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Saturday, January 13, 2024

NEWS TODAY 13.01.2024

Cloud over his degree, IIM Rohtak director faces probe on money transfer

Cloud over his degree, IIM Rohtak director faces probe on money transfer

The Indian Express called and sent a text message to Sharma for his comment on the government inquiry but he was unavailable.

Written by Ritika Chopra

New Delhi | Updated: January 13, 2024 19:31 IST

IIM-Rohtak Director Dheeraj Sharma.

Months after the Union Government amended the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Act, granting it greater say in the functioning of the 20 premier business schools, the Education Ministry has launched an inquiry into the accounts of IIM-Rohtak to investigate allegations of financial irregularities, including a complaint that the institute “illegally” transferred Rs 2 crore to its director’s account as “variable pay.”

The Indian Express has learned that the ministry, a little less than two months ago, tasked its Principal Chief Controller of Accounts with investigating allegations of funds embezzlement by the institute’s director, Dheeraj Sharma, in the form of “variable pay” and charging of “exorbitant fees from students,” among other concerns. The PPCA was asked to submit a “detailed report” on the same.

The Indian Express called and sent a text message to Sharma for his comment on the government inquiry but he was unavailable.

Significantly, Sharma is already under government scrutiny for allegedly misrepresenting his educational qualifications to secure his initial term as IIM Rohtak’s director in 2017. The job required a first-class Bachelor’s degree, but he had obtained a second division at the undergraduate level.

The government acknowledged this discrepancy in the Punjab and Haryana High Court in March 2022, only after he completed his first term. Despite objections from the ministry representative on the institute’s Board of Governors (BoG) due to revelations about his academic credentials, Sharma was reappointed for a second term by the Board as the institute’s head in February 2022.

According to the latest complaint that the Ministry has taken cognizance of, the institute is accused of transferring Rs 2 crore to Sharma’s account as “variable pay” for the years 2018-19 and 2019-20 without approval of the Board. The Indian Express has learned that the institute has defended this money transfer on the ground that it was approved by the BOG in its 45th meeting held on December 11, 2020 on account of meeting “performance parameters.”

Apart from this, the inquiry will look into at least 10 complaints that the government has received from students on the institute refusing to refund their fee deposit despite withdrawal of their admission from its five-year integrated programme in management and PhD programmes. It will also probe whether the institute charged “exorbitant fee” from students despite having adequate reserves and thereby defeating the “not-for-profit motive” of education laid down by law.

The inquiry comes months after the Education Ministry, in a surprising move, introduced an amendment Bill for the IIM Act during the monsoon session last year in July, significantly diluting the autonomy granted to the 20 IIMs five years ago with the enactment of the IIM Act in 2018.

The changes were made to entrust the management accountability of the IIMs with the President, who will be the Visitor to the premier B-schools with powers to audit their functioning and remove or appoint directors. Earlier, these powers were vested in the IIM Board with the Union government having little say in the matter.

Now, the President, in her capacity as Visitor, has the power to appoint the Chairperson to the Board of Governors and the director of the institute and nominate an individual to the search-cum-selection committee for the position of Director, giving the government a say in these crucial appointments.

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had justified the changes saying the government has no intention to take away the academic accountability from the institute but the Bill will ensure the accountability of its management.

பொங்கல் பண்டிகையை முன்னிட்டு வங்கிகளுக்கு இன்று முதல் 5 நாட்கள் விடுமுறை

January 13, 2024, 7:05 am

சென்னை: பொங்கல் பண்டிகையை முன்னிட்டு வங்கிகளுக்கு இன்று முதல் 5 நாட்களுக்கு விடுமுறை அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. மொபைல் வங்கி சேவைகள் வழக்கம்போல் செயல்படும்; மக்கள் இதற்கேற்றவாறு தங்களின் பணத்தேவையை திட்டமிட்டு கொள்ளும்படி அறிவுறுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளது.

அயோத்தி ராமர் கோயில் சுற்றுலாவுக்கு ஜன. 27-ம் தேதி முதல் சங் பரிவார் ஏற்பாடு

அயோத்தி ராமர் கோயில் சுற்றுலாவுக்கு ஜன. 27-ம் தேதி முதல் சங் பரிவார் ஏற்பாடு

அயோத்தி: அயோத்தி ராமர் கோயில் கும்பாபிஷேகத்துக்பின்பு, நாடு முழுவதும் உள்ள மக்கள் அயோத்தி சுற்றுலா வருவதற்கான ஏற்பாடுகளை சங் பரிவார் செய்கிறது.

