‘Primary students are forgetting even basics’

‘Primary students are forgetting even basics’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Hyderabad: 28.7.2021

Primary school students are said to be forgetting even basics — reading and writing, as they are away from schools for the last oneand-a-half years.

Teachers said that many students are unable to communicate, read and write even basic sentences.

“The IQ levels of children have dropped drastically. There is memory loss as well. Some, in fact, completely forgot about school and education as they are unable to follow online classes being taught on mobile or computers. While younger students are busy playing, the elder ones have turned to child labour,” said Shabbir Ali, president, Telangana Private Teachers Forum.

He added that physical classes should be resumed by following all protocols.

Teachers said that if the same situation continues for another year or two, a generation of students will be affected as they don’t have access to quality education and are not learning anything. They said that instead of promoting students year after year without having minimum subject knowledge, the government should announce a year as zero year, if needed.

“This year, many students are not even learning anything assuming that they will be passed without exams. This cannot continue. It’s important that students understand the importance of learning and study, even if it’s for the fear of exams,” said Lakshmi S, a private teacher.

SC raps CBI for delays: Can’t keep everyone in jail till you finish trial

SC raps CBI for delays: Can’t keep everyone in jail till you finish trial

New Delhi: 28.7.2021

The SC on Tuesday frowned at the long pendency of trial in cases investigated by CBI and said the central agency has not been able to complete prosecution evidence despite lapse of years in many cases, reports Dhananjay Mahapatra.

The court said the CBI’s track record in expeditious completion of prosecution evidence is not so good. “There is a value to personal liberty. We cannot keep everyone behind bars for all the time that the CBI would take to complete a trial,” it said.

Granting bail to an accused in the 2011 abductionmurder of Rajasthan nurse Bhanwari Devi, the bench said, “The accused is in jail for the last eight and a half years. What will happen if he gets discharged at the end of the trial? Will the prosecution be able to compensate him?”

2nd yr MBBS student abuses jr, suspended

KANPUR

2nd yr MBBS student abuses jr, suspended

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Kanpur: 28.7.2021

An MBBS first year student (Para II) of Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Memorial Medical (GSVM) College has accused an MBBS 2nd year student, of using abusive language on Sunday night and lodged a complaint on the Anti-Ragging help line of the University Grant Commission (UGC).

Following the complaint, the GSVM’s anti-ragging panel swung into action and suspended the senior student from class and hostel till the completion of the investigation. The incident occurred on late Sunday night. The junior student had stated in his complaint that he got stressed after being abused by the senior and remained disturbed till late night hours after reaching his hostel room.

Sensing trouble, he lodged a complaint through his mobile at the Anti-Ragging Helpline at 12.30 the same night. The UGC helpline, registered his complaint, and immediately informed the Director, General Medical Education, DM, SSP and college administration about the matter. Principal GSVM Prof. Sanjay Kala told reporters that the anti-ragging committee has been asked to conduct an inquiry and submit a report soon. “We are strictly against any form of ragging in the college and shall not tolerate such incidents,” said Kala further.

To recall, earlier also GSVM authorities had expelled six junior doctors from the hostel for thrashing the students doing internship in an alleged case of ragging. The incident took place in 2019 December.

Autorickshaw drivers lose business

Autorickshaw drivers lose business

28/07/2021

Special Correspondent CHENNAI

While the free bus services have brought joy to women, transpersons and the differently abled, autorickshaw drivers say they have lost business.

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin rolled out free bus services for women, transpersons and the differently abled in 7,300 ordinary fare buses across the State. This includes 1,700 buses in the city. The service has been welcomed and from July 12 till date, more than 3.5 crore women, 20,000 transpersons and over 2 lakh differently abled persons have utilised it.

M. Sekhar, State general secretary, Tamil Nadu Share Vehicles General Trade Union, said the scheme was a good one. “Due to COVID-19, many people are working from home, there are no colleges or schools either. So our business has taken a hit already. Many share autorickshaw drivers have also lost customers due to the free bus scheme. The government can help us by providing permission to have a pre-paid system for share autorickshaws outside railway stations, bus termini and Metro stations,” he said.

Autorickshaw drivers also complain that they have lost business.

“We are facing losses due to app based taxis and Metro Rail. Now, the free bus service has aggravated our losses. The government should roll out some scheme for us too to help us tide over financial losses,” said M. Prabhu, an autorickshaw driver.

Baby whose thumb was cut off by nurse will get best treatment, HC told

Baby whose thumb was cut off by nurse will get best treatment, HC told

The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court was informed on Monday that the girl,

Published: 28th July 2021 05:01 AM

By Express News Service

MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court was informed on Monday that the girl, whose left-hand thumb was cut off accidentally by a staff nurse at Government Raja Mirasudhar Hospital in Thanjavur, would be monitored every six months and the best possible treatment would be provided to her. Justice N Anand Venkatesh noted a medical report that said the baby would need a lengthening of the thumb, through a reconstructive surgery.

With regard to the interim compensation of Rs 75,000 ordered by the court in the last hearing, the government advocate informed that it would be paid to the baby’s parents within a week. The baby’s father Ganesan had earlier approached the court seeking the same

Reopen schools, say academics, doctors, lawyers and parents

Reopen schools, say academics, doctors, lawyers and parents

Yogita.Rao@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:29.07.2021

Over 50 academicians, including professors from IIT-Bombay, IIT-Delhi and Delhi University, doctors, lawyers and parents from Maharashtra, Delhi and Karnataka, have written an open letter to CMs of their respective states, presenting a case to reopen schools.

The petitioners have said there may never be a “zero-case scenario” as Covid-19 is here to stay. They said in addition to learning loss, children are facing mental distress, facing reduced development of social skills and losing confidence. Schools have largely remained closed for 16 months, even as scientific evidence is in favour of reopening schools with safety protocols, they added.

Times View: From all accounts, the pandemic isn’t going to disappear in the near future. Senior academics and other experts have raised significant points about reopening of schools which need to be carefully looked into by authorities.

Madras univ awards doctorate posthumously to Lt General

Madras univ awards doctorate posthumously to Lt General

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:29.07.2021 

University of Madras on Wednesday awarded PhD posthumously to Lt General Subroto Mitra, who did research work on terrorism, security challenges to India and its neighbouring countries. University vice-chancellor S Gowri gave the doctorate degree to Lt General Mitra’s wife Pushpita Mitra, who thanked the institute for the gesture.

On the occassion, Gowri highlighted Mitra’s important research as a field officer. “Subroto Mitra has analysed crossborder terrorism and ways to prevent it in the future in his thesis work. The university takes pride in awarding this degree,” Gowri said.

“Terrorism manifests in different ways. The thesis brought out emerging forms and issues of terrorism including cyber terrorism and Mitra recommended ways on how nations could counter these issues,” said Utham Kumar Jamadhagni, head, department of defence and strategic studies. “A researcher may not have had the exposure Mitra had first-hand when he served in Jammu and Kashmir, northeast India. That is why it is very, significant.”

Mitra registered for PhD with the university in 2013 while serving as General Officer Commanding Andhra Pradesh, TN, Karnataka and Kerala. He passed away in 2015 but had submitted his thesis.