Sex workers use tech to beat pandemic blues

Sex workers use tech to beat pandemic blues

Petlee.Peter@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru: 19.09.2020

Mallika (31), who also has the street name Rani, has had a regular spot near the Majestic bus terminal for the past six years. She would ply her trade with travellers and locals and used her earnings to feed her two children. But the Covid crisis and lockdown left her out of work and penniless. She’s one of the many commercial sex workers who lost their livelihood due to the pandemic after social distancing and avoiding physical contact became a norm.

Well-paid, English-speaking sex workers made the shift to remote technology early during the lockdown. Conventional workers, those on the streets, have not been so lucky and almost driven into starvation. Now, they too are taking the tech route to make ends meet and some NGOs in the city are training them to handle smartphones for sex work, not just to attract clients but also stay vigilant with its safety features and tracking technology.

With Covid-19 keeping away clients, sex workers in city have started using online options and host one-on-ones through apps

Most women cover faces during sessions; recording not allowed

Kurian George is a Kochi-based spice trader who used to frequent Bengaluru with his friends. He usually stays at a posh hotel in the CBD. They are friends with a courtesan who goes by the name Laila and her friends who meet George and his friends at his hotel suite for parties often. “It was monthly entertainment for me and my friends but the pandemic nixed all our travel plans,” he said.

He and his friends started engaging with Laila via with video-telephony app Zoom. She said: “This is my business and I need to hold on to my regulars or they’ll look for other options. During the lockdown, I began a Zoom session and sent invites to clients for single and group sessions.”

According to Laila, many co-workers also started online options and oneon-ones are often through Whatspp, Telegram or Kik Messenger while group meets are hosted on Zoom, Skype and Google Teams. The steamy sessions unfold often with women covering their faces with strict no-no to recording by the receiver. She accepts payment in advance through e-wallet options.

Elsewhere, a transgender person from Ulsoor (street name Saroja) is an active member on gay dating apps. “I used to stand on MG Road but Covid completely killed my livelihood. Then, one of my regulars introduced me to video chatting and helped me open an account on Paytm,” says the 36-year-old who has been meeting clients online through Whatsapp video. Saroja introduced three friends to online interactions and receiving payments through e-wallets in advance.

Survey among workers

Solidarity foundation, a Bengalurubased NGO, conducted a survey among women sex workers on cellphones they own and their knowledge on smartphone usage. “We did among 100 workers, mostly from the lower sections of the society, and found many aren’t very savvy with smartphones but most received demands from clients to use it for online interactions,” said executive director Shubha Chacko. Her team has been training them to use smartphones not just for work but also safety through apps to send location information to peers. “They’re often secretive about their profession and use of smartphones is a double-edged sword. We teach them pros and cons and to remain vigilant and not fall for recordings or photography,” she adds. Nisha Gulur, coordinator, Karnataka Sex Workers Union, an initiative to tutor workers on smartphone usage to protect their livelihood has been planned.

Row erupts as Google drops Paytm from app store, then brings it back

Row erupts as Google drops Paytm from app store, then brings it back

Digbijay.Mishra@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:19.09.2020

High drama unfolded on Friday afternoon as Google removed mobile payment app Paytm from its Play Store, citing breach of its gambling restrictions, before bringing it back again by evening. Paytm’s fantasy gaming application was also removed ahead of the start of the IPL on Saturday, and was not back till the filing of this report.

The removal of Paytm, which takes away the ability to get new users, elicited widespread disapproval among India’s startup ecosystem as the tech giant’s unit Google Pay competes with it in India.

Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma, who said Google was acting like “judge, jury and executioner”, told TOI it was notified in the morning that app was being taken down due to a cricket sticker promo on payments it was running. In the promo, a user who collects five stickers gets a cashback.

‘Google misusing its influence on internet eco’

Many such schemes run across other payment platforms as well. It had also received warnings for promoting Paytm First Games, a sports fantasy platform, on its main application thrice. As Paytm’s app was taken down, Google, without naming Paytm, said in a blog post that it doesn’t allow online casinos or support any unregulated gambling apps that facilitate sports betting. “This includes if an app leads consumers to an external website that allows them to participate in paid tournaments to win real money or cash prizes, it is a violation of our policies,” the US-based internet search giant said. Other online fantasy platforms like Dream11, MPL and My11Circle have also not been available on Google’s Play Store for the last couple of years due to its policy.

Sources said Google’s action was led by Paytm promoting its fantasy gaming unit though its main app. “They (Paytm) were promoting links of Paytm First Games within the main Paytm app. If you click on it, it will take you to the fantasy gaming platform of Paytm, which includes betting. That’s not allowed as per Play Store policy. That's why the app had to be taken down," a person close to the development said. While betting is not allowed in India, various state high courts have called fantasy sports a game of “skill” and not of “chance”, making it legal as of now.

But even as Google does not allow fantasy gaming apps on its app store, these platforms are allowed to advertise on its search engine, which several experts have pointed out as contradictory policy.

The development for Paytm First Games came at a critical time as it has outlined a Rs 300-crore marketing and advertising budget for the next 12 months, starting with IPL. Removal from Google Play Store blocks its main channel to acquire new customers.

Many in the startup ecosystem have questioned if Google’s moves are indicative of misusing its influence on India’s internet economy. Unlike markets like the US where Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS have equal market share, in India the former rules with 90-95% share of smartphones.

No pay for mths, man leaves two toddlers on road

No pay for mths, man leaves two toddlers on road

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:  19.09.2020

A 35-year-old man left his two toddlers on the road after he did not receive his salary for the last three months. A heart-wrenching video of the two toddlers crawling on the road in Civil Lines went viral on social media. Police said they brought the children to the police station and traced the family after which they were restored.

The man, Mukesh (name changed), works as a clerk for a cooperative society in Delhi.

Speaking to TOI, Mukesh said: “I had been regularly going to the administrative head’s office demanding my wages. I do not have money to buy milk for my children and today when I could not meet him again, I left the kids outside his house and left. I don’t know how the kids reached the road.”

“A call was received around 3pm informing police about two male infants on the road. A team reached the spot and the children were brought to the police station. With the help of woman constables, they were fed,” said a senior police officer.

