Both Covid vaccine doses must for staff, family members: Health dept

Both Covid vaccine doses must for staff, family members: Health dept

The Tamil Nadu health department on Saturday issued guidelines on Covid-appropriate behaviour for workplaces, industries, and factories.

Published: 25th July 2021 06:44 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu health department on Saturday issued guidelines on Covid-appropriate behaviour for workplaces, industries, and factories. In a notification issued by the Directorate of Public Health and Prevention Medicine, all the district health officials and Chennai Corporation officials have been asked to ensure that workplaces are screening their staff while they enter their premises.

All staff and family members must be vaccinated with two doses and companies must appoint a qualified health inspector at their own cost for monitoring and coordinating health activities in the premises. A Covid-19 health team must be created on the premises and awareness measures must be held, the guidelines state.

Also, according to the guidelines, the screening process must include asking the employee for any Covid-19 related symptoms, if family members have symptoms, checking body temperature and checking if the staff is quarantined for having symptoms.

Secondly, the guidelines say that mask-wearing is mandatory at all workplaces, and administrations must monitor mask compliance through supervisors and managers, including CCTV monitoring. “Anyone without mask must be sent out of the workplace,” it says.

The guidelines insist on maintaining social distancing, hand-washing facilities, and hand sanitation as well. In canteen and dining area, the workers must be divided into groups and meals and tea timings should be split across the groups. “Sufficient distancing should be maintained in dining hall and zig-zag, or alternate seating arrangements shall be adhered to,” guidelines read. In quarters and dorms, Covid appropriate behaviour must be followed and if anyone is found symptomatic, action must be taken.

Colleges devise strategy for admissions

Colleges devise strategy for admissions

“All department heads will be present in the college and apprise the interested applicants about the facilities and achievements of the department.

Published: 23rd July 2021 05:40 AM |

By Binita Jaiswal

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The application process for admission into Arts and Science colleges will begin online from July 26. Colleges are busy making elaborate arrangements to ensure a smooth admission process as they are expecting a significant rise in the number of applications this year.

With almost 100 per cent pass percentage recorded in State Board class 12 results and a phenomenal rise in the number of top scorers (90 per cent and above), colleges across the city will be flooded with applications. To handle the situation efficiently and effectively, the colleges have chalked out different strategies. From setting up helpdesks, launching apps to answer admission-related queries, to providing tour of different departments, the colleges are trying it all to help students.

Guru Nanak College has strictly asked all of its staff to come to college from Friday onwards so that if any student wishes to see the infrastructure in the institute and enquire about different departments, he/she can visit the college and get all information.

“All department heads will be present in the college and apprise the interested applicants about the facilities and achievements of the department. Though the admission process is completely online, still many students want to personally visit the campus and enquire before applying,” said MG Ragunathan, principal of Guru Nanak College.

Besides, the college has also launched an app, which is developed by a B.Sc (IT) student of the college, to answer all admission-related queries.

As competition will be high this time, students will apply in as many number of colleges they can to ensure a seat for themselves. Due to this trend, colleges may face problem, as students will leave seats to take admission in their choice of college. To ensure that seats don’t fall vacant, MOP Vaishnav College for Women has decided to conduct online meeting of selected students along with their parents.

“We will interact with all the selected students and their parents online to get clarity about their future plans and whether our course meets their needs or not,” said principal of MOP, Lalitha Balakrishnan.

Loyola takes efforts to reduce the role of brokers

“Last year, we noticed the role of brokers, who were duping students. To check it, we have added more safety features to our portal,” said principal of Loyola College, Amirtham Thomas

MKU V-C appointed as V-C of Central University of TN

MKU V-C appointed as V-C of Central University of TN

He will work as V-C for a term of five years from the date on which he enters office, or until he attains the age of seventy years, whichever is earlier.

Published: 24th July 2021 07:10 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Vice-chancellor (V-C) of Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU), M Krishnan, has been appointed as the V-C of Central University of Tamil Nadu (CUTN), Tiruvarur, by President of India, Ramnath Kovind. Following this, the syndicate of MKU is yet to form a convener committee until the new V-C takes charge. Krishnan joined as the V-C of MKU on January 2, 2019.