ராமர் கோயில் பற்றிய பரபரப்பு கும்பாபிஷேகத்துடன் முடிந்து விடாமல், அதற்கு பின்பு தொடர்வதற்கான திட்டங்களை செய்ய சங் பரிவார் திட்டமிட்டுள்ளது. ஜனவரி 27-ம் தேதி முதல் பிப்ரவரி 22-ம் தேதி வரை ராமர் கோயிலை பார்வையிட நாடு முழுவதும் இருந்து 44 சிறப்பு ரயில்கள் அயோத்திக்கு இயக்கப்படவுள்ளன. இந்த சிறப்பு ரயில்களில் வரும் மக்களுக்கு அயோத்தியை சுற்றிகாட்டுவதற்கான ஏற்பாடுகளை சங் பரிவார் செய்கிறது. இது குறித்து விஸ்வ இந்து பரிஷத் தலைவர் அலோக் குமார் கூறியதாவது:

ராமர் கோயில் கட்டுமானத்துக்கு நன்கொடை அளித்தவர்கள் உட்பட சுமார் ஒரு லட்சம் பக்தர்கள் அயோத்தி வருவர் என எதிர்பார்க்கப்படுகிறது. நன்கொடை அளித்தவர்கள் அனைவரையும் ராமர் சிலை பிரதிஷ்டை விழாவுக்கு அழைக்க முடியவில்லை. இதனால் கோயில் திறக்கப்பட்ட பின்பு, அவர்கள் அயோத்தி வர ஏற்பாடு செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது.

இதற்காக நாடு முழுவதும் 45 மண்டலங்களாக பிரிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன. ஒவ்வொரு மண்டலத்திலிருந்தும் 1,500 முதல் 2,500 பக்தர்கள் அயோத்தி வரவுள்ளனர். அவர்களுக்கு தேவையான தங்கும் வசதிகள், உணவு, தரிசன வசதிகளை செய்து கொடுக்கும் பணியில் நாடு முழுவதிலும் இருந்து வரும் விஸ்வ இந்து பரிஷத் தொண்டர்கள் ஈடுபடுத்தப்படவுள்ளனர். இந்தப் பணியை நன்கொடையாளர்கள் செய்யும் நன்றியாக கருதுகிறோம்.

தென்மாநில மக்கள் உட்பட இந்தி தெரியாத மக்கள், அயோத்தி வரும்போது, அவர்களுக்கு எந்தவித அசெளகரியமும் ஏற்படாதவகையில் வழிநடத்துவதற்கான ஏற்பாடுகளை சங் பரிவார் செய்துள்ளது. அந்தந்த மாநில மொழி பேசும் தொண்டர்கள், முன்கூட்டியே வரவழைக்கப்பட்டு சுற்றுலா வரும் குழுவினருடன் இணைக்கப்படுவர். இவ்வாறு அலோக் குமார் தெரிவித்தார்.

பல மாநிலங்களில் இருந்து வரும் மக்கள் டென்ட் சிட்டியில் 2 நாட்கள் தங்குவதற்கும் சிறப்பு ஏற்பாடுகள் செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளதாக விஎச்பி செய்தி தொடர்பாளர் வினோத் பன்சால் தெரிவித்துள்ளார். முதல் குழு பக்தர்கள் உத்தராகண்ட் மாநிலத்தில் இருந்தும், அடுத்து டெல்லி, ஜார்கண்ட் மற்றும் பிற மாவட்டங்களில் இருந்தும் பக்தர்கள் அயோத்தி வரவுள்ளனர்.

அதோடு ஜனவரி 25-ம் தேதிக்குப்பின் மார்ச் மாதம் வரை ஒவ்வொரு மக்களவை தொகுதியிலிருந்தும் சுமார் 10,000 பேரை அயோத்திக்கு அழைத்து வர பாஜக திட்டமிட்டுள்ளது. அதற்கான பணிகள் நடைபெற்று வருகின்றன.

How the world eats ants

How the world eats ants

As Odisha's red ant chutney receives the GI tag, take a look at how people consume ants across the world.

