Over 11,000 candidates qualify in PG NEET

R. Sujatha

CHENNAI, FEBRUARY 03, 2019 00:00 IST



Doctors hopeful that 50% seats of all-India quota will be filled by T.N. students

Nearly 65.1% of the candidates from the State who appeared for the Postgraduate NEET have qualified, indicating that participants from Tamil Nadu have done well this year.

The exam results were released on Wednesday and of the 17,067 candidates who took the test 11,121 qualified. The synopsis of the results by the National Board of Examinations shows that Kerala (75.1%) and Delhi (75.7%) are the two other regions that have done well. This performance has led the doctors’ associations to believe that in the coming year, the 50% seats that are surrendered under the all-India quota would be taken by students from the State.

More specialists

Tamil Nadu has the most number of government medical colleges and it has evolved a public healthcare system that encourages students to study speciality medicine.

This helped the State build its medical facilities considerably. When the Central government introduced NEET as the sole entrance for all PG seats, there was much opposition. Some doctors associations, however, maintained that in just a few years students from the State would manage to grab all the seats despite NEET.

K. Senthil, president, Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association, said, “Earlier, students from the State occupied only the 1,800 seats that the State could offer. Less than 50 students got seats under the AIQ. This year, at least 4,000 students from the State will get into PG programmes across the deemed universities and self-financing colleges. With merit, the scope for getting a seat has widened.”

According to him, with the inclusion of the rural category along with difficult and remote, doctors in the public sector were likely to get 70-75% seats in the State quota this time.

However A. Ramalaingam, who represents the Service Doctors Association, believes fewer students will opt for clinical subjects. “Last year only 65% of service candidates were admitted. The number of such PGs in general medicine in the Stanley Medical College was three. This number could fall further this year. Before NEET, we used to have seven to eight candidates,” he said.

Incentive marks

But the Tamil Nadu Medical Officers Association has a different take. The incentive marks offered for the service quota enabled compartmentalisation of speciality medical seats, which improved public health facilities, said secretary J. Kathirvel.

The association wanted objective geographical classification of the healthcare facilities.

Candidates who have worked in remote and difficult areas should get 10% additional marks; while candidates working in rural areas should be given 8% more marks; those in urban PHCs should get 6% more marks; and candidates employed in government medical colleges should be awarded an additional 4% marks.

Passenger carrying leopard cub detained at airport

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

CHENNAI, FEBRUARY 03, 2019 00:00 IST



In transit:Customs officials found the animal to be in a state of shock.Special Arrangement


Animal rehabilitated in the Arignar Anna Zoological Park


Authorities at the international airport on Saturday detained a passenger who was carrying a leopard cub in his baggage.

He was handed over to the Tamil Nadu Forest Department for further inquiry.

Based on intelligence that prohibited wild animals were likely to be smuggled from Thailand, officers of the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) were on special alert at the Customs arrival hall.

The team noticed a nervous male passenger rushing out after collecting his luggage. A faint sound was heard coming from his luggage.

Passenger intercepted

He was intercepted and brought to the AIU room for questioning. The passenger was identified as Kaja Moideen, 45, who had arrived from Bangkok by a Thai Airways flight. Inside his luggage, they found a pink plastic basket, in which a leopard cub was found. The animal was in a state of shock and appeared to be weak. The Customs officers fed milk to the cub through a feeding bottle. This seemed to revive the animal.

Commissioner of Customs Rajan Chaudhary said, “Officials of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) were called and they identified the animal as a leopard cub of the Panthera pardus species. To ascertain the health status of the cub, a veterinary doctor was called from the Arignar Anna Zoological Park. They inspected the cub and told us that it was a one-month-old female, weighing 1.1 kg, measuring 54 cm and that it was in good health. The leopard cub was seized under provisions of the Customs Act, 1962, read with the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).”

The cub was rehabilitated in the Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Chennai, and the Forest Department will take appropriate action under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, against the passenger.

U.S. visa fraud: India demands release of students

Suhasini Haidar

NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 03, 2019 00:00 IST

Worried about the condition of 129 Indian students arrested in the United States for visa fraud, the government issued a demarche to the U.S. Embassy in Delhi on Saturday, demanding that the students be released from detention and not summarily deported.

“Our concern over the dignity and well-being of the detained students and the need for immediate consular access for Indian officials to the detainees was reiterated,” an Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) statement said, adding that it had urged the U.S. government to “release them from detention at the earliest and not to resort to deportation against their will.”

The MEA has set up helplines for all those arrested, currently in detention centres across states. Indian consulate officials in Texas met with detainees in San Antonio, Conroe and Alvarado, the consulate said.

Letting vastu do its bit without any demolition

Times of India 03.02.2019

One is always looking for that magic wand that could eliminate all life’s problems and wellknown vastu expert Vimal Jhajharia, says, “You can experience this magic in your life with the help of the Vastu Shankh Yantra, an original conch shell filled with metallic elements and charged and pran prathisthit with positive energies. It is a divine gift from my guruji, the Great Himalayan yogi, Swami Murghanandji.”

Jhajharia is being helped by his son Vikas, (an MBA from Australia) who has recently returned from his successful half-yearly tour of the USA. Vikas says, “If the entrance of the house or office is in south/ southwest, it leads to financial instability. Also toilets, if situated in the north-east corner of the plot, can have disastrous effects on the minds of the family members. This can be rectified using the Vastu Shankh Yantra, which ensures flow of positive energy within the area, helping overall prosperity.”

Industrialist Raghav Agarwal endorses Vikas’s views and says, “We were facing a lot of financial issues in one of our factories. I came to know about Vimalji and Vikasji through one of my friends and when I showed them the factories we were told that all our south-facing areas were open and we had our machines placed in the wrong direction. Vimalji placed the shank yantra in different locations to rectify this defect without any demolition or changes and miraculously, the problems were all resolved one by one. It was hard to believe, and so, we tried the same yantra in our house. And there, too, health and relationships improved; peace and harmony returned.”

The Jhajharias are said to be providing their services in more than 50 countries across the globe. Vikas adds, “It is not magic, it is simple science; you need to try to believe it.”

Contact Vikas on 9839704470 / 7388578888 / 8017793423 Or Email: jhajhariavikas@hotmail.com , Website:

www.vastukalp.com

Follow on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ Vastukalp Instagram - Vastukalp_

Vikas and Vimal Jhajharia

The Vastu Shankh Yantra

Times of India 03.02.2019

Why climbing stairs is good for your heart

According to a recent report, a few minutes of stair climbing at short intervals throughout the day can improve health

Times of India 03.02.2019

Are you sitting comfortably? Perhaps you shouldn’t be. In the UK alone, one in three Britishers are now couch potatoes who put their health at risk by spending too much time on their backsides. In India too, spending up to nine hours every day sedentary — at work, in a car, or in front of the TV — is putting many of us at risk of a life-threatening heart attack and an early death. It might be tempting to take that easy escalator or lift, but climbing the stairs is a great way to squeeze extra exercise into your day. And to maximise the benefits take one step at a time, rather than two. The research published in the journal Applied Physiology suggests that virtually anyone can improve their fitness, anywhere, any time by ditching elevators and taking the stairs.

“The findings make it even easier for people to incorporate ‘exercise snacks’ into their day. Those who work in office towers or live in apartment buildings can vigorously climb a few flights of stairs in the morning, at lunch, and in the evening and know they are getting an effective workout,” said Martin Gibala, lead author of the study.

“We know that sprint interval training works, but we were a bit surprised to see that the stair snacking approach was also effective. Vigorously climbing a few flights of stairs on your coffee or bathroom break during the day seems to be enough to boost fitness in people who are otherwise sedentary,” said Jonathan Little, co-author. The findings of the study suggested that in addition to being more fit, the stair climbers were also stronger compared to their sedentary counterparts and generated more power during maximal cycling.

— ANI



Vigorously climbing a few flights of stairs during your break can help

VALUE UNKNOWN

Jewellery goes missing at TTD temple

Tirupati:03.02.2019

In an embarrassment to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, precious jewellery, including three crowns worn by processional deities at the Govindaraja Swamy temple, managed by TTD, have gone missing.

TTD top brass, including Tirupati joint executive officer Pola Bhaskar and chief vigilance and security officer Gopinath Jatti, IPS, rushed to the Govindaraja Swamy temple after the jewellery missing episode was brought to their notice on Saturday.

According to sources in the vigilance and security, CCTV footage of the temple was being examined by senior officials to find out how the jewels went missing which is abuzz with pilgrims and security.

Senior officials as well as the vigilance wing questioned priests and paricharakas. The value of the missing crowns is yet to be made public. TNN

Railway clerk put off duty for helming train with 700 on board

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Surat:03.02.2019
The railway booking clerk facing inquiry after his video of him driving a passenger train on Tapti line from Surat to Jalgaon went viral has been taken off duty by Western Railway (WR) authorities on Saturday.

Official sources said the railway authorities have taken cognizance of booking clerk Ravindra More, 38, employed at Athwalines passenger reservation centre (PRS), driving the passenger train with more than 700 passengers onboard.

While the inquiry is still going on, the clerk has been taken off duty.

The video of Ravindra More had gone viral on social media, showing him operating the locomotive engine of the passenger train for about 10km at a speed of 60km per hour.

More was taking directions from the loco pilot on increasing speed and applying brake. However, the identity of the loco pilot, who allowed More to drive the passenger train is yet to be established.

In the preliminary inquiry, More stated that the video was around seven years old and that he does not remember the train which he drove.

As per Indian Railways rules, even an assistant loco pilot is not allowed to take control of the loco engine in the absence of the authorized loco pilot.

Area railway manager (ARM), Surat railway station, CR Garuda said, “The clerk in question has been put off duty by higher authorities. He will have to report to work on a daily basis, but will not be able to perform his duty. The inquiry is still going on against him. If the WR finds substantial evidence against the clerk, he may face severe action.”

A senior officer of WR said, “The inquiry is on to find the identity of the loco pilot, who allowed the booking clerk to drive the passenger train. As per loco running staff rules, the loco pilot is not allowed to hand over the system to an outsider. In this case, both the clerk and the loco pilot are equally responsible for putting passenger safety at risk.”

