EWS TODAY 18.11.2024

 

Private medical colleges want to hike fee, move Madras HC

Private medical colleges want to hike fee, move Madras HC

The fee structure was maintained for 2020-21 by the panel chaired by by Justice K Venkataraman by taking into account the pandemic.

Express News Service

17 Nov 2024, 12:49 pm

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has ordered notice to the government and the Committee for Fixation of Fee for private self-financing colleges on a petition filed by the TN Self-Financing Medical Colleges Association seeking increase in the fee for MBBS for 2022-25 academic years by revoking an order passed by the committee in this regard.

A division bench of Justices D Krishnakumar and PB Balaji on Friday directed the respondent authorities to file counter-affidavit to the petition and adjourned the matter by two weeks.

The petition noted that the committee headed by Justice NV Balasubramanian fixed the fee for MBBS for 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 as Rs 3.9 lakh for government quota, Rs 12.5 lakh for management quota and Rs 23.5 lakh for NRI quota by its order date June 6, 2017.

The fee structure was maintained for 2020-21 by the panel chaired by by Justice K Venkataraman by taking into account the pandemic. The association had sought the committee to revise the annual fee for UG and PG medical course for 2021-22 considering the increase in expenditure including salaries, delayed payment fees and other difficulties in running the institutions.

The committee fixed separate fee structures for government quota, management quota, NRI quota and NRI lapsed quota for 2022-23, which will be in force for three years, through proceedings dated October 15, 2022, it said. But, for the two state university private colleges, the fee fixed by the committee is higher than that of the self-financing medical colleges, it alleged.

The association said an average Rs 4.35 lakh has been fixed for government quota for self-financing colleges while Rs 5.4 lakh fixed for the same quota for the state university private colleges. There is disparity in other quotas too.

It sought the court to issue orders to quash the proceedings of the committee passed in 2022 and the consequential proceedings dated September 19, 2024 and direct the panel to fix fees afresh and allow self-financing colleges to collect fees on a par with state university private colleges.

2,553 doctors will be recruited through MRB, says Minister Ma Subramanian

2,553 doctors will be recruited through MRB, says Minister Ma Subramanian

To address this requirement, MRB issued a notification through newspapers, and received applications. Certificate verification process will soon be completed.

TN Health Minister Ma Subramanian(Photo | Express)

Express News Service

18 Nov 2024, 12:21 pm

TIRUNELVELI: TN government is in the process of recruiting 2,553 doctors through the Medical Recruitment Board (MRB), which will result in surplus doctors at government health institutions by early 2025, Health Minister Ma Subramanian said on Sunday.

Subramanian was in the city to inaugurate a pay ward at Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital (TvMCH) constructed at a cost of Rs 1.1 crore and a private hospital. “Government hospitals currently have a shortage of only 1,353 doctors, and there will be an additional 1,200 vacancies arising in 2026 across the state. In total, 2,553 doctors have to be recruited.

To address this requirement, MRB issued a notification through newspapers, and received applications. Certificate verification process will soon be completed. For the 2,553 doctor posts, a total of 24,000 applications have been received. We plan to appoint a company like TATA Consultancy to conduct online examination on January 27, 2025.

Once the recruitment process is complete, the 100% doctor-vacancy will be filled, leaving us with 1,200 surplus doctors. Apart from this, there are 2,250 vacancies for village health nurses across the state. When MRB was about to distribute appointment orders for the selected candidates, around 30 court cases were filed against it. We have invited the litigants for discussions,” Subramanian said.

Talking about the new pay ward at TvMCH, he said, “It comprises 18 to 23 private rooms equipped with facilities. After the DMK government took charge, similar facilities have been opened in nine locations.”

TN higher education secretary asks registrar to hold Bharathiar University senate meet

TN higher education secretary asks registrar to hold Bharathiar University senate meet

Sources said the secretary also stressed that the varsity should get a good ranking in all parameters and told heads of the departments to focus on skill-based training, exposure and placements for the students.

Bharathiar University (File photo)

Express News Service

17 Nov 2024, 12:57 pm

COIMBATORE: During his visit to Bharathiar University (BU) on Friday, Higher Education Department Secretary K Gopal instructed the registrar (in charge) of the university to take steps to convene the senate meeting which had not been conducted for the last six months.

Gopal also directed the university officials to prepare the audit reports for the 2022-2023 academic year in 10 days and be ready for the finance committee, syndicate and senate meetings.

Sources said the secretary also stressed that the varsity should get a good ranking in all parameters and told heads of the departments to focus on skill-based training, exposure and placements for the students.

A senate member and principal of Government Arts and Science College for Women at Puliyakulam, T Veeramani, the senate meeting was not conducted for the last six months due to the lethargic attitude of the university. “As per university norms, senate meetings should be conducted twice (June and January) in an academic year. During senate meetings, members would discuss the university’s audit reports,” he pointed out. He recalled that the last senate meeting in January was postponed when the issue regarding the university’s regulation on capping a principal’s tenure to 10 years was raised.

