Maharashtra: Final Year MBBS student goes missing, father blames depression

Maharashtra: Final Year MBBS student goes missing, father blames depression: Maharashtra: A final year MBBS student of BJ Medical College has gone missing under mysterious circumstances after blending in the crowd gathered at the Ganpati temple to celebrate Ganeshotsav...

Docs appointed to Covid centres quit over salary cuts in Kerala

Docs appointed to Covid centres quit over salary cuts in Kerala

870 Medics Say Will Not Work After Sept 10, Seek Vijayan’s Intervention

Rajiv.G@timesgroup.com

Thiruvananthapuram:  02.09.2020

Nearly 870 doctors appointed to Covid first-line treatment centres (FLTCs) across Kerala have tendered their resignation over deductions in their salary. They were among the 1,080 MBBS graduates who passed out of government medical colleges this year and appointed on Covid duty on a temporary basis.

While they were promised ₹42,000 a month, what each finally gets is ₹27,000. “From the amount, ₹8,400 was deducted in the name of the government’s salary challenge, apart from TDS and professional tax. Now, we are getting only ₹27,000,” said Dr Ousam Hussain KP, state president of Kerala junior doctors association 2020-21.

The association has fired letters to the chief minister and health minister seeking their urgent intervention. In the letter, they stated they will not be available for service after September 10 if their grievances are not settled.

“The government in its order had made it clear that salaries of doctors appointed under NHM should not be cut in the name of salary challenge. We were also appointed as temporary medical officers for Covid duty, but there is a different set of rules for us,” said Dr Krishnapriya TS, general secretary of the association.

The appointment was for a period of three months and a few who joined in May have completed this tenure. “The government is likely to extend the service of these doctors since there is huge demand for healthcare workers, particularly with the caseload increasing in the state. However, we are being forced to resign since the government is not ready to listen to our grievances,” said Dr Hussain.

Even though these doctors were appointed in May and June, they started getting their salaries in August after they decided to approach the high court. “We had given several representations against the salary cuts to the authorities concerned. But there has been no response,” said Dr Hussain.

WHO’S THERE? People wait outside Kochi’s Aluva General Hospital for Covid test on Tuesday

No pay, perks for Palakkad dist hosp staff

Palakkad:

More than 100 temporary employees of the district hospital in Palakkad, under the Hospital Development Council, have not received their salary and Onam bonus due to alleged lapses on the part of the hospital administration.

The Kerala Government Hospital Development Employees Union, affiliated to the CITU, has alleged that bills were not prepared by the administration staff before the bank holidays. Due to the fall in hospital income following the pandemic the state government had allotted Rs 30 lakh from the CM’s relief fund for the purpose, union officials said.

Hospital superintendent Dr K Remadevi however said she had not received any complaint about non-payment of salary and bonus till August 27. TNN

TN: Final yr students to write exams in person after Sept 15

TN: Final yr students to write exams in person after Sept 15

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:02.09.2020

The Tamil Nadu government is making arrangements for college students to write final year exams in person after September 15, higher education minister K P Anbalagan said on Tuesday. Nearly 4 lakh students are yet to take their final year exams in arts, science and other professional courses, including engineering, due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

“The final semester exams for students in state universities and polytechnic colleges will be held after September 15. The details of exam schedule and exam centres will be released later. Arrangements are being made for all final year students to write exams in person,” the minister said in a statement. He asked students to begin preparations for the tests.

With the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) underway and National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) scheduled for September 13, the state’s decision to also conduct final year exams in person has surprised many universities given that the higher education department has been consulting with state varsities on conducting online exams.

“When the government can conduct physical exams for all final year students, why don’t they conduct arrear exams in a similar way,” former vice-chancellor of Anna University E Balagurusamy asked.

Career consultant Jayaprakash Gandhi urged the state to give some leverage to final year students by conducting exams online. “When other students are exempted from semester exams, final year students alone are asked to write exams in person. Anna University is ready with the technology required for conducting online exams. They should conduct online exams for engineering students and maybe consider offline exams for others,” he said.

The higher education minister also added that candidates can apply for BArch admission from September 7 on www.tneaonline.org

The final semester exams for students in state universities and polytechnic colleges will be held after September 15. The details of exam schedule and exam centres will be released later

K P Anbalagan | HIGHER EDUCATION MINISTER

Govt’s ban on inter-district bus services hits common man hard

Govt’s ban on inter-district bus services hits common man hard

Newly Resumed Intra-Dist Buses See Few Takers

D.Govardan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:02.09.2020

S Satish, an employee at a wholesale provisions store in Tambaram, would frequently travel to Tindivanam. Prior to the Covid-19 outbreak, he would just walk across GST Road, board a TNSTC bus and reach his destination in two hours.