Degrees must have photos of students: Javadekar

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Pune:03.02.2019

The HRD ministry has directed all universities to issue degree certificates with photographs of students, HRD minister Prakash Javadekar announced on Saturday.

Speaking at the 20th convocation ceremony of Bharati Vidyapeeth, Javadekar said this was being done to avoid any misuse of degrees. He also spoke about a National Academic Depository and said universities can upload students’ documents on it free of charge till September. He, however, did not give any time frame for implementation of the directive.

“Students tend to lose their important documents, and when they go abroad they want authenticated certificates. Hence, we have started electronic depository called National Academic Depository. Degree certificates and marks lists will be on this depository. The institutes can upload their 10 years’ data free of cost till September,” added Javadekar.

Taking a jibe at Bharati Vidyapeeth University, which still continues with the tradition of convocation gowns, Javadekar said, “I had written a letter to all universities requesting them to switch to Indian dress, designed by their own students, for convocation. I hope Bharati Vidyapeeth, too, will follow this directive from next year.”

Speaking at the 20th convocation ceremony of Bharati Vidyapeeth, Javadekar said this was being done to avoid any misuse of degree

Student visa racket spat gets ugly, Delhi issues ‘demarche’ to US govt

Nodal Officer Appointed To Supervise Assistance To Victims, Families

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Washington:03.02.2019

India and the United States stumbled into the most serious spat since the arrest of an Indian diplomat in New York in 2013, with New Delhi making known its displeasure over the incarceration of scores of Indians who were ostensibly entrapped by US authorities in a sting operation aimed at uncovering an employment and immigration racket.

From issuing a demarche – a note of protest – to the US government via its embassy in New Delhi to establishing a hotline for the alleged victims in Washington and offering legal counsel, the Indian government initiated a series of measures on Saturday that left no doubt that it felt the purported students have been victimized. The Indian Embassy in Washington DC also appointed a nodal officer to supervise assistance to the victims and their families.

“Embassy of India, Washington and all five Consulates in the US [are] working closely together to help Indian students detained in the US,” the embassy said. More than 100 victims are under arrest – some in home detention and others at immigration processing centers – all over the US and the embassy is still trying to get a complete picture. New Delhi is also insisting that the students, who it says may have been sucked into the scam inadvertently, should be treated differently from the eight recruiters, who are also Indian.

But the US side is questioning the very description of the alleged victims as students, and maintains that they were fully aware that they were enrolling in a fictional university that had no proper campus or classes, and they were using it as a route to work authorization with intent to immigrate.

“Homeland Security Investigations special agents uncovered a nationwide network that grossly exploited US immigration laws. These suspects aided hundreds of foreign nationals to remain in the United States illegally by helping to portray them as students, which they most certainly were not. HSI remains vigilant to ensure the integrity of US immigration laws and will continue to investigate this and other transnational crimes,” Special Agent in Charge Steve Francis, who investigated the case, said.

Aside from the human aspects of the imbroglio, the situation is complicated by politics and hypernationalism on both sides with plenty of grandstanding and posturing.

The Indian side sees no wrong on part of the purported students, who are mostly from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, in an election season where politicians from the two southern states have already jumped on the issue to pressure New Delhi to act on behalf of the victims. On the US side too, the Trump administration is keen to show that it is tough on immigration, even if it means establishing a fake university to entrap students, a tactic see as dodgy by some critics.

On Saturday, officials from the Indian consulate in Houston visited the Prairieland Detention Centre in Alvarado, Texas and the Montgomery Processing Center in Conroe, Texas to meet the incarcerated students and get their version of the episode. Many other students have been subjected to home detention with tracking devices, even as hundreds, perhaps thousands, of students are panicked over the crackdown.

MEA wants students to be treated differently from those who have duped them

Convicted minors cannot be denied govt jobs, says Raj HC

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Jaipur:03.02.2019

A minor convicted under the Juvenile Justice Act cannot be debarred from a government job on becoming an adult, stated the Rajasthan high court while imposing a fine of ₹25,000 on the home department for denying the petitioner a government job on the same basis.

The petitioner, Rakesh Kumar, claimed he was selected for the post of a constable with the 12 Battalion RAC recruitment in 2018, but was denied appointment because he had been convicted of theft in 2017 and had been fined ₹1,000.

Rakesh’s counsel pointed out that the home department’s decision was in violation of section 24 of the JJ Act, which states: “a child who has committed an offence and has been dealt with under the provisions of this Act shall not suffer disqualification, if any attached to a conviction of an offence under such law.” Quashing the order of disqualification, the HC directed the respondents to appoint Rakesh as a constable driver in the 12 Battalion RAC in Delhi as per merit and add him to final select list within four weeks.

The court also fined the home department ₹25,000 — to be paid to the Rajasthan legal services authority — for “mechanically acting contrary to both section 24 of the Act of 2015 and Rule 13 of 1989 entailing harassment and anxiety to the petitioner and also nonchalantly adding to the overcrowded docket of this court.”

The petitioner claimed he was selected for the post of constable with the 12 Battalion RAC recruitment in 2018, but was denied appointment because he had been convicted

MANONMANIAM SUNDARANAR UNIV

HC junks pleas on VC appointment

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:03.02.2019

In a reprieve to the vice-chancellor of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University in Tirunelveli, K Krishnan Baskar, the Madras high court has dismissed pleas questioning his authority to hold the office.

“Since Baskar was having the required, in fact more-than-required qualification to hold the post of vicechancellor, and there is no evidence to suggest that the search committee has not acted properly in recommending his name, this court has no hesitation to hold that the petitioners have not made out any case to issue notice questioning Baskar, as to under what authority he was holding the post,” Justice R Suresh Kumar said.

The issue pertains to two pleas moved by T Manohara Justus, a senate member of the university, and A Srinivasan, retired professor of Madurai Kamarajar University, questioning the authority of Baskar in holding the post.

According to Justus, on September 18, 2015, the search committee called for applications. Justus claimed that Baskar did not submit any application. “The committee short-listed more than 10 candidates. On the last sitting, the convenor of the committee brought an application from Baskar, which was claimed to be recommended by the then chief secretary”. Due to compelling reasons, Baskar’s name was included in the panel of three candidates, he said.

TN education dept issues notices to 366 unrecognised schools

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai  03.02.2019

: The department of school education has issued notices to 366 private educational institutions across Tamil Nadu for not obtaining the mandated certificate of recognition from the state authorities. The department has also imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh on schools for violating provisions of Right to Education Act.

“We have given them two months time to apply for the certificate of recognition and are taking steps to ensure that they do not continue their classes without the certificate in the coming academic year,” said a senior from the department.

All schools which have been served with the notice are affiliated to ICSE and CBSE boards. According to the department, the maximum number of schools that were identified were from Thiruvallur and Salem districts, which had 33 schools each, while 30 schools in Coimbatore, Kancheepuram and Tiruppur were found to have violated the Act. In Chennai, no private school was found to be functioning without obtaining the recognition.

Section 18 of the RTE act states that no school other than those established, owned or controlled by the appropriate government and local authorities must function without obtaining a certificate of recognition from the competent state authority. Recognition will be granted to schools, which fulfils all norms and standards specified under the RTE act.

On violation, any person running the schools without getting certificate of recognition or continuing after withdrawal of recognition is liable to a fine of ₹1lakh.

The department has also imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh on schools for violating provisions of RTE act

1 in 7 docs who aced PG NEET is from TN

Pushpa.Narayan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:03.02.2019

In a state where the common medical examination, NEET, has always sparked acrimonious debates about TN candidates being left worse-off because of the test, it has now emerged that one in seven doctors who cleared postgraduate NEET in 2019 was from the state. Although qualifying in the exam may not guarantee seats, educationists say the high numbers give TN candidates more opportunity to get placed in premium colleges outside the state and increases the possibility of more state candidates getting seats in TN government colleges.

The National Board of Examination summary shows that of the 79,633 who qualified, 11,121 were from TN, which also had the most candidates (17,067) appearing, against 9,219 from Karnataka, 7,441 from Maharashtra and 6,323 from Andhra Pradesh. “All were selected to join medical schools by the state based on Class XII exams. The results are proof TN wasn’t producing bad doctors and all students were meritorious,” said neurosurgeon Dr Bruno Mascarenhas, who has authored entrance books for PG exams.

The common entrance is now a boon to many TN doctors. Every year, states surrender 50% of PG seats for all-India quota. “Some years ago, when there was a separate exam for all-India quota, less than 50% of students took the test. Now, with every doctor writing the common NEET, we have higher chances of doctors from TN opting for colleges in AP, Karnataka, Mumbai and Delhi,” said Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association chief Dr K Senthil. “More in-service candidates are clearing the exam now. Even if they don’t get a seat this time, they will confidently appear for the exam next year.”

TN expects nod for 100 more medical seats

This year, the cut-off was 340/1,200 for the general category, 295 for SC/ST/OBC (including disabled), and 317 for general disabled. “By sheer probability we have chances of having more number of students who will take all India quota seats this time. We are hoping more TN students to take these seats within the state too,” said director of medical education Dr A Edwin Joe.

TN has got the nod to add 56 PG seats in eight colleges taking the total in 2019 to 1,306. The directorate of medical education expects at least 100 more seats and has sought Union health ministry permission to convert 393 diploma seats to degree seats. If this happens, TN will have 1,800 PG seats. Scores in NEET-PG 2019, held in January in 167 cities on a computer-based platform, will be used for admission to all PG courses of all-India quota seats, central institutions, armed forces medical services institutions, universities set up by an Act of Parliament, deemed universities, state quota seats and private colleges. Institutions such as AIIMS, PGIMER, JIPMER, NIMHANS and Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology are excluded.

அமுதும் நஞ்சும்

By கிருங்கை சேதுபதி | Published on : 31st January 2019 01:49 AM |


இளைஞர்களுடனான ஒரு கலந்துரையாடலின்போது மின்னலாய் ஒரு கேள்வி வந்துவிழுந்தது.