Schools won’t reopen at least till Oct 5

 Schools won’t reopen at least till Oct 5

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:19.09.2020

Schools in Delhi will remain closed till October 5, the government announced on Friday. Hence, under Unlock 4.0, even students of classes IX to XII will not be called to school for consultation from September 21, as suggested by the Centre’s guidelines.

The directorate of education earlier sent a communication to the schools following the central guidelines, but education minister Manish Sisodia had said the final decision would be taken closer to the date.

According to a DoE order issued to all schools on Friday, “Online classes and teaching-learning activities will continue as usual and the heads of schools are authorised to call teachers/staff for smooth conduct” of any work. The institutes have been asked to inform guardians through school management committee members, text messages and phone calls.

Ameeta Mulla Wattal, principal of Springdales School, Pusa Road, said she would call teachers to schools. “The CBSE registration for classes X and XII will have to be completed,” said Wattal.

Following the previous communication, many private schools had conducted a survey among parents and most of them had said they were not in favour of children returning to school. Most institutes wanted students who will appear for the Boards next year to come for one-to-one interaction with teachers and practical classes.

“The order has been changing from time to time on the basis of Covid-19. The cases are still on the rise, parents are not comfortable about sending children,” said S K Bhattacharya, chairman of the action committee, an umbrella body of private schools.

It will be a welcome step by private schools if physical classes resume after October 5, Bhattacharya said. “During this period, the government should work on formulating practical SOPs for schools — regular checking, whether buses should be allowed.”

DOE ORDER ON FRIDAY SAYS

Online classes and teaching and learning activities will continue and the heads of schools are authorised to call teachers or staff for smooth conduct of any work

 Govt permits mutual, request transfers

Chennai:19.09.2020

After putting on hold general transfers of its staff in the present fiscal year to minimise expenditure on transfer travel expenses, the Tamil Nadu government has allowed mutual transfers and request transfers of its staff, subject to certain conditions.

Facing a huge shortfall in receipts due to Covid-19, the state ordered a series of measures to curtail avoidable items of expenditure during the current fiscal. “However, appropriate authorities have been allowed to consider mutual transfers and request transfers, subject to the condition that this shall not pave way for administrative exigencies later,” said an order. TNN

Land sharks circle unwary owners along OMR, ECR

Land sharks circle unwary owners along OMR, ECR

Gangs Work In Connivance With Officials, Politicians

Yogesh.Kabirdoss@timesgroup.com  19.09.2020

People who own land along East Coast Road (ECR) and Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) are a worried lot as there has been a spate of attempts since November 2019 to usurp their holdings by organised gangs with political connections.

These gangs connive with officials to create fake land titles to sell off land without the actual owners’ knowledge or, in some cases, use strongarm tactics to force land owners to sell.

Data sourced by TOI revealed that the Tiruporur sub registrar office (SRO) got at least 25 complaints about fraudulent property registrations in the past one year. Worryingly, multiple sources and stakeholders pointed fingers at officials at the SRO, which has jurisdiction over most of ECR and OMR, saying deals with forged documents are not possible without official connivance.

Officers in police stations along the two stretches admit that 90% of all complaints and crimes pertains to land disputes of different sizes.

Recently, the Chengalpet district police wrote to the antiland grabbing cell to investigate two cases. One was a fraudulent registration at the Tiruporur SRO and the other a case of threats to a landowner to usurp two acres at Thaiyur on OMR, a couple of months ago.

Most of the vacant land parcels along ECR and OMR are owned by people who live in the city as also outside. Such absentee landlords are the prime prey of the land sharks.

A city-based businessman with a huge land parcel near a beach near Kovalam says a phone call from a security guard of a neighbouring property alerted him to a bid to grab his property recently. “The gang, which had political connections, went to the extent of measuring the land for construction three months ago. My land was saved from the encroachers thanks to timely intervention by police,” said the man, who wanted to be anonymous.

This landowner says the real danger is that the mafia is able to access details of the land parcels it targets from the registration department.

Police say there are at least 10 large organised gangs based in Kannagi Nagar, Chengalpet, Kalpakkam, Maduranthakam and Sriperumbudur. They have stepped up their activity as the Covid pandemic lockdown has hit other sources of income.

These gangs also instigate local residents who had sold their land cheap years ago to outsiders to demand more money now that property prices have shot up along ECR and OMR. If the present owners refuse, they are threatened by gangsters.

“One such case was reported and it has been transferred to anti-land grabbing cell for investigation. In another case, fake Aadhaar cards were used to create a fake power of attorney to facilitate sale of a property on OMR,” said a senior police officer in Chengalpet district.

Pandemic-weary Chennaiites now eager to fly out

 Pandemic-weary Chennaiites now eager to fly out

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:19.09.2020

As expectations are high on resuming scheduled international services next month or in November, travel and tour companies have started getting requests for advance booking for November, December and January from people who want to travel for business and trade and also for honeymoon.

People are ready to travel after getting stuck at home for five months and the preference is for destinations like Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and to countries in the Middle East when restrictions are removed. Airlines and travel agents believe that there will be more flights and fewer restrictions in November. Initial passengers will be traders and those traveling for business, social visits. It may take longer for leisure travel and MICE to resume.

Only Maldives and Dubai are now open for leisure travel. But only those who are returning for work or to join with family are travelling.

Sriharan Balan of Madura Travels said, “People are ready to travel and have started to make enquiries to make advance booking. A few wanted to travel for honeymoon for weddings planned in December and January. We have got bookings but they have asked us for time to pay because they want to see if there will be further lifting of restrictions.”

An airport official said that airlines also feel that restrictions may be lifted by foreign countries by mid next month and that travelling will be back to normal by November or December. “Airlines are pushing the government to resume scheduled flights as countries are moving towards reopening travel with precautions. Online portals have started to display fares from October onwards but airlines are expecting advance booking for November, December and January”, he added.

And probably to cash in on the trend, one-way fares are high. Tickets are in the range of ₹8,500 to ₹13,000 to Kuala Lumpur ₹8,700 to ₹12,000 to Bangkok, ₹7,000 to Singapore.

Basheer Ahmed of Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) “People, mostly traders, are ready to travel but need for quarantine and need to pay for institutional quarantine upfront during booking of the trip is a stumbling block. Countries like Singapore insist that quarantine charges should be paid which is not viable for advance booking. Many countries are going to ask for a certificate. Leisure travellers may not like these rules.”

