A question of adjustments

A question of adjustments

The post-pandemic situation will be challenging, both for students and teachers. A look at the issues that may crop up

19/10/2020

R. W. Alexander Jesudasan

Of the current global human population of 7.8 billion in 2020, nearly 1.3 billion are learners who have been affected by the closure of educational institutions due to COVID-19. Such spaces are fundamental not only for academic interactions but also to build social and emotional skills and mental and physical health. As governments contemplate when and how to re-open schools and colleges, it is clear that the post-pandemic situation will be different for both teachers and students.

Resuming classroom

With students and teachers getting used to remote teaching, which has been the norm for much of this year, getting back to the traditional classroom environment will be challenging. One immediate issue will be lack of focus, as students may be distracted by sharing their experiences of life during the lockdowns. This initial hiccup can be overcome by giving them the right orientation.

Psychological stress

Owing to SMS — social distancing, masks and sanitisers, which are the non-negotiable — the classroom environment will be new, difficult and possibly stressful. Students will have to get used to physical distancing instead of sitting close together and joking or playing pranks. Further, students who exhibit symptoms of headache, cough and fever are likely to be suspected to be infected with the Coronavirus. This could lead to some amount of embarrassment.

Lack of excitement

Students who have already begun a new academic year online have lost the charm and excitement of a new classroom environment along with that of getting new uniforms, books and other essentials. Further, a physical connect after a vacation usually is a happy time of sharing experiences of travel and other thrilling moments, none of which was possible this year. Also, educational institutions are considering a shift system so that fewer students will be present in the classroom, leading to smaller groups.

Transition hampered

Students who finished school this year have had their introduction to college through a virtual walk through. This does not really help in showcasing the institution. Also their interactions in the college would have depended on whether they were day scholars or hostel residents. Exposure to cultural, club and other extracurricular activities shape the life of students, but this is not possible now.

Authorities and the faculty will have to find solutions to circumvent these problems.

The writer is Pro Vice-Chancellor, Hindustan Institute of Technology &Science (Deemed to be University) alexjesu62@gmail.com

No virus death in Haryana after over four months

No virus death in Haryana after over four months

1,640 people have lost their lives so far

19/10/2020

Special Correspondent GURUGRAM

No death on account of COVID-19 was reported in Haryana on Sunday, after a gap of over four months. Earlier, it so happened on June 6.

“Haryana Health Department is happy to announce that no death has been reported on account of COVID-19 today [Sunday]. While it is heartening, yet there is no room for complacency and the Haryana Health Department will remain in the highest position of alert till there is a lasting solution to the COVID-19 infection,” said Additional Chief Secretary Health and Home, Rajeev Arora.

As per the latest statistics, 1,640 people, including 1,143 males, have lost their lives due to the deadly infection in the State so far with a fatality rate of 1.09 %.

Those died include 1,448 with co-morbidities. Faridabad at 238 has recorded the highest number of deaths, followed by Gurugram (190), Karnal (115) and Panchkula (106). Charkhi Dadri has reported four deaths, the least in the State.

A total of 1,50,033 people have tested positive for COVID-19 so far and 10,042 cases are active at present.

On Sunday, 169 people in the State were on oxygen support and 31 on ventilator.

The State conducts 93,549 tests per million and the cases are doubled every 42 days with the positivity rate of 6.34%. The recovery rate is 92.21%.

Huge dip in passport applications between April and mid-October

Huge dip in passport applications between April and mid-October

Since April, 76,695 applications were received for various services

19/10/2020

The Passport Seva Kendra at Shanthinagar.Sudhakara Jain Sudhakara Jain

K.C. Deepika Bengaluru

As most parts of the world came to a halt amidst a raging pandemic, the little blue book which is the passport to travelling abroad for work, studying and leisure has not been in much demand.

The usual volume of applications for passport and related services that the Regional Passport Office (RPO), Bengaluru receives in a year is in lakhs. But in a pandemic-hit year, despite functioning through the months where most other sectors were closed, the number of applications and final services given has seen a sharp dip compared to the previous year.