கண்களுக்கு மூடி இமைகள்; வாய்க்கு மூடி இதழ்கள்; மூக்குக்கும் செவிகளுக்கும் ஏன் மூடி இல்லை? இருந்திருந்தால்... என்று கற்பனை செய்துகொண்ட ஒருவர் சொன்னார்: எவ்வளவு திட்டினாலும் கவலைப்படாமல் காதை மூடிக் கொண்டு விடலாம். அதுமாதிரி துர்நாற்றம் வந்தாலும்... சொல்லி முடிப்பதற்குள் இன்னொருவர் குறுக்கிட்டார்: அவசரப்பட்டு மூடி, பின்னர் திறக்கமுடியாமல் மாட்டிக்கொண்டால்...?
மூச்சுத் திணறி... முன்னவர் சொல்லுகிறபோதே மூச்சுத் திணறல் ஏற்பட்ட நடுக்கம் எங்களுக்கு.

ஆட்டுக்கும் வாலை அளந்துதான் வைத்திருக்கிறான் ஆண்டவன் என்று பாட்டி சொல்லுவார். அதுபோலத்தான் இந்த மூடிகளும்போல... என்றார் ஒருவர்.

இல்லாதவற்றைப் பேசுவதைவிட, இருப்பதன் முக்கியத்துவத்தை முதலில் பேசுவோம் என்று வரையறுத்துக் கொடுத்தார் மற்றொருவர். பேச்சு கண்களைச் சூழ்ந்துகொண்டது.

நம்மைப் பொருத்த அளவில் நாம் கண்களாக மட்டும் அவற்றைக் கருதவில்லை; அன்பின் பெருக்கத்தில் அருமைக்குரியவர்களைக் கண்ணென்றுதான் குறிப்பிடுகிறோம். அம்மாவும் அப்பாவும் பாசத்தின் மிகுதியில் கண்ணே என்றுதான்கொஞ்சுகிறார்கள்.
காதல் மிகுதியில் இரு பாலரும் அழைத்துக் கொள்ளும் சொல்லும் அதுதான்; கண்ணன் என்றே கடவுளைக் குறிக்கிற வழக்கமும் உண்டு.
ஐம்பொறிகளில் கண்ணுக்கு அவ்வளவு முக்கியத்துவம். ஏனைய பொறிகளைச்செயல்படுத்துவதில் இது தலையாயது என்பதால்தான், இதற்குத் தலையில் தலைமையிடம் போலும்! 

ஆபத்து நேருங்கால் உடன் பாதுகாத்துக்கொள்ள, இமைகள் தாமே வந்து இணைந்து காப்பது எத்தனை அழகு? என்று அனுபவித்துச் சொன்னார் ஒருவர். காணத்தகாதவற்றைக் கண்டாலும் உட்புகவிடாமல் தடுத்துக் கொள்ளவும் இமைகள் உதவும். ஆனால், அதற்கு இதயம் துணை நிற்க வேண்டும் என்றார் இன்னொருவர் தத்துவார்த்தமாக.
இதற்கிடையில், கண்கள் என்று சொல்வதா? கண்ணென்று சொல்வதா? என்றும் ஒரு கேள்வி எழுந்தது. கண்கள் என்பதுதான் சரி. ஆனால், கண்கள் இரண்டு என்றாலும் காட்சி ஒன்றாகத் தோன்றுவதாலே, கண்ணென்று சொன்னாலும் தப்பில்லை என்ற பதிலும் வந்தது.
எண்ணென்ப ஏனை எழுத்தென்ப இவ்விரண்டும்
கண்ணென்ப வாழும் உயிர்க்கு
என்று திருவள்ளுவர் கண்ணென்றுதானே காட்டியிருக்கிறார் என்ற சான்றையும் இணைத்துத் தந்தார். 

இனி என் முறை. சொல்லத் தொடங்கினேன்: கண் என்றதும் காண்பவர்க்கு இருக்கிற கண் என்றுதான் பொதுவாகக் கருதுகிறோம். ஆனால், ஏற்கெனவே கண்ட ஒருவரின் கண்களில் இருந்து பெற்ற அனுபவத்தை மனக்கண் கொண்டு காணவும் அவ்வாறே கண்டு கற்றுப் பயணித்து உணரவும் இந்த எண்ணும் எழுத்தும் துணை நிற்பதனால் அதனைத் தந்தவரின் கண்ணையும் இணைத்துக் கருதலாம் என்று தோன்றுகிறது.
அதிலும் வாழும் உயிர்க்கு என்ற முடிப்பு இருக்கிறதே, அது மிகவும் முக்கியத்துவம் வாய்ந்தது.வாழ்ந்த அனுபவத்தின் பதிவாய் வரும் எழுத்தும் எண்ணும் வாழும் உயிருக்கு எந்த வாதையும் வராமல் காப்பதால், கண் ஆகியிருக்கிறது அல்லவா?

எண்ணும் எழுத்தும் கண்ணென்று கருதிப் பார்ப்பது மனிதர்க்கே பொருந்தும் என்பதற்கு இந்தப் பழமொழியும் திருக்குறளும் தக்க சான்றுகள். ஆனால், நடைமுறையில் இவற்றை அறிந்தவர்களே, நிலை தடுமாறி, கண்ணையும் கருத்தையும் தன்போக்கில் மாற்றிச் செல்லவிட்டு அல்லல்படுவதை நினைக்கிறபோதுதான் வாய்க்கு மூடி வைத்த வகையையும் உணர முடிகிறது.

வாய்தான் அனைத்திற்குமான வாயில்; உண்பதற்கு மட்டுமின்றி, உலகத்தோடு ஒட்ட ஒழுகுதற்கும் உரையாடுவதற்கும் அதுதான் பெருந்துணை! இந்த இடத்தில் செவிக்கும் வாய்க்கும் இடையில் உணவை வைத்து ஓர் உண்மையை உணர்த்துகிறது திருக்குறள்.
செவிக்கு உணவு இல்லாதபோது சிறிது
வயிற்றுக்கும் ஈயப்படும் என்கிற குறளில் வயிறுதான் சொல்லப்படுகிறதேயன்றி, வாய் சொல்லப்படவில்லை. நாக்கு இருப்பதாகவே தெரியவில்லை. காரணம் சுவைத்துச் சொல்லவேண்டிய நாவின் பணியைச் செவிகள் தமதாக ஏற்றுக் கொண்டுவிட்டன.
அதனால்தான், 

செவியின் சுவை உணரா மாக்கள்
அவியினும் வாழினும் என்
என்றும் கேட்கிறது குறட்பா.
செவியின் சுவை உணராதவர்களை மக்கள் என்றே ஒப்புக் கொள்ள இசையவில்லை திருவள்ளுவர். அவர்கள் கால்முளைத்த உயிர்கள் ஆகிய மாக்கள் என்று (கால்நடைகள்) விலங்குகளின் பட்டியலில் சேர்க்கிறார்.
காரணம், ஓசைகளையும் ஒலிகளையும் கேட்டுக்கொள்கிற காதுகள் பிற உயிர்களுக்கு இருந்தாலும், உயிர்ப்பு நல்குகிற சுவையோடு கூடிய உணர்வு தருகிற வாய்ச்சொல்அமுது உண்கிற பேறு, மனிதவுயிர்களுக்கு மட்டுமே வாய்க்கும்.

ஆனால், வாழ்பவர்களுக்கோ இவை வழங்கும் சுவைகள் பல. வாய் நுகரும் சுவைகள் ஆறு. அவை, அவை கைப்பு, கார்ப்பு, புளிப்பு, உவர்ப்பு, துவர்ப்பு, தித்திப்பாகிய இனிப்பு என்பதாக அமையும். ஆனால், செவி நுகரும் சுவைகள் இரண்டு. ஒன்று சொற்சுவை, மற்றொன்று பொருட்சுவை.
அவ்வளவுதான் என்று நினைத்துவிட முடியாதபடிக்கு, பொருட்சுவையை ஒன்பதாகக் கொண்டு காட்டுவார் பரிமேலழகர். அவை காமம், நகை, கருணை, வீரம், உருத்திரம், அச்சம், இழிப்பு, வியப்பு, சாந்தம் என ஒன்பதாக விரிகிறது. இந்தச் சுவை, சமைத்துத் தருகிற உணவால் அமைவதன்று. தானே சமைந்த சுவை. அதனால்தான், செவிநுகர் கனிகள் என்று கம்பன் சொல்லிக்காட்டுகிறான். இதற்கும் வேர் திருக்குறள்தான்.
இனிய உளவாக இன்னாத கூறல்
கனியிருப்பக் காய்கவர்ந் தற்று
என்கிறது.

பழத்திற்கும் அடுத்த நிலை கனிதல். காய், பழுத்துப் பின்னர்க் கனியும். அந்தக் கனிவில் பெருகுவது கனிவு. அதன் வழிப் பிறப்பது கருணை. அது அருள்நிலை. அதனால் வாயினின்று வெளிப்படும் வாக்கு அருள்வாக்கு எனப் பெயர் கொள்கிறது. அதற்குத் துணையாகும் கருவி, நாக்கு. அமுது பரிமாறும் நிலையில் உயர்ந்துள்ள நாக்கு நஞ்சுபரிமாறல் தகாது என்று அருளாளர்கள் பலர் எச்சரிக்கிறார்கள். நாவினால் விளையும் தீமைகள் தீயினும் அஞ்சத்தக்க தீமைகளாகப் பெருகுகின்றன. இதனை, நாவினால் சுட்ட வடு என்று அடையாளம் காட்டுகிறது தமிழ். எதுவாக இருந்தாலும் அவசரப்பட்டு வார்த்தைகளைக் கொட்டிவிடாதே! என்று எச்சரிக்கை வாசகம் வந்தது.
கண்டதையும் பார்க்கும் கண்ணும், கண்டதையும் பேசும் வாயும் தந்தவற்றையெல்லாம் அப்படியே ஏற்றுக்கொள்ளல் தகாது என்பதால்தான், இந்த மூன்று பொறிகளையும் ஒருங்கிணைத்து பின்வருமாறு முன்மொழிந்தார் திருவள்ளுவர்:
எப்பொருள் யார்யார்வாய் கேட்பினும் அப் பொருள்
மெய்ப்பொருள் காண்பது அறிவு
என்று! அதனால்தான்,
எப்பொருள் எத்தன்மைத் தாயினும் அப்பொருள்
மெய்ப்பொருள் காண்பது அறிவு
என்றும் சொன்னார்.
கண்டு, கேட்டு, உண்டு. உயிர்த்து, உற்று அறியும் ஐம்பொறி நுகர்ச்சிகளுக்கும் அப்பால் பெற வேண்டியது, செம்பொருள் காணும் அறிவு! அதற்குப் பிறப்பு என்னும் பேதைமை நீங்க வேண்டும்! எத்தாயர் வயிற்றில் பிறந்தாலும் ஏற்றத்தாழ்வு கருதாது, ஒத்த தன்மையோடு காணத்தெரிய வேண்டும்; ஆண் பெண், மேற்குடி கீழ்க்குடி என்று பிறப்பால் பேதைமை காண்பதைநீக்கக் கற்றுக்கொள்ள வேண்டும்!
பிறப்பென்னும் பேதைமை நீங்கச் சிறப்பென்னும்
செம்பொருள் காண்பது அறிவு என்கிறார் திருவள்ளுவர்!