Travel and tour companies have started getting requests for advance booking for November, December and January

Kerala HC Directs A Private School To Not Expel Students For Non-Payment Of Fees For Online Classes [Read Order]

Kerala HC Directs A Private School To Not Expel Students For Non-Payment Of Fees For Online Classes [Read Order]: The Kerala High Court, taking note of the rather distressing situation that has gripped everyone on account of COVID-19 restrictions, restrained a private school from expelling students, merely

UGC gives approval for B. Voc. and M. Voc. courses

 UGC gives approval for B. Voc. and M. Voc. courses

18/09/2020

 Staff Reporter Madurai

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has given approval to The American College Community College to offer four Bachelor of Vocation (B. Voc.) courses and four Masters of Vocation (M. Voc.) programmes.

The college was granted permission to establish a community college in 2015, according to a press release from Principal M. Davamani Christober.

The new courses

The new B.Voc courses that are given approval are Horticulture, Industrial Biotechnology, Data Science, and Health and Sanitation. The M. Voc. courses that are given approval are Aquaculture, Medical Lab Technology, Food Processing and Preservation and Media Technology.

A professor of the college said anyone who had cleared Class 12 examinations can apply for the B. Voc. courses.

“On completion of first year of B. Voc., they will be given diploma certificates. If they complete the second year, they will get advanced diploma certificates. This is an additional benefit,” he said.

These courses, which give importance to entrepreneurship, will be highly beneficial for the students. There is no age limit for these courses, said a press release issued here on Thursday.

Plasma donation begins at Salem GH

Plasma donation begins at Salem GH

18/09/2020

STAFF REPORTER

The Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital received its first plasma donation on Wednesday.

Though plasma therapy treatment is not provided at the hospital, it has been accorded permission to receive plasma donations from patients recovered from COVID-19 disease which will be used for plasma therapy treatment at permitted centres in the State. Hospital authorities said a doctor, who recovered from the disease, was the first donor.

R. Balajinathan, Dean, said that equipment worth ₹40 lakh has been set up at the hospital for plasma donation.

Doctors said donors must be within 18-65 years of age and should not be suffering from diseases. A patient can donate plasma from 14th day of testing negative for COVID-19 disease, doctors said.

Suriya will change his stance on NEET after results, says Annamalai

 Suriya will change his stance on NEET after results, says Annamalai

18/09/2020

 Staff ReporterCoimbatore/Namakkal

BJP State vice-president K. Annamalai on Thursday claimed that actor Suriya, who issued a statement condemning the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), will change his stance once the results of the test are declared.

He participated in the 70th birthday celebrations of Prime Minister Narendra Modi organised here. Speaking to the mediapersons, he said that the results of NEET will be the answer for Mr. Suriya as the questions this year were largely covered by the State board textbooks. He termed the recent suicides of NEET aspirants in different parts of the State as “unfortunate” and alleged that a “false image” of the test was constructed. Mr. Annamalai condemned the DMK and other Opposition parties for allegedly politicising this issue.

On a question regarding the 142nd birth anniversary of Dravidar Kazhagam founder Periyar E.V. Ramasamy, Mr. Annamalai said that although Periyar was “a leader who cannot be ignored,” the BJP cannot agree with all his views. Regarding the AIADMK-BJP alliance, he said that differences within an alliance are “natural.”

The people of Tamil Nadu are in favour of the three-language formula proposed in the National Education Policy (NEP 2020) despite Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami asserting that only the two-language formula will continue to be implemented in the State, Mr. Annamalai claimed.

‘Stalin can’t stop NEET’

BJP State vice-president V.P. Duraisamy said that DMK leader M.K. Stalin will not be able to stop National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).

Speaking to reporters after taking part in the birthday celebrations of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Namakkal, Mr. Duraisamy said, “NEET is conducted so that qualified candidates are selected for medical education.”

He said that the party would contest the byelection to Kanyakumari Lok Sabha 

Govt officials told to pay Rs 20K for deficiency in service

Govt officials told to pay Rs 20K for deficiency in service

TNN | Sep 18, 2020, 04.50 AM IST

Tirunelveli: The consumer grievances redressal forum in Tirunelveli district has directed the sub-registrar, tahsildar, corporation assistant commissioner and surveyor to pay Rs 20,000 as compensation to a consumer for deficiency in service by not providing patta transfer and not partitioning a property for which the complainant had paid the fees in September 2015.

Forum president K Devadass and members S Sivanmoorthi and M Muthulakshmi also directed the officials concerned to ensure that the patta transfer and sub-division work for which the petitioner approached the forum is done in a month’s time. The compensation includes Rs 15,000 fine and Rs 5,000 for legal expenses.

Advocate A Brammanayagam, who appeared for the petitioner Pathumuthu Joharal, 34, of Palayamkottai, said the petitioner paid Rs 23,225 for registering a piece of land in her name at the registrar office in Kokkirakulam, Tirunelveli, on September 4, 2015.

She also paid Rs 60 for name transfer but the process got delayed. A year after it was not done, she started legally approaching the issue and at this stage the papers moved from the office of the registrar to the tahsildar.

“The papers from the registrar office are to be sent to the taluk office, from where the tahsildar sends it to the assistant commissioner for Palayamkottai in Tirunelveli Corporation. It has to then be sent to the city surveyor. But all these did not take place and the petitioner suffered humiliation at various stages,” the counsel said.

Proof of customary divorce is valid in proceedings against bigamy charges: HC

Proof of customary divorce is valid in proceedings against bigamy charges: HC

TNN | Sep 18, 2020, 04.49 AM IST

Madurai: Observing that proof of customary divorce is a valid defence in departmental proceedings against bigamy charges, the Madras high court set aside the punishment imposed on a policeman.

The court was hearing the petition filed by Sudalaimani who joined service as grade II police constable and was subsequently promoted as head constable in 2008. During his service, the petitioner married Muthammal alias Muthulakshmi in 1996 and has two children. In 2007, the petitioner married Jeevarathinam, a sub inspector of police.

A charge-memo was issued to the petitioner over bigamy charges, and after departmental inquiry, he was demoted from head constable to grade one police constable in 2014, citing that he had violated rule 23(1)(b) of the Tamil Nadu Subordinate Police Officers Conduct Rules,1964.

