UGC to disburse research fellow scholarships this week

UGC to disburse research fellow scholarships this week

Manash.Gohain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:10.11.2020

Coming as a big relief to thousands of research scholars, the University Grants Commission (UGC) will disburse the emoluments to the Junior Research Fellows (JRF) and Senior Research Fellow (SRF) over Wednesday and Thursday. According to the commission the technical issues which had delayed the disbursal has been resolved and along with the existing emoluments, the backlog would also be cleared and the fellowships would be deposited in the respective accounts.

The JRF scheme is open to candidates who qualify in the National Eligibility Test (NET) of UGC and the UGC-Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) joint test and the tenure of fellowship is initially for two years. According to Rajnish Jain, secretary, UGC, “There were some technical problems due to change in financial procedures which resulted in delay. However, the have been resolved and the emoluments will be deposited in the accounts of the research fellow in two to three days.”

No air routes from city figure among top 25 in country

No air routes from city figure among top 25 in country

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:10.11.2020

The number of flights may be increasing at the city airport but none of the routes from the city are on the list of top 25 busiest ones across the country in terms of demand, shows online booking trends.

As business travel resumes, Mumbai-Delhi and Bengaluru-Delhi, Delhi-Patna, Kolkata-Bengaluru, Kolkata-Mumbai and similar routes from other metro are the busiest. However, similar kind of demand is not there for travel from Chennai. This shows the business travel is yet to resume and a majority of people who travel are families and guest workers.

Nevertheless, more people have started flying from Chennai for Diwali and to return to the city after the government announcement to reopen colleges. And flights from Chennai to Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Patna, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Madurai, Varanasi, Jaipur are the most popular among the travellers this month.

Nishanth Pitti, CEO, EaseMyTrip said Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Hyderabad and Jaipur were the top five destinations from Chennai based on booking trend. More people are also travelling to Coimbatore, Madurai, Goa, Visakhapatnam and Ahmedabad as these destinations figure among the top ten in popularity for the season.

Aloke Bajpai, CEO & cofounder, ixigo, said, “We have seen a 40% increase in advance bookings for festive travel, in the last three weeks . Leisure destinations like Goa this month are also witnessing strong traffic from Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. We have seen a 74% month-on-month increase in bookings for Goa around Diwali.”

The city airport handles around 180 domestic flights a day as arrivals and departures have touched 90 flights a day on most days.

“The numbers are edging closer to the 100 arrivals a day approved by the state government. The demand for travel is likely to increase further closer to Diwali. The government move to open colleges too may see students returning,” said an airport official

Over 12,000 Schools Hold Meetings

Over 12,000 Schools Hold Meetings

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:10.11.2020

A majority of parents of students of private schools want reopening put off to January 2021 fearing a possible second wave of Covid-19.

More than 12,000 schools conducted meetings with parents for views on reopening schools for Classes IX to XII from November 16. In districts such as Chennai, Chengalpet, Kancheepuram, Trichy, Ranipet and Vellore, parents of students of private schools wanted the reopening postponed, while a majority of those of government school students wanted them reopened.

S Baskaran, whose daughter is a student of Vidyodaya Girls Higher Secondary School in T Nagar, said it would be ideal to reopen schools in January 2021. Thiagarajan Dhandapani, whose child studies at GRT Mahalakshmi Vidyalaya Matriculation HS School in Ashok Nagar, said a second wave of Covid-19 was happening worldwide. “We don't know what is going to happen next.”

Some said students are not taking online classes seriously. “They are not paying attention and are not writing any tests. Schools should reopen at least for board exam students and physical classes may be conducted on alternate days,” said Devi, whose daughter is a student of Government Girls Higher Secondary School in Ashok Nagar. Online classes are frequently interrupted due to network issues, she said.

Shivakumar, another parent, said motivation to attend online classes was poor. “The government should consider dropping the entire academic year,” he said.

Agnes Rita, principal of GRT Mahalakshmi Vidyalaya Matriculation Higher Secondary School, said around 80% of the parents who attended the meeting on Monday said they were not willing to send their children to school.

B Purushothaman, senior principal, Everwin Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Kolathur, said 56% of parents who attended the meeting didn’t want schools to reopen.

CBSE schools also conducted meetings with parents most of whom were against sending their children to schools. “Parents of students who will appear for the board exams are worried about practicals,” said R Srinivasa Raghavan, principal of Bala Vidyamandir Senior Secondary School, Adyar.

In government schools, a significant portion of parents wanted them reopened. “Parents who are doing casual jobs feel their children would be safe at schools. But those from middle class backgrounds worry about monsoon season and a possible second wave of Covid-19,” a government school headmaster in Chennai said.

M Mercy, headmistress of Syed Murthuza Government Higher Secondary School in Trichy, said two-third of parents wanted schools opened, believing their children can learn better in a classroom atmosphere.

