: ஏஐசிடிஇ-யின் புதிய அறிவிப்பில் நாடு முழுவதும் உள்ள பல்கலைக் கழகங்கள் தொழில்நுட்ப கல்வி நிறுவனங்களுக்காக அங்கீகாரத்தை ஜூலை 15-ந்தேதிக்குள் வழங்கவேண்டும் என குறிப்பிட்டுள்ளது. 

ஆகஸ்ட் 30-க்குள் முடிக்க வேண்டும் 

பொறியியல் படிப்புக்கான முதற்கட்ட கலந்தாய்வு, மாணவர் சேர்க்கை மற்றும் இட ஒதுக்கீடு உள்ளிட்டவற்றை ஆகஸ்ட் 30-தேதிக்குள் முடிக்க வேண்டும். தொடர்ந்து 2-ம் கட்ட கலந்தாய்வு, மாணவர் சேர்க்கை மற்றும் இட ஒதுக்கீடு உள்ளிட்டவற்றை செப்டம்பர் 10-ந்தேதிக்குள் முடிக்க வேண்டும். கல்வி நிறுவனங்களில் காலியாக இருக்கும் இடங்களில் மாணவர் சேர்க்கையைச் செப்டம்பர் 15-ந்தேதிக்குள் முடித்துவிட வேண்டும் என அறிவுறுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளது. 

ஆகஸ்ட் 16 வகுப்புகள் தொடக்கம் மேலும், ஏற்கனவே பொறியியல் படிப்புகளில் பயின்று வரும் மாணவர்களுக்கான வகுப்புகளை ஆகஸ்ட் 16-ம் தேதி தொடங்கலாம் (பழைய அட்டவணையில் ஆகஸ்டு 1-ந்தேதி என்று குறிப்பிடப்பட்டிருந்தது). புதிதாக பொறியியல் படிப்புகளில் சேரும் மாணவர்களுக்குச் செப்டம்பர் 15-ந்தேதி முதல் வகுப்புகளை தொடங்கலாம். கல்வியாண்டு மாற்றம் தொழில்நுட்ப கல்வி நிறுவனங்களில் முதுகலை டிப்ளமோ, முதுகலை சான்றிதழ் உள்ளிட்ட படிப்புகளுக்கான வகுப்புகளை ஜூலை 15-ம் தேதி முதல் தொடங்கலாம். இந்த படிப்புகளுக்கான மாணவர் சேர்க்கை ஆகஸ்ட் 10-ம் தேதிக்குள் முடிக்கவும் உத்தரவிடப்பட்டுள்ளது. மேலும், நடப்பு கல்வியாண்டு என்பது ஆகஸ்டு 1-ந்தேதி முதல் 2021-ம் ஆண்டு ஜூலை 31-ந்தேதி வரை என மாற்றப்பட்டுள்ளதாகத் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. 

தமிழக அரசின் நிலைப்பாடு என்ன? அகில இந்திய தொழில்நுட்ப கல்வி கவுன்சில் (AICTE) தொழில்நுட்ப படிப்புகளுக்கான புதிய அட்டவணையை வெளியிட்டுள்ள நிலையில், இதில், தமிழக அரசின் நிலைப்பாடு என்ன? என்பதே கேள்விக்குறியாக உள்ளது. தமிழகத்தில் தொடர்ந்து கொரோனாவின் தாக்கம் அதிகரித்து வரும் நிலையில், ஏஐசிடிஇ வெளியிட்டுள்ள இந்த அறிவிப்புகள் பின்பற்றப்படுமா என மாணவர்கள் எதிர்பார்த்துள்ளனர்.

Read more at: https://tamil.careerindia.com/news/aicte-revised-academic-calendar-and-engineering-colleges-to-begin-classes-on-august-16/articlecontent-pf5874-006193.html?utm_medium=Desktop&utm_source=OI-TA&utm_campaign=Homeclicks-News