Justice R M T Teekaa Raman observed that the core question to be decided in this case is that whether the plea of customary divorce is a valid defence in the departmental proceedings action initiated for bigamy. The judge noted that the statement by the petitioner’s first wife Muthammal assumes significance in view of the certain admissions made by her to the inquiry officer.

Muthammal had categorically stated that due to a misunderstanding, a customary divorce was held between them as per the customs prevailing in the community and the same was executed in writing as a marriage dissolution deed in 2003. The judge observed that Muthammal had not filed the complaint against the petitioner and it was Jeevarathinam’s brother who had given the complaint since he had a civil dispute with his mother.

The judge observed that disciplinary proceedings initiated for bigamy could have been maintainable even if second marriage is contracted with the knowledge of the first wife and even if third party gives a complaint. However, plea of customary divorce is a valid defence in a departmental proceedings initiated for misconduct of bigamy if the delinquent officer proves the execution of customary divorce, which the petitioner has been able to do so in this case.

The court set aside the punishment observing that the authorities had chosen to give a finding that the remarriage of petitioner with Jeevarathinam was not solemnized or registered in a proper manner.

People crowd Perur ghat on Mahalaya Amavasya

People crowd Perur ghat on Mahalaya Amavasya

TNN | Sep 18, 2020, 04.59 AM IST

Coimbatore: Large number of people thronged Perur ghat on Mahalaya Amavasya on Thursday, despite officials instructing them not to gather along the river bank.

Since people failed to heed to announcements in public address system to maintain social distancing, they were warned and sent away by police.

The district administration had urged people not to gather in places such as Perur ghat to perform rituals along the Noyyal river bank in view of the pandemic. On their part, authorities of Perur Patteeswarar temple, had asked people not to throng the temple or the ghat.

However, people came in droves to Perur and gathered near the Noyyal ghat, a traditional place where the rituals are performed for the dead.

People thronged the river bank, Vinayaga temple near the ghat and the Amman thoppu area, where they performed the rituals and made offerings to the departed ancestors.

After that, they gathered in front of the Vinayaga temple, ignoring social distancing norms. Police personnel, who were deployed to control the crowd, warned people not to throng the temple. When their warnings were not heeded, police sent them away.

Gullible Tamil Nadu villagers gave bank and Aadhaar details to ‘scamsters’

Gullible Tamil Nadu villagers gave bank and Aadhaar details to ‘scamsters’

TNN | Sep 16, 2020, 04.58 AM IST

SALEM: In March this year, a group of villagers of Pethanaickenpalayam near Attur in Salem district were sitting around in the village square when two men approached them. They told the villagers a new government scheme would give them Rs 2,000 every four months. “We assumed they were government staff. They asked for our Aadhaar and some people’s bank account details,’’ said T Masilamani, a villager.

The two men photographed Aadhaar cards using their phones, collected bank account details and left. Six months later, 77 of 163 PM Kisan scheme beneficiaries from Pethanaickenpalayam have come under the scanner of government agencies as ‘ineligible beneficiaries’ of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM – Kisan) scheme. They have been informed by panchayat authorities to return the ₹2,000 they have received under the scheme.

Even two villagers who say they don’t have bank accounts have been asked to pay up.

Villagers without bank accounts also entangled

P Kuppusamy, 53, and S Rajendran, 58, told TOI they had submitted their Aadhaar details, hoping the state would consider their names too on compassionate grounds.

“We don’t even have bank accounts. But the panchayat officials are saying ₹2,000 was credited into our accounts and are asking us to return the money,’’ said Kuppusamy. TOI could not independently verify if they had bank accounts. The list of ineligible beneficiaries on the government website had several Kuppusamys and Rajendrans from Pethanaickenpalayam.

Collector S ARaman saidthe issue of villagers without bank accounts being added as beneficiaries has come to his notice. “That is exactly the problem we are tackling. The registrations were not verified properly and the Aadhaar details were not checked if they match with the bank accounts,’’ he said.

“Thisis notjustthecasewith this village, we are coming across several such cases in other places also.Athoroughscrutinyin underwaytoweedoutsuch names which do not match with the bank account details,’’ he told TOI.

People of the village now fear police action in the wake of arrests of several internet centre owners by CBCID sleuths across the state. “Our family members are very scared. We don’t even know the name of the scheme or that there were criteria for becoming a beneficiary,’’ said V Subramani, a villager from neighbouring Yethapur.

Out of the 77 ineligible beneficiaries identified in Pethanaickenpalayam, there are nonfarmers. Some are farmers, but the lands are in the names of other family members. In some cases, the families own more than two hectares each, rendering them ineligible to receive benefits under the scheme.

Agriculture officials in the region refused to comment citing the CBCID inquiry underway.

Govt doctors issued memo for exiting from WhatsApp group

 Govt doctors issued memo for exiting from WhatsApp group

The memo was issued by the chief of the General Medicine Department, as the doctors allegedly left the group following an argument over posting them on Covid duty. 

Published: 17th September 2020 06:15 AM | Last Updated: 17th September 2020 06:15 AM 

By Sinduja Jane Express News Service

CHENNAI: Doctors of Government Erode Medical College Hospital have been issued a memo for exiting an official WhatsApp group. They have been asked to give an explanation within three days. Speaking about the development on Wednesday, the hospital dean said the doctors had given an explanation and the issue had been resolved.

The memo was issued by the chief of the General Medicine Department, as the doctors allegedly left the group following an argument over posting them on Covid duty. The dean, R Mani, said, “Whatever the issue at hand, the doctors must have first discussed it with the heads of their department.

They should not have exited the group repeatedly when added back.” According to a government doctor, the in service -doctors joined duty in the hospital recently after finishing their post graduation. “They explained saying they left the group accidently as they are using a touch phone. But, it was not so,” said Dr Mani.

The memo said, “The following medical officers are instructed to give their explanation within three days regarding their exit from officials Whats App group of Government Erode Medical College and Hospital, Perundurai, Erode, which is essential to communicate all official matters to respective individuals.” “This is not a group started for any entertainment.