SHARING VIEWS: Parents share their views on reopening of schools at Everwin School in Kolathur on Monday

STATE GOVT ISSUES TWO KEY ORDERS

STATE GOVT ISSUES TWO KEY ORDERS

50% super-specialty, PG med seats for govt doctors in TN

Pushpa Narayan & K Sureshkumar TNN

Chennai:10.11.2020

The Tamil Nadu government on Monday issued two crucial orders concerning post-graduate and super-specialty medical courses. While GO (463) reserved at least 50% of PG medical seats for in-service government doctors, the other GO (462) reserved the entire 50% state quota super-specialty medical seats for in-service candidates.

The new admission policy for MD/MS and MDS courses will come into force in 2021, and for the PG super-specialty (DM/MCh) courses, it will come into effect in 2020. The inservice candidates availing themselves of these two categories of seats have to sign a bond pledging to remain in government service till superannuation.

That these GOs have been issued was disclosed in the Madras high court when Justice N Anand Venkatesh took up a batch of cases filed by in-service medicos for further hearing.

On Monday, when the central government wanted the court to defer the hearing till the Supreme Court decides a similar issue pending before it, P Wilson, senior counsel for serving doctors, pointed out that the case before the apex court had nothing to do with the present petition and that it would not come in the way of the Tamil Nadu government granting 50% in-service reservation.

Concurring with the submission, Justice Anand Venkatesh refused to defer the hearing. He then recorded the stand of the state government and disposed of the plea.

ALL SUCH SEATS FOR SERVICE CANDIDATES

‘Need more super-specialists to offer high end surgeries for free’

After surrendering 50% of PG medical seats in government colleges and government share of seats in self-financing to All India Quota for admission by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the state will be left with 50% of seats. Of this 50% of the seats – that is 25% of the overall seats – will be reserved for inservice candidates. The remaining seats will be for the open category, where all students, including non-service candidates from the state, can apply.

But in case of super-specialty seats, the order says all 50% of seats reserved for the state will be for in-service candidates from this academic year. “This difference was introduced because since 2016 counselling for all super-specialty seats was done by the DGHS purely based on NEET ranking. In case of PG, the state selection committee conducted counselling for 50% of state quota seats. This year, we asked for 50% of seats. We cannot reserve seats for the open category from this,” said Director of Medical Education Dr R Narayana Babu.

“Last year, we had just 10 students from government service in super-specialty courses. We have more than two dozen medical colleges and we are planning to add 11 more. We need more superspecialists who can offer high end surgeries free of cost to our patients,” he said.

8 மாவட்டங்களில் 2 நாட்களுக்கு கனமழை பெய்யும்

8 மாவட்டங்களில் 2 நாட்களுக்கு கனமழை பெய்யும்

சென்னை : தமிழ்நாட்டில் தென் மாவட்டங்கள் உட்பட 8 மாவட்டங்களில் நவ.,13 மற்றும் 14 ஆகிய 2 நாட்கள் கனமழை பெய்ய வாய்ப்பு உள்ளதாக சென்னை வானிலை ஆய்வு மையம் தெரிவித்துள்ளது. பருவமழை தீவிரமடைந்து வருவதால் தமிழ்நாடு மற்றும் புதுச்சேரியில் கனமழை பெய்து வருகிறது. தென் மாவட்டங்களில் நவ.,12 மற்றும் நவ.,13 ஆகிய 2 நாட்களில் கனமழை பெய்ய வாய்ப்பு உள்ளதாக சென்னை வானிலை ஆய்வு மையம் தெரிவித்துள்ளது. இது தொடர்பாக அம்மையம் கூறுகையில், இன்றைய வானிலையை பொறுத்த வரை, நேற்றைய நிலையை பெரும்பாலும் நீடித்து வருகிறது. பெரும்பாலான இடங்களில்வறண்ட வானிலை நிலவும். கடலோர மாவட்டங்களில் லேசான மழைக்கு வாய்ப்புள்ளது. தமிழ்நாட்டின் தென் மாவட்டங்களில் குறிப்பாக மதுரை, விருதுநகர், சிவகங்கை, துாத்துக்குடி, ராமநாதபுரம் மற்றும் டெல்டா மாவட்டங்களான, திருவாரூர், தஞ்சாவூர், புதுக்கோட்டை ஆகிய 8 மாவட்டங்களில் நவ.,13,14 ஆகிய 2 நாட்கள் கனமழை பெய்யும். இவ்வாறு தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டது.

