Modi to be 1st PM at Aligarh Muslim varsity event since ’64

Modi to be 1st PM at Aligarh Muslim varsity event since ’64

Anuja.Jaiswal@timesgroup.com

Agra:  17.12.2020

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the chief guest at celebrations marking 100 years of Aligarh Muslim University, one of the country’s oldest varsities, on December 22.

“A centenary is a landmark in the history of any university… The entire AMU community and I are grateful to the PM for accepting our invitation,” vice-chancellor Tariq Mansoor told TOI on Wednesday.

The last time a sitting PM attended an event at the varsity was in 1964, when Lal Bahadur Shastri delivered the convocation address. “The PM’s presence will be helpful to the growth and development of the university and placement of our students,” Mansoor said.

‘PM’s presence will send strong message to BJP’

Union HRD minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank will also be attending, he added. It does come with a change of plans though. AMU officials had earlier told TOI that President Ram Nath Kovind would be attending the centenary celebrations. Now, however, he has deferred his plan and will be attending in February 2021. All events will be held online, given the Covid-19 restrictions in place.

A senior AMU official told TOI that the PM’s presence would “send a strong message to BJP functionaries who keep attacking the institution.” AMU protests against CAA had led to a backlash last year. Its scholars have been vocal against cases of violence against women in UP and in favour of the ongoing farmers’ protest in Delhi.

The VC did not share the itinerary for December 22, but sources said the PM may inaugurate the newly constructed campus gate, release a postal stamp and a commemorative coffee table book, and attend the burial of a ‘time capsule’ with AMU memorabilia. Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College was set up in 1875 by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, along the lines of what he saw at Oxford and Cambridge.

‘Married daughters can claim job on compassionate grounds’

‘Married daughters can claim job on compassionate grounds’

Vasanth.Kumar@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:  17.12.2020

The Karnataka HC has ruled that married daughters, too, are entitled to seek employment on compassionate grounds as they don’t cease to be part of the family after they enter wedlock.

“Half the world, and not even half a chance,” the court said on Tuesday about the plight of Bhuvaneswari V Puranik from Bengaluru, whose representation for a job on compassionate grounds was rejected because she is married. Her brother, working in a private company, chose not to seek a government job. The court also directed the government to consider the petitioner’s appeal for a job in one of its departments.

The petitioner’s father Ashok Adiveppa Madivalar, who worked as a secretary in the office of Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee at Kuduchi in Belagavi, died in 2016 while in service. His daughter’s application for a job on compassionate grounds in 2017 was rejected by the joint director (administration), department of agriculture marketing. Bhuvaneswari challenged the order in HC, contending it was discriminatory.

Full report on www.toi.in

Jobless, young electrical engineer brews tea business

Jobless, young electrical engineer brews tea business

Jobs Offered Just ₹7K, So Chose To Start Tea Biz

Yogesh.Chawda

Ahmedabad:  17.12.2020

A young engineering degree holder is drawing many eyeballs for his tea stall with a catchy name -- ‘engineer ni cha’ (engineer's tea) near the busy RTO circle here.

Ronak Raj (27), who recently opened the chai kitli, holds an electrical engineering degree from Gujarat Technological University (GTU). He says he turned to brewing tea instead after he failed to find jobs which earned him enough to make ends meet.

“My first job after graduation earned me Rs 7,000 per month, which was not sufficient to make ends meet. I chose to become an engineer hoping for a better career and life but guess the degree is no guarantee for a well paying job any more,” said Ronak, a resident of Meghaninagar.

Disillusioned with private pay packages, Ronak decided to secure a government job. He prepared and appeared for many competitive exams between 2016 and 2020 for jobs in the banking sector, state government, staff selection board and the Gujarat high court, among others. “Even though I made it to the merit list a few times, my appointment was not secure,” said Ronak, who was left in a lurch soon after 2020 began as a number of exams got cancelled due to the pandemic.

Ronak Raj (R) at his tea stall near RTO circle in Ahmedabad

‘Tea stall gives good returns’

Finally, Ronak decided to chase the dream of a well-paying job and brew his own concoction of success literally. “I am 27 and it doesn’t feel right to subsist on father's income. After researching many small businesses, I realised setting up a tea stall won’t take too much capital but promised good returns as people of Ahmedabad are tea-lovers,” said Ronak.

Ronak lost his mother a decade ago and lives with his father, a pan shop owner, along with his sister, Mayuri, a diploma engineering graduate who is currently pursuing MBA degree. She helps Ronak run the tea stall.

“Tea is an integral part of Amdavadi culture. of a certain culture in this city. People didn't stop drinking tea even during a pandemic,” said Ronak who pooled Rs 20,000 to start his teastall along with sister and cousin brother.

Ronak serves freshly brewed flavourful tea at Rs 15 a cup with two biscuits alongside. Mayuri runs the stall in the evening after college lectures get over online. Since they started, they did manage to sell around 85 cups of tea each day.

“My tea-stalls name piques the curiosity of many people who ask if we brew some special tea. We share our story proudly and most people come back to support us," said Ronak.

Residents irked as hike in LPG prices burns hole in pockets

Residents irked as hike in LPG prices burns hole in pockets

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 17.12.2020

Hike in LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) cylinder prices has created discontent among residents as they now have to shell out ₹100 more for a cylinder than what they paid a fortnight ago.

A 14.2kg domestic gas cylinder now costs ₹710 in Chennai, which was ₹610 before the beginning of this month. With several people managing with limited resources during the pandemic, the hike could not have come at a bad time, say residents.