According to data shared by the RPO, this year, from April to mid-October, 76,695 applications were received for various services, including issue of passport. Of these, 76,523 were granted. The final number of passports issued during this period was 88,139. Another, 3,135 Police Clearance Certificates (PCC) and 17 Surrender Certificates (SC) were also issued.

During the corresponding six-and-a-half months last year, 4,24,804 applications were received by the RPO, of which 4,30,087 were granted. As many as 4,34,700 passports, 12,899 PCCs and 55 SCs were issued.

With international air travel shut due to COVID-19, and with stringent lockdown in place, there was no need for passports.

In fact, the RPO had to reduce the number of appointments by half after a directive from the Ministry of External Affairs in March just before the first lockdown was announced as a precautionary measure. The RPO recently restored the number of appointments to normal after adopting the necessary precautionary measures, but only half or less than half the appointments are being taken.

In the last few years, the RPO has received over seven lakh applications for issue of passport and related services. Months of low demand this year is expected to have a telling impact on the final numbers this calendar year.

Regional Passport Officer Bengaluru Bharath Kumar Kuthati told The Hindu, “We can’t say with certainty, but the fact is, there is a steady increase in the number of applications.”

The RPO had mentioned that though the number of appointments taken has come down to around 50% from pre-COVID-19 times, it is still an increase in recent months from the 20% post the first lockdown to around 40% now. An overall fear of crowded places has also been cited as one of the reasons for applicants to stay away.

Kerala paying the price for gross negligence during Onam: Vardhan

Kerala paying the price for gross negligence during Onam: Vardhan

Others must learn from the State’s mistake and be careful during the coming festival season, says Union Health Minister

19/10/2020

Harsh Vardhan

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI

Kerala is seeing a spurt in cases due to “gross negligence” during Onam celebrations, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Harsh Vardhan during his weekly online interaction, Sunday Samvad.

In response to a question on how had Kerala, once portrayed as a “model State” for keeping the virus in check, has now posted over 8,000 cases and what could other States learn, Mr. Vardhan replied, “Movement of people due to trade and tourism led to cases increasing beyond the two districts of Kasargod and Kannur. The epidemic curve of Kerala changed completely due to Onam festivities across the State during August and September. During August 22-Sept 2 (Onam week) there were huge congregations where people convened in large numbers and didn't take precautions. Kerala paid the price for its gross negligence after good control in the initial part of the pandemic. Other States must learn a lesson due to Kerala's negligence during Onam and States need to be careful during the coming festival season.”

Though there was a surge in cases since September, data shows that the State’s “second wave”, one which hasn’t yet seen a peak, had begun in early May. The second wave was attributable to the return of migrant workers from other States and returnees from abroad. Nearly 10.61 lakh people had entered the State through various routes, since the pandemic began of which half entered via flights alone.

Until June, 90% of cases were imported and by July this had reversed to 90% of cases being locally transmitted.

3.3 lakh cases

The share of cases from Kerala in India’s overall load jumped from 2.9% until September 15 to 6.4% in the second half of the month to about 10% as of this month. Kerala also didn’t increase testing to keep up with the population surge and also slackened on its contact tracing efforts that had helped it to contain significant spread until May. There were as of Sunday nearly 3.3 lakh cases in Kerala of which 96,000 are active infections, the Minister said.

Responding to another question on the market being flooded with oximeters made in China, Mr. Vardhan observed that “consumers should look for FDA/CE approved products with ISO/ IEC specifications.” However, he pointed out that a dip in oxygen saturation level was not always a COVID-19 symptom, and it could happen due to other underlying medical conditions as well.

Govt. yet to install MRI facilities at all hospitals, reveals RTI reply

Govt. yet to install MRI facilities at all hospitals, reveals RTI reply

Only 11 of 46 govt. headquarters hospitals got the equipment in the last 3 years

19/10/2020

Cause for concern: Patients have to travel 50 km-100 km for a scan due to the absence of MRI facilities. 

Special Correspondent Madurai

In January 2017, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, on a writ petition filed by activist C Anand Raj, had directed the State government to establish MRI facilities at all government headquarters hospitals.

However, the activist, recently, through the Right To Information (RTI) Act, found out from the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation (TNMSC) Limited, that the government was yet to implement the court directive completely.