Odisha's red ant chutney gets GI tag.

Medha Chawla

New Delhi,UP DATED: Jan 12, 2024 12:51 IST

Red ant chutney, a delicacy eaten in areas of Odisha, has received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

Also relished in parts of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, the chutney uses red ants as the primary ingredient. (No points for guessing that, though!)

Why eat ants?

The idea of eating insects (called entomophagy) may sound unusual or new to some, but it has been a common practice worldwide. Ants, in particular, serve as a source of protein, and also tend to provide fibre, vitamins, and minerals such as iron, zinc, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus.

Ants are also used as a nutritional ingredient and processed into various tonics or health foods available in China.

“The State Food and Drug Administration and State Health Ministry of China have approved more than 30 ant-containing health products since 1996,” stated a 2013 study published on the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations' website.We'd like two minutes of your time in order to understand you better.

Odisha's Similipal Kai Chutney gets GI tag

Red weaver ants are used to make Similipal Kai Chutney in Odisha, which has just received a GI tag.

It is made using ginger, garlic, coriander leaves, cardamom, tamarind and salt. The ants and their eggs are first dried.

Chapda Chutney of Chhattisgarh

In Chhattisgarh, the red ant preparation is called Chapda chutney. It is traditionally prepared using a stone grater and tastes sour. The ants, along with their eggs, are thoroughly ground and mixed with a variety of local spices, mainly hot chillies and salt.

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay also tried this chutney during his visit to India for a documentary, and absolutely loved it.

The method of collecting ants is tricky and painful as well. Male ants attack and bite the harvesters while trying to protect egg-laying female ants.

Meanwhile, have a look at how ants are eaten across the world.

Ant egg soup in Laos

Ant egg soup

In Laos, ant eggs are used to make a variety of dishes, such as salads and soups. The larvae and pupae of weaver ants are called ant eggs.

The ant egg soup, let us tell you, is one of Laos' renowned dishes. It consists of ant eggs mixed with various vegetables and herbs. The delicacy is also relished in Thailand.

Apart from soup, people in Laos also use ant eggs in omelettes and salads to elevate the taste and increase the protein content of the dish. The ant eggs are harvested from the red ant nests on mango and coconut palm trees.

Ant salads in Thailand

Ant eggs are sold in cans in Thailand and are considered to be a prized seasonal ingredient. Called khai mot daeng, these eggs are obtained from red ants' nests, carefully cleaned and cooked in various dishes. Ant eggs are usually stir-fried with local herbs and vegetables.

They are also eaten fresh in the form of salads.

Ant egg salad (Credit: Getty Images)

Apart from the eggs, red ants themselves are also used in dishes like Som Tam Kai Mod Daeng, a spicy raw papaya salad. The dish has red ants as an ingredient.

Ants as snacks in Colombia

In Colombia, ants are eaten as snacks. Somewhat like peanuts. They are either fried or roasted and seasoned with salt. Heavy-bottomed leaf-cutter ants (called hormigas culonas), typically female, are used in this case. These ants are relatively large and rusty brown or red in colour.

The ants are first groomed by removing the wings, head and legs, and then roasted or fried.

Ant egg caviar, known as escamoles, is a delicacy in Mexico. They are said to have an earthy, buttery flavour, and are pretty expensive owing to the elaborate process it takes to fetch them. They are usually pan-fried with butter and spices, and also used to prepare omelettes and tacos.

Escamoles are also added to dips such as salsa or guacamole, and sprinkled on top of dishes as a garnish as well.

Roasted ants in Brazil

Ants are also consumed in Brazil. The tradition of frying and eating queen ants is a tradition in several parts of the country. The legs and wings of ants are removed. The insects are then soaked in salty water and then roasted with spices.

Green ants as a garnish in Australia

In some parts of Australia, people use green ants as a garnish because of their citrusy flavour. That’s not all. The honey pot ant is also a traditional food source among Australian indigenous cultures.

The ant's swollen abdomen, filled with sweet nectar, is regarded as a tasty treat on its own or incorporated into dishes.

'Propaganda' cry as University Grants Commission asks varsities to use 'Beti Bachao' logo

There is a continuous effort to interfere with the autonomy of educational institutions, said Maya John, a member of the Academic Council of Delhi University
Basant Kumar Mohanty New Delhi Published 12.01.24, 05:23 AM

Higher education regulator UGC has asked all universities and colleges to install the Narendra Modi government’s Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) logo on their premises and also use it on their website and stationery items.

