TN teacher develops app for nurturing success

TN teacher develops app for nurturing success

https://www.newindianexpress.com/good-news/2021/dec/26/tn-teacher-develops-app-for-nurturing-success-2399799.html

The benefits of the app are clearly visible when we assess the students’ performance at school, notes, primary school headmaster Venkatachalam.

Published: 26th December 2021 05:48 AM 

By Subashini Vijayakumar

Express News Service

ERODE: When full-week school classes are inadequate to cushion the wrecking Covid-19 brought about to the academics, what do you do with alternate day classes? The government had no other go but to dictate strict regulations for schools as another wave of pandemic threatens to sweep the country.

The impact of this shift in schooling tradition may take years to reveal itself. Tamil teacher Boopathi Raja lacks that kind of patience and is intent on overcoming the hurdles now itself. “The coherence of lessons may get lost on students if they attend only classes online, or during alternate days,” says the teacher from panchayat union primary school at Guruvareddiyur in Anthiyur block.

Boopathi Raja decided to create an easy to access smartphone application containing complete syllabi for Classes 1 to 5. Most teachers sent their students study materials online and thought no more about it. The point, in fact, was that the students had a hard time deciphering the materials. Many new concepts were lost on them, and pedagogues never refrained from flaunting their vocabulary prowess. This is where Raja’s application had to step in. He wanted homespun explanations of concepts, and also a ready-to-access dictionary in his application.PUPS Guruvareddiyur has all lessons for

Classes 1-5, facility for online tests,

With not even a foggiest idea on where to start, Raja bounced the idea with some private players adept at programme coding. They ballparked the costs at around Rs 40,000, and this was a huge ask. For a teacher skilled in motivating young ones, necessity was inducement enough. Raja began to check out the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) appinventor tutorials. Several late nights and plenty of test runs, spread over nearly six months, later, PUPS Guruvareddiyur was ready for installation.

“Most of my students come from families that could only afford one smartphone, and that would be used by the parents. So, the kids largely missed live online classes as the parents would leave for work during daytime. With this application, they can check out any lesson anytime,” Raja adds.

PUPS Guruvareddiyur has all lessons for Classes 1 to 5, facility to take online tests, English to Tamil translator, and also a link to the Kalvi TV YouTube channel. “While admission to government schools has increased after the pandemic onset, we teachers going the extra mile will reinforce the parents’ trust,” he opines.

There are a total of 270 students and seven teachers at the school in Guruvareddiyur. Nearly 60 per cent of the students have already begun using the application. With favourable promotion, children from nearby schools have also downloaded the app. The online tests comprise one-mark questions and the students can get their results instantly. The benefits of the app are clearly visible when we assess the students’ performance at school, notes, primary school headmaster Venkatachalam.

This TN woman driver is creating her 'auto' nomy

This TN woman driver is creating her 'auto' nomy

Over the years, she has broken stereotypes and become a beacon of hope and trust to many women passengers.

Published: 26th December 2021 05:50 AM |

Chitra stations her autorickshaw at the Villupuram old bus stand | Express

By Krithika Srinivasan

Express News Service

VILLUPURAM: In Villupuram town, yellow-coloured autorickshaws whizz past you menacingly at all hours but one makes women commuters genuinely cheerful. At the wheel is a 43-year-old K Chitra, a rarity in the town.For Chitra, venturing into a hitherto male-dominated bastion was barely a resolve. It was sheer passion.

She began driving an autorickshaw at a young age of 21, in 1999, soon after the Union Territory of Puducherry started providing licences to women.It wasn’t easy for her. People around her raised eyebrows. But over the years, she has learnt to take it all in her stride.

Today, several government officers, lawyers, students, and many women are her trusted customers, who commute only by her autorickshaw. “When women drive, it is a bit of a joke for men, but definitely not for women passengers. They feel absolutely safe in the company of a woman driver,” says Chitra, who stations her autorickshaw at the Villupuram old bus stand.

