Madras university uncovers payment scam 

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | A RAGU RAMAN
Published Nov 28, 2017, 1:37 am IST

The racket, which operated for many years, came to light when IDE officials conducted financial reconciliation with bank accounts and IDE records.

Candidates, who want to enroll in IDE courses used to pay admission and tuition fee through challans at the Indian Bank branch in the university campus.

Chennai: Bringing yet another scam to the light, the Institute of Distance Education (IDE) in University of Madras has uncovered a major scam in which candidates and crooks joined hands to cheat the University by manipulating challans.

The racket, which operated for many years, came to light when IDE officials conducted financial reconciliation with bank accounts and IDE records.

So far, IDE has recovered around Rs 2.5 lakh from 50 students found paying less after the accounting process.

Soon after the exam sam at IDE reported by Deccan Chronicle, the details of the challan scam has emerged.

Candidates, who want to enroll in IDE courses used to pay admission and tuition fee through challans at the Indian Bank branch in the university campus.

The agents in connivance with the clerical staff at the bank and IDE, offered the students a ‘new way’ to just pay half of the amount of the original fee to get admissions in courses like MBA and MCA.

As per the instructions the student will leave the some space in the beginning and fill the challans with one digit less.

For example, the course fee for MBA is `8,450. But the students will fill only Rs 450 and pay the amount at the bank counter.

After that, they would give the challan at a particular counter. The agent or the staff then will add another digit in the chalan. Students who just paid half the amount will get study materials and admission slip like the rest of the candidates.
“During the financial reconciliation, the two sets of records showed that figures varied between the amount which was deposited in the bank and the amount mentioned in the challans,” a source said.

The difference shown in the account was so huge that IDE immediately stopped issuing certificates to candidates and has put in place a new mechanism.

“As per the new system, students who get clearance for paying the full amount alone can get course completion certificate and mark sheets,” an official from IDE said.

“We do not have any direct evidence for the scam. So, we could not initiate any action against the staff members of IDE and bank who were involved in the scam,” he said.

IDE has recovered only Rs 2.5 lakh whereas the estimated loss could be run into several lakh rupees.

“We could not do anything about those who have passed out and got their certificates. The current students can get their certificates only after paying their dues. A periodical financial reconciliation or auditing could have prevented it,” the official said.

Learning from the experience, the university has introduced computerized challans and even introduced online payment system.

When enquired about the challan manipulation, S. Duraisamy, Vice-Chancellor, University of Madras, said that no manipulation took place after he took charge.
“We have introduced online payment system to prevent such malpractices. Soon, IDE will undergo a major change to plug in loopholes in the existing system,” he said.

How they cheated the university?

As per the instructions from the agents, students will leave the some space in the beginning and fill the challans with one digit less.

For example, the course fee for MBA is Rs 8,450. But the students would fill only Rs 450 and pay the amount at the bank counter.

After that, they would give the challan at a particular counter. The agent or the staff then will add another digit in the chalan. Students who just paid half the amount will get study materials and admission slip like the rest of the candidates.

Cycle sharing to kickstart in Chennai 

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | J M RUDHRAN BARAASU

Published Nov 28, 2017, 1:53 am ISTThanks to smart city mission that helped to dust off the scheme files, which was kept laid for years.



The civic body had mandated bi-cycle sharing system in the NMT policy that was drafted in 2014.

Chennai: Implementation of cycle sharing system under Non-Motorized Transport (NMT) Policy in Chennai is all set to get off the ground soon. Thanks to smart city mission that helped to dust off the scheme files, which was kept laid for years.

The civic body had mandated bi-cycle sharing system in the NMT policy that was drafted in 2014. “Feasibility study on implementing the cycle sharing system has been given to a consultant in 2015. Now the detailed project report (DPR) is drafted and we are going to implement the scheme with the help of a private service provider,” a senior Chennai Corporation official said.

It is learnt that the scheme would be implemented with smart city funds.