இந்த அறிவு அற்றங்காக்கும் கருவி!
மூடி இருந்தாலும் இல்லாவிட்டாலும், ஒருமையுள் ஆமைபோல் ஐந்தடக்கப் பழகிக்கொண்டால், எழுமையும் ஏமாப்புடைத்து அல்லவா?
அடக்குவதுகூட, ஆபத்தாய் வெடிக்கும்; அதனால்தான், பக்குவப்படுத்தல் எனும் பொருளில், அவித்தல் என்கிறார் திருவள்ளுவர்.
பொறிவாயில் ஐந்து அவித்தான் பொய்தீர் ஒழுக்க
நெறிநின்றார் நீடு வாழ்வார்! என வாழ்த்துகிறார் என்றேன் நான்.
இக்குறளில் இடம்பெறும் வாயில், பொய் என்ற இரு சொற்களைக் கொண்டு, யா காவாராயினும் நா காக்க எனக் கொள்ளலாமா? என, இந்த உரையாடலை முடித்துவைக்க முயன்றார், தொடங்கியவர்!
மெய்ப்பொருள் காண்பது அறிவு என்றேன் நான்! செம்பொருளா? மெய்ப்பொருளா? எனத் தொடங்கினார் மற்றொருவர்!
அதைப் பின்னர் பேசலாம்! என்று சொல்லாமலேயே எழுந்தோம்!
யா காவாராயினும்...! மௌனமாய் நினைத்ததை ஒருவர் நா காக்க என்று மொழிபெயர்த்தார்.

மேல் விளக்கம் தந்து நான் முடிக்க வேண்டியதாயிற்று.
மெய், வாய், கண், மூக்கு, செவி என இதுவரை சொல்லப்பட்டவை அனைத்தும் புறத்துறுப்புகள். இவற்றில் ஏதேனும் பழுதுநேர்ந்தாலும் பயன்படுத்துவதில் குறை நிகழ்ந்தாலும் சரிக்கட்டிக்கொள்ள இன்னொரு உறுப்பைத் திருவள்ளுவர் காட்டியிருக்கிறார் என்று நிறுத்தினேன்.
என்ன என்பதுபோல் அவர்களின் புருவங்கள் உயர்ந்தன. அது அன்பு என்று முடித்தேன். இதற்கு புறத்துறுப்பு எல்லாம் எவன்செய்யும் யாக்கை அகத்துறுப்பு அன்பி லவர்க்கு? என்ற திருக்குறளே சான்று.

மாற்றாரும் போற்றும் அறிஞர் அண்ணா!
By பண்ருட்டி எஸ். இராமச்சந்திரன் |

"வெள்ளம் அழித்திடும்; - வாய்க்கால் வளமூட்டும். செல்வம் சிலரிடம் சென்று குவிந்து விடுவது வெள்ளத்துக்கு ஒப்பானது. அது கொண்டவனையும் அழித்திடும். சமூகத்தில் வலிவற்றோரையும் அழித்திடும். எனவேதான் செல்வம் பெருக்கிட வேண்டும். அஃது முடக்கப்படாமல் சமூகம் முழுவதற்கும் பயன் அளிக்கக் கூடிய வழிமுறை கண்டாக வேண்டும் என்று சிந்தனையாளர்கள் கூறினர். நமது அரசுகூட அந்தச் சமதர்ம இலட்சியத்தைப் போற்றுகிறது. நமது கழகம் சமதர்ம நெறியிலே நம்பிக்கையும் நாட்டமும் கொண்டிருக்கிறது' - அறிஞர் அண்ணா. "தமிழர் திருநாள்' என்ற தலைப்பில் பொங்கல் திருநாளையொட்டி 12.01.1969 அன்று காஞ்சி பத்திரிகையில் தம்பிக்கு எழுதிய கடிதத்தின் பகுதி இது.
அறிஞர் அண்ணா, தான் இறப்பதற்கு முன்பு கடைசியாக எழுதிய கடிதம் இதுதான். அதுமட்டுமல்ல, தான் இறந்து விடுவோம் என்று உணர்ந்த பிறகு எழுதிய கடிதமும்கூட. கடைசியாகத் தமிழ் மக்களுக்கு சொல்ல வேண்டிய தனது கருத்துகளை இந்தக் கடிதத்தின் மூலம் விளக்குகிறார். இந்தக் கடிதத்தில் அவர் தெரிவிக்கும் கருத்துகளை அவரது மரண சாசனம் என்றே கொள்ளலாம்.

அறிஞர் அண்ணா சட்டப்பேரவையில் உரையாற்றும்போது, பணக்காரர்களுக்கு வரி விதித்து, ஏழைகளுக்கு வசதி தரவேண்டும் என்றார். ஆனால், நடைமுறையில் வரி செலுத்துவது எழைகளாகவும், வசதியைப் பெறுவது பணக்காரர்களாகவும் ஆகிவிட்டனர். உலகப் பெரும் பணக்காரர் வாரன் பஃபெட், தன்னைவிட தனது வேலைக்காரர் அதிகம் வரி செலுத்துகிறார் என்று அமெரிக்காவில் கூறியுள்ளார். அந்த அளவுக்கு வரி செலுத்துவதில் இருந்து தப்பிக்க பெரும் பணக்காரர்கள் கெட்டிக்காரர்களாகச் செயல்படுகின்றனர்.

இந்நிலை மாற என்ன வழி? அறிஞர் அண்ணா இது பற்றிக் குறிப்பிடும்போது, "சமத்துவம் என்பது சமமாக நடத்துவது அல்ல, சம வாய்ப்பை அனைவருக்கும் அளிப்பதுதான்' என்றார். சம வாய்ப்பு சமுதாயத்தை லட்சியமாகக் கொண்டு செயல்படுவதன் மூலம் சம பலன்களைப் பெற வழி வகுப்பதுதான் உண்மையான சமதர்ம சமுதாயம் அமைய வழி பிறக்கும். ஓரளவுக்கு நார்வே, சுவீடன், பின்லாந்து, டென்மார்க் போன்ற நாடுகள் பொருளாதார ஏற்றத் தாழ்வை குறைத்துள்ளதே இதற்குச் சான்றாகும்.
அறிஞர் அண்ணா இரண்டாண்டுகளுக்கும் குறைவாகவே ஆட்சி நடத்தினார். அதிலும் அவர் உடல்நலம் இல்லாமல் இருந்தது வேறு. இருப்பினும், அவரது ஆட்சிக் காலத்தில் புஞ்சை நிலங்களுக்கு வரி ரத்து செய்யப்பட்டது. ஏழை மக்களுக்கு பலன் அளிக்கும் வகையில் ரூபாய்க்கு படி அரிசித் திட்டம் கொண்டு வரப்பட்டது. ஆண்டு வருமானம் ரூ.1,500-க்குக் குறைந்த நிலையில் இருந்த குடும்பத்துப் பிள்ளைகளுக்கு புதுமுக வகுப்பு வரை இலவசக் கல்வி அளிக்கப்பட்டது. சமுதாயத்தில் அடித்தளத்து மக்களின் வாழ்க்கைச் சுமையைக் குறைப்பதற்கு வழிவகைகள் காணப்பட்டன.

அறிஞர் அண்ணாவின் தமிழ்த் தொண்டு அளப்பரியது. அவரது எழுத்து, சொற்பொழிவு, நாடகங்கள், சினிமாக்கள் என்றும் மக்கள் மனதில் நிலைத்துநிற்கக் கூடியவையாக உள்ளன. அவரது சொற்பொழிவுகளைக் கேட்க ஆயிரக்கணக்கில் மக்கள் கூடுவது மட்டுமல்ல, அவரை வைத்து நிதி சேர்க்க திரையரங்குகளில் சிறப்புக் கூட்டங்கள் நடத்தினால் மக்கள் பெருந்திரளாக நிதி தந்து, டிக்கெட்டுகளைப் பெற்று கூடுவதும் உண்டு.
அவரது தமிழ்த் தொண்டுக்கு முத்தாய்ப்பாக அமைந்ததுதான் முதலமைச்சராக இருந்தபோது அவர் சட்டப்பேரவையில் நிறைவேற்றிய இருமொழித் தீர்மானம். தமிழும், ஆங்கிலமும் போதும் என்ற அவரது கருத்து நமக்குத் தமிழும், பிற உலகினரோடு தொடர்பு கொள்ள ஆங்கிலமும் போதும் என்ற அடிப்படையில்தான். 

அவரை இந்தி எதிர்ப்பாளர் என்றே அடையாளம் காட்டினர். ஆனால், உண்மையில் அவர் சமத்துவ வாய்ப்பாளர். இந்தியாவில் இந்தி பேசும் பகுதியில் பிறந்த ஒருவருக்கு அவரது தாய்மொழியில் கிடைக்கக் கூடிய வாய்ப்பு, அதே இந்தியாவில் தமிழ் மொழி பேசும் பகுதியில் பிறந்த ஒருவருக்கும் கிடைக்க வேண்டும் என்பதுதான் அவரது கருத்தாக இருந்தது. இந்தியாவின் தேசிய மொழிகள் அனைத்தும் ஆட்சி மொழிகள் ஆக வேண்டும் என்ற கோரிக்கையின் அடிப்படை நியாயமும் இதுவே.
தேசியத்தின் பெயரால் ஆங்கிலத்தை அறவே புறக்கணிப்பது தீங்கு விளைவிக்கக் கூடியதாகும் என்றார். அன்றைய தினம் அறிஞர் அண்ணாவும், மூதறிஞர் இராஜாஜியும், மற்ற தமிழ்ப் பெரியோர்களும் சேர்ந்து ஆங்கிலத்தை நிலைநிறுத்தியதின் பயனை இன்றைய தலைமுறையில் நாம் கண்கூடாகக் காண்கிறோம்.

