An ST with SC certificate: An issue even govt officials cannot solve?

An ST with SC certificate: An issue even govt officials cannot solve?

Even as Jayaraj steps inside the RDO’s office, an employee sitting there will look away from him and into the calendar.

Published: 02nd August 2020 05:50 AM 

By Nirupa Sampath

Express News Service

CUDDALORE: Even as Jayaraj steps inside the RDO’s office, an employee sitting there will look away from him and into the calendar. He will announce a fresh date, even before Jayaraj can ask about the status of his community certificate. This has become a ritual over the past 18 months. The 21-year-old mathematics graduate has lost all hope, but has not given up his attempts. 

Back in 2018, Jayaraj was an inspiration for the children and youngsters in Samy Nagar, an Irula hamlet in the outskirts of Cuddalore. He had obtained an ST community certificate and was determined to study further. He finished graduation, without major hassles. However, then arose a community certificate conundrum.

“I went through my entire schooling without a community certificate,” explains Jayaraj. “Later, I realised that it would be helpful to have an ST certificate, as I would get fee concessions, scholarships, and other government benefits. So, I applied for an SC certificate. I knew I belonged to the ST category, but I just thought it would be easier securing an SC paper.” He got an SC certificate. However, later, officials conducted inquiries and gave him an ST certificate too, in 2018. Now, he has two community certificates in hand, and his ordeal has been about getting the SC certificate cancelled. “I have been running pillar to post, and it’s taking a toll on my physical, mental, and financial health,” he says. 

The trouble, activists say, is with officials taking terminologies too literally. Initial definition and general perception is that Irulas are hill-tribes. But, many of them migrated or were forcibly brought down to the plains over the years

Jayaraj, so far, has submitted three letters and five petitions. “Over the time, officials have misplaced them,” he claims. “When I approached the RDO office, they told me to submit both my certificates. But, I was apprehensive, as they had misplaced by petitions and documents earlier. It took the officials nearly two months to even see my documents.” Jayaraj says he has made multiple trips to Chennai and regular visits to the RDO office.

“They are yet to cancel my SC certification.” Jayaraj was recently asked to go see the Cuddalore Tehsildar. “But when I went there, they said they were unaware of the procedures through which they can sort out my case. I am deeply worried. If even the officials do not know what to do, what will I do?” Jayaraj at least had the grit to fight. Three of his friends gave up and discontinued studies after class 12. “I kept persuading them not to give up. But, their family situations were such that they could not afford this fight. It consumes too much time and money. They gave up.”

Agreeing that there have been some problems in issuing community certificates to Irulas, Director of TN Tribal Welfare Department Ritto Cyriac says that he has been regularly instructing revenue department officers to consider deserving cases without any undue delay

Chennai private hospital loses its licence for fleecing patients

Chennai private hospital loses its licence for fleecing patients

According to a statement, Health Minister C Vijayabaskar, after receiving complaints against the hospital, had inspected the facility.

Published: 02nd August 2020 05:39 AM |

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Despite the State government fixing a price cap on Covid-19 treatment in private hospitals, some of them continue to charge their patients exorbitantly, thereby making the most out of the pandemic crisis.

One such instance came to light on Saturday when the State government temporarily revoked the permission given to the Bewell Private Hospital at Kilpauk, to treat Covid-19 patients. The hospital allegedly overcharged a Covid patient to the tune of Rs 12.20 lakh for 19 days of treatment. 

According to a statement, Health Minister C Vijayabaskar, after receiving complaints against the hospital, had inspected the facility. The visit revealed that the hospital indeed overcharged the patients and did not adhere to the price cap set by the State. Hence, the licence of the hospital was revoked temporarily. 

The State government fixed rates for private hospitals to provide Covid-19 treatment after reports emerged that some hospitals were fleecing their patients. According to the Government Order in this regard, Grade 1& 2 hospitals can charge a maximum of Rs 7,000 in general ward per day, while Grade 3& 4 hospitals can charge Rs 5,000 per day. 

The order clearly mentions that private hospitals must strictly not charge more than the prescribed limit and that the decision has been taken after considering the requests placed by the State branch of Indian Medical Association (IMA) and media reports on private hospitals going overboard.