Though his tenure will be over only on January 1, 2022, he got an appointment to serve as the V-C of CUTN on July 23. He will work as V-C for a term of five years from the date on which he enters office, or until he attains the age of seventy years, whichever is earlier.

He will join duty after he receives the relieving order from the Tamil Nadu Governor, who is the Chancellor of the university. The Order of the Ministry of Education said, “Krishnan has been appointed as the vice chancellor of Central University Tamil Nadu as per statute 2 of Central Universities Act, 2009.” Sources said over 300 applications were shortlisted for the post.

College admission, exam dates worry many

College admission, exam dates worry many

Class 12 exams scheduled from Aug 6-19; admissions start on July 26

Published: 24th July 2021 07:11 AM |

By KV Navya

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Private students and those who are not satisfied with the results published through the new method of evaluation, wanting to write Class 12 exams for betterment of marks, are worried if they might miss a seat in college admissions.

According to the recent announcement by Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy, the application process for admission into Arts, Science, and Engineering colleges will start from July 26. However, Class 12 exams in the State have been scheduled from August 6 to 19. Among the people who will be taking the exam are more than 39,000 private candidates, nearly 2,000 absentees, students with arrears, and registered students who are not happy with their Class 12 marks.

“The government deciding to conduct exams much later after opening the college admissions is in itself an irony. We were promised that we will be given a chance to write exams if we are not satisfied with our marks. But, what will be the use of it if top college seats get filled before we even get a chance to apply,” worried P Saindhavi, a Class 12 student from Tambaram. Parents said students will be taking up optional exams to meet the cut-off, yet will be left only with tier 2 and 3 colleges.

“The students who want to rewrite Class 12 exams might only be 1 per cent, but education must be unbiased and provide equal opportunities to all. The government must reconsider its decision and invite applications for college admissions at a later date. Or, this will discourage a lot of top performers from writing the exams,” said one of the parents, L Bhargav.

Private students also feel that there is a common perception that they might not aim for top colleges. According to a private student, Lathika Rani, some of them give exams in private due to unavoidable conditions and this does not make them any less competitive to bag a seat in top college.

The Class 12 supplementary exam will be conducted from August 6 to 19. Students not satisfied with the marks calculated can apply from July 23 to 27, but will need to do so for all subjects. They cannot seek to write any particular subject.

‘Factored in Covid-19’

When contacted, a School Education Department official said the exam date was fixed after discussing with experts about the Covid-19 situation.

What’s India’s vax output? Even govt might not be sure

What’s India’s vax output? Even govt might not be sure

Jr Health Mantri Gives 3 Sets Of Numbers For Covaxin, 2 For Covishield

Rema.Nagarajan@timesgroup.com

24.07.2021 

India’s vaccine production numbers seems to be a mystery for the government, with the junior health minister giving the Rajya Sabha three different sets of numbers for the monthly output of Covaxin and two for Covishield on the same day in response to questions. Two of these questions were even asked by the same member. And the numbers don’t match what the government had earlier told the Supreme Court in affidavits.

On July 20, in response to a question from Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge, Bharati Pravin Pawar, junior health minister said the average monthly production capacity of Covishield by Serum Institute of India is 11 crore doses and of Covaxin by Bharat Biotech 2.5 crore doses.

She went on to add that “as communicated by manufacturers, the monthly vaccine production capacity of Covishield is planned to be increased from 11 crore doses per month to more than 12 crore doses per month and production capacity of Covaxin is planned to be increased from 2.5 crore doses per month to 5.8 crore doses per month.”

In response to a question from BJP MP TG Venkatesh from Andhra Pradesh on the same day, Dr Pawar said “the estimated production quantity is around 130 million (13 crore) doses/month” for Covishield and for Covaxin “the estimated production quantity is around 17.5 million

(1.75 crore) doses/month.”

To yet another question from Kharge on the same day, about the MoU signed between ICMR and Bharat Biotech, Dr Pawar said the biotechnology department’s efforts to upscale the production of Covaxin were “expected to enhance the production of Covaxin from the present one crore doses to ten crore in the coming months”.

Incidentally, the government affidavit filed in the Supreme Court on May 9 had stated: “Serum Institute of India Ltd. has ramped up production from 5 crore doses/ month to 6.5 crore doses per month and further ramp-up is expected by July 2021. Bharat Biotech Intl Ltd. has increased production from 90 lakh/ month to 2 crore doses/ month and further increase is expected upto 5.5 crore doses/month by July 2021.”

