In Harda, parents of girl child to get discount on services & purchases

In Harda, parents of girl child to get discount on services & purchases

Amarjeet.Singh1@timesofindia.com 06.01.2025

Bhopal : For parents of girl children living in Harda district of Madhya Pradesh, there is good news. Faced with the problem of declining child sex ratio at birth, the district administration has launched a unique scheme named “Revashakti” for parents with only daughters offering them discounts on services and purchases across different sectors. The scheme launched on January 1, provides unique barcoded “Keerti” cards, to such parents making them eligible for various benefits, including discounts at grocery stores, private schools, private hospitals among others. And so far in the first week of the New Year, 638 parents enrolled as members of the 'only daughters' club.

 The district administration move follows after the sex ratio at birth in the district dropped to 894 in 2021-22 from 897. The overall sex ratio at birth for Madhya Pradesh stands at 933. District collector Harda, Aditya Pratap Singh, told TOI, “The consistent decline in the birth of girl child is a pressing issue. Through this initiative, we aim to encourage and support parents of girl children in maintaining a balanced sex ratio in the district. He said, “majority of grocery stores have agreed to provide 15% to 20% discounts to Keerti card holders. 

It's about changing perceptions, says Harda collector Singh said, “We have approached the schools, hospitals, business establishments and retail outlets in the district with the problems and they all readily agreed to contribute to the cause. Some hospitals and schools have agreed to provide 100% discounts for treatment and studies to such parents and children. The scheme is completely voluntary, and we have left it to the institutions to decide the discounts they could offer.” “It is mainly about changing perceptions and making the parents of daughters feel special. 

At the govt levels, we are going one step further. 'Keerti' card holders will not have to wait in queues at any govt office for a service. If they come to the collectorate for any work, the officials will reach out to them and address their issue on priority,” Singh said. “Availing govt services will not only be easy but almost free for the members of this club. And this is the first phase. Later, we plan to include those in the scheme who have their first child as a daughter,” he added. Official sources said that to ensure seamless implementation, responsibilities have been delegated to various departments. The chief medical and health officer will oversee discounts in private hospitals, the transport department will handle fare concessions and the food safety officer will ensure benefits at grocery stores. The district education officer will facilitate fee concessions in private schools and discounted learning materials while sports and Tourism departments will encourage sports participation and manage concessions at tourist sites. TNN

FDPs on cards as AICTE and DST take quantum leap

FDPs on cards as AICTE and DST take quantum leap 

Under the AICTE FDP scheme, faculty will get to visit industries to get hands-on training

Sonal.Srivastava@timesofindia.com 06.01.2025

To train faculty, develop infrastructure for quantum technologies, and create appropriate study materials for students is on the map charted by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST), following the launch of the Undergraduate (UG) Minor Program in Quantum Technologies. The regulatory bodies will ensure faculty members have a solid understanding of quantum mechanics and technologies. They will provide financial support to conduct the Faculty Development Programs (FDPs) to institutions/individuals under the AICTE FDP scheme, which will facilitate faculty visits to industry/research labs for hands-on training. 

Meanwhile, the UG Minor course will be available starting from the 2025-26 Academic Year (AY), and students can opt for it from the fifth semester of the UG program, that is, the third year onwards. “The curriculum is designed to include practical projects encouraging students to collaborate directly with quantum startups. Students will have opportunities to work with startups through internships, fellowship programs and project-based themes. 

AICTE will facilitate networking events, hackathons, and innovation challenges where students undergoing this course can solve the real-world problems presented by startups. Thematic Hubs established under NQM will also serve as platforms for student-startup collaboration,” says TG Sitharam, chairman, AICTE. 

In the first phase, AICTE will designate the best 50 AICTE-approved institutions to run minor degree programs and establish quantum labs. “As per mutual collaboration with DST, the financial and technical support for creating quantum technology laboratories in the institutions will be provided by DST through their Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) established under NQM. AICTE will assist in mapping existing resources and facilitating the procurement of essential equipment through grants and funding programs. Institutions will also receive access to shared facilities in T-Hubs,” says Sitharam. Developing coursework FDPs will be initiated to upskill educators in quantum technologies, ensuring they are equipped to teach theoretical and practical components. Handson training sessions, recorded lectures, workshops, and online certifications will be conducted so faculty members can stay updated on the latest developments and trends in quantum technologies. 