பிறந்த நாட்டுக்கு "தமிழ்நாடு' என்று பெயர் சூட்டும் முயற்சியில் அறிஞர் அண்ணா ஆரம்பம் முதலே ஈடுபட்டார். ஆனால், அந்தக் கனவும் அவர் முதலமைச்சராக இருந்தபோது ஒருமனதாகத் தீர்மானம் நிறைவேற்றப்பட்டது. இந்திய அரசும் அதை ஏற்றுக் கொண்டு தமிழ்நாட்டுக்கு "தமிழ்நாடு' என்ற பெயர் மாற்ற நடவடிக்கையை மேற்கொண்டது. அடுத்து வந்த 1969-ஆம் ஆண்டு பொங்கல் புதுநாள் முதல் "தமிழ்நாடு' என்ற பெயர் செயல்படுத்தப்பட்டது. 

நீதிக் கட்சியில் இருந்த அண்ணா, தந்தை பெரியார் ஆசியோடு 1944-இல் "திராவிடர் கழகம்' என மாற்றம் செய்தார். சமுதாயச் சீர்திருத்த இயக்கமாக இயங்கிய திராவிடர் கழகத்தில் தொடர்ந்து அறிஞர் அண்ணாவால் இருக்க முடியவில்லை. 1947-இல் இந்தியா சுதந்திரம் பெற்றது. தந்தை பெரியார் "துக்க நாள்' என்றார். அறிஞர் அண்ணா அதை "மகிழ்ச்சிக்குரிய நன்னாள்' என்றார். கருத்து வேற்றுமை தொடங்கியது. 

1949-ஆம் ஆண்டு அறிஞர் அண்ணா அவர்கள் திராவிடர் கழகத்தில் இருந்து வெளியேறி, செப்டம்பர் 17-ஆம் நாள் "திராவிட முன்னேற்றக் கழக'த்தைத் தொடங்கினார். முதலில் அவர் பணியாற்றியது திராவிடர் கழகம். அது இனத்தை அடிப்படையாகக் கொண்டது. "திராவிட முன்னேற்றக் கழகம்' என்பது இடத்தை அடிப்படையாகக் கொண்டது. திராவிடர் கழகம் சமுதாய சீர்திருத்தத்தை வலியுறுத்தும் இயக்கம். ஆனால், அறிஞர் அண்ணா கண்டது தென்னாட்டுக்கான அரசியல் இயக்கம். 

1962-இல் இந்தியா மீது சீன படையெடுப்பு நடந்தது. அதுவரை திராவிட நாடு விடுதலை கோரிக்கையை வற்புறுத்தி வந்த அறிஞர் அண்ணா ஒட்டுமொத்த பாதுகாப்புக்கும், அறைகூவல் விடப்பட்டதை உணர்ந்தார். "வீடு இருந்தால்தான் ஓடு மாற்ற முடியும். நாடு இருந்தால்தான் அரசியல் நடத்த முடியும்' என்று முழங்கிய அறிஞர் அண்ணா, பிரிவினைக் கோரிக்கையை கைவிட முடிவெடுத்தார். பிரிந்தால் தென்னாட்டு மக்கள் எந்தெந்த நன்மைகளையும், உரிமைகளையும் பெற முடியுமோ, அவற்றை "இந்தியா' என்ற அரசியல் அமைப்புக்குள் இருந்துகொண்டே நிறைவேற்றப் பாடுபடுவோம் என்ற அரசியல் நிலையை அறிஞர் அண்ணா மேற்கொண்டார். 

1967-ஆம் ஆண்டு தேர்தல் நேரம்; நாங்கள் எல்லாம் தொகுதிகளில் தேர்தல் பணிகளில் ஈடுபட்டுக் கொண்டிருந்தோம். அறிஞர் அண்ணா சென்னையிலிருந்து புறப்பட்டு உளுந்தூர்பேட்டையில் மதிய உணவுக்குப் பிறகு தொழுதூர் செல்லும் சாலையில் ஒரு புளிய மரத்தின் கீழே காரை நிறுத்துகிறார். ஓய்வெடுக்க வேண்டி புளிய மரத்தின் நிழலில் துண்டை விரித்துப் போட்டு, புளிய மரத்தின் வேரையே தலையணையாகக் கொண்டு படுத்து விட்டார். எங்களுக்கும் தகவல் அனுப்பப்பட்டது. நாங்கள் அங்கே சென்று, அவர் விழித்த பிறகு அவரைச் சந்தித்து உரையாடினோம். எண்ணி 15 நாள்களுக்குள் இந்த நாட்டின் முதலமைச்சராக வரும் அறிஞர் அண்ணா, நெடுஞ்சாலையில் ஒரு புளிய மரத்தின் நிழலில் துண்டை விரித்துப் போட்டு ஓய்வெடுக்க சிறிது நேரம் உறங்குகிறார் என்ற காட்சி அவருடைய எளிமைக்கு நிலைத்துநிற்கும் சாட்சியாகும். 

அதே போன்று அவர் முதலமைச்சராக ஆன பிறகும் ஆடம்பர சொகுசு கார்கள் கூடாது என்று தவிர்த்து விட்டார். சாதாராண காரையே பயன்படுத்தினார். அமைச்சர்களுக்கு அன்று மாதச் சம்பளம் ரூ.1,000 என்று இருந்ததை, ரூ.500-ஆகக் குறைத்து விட்டார். முதலமைச்சர் பின்னால் வண்டிகள் வரிசையாக வருவதைத் தவிர்த்தார். சாலை நெடுகிலும் காவலர்கள் நிற்பதை அடியோடு நிறுத்தினார். "மக்களுக்கு நாம் தொண்டர்களே தவிர, எஜமானர்கள் அல்ல' என்ற மகத்தான ஜனநாயக நெறியை நிரூபித்துக் காட்டினார்.

மாற்றாரும் போற்றும் அறிஞர் 

அண்ணா, ஆட்சிப் பொறுப்பேற்று இரண்டாண்டுகளுக்கு உள்ளாகவே மறைந்தது தமிழ்நாட்டிற்கு ஈடு செய்ய முடியாத பேரிழப்பாகும். அவ்வளவு சீக்கிரம் மறைந்து விடுவார் என்று யாரும் எதிர்பார்க்கவில்லை. 1969 பிப்ரவரி மாதம் 3-ஆம் தேதி அறிஞர் அண்ணா மறைந்தார் என்ற செய்தி உலகமெங்கும் உள்ள தமிழ் மக்களுக்கு ஒரு பேரிடியைத் தந்தது. அனைத்து மக்களும் ஆறாத் துயரத்தில் ஆழ்ந்தனர். ஒவ்வொரு குடும்பமும் தனது உறவினர் ஒருவரை இழந்ததாகவே கருதியது.

சென்னை மாநகர் நோக்கி தமிழகமே திரண்டது. அறிஞர் அண்ணாவுக்கு இறுதி அஞ்சலி செலுத்த வந்த மக்களின் எண்ணிக்கை இதுவரையில் கண்டிராதது மட்டுமல்ல, உலக வரலாற்றுச் சாதனையாக கின்னஸ் சாதனையில் பதிவு பெற்றது. திருவள்ளுவர் மொழியில் சொல்லப் போனால்,
புரந்தார்கண் நீர்மல்கச் சாகிற்பின் சாக்காடு
இரந்துகோள் தக்கது உடைத்து
தாம் எந்த மக்களுக்காகத் தொண்டு செய்தோமோ, அந்த மக்களின் கண்ணீர், தமது சாவுக்குப் பின் அமையுமானால், அத்தகைய சாவை பிச்சை எடுத்துப் பெற்றாலும் பெருமை உடையதே என்கிறார் வள்ளுவர். சாவிலும் செயற்கரிய சாதனை படைத்தவர் அறிஞர் அண்ணா!
நாளை அண்ணாவின் 50-ஆவது நினைவுநாள்.

கட்டுரையாளர்: முன்னாள் அமைச்சர்.

Minister inaugurates facilities at govt. hospital in Vellore

STAFF REPORTER

VELLORE, FEBRUARY 02, 2019 00:00 IST



Quality treatment:Health Minister C. Vijaya Baskar inaugurating the emergency care unit at the Vellore hospital, on Friday.C. Venkatachalapathy


Hospitals in the State will be upgraded at Rs. 190 crore: Vijaya Baskar


Health Minister C. Vijaya Baskar inaugurated multiple facilities at the Government Vellore Medical College Hospital in Adukkamparai, on Friday.

The facilities included an early intervention centre at a cost of Rs. 99 lakh, Tamil Nadu Accident and Emergency Care Initiative (TAEI unit) (Rs. 2.13 crore), cath lab (Rs. 3.89 crore), extension of haemodialysis unit (Rs. 97.5 lakh) and magnetic resonance imaging unit (MRI) (Rs. 6.5 crore).

The TAEI unit will serve the entire district and handling emergency cases including accident victims, said Mr. Vijaya Baskar.

Following the Australian methodology in extending emergency medical care, 75 hospitals in the State would be upgraded at a cost of Rs. 190 crore, he said.

Tamil Nadu is maintaining a good record in organ donation, the Minister added.

Organ donation

Speaking at the event, Health Secretary J. Radhakrishnan refuted allegations on organ donations.

Fifteen 15 organs can be harvested from a human corpse and it has been prioritised by Transplant Authority of Tamil Nadu (Transtan), he said.

While Transtan only puts out the priority list, the recipient is finalised by the recipient hospitals, he added. The list of patients waiting for heart and lung transplant is given by the recipient hospitals.

Transtan coordinators then put up the priority list based on the date of registration of the patient.

Commercial Taxes Minister. K.C. Veeramani, Director of Medical Education, A. Edwin Joe, GVMC Dean, Dr. R. Shanthimalar, District Sub-Collector K. Meghraj participated.