While Serum Institute seems to have ramped up production to 11 crore (or more) as was estimated in May, Bharat Biotech’s actual production capacity appears to be a mystery even to the government. In the May affidavit, the government had stated that it had a production capacity of roughly 2 crore doses per month of Covaxin. But now it puts it at anything between 1 crore to 2.5 crore doses per month.

In an earlier affidavit filed on April 29, the government had stated that Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin production would go up from 90 lakh/month to 1 crore and further up to 5 crore doses/ month by July 2021.

Full story on www.toi.com

Affiliation issue keeps college teachers, students on the edge

VNSGU VS SARVAJANIK UNIVERSITY

Affiliation issue keeps college teachers, students on the edge

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Surat:24.07.2021

Future of some of the oldest colleges of south Gujarat run by Sarvajanik Education Society (SES) hangs in balance as there is uncertainty over which university they would be affiliated to. Currently, these colleges are affiliated with Veer Narmad South Gujarat University (VNSGU) ever since they came into existence.

Now, with the formation of Sarvajanik University of SES, these colleges are gradually being disaffiliated by VNSGU as per government guidelines. However, the Sarvajanik University is not ready to give affiliation to these colleges without clarity on the issue of grants for salary and perks.

This has raised doubts about the future among the teachers and students of grant-inaid colleges of SES. The teachers and students of SESrun colleges on Friday held protests at VNSGU and made representation to the officials. The colleges in question include MTB Arts College, Sir P T Sarvajanik College of Science, Sir K P College of Commerce. However, VNSGU vice-chancellor K N Chavda clarified that the university had no role in it.

“There cannot be two acts or set of rules for a private university in the state and as per my knowledge, there are no disputes,” added Chavda.

VNSGU came into existence in 1966 in the campus Sarvajanik Education Society (SES). Meanwhile, SES’s Sarvajanik University was approved by the government recently.

Chairman of SES Kamlesh Naik said, “We had proposed the government that we will take only self-finance institutions (SFI) while the grant-in aide colleges will remain affiliated with VNSGU. We are ready to affiliate grant-in aide colleges only if we get assurance on grants from the government.” VNSGU started disaffiliation of eight colleges of which five are run by the SES, one by the Vanita Vishram Trust and two from Bardoli are associated with trust that runs Uka Tarsadia University. A senior syndic of VNSGU, Sanjay Desai, said, “Earlier, in May the government had ordered a process of disaffiliation. Since it was not done, government sent a reminder for quick implementation. Teachers and students of these colleges don’t need to worry as there will be no changes in benefits they are receiving.”

Corona batch: 23k from Guj went abroad for education

Corona batch: 23k from Guj went abroad for education

Fourth Highest Figure In India

Parth.Shastri@timesgroup.com

Ahmedabad:24.07.2021

Despite travel restrictions being in place for much of 2020, 2.61 lakh students made it to other countries for pursuing studies, revealed the data tabled in the Rajya Sabha by the ministry of external affairs. The number represented more than a 50% fall from the four-year high of 5.88 lakh in 2019.

Gujarat showed a similar trend with the student numbers falling from 48,051 to 23,156 in the same period, a 52% drop.

In terms of sending students abroad, Gujarat was in fourth place behind Andhra Pradesh (35,614), Punjab (33,412), and Maharashtra (29,079). In all, about 9% of the students who went abroad from India were from Gujarat. Even in the first two months of 2021, the state maintained that ratio.

The data from 2016 also revealed that the number of those aspiring to study abroad has doubled from 24,775 in 2016 to 48,051 in 2019.

“Covid has surely impacted the plans of many aiming for both graduate and postgraduate studies,” said Jay Trivedi, a city-based immigration and visa consultant. “Annually, about 15,000 students go to Canada and the US alone for further studies. The number has been affected a bit due to travel restrictions and other factors.” Trivedi added: “But the trend is here to stay, with countries such as Australia and Germany and some other European countries attracting students for specialized courses.” How will 2021 pan out for the students? Nethra Rangarajan (name changed), a city-based private university student, said that she had waited for a year to get admission in an AI learning course in the US.