Her day begins at 4:30 am. She has to prepare breakfast and lunch for the family before leaving for a round of school trips. Between dropping children at schools in the morning and picking them up again in the evening, she takes up other trips.“I earn close to `300-400 a day if rides are normal. During festivals, I earn more, sometimes even `2,000 per day,” she says.

The rides may go on till late night if any of her regular woman customers need transportation. “Some women certainly feel scared about late night auto rides. For my regular customers, I offer a ride in the early hours, too, if they inform me beforehand,” says Chitra, hailing from Puducherry.

Even after two decades, it is unusual for a woman to drive an autorickshaw in a town like Villupuram, Chitra says. “People are shocked to see a woman driving an auto. There have been instances where passengers would underestimate my skills just because of my gender. That includes the police. They always ask for my papers while male drivers would get a pass at check posts,” she adds.

Gender discrimination also has an effect on bargaining rates for a ride, says Chitra.“People demand much lower rates for a ride than what they would pay a man. This was very stressful in the beginning but now I have developed the habit of suggesting the fare first and making it clear that I would not take a rupee less. But the courage to do so comes with experience,” she says.

Chitra does not shy away from challenging gender norms when it comes to the more physically arduous parts of her job either. For instance, she refuses help from men in loading and unloading heavy goods from the autorickshaw. “It could be tonnes of rice or several sacks of goods, but I do it myself as I feel women are powerful enough to do what they want regardless of the job,” she asserts.

Over the years, she has broken stereotypes and become a beacon of hope and trust to many women passengers. No wonder, women, generally nervous to travel alone at night in Villupuram, trust Chitra.

PM announces booster shots for frontline workers, 60-plus population; vaccination also to begin for 15-18 age group

PM announces booster shots for frontline workers, 60-plus population; vaccination also to begin for 15-18 age group

The mega announcements by the PM come even though the country’s top advisory panel on immunization was yet to give its final recommendation on booster doses or vaccination for kids.

Published: 25th December 2021 10:24 PM |

A health worker administers Covid vaccine to a migrant worker at KSR Bengaluru railway station. (Photo | Vinod Kumar T, EPS)

By Sumi Sukanya Dutta

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced precautionary additional Covid19 vaccine doses for healthcare and frontline workers across India, saying that they may be at a higher risk of contracting infection in case there is a surge of infection, in the wake of threat from the Omicron variant.

In an address to the nation, he said the precaution dose will also be available for citizens above 60 years of age and with comorbidities on the advice of their doctor from January 10 next year as well.

The precaution dose denotes a third dose of the vaccine for the fully vaccinated but Modi refrained from using the term "booster dose", as it is generally referred.

Administration of vaccine for this group of population, estimated to be around 3-4 crore in number, will begin on January 10.

He also announced that beginning January 3, adolescents aged 15-18 years will be eligible for Covid19 vaccination.

Additionally, people aged 60 and above with comorbidities will also be eligible for booster or additional shots of Covid19 vaccine, on their doctor’s advice, starting January 10.

The mega announcements by the PM come even though the country’s top advisory panel on immunization was yet to give its final recommendation on booster doses or vaccination for kids.

Amid Christmas and the coming new year festivities, Modi asked people to be alert and take all preventive measures but added that they should avoid panic as he reassured them about the health measures in place to deal with any exigencies.

Administration of nasal vaccine and world's first DNA vaccine against Covid will soon start in India as well, he said The prime minister said global experience shows that following all preventive measures at a personal level is "big weapon" to fight Covid and so is vaccination.

This is time to be careful, while engaging in festivities, he said.

"I would urge all of you not to panic, be careful and alert. Remember to mask up and keep washing hands," Modi said.

Noting that India started giving the vaccine to its citizens from January 16 this year, Modi said due to the people's collective effort and will, India has crossed the "unprecedented" and very difficult milestone of having administered 141 crore vaccine doses.

"Today, more than 61 per cent of India's adult population has received both doses of the vaccine. Similarly, about 90 per cent of the adult population has received single dose of the vaccine," he said.