Only 11 of the 46 government headquarters hospitals in the State have been provided with MRI facilities in the last three years, for which the government spent ₹56 crore.

The activist said the information furnished by TNMSC showed that patients, who had taken scans at the MRI and CT facilities, paid ₹264 crore over the last nine years. All GHs collected charges ranging from ₹500 to ₹1,000 for CT scans and ₹2,500 to ₹3,500 each for MRIs. Only those whose annual income was less than ₹72,000 were covered under the Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme.

Call for attention

Mr. Raj has, since, urged the government to provide MRI facilities at least in Usilampatti (Madurai district), Kovilpatti (Thoothukudi), Karaikudi (Sivaganga), Tenkasi (Tenkasi), Srivilliputtur (Virudhunagar), Periakulam (Theni) and Padmanabhapuram (Kanniyakumari district) hospitals before this fiscal year.

The doctors/radiologists in these hospitals said that patients had to travel at least 50 km to 100 km, every time, for a scan, due to the absence of MRI facilities. With the government repeatedly telling people not to venture out during the pandemic, critical patients have had to travel long distances due to poor infrastructure, Mr. Raj said.

According to him, though CT scan facilities are available at all hospitals, they do not function 24x7, at many locations, forcing patients to travel to other cities or look for private scan centres. He said the government was deliberately aiding private scan centres by not providing the facilities at government headquarters hospitals, as directed by the court.

When The Hindu contacted a senior official at the Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services, he acknowledged that there was a delay in installation of equipment. However, he said the government could not simply install the facilities and leave them there. “We have to recruit people for the facility, fix their pay scale, train them to handle the devices, and so on. It will take time. Today, the government’s priority is to fight COVID-19. All the left-out GHs will get MRI facilities in the next 18 months,” he said.

Deepavali special buses soon

Deepavali special buses soon

19/10/2020

Staff Reporter TIRUPPUR

Transport Minister M.R. Vijayabhaskar said on Sunday that special buses for Deepavali would be announced soon.

A consultation meeting on the operation of special buses during the festival season was held, and decisions were taken, said the Minister, at Palladam in Tiruppur district, where he attended a private function on Sunday.

According to Mr. Vijayabhaskar, the State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) started reservations in view of Deepavali. He said that 60%-70% of the buses of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) was currently operational.

The buses are fully operational in the morning and evening, when there is a considerable number of passengers who use take public transport.

As the State’s case load was seeing a slow decline, bus services would be resumed in a phased manner, he said.

Inconsistencies in NEET answer sheets alleged

Inconsistencies in NEET answer sheets alleged

Candidate takes up the issue with NTA

19/10/2020

Staff Reporter COIMBATORE / CHENNAI

A medical aspirant from Coimbatore has alleged inconsistencies in the NEET Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) sheet downloaded by him. The candidate, K.S. Manoj from Karumathampatty, said the OMR sheet he downloaded before and after the announcement of NEET results were different.

“I have escalated this to the National Testing Agency through their helpdesk,” he said. A few other students from other parts also said that they encountered similar inconsistencies.

“I downloaded my OMR sheet first on October 11 and matched it with the answer key, based on advice from the coaching centre where I had taken up a NEET crash-course. I found that I had scored 594 and the same score was shown when I downloaded the OMR sheet again on October 15. The score was the same when I matched the OMR sheet with the final answer key around 5 p.m. on October 16. However, my score was 248 when the results were announced,” he said.

Mr. Manoj said that the OMR sheet he downloaded around 8.30 p.m. on October 16, after the announcement of the results, was different from the ones he had downloaded earlier.

He shared the two OMR sheets with mediapersons. According to G.B. Ramprakash, founder of Tech4All, who had taken up the case of poor translation of English scientific terms in NEET question papers in 2018, said such errors were reported in other States too.

He said errors could creep in the reading of bar codes due to glitches. “At present, it is only an allegation. If the candidate has downloaded the OMR sheets, he can send it as hard copies to the NTA and lodge a complaint. The NTA should take the complaint seriously and provide hard copies of the OMR sheets. This will ensure total transparency,” he said.