Dailyhunt

Disclaimer: This story is auto-aggregated by a computer program and has not been created or edited by Dailyhunt. Publisher: Dinamalar

Hry govt hikes MBBS fee to ₹40L

GOVT TO HELP GET EDUCATION LOAN

Hry govt hikes MBBS fee to ₹40L

Students Will Sign Bonds

Manvir.Saini@timesgroup.com

Chandigarh:09.11.2020 

In a move which may trigger unrest among students seeking admission in government-run medical colleges in Haryana, the Haryana medical education and research department has revised the fee for medical courses and introduced bonds for students, for which a system of loans has been put in place.

The move is meant to ensure that MBSS pass-outs are retained in government service for seven years. Repayment of EMIs will be done by government in case MBBS pass-outs join and stay with Haryana government for seven years.

Now, a student seeking admission in an MBBS course will have to pay Rs 40 lakh for the four-year course.

The amount would be to around Rs 10 lakh per annum, including the course fee, which will start from Rs 80,000 per annum. The fee will increase by 10% with each passing year.

At present, the government-run medical colleges have a fee structure of Rs 56,000 per annum, while private colleges charge Rs 12 lakh per annum. With the new policy unveiled by the government, students seeking admission in MBBS courses will have to adhere to the revised structures.

According to the policy, students will have to furnish a bond with the medical education department. The government shall facilitate an educational loan of Rs 10 lakh per year for four years. After a five and a half year moratorium period, students will have two options of repayment.

Those passing out shall be given a job in Haryana and the government shall repay the loan in seven years. In case the pass-out wants to opt out of Haryana, he/she shall have to repay the loan at his/ her own level.

The policy has a quota system in education but it does not spell out exact financial relaxation for students coming from various categories including SC/ST, backward class or economic weaker sections.

The notification has also increased fee for PG courses, which will start at Rs 1.25 lakh with increase of Rs 25,000 every year.

According to the state government, this is to provide job assurance to MBBS doctors. “This way, students will be assured of a job. As far as bond money is concerned, Rs 10 lakh per annum is inclusive of course feel.

“After paying the course fee, the remaining amount shall go to a trust, which shall repay the student’s loan and other things. This is the best scheme the state has come out with,” a senior officer of the department of medical education and research, Haryana said. However, opposition parties are not convinced.

Haryana’s main opposition party, the Congress has termed this as the worst move initiated by the Manohar Lal Khattar-Dushyant Chautala led BJP-JJP government on those seeking admission to medical colleges in Haryana.

“This diktat shall keep children from poor backgrounds, especially those from SC/ST and backward class categories, away from medical education. Secondly, this entire exercise appears to be a scam to help private medical colleges hike fee. Once they come to know that the government course will cost a student Rs 40 lakh, they can charge up to Rs 30 lakh in addition to underhand capitation fee,’’ said AICC chief spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala.

He said, “This will add another dark chapter in the lives of the youth of Haryana. We ask the government to withdraw this with immediate effect or else we shall take legal recourse. We shall not allow this anarchy,’’ he asserted.

Abhay Chautala of INLD termed it as a move of the BJP-JJP government to keep children of the poor, farmers and Dalits away from medical colleges.

Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar, who was interacting with mediapersons in Fatehabad, maintained that the fee hike had been pending for many years.

“The course fee is less than that being charged in Punjab,’’ he said. He did not comment on the bond money, as prescribed in the policy.

The chief minister described the fee hike as marginal and said there had been no fee hike for several years. According to him, medical fees in Himachal is nominal as compared to other states.

On the question pertaining to submitting bonds worth Rs 10 lakh, the chief minister said it has been included so that after pursuing MBBS, students can work in the state and provide their services to people. He said the bonds are being submitted to encourage students to work in the state.

Retired BU prof kills himself

Retired BU prof kills himself

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:  09.11.2020 

A 64-year-old retired professor from Bangalore University and former registrar of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) committed suicide by hanging himself from the ceiling of his residence at KAS Officers’ Colony, Mico Layout on Sunday morning.

NS Ashok Kumar, who was serving as registrar of Garden City University for the last two years, was earlier a professor at departments of communication and later electronic media at BU.

Police said the incident came to light on Sunday morning after his family members entered his bedroom around 6.30am. The jurisdictional police were informed around 8.30am. Mico Layout police found a note, in which Kumar stated that he alone is responsible for his death and no one is behind it.

“He wrote a note in a few words in English. Kumar also requested that his eyes be donated and his body given away to a hospital. While his eyes have been donated, it was not possible to donate his body as it underwent autopsy,” said police.

Police have taken up a case of unnatural death. “Kumar is survived by his wife and two sons. He had tested positive for Covid-19. His family has no clue why he took the extreme step,” a police officer said.

Garden City varsity, where Kumar was registrar, said: “Our registrar Dr Ashok Kumar had tested positive for Covid-19 three weeks ago and was quarantined at home. We are saddened to know that he is no more. We deeply regret his demise.”