Why Stalin-EPS war of words is bad for Vijay

Why Stalin-EPS war of words is bad for Vijay 

STORY BOARD ARUN RAM 18.11.2024 

James Bond’s creator Ian Fleming said: Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence.

Three times Chief minister M K Stalin struck three times at AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami in the past week. And this bout of aggression appears to be more strategic than impulsive. Into the third quarter of his third year as chief minister, Stalin has been selective in engaging the opposition in verbal duels. While his lieutenants took on that job, Stalin has confined himself to firing salvos at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union govt. And then, suddenly this rapid fire at EPS. This calculated acknowledgement of EPS as his prime rival shows Stalin is not just drawing the battlelines but also trying to define the warriors; that the others aren’t important. This, if it lasts till the run-up to the 2026 assembly elections, will be perfect symbiosis for Stalin and EPS. 

This year’s general elections were a lesson for EPS as BJP – though vanquished at the end – stole the limelight, engaging the Stalin brigade so consistently that it almost looked like a DMK vs BJP battle. While Stalin’s intention is to divert attention from actor and TVK founder Vijay, EPS should be happy with the renewed media attention the chief minister’s remarks have brought on him. Not that Stalin was kind in his criticism. “Edappadi is speaking like some political leaders who lack decency and civility,” Stalin said on Nov 12. Two days earlier, he was more acerbic while responding to EPS’s criticism of govt schemes being named after ‘Kalaignar’. “Should we name the schemes after you,” Stalin asked EPS, “who crawled like a cockroach to become chief minister”. Edappadi showed he is no easy pushover, challenging Stalin for a one-on-one debate “without papers” (Udhayanidhi Stalin took the gauntlet, but EPS dismissed him). 

The bout has relegated the others to the shadows. While Tamil Nadu BJP is in snooze mode as its president K Annamalai is on an academic sabbatical in the UK, NTK leader Seeman remains all  sound and fury signifying little. The situation is more crucial for actor-politician Vijay. The only time Stalin reacted to Vijay, that too without taking his name, was soon after the Villupuram conference where the actor dubbed ‘Dravidian model’ as a façade for misgovernance. “Even some newcomers want to finish off DMK,” Stalin said, “but we don’t have the time to waste on them.” Vijay, however, cannot ignore Stalin. 

The TVK founder has done the right thing by choosing DMK as his main rival. Now he will have to do the groundwork to prove that he is a mightier alternative to the ruling party than AIADMK or BJP. If Vijay is serious about making corruption an election plank in the 2026 election, he should get his party to document and expose it. This is easier said than done, for TVK would need much more than cheering crowds to challenge, if not unseat, a party with an age-old cadre base and a well-oiled election machinery. As of now, Vijay’s proclaimed policies are not any different from any of the Dravidian parties. The differentiator, however, will be his actions rather than promises. If he succeeds in exposing corruption, Vijay’s claim of being an alternative would look more credible. And to take it to the people, TVK needs some seasoned political minds, and that is something the party lacks now. 

If Vijay merely joins the chorus of allegations without substantiation, Stalin will rather sit back and smirk. Like Napoleon Bonaparte said, never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake. _arun.ram @timesofindia.com toi_arunram POKER 

‘UGC will debar univs that are found violating PhD quality standards’ TALKING TO TOI

‘UGC will debar univs that are found violating PhD quality standards’ TALKING TO TOI 

The University Grants Commission (UGC) is rolling out reforms in higher education including four-year UG degrees, an academic bank of credits and degrees with multiple entries and exits based on the National Education Policy (NEP). But some states including Tamil Nadu have not yet accepted NEP and are in the process of formulating their own State Education Policy (SEP). In an interview with A Ragu Raman, UGC chairman M Jagadesh Kumar discusses issues such as opposition to NEP, lack of funding to universities and the tussle between the Tamil Nadu govt and Governor on including UGC nominees in vice-chancellor (V-C) search committees.

Excerpts:  Tamil Nadu is undecided about adopting UGC reforms based on NEP, especially since it is drafting an SEP. Can states opt out of certain NEP provisions?

We are taking a collaborative approach to NEP implementation. For example, four-year UG programmes are optional and flexible. All states are expected to adopt UGC reforms because if they do not, students will suffer.

  UGC previously funded universities, including new faculty positions. The lack of such support is blamed for financial crises in state universities. Is there a proposal to support struggling state universities? 