“Only on December 3, there was an increase of ₹50. Not even 11 days have passed, again an increase of ₹50. It is atrocious in the pandemic situation,” said V Latha of Adambakkam, a housewife.

The income of many middle class families is limping back to normal. In such a situation the Central government should have suspended the automatic increase of prices by oil companies based on international rates, said V Rama Rao, secretary of People Awareness Association.

Many residents pointed out that even during the UPA-2, the price had not exceeded ₹400 and demanded that the government supply 12 LPG cylinders per annum to a household and scrap the DBT (direct benefit transfer) scheme.

DMK leader M K Stalin and DMDK’s Vijayakanth condemned the rise in LPG prices. “When public are reeling under the pandemic, the government’s moves are not helpful. LPG prices should be rolled back or else, the government cannot escape the wrath of the voters,” Stalin tweeted.

Vijayakanth said several small businesses like tea shops and eateries were shut during the lockdown and people are limping back to normalcy. “At such a time, the double price rise is condemnable. The Central government should take steps to roll back prices,” Vijayakanth said in a statement.

Pammal, Anakaputhur to get sewerage system

Pammal, Anakaputhur to get sewerage system

Project Set To Cost ₹162Cr, Another ₹49Cr For STP

Siddharth.Prabhakar@timesgroup.com

Chennai:  17.12.2020

In a few years from now, residents of Pammal and Anakaputhur municipalities on the southern fringes of Chennai are likely to get an underground sewerage system.

The municipal administration and water supply (MAWS) department floated tenders worth ₹162crore for establishing the sewerage system including pumping stations and another tender worth ₹49crore for building and operating a 27-millionlitres-per-day capacity sewage treatment plant (STP). The tenders will have to be executed in two years. According to official documents, the STP is likely to be in a location called Kalmaduvu under the Anakaputhur municipality.

At present, residents in these areas dispose their sewage in septic tanks which have to be periodically removed by the municipalities using tanker lorries. There have been many reported incidents of these lorries dumping sewage in water bodies in the vicinity.

According to official documents, population of the two municipalities, which fall in Kancheepuram district, is likely to touch 2.37lakh by 2036 and around 3.17lakh by 2051. The sewerage system would be divided into 10 zones across the two municipalities.

The documents also indicate that these local bodies are likely to be merged with Greater Chennai Corporation in the future. Chennai has an underground sewerage system. The MAWS department is likely to identify a space of around 11acres for the sewage treatment plant. This would have a bio-digester plant which would produce biogas for production of electricity. According to official documents, this is likely to have a lesser operation and maintenance cost compared to other options. Settlements along the Adyar river banks would have to be evicted for the project, the documents also show.

The civic bodies would also explore options to sell the treated water from the plant to industries and conduct a study to calculate the demand from bulk industrial customers.

The local bodies will explore options to discharge the treated sewage in the Adyar river a part of which also falls in the Anankaputhur municipality. Government sources say the sewerage scheme would ensure that pollution of water bodies would be checked. Also, treatment of sewage centrally would ensure prevention of manual scavenging which happens when septic tanks are cleaned.

A sewerage system would also help in improving public health by reducing communicable diseases and prevent pollution to surface and ground water.

Local activist David Manohar said this would have other benefits as well. “Septic tanks take up extra space which will be prevented with an underground sewerage system. Also, people need to shell out a lot of money to private tankers for clearing of septic tanks. This is one of the ways local politicians make money as well,” he said.

Thirupananthal lake at Pammal filled with sewage

6 cases at Anna univ, 8 more in IIT

6 cases at Anna univ, 8 more in IIT

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

17.12.2020

Six hostel students at Anna University’s College of Engineering, Guindy, tested positive for Covid-19 even as eight more cases were reported from neighbouring Indian Institute of Technology–Madras. The case tally in IIT-Madras reached 191.

Tamil Nadu health secretary J Radhakrishnan, who visited both the campuses on Wednesday morning, said Covid-19 tests would be conducted for students residing on campuses across the state. “The positivity rate in Anna University is less than 1%. Most students who tested positive have undergone a battery of tests including blood profile, X-rays and CT scans. They are all doing well,” he said. Sanitation process has been initiated on both campuses.

The infection rate has been coming down steadily both in the city and the state. In the absence of a vaccine, people should continue wearing masks, he said. “Students cannot wear masks in dining rooms, and hence they must ensure they maintain social distancing. Colleges have been asked to offer takeaways for students. A few small mistakes will cause great danger,” he said.

While state has been fining people for not wearing masks, action will be initiated under the epidemic diseases act and the public health act if educational institutions do ensure people’s safety, he said.

Half-yearly exams cancelled for govt school students

Half-yearly exams cancelled for govt school students

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Salem: 17.12.2020

State school education minister K A Sengottaiyan on Wednesday announced that half-yearly examinations for students studying in the government and aided schools were cancelled. However, there were no restrictions for private schools to conduct online examinations, the minster told reporters in Erode.

Earlier, participating in an event for unveiling statues in the AIADMK party office and Panneerselvam Park, the minister lauded chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami for taking the government on the way shown by former chief minister J Jayalalithaa Citing a recent government order, the minister said the state has provided 3% reservation in government jobs for students who joined through sports quota.

On reducing syllabus, the minister said the students up to Class IX have to study only 50% of the syllabus and for Class X, XI, XII students, it would be 65% of the syllabus.

The minister said the school reopening date will be announced by the chief minister after consulting with parents and educationists.

DOING A CHECK: There are, however, no restrictions for private schools to conduct online examinations