HC to DU: Start physical exams from September 14

HC to DU: Start physical exams from September 14

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:18.08.2020

Delhi high court on Monday directed Delhi University to start physical exams for final-year undergraduate students from September 14, and to work out modalities for stay and transportation of disabled students who left the national capital during the Covid-19 lockdown.

The court also told DU to verify the number of students belonging to persons with disability (PwD) category who were left out of online open book examination (OBE).

“You (DU) will have to find out where PwD students are located. Sufficient notice has to be given to them to allow them to travel. Can it be possible to allow them to take examinations where they are? By roping in the universities there?” a bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Subramonium Prasad sought to know from DU.

The high court’s poser came after senior advocate S K Rungta, appearing for one of the petitioners National Federation of Blind (NFB), said there is an obligation on the state to take responsibility in certain circumstances and PwD students, who will have to take examinations physically, will face greater difficulties as hostels are still closed.

The court told DU that it needs to have specific figures on PwD students and the facilities that are to be provided to them.

“The university is directed to verify the number of PwD students who will sit for physical examination and work out the modalities of their stay and transport etc,” the bench said and asked it to file an affidavit in this regard.

The court was hearing pleas by law student Prateek Sharma and NFB seeking to set up effective mechanisms for visually impaired and other students with disabilities so that educational instructions can be given to them properly and teaching material is provided to them through online mode of teaching during the pandemic.

During the hearing, when the court suggested physical examinations be started from September 8, advocate Mohinder Rupal, appearing for DU, said the varsity needed at least two weeks from August 31. The court was informed that DU will start declaring results of students who participated in online OBE by September-end.

Final exams must to protect future of students: Pokhriyal

Final exams must to protect future of students: Pokhriyal

Manash.Gohain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:18.08.2020

Addressing vice chancellors on Monday, Union education minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal hoped that all universities will complete holding exams by September. The minister justified the conduct of the final exams of the higher education institutions saying it was meant to ensure that students do not carry “Covid degrees” for the rest of their life. He also lauded that universities and parents for preparing the students for the online and blended exams against all odds.

The theme of the two-day (August 17 and 18) annual conference of the vice chancellors this year is “Reimagining Indian Universities.” The conference is being conducted by the Association of Indian Universities through virtual mode which was started with a film on Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi, who also delivered the AIU foundation day lecture.

Pokhriyal launched the AIU portal and also released edited volumes on “Reimagining Indian Universities” and “Monograph on Protecting Academic Interest of Students during Covid-19: Sharing Best Practice.”

Speaking about the disruption due to the Covid-19 outbreak, Pokhriyal said that the biggest challenge has been to continue the education of the 33 crore students through online mode. “We insisted on the final year exams with a lot of thought as it’s the future of our students at stake. No doubt we may need some time and face a few challenges, but they will appear for the final exams so that they are not called holders of Covid degrees in future. I am happy that the majority of the universities have either conducted the exams or in the process of conducting them.”

We may face a few challenges, but they will appear for the final exams so that they are not called holders of Covid degrees in future

RAMESH POKHRIYAL

Union Education Minister

Salem, Erode see biggest spike in fresh cases in west

Salem, Erode see biggest spike in fresh cases in west

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Salem/Erode:  18.08.2020

Salem district recorded all-time high of 268 fresh Covid-19 cases in a day on Monday. Similarly, Erode district logged its highest single day count of 137 cases, reporting for the first time cases in three digits.

While Salem recorded 1,537 cases in July, the case count for this month so far is already 1,649.

On a positive note, 4,364 patients have been discharged against among the total of 6,185 cases reported in the district, Dr J Nirmalson, deputy director of Salem district health services, said. The death toll stands at 77 in the district.

After Salem, Erode district registered highest number of cases in the region on Monday. “While around half the cases were contacts of patients already infected, sources of infection for another half were yet to traced,” Dr S Soundammal, deputy director of Erode district health services told TOI. She also said more number of people aged above 50 was getting infected compared to other age groups. “Repeated appeals to people above 50 years to stay home have not been heeded, leading to spike in cases among the age group.”

Covid cases surge in Ambattur, Mogappair, but hygiene, surveillance non-existent

Covid cases surge in Ambattur, Mogappair, but hygiene, surveillance non-existent

Komal.Gautham@timesgroup.com

Chennai:18.08.2020

Mani, a photocopy shop owner in Ambattur zone, was at work on Sunday when a traffic policeman from Asiad Colony asked him to make a few copies of a report. It was only after seeing the report that Mani realised the latter was Covid positive. He informed a corporation official but the latter escaped.

This is a reflection of the situation in Ambattur, where one third of the total reported cases were reported in the last 16 days. It now has most positive cases in the city.

From March to August 16, it had 7,604 cases — 3,195 in July, 2016 since August1and 84 deaths. Mogappair remains a major hotspot. In wards 92 and 93, shops and eateries on Padikuppam Main Road, Pari Salai and Bazaar Road function well past 9pm, sparking fears of new clusters emerging.

Umanath V, a resident, said there was no social distancing in fish market and meat shops since the lockdown eased. “Officials are slack and door to door surveillance is not regular,” he said.

There were just 2,014 fever camps since May 8 and only 20 a dayin June andJuly with 600-odd participants, while Anna Nagar and Kodambakkam held 30-40 camps with almost 4,000 participants daily.

Several ground level officials blamed the lack of inter-departmental coordination. “The number of sanitary officers in Anna Nagar and Kodambakkam is higher than this zone. Every day inspections and meetings are not being held,” said one official.