It is an official group started for official communication. Now most of the meetings are happening online. Also any important discussion about a patient’s reports is also discussed on groups. I expect my subordinates to stay in the group so that I can convey certain things, as it is not possible to meet them as different people will be in different wards or elsewhere,” the dean said. “Now that they have given an explanation, the matter has been resolved.”

Stop harassment of doctors: IMA

Stop harassment of doctors: IMA

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:18.09.2020

In a letter to Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani on Thursday, members of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Gujarat chapter criticized the allegedly heavy-handed behaviour of some collectors. The members requested government intervention.

‘Doctors - who are treating Covid-19 patients even at the cost of their lives for past six months — are facing coercion and intimidating behaviour by collectors of Bhuj, Gondal, Gandhidham, Gir Somnath, Jamnagar, Botad and Godhra. IMA condemns it in the strictest of words,’ states the letter.

The letter added that such behaviour with the doctors is putting lives of the citizens of Gujarat in danger.

‘If such behaviour and activities are not stopped, members of Gujarat chapter of IMA would be forced to protest,’ the letter states.

Dr Chandresh Jardosh, president of IMA Gujarat chapter, told TOI that they got the complaints that doctors are expected to admit patients at hospitals and work there and also offer their services at government-run hospitals.

AHNA RAISES ISSUE OF MEDICINE SHORTAGE:

The private hospitals of the city have raised the issue of Remdesivir and Clexane availability with the authorities. Dr Bharat Gadhvi, president of Ahmedabad Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association (AHNA), said that some member hospitals have not got adequate stock. “We are keeping an eye on the issue. Remdesivir, an antiviral, and Clexane, an anti-coagulant, are necessary in Covid-19 treatment,” he said. TNN

Rly to charge ‘user fee’ at busy stations, tickets may cost more

 Rly to charge ‘user fee’ at busy stations, tickets may cost more

Dipak.Dash@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:18.09.2020

The Indian Railways will soon start levying a “token user fee” from passengers taking trains from busy stations, which will result in marginal increase in the total fare. The user fee, which will be collected for redevelopment of railway stations and modernsation of station infrastructure, will be included in the ticket as it is done in the case of air travel.

“We are going to keep a very small amount for the user charge. We will issue a notification for the user charge for stations including where existing ones are being redeveloped and also those which are not being redeveloped. When the redevelopment of the stations gets completed the user fee will go to the concessionaires and till then the collected user fee will be utilised by railways for providing better facilities to passengers across stations,” railway board CEO and chairman V K Yadav said.

He added the charge will be affordable and won’t pinch the passengers. Yadav said it was important as the Indian Railways is focusing on providing world class facilities.

Responding to a specific question whether this fee will be collected at all railway stations, Yadav said there are about 7,000 stations on the Indian Railways network and the user fee will be levied at barely 10-15% of the stations where the footfall is projected to increase in the next five years. Going by that calculation, the number of such potential stations would be between 700 and 1,000.

Earlier, railway officials had told reporters at several press meets that the user fee would be charged only at developed stations.

A ministry spokesperson said, “The value of the benefits will outweigh the minimalistic user fee when paid.” He added this will be done in a phased manner and bringing 10-15% stations under this scheme is the final possibility.

In a written reply, Union railway minister Piyush Goyal had told Lok Sabha on Wednesday, “A Group of Secretaries (GoS) was constituted for redevelopment and modernisation of railway stations to provide better safety, passenger amenities and services. The GoS interalia suggested the levy of a nominal user fee for redevelopment of stations, which is presently under consideration.”

Full report on www.toi.in

Concessions to senior citizens suspended to stop unnecessary rail travel, HC told

The Southern railway has informed the Madras high court that ticket fare concession to senior citizens was suspended to discourage unnecessary travel in view of the pandemic. It further submitted that between 2016 and 2019, it had incurred Rs 5,475 crore revenue loss providing concessions. “The element of concession extended was varying from 10% to 100% depending upon the category. However, in view of Covid-19, a lot of train services were cancelled ... and it was decided to grant concessions only for four categories – disabled passengers, 11 categories of patients and students,” said counsel for the railways PT Ramkumar. TNN

Salaries from savings illegal: DU principals

Salaries from savings illegal: DU principals

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:18.09.2020

Expressing “hurt” and disappointment with the statement of deputy CM Manish Sisodia on colleges funded by Delhi government not using their funds to pay salaries, the Delhi University Principals’ Association (DUPA) hit back at the government on Thursday saying Sisodia’s suggestion of using the institutional savings to pay salaries was “an illegal idea”.

In a statement, DUPA said it was “dismayed by the immature and misleading press statement of the deputy CM, wherein he made unsubstantiated allegations against the administration of Delhi government-funded colleges, charging them with misappropriation of funds and not paying salary from students’ society account.”

The principals said the needs of the 12 government-funded colleges stood at Rs 270 crore for the 2020-21. “Ideally, 75% of the grants, that is Rs 202 crore, should have been released before July. But only Rs 37.5 crore have been released. This is a violation of the Pattern of Assistance communicated to us on January 8 by the Directorate of Higher Education,” the principals’ body said.

DUPA explained that the government gave grants under two heads: plan and non-plan. “It is clearly mentioned in every sanction letter that funds cannot be transferred from one head to the other, the statement said. Jaswinder Singh, principal, SGTB Khalsa College and president of DUPA, emphasised, “The students’ society fund and development fund are collected by colleges governed by University Grants Commission regulations and are used for organising student activities, never to pay salaries.”

The DUPA meeting on Wednesday, attended by over 30 college principals, resolved to meet CM Arvind Kejriwal to express their concern at the government’s view. Poonam Verma, principal of Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies, was hurt that “our deputy CM comes and praises us in the college and then says that our college is corrupt”.

Refuting gover nment allegations about the colleges not holding governing body election and obstructing audits, Singh claimed the “democratic process” of forming GBs would be “completed soon”, while clarifying that “no college has any audit pending”.

The six colleges accused to not completing the audit process are Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, SSCBS, Bhagini Nivedita, Aditi Mahavidyalaya, Keshav Mahavidyalaya and Maharshi Valmiki College of Education. However, DU Academic Council member Naveen Gaur contested this, saying that “while Delhi government must release funds unconditionally, all colleges do not get an audit done, contrary to DUPA’s sweeping statement”.