New Dean takes charge

STAFF REPORTER

MADURAI, FEBRUARY 02, 2019 00:00 IST

K. Vanitha, who was transferred from the post of the Dean of Government Medical College Hospital in Sivaganga, took charge as the Dean of Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) and Madurai Medical College (MMC) here on Saturday.

S. Shanmugasundaram, who was serving as Dean (in charge), GRH and MMC, retired from service on Friday, a release said.

Academic conferences must focus on outcome: MKU V-C

STAFF REPORTER

MADURAI, FEBRUARY 02, 2019 00:00 IST

Minister for Revenue R. B. Udhayakumar distributing awards at Madurai Kamaraj University on Friday.S. JamesS_James

Academic conferences organised in educational institutions must focus on outcomes that can have an impact on the society, said M. Krishnan, Vice-Chancellor, Madurai Kamaraj University here on Friday.

Addressing the gathering at the inauguration of 41st All India Criminology Conference organised by the Department of Political Science at MKU in collaboration with the Indian Society of Criminology (ISC), he said that academic conferences, often organised with public money, must not just be avenues for gathering and deliberation. Highlighting that the three-day conference on criminology had chosen an apt theme of 'Prevention of crime and control strategies in contemporary world and way forward,' he appealed to the organisers and delegates to come up with a set of recommendations to the State and Central governments.

Welcoming the suggestion, Tamil Nadu Minister for Revenue R. B. Udhayakumar, who inaugurated the conference, said that the State government will be receptive to the recommendations made by the academicians participating in the conference.

Stating that ensuring law and order was crucial for development, he said proper maintenance of law and order was a major contributing factor for Tamil Nadu in attracting huge investments in the recently concluded Global Investors Meet.

Arvind Tiwari, president, ISC, in his address, stressed on the need for holistic efforts to control crime, considering the different types of crimes and the complications involved in tackling them.

Beulah Shekhar from Manonmaniam Sundaranar University and Riyaz Ahmed N. Mangoli from Rani Channamma University received award from ISC for their contribution to the field of criminology.

State told to send proposal to shift private medicos to govt. colleges

Legal Correspondent

CHENNAI, FEBRUARY 02, 2019 00:00 IST

Proposal should be sent within two weeks, says HC

02.02.2019

The Madras High Court on Friday directed the State government to send a proposal to the Medical Council of India for transferring over 100 students of Ponnaiyah Ramajayam Institute of Medical Sciences (PRIMS) — a private institute lacking in infrastructure in Kancheepuram district — to the 22 government medical colleges in the State.

A Division Bench of Justices M. Sathyanarayanan and P. Rajamanickam ordered that the proposal should be sent within two weeks and thereafter the Board of Governors, acting in supersession of the MCI, should consider the proposal and forward their proposal to the Centre within a fortnight.

On receipt of MCI’s recommendations, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare should issue appropriate orders within two weeks and submit them in a sealed cover before the court on March 28.

The interim orders were passed on a writ appeal preferred by the State government. The appeal had challenged an order passed by Justice T. Raja, whereby the State was directed to accommodate all the students of PRIMS only in government colleges.

Senior counsel P. Wilson and R. Silambannan contended that the State government could not wriggle out from its responsibility.

MTC cuts back on small bus service after losing market share to autos

R. Srikanth

CHENNAI, FEBRUARY 02, 2019 00:00 IST

Out of favour:A combination of reasons has led to the MTC slowly reducing the number of small buses .File photo

With demand flagging, the corporation finds it is not profitable to operate the fleet

For a short while, immediately after their introduction, small buses were all the rage in suburban areas. No longer. Share autos have once again become the go-to choice for those looking for last-mile connectivity. The Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) is now slowly reducing the number of small buses on the roads. In some areas, there are no longer any.

MTC initially had a fleet of 100 small buses, which it increased to 200, based on demand from interior areas in the city. Several localities like Pallikaranai, Nanganallur, West Velachery, Chromepet, Guduvanchery, West Mambalam, parts of Saidapet, Mogappair, Moolakadai, Retteri and MKB Nagar benefitted from the introduction of small buses.

Multiple reasons

But now commuters are picking share autos and other modes of transport over MTC’s small buses.

A combination of reasons has led to this state of affairs — the increase in the number of share autos, an inadequate number of small buses, uneconomical routes, hike in wages of drivers and conductors and, to some extent, Chennai Metro beginning to operate its own share autos. A senior MTC official said that, on average, 180 small buses are being operated daily. The main reason for the administration losing interest in operating small buses is that they are no longer financially viable.

M. Raghavan, a resident of Nanganallur, pointed out that the frequency of S85 (Alandur Metro to Velachery) and S11 (Alandur Metro to Moovarasanpet) had been reduced.

Snake found in mid-day meal of government school in Maharashtra

ANI

Published  Feb 1, 2019, 1:24 pm IST

A government school in Nanded came under fire after a snake was found in the mid-day meal that was being served to students.

The incident took place on Thursday in Garagwhan Zilla Parishad primary school located in Hadgaon tehsil of Nanded district (Photo:ANI)

Nanded: A government school in Nanded came under fire after a snake was found in the mid-day meal that was being served to students.

There are no reports so far if any student has consumed the meal.

The incident took place on Thursday in Garagwhan Zilla Parishad primary school located in Hadgaon tehsil of Nanded district after the school staff started serving the 'khichdi', they found the snake in the large vessel.

Soon as the matter came into light, the school administration stopped serving the meal and prevented around 80 girl-student from consuming it.

The parents of girl reached school and demanded the woman who made the meal to be terminated and legal action school be taken against her.

When contacted, the Nanded Education Department officials denied the claims and said that incident never happened. The district administration is yet to take action.

The National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (Mid-Day Meal Scheme) was launched in 1995. The objective of this scheme was to give the boost to the universalisation of primary education and impact on the nutrition of students in primary classes.

Implemented around 1996, the 'khichdi' is part of the weekly nutrition menu for the children in all government schools in the state to discourage dropouts, especially among girls, with over 1.25 crore students benefiting from it daily.

Anna University to conduct supplementary exam for final year students

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | A RAGU RAMAN

PublishedFeb 2, 2019, 3:11 am IST

It further passed another resolution to help the university students who are studying under CBCS.

Anna University

Chennai: Anna University is planning to conduct a supplementary exam for final year students studying under Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) on its four campuses.

The academic council of Anna University relaxed arrear rules for the students studying under CBCS (2017 regulations) in affiliated engineering colleges and allowed them to write arrears immediately following semester exams.

It further passed another resolution to help the university students who are studying under CBCS.

Under the CBCS, if the students failed to clear a subject, they have to reappear along with regular students when that course is offered next time. It means if a student could not clear a course in an odd semester, he or she can only reappear for the exam when the course is offered next year.

"The new rule will help the university students to finish their courses within the four years instead of spending an extra year if they fail to clear the subjects in seventh or eighth semesters," a member of the academic council said.

The Choice Based Credit System was introduced at four campuses of Anna University - College of Engineering, Guindy, Madras Institute of Technology, Chrompet, Alagappa College of Technology and School of Architecture and Planning in Guindy - in 2015.

"The first batch of students studying under the CBCS system now graduated to the fourth year. As per the existing rules, if they fail to clear any subject in seventh or eighth semesters, they have to study an extra year to clear the arrears," sources from the university said.

So, the university plans to introduce supplementary exams for the courses they register in seventh or eighth semesters.

"We will introduce open day revaluation for November/December 2018 exams. If any students fail to clear after the revaluation, we want to give them an opportunity to finish their course in the current year itself," officials from the university said.

Under the open day revaluation, the university plans to conduct the revaluation in front of the students. "Conducting open day revaluation will be a challenging task. We will try that out for odd semester exams (November/December) after getting approval from the Syndicate," they said.

Generally, the students were given offer letters in the campus placements when they study in the seventh or eighth semester.

"This move would help them to finish the courses and retain their employment," professors said. The internal exam marks also will carry over to the supplementary exams.

No negative marking in competitive exams, says Madras high court

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

PublishedFeb 2, 2019, 3:01 am IST

Justice R.Mahadevan gave the ruling while disposing of the petition filed by S.Nelson Prabhakar, a student.

Madras high court

Chennai: The Madras high court has held that the system of negative marking in the competitive examination has to be done away with, in as much as the same perforce requires reconsideration.

Justice R.Mahadevan gave the ruling while disposing of the petition filed by S.Nelson Prabhakar, a student.

The judge said the very system of awarding negative marks is improper and against principles of fairness, equality and equity. Students, who take part in competitive examinations, come from different strata of society. Those hailing from affluent families can afford to take private coaching and enhance their knowledge and techniques and the same cannot be expected from meritorious students coming from economically weaker background.

There has to be a level playing field in examination in general, especially in competitive examination. Negative marking acts a weight behind the mental strength of a student and the student approaches every question with an element of fear, the judge added.

The judge said he/she has to be doubly cautious, while choosing the answer for the question. In other words, a student has to be confident about the answer. Such confidence of knowing each and every answer cannot be expected from the students, meritorious or otherwise. If there was no negative mark, the students were given an opportunity to take a wide thinking and apply intelligent guessing.

This practice of taking an intelligent guess indeed, develops the brain of a student and builds his/her confidence to tackle any situation in future, the judge added.

Tamil Nadu to submit proposal to accomodate 108 Ponnaiyah students

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | J STALIN

PublishedFeb 2, 2019, 3:15 am IST

The Board of Governors also decided to permit the state government to relocate all these students to self financing medical colleges.

Madras high court

Chennai: The Madras high court has directed the state government to submit a fresh proposal within two weeks, to the Board of Governors in Supersession of Medical Council of India for accommodating 108 students of defunct Ponnaiyah Ramajayam Institute of Medical Sciences (PRIMS) in 22 government medical colleges in the state.

A division bench comprising Justices M. Sathyanarayanan and P. Rajamanickam gave the directive while passing interim orders on an appeal filed by the state government, challenging an order of a single judge, directing the state government to accommodate the students of Ponnaiyah medical college in government medical colleges.