On Tuesday, when Tamil Nadu permitted resumption of intra-district public transport service after months of lockdown, he was told buses would ply only up to Thozhupedu, about 80km from Tambaram, where Chengalpet district limit ends. He would have to get down and walk some distance to enter Villupuram district and then board another bus to reach his destination, which is still around 25km away. Satish decided against the travel.

Such stories are found aplenty around the state as the absence of inter-district bus services has hit people hard, especially those from low-income groups. While private stage carriers have decided to stay off the roads for at least another month or until state government permits inter-district operations, the TNSTC is limiting services to mostly town buses with most mofussil buses remaining in sheds.

“Previously, I had to take just one bus to reach Tiruvarur. Now, I have to take two apart from covering a certain distance between the districts by walk. Those who can afford it prefer cabs, but we rely on public transport,” M Paranjothi, a traveller to Tiruvarur from Trichy central bus stand, said.

As expected, patronage too was poor. “Only after the resumption of inter-district services, we can expect more people to travel,” a TNSTC official said.

In the case of MTC buses, which used to frequent neighbouring Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chengalpet districts, authorities opted to allow services only up to the Greater Chennai Police limits. An employee working in a factory in Sriperumbudur and depending on public transport now has to get down at Poonnamallee and board another bus to reach to his factory. MTC buses too reported poor collections.

“It is not economically viable to operate buses with 25 passengers. At least earlier, the government had grouped three or four districts under each zone and permitted bus operators to ply on those routes. While even that had to be stopped for viability reasons, we have now decided to wait one more month for things to turn better,” a representative of private bus operators’ federation for Kancheepuram – Chengalpet districts said.

(With inputs from P Oppili in Chennai and Deepak Karthik in Trichy)

Pvt operators urge NHAI not to hike toll fee

Private bus and lorry operators urged the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to forego the annual hike of toll fee to help the transport industry bounce back from the lockdown-induced financial crunch, saying the hike will ultimately affect the common man as price of commodities would increase. Toll fee would be increased from ₹5 to ₹30 for different categories of vehicles from September 1in 22 of 48 plazas in TN. “This step would destabilise the transport sector. At this juncture, we are pleading with the NHAI to refrain from increasing the toll fee. But there is no response,” said S Yuvaraj, president of TN State Lorry Owners’ Welfare Federation. However, a senior NHAI official said no such representation has been made and added, “... it is not feasible to hold back the increase in toll fee.” TNN

Final exams: Madras univ seeks preferences of students, colleges

Final exams: Madras univ seeks preferences of students, colleges

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:2.09.2020

In view of the diversity of opinion on the method of conducting final year exams, Madras University has sought details like the number of students preferring online or offline mode and whether colleges are ready to conduct exams in offline mode to all students.

The decision came at a virtual meeting convened by vice-chancellor S Gowri with principals of all colleges under the university’s jurisdiction. The higher education department had decided to conduct final year exams online following the Supreme Court’s order and sought suggestions from the various universities on various issues including the mode of questions, duration of the exam.

The opinion was divided, with many affiliated colleges demanding that the exams be held offline, citing a lack of access to digital devices among a majority of the students and connectivity issues. “We have suggested conducting offline exams to final year students and that the exam be two hours long,” said M G Ragunathan, principal of Guru Nanak College.

Some institutions, which have students from remote areas of the country and even from foreign countries, preferred the online mode. “It is not possible for us to conduct offline exams within a month. So, we have asked for separate protocols from the university for offline and online exams due to the diversity among our students,” said P Wilson, principal of Madras Christian College. The college administration has not been able to reach out to at least 5% of its students during the lockdown due to connectivity issues.

Institutions like Ethiraj College for Women also said they preferred the offline mode exams and would prepare for them if the government gave permission. “If it is not possible, we will prepare for online exams,” said S Kothai, principal of Ethiraj College for Women.

R Ganesan, principal of DG Vaishnav College at Arumbakkam which now functions as a Covid care centre, echoed her view. “Right now, we are preparing ourselves to conduct online mode exams. If we get our premises back, then we can conduct offline exams,” he said

A virtual meeting between vicechancellor S Gowri and principals of colleges under the university discussed the online and offline modes

Judges are also bound by ethics, code of conduct: SC

Judges are also bound by ethics, code of conduct: SC

The bench went on to explain how the right of freedom of speech and expression can’t be misused.

Published: 01st September 2020 02:36 AM |

Prashant Bhushan addresses the media in New Delhi on Monday | Shekhar yadav

By Kanu Sarda

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: In its Monday sentencing, the apex court on Monday had a word of advice for judges and lawyers — judicial norms, ethics, and code of conduct are sacrosanct.“Truth can be the defence to the Judges also, but they are bound by their judicial norms, ethics, and code of conduct,” said a three judge bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra.

The top court touched on the unprecedented press conference in 2018 when four SC judges spoke to the media regarding their differences with the CJI. “We hope it was the first and the last occasion that the judges have gone to the press, and God gives wisdom to protect its dignity by internal mechanism, particularly, when allegations made, if any, publicly cannot be met by sufferer judges.”