In response, a Delhi government official reiterated that some colleges “are depositing their funds in fixed deposits and incessantly demanding money from Delhi government. According to the pattern of assistance, these colleges need to meet all their expenses from the funds they get from various other sources and only in case of shortages after that will they be compensated by Delhi government.” The official said that when the government asked for the accounts related to sources of income, the colleges demurred. “If the colleges do not disclose how they have spent their money, on what basis can the Delhi government release funds?” the official asked.

AN OFFICIAL SAYS

If the colleges do not disclose how they have spent their money, on what basis can govt release funds?

Fate of three flyovers hangs in the balance

Fate of three flyovers hangs in the balance

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

18.09.2020

The fate of flyovers in Velachery, Medavakkam and Madippakkam Koot Road continues to hang in the balance. They have been idling for a long time, inconveniencing residents and road users.

Work on the three flyovers at Kilkattalai junction (Madippakkam Koot road), Velachery and Medavakkam has been delayed by at least a year, officials said.

The Velachery flyover work kickstarted in 2015 and was supposed to be wrapped up by September 2018. Officials said contractors were terminated in two years and it took another six months to identify the next contractor. “When the work began, the pandemic hit, further delaying the project,” an official said. Work was also halted due to land acquisition issues, officials said.

The Kilkattalai flyover project, work on which began in 2016, was to be completed in two years. Officials said it got delayed because the original contractors were replaced. The flyover is expected to be completed by January 2021. Highway department officials said one side of the flyover at Kilkattalai junction, running from east to west, will be ready by November and the one from west to east will be ready by January next year.

Work on the Medavakkam flyover started in 2018 and was supposed to be wrapped up by September, 2020, but got shelved due to pandemic. It is expected to be completed by January 2021, officials said.

“Delay in completing these flyovers defeats the purpose for which they are being built,” said a road user in Velachery.

Jeyaraj & Beniks deaths: HC denies cop bail, says there’s enough to prove his role

Jeyaraj & Beniks deaths: HC denies cop bail, says there’s enough to prove his role

K.Kaushik@timesgroup.com

Madurai:18.09.2020

Observing that prima facie materials are available to prove that suspended Sathankulam police inspector S Sridhar had instigated his fellow policemen to assault P Jeyaraj and his son J Beniks, the Madras high court on Thursday dismissed his bail plea.

The court was hearing the bail plea of Sridhar, one of the 10 policemen arrested in the twin custodial deaths case. Justice V Bharathidasan observed that it is a case of alleged custodial torture where two precious lives were lost. From the materials available on record, Jeyaraj was taken to the police station by the petitioner, a sub inspector Balakrishnan and a constable Muthuraja. Thereafter, when Beniks came to the police station and inquired about the reason for his father’s arrest, there was a petty quarrel between him and Balakrishnan. The judge said the petitioner came out of his room and directed the police personnel to close the main gate and instigated the other accused to beat Beniks.

The judge noted that the materials available on record would show that the petitioner repeatedly instigated the other accused to beat both deceased. “Brutality continued throughout the night,” observed the judge. The judge added that at least eight witnesses spoke of Sridhar’s involvement in the above said occurrence and that the post-mortem report states that the duo died of complications due to blunt injuries sustained.

Being a policeman, there is reasonable apprehension that he is likely to tamper with witnesses, especially personnel working in the police station. Furthermore, investigation is yet to be completed and it is in a crucial stage, the judge noted and said he is not inclined to grant bail to the petitioner.

TN parties flex muscles in assembly in prep for polls

TN parties flex muscles in assembly in prep for polls

3-Day Session Ends With Neet & NEP Taking Centre Stage

Julie.Mariappan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:18.09.2020

With an assembly election around the corner, the ruling AIADMK and the DMK-led opposition used the brief assembly session, convened amid the Covid-19 pandemic, to showcase their political credentials. A belligerent opposition took on the government for its failure to get Neet exemption and “exposed” the government’s stand on the National Education Policy. For its part, the EPS government passed a unanimous bill for 7.5% Neet quota for government students in its bid to regain lost ground to opponents. The three-day session helped the parties wake up from the Covid-induced hibernation and warm up for elections.

There was good deal of posturing in the assembly with both chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and opposition leader M K Stalin flexing their muscles on Neet, an issue that’s likely to hold centre stage for a while. Stalin accused the government of lacking commitment in taking up the issue with the Centre while the CM tried to lay the blame for introducing Neet on the erstwhile UPA regime, of which the DMK was a constituent.

With the Covid-19 pandemic, Neet and the National Education Policy setting the narrative, Palaniswami and health minister C Vijayabaskar went on combat mode. “The statements of the chief minister and health minister were marked by blatant lies and conveniently hid facts like how the DMK stayed the Neet through legal route until the party was in power and opposed it in the Parliament. We brought out several issues from NEP to scam in PM-Kisan to PMAY to 50% OBC quota in medical admission,” former minister and DMK MLA Thangam Thennarasu said. Even as its attempts to extend the session by seven days failed, the opposition gave more than 30 notices to call the attention of the ministers to urgent matters of public importance, such as reopening of schools, drinking water and ‘lack of support’ to local bodies in Jal Jeevan Mission.

With just months to go for polls, the AIADMK announced its intention to seek amendments to the Indian Penal Code to make stringent the punishment for crimes against women and children. “It gave an opportunity to positively talk about the good things we have done in handling Covid pandemic. Passing 19 bills in a day is a record of sorts,” said minister K Pandiarajan. The creation of a new university, Anna University and reconstitution of an existing university as ‘Anna Technological and Research University is a pathbreaking step and a bill to regulate the Public Trusts has far-reaching implications said the minister. The Congress tried to remain relevant by accusing the government of being scared to take on the Centre on Neet and NEP. The notable absentee was AMMK leader T T V Dhinakaran.

68,000 Tamils stuck abroad still await evacuation

68,000 Tamils stuck abroad still await evacuation

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:18.09.2020

Nearly 68,000 Tamils, who have registered for rescue flights, are still waiting to return from nine countries, mostly from the Middle East.

Of the 1.48 lakh people who have registered, 79,000 returned to the state by Vande Bharat flights and charter flights in the past four months, said minister of state for external affairs V Muraleedharan. The minister mentioned the details in a written reply to a question submitted by Ramnathapuram MP K Navaskani in Lok Sabha.