Even though 378 cycle parking slots have been identified and a total of 4,976 bicycles have been considered in the feasibility study, it would be left to the service provider to increase the number of cycles and parking slots, the official added.

“Bi-cycles will cost us `5.97 crore and parking slots will cost `1.13 crore. With technology costs adding up, the project will be implemented at a cost of `9.49 crore,” the official explained. The fee to be collected from the users would be worked out after a thorough study, according to the official.

The Chennai Corporation is planned to launch cycle sharing slots near colleges, schools, metro rail stations, bus terminus, parks and other recreational areas, thus providing last mile connectivity.

The official added that the new proposal would be sent to Board of Chennai Smart City Limited and the cycle sharing system would be implemented after the board accords administrative sanction.

Bengaluru: Nursing students don’t want to intern at Nimhans 

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | JOYEETA CHAKRAVORTY

Published Nov 28, 2017, 2:39 am IST

The newly-constructed, two-storeyed nurses’ hostel on the National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences (Nimhans) campus is empty.

Nursing students

Bengaluru: The newly-constructed, two-storeyed nurses’ hostel on the National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences (Nimhans) campus is empty. Close to 70 students passed out of Nimhans’ four-year BSc Nursing, but none of them wanted to intern at the Institute of National Importance even for a year.

After the course, students told authorities that they don’t want to intern at Nimhans. “This came as a rude shock to us as the hostel, which can accommodate 80 nurses, was constructed keeping their needs in mind. We were expecting them to intern at the Institute," said Dr B.N. Gangadhar, Director, Nimhans.

Earlier, the institute had 70 nurses working as interns on one-year contract, but in August, the batch which should have started work, decided not to join. “We tried to sort out their issues, but they decided not to work. We also assured students that based on their marks, they would be placed at a place of their choice," he said.

The institute, which is already suffering from a shortage of nurses has made alternative arrangements. He said, “Despite the short notice, we advertised for nursing graduate freshers and have already received some 135 applications. By Thursday, we will select 70 students, who will get a monthly stipend of Rs 12,000.”

He said, “We don't know what the trigger was, but we had told them that some of their grievances, including accommodation, would be met."

The hostel has security, access-controlled entrance and lift, but is empty. “Had we known that these nursing graduates were not turning up, we would have made arrangements well in advance. Now, we have to make do with those who have applied," he said.

Recently, nurses at the institute protested against a shortage of 197 nurses and increased workload on them.

In a first, Maha MBBS will have a topic about sex-reassignment surgeries 

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

Published Nov 28, 2017, 2:06 am IST

Ms Salve, 29, attached to Beed city’s Majalgaon police station, has sought permission to undergo sex surgery.



The new addition to the curriculum, under the topic ‘Gender Sensitivity,’ will be introduced in the ongoing academic year itself.

Mumbai: In the wake of woman constable Lalita Salve seeking a sex-reassignment operation, the state department of medical education and research (DMER) will now introduce in the MBBS curriculum a detailed topic on gender sensitivity, which will cover sex-reassignment surgery.

In doing so, Maharashtra will become the first state in India to include the topic in the MBBS curriculum. The new addition to the curriculum, under the topic ‘Gender Sensitivity,’ will be introduced in the ongoing academic year itself.

Ms Salve, 29, attached to Beed city’s Majalgaon police station, has sought permission to undergo sex surgery. She has sought government assistance for the surgery and also that she be allowed to keep her job in the police force.

The joint director of DMER Dr T.P. Lahane, said, “The issues related to gender sensitivity were there but it was not in detail. It was taught but now students will be given proper assignments in addition to being taught about everything that comes under this topic. Maharashtra is the first state to introduce the topic in the MBBS curriculum.”

When asked if the move to introduce the topic was made in the wake of Ms Salve’s plea seeking government permission and assistance for a sex-reassignment surgery at the state-run J.J hospital, Dr Lahane said, “Yes, but we should see to it that the students learn all the aspects related to such issues. They should have deep knowledge about all topics because that is what they’ll be dealing with after completing their course.”