The University Grants Commission had earlier asked higher educational institutions to set up selfie points with cutouts of Prime Minister Modi.

After being prodded by the ministry of women and child development (MWCD), the UGC has written to the vice-chancellors of all universities and principals of all colleges to use the BBBP logos to create awareness on valuing the girl child. The ministry is running the BBBP scheme to create awareness against gender bias.

“In this regard, MWCD proposed to create awareness on the valuing of girl child and also enclosed the logo and tagline of BBBP. The Higher Educational Institutions are requested to use BBBP logo on the website, portals, stationery items, events and prominent places in the premises of the HEIs. It will convey the commitment of ensuring the rights of girl child and empowerment of women,” said the letter issued by Manish Joshi, the UGC secretary.

“In addition, the details of the activities conducted may also be uploaded along with photos/ videos on the University Activity Monitoring Portal (UAMP) at https://uamo.uec.ac.in/,” the letter said.

Two academics criticised the UGC for dictating to educational institutions what they should do about awareness activities. An official in the ministry of education (MoE) defended the UGC action, saying such awareness activities had greater educational value for society.

Maya John, a member of the Academic Council (AC) of Delhi University (DU), described the UGC letter as a diktat for creating political propaganda for the government. Such activities divert the institution’s focus from critical areas like teaching and research, she said.

“It has become a pattern that the government and the UGC are regularly nudging the educational institutions to conduct activities like awareness on G20 and the Swachhata campaign. These are purely political propaganda,” she said.

There is a continuous effort to interfere with the autonomy of educational institutions, John said.

“The institutions suffer in this process as their focus gets concentrated on holding events. The priority shifts from teaching and research to non-academic activities. The worst thing is the expectation of compliance,” John said.

Such events cost money and involve human resources. The public universities invariably comply with the requests, she said.

A senior academic who did not wish to be identified said that the UGC’s mandate according to the UGC Act was to ensure maintenance of academic standards by universities.

“The UGC is deviating from its core mandate and doing things beyond its domain. The way vice-chancellors are being appointed on the basis of ideology and other non-academic considerations, they do not oppose the government’s diktats passed through the UGC,” he said.

He said the universities should be left to decide on such matters.

A former vice-chancellor of a state university said the diktats should be challenged in court through PILs.

“The UGC is doing this deliberately. This should be challenged in court to stop the UGC and the government from interfering in the affairs of educational institutions over non-academic activities. The UGC should rather suggest how to improve the quality of education, which is on the decline,” he said.

Last month, the UGC had asked the universities and colleges to set up selfie points with cutouts of the Prime Minister. Institutions have been complying with the suggestion.

UPI Now Allows Receiving Funds From Singapore Instantly, Using Popular Apps

The facility will be available for users of the BHIM, Paytm and PhonePe apps, as well as several bank apps.

India News NDTV News DeskUpdated: January 11, 2024 3:06 pm IST

The National Payments Corporation of India said the transaction fees will be competitive.

New Delhi:

In a major development, Indians can now receive money from Singapore instantly and securely using major UPI apps as well as those of popular banks.

Made possible by a cross-border linkage between the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) & PayNow, Indian diaspora in Singapore can now send remittances directly into the bank accounts of Indians, a statement by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) said on Thursday.

The facility will be available for users of the BHIM, Paytm and PhonePe apps as well those using apps of Axis Bank, DBS Bank India, ICICI Bank, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, and State Bank of India.

The statement said apps of HDFC Bank, Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Canara Bank, Central Bank of India, Federal Bank, IDFC First Bank, IndusInd Bank, Karur Vysya Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Punjab National Bank, South Indian Bank, and UCO Bank are expected to be added to the linkage soon.

Explaining the benefits of money sent using this route, the NPCI said that the transfer will be instant, safe, available 24X7 and that the transaction fees will also be competitive, enabling even small and frequent remittances.

The statement said the interoperability is the result of close collaboration between the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Monetary Authority of Singapore and that the increasing adoption of UPI in cross-border transactions amplifies financial inclusion and "also plays a pivotal role in fostering the overall growth of India's dynamic digital payment ecosystem".