Underlining that he was sharing key decisions with the people of the country on the occasion of Christmas, Modi said that vaccination for children between the age of 15 years to 18 years, will start in the country on January 3, 2022.

This will reduce the worries of children going to schools and colleges and their parents, and boost the fight against the pandemic, Modi said, adding that the move is also likely to aid in normalisation of teaching in schools.

"We all have experienced that the corona warriors, healthcare and frontline workers made a huge contribution in keeping the country safe in this fight. They still spend a lot of his time in the service of oronavirus patients," he said.

"Therefore, from the point of view of precaution, the government has decided that 'precaution dose' of vaccine will be administered to healthcare and frontline workers from January 10, Monday" Modi said.

This will strengthen the confidence of healthcare and frontline workers, he said.

Giving an overview of healthcare infrastructure in the nation, Modi said that as the virus is mutating, "our confidence to take on challenges is also multiplying".

"Our innovative spirit is also growing. The country today has 18 lakh isolation beds, 5 lakh oxygen supported beds, 1,40,000 ICU beds. If ICU and non-ICU beds are taken together, there are about 90,000 beds for children. Today the country has over 3,000 PSA oxygen plants functioning and four lakh oxygen cylinders have been provided across the country," he said.

"States are being helped to prepare a buffer dose of necessary medicines. They are also being provided with adequate testing kits," he said.

The decision, said the PM, had been taken by the government in the interest of people at large.

He cautioned people not to panic but to stay vigilant, citing conflicting data from several other countries which are seeing a fresh wave of Covid19 infection.

Modi also said that a nasal vaccine against Covid19 is on the cards in India, apart from world’s first DNA vaccine (ZyCov D by Zydus Cadila) against Covid19.

Lauding scientists and health workers, he said the seriousness of vaccine was identified very early and along with research on it, work was also focussed on approval process, supply chain, distribution, training, IT support system and certification.

Modi emphasised that India's fight against the virus has from the very beginning been based on scientific principles, scientific consultation and scientific method.

Eleven-month vaccine campaign, the prime minister said, has brought relief and normalcy in the everyday lives of the countrymen.

Economic activities have been encouraging compared to many countries of the world, he said while noting that alertness remains of paramount importance.

He also cautioned against efforts to spread rumours, confusion and fear by some quarters.

Modi's address came on a day officials said the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has granted emergency use authorisation to indigenously-developed Bharat Biotech's Covaxin for children above 12 years with certain conditions.

It is the second vaccine to receive the regulator's nod for use among those below 18 years after Zydus Cadila's needle-free COVID-19 vaccine ZyCoV-D.

The significant announcement on booster doses for healthcare and frontline workers comes amid growing clamour for the third shot of Covid19 vaccines for them as there is growing evidence of high breakthrough infections due to the Omicron variant.

More than two months after an expert panel endorsed Covaxin for kids, the Drug Controller General of India on Saturday approved the Covid19 vaccine by Bharat Biotech for the 12-17 age group in India.

However, the country's highest drug regulator has permitted the vaccine only for adolescents and not for kids under 12, as recommended by the subject expert committee on Covid19 in October.

Earlier, the Hyderabad based vaccine maker had said that it had submitted data from clinical trials in the 2-18 years age group for Covaxin to the regulator which was thoroughly reviewed by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization and the subject expert committee.

“This represents one of the first approvals worldwide for Covid-19 vaccines for the 2-18 age group,” the company had said . “We now await further regulatory approvals from the CDSCO prior to product launch and market availability of Covaxin for Children.

Raches Ella, clinic lead of Covid vaccines at the company had also said in a tweet that Covaxin has been “reported to be safe and immunogenic” in a pediatric cohort and “the approval in children will help expedite the reopening of schools”.

Now, Covaxin has become the second vaccine, after Zydus Cadila’s ZyCoV D, to be permitted for under 18 population group in India even though the country is yet to clearly spell out its policy on Covid vaccination for minors.