The bench went on to explain how the right of freedom of speech and expression can’t be misused. “Though there is a freedom of speech, freedom is never absolute because the makers of the Constitution have imposed certain restrictions upon it. Particularly, when such freedom of speech is sought to be abused, and it has the effect of scandalising the institution as a whole and the persons who are part of the said institution and can’t defend themselves publicly, the same can’t be permitted in law.”

“The court can’t abdicate its duty and has to be uninfluenced by the statements published in various articles published in the media and opinions expressed therein. It has to decide the case uninfluenced by such opinions,” the bench said.

Flying to India for NEET amid COVID-19 risk stressful, impractical: Aspirants in Gulf nations

Flying to India for NEET amid COVID-19 risk stressful, impractical: Aspirants in Gulf nations

Some of them have decided the skip the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) altogether this year.

Published: 01st September 2020 08:36 AM 

Students being checked for temperature before appearing for the JEE entrance exam at a centre in New Delhi on Tuesday. 

By PTI

NEW DELHI: Travelling to India to write the medical entrance exam NEET is not only stressful but also impractical, several candidates in Gulf countries have said, citing the risk of contracting COVID-19 and the need to undergo a mandatory quarantine, among other issues.

Some of them have decided the skip the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) altogether this year.

"What choice do I have? It is impractical," said Royston Mendonca, who is based in Dubai.

Several Indian students like her said the Supreme Court's refusal to allow exam centres for the NEET in Gulf countries has left them the lurch.

Many of these students have their JEE Main exam in the Gulf and the NEET in India.

While exam centres have been set up abroad for JEE Main, there is no such plan for NEET.

Reaching India in time to be able to complete the mandatory quarantine period before the exam, arranging a stay before taking a flight back home, additional expenses, the risk of contracting COVID-19 and being quarantined again back home, are among several concerns on the mind of the aspirants.

The National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts medical and engineering entrance exams, has decided to hold NEET on September 13 and Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Mains from September 1 to 6.

Mendonca said, "Even if I take the next possible Vande Bharat flight, I will not be able to finish my quarantine period by then.

And how can one appear for such a crucial exam amid this much stress," he told PTI over phone from Dubai.

Shailaja Vishwanathan, a Doha-based candidate, said, "I had contacted the Indian embassy here and I have been told that though I had not applied earlier, I would be accommodated in the next Vande Bharat flight. But it is too much of a hassle right before an exam for which I have been preparing for two years. I wish I was able to take the exam in Doha, but I don't have much choice. I will go anyhow."

Jonathan Vergis, who resides in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has to write both these exams, the JEE-Main in Dubai on September 3 and the NEET in India 10 days later.

"If I leave after this exam (JEE Main), I will not be able to finish the quarantine period before September 13, when the NEET exam is scheduled," he said.

However NTA officials said the JEE exam centre in such cases can be shifted to India and the students should reach out to the agency.

NEET candidate Jasim, a resident of Saudi Arabia, said, "This is very impractical. I have not travelled alone before this. If my parents fly with me, we will have to bear extra cost which is an added burden at the moment. The time taken to complete the quarantine, appearing for exam and then completing quarantine here once back, will require a lot of leaves from work for them too. We are still working out what to do."

Another candidate based in Oman, who did not wish to be identified told PTI, she has decided not to appear for the exam this year.

"I think I will take the exam next year now. I know a year is precious but it is just not feasible to travel to India for the exam now. I was really hoping that they either postpone the exam or set up centres in Gulf countries too," she said.

On Monday, the Supreme Court of India declined to pass direction to the Central government to hold NEET in Gulf countries.

The court directed the government to allow students to come through Vande Bharat Mission flights to write the exams.

The SC was hearing a plea filed by parents of nearly 4,000 NEET candidates, who alternatively had sought to postpone the examination until the coronavirus pandemic subsides.

The parents of these candidates, who reside in Doha, Qatar, Oman and the UAE, had approached the apex court challenging the High Court of Kerala order which had dismissed their plea in June.

The NTA informed the Supreme Court that it had duly consulted the MCI (Medical Council of India) on the students' demand for overseas test centers.

However, the MCI had clarified that since the exam is conducted in pen and paper mode, it will not be feasible to have a different pattern for Gulf countries or establish a centre there amid the pandemic situation.

Among Indian states too, there has been a growing chorus for postponing the two exams in view of a spike in COVID-19 cases.

However, the Ministry of Education has clarified the exams will be conducted on schedule in September as any further delay now can lead to a zero academic year.

These exams have already been deferred twice in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

The JEE-Main was originally scheduled to be held from April 7-11, but was postponed to July 18-23, the NEET-UG was originally scheduled for May 3, but pushed to July 26.

They were postponed again and are now scheduled in September.