Earlier, the State had included the treatment of Covid-19 patients in private hospitals under the Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme. The treatment is provided free-of-cost at all designated government hospitals. The families that have already enrolled and are eligible under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance scheme can avail treatment as per the announcements.

Asha Bhosle files complaint after ₹2L power bill

Asha Bhosle files complaint after ₹2L power bill

Mumbai:  02.08.2020

Singer Asha Bhosle filed a complaint with state power utility firm MSEDCL after receiving a bill of Rs 2 lakh for her bungalow in Lonavla. Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) stated that the bill was generated per the ‘actual meter reading’, and that this had been communicated to the singer. MSEDCL has been receiving flak from consumers for ‘inflated’ bills in June.

Bhosle received a power bill of Rs 2,08,870 for June, while the bill for the same house for the months May and April were Rs 8,855.44 and Rs 8,996.98, respectively. According to the power consumption history mentioned in the bill, the singer had received a bill of Rs 6,395.66 for June 2019.

“We received a complaint from Bhosle for an inflated bill. Acting on the same, a senior official from the Pune circle personally went there [Bhosle’s Lonavla bungalow] to check the reading. It was verified that the meter reading was correct and so was the bill,” said an MSEDCL spokesperson. He added that after conducting a proper investigation, it was found that the bungalow was not closed and that shoots were taking place there.

Bhosle was not available for comment. This is not the first time she has complained about inflated electricity bills. In 2016, Bhosale had complained about receiving an exorbitant bill for the bungalow, which was “not much in use”. The then energy minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule had then assured Bhosle that he would look into the matter. PTI

Study: Depression among youth high during lockdown

Study: Depression among youth high during lockdown

Sushil.Rao@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:  02.08.2020

About 33% of youngsters in the age group of 16-20 were either depressed or stressed during the period from April 1 to May 12 when lockdown was strictly enforced. In a study ‘Psychosocial impact of Covid-19 lockdown on mental well-being among 11 states of India: A Markov model approach’, 22% of respondents had shown signs of depression, while anxiety was seen among 15% of respondents and stress in 10% of them. These findings were published in the ‘Journal of Psychiatry and Psychiatric Disorders’ on July 29.

V Vishwak Reddy, assistant professor, department of psychiatry, Kamineni Institute of Medical Sciences, Narketpally, who was part of the group that conducted the study, said 27.5% of 891 respondents had exhibited either depression, anxiety or stress. “This is a very high percentage,” Dr Vishwak told STOI.

“Lack of experience in handling a crisis situation, excessive usage of social media as well as inherent restlessness induced by being house-bound can possibly contribute to the significant high rate of depression in the age group of 16-20 years,” the study said. A total of 891 people responded from 11 states across the country and 90% of them were from the five states in the south.

“Amid unprecedented health and socio-economic crisis emanating from the Covid-19 lockdown in India from March 25 and extending into its fourth phase is a matter of great concern to mental health professionals,” the study said, adding that the aim was to evaluate the psychological impact during the pandemic.

The study was done by consultant psychiatrist Satya Revanth Karri of Nalgonda, Tabitha Jezreel and Shadan Afeen, PG students, department of psychiatry, KIMS, and Praveen Khairkar, professor, department of psychiatry at KIMS.

‘Missing’ Mandarin adds to confusion at Sanchi varsity

NEW EDU POLICY

‘Missing’ Mandarin adds to confusion at Sanchi varsity

Ramendra.Singh@timesgroup.com

Bhopal:  02.08.2020

The ‘dropping’ of Mandarin from among the foreign languages in the new National Education Policy (NEP) announced two days ago, has led to confusion among students pursuing higher studies at the Sanchi University. The varsity offers a one-year diploma course and a short-term six-month certificate course in Chinese language.

The NEP approved by the Union cabinet does not mention ‘Chinese’ among the foreign languages for students at the secondary level.

The ‘Chinese’ language (rather than Mandarin or Cantonese) was mentioned in the draft released in 2019. It had named French, German, Spanish, Chinese and Japanese as foreign languages which could be offered as electives.