The bench said on receipt of such proposal from the state government, the Board of Governors in supersession of MCI, shall consider the said proposal on merits and in accordance with the relevant rules and regulations of the Indian Medical Council Act and forward the same to the ministry of health and family welfare department, Government of India within a further period of two weeks thereafter.

The ministry of health and family welfare of Government of India, on receipt of the said proposal from the Board of Governors, shall consider the same on merits and in accordance with law and pass appropriate orders within a further period of two weeks from the date of receipt of the proposal from the Board of Governors and the decision taken in that regard by the said ministry, shall be kept in a sealed cover and to be produced before this court on March 28, 2019, the bench added.

Additional advocate general Narmada Sampath, appearing for the state submitted that pursuant to an interim order of this court, the state government addressed a communication to the Union government stating that in so far as government medical colleges were concerned, seats were already been filled up and therefore, the government was not in a position to accommodate the students of Ponnaiyah medical college in the second year and 12 self financing medical colleges were willing to accommodate these students and also furnished their feasibility report to accommodate 10 to 15 students in each of the colleges and sought necessary permission for the same.

The Board of Governors also decided to permit the state government to relocate all these students to self financing medical colleges. However, despite such an accommodation, the students moved this court and a single judge passed an order directing the government to accommodate the students in government colleges. Therefore, the present appeal has been filed, she added.

Senior counsels P.Wilson and S.Silambanan submitted that as per the essentiality certificate, in the event of medical colleges fail to provide infrastructure facilities as per MCI norms and fresh admissions were stopped or the college was closed, the state government shall take over the responsibility of the students already admitted in the college and accommodate them in government medical colleges.

The private colleges referred to in the proposal sent by the state government also lack same infrastructural facilities in the event of increase in accommodation to accommodate the students and the correct and true facts have not been brought to the knowledge of MCI as well as the Union government. 108 students were on the street for no fault on their part. Therefore, the directions given by the single judge may not be stayed, they added.

In its order, the bench said on going through the directions given in the impugned order, this court was of the view that a positive direction has been given to the Union government to pass necessary orders increasing the number of seats in government medical colleges and approve the accommodation of students based on the decision of the Board of Governors. The Indian Medical Council Act and rules and regulations framed therein, clog the Medical Council of India as well as ministry concerned to act on the proposal in terms of such statutory provisions and therefore, this court was of the prima facie view that there cannot be any positive direction, directing the said authorities to act in a particular manner.

However, taking into consideration the plight of the students of PRIMS and for no fault on their part as to the misery being undergone by them on account of the fact that PRIMS was no longer functioning on account of lack of infrastructural facilities, this court was of the view that issuance of the above directions would meet the ends of justice, the bench added.

Give guest faculty Rs 50,000 instead of Rs 9,000: UGC to Karnataka government

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked the state government to fix a minimum salary for guest faculty working in government degree colleges and various universities in the state.

Published: 30th January 2019 04:30 AM 

UGC head office (File photo | PTI)
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked the state government to fix a minimum salary for guest faculty working in government degree colleges and various universities in the state.

As per the order issued by the UGC, the state has to fix Rs 1,500 per day or Rs 50,000 per month as remuneration for guest faculty. They are currently getting an honorarium of Rs 9,000-12,000 a month, which is paid once in three months.

Over 12,000 teachers work as guest faculties at government degree colleges and at universities in the state. They had been demanding an increase in the honorarium and fixing it on par with UGC teachers, for which they approached authorities at all levels in the government.

The decision for the UGC order, issued on the basis of the 7th Pay Commission recommendations, was taken in the recently-held 537th meeting. The educational qualifications would be the same as prescribed for the recruitment of assistant professors.

The government and universities have to set up a separate committee comprising four experts for recruitment. However, guest faculties will not be eligible to claim gratuity or provident fund.

These guidelines and the order should be implemented from the 2019-20 academic year, which begins in June.

Thug monkey bites 20, Nagapattinam villagers flee homes and hide in temple

In a real-life episode of man versus wild, at a village in Nagapattinam, 400 people have accepted defeat at the hands of a lone monkey. 

Published: 01st February 2019 01:32 AM 

Monkey photo used for representational purpose only. (Photo | PTI)

By Antony Fernando

Express News Service

NAGAPATTINAM: In a real-life episode of man versus wild, at a village in Nagapattinam, 400 people have accepted defeat at the hands of a lone monkey.

Many residents of the Thennalakudi village in Sirkazhi were forced to leave their homes on Thursday and find shelter elsewhere, thanks to a rogue monkey, which has bitten over 20 villagers and injured dozens of cattle in the last 20 days.

“My 65-year-old grandmother was bitten by the monkey a few days ago,” says S Revathi, one of the villagers.


“The wound, on her right hand, was so deep that her veins had been severed. We took her to Puducherry government hospital but the doctors there suggested that we take her to a private facility,” says Revathi.

On Thursday, a third of the village locked up their houses and took shelter inside a Kaliamman temple on the outskirts of the village. The rest remained inside their houses.

“People are scared of even taking their cattle out for grazing,” says village head TV Kaliyamurthy. While forest officials tried to capture the simian thrice, with nets and traps, it managed to give them all a miss. They have now set up a camp in Thennalakudi to catch the monkey.

“Judging by its worn appearance and intense dislike of humans, the monkey has probably escaped from captivity after suffering abuse,” says ranger Karuppasamy.

Do away with negative marks in IIT entrance exams: Madras HC

The Judge directed the CBSE to communicate this order to the National Testing Agency, Department of Higher Education.

Published: 02nd February 2019 02:51 AM 

Madras High Court (File | EPS)

By Harish Murali

Express News Service

CHENNAI: In what definitely comes as a huge relief to a number of students who lose their entry to prestigious institutions as the IITs due to negative marking, the Madras High Court on Friday ruled against negative marks and said the same should be done away with, immediately.

Justice R Mahadevan, while hearing a petition of a student, S Nelson Prabakaran, said, “This court is of the considered opinion that the system of negative marking in no way, helps the examiner to analyse the intelligence, aptitude or knowledge of the students in any manner. As such, this Court has no hesitation to hold that the system of negative marking has to be done away with, inasmuch as, in the considered opinion of this Court, the same perforce requires reconsideration.”

S Nelson applied in IIT and appeared for mains and was not selected for Advanced Test. The petitioner stated in his petition that he lost in Mains by scoring 47 marks and the cut-off marks were 50.


The counsel for the petitioner, submitted the answer sheet in the court, where Nelson has actually scored 72 and 25 marks were reduced for wrong answers by awarding negative marks.

The petitioner also submitted that the Medical Council of Canada Evaluation Examination, CMC Vellore, The Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission Test, Canada, and MCI Rules and Regulations for MBBS in Russia, do carry out entrance examinations but not the negative marking system.

The counsel for CBSE said that multiple options are being given to each of the candidates to choose from and it was also brought to the notice of this Court that the CBSE is no longer the authority concerned and it is the National Testing Agency, Department of Higher Education controlled by the Human Resources department.

Judge R Mahadevan observed that, “Negative marking introduces concern about students’ risk taking, the attitude which is unrelated to the skill or knowledge level of the student. Furthermore, there is no method available with the CBSE or with any other agency to distinguish from guessed correct answer and a known correct answer. It is compounded by their inability to distinguish between an omission deriving from ignorance and deriving from risk aversion. Whenever proven knowledge is considered important, creativity and innovations are equally considered important.”

The Judge directed the CBSE to communicate this order to the National Testing Agency, Department of Higher Education.

US fake univ racket: Tracking devices fitted on desi youths

Sudipta.Sengupta@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:02.02.2019

In a move termed “grossly deplorable” by local attorneys and residents, the United States police on Thursday strapped tracking devices on several Indian students caught in the ‘University of Farmington’ fiasco. This has been done to restrict the movement of the students, while federal agents probe their immigration status, sources said.

Speaking to TOI from Atlanta, legal consultant Phani Bobba said: “A student reached out to me from Fremont, California saying that they tied a tracker around her ankle and instructed her to stay within a certain radius. She was given a map and asked not to cross the defined boundaries. They also gave her batteries to ensure that the device is charged.” Prior to this, this student from Telangana was detained for over 14 hours.

Reacting to this development, members of the Telugu Association of North America (TANA) said the move was “ridiculous” and “grossly unjust.” A similar step was taken in 2011 when dozens of Indian students were detained for being enrolled in the sham ‘Tri-Valley University’ in Pleasanton, California. The move had led to a massive outcry both at home and in the US, with Indian authorities demanding that the radio tags be removed immediately. The National Human Rights Commission had even submitted a representation to the external affairs ministry, pointing out how it amounted to violation of the students’ human rights.

TANA members have met Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Indian ambassador to the US who was on his maiden trip to Atlanta, along with consul general of India (Atlanta), Swati Vijay Kulkarni. “They promised that they were working closely with the concerned authorities and will resolve the issue in a fast and amicable manner,” said TANA secretary Anjaiah Chowdary Lavu.

Telangana NRI Parents Association has condemned the setting up a fake varsity. Parents claim that it may cause collateral damage to students and their families. “Majority students who sought admission in University of Farmington belong to middle class families. Students detained by the US authorities are innocent as they are purposely trapped in the sting operation. When the government itself touts the university to be registered and recognized, how is it the students’ fault?” questioned Hima Bindu, working president of Telangana NRI Parents Association.

The parents are now planning a protest and a meeting in the city during the weekend against department of homeland security in the US.



IN THE DOCK

Half of all engg colleges may face seat cuts from AICTE

Many Colleges Fail To Meet Guidelines

TIMES NEWS NETWORK
02.02.2019

If the All India Council for Technical Education goes ahead with its warning of reducing seats in government technical institutions for faculty shortage and lapses in infrastructure, about half of the institutes in Tamil Nadu would face the cut.

While the state-run institutes meet the infrastructural standards set by AICTE, the government polytechnics as well as engineering colleges terribly fall short of faculty. In November last year AICTE had conducted inspections and issued notices to 18 out of 46 polytechnics and six out of ten engineering colleges for shortcomings. While AICTE might do a second round of fact checking, these institutions might be the first to face the music. In addition to these 24 institutions, there are about ten more polytechnic colleges that run the show with temporary staff.