Approved for adolescents aged 12-17 years of age in August by the DCGI, along with adults, ZyCoV D however is still to be rolled out for any population group in the country.

Meanwhile, Officials in the CDSCO said that though the amount of Covaxin recommended for minors remains the same—0.5 ml—as it is for adults and will also be administered in two doses- 28 days apart- there will be slight difference in the approach.

“It has been discussed that for adolescents, vaccines can be supplied in pre-filled syringes—instead of vaccines being taken out of vials at the time of administration,” said an official.

This, officials said, was recommended in order to ensure that exactly the specified quantity of vaccines are administered in kids as the higher quantity may lead to adverse effects.

AICTE Racket offering fake AICTE jobs in state busted

Racket offering fake AICTE jobs in state busted

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:26.12.2021

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has busted a major job racket in the state where scamsters targeted unemployed youngsters from the rural villages. Working till the last minute detail, the gang went on a fake hiring spree in the technical council for non-existent positions such as state coordinator, head inspection officer, and even taluk coordinators. The scam came to light when AICTE received calls inquiring about the vacancies.

The racket was meticulously planned with scamsters conducting exams and selecting only those who scored above 50% marks for ppointment. They even came up with separate dress codes for male and female candidates at the exam centres along with mandatory trimmed fingernails and clean shave appearance for the physical interviews conducted in star hotels.

The AICTE southern regional office came to know about the scam when some candidates cross-checked with the council about the vacancies. "It was ascertained from the phone calls that the recruitment process is being done confidentially and the interviews are being conducted in star hotels. They are using AICTE's logo and asking for the bank details of candidates. Around 18 people have been recruited," M Sundaresan, regional officer of AICTE, said in his complaint. The racketeers are mainly targeting youth in Thiruvannamalai, Vellore, Kanchipuram, Salem, Madurai and Coimbatore districts.

Talking to TOI, Sundaresan said, AICTE has not advertised for recruitment for any post. "There are only 13 sanctioned posts in the AICTE's southern regional office. But the scamsters are recruiting 18 people in every district," he added.

The racketeers are planning to start another interview round on Sunday.

Those selected said their bank details were collected. Officials feared there is a possibility of fraudsters taking money from the selected candidates and police should immediately stop them.

Muslim girl free to marry on attaining puberty: HC

Ajay.Sura@timesgroup.com

Chandigarh:26.12.2021

Accepting the plea of a 17-year-old Muslim girl who got married to a Hindu boy against the wishes of her family and relatives, the Punjab and Haryana HC ordered the police to protect the couple. The court also made it clear that a Muslim girl on attaining puberty is at liberty to marry anyone she likes and the guardian has no right to interfere if the match is equal.

“The law is clear that the marriage of a Muslim girl is governed by the Muslim Personal Law. As per Article 195 from the book, ‘Principles of Mohammedan Law by Sir Dinshah Fardunji Mulla’, Petitioner No.1 (girl) being 17 years of age, is competent to enter into a contract of marriage with a person of her choice. Petitioner No. 2 (her partner) is stated to be about 33 years old. Thus, Petitioner No. 1 is of marriageable age as envisaged by Muslim Personal Law,” observed Justice Harnaresh Singh Gill.

Justice Gill observed, “The court cannot shut its eyes to the fact that the apprehension of the petitioners needs to be addressed. Merely because the petitioners have got married against the wishes of their family members, they cannot possibly be deprived of the fundamental rights as envisaged in the Constitution.”

The counsel for the petitioner contended that under Muslim law puberty and majority are one and the same, and that there is a presumption that a person attains majority at the age of 15 years. The counsel also contended that a Muslim boy or Muslim girl who attains puberty is at liberty to marry anyone he or she likes and their guardian has no right to interfere.

He said Article 195 from the book ‘Principles of Mohammedan Law by Sir Dinshah Fardunji Mulla’ defines capacity for marriage — every Mahomedan of sound mind, who has attained puberty, may enter into a contract of marriage.