Interestingly, the diploma and short-term course in Chinese language at Sanchi University were popular among the ITBP personnel. This could be gauged from the fact that 36 personnel were enrolled for the course.

A faculty at the university specialising in Mandarin wishing anonymity said, “it is early to comment whether Chinese language courses will exist or not at the higher education level in India. The policy as of now has dropped it at the secondary level. Nevertheless, it is a matter of concern for both students and teaching faculty.”

When contacted, university PRO, Vijay Dubey said, “The policy has just come and it is too early to comment at this stage. We will put the issue before the academic council and executive council if required.”

This University is meant to address the global issues and shall generally cover educationalists, academicians, philosophers, researchers, practitioners from all over the world, but primarily focuses on Asian countries - the land of genesis and spread of Buddhist-Indic culture. All aspects of Buddhist-Indic Studies from philosophy to culture, from economics to governance are addressed in totality.

3 asst profs who ‘blew whistle’ get termination orders

3 asst profs who ‘blew whistle’ get termination orders

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Patiala:  02.08.2020

The three professors of Government Mohindra College, who had, last year, blown the whistle on the misappropriation of the college funds by the authorities, have been issued termination orders for ‘interacting with the media’.

Last year, three assistant professors of the college — Amarinder Singh Tiwana, Mandeep Singh and Jashandeep — had filed a complaint with the state vigilance bureau and higher officials of the state education department alleging that former principal of the college had violated the rules and engaged in misappropriation of funds worth several crores of rupees. The complaint entailed a vigilance probe, which has not been completed till date.

However, on July 29, the board of governors, headed by college principal Prof Simrat Kaur, ordered termination of the services of the three assistant professors, who had been appointed in the college on contractual basis. The reason mentioned in the termination letter is, ‘instead of resolving the issues through mutual interaction, the three assistant professors went to the media.’ As the vigilance probe was heading nowhere, the three assistant professors in February had held a press conference at Chandigarh alleging ‘lack of professionalism in the inquiry’. The professors had claimed that they had written to the principal secretary (higher education), superintendent of police (vigilance), the director public instructions and the college principal. Even as two separate inquiries — one by the vigilance and the other by the secretary higher education had been ordered — both the authorities continued to drag their feet over the issue.

In their complaint last year, the three had stated that the college authorities had indulged in large scale misappropriation of funds of RUSA, the parent-teacher association (PTA) and the Higher Education Institute Society, a self-finance society of the college.

While the state government had held back the retirement benefits of the former principal of the college, but till now no further action has been taken into the complaint filed by them.

Principal Kaur said, “The decision to terminate the services of three assistant professors has been taken by the board of governors.” When asked if the board was being headed by her, she refused to take any further questions and switched off her mobile phone. The assistant professors have now alleged that they were repeatedly called to the principal’s office and asked to withdraw the complaint.

Last year, Amarinder Singh Tiwana, Mandeep Singh and Jashandeep had claimed said that former principal has misused funds

Nurses protest to seek better benefits

Nurses protest to seek better benefits

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:  02.08.2020

Nursing employees from various institutions that come under the medical education department held a protest at Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital on Saturday, demanding better pay and benefits.

Clad in PPE suits, they sought a 50 per cent hike in basic salary, government insurance and cover under the Jyothi Sanjeevini Scheme. They also said that they should be brought under the New Pension Scheme.

“We are frontline workers in a pandemic. The government should treat us like government employees by providing better pay and insurance cover,” said a nurse at the demonstration.

The employees wore black armbands as a mark of protest. “We have been pleading for basic socioeconomic demands for the past five years, but the government has been turning a blind eye to our problems. We will continue to wear black armbands till our demands are fulfilled,” said another nurse.

She added: “The government must bring us under the New Pension Scheme and treat us with some dignity as we have been working tirelessly during the pandemic.”

Nurses said though they and their family members were more vulnerable to Covid-19, the government had not offered any assurance on proper treatment. They claimed many staff members on Covid-19 duty contracted the virus but didn’t get access to good healthcare facilities.

FRONTLINE ANGER: Staffers protest at Bowring & Lady Curzon Hospital