Against this backdrop, AICTE chairman Anil Sahasrabudhe had said the body would reduce 40,000 seats in government technical institutions across the country as penalty for the lapses. Though the exact number of seats that would be cut short in Tamil Nadu is yet to be worked out, sources in AICTE said that there would be a 10 to 20 % seat cut in institutions that fall short of norms.

“Based on the issues such as faculty shortage and absence of laboratories, we reduce 10% or 20% seats. This is to make the institutions recruit faculty members or invest in improving infrastructure. If the institutions comply, we will give them the seats back,” Anil Sahasrabudhe told TOI. He said AICTE was yet to work out number of seats to be cut short in Tamil Nadu.

In Coimbatore, of three government technical institutions, two have acute shortage of staff. Out of 127 faculty posts in government polytechnic college in Coimbatore, 60% of posts are managed with temporary faculty members who work in a consolidated pay scale of Rs15,000 per month, said sources. The scenario was worse in polytechnic in other parts of the state with temporary faculty constituting up to 80% of the total faculty strength. ``More than 1,050 polytechnic lecturer posts were in the state vacant. Currently among the 46 government polytechnic colleges in the state, after the recent retirements, around 1,300 lecturer posts would be vacant,’’ a college principal said.

Recruitments have been put on hold by Teachers Recruitment Board since 2017, allegedly after a complaints of irregularities in exams in the past, sources said.

Principal of GCE Bodinayakanur S Jayanthi, about 70% of the full-time positions for teaching faculty was only filled in the college. “But compared to the initial years, the number of faculty is better now,” she said. Jayanthi added that there was a shortage especially in the senior positions.

Inspite of the shortcomings, the government colleges are most sought after by students and almost all seats get filled due to infrastructure and affordable fee. “The seats are totally filled during the admissions, every year. For rural students, government colleges are the most sought-after because the fees is very less. In our college, per annum tuition fee is only around ₹7,000,” Jayanthi said.

However, some colleges do not get filled completely. For instance none of the six government institutions in Trichy region could get all the seats filled. There are less takers for engineering offered through Tamil medium, so such seats do not get filled fully, said a college principal.

Institution authorities said that they have sought the state government to fill all the vacant permanent posts. ``For now, AICTE should consider the fact that temporary staff we have roped in are as good as permanent staff and put on hold decision to cut seats,’’ said a principal.

With inputs from filed by Vishnu Swaroop, C R Balajee and Gokul R

‘It’s Of No Help, Cripples Intuition Of Students’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  02.02.2019

Intelligent guessing is an art. One cannot be sure about all things at all times. In other words, negative marking does not allow a student to develop an element of guessing, Justice R Mahadevan of the Madras high court said while directing the National Testing Agency to consider doing away with the concept of negative marks in competitive exams.

“By awarding negative marks, the intuition of a student is crippled. Everyone comes across a situation in life where decisions are taken purely out of intuition. It may work or may not, but, an element of boldness comes along, while making a decision through intuition. The threat of negative marks will never allow intuition to grow in a student,” Justice Mahadevan said.

Wild guessing is another type of guessing. While intelligent guessing requires an amount of prior knowledge on the subject, wild guessing is the decision taken just like that.

In a competitive examination, the students come with varied degrees of preparation. As such, when a student is not sure about the answer, he or she attempts intelligent guessing. This type of guessing should be permitted and encouraged, as it would help the students in the future, the court added.

Multiple-choice tests are meant to assess the knowledge and not supposed to be concerned about behavioural/attitude related aspects of the examinee, the judge said. “Therefore, this court is of the considered opinion that the system of negative marking in no way helps the examiner to analyse the intelligence, aptitude or knowledge of the students in any manner. As such, this court has no hesitation to hold that the system of negative marking has to be done away with, inasmuch as, in the considered opinion of this court, the same perforce requires reconsideration.”

Justice Mahadevan passed the order on a plea moved by S Nelson Prabhakar, a JEE (Main) 2013 candidate, seeking revaluation of his exam. Eventually, he was disqualified and was not allowed to appear for JEE (Advance) 2013. The main reason for his low marks was found to be negative marking awarded for every wrong answer.

Submitting that the facts of the present case has brought to light the tyranny of awarding negative marks, advocate A Arulmozhi said, “It is time for a judicious scrutiny of awarding negative marks by agencies which conduct competitive examinations.”

Drawing the attention of the court to the admission process in countries such as the UK, Canada, Australia and Russia, Arulmozhi contended that the most advanced countries do not follow the system of negative marking.

Law varsity scam: HC asks staff to file affidavits over appt

Sureshkumar.K@timesgroup.com

Chennai:02.02.2019

To weed out unqualified professors and lecturers at Tamil Nadu Dr Ambedkar Law University, the Madras high court on Friday directed all teaching staff at the varsity to furnish sworn affidavits explaining the terms of their appointment, including their qualifications.

Justice S M Subramaniam said the court would scrutinise each affidavit independently to check if the appointment was as per norms laid down by the University Grants Commission (UGC), warning that those appointed due to favouritism would face consequences.

The judge passed the order on a plea moved by D Sankar, a professor at the varsity. The petitioner sought the court to remove unqualified people from service. “Thereis a general allegation that students do not respect teachers. If the teachers are unqualified and can’t take classes properly, how would they (students) respect (teachers)? One should command respect, notdemandit,” hesaid.

The judge added that the court could see there had been irregular appointments made outof favouritism.After two years of such appointments on contractual basis, proposals would be sent on the sly to the government and such person’s service would be regularised, the court said.

Expressing its disappointment,thecourtsaiditisconcerned aboutthewelfareof thestudents and the institution.

The judge noted that former vice-chancellor of the university PVanangamudi,whois a party respondent to the plea, disputed the qualification of the current VC Tamma Suryanarayana Sastry and directed the UGC to file a report on the educational and other qualifications required for the post.

The court then impleaded all serving teaching staff as party respondents and directed them to file the affidavits by February 20.

HC asks for new plan to help MBBS students

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:02.02.2019

The Madras high court on Friday passed an interim order directing the government to submit a fresh proposal for accommodating 108 students of the now defunct Ponnaiyah Ramajayam Medical College in 22 government medical colleges in the state.

A division bench of Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice P Rajamanickam passed the interim order on the appeal moved by the state against the order of a single judge directing to accommodate the 108 students in government colleges.

The board of governors shall consider the proposal in accordance with the rules of the Indian Medical Council Act and forward the same to the Union ministry of health and family welfare within two weeks, the bench said.

The ministry shall pass orders on merit and produce the same in a sealed cover before the court by March  28. The entire process should be concluded within six weeks, the court said.

Opposing the appeal, senior counsels for the students P Wilson and Silambannan submitted that since the state has given an undertaking to the Centre that it takes the responsibility of the students in case private medical colleges close down, it should accommodate the students.

DECODING THE BUDGET

20,19...MODI GOES FULL STEAM

Ahead Of Polls, NDA Woos Both Urban & Rural India—Middle Class, Unorganised Workers, And Farmers

TEAM TOI  02.02.2019

Finance minister Piyush Goyal on Friday served out sops to large sections of the population with a sense of purpose you normally witness at railway station tea stalls. With Lok Sabha elections due to be announced in a few weeks, the urgency was understandable, particularly after the Congress fired an opening salvo with its farm loan waivers in three states and the promise of a minimum income guarantee scheme across the country.

The Modi government responded with a budget that was interim only in name. It had a Rs 6,000 per annum direct income transfer for small and marginal farmers – those with holdings below 2 hectares or about 5 acres – drawing largely from a scheme in Telangana. The tax liability on those with incomes up to Rs 5 lakh was cut to zero. And there was plenty more for other segments that matter when it counts, in the big daddy of elections come April-May.

Prominent among these was the promise of a Rs 3,000 per month pension for those working in the unorganised sector when they reach 60 in return for a monthly contribution of Rs 55 to Rs 100 depending on their age when they join the scheme. Coming after three large medical, life and accident insurance schemes, these represent a conscious approach to leverage Aadhaar and Jan Dhan to widen the social security net.

In a departure from the past, the government decided to immediately roll out the schemes. While the pension plan will be launched on February 15, the income support for farmers is effective December 2018. The break from the tradition of outgoing governments not making major tax changes was justified by Goyal who argued that relief for certain sections could not wait. Besides, he maintained, this was no more than a continuation of the NDA government’s policies.

The interest subvention scheme currently available to farmers has been extended to fisheries, poultry and dairies. That means they can get up to 5% off on their interest rate if they repay loans on time. The coastal regions and eastern India, many of which have not been BJP strongholds but are very much on the party’s radar for 2019, were clearly the focus of this measure.



No word on unemployment

Unsurprisingly, the cow figured, too, with the promise of a Kamdhenu (the mythical cow that never ran out of milk) board to deal with everything to do with cattle from productivity to their welfare. Later, at a press conference, Goyal invoked the directive principles in the Constitution to deflect any possible criticism that this was part of a saffron agenda.

The relatively well-off middle class wasn’t entirely overlooked either with standard deduction on income tax being hiked from ₹40,000 to ₹50,000. Within the middle class, there was something for senior citizens – by raising the TDS limit on bank and post office deposits as well as rental income, the FM hoped to make their life easier by reducing paperwork. The budget also gave homeowners much to be happy about.

The budget speech, which lasted about an hour and 45 minutes, saw the treasury benches led by Modi repeatedly thumping their tables while the opposition, Rahul Gandhi in particular, wore a sullen look.

It wasn’t just about goodies for specific constituencies. Much of it was a showcasing of five years of the Modi government – from low inflation rates and high growth rates to toilets, gas connections and bijli for the masses.

The farm crisis was implicitly acknowledged and sought to be addressed in the form of the income support scheme for farmers. Interestingly, for the other big problem that many consider the Achilles heel of the government – lack of jobs – the approach was to assert that new sectors were creating jobs.

Like Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant a day earlier, Goyal said it simply wasn’t possible that the world’s fastest growing large economy wasn’t creating enough new jobs.

The budget speech also contained an enumeration of the government’s 10-point vision for the next decade. Whether this was meant to convey the confidence that the NDA would be back in office come May or to use the occasion to highlight its manifesto is anybody’s guess.

What’s clear is that the government believes it has moved a step closer to securing sabka saath for its reelection bid.