The development of related textbooks and course materials on quantum technology for faculty and students and the creation of infrastructure and resources for quantum labs in institutions will be prioritized. "Plans are underway to develop specialized PG programs in quantum technologies,for which collaborations with leading research institutions and universities will be explored to design advanced coursework and interdisciplinary modules,” says Sitharam. "India can succeed in quantum technologies only if we have trained manpower. The biggest bottleneck in implementing this initiative is determining who will teach the courses and where the teaching materials will come from. We must ensure that all these resources are readily available. The NQM team has agreed to train faculty, and the program will begin soon. Elite institutions such as IISc Bangalore and IITs will also participate in this initiative," says Prof Rajive Kumar, member Secretary. AICTE.

DPEE to ensure quality of pharmacists and prevent misuse of DPharm course

DPEE to ensure quality of pharmacists and prevent misuse of DPharm course 

As the exam faces a delay, PCI will grant a one-year license to passouts to practice temporarily 

Priyadarshini.Gupta@timesofindia.com 06.01.2025

The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences recently announced the deferment of the Diploma in Pharmacy Exit Examination (DPEE) which was scheduled for October 2024. The mandatory exit exam, introduced through the Diploma in Pharmacy Exit Examination Regulations, 2022 by the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), aims to ensure that Diploma in Pharmacy (DPharm) graduates meet the required educational and practical training standards before registering as pharmacists under the Pharmacy Act, 1948. 

Students belonging to the 2022-2023 academic year were the first batch required to take this exam. The first batch raised concerns over the examination fees for three papers and urged to reduce the number of papers to one. The exam will now be tentatively held by February-March 2025. To address the concerns of the students, the PCI has proposed reducing the exam from three papers to one and is awaiting approval from the Union Health Ministry. 

Recognizing employment challenges faced by students, the PCI has agreed to grant provisional one-year licenses to the 2022-2023 batch graduates. The licenses will enable the passouts to practice temporarily. It will allow students to enter the job market by applying in state pharmacy councils, and practice in government pharmacy shops temporarily. Despite being introduced in 2022, the exam's implementation has faced delays. Experts say that the exit exam is a positive move and will help curb mushrooming of DPharma colleges, improve the quality of pharmacists in the long run and ensure only competent professionals enter the field.

Montukumar Patel, president, PCI, says, “The introduction of an exit exam for pharmacists is a critical reform and will elevate professional standards. Despite sharing the exam draft regulations in the public domain for feedback, no objections regarding the fee or structure were received at that time. It is only now, the grievances regarding the number of paper and fee have started to come up. Implementation hiccups exist since we are holding the exam for the first time. Once the exam is conducted, the process will become smooth.” License renewal Despite the delay, the PCI will issue one-year provisional licenses to students to help them secure employment. “There is no limit on the number of attempts, the students must clear the exam before their licenses expire to continue practicing. Licenses will not be renewed unless one clears the exam. 

The move is also intended to curb the misuse of the course and licenses, where a few individuals used their qualifications merely to open pharmacy shops. The reform ensures that only competent and well-trained individuals enter the profession,” adds Patel. Furthermore, the exam serves as a tool to regulate the growing number of DPharm colleges, ensuring that only institutions meeting quality benchmarks continue to operate. The course is designed for class XII students with a science background, enabling them to complete the two-year program and enter the workforce, he adds. Daksh Bhatia, professor, KIET School of Pharmacy, says, “Earlier, we never had exit examinations. It was only in 2017-18, when the mushrooming of several pharmacy colleges started, that the need for exit exams was felt.” “The focus should also be on strengthening the quality of education in pharmacy colleges. Exit exams will motivate students to study diligently as they will be evaluated by a third party. Usually, most candidates want to enter the job market as soon as possible after completing a two-year course. 

The reform is expected to filter out unqualified candidates and discourage misuse of the DPharm qualification for obtaining quick licenses to open pharmacy shops,” adds Prof Bhatia.

NEWS TODAY 4.1.2025 AND 5.01.2025

 

400 flights delayed, 45 cancelled, 19 diverted at IGI

400 flights delayed, 45 cancelled, 19 diverted at IGI 

05.01.2025

New Delhi : Dense fog, which led to zero visibility for over eight hours, severely impacted flight operations at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on Saturday, marking the third consecutive day of disruptions. The fog persisted for 12 hours, causing visibility at the airport to drop to 0 meters, with the runway visibility range (RVR) fluctuating between 100 and 250 meters. Senior weather scientist RK Jenamani said Delhi recorded the longest duration of zero visibility this season, with a nine-hour stretch from 11.30 pm on Friday, January 3, 2024, to 8.30 am on Saturday, January 4, 2025. “The fog conditions were extremely dense, with all RVRs across the four runways ranging from 100-250 meters, impacting flight operations during this period,” Jenamani said. 