In April and May, Ambattur was at the bottom. “There is nothing unusual about this zone seeing a surge. It is normal in a pandemic for cases to come up in areas not affected,” said Dr P Ganeshkumar, scientist, ICMR-National Institute of Epidemiology. Assistant city health officer Mahalakshmi said procedures followed in other zones are followed here. “But since mobility has increased, infections will rise.”

People crowd a stall in Mogappair

1.2L e-passes issued, vehicles flood Chennai

1.2L e-passes issued, vehicles flood Chennai

System Crashes Amid Heavy Load, Most Seek Passes For Work, Marriage-Related Travel

D Govardan & Ram Sundaram TNN

18.08.2020

The Tamil Nadu e-Governance Agency (TNeGA) on Monday issued a record 1.12 lakh auto-approved e-passes to individuals after the state government relaxed restrictions for passes for inter-district travel. Any individual applying for an e-pass will get it after submitting either Aadhaar card or ration card details.

“There was a heavy load on the system following which there was a glitch for about 15 minutes or so. Later, it was resolved. Other than that, the process went on without any interruptions since the e-passes were auto-approved for individuals,” a state government official told TOI.

According to the official, the passes were issued under the individual category. He said this was the highest figure in a day till date. But the district wise data was yet to be compiled. “It was almost evenly distributed across districts,” the official said.

“Work-related travel was one of the prominent category, followed by marriage-related travel. These two categories probably will account for the highest number of passes issued, almost 50%,” the official said, while adding that the district collectors must have been holding back marriage parties for long.

Authorities expect the number of applications for e-passes to come down on Tuesday. “Right now, these passes are auto-approved. But the government may review the decision in the coming days. We will wait and watch on further course of action,” the official said.

The number of e-passes issued could be gauged by the 19,000 vehicles that entered Chennai through the two major toll plazas at Paranur and Sriperumbudur till 6pm. Officials the number was double of that witnessed during the lockdown before the e-pass norms were relaxed. With more people from southern and western districts getting their e-passes approved on Monday afternoon, the influx is likely to increase by another 80%-100% by late night on Monday, an official with National Highway Authority of India said.

The increase in traffic resulted in congestion at toll plazas on GST Road and Chennai–Bengaluru national highway, and choked Vandalur and Perungalathur where vehicles piled up for over a mile on Monday morning.

At the Paranur toll gate, people could be seen returning with their household items packed into boxes. “Not only cars, people returned to Chennai for work on their bikes,” said a police officer.

Tamil Nadu Lorry Owners Association member G Ganesh, based out of Singaperumalkoil, said the traffic congestion from 4am affected movement of essentials like milk and vegetables into Chennai.

Further, police were not deployed in adequate numbers to handle the situation, especially since some people thought the e-passes were now not required. These people were made to wait on the roadside, apply for passes and then enter Chennai. “The situation could be the same for the next 15 days as more than 30 lakh vehicles had left Chennai during the lockdown,” he said.

RUSH HOUR: Vehicles choke the highway near Vandalur on Monday

Colleague tests COVID-19 positive, Tamil Nadu university professors accuse administration of not following safety norms

Colleague tests COVID-19 positive, Tamil Nadu university professors accuse administration of not following safety norms

According to sources, a professor working in Department of Environmental Sciences tested positive on Saturday morning and was admitted to a private hospital.

Published: 17th August 2020 01:55 AM |

By Express News Service

COIMBATORE: After a professor tested positive for Covid-19 infection, his colleagues at Bharathiar University have alleged that the University administration failed to follow the government’s order of engaging only 50 per cent of workforce.

According to sources, a professor working in Department of Environmental Sciences tested positive on Saturday morning and was admitted to a private hospital.

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A professor, on the condition of anonymity, said, “As per the State government directions, only 50 per cent of staff members should work as part of prevention measures. But the head of the department forced all the professors to go to work without fail. There are at least 30 staff and professors working in the department. Now, they all have to undergo Covid-19 test. Everyone is in panic. The University should follow the government’s directions properly to control the spread of the virus.” 

Another professor said, “After the professor tested positive, the University had not informed the health department about it. As a result, the concerned department premises and the professor’s home located in the University quarters were not disinfected.”

However, University Vice-Chancellor P Kaliraj denied the allegations. He told TNIE, “We have been following all the government norms and have instructed the head of department to work with 50 per cent staff strength. The staff work on a rotational basis. We have informed the health department about the infected professor, and they will disinfect the concerned premises on Monday morning.”

No overseas exam centres for NEET 2020 aspirants

No overseas exam centres for NEET 2020 aspirants

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

17.08.2020

After parents of around 4000 National Eligibility-Cum-Entrance Test (NEET) (UG) 2020 aspirants filed a plea seeking centres for the entrance exam in Gulf countries, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has told the Supreme Court that it is not possible to have overseas centres as the examination is conducted offline. All the petitioners are based abroad including in Doha, Qatar, Oman, and UAE.

In an affidavit filed on August 11, the NTA said that examination cannot be conducted abroad as it has to be conducted in single shift at the same time on the same day to maintain uniformity. NTA submitted the affidavit after consultations with the Medical Council of India (MCI). “Further, the question papers and other exam materials are to be transported from NTA headquarters to a large number of examination centres in various cities, which would require meticulous planning for safe and secure delivery of the same at the exam centres on time,” the affidavit stated.

“Unlike JEE (Main), for which the question papers can be delivered to the examination centres half an hour before the exam in password protected online mode, more preparations are required for the smooth conduct of the NEET (UG). Also as per the norms of MCI, NEET (UG) has to be conducted in single shift on a single day, in order to obtain the same level of difficulty in question paper for all candidates,” the affidavit added.