Meet your governor: R N Ravi, an officer, and tough gentleman

Meet your governor: R N Ravi, an officer, and tough gentleman

Prabin.Kalita @timesgroup.com

12.09.2021

Ravindra Narayan Ravi, the new governor of Tamil Nadu, is a man to watch. Here’s why: The 69-yearold IPS officer who retired seven years ago as the special director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) before he was appointed the Nagaland governor, is moving from Kohima to Chennai, two capitals so removed geographically, culturally and politically, but what may remain unchanged would be his image of being a no-nonsense administrator.

Born in Patna, the Kerala cadre IPS office took to journalism for a short while before he joined the administrative service in 1976 after completing his post-graduation in physics. While he was in the IB, most in government circles would say, “Ravi knows the northeast like the back of his hand.” His appointment as the PMO’s emissary for the Naga peace process by Narendra Modi in 2014 was seen as a recognition of his knowledge of the region, whose boundaries stretch from Bhutan, Tibet and Myanmar to Bangladesh.

Five years later, Ravi was appointed governor of Nagaland, which earned him the rare distinction of being the first incumbent constitutional head of a state to double up as a peace interlocutor in the country. Within a year, he convinced the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) to sign the first preliminary agreement. This is considered as a culmination of more than 80 rounds of peace talks between the Centre and the Naga organisation within and outside of India since1997.

Ravi has to his credit bringing the insurgent groups hostile towards India to the negotiating table. What stood between him and success was the NSCN (IM)’s demand for a separate flag and constitution for the Nagas. In 2020, he wrote to the Nagaland Democratic People’s Party-BJP government that he would invoke Article 371 (A) (1) (b) and take control of law and order in the state if it failed to stop rebel outfits from carrying extortions and violent activities.

In his letter, Ravi brought to the notice of chief minister Neiphiu Rio the presence of “dozen organised armed gangs” and rampant extortion by “armed gangs who are running a parallel government.” On the other hand, NSCN (IM) and seven other groups (who call themselves Naga National Political Groups) said they were merely collecting ‘legitimate taxes” and “contributions” from people.

Defending its position, the Nagaland government said Ravi’s assessments of law and order “do not appear to be factual.” A few months later, a mellowed state government asked all its employees to declare and give details if any of their family members are part of any underground insurgent group. Before his assignments as an interlocutor and governor, Ravi was the chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee in the PMO. In 2018, he also served as deputy National Security Adviser.

Over 60% Candidates Are Girls

After online prep, 1.1L appear for NEET today

Over 60% Candidates Are Girls

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:12.09.2021

Aspirants writing the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) 2021 on Sunday are a wary lot as most of the coaching they got was online. Experts say many students miss the face-to-face coaching and peer learning and performances could dip this year.

Many coaching centres and schools prepared the students one last time by giving them mock tests on Saturday afternoon, which they wrote wearing masks and gloves. Along with their knowledge and skill, Sunday’s exam is likely to test the endurance of students as the first batch will have to enter exam halls by 10.30am for the 2pm start because of Covid protocols.

From Tamil Nadu 1,10,971 students are scheduled to appear for the exam at 225 exam centres. In Chennai,17,992 students will appear at 33 exam centres.

J S Dharani, a medical aspirant from Ayanavaram, said preparation in online mode was a new experience and difficult. “The coaching institute and school guided us constantly. On a positive note, faculty members were available till 9.30pm to clarify our doubts,” she said.

She said the staggered entry timing and wearing masks for four to five hours inside the exam halls will test the endurance of the students. "We have attended mock tests wearing masks and gloves from 2pm to 5pm. I was comfortable for the first hour, but felt uneasy after that," she said.

Ebenezer Kirubakaran G, an aspirant from Tambaram, said, remembering the concepts was difficult in online mode preparation. He was doing aerobics and wearing masks at home in the past few weeks to prepare for the exam. He said the introduction of choice will help the students. Now students need answer only 180 of the 200 questions.

B Pavan Kumar, deputy director, FIITJEE Chennai, said, lack of peer competition and face-to-face coaching by mentors will impact the performance of mid-level students.

IIT Hyderabad 16th best in NIRF ranking

IIT Hyderabad 16th best in NIRF ranking

UoH bags 9th position and OU 32nd in the university category

The Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad has improved its NIRF 2021 overall ranking by one position.

City Bureau

Hyderabad 

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad has improved its National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2021 overall ranking by one position. The IIT Hyderabad secured 16th rank among the educational institutions in the country while it was in 17th position in the 2020 rankings.

The IIT Madras has topped in the overall rankings which was released by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday. The Indian Institute of Science and IIT Bombay bagged second and third positions.

The University of Hyderabad (UoH) was ranked 17th in this edition of the overall ranking while it was at 15th position in 2020. The National Institute of Technology-Warangal and Osmania University were ranked at 59th and 62nd positions this year while they were at 46th and 53rd positions respectively in the last year’s rankings.

Likewise, in the university category, the UoH has been ranked at 9th, Osmania University at 32nd and International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad at 83rd position, while their 2020 rankings were 6th, 29th and 78th respectively. In the engineering category, IIT Hyderabad was ranked 8th, NIT-Warangal (23rd), IIIT Hyderabad (54th) and Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University-Hyderabad (62nd).

In the case of pharmacy, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hyderabad was at 6th position, while Kakatiya University and Anurag University were ranked at 48th and 61st positions respectively. The NALSAR University of Law and ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education got 3rd and 29th ranks in law category respectively.