Despite the severe weather, officials reported that flight operations were gradually restored, starting from 1.30 am, with only minor delays. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) anticipates similar foggy conditions in northwest India on Sunday, which could continue to affect flight schedules. According to FlightRadar24, over 400 flights were delayed, with an average delay of 34 minutes. Airport officials said that 19 flights, of which two were international, were diverted while some flights were cancelled. However, around 45 flights were canceled either due to bad weather at the destination or other operational reasons from Delhi, airport officials added. “Due to adverse weather conditions in Delhi, 19 flight diversions were reported between 12.15 am and 1.30 am on Tuesday. Thirteen domestic, four international, and two non-scheduled flights were diverted to Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Bhopal, and Mumbai,” said airport officials.

Holiday calling: Daily direct flights to Bangkok now

Holiday calling: Daily direct flights to Bangkok now

Arvind.Chauhan@timesofindia.com 05.01.2025

Lucknow : To cater to the increasing rush for affordable holidays on beaches, Lucknow will now have direct daily flights to Bangkok. Air India Express on Saturday inaugurated direct flight to Suvarnabhumi International Airport (Bangkok). Since Dec 4, 2022, Thai AirAsia has been operating four-days-a-week direct flights to Don Mueang International Airport (Bangkok). Now, Air India Express will operate for the remaining three days to bolster tourism. According to conservative estimates, over 1.3 lakh passengers have traveled between the two cities in the last 436 days. “Thailand's visa-on-arrival facility and reasonable living costs have made Bangkok an attractive destination for Indian tourists. The average occupancy of Thailand-bound flights from Lucknow is 80-85%, hence, the airlines are now keen to operate more flights for southeastern Asian tourist destinations from CCSIA,” an official source said. 

Air India Express will operate between CCSIA and Suvarnabhumi International Airport (Bangkok) on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, while AirAsia will continue to operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays via Don Mueang International Airport (Bangkok). Both the airports are 40 km apart from each other and the average airfare is approximately Rs 10,000 per passenger. Direct flight for Bhubaneswar The Air India Express on Saturday launched a direct flight for Bhubaneswar, which is just 50 km away from Puri. The flight will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. “The two new flights of Air India Express will augment Lucknow Airport's emphasis on providing seamless connectivity to domestic as well as international passengers. Travelers can look forward to more options, reduced travel time, and the promise of a hassle-free journey,” the CCSIA spokesperson said.

Fog delay: 200 flyers stuck on Delhi Pune plane for over 7 hours

Fog delay: 200 flyers stuck on Delhi Pune plane for over 7 hours

Joy.Sengupta@timesofindia.com 05.01.2025

Pune : Severe fog and low visibility disrupted flight operations across major airports, including Delhi and Pune, leading to a harrowing experience for around 200 passengers on a Delhi-Pune Air India Express flight (IX-1176). The flyers, including senior citizens, were kept on the plane for seven-and-a-half hours before being deboarded and asked to repeat the security check process at Delhi airport. Scheduled to depart at 9.40pm Friday and arrive at 11.50pm, the flight finally took off at 7.30am Saturday, landing in Pune at 10am — more than 10 hours behind schedule. 

An official response from the airline is awaited. Pune resident Ambadas Gawande, who was traveling with his family, described the ordeal. “First, there was a delay of half an hour. All passengers boarded the aircraft by 10pm. When the aircraft did not fly even after an hour, flyers asked the crew members what was the problem. One of them said visibility was a major problem because of fog. Some flyers lost their cool after patiently sitting in the aircraft for more than two hours,” he said. As frustration among the flyers grew, the cabin crew assured that the flight would take off soon.

 “But it never happened. Many passengers, mostly senior citizens, wanted to go back to the terminal building to sit and rest comfortably. But that was not to be. There were frequent arguments between the flyers and the crew members. We all understood that the aircraft wouldn't take off because of the fog. But there was no logic behind keeping us seated in the plane for more than seven hours,” Gawande said. Around 5.30am Saturday, passengers were abruptly told to deboard the aircraft due to a technical issue. 

“After coming out of the plane, we were huddled into buses. The vehicles moved around the area for a while and dropped us at the terminal building. Then we were told to go through the security check again. The whole thing took around two hours. Surprisingly, we boarded the same aircraft again,” he said. The delays coincided with disruptions in flight operations caused by fog. 

Over 32 flights to and from Pune were delayed between midnight and noon Saturday, with almost all flights to and from Delhi delayed by three to five hours. A passenger flying from Pune to Delhi described the chaotic situation at Pune airport. “With almost all flights delayed, it was total chaos in the security check area. The new terminal building isn't equipped to handle so much crowd. People had to stand for hours for their flights. There was no proper communication from the airlines, which worsened the situation,” he said. Hashim Ansari, who was at Pune airport at 6am, shared a video on X, writing: “No proper facilities to sit and rest. People are seated on carpets.”