He said, “The doctors should be able to help such people suffering from such ailments.”

Couple ends life after only son dies in road accident

tnn

 | Nov 28, 2017, 00:18 IST

Madurai: A couple from Theni district committed suicide by consuming poison. They took the extreme step after their only son died in a road accident a couple of months back.

The deceased were identified as Selvam, 45, and his wife Danalakshmi, 40, from Nanthanarpuram village near Varushanadu in Theni district. Selvam was a daily wage labourer. The couple's son Vijayakumar, 15, met with a road accident involving a bike and a car that took place in August this year. The police conducted inquiry and registered a case against Vijayakumar as he was riding the bike without driving license or valid insurance documents.

The boy who was rushed to a government hospital was referred to a Madurai government hospital. However, the parents took him to a private hospital in Madurai. Vijayakumar eventually stopped responding to treament and died the next month. By the time, the boy's parents had spent several lakh rupees towards his treatment. They had taken a loan for his treament.

In this backdrop, the couple consumed poison at their house on Sunday. While Selvam died on the same day, Danalakshmi succumbed on Monday. The relatives of the deceased claimed that the couple committed suicide as the police failed to take action against the car driver who killed their son. They also demanded a case to be registered against the car driver under the SC/ST Act and sought compensation.

A police officer said that they took action in the accident case based on the legal merits only. tnn

Show-cause notices issued to 4,000 nurses in Tamil Nadu 

Pushpa Narayan | TNN | Updated: Nov 27, 2017, 17:48 IST


 More than 3,000 nurses gathered outside DMS in Chennai on Monday demanding permanent job and better salary and... Read More CHENNAI: The Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services has issued to show-cause notices to around 4,000 nurses who abstained from duty on Monday. These nurses should submit their replies in the next three days, director of medical and rural health services Dr M R Enbasekaran said.

On Monday, more than 3,000 nurses gathered outside Enbasekaran's office in Chennai demanding permanent job and better salary and working hours.

Dr Enbasekaran, director of medical education Dr Edwin Joe and director of public health Dr K Kolandaswamy held talks with representatives of nurses association.

Services in several government hospitals, including primary health clinics, were affected following the strike.

"I have sought an explanation. Government hospitals are places where poor people come for treatment. It is unfair on the part of the 4,000 nurses who abstained from work," said Dr Enbasekaran.

Though officials said they had promised to take up the nurses' demands, the latter decided to continue their strike.

The state health department had appointed more than 11,000 nurses on contract basis through the Tamil Nadu Medical Recruitment Board for a monthly salary of Rs 7,000. The nurses said they were selected based on the results of a competitive exam since 2012.

91-year-old library lost in pages of history

Abdullah Nurullah | TNN | Nov 28, 2017, 07:52 IST



The imposing Zion Church in front may dwarf its significance, but the worn-out look of the 91-year-old Goschen Library in Chintadripet best captures the bygone era. Even the 200-year-old fish market in the neighbourhood has lost all touch with the past after its redevelopment.



Located on Arunachalam Street, adjacent to May Day Park, the structure was named after Lady Goschen, wife of then governor of Madras George Goshen. The foundation for the public library was laid in 1926 by T E Moir, who served under the governor "George Goschen's daughter's wedding was celebrated in Madras with great pomp," says historian Ramakrishnan Venkatesh For the locals, Chintadripet resident P Vijayaraghavulu Chetty set up a library. Once frequented by prominent speakers, it gets a handful of visitors now.

The hall was also used for meetings by nationalists. The neighbourhood was planned by the British as a settlement for weavers. The Justice E Padmanabhan Committee Report points out that the British began establishing a settlement in the area as early as 1734. It was to be a 'village of small looms' (china tari pettai), and was founded by Governor George Morton Pitt who brought 230 weaver families to produce cotton for the East India Company. Goschen Library too is listed as a heritage structure under the Justice E Padmanabhan Committee. After Independence, the library was taken over by the government. Today, it is the Chennai District Branch Library, but poor maintenance and patronage has pushed it towards oblivion.