The universities and institutions were ranked on various parameters that included teaching, learning and resources, research and professional practices, graduation outcomes, outreach and inclusivity, and perception. The placements and research publications were key parameters among the above.

UP makes mid-term exams must for all univs, private institutions

UP makes mid-term exams must for all univs, private institutions

Isha.Jain@timesgroup.com

Lucknow:11.09.2021

All the universities, including private institutions, will conduct midterm examinations in the academic session 2021-22 which is slated to commence from September 13.

In its latest directives, the government has made midterm examinations compulsory for students enrolled for all courses, irrespective of the system (semester or annual).

The idea is to ensure that students do not suffer in case of any crisis situation like Covid-19 pandemic. “In case of unavoidable circumstances, the mid-term examination will help in timely promotion of students without causing any loss to them,” said the order issued by additional chief secretary, higher education, Monika S Garg.

The directives are a part of the newly-released academic calendar for session 2021-22.

As per the calendar, universities should close fresh admissions to first semester/year by September 13.

To regularise academic session, which got derailed due to prolonged closure of educational institutions in wake of Covid-19 pandemic, the government has also asked institutions to cut down on winter vacation, if required.

Move aimed to help in timely promotion of students

‘Teachers may get 15-day summer vacay in shifts’

In addition, teachers may be given 15 days of summer vacation in shifts so that teaching-learning does not get unhamper.

Universities have been instructed to approve only very important leaves, except maternity, of teaching and non-teaching staff. Condolence meetings of only teachers and administrative staff will be held on campus only after 3 pm. Prior to it, classes will take place on campus, the order said.

The government has also instructed universities to hold extra/online classes if the total number of teaching days – 90 for semester system and 180 for annual system – are not met. Students should be convinced to use higher education digital library.

Yogi gave ₹1,129cr from CM fund to over 71K poor people for treatment

Yogi gave ₹1,129cr from CM fund to over 71K poor people for treatment

Rajiv.Srivastava1@timesgroup.com

Lucknow:11.09.2021

He may have the image of a firebrand leader, but Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has revealed his softer self by going way ahead of his predecessors in extending support to the poor and the distressed through the CM’s discretionary fund. In the past four-and-a-half years, Yogi has disbursed Rs 1,129 crore through the fund to 71,626 people for treatment.

The figures are more than double of what SP president Akhilesh Yadav gave away during his five-year tenure as the UP CM and almost 13 times more than Rs 84 crore released by Mayawati during her term (2007-12).

In the past five months (April1-August 31), during and after the second wave of coronavirus pandemic, around Rs 121 crore was provided as financial assistance to 6,618 beneficiaries.

Officials claimed that UP, with a population of around 24 crore, has fared better in tackling the pandemic as compared to any other state.

‘BJP govt extended ₹1.1k-cr aid to poor patients’

Saving lives and livelihood were the top priorities of the Yogi Adityanath government, they added.

In April, Rs 13.26 crore was provided to around 781 people while in May, this went up to nearly Rs 17.20 crore which was disbursed to over 943 people. In June this year, the government provided Rs 24.85 crore to 1,376 beneficiaries followed by Rs 29.33 crore to 1,497 people in July 2021.

Similarly, Rs 36.44 crore was provided to 2,021 people in August.

According to the details released by the CM’s office regarding the funds, the BJP government has till now extended help of over Rs 1,100 crore to poor patients.

The Samajwadi Party government under Akhilesh Yadav had provided Rs 552 crore to 42,508 people while the Mayawati government gave only Rs 84 crore to around 18,462 people.

Officials in the Chief Minister’s office said after coming to power, CM Yogi Adityanath had issued directives that help should be provided to people who had given up hope for treatment for the want of money. The government not only saved the lives of thousands of people but also ensured that they did not have to sell their land and property to meet medical expenses.

The year wise breakup shows the consistency with which the government provided help to the people.

The CM helped 13,228 people with Rs 184.63 crore in 2017-18 through discretionary fund. In 2018-19, over 17,772 people were given over Rs 256.34 crore, while in 2019-20, about 18,014 people received Rs 280.23 crore.

Around Rs 132.55 crore was provided to 7,269 people in 2020-21. Help was provided for kidney transplants and patients suffering from cancer, heart ailments and other serious diseases.

Officials said the maximum money was given to patients for the treatment of cancer, kidney and heart disease.

Man caught with ₹13-cr cobra venom

Man caught with ₹13-cr cobra venom

Pinak Priya Bhattacharya

Jalpaiguri:11.09.2021

A man was on Friday arrested with cobra venom worth Rs 13 crore after he entered India from Bangladesh through the Hili border in South Dinajpur.

Salim Akhtar, from South Dinajpur, reportedly admitted the consignment was headed to China from Bangladesh via India and Nepal. The consigment was seized at 73 More, on the outskirts of Jalpaiguri town. He was remanded for six days by the court.

The officials, acting on a tip-off, arrested Akhtar but those who were to receive the venom escaped. Red dragon stickers on the venom containers raised officials’ suspicion that these were meant for China.

Bengal forest minister Jyotipriya Mullick said several people had been arrested earlier too while smuggling snake venom.

Transfer plea on med grounds

Transfer plea on med grounds

Kolkata:11.09.2021

The school education department has issued an order, saying teachers can apply on Utsashree portal for transfer if his/her family member suffers from a serious disease. The district school inspector will forward the case to CMOH and Medical Colleges and Hospital. Depending on the report, such applications should be addressed within 14 days. TNN