He also said the Vande Bharat mission has moved into its sixth phase.

Though a little more than 50% of those who registered have reached home, around 40,000 people are still in the UAE waiting to return. Around 60,000 people had registered to return from the UAE, of which 25,572 reached TN in the past four months. Many from the state are still stranded in Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Singapore, Japan and Thailand. The number of people stuck in Japan and Thailand is relatively less at 176 and 240. As per the reply submitted in the Lok Sabha, everyone who registered from Iraq, Malaysia and South Korea have returned.

“A lot of people are still requesting for return flights. We have helped many by funding their quarantine stay. A majority are from districts like Trichy, Thanjavur, Tirunelveli and others in the south,” Navaskani said.

Chennai airport continues to receive relief flights from the Middle East and Southeast Asia. However, it is not clear if everyone who registered is returning.

“Relief flights continue to bring people from Dubai, Colombo, Riyadh, Oman, Bahrain, Dhaka, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. More flights are likely in the coming days as Vande Bharat flights are still in operation and people are also coming in charter flights,” said an airport official.

 

TN: WORKERS NEED BOTH MA & MPHIL

With new order, state may lose more mental health professionals

Aditi.R@timesgroup.com

Chennai:

Mental health professionals with postgraduate degrees in psychiatric social work, clinical psychology, etc may not be able to register with the Tamil Nadu State Mental Health Authority (SMHA) as the Mental Health Care Act mandates that they must also have an MPhil degree.

A recent order directed all mental health professionals to immediately and compulsorily register with the SMHA to continue practice. It added that only those who meet the eligibility criteria mentioned in the Act will be recognised. However, implementation of the Act will exclude a large number of professionals practicing with a postgraduate degree and increase scarcity of workers in the state.

This is the first time the SMHA is creating a registry of mental health professionals in TN. Earlier, they would have to register with the Rehabilitation Council of India to practice.

The order has caused both confusion and anger among professionals. “I’m inclined to think the Act has a typo and anyone with a postgraduate upwards will be recognised,” Vaishnavi Jayakumar, a disability rights activist, said adding that the workforce has several young professionals and cutting them off in a sector that is resource and attention deficit would only create more problems.

On one hand, authorities are making postgraduate degrees redundant and on the other, the National Education Policy has done away with MPhil programmes, further confusing students, experts said.

The other question is whether only those with PhD degrees be recognised as mental health professionals in clinical psychology and psychiatric social work. Many are still awaiting clarification on this matter.

“There is already a dearth of professionals and doing away with the postgraduate degrees will not help,” said P Nalini Rao, chairperson of the SFL school of social work and social policy, the Banyan Academy of mental health.

Faculty unhappy over renaming Anna Univ post bifurcation

Faculty unhappy over renaming Anna Univ post bifurcation

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:18.09.2020

The state government’s decision to bifurcate Anna University and change its name to Anna Technological and Research University (ARTU) has not gone down well with sections of the faculty.

As per the bill passed in the assembly on Thursday, College of Engineering, Guindy, Madras Institute of Technology, Chromepet, Alagappa College of Technology, Guindy, and School of Architecture and Planning will be part of ARTU, while the new university that will affiliate all engineering colleges in the state will be known as Anna University.

Sources in the university, whose annual budget is about ₹235 crore, said it would lose annually around ₹100 crore revenue from affiliation, conducting exams and other activities.

The faculty members also fear changing the name would affect the university’s standing in the academic world.

“Anna University’s degrees are recognised the world over. It is the hard work and years of toil of many faculty members and eminent vice-chancellors who guided the university to its present glory. By, this one stroke, the state government robbing the university funding and name. It will take a long time create such a brand name,” a senior professor from the university told TOI.

With Institute of Eminence status being denied to the university, it is not clear how the state government will fund the university. “If the university needs to excel in research, it needs huge funding. The state government has not announced any financial grant for the university to improve its research,” another professor said.

Anna University’s former vice-chancellor E Balagurusamy said the new affiliating university should have been given a new name.

“The original Anna University consists of only the four campuses CEG, MIT, AC Tech and School of Architecture and Planning. The affiliated colleges joined the university only in 2002 when the university was originally established in 1978,” he said.

They can even rename the new university Dr Jayalalithaa University of Technology, he suggested.

“We are not against bifurcation but the name matters,” a faculty member said on condition of anonymity.

Pallavaram, Vandalur flyovers open, GST Road travel a breeze

 

Pallavaram, Vandalur flyovers open, GST Road travel a breeze

Two Bridges Wrapped Up In Four Years, While Three Other Projects Still Await Completion

Oppili.P @timesgroup.com

Traffic bottlenecks on GST Road, gateway to the southern districts, could soon be a thing of the past. A flyover in Vandalur and another in Pallavaram, thrown open to the public by chief minister Edappadi K Palanisamy on Thursday, will ensure that.

Work on the two flyovers had begun in 2016. The flyover in Vandalur is a two-way stretch and is expected to ease congestion for at least 2km on GST Road.

The flyover in Pallavaram, about 1.5km long, is a uni-directional bridge like the one abutting the city's airport.

A senior official from the highways department said at least 10,000 vehicles take the stretch during peak hours daily. With the inauguration of the Vandalur flyover, vehicles coming from Vandalur-Kelambakkam Road can turn left and proceed towards Chengalpet or take a U-turn under the flyover and head towards Perungalathur and beyond, he said.

On the three-lane Pallavaram flyover, which can carry 5,000 vehicles during peak hours, an official said it will help motorists and vehicle users to avoid three traffic intersection on the GST Road, namely the old English Electric company junction, Sandhai road junction and Kundrathur road junction.

The Pallavaram flyover cost `82.76 crore, while the one in Vandalur was constructed for `59 crore, the official said.

Concessional fares cost railways ₹5,475cr, HC told

Concessional fares cost railways ₹5,475cr, HC told

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:18.09.2020

Southern Railway has informed the Madras high court that ticket fare concession to senior citizens was suspended to discourage unnecessary travel in view of the pandemic. It further submitted that between 2016 and 2019, it had incurred₹5,475 crore revenue loss providing concessions.