The law is clear that the marriage of a Muslim girl is governed by the Muslim Personal Law. As per Article 195 from the book ‘Principles of Mohammedan Law by Sir Dinshah Fardunji Mulla’, petitioner No. 1 (girl) being 17 years of age, is competent to enter into a contract of marriage with a person of her choice. Petitioner No. 2 (boy) is stated to be about 33 years of age. Thus, petitioner No. 1 is of marriageable age as envisaged by Muslim Personal Law

Justice Harnaresh Singh Gill

NMC leaves MBBS interns to the mercy of private medical colleges

NMC leaves MBBS interns to the mercy of private medical colleges

TNN | Dec 24, 2021, 10.53 AM IST

The National Medical Commission, despite several representations from medical students that interns in private colleges be paid a stipend equivalent to that being paid in state government-run colleges, has notified that interns will be “paid stipend as fixed by the appropriate authority like the institute or university or the state in which candidate is doing internship”. This has already resulted in interns being paid stipend much lower than what is paid in government colleges in several states.

Rajya Sabha MP from Kerala Binoy Vishwam wrote to the NMC on December 8 pointing out that the stipend is paid “as a matter of right and not charity” and that NMC’s notification allowed “for great ambiguity and arbitrariness” in the stipend. “It may also result in management of private colleges denying a stipend to MBBS interns as they have complete discretion without any safeguarding mechanism,” stated the letter. In Kerala, most private colleges are paying interns Rs 6,000-15,000 when the state government pays Rs 25,000. In most states, private colleges pay roughly 30% less than what is paid in government colleges.

In the case of post graduate residency, the NMC schedule clearly mentions that “the residents of private medical college / Deemed Universities should be given stipend at par with that of PG residents of government medical colleges in that state”.

In 2017, the executive committee of the MCI did not approve the recommendation of the academic committee on internship allowance for MBBS students stating that graduate medical education (GME) regulations did not provide for payment of stipend to interns and thus the issue was beyond the purview of the MCI. However, in 2018, the Board of Governors that superseded the MCI considered introducing a provision into GME regulation that stated: "All the candidates pursuing compulsory rotating internship at the institution from which MBBS course was completed, shall be paid stipend on par with the stipend being paid to the interns of the State Govt. Medical Institution / Central Government Medical Institution in the State / Union Territory where the institution is located."

The provision was never introduced and the BoG was dissolved, after which the MCI was replaced by the NMC, which was expected to tighten regulation of private colleges, something the MCI had been accused of not doing. However, the NMC, sought feedback on a Draft Regulation Compulsory Rotating Internship, 2021 on April 21 this year in which it left fixing of stipend to “appropriate authority”. No changes were made after feedback and the unchanged draft was gazetted on November 18.

“The central government has the power to intervene and change this decision of the NMC. Section 45 of the NMC Act states that the commission and the autonomous boards ‘in exercise of their powers and discharge of their functions under this Act, be bound by such directions on questions of policy as the Central Government may give’. This issue has been hanging fire from 2017, from the time of the MCI,” said Dr KV Babu, who has been writing to the ministry and the NMC seeking an urgent response on the issue.

4.6 lakh special entry darshan tickets booked in less than 1 hour

4.6 lakh special entry darshan tickets booked in less than 1 hour

Tirupati:25.12.2021

Lord Venkateswara devotees booked 4.6 lakh special entry darshan tickets in less than an hour after the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams released the online quota for January 2022 on Friday.

TTD released 20,000 special entry darshan tickets for January 1 and also for the 10- day Vaikunta Ekadasi period between January 13 and 23.

For other days of the month, TTD released about 12,000 special entry darshan tickets per day.

TTD will also be releasing online slotted Sarva Darshan tokens at the rate of 5,000 tickets per day for January on Saturday.

The temple trust is also contemplating to release 5,000 slotted Sarva Darshan tokens under the current booking slot for the convenience of the devotees from December 31 in Tirupati. TNN