The primary objective of the UGC is to coordinate, determine and maintain standards in higher education. Until 2017, when the 12th Plan ended, UGC provided funding under various schemes. However, with the discontinuation of five-year plans and the establishment of Niti Aayog, most of these schemes were closed. We are reimbursing schemes initiated before 2017. State govts are responsible for salaries, pensions and infrastructure of state universities. For research infrastructure, central schemes under the National Research Foundation (NRF) are now in place. State universities need to collaborate with industry to generate funds as higher educational institutions flourish on multiple funding sources rather than relying solely on govt support. We are encouraging universities to work in this direction. 

 Will UGC intervene to resolve the Governor-Tamil Nadu govt conflict over including UGC nominees in V-C search committees? 

Due to this, many state universities have been functioning without V-Cs. A case is pending in the Supreme Court. Timely appointment of V-Cs is in the best interest of universities. There are some challenges and how they will be resolved is the responsibility of the state govt. UGC believes in the importance of appointing institutional heads without delay, as leadership plays an important role in making sure academic schedules are followed, admissions are done on time, a research ecosystem is maintained, and faculty appointments happen without delay. These processes are disrupted if there are delays in appointing heads of universities. UGC has requested state govts to prioritise this. 

 Tamil Nadu’s state universities face a huge faculty shortage, with no recruitment in 10 years. The University of Madras operates with just a third of its faculty, and is facing a survival crisis. Faculty positions have already been sanctioned by the respective state govts. If these positions are not filled, how can universities ensure quality teaching, start new academic programmes, or strengthen their research profile? 

We all aspire for our universities to be recognised globally and contribute to the social well-being of our country. This is possible only when universities have a head of the institution, regular faculty members and the ability to raise resources through various means. Strengthening universities should be a top priority for any state govt.

  How many foreign universities have expressed interest in establishing campuses in India? 

We have received many applications. Several universities in the UK and Australia have shown interest in establishing their campuses here. The University of Southampton has established its campus in Delhi. In the coming years, I expect several more to materialise.

  How will UGC improve quality of PhDs? Is plagiarism still a big concern?

Plagiarism is one of the concerns. How students are admitted, whether universities are following PhD regulations by conducting entrance exams and interviews, how student progress is monitored, and whether scholars are encouraged to publish in highquality journals or develop products — these are issues that affect the quality of PhDs. It has come to our notice that some universities are not adhering to these standards and awarding PhDs with short durations and for substandard work. We have formed expert committees to identify such universities and examine their cases. If we find they have violated UGC’s PhD regulations, we will debar them from  offering PhD programmes. 

 UGC has set a deadline of Dec 31 for creating an academic bank of credits (digital platform that allows students to store, transfer and redeem credits across institutions). What is the progress? 

The process is progressing rapidly. Some institutions have completed student onboarding, while others have reached up to 70%. All institutions must generate a unique ID for the academic bank of credits, upload marksheets and other certificates, and link them to the unique ID by Dec 31. This will provide students with access to digital transcripts, so they won’t need to carry original certificates. Email your feedback to southpole.toi@ timesofindia.com

Errors in TN post graduate medical admission merit list spark outrage

Errors in TN post graduate medical admission merit list spark outrage

Pushpa.Narayan@timesofindia.com 18.11.2024 

Chennai : The state selection committee released the state merit list for postgraduate medical admission, loaded with errors, on Sunday with a disclaimer that it was prepared by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences and hence the board “may be contacted regarding any clarification in state rank list.” Some students with higher scores were ranked below students with lower scores on the management quota list. Similar variations were seen on the all-India quota and the state quota lists. “The list is extremely confusing. It reminded me of the NEET-UG 2024 scorecards where some students got the impossible 716/ 720 as NEET marks,” said student counsellor Manickavel Arumugam. 

“A student placed five ranks below another student in the state quota rank list was placed five ranks above the same student in the management quota list. This defies logic. No incentives were given to these students as they are nonservice candidates. I spotted at least 38 such variations between state and management quota,” he said.

NBE conducted NEET-PG in two batches on Aug 11 and declared results on Aug 23. The results came in percentiles instead of individual scores. This made it difficult for at least seven states including Tamil Nadu, which offers additional marks as incentives to in-service candidates. Tamil Nadu wrote to NBE seeking normalised marks so it could add incentive marks for counselling. This request was denied by the NBE. After discussions with the National Medical Commission, the apex body regulating medical education in the state, and NBE, it was decided that the NBE would release the merit list using incentive marks provided by the states. A fortnight ago, the state selection committee sent service incentive percentages (up to 30%) for all in-service candidates based on years of service and terrain to the national board. The state has already raised concerns about the discrepancies with the board.

 “Revisions had errors too. That is why we released the list with a notice to candidates,” the official said. 

Students and parents are fuming. “The state is as irresponsible as the centre. They released the notice only because they knew there were discrepancies. They should have fought for the scores or moved the court instead of washing their hands away,” said Manikandan R, whose nephew is awaiting MD/MS admissions this year.