Prior to March 20, railways had more than 50 categories of passengers, including persons with disability, 11 categories of patients, youths, farmers, artists, sportspersons, medical professional, senior citizens, awardees, war widows, students and press correspondents, enjoying concessions, said P T Ramkumar, counsel for the railways.

In his submissions, representing general manager of Southern Railway, in response to a public interest writ petition filedby A S MohammedKhader Meeran, the counsel said: “The element of concession extended was varying from 10% to 100% depending upon the category. However, in view of Covid-19, a lot of train services were cancelled across the country and it was decided to grant concessions only for four categories – disabled passengers, 11 categories of patients and students.”

This decision was taken in view of a health advisory issued by the Central government due to Covid-19 and to discourage passengers from undertaking non-essential travel, Ramkumar said.

The PIL sought a direction to the railways to take steps to restart ticket booking with concession throughonline portalof IRCTC.

As to the demand to reopen online booking for concession ticketsunder patients’category, Ramkumar submitted that concessional tickets are issued to11 categories of patients across the reservation counter on production of original medical certificate. Such tickets can also be purchased by any other person on behalf of the patients on production of the original certificate issued by the doctor of a recognised hospital. Since such verification is a pre-condition, online booking cannot be permitted, he said.

Recording the submissions, a division bench of Justice M M Sundresh and Justice R Hemalatha adjourned the hearing to September 18.

3 dental colleges told to pay ₹8.1cr - The Times Of India

 3 dental colleges told to pay ₹8.1cr - The Times Of India

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:15.09.2020

Acting tough on illegal admissions to professional courses, the high court directed three dental colleges in north Karnataka to pay Rs 8.1 crore (Rs 10 lakh per student) as cost for granting post-facto approval to 81 students who had completed BDS course.

These students were admitted under the unexhausted CET or government quota seats and they hadn’t appeared for the entrance test.

As per the direction issued by a division bench comprising Justices Krishna S Dixit and P Krishna Bhat, the students have to submit a stamped affidavit in two months and an undertaking to do rural service in Karnataka. The cost amount also has to be deposited with the court in two months and it will be transferred to the Chief Minister’s Calamity/ Covid Relief Fund.

The high court’s Kalaburagi bench said the college has to pay for the violation and the students, who were beneficiaries of the same, need to render one-year community service.

SB Patil Dental College and Hospital, Bidar, along with 35 students; Hyderabad Karnataka Development Education Trust’s Dental College and Hospital, Humnabad, Bidar district, with 22 students and S Nijalingappa Institute of Dental Sciences and Research, Kalaburagi, with 25 students had approached the court in 2016 challenging endorsements issued by Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences.

Admissions not approved

Refusing to approve the students’ admissions, the university stated that assessment of comparative merits by CET is a pre-condition for admission. However, it was later stated that the name of Mohammed Asif, a student of Kalaburagi college, was inadvertently included as a petitioner though he had appeared for CET.

The petitioners said there’s no legal requirement of CET as a pre-condition for admission of candidates under the unexhausted quota of government seats. Students shouldn’t be made scapegoats for the management’s fault, they added. During the pendency, by way of an interim order, the students were allowed to complete the course.

Plagiarism row: Academics, MPs want DU to take action -

 Plagiarism row: Academics, MPs want DU to take action -

 The Times Of India

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:

16.09.2020

Members of Parliament and academics on Tuesday sought action against principals of three Delhi University colleges who were accused of plagiarism.

“Plagiarism is unethical and unacademic and is a serious matter of academic dishonesty and intellectual fraud,” CPI member and Rajya Sabha MP D Raja said at a press conference.

He asked why action was not taken against the principal of a college against whom charges have been proved. “This raises several questions,” he added.

Former DU professor and RJD MP Manoj Jha said that “the incident of plagiarism brings bad name to the university. I question why the university administration has not acted on the allegations yet.” He added that he would bring the matter to the notice of the Vice-President who is also the chancellor of Delhi University.

Nilotpal Basu, former MP, said that plagiarism is a blot on the academic community. “Cannot imagine how a principal of a college can be so brazen in doing this. Some corrective measures are needed.”

Former DUTA president Nandita Narain said “what example such a teacher will set for students. DU has taken these issues seriously and even suspended one teacher on this ground before.”

At the press conference organised by Samajwadi Shikshak Manch, former JNU professor Anand Kumar highlighted the issue of plagiarism and connected it with corruption in the academic world.

Speaking to TOI, a senior DU official said that “we are yet to take action on the principals as we are looking at the issue closely, including the legal aspects of these cases.”

8 DU professors knock on HC’s door for salary - The Times Of India

 8 DU professors knock on HC’s door for salary - The Times Of India

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:

Eight professors of Delhi University on Tuesday moved Delhi High Court seeking their salaries pending for four months.

The plea, filed through advocates Ashok Agarwal and Kumar Utkarsh on Monday, complained that the petitioners had not been received their salaries since May. “It is respectfully submitted that the impugned inaction on the part of respondent colleges is violative of the fundamental right of the petitioners guaranteed under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution read with the provisions of Delhi University Act 1922,” the plea said.

It also sought directions to ensure timely payment of salaries in the future and said that the impugned actions were unjust, unfair, arbitrary, discriminatory, unethical, unconstitutional.

Likely to come up for hearing later this week, the plea submitted that apart from the teachers, there were other employees, teaching and nonteaching, who were yet to receive their salaries for May, June, July and August.

Since they are members of Delhi University Teachers Association, the organisation on their behalf has been communicating with Delhi government for release of funds to enable 12 DU colleges, funded by the AAP government, to pay salaries to 1,500 teachers and non-teaching staff, but nothing has been done yet. The teachers had contended that employees of these colleges were undergoing mental agony and harassment, and that there was no justification on the part of the authorities to not pay them their dues on time.

“The impugned actions are bad in law as much as the same is violative of right to life and livelihood,” the plea contended.

The plea listed the 12 colleges as — Acharya Narendra Dev College, Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar College, Bhaskaracharya College of Applied Sciences, Bhagini Nivedita College, DeenDayal Upadhyaya College, Aditi Mahavidyalaya Women’s College, Indira Gandhi Institute of Physical Education & Sports Sciences, Keshav Mahavidyalaya, Maharaja Agrasen College (DU), Maharshi Valmiki College of Education, Shaheed Rajguru College of Applied Sciences for Women and Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies.