32 TN colleges among top 100 in NIRF ranks

32 TN colleges among top 100 in NIRF ranks

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:10.09.2021

Five state universities slipped in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings 2021 released on Thursday. While Anna University slipped by four places in both university category and engineering category to be ranked 16 and 18 respectively, University of Madras slipped six ranks from 22 to  28.

In the colleges category, Loyola College was ranked the third best college in the country, moving up three places. But, Presidency College slipped two ranks to 7th. As many as 32 colleges from Tamil Nadu featured among the top 100, the same as last year.

Christian Medical College in Vellore has retained its third position among medical colleges. In the engineering category, IIT Madras was the top ranked institute, NIT Trichy was ranked 9th and Vellore Institute of Technology 12th.

Anna University vicechancellor R Velraj said the reduction in the number of PhD admissions and more students discontinuing their engineering degrees to join medicine as main reasons for the slip in the ranking.

"The university fixed a qualification criteria for PhD admissions, which resulted in fewer admissions. With engineering counselling scheduled ahead of medical counselling last year, more students discontinued their courses after getting medical admissions. It affected our scores in graduation outcomes," he said. Madras University vicechancellor S Gowri said the vacancies among the faculty members will be one of the reasons for the slip in ranking. "We will study the reasons and try to improve our ranking," he said.

Bharathiar University from Coimbatore slipped from 13 to 14 while Bharathidasan University in Trichy came down from 53 to 57 in the university category. Madurai Kamaraj University also slipped from 60 to 63.

However, Alagappa University in Karaikudi have moved up from 36 to 33 and Periyar University in Salem jumped 10 places from 83 to73.

In the dental colleges category, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences came in third, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research was ranked 8 and SRM Dental College was ranked 10th. Among the pharmacy colleges, JSS College of Pharmacy in Ooty was ranked 7th.

MBBS admissions at Madurai AIIMS unlikely this year

MBBS admissions at Madurai AIIMS unlikely this year

Health Minister Ma Subramanian said it is unlikely the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Madurai will be able to admit students in the current academic year (2021-22).

Published: 09th September 2021 05:47 AM |

For representational purposes

By Lalitha Ranjani

Express News Service

MADURAI: Health Minister Ma Subramanian said it is unlikely the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Madurai will be able to admit students in the current academic year (2021-22). The plan to commence classes this year came up at the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court in June, but the minister said the options suggested by the Union government for conducting classes were not feasible. This comes days ahead of this year’s NEET on September 12. Since last year, admission to MBBS courses at AIIMS and JIPMER has been based on NEET scores.

Speaking to TNIE, Subramanian said, “During the meeting with Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in New Delhi on September 3, it was conveyed that none of the suggestions put forward regarding temporary arrangements were feasible for the State. TN is for beginning admissions only after construction of the planned buildings at Thoppur. Thus, we insisted on expediting the project. The Ministry acknowledged the practical difficulties in meeting the criteria of the National Medical Commission to admit students at AIIMS this year.”

The Union government had suggested three temporary options to begin classes this year for 150 students of Madurai AIIMS: to host them at JIPMER in Puducherry, at a government medical or arts college in Madurai, or at any private medical college in Madurai. The State did not find these options viable and instead suggested 50 students each be accommodated at the Madurai, Theni, and Sivaganga government medical colleges. However, all these options have now been ruled out.

‘Temporary campus will not reflect well on TN’

Subramanian explained JIPMER was ruled out as it would not be appropriate when the project concerned Tamil Nadu. Starting classes at a private medical college in Madurai, too, is out of question as AIIMS is an autonomous institution of national importance. Similarly, accommodating the students at the Madurai Medical College is not feasible since the college already admits 250 MBBS students every year.

An additional 150 students would burden the college which does not have the required infrastructure. The final option of admitting 50 students each at Madurai, Theni, and Sivaganga government medical colleges was also deemed logistically unfeasible. “It will only lead to inconvenience for the faculty and students,” he added.

“Most students securing admission to AIIMS are from northern States and would have greater expectations of the amenities as provided at other AIIMS. It would not reflect well on TN to accommodate them in a hastily-arranged temporary campus,” Subramanian said. On June 30, commencement of classes from this year was mooted during the hearing of a plea at the Madurai Bench.

The petitioner, a law student, sought a direction to the Union and State governments to take steps to commence the functioning of the institute at a temporary campus, until the construction of the main building was completed. It was then that the Union government told the court it was willing to start outpatient services and MBBS classes at a temporary alternative space identified by the TN government.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Dr J Radhakrishnan said except for vague correspondences and submissions of affidavits at the court, neither a MoU nor a concrete plan of action was chalked out by the Union Health Ministry to immediately start MBBS admissions at a temporary campus. Hence, after explaining the technical aspects, the State has insisted that the Union government fast-track the construction of AIIMS, he added.

THE ROAD SO FAR

JUNE 30 Centre tells HC it is keen to start outpatient services & classes, subject to availability of alternative space & manpower till the building is set up

JULY 7 State says Union govt suggested three places in Puducherry and Madurai to temporarily conduct MBBS classes for 150 students

JULY 26 TN says it sought an AIIMS report on the proposal to take 50 students in 2021- 22. Also says students can be taught at nearby govt colleges

AUG 17 AIIMS executive director says Centre is ready to start classes at any of the colleges chosen by TN, subject to infrastructure requirements. State seeks time.

Errors in Covid vaccine certificates headache for students

Errors in Covid vaccine certificates headache for students

Issues include wrong number, name, age, and dates of vaccination

Published: 09th September 2021 06:56 AM 

A health worker administering a dose of Covid-19 vaccine to a student at Meenakshi Sundararajan Engineering College in Chennai | R Satish Babu

By KV Navya

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Several students who have taken vaccines for Covid-19 are reportedly not being allowed inside their colleges as they are unable to download their vaccination certificates from CoWin portal owing to issues like erroneous contact number, name, age, and same dates for first and second doses. A few of the colleges that insist on vaccination certificates are Loyola College, Chellammal Women’s college, and AM Jain college.

“I got the first dose at a government school in Meenambakkam in July. I have not even received a single message and thought it would take a 10-15 days. It, however, has been two months now and the officials at the vaccination centre have stopped responding. They said they could arrange for a certificate saying I got vaccinated in September,” said A Tamizhselvan, a student of AM Jain College. He added the college is not accepting the vaccination card issued at the centre at the time of vaccination as proof.

When contacted, a staff of the college said they are not accepting the cards because it is easy to duplicate them. Vaccination certificates are being insisted on to ensure everyone in the college is safe, especially in the backdrop of numerous cases erupting in schools across the State.

Similar is the plight of Aishwarya from Chellammal Women’s college in Guindy. She has been skipping college since September 1 and running from pillar to post to get her vaccination registered. “If we register as if we took a jab in September, the second dose will be delayed. I took my first dose in July. I know at least three of my friends facing similar issues,” she said. The college authorities could not be contacted for their response.

The Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine has instructed the health department officials to establish a help desk in State and Health-Unit-District levels to sort out issues raised by citizens on Covid-19 vaccination, including non-issuance of vaccination certificate, certificate correction, merging of certificates, and others.

It may, however, be noted that the Tamil Nadu government had said that Covid-19 vaccination is not mandatory to attend physical classes in colleges across the State.

How to make corrections in certificates

The Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine has instructed the health department officials to help State residents with vaccination-related issues. To lodge a complaint, the public can visit www.cowin.gov.in, click on register/sign in, enter mobile number, click on ‘Get OTP’, enter OTP, and click on ‘Verify’. After entering the account page, click on the ‘Raise an Issue’ tab

60 engg colleges in Karnataka to offer 4-yr BSc course this yr

60 engg colleges in Karnataka to offer 4-yr BSc course this yr

SruthySusan.Ullas@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:09.09.2021

Around 60 engineering colleges may introduce a BSc Honours course in Science from this academic year. On Tuesday, the Visvesvaraya Technological University sought government nod to start the course which is in sync with the new National Education Policy (NEP).

The 4-year BSc (Hons) programme will have Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths (STEAM) subjects. The science and engineering departments will conduct classes on campus and each college can have 60 students per course.

“This course will be different from those in degree colleges given the emphasis on STEM subjects. The open electives, project work and internship will be STEMcentric and from engineering background,” said vicechancellor Karisiddappa.

Proposal to choose students through CET

The open electives, project work and internship will be STEM-centric and from engineering background like Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity and Internet of Things, among others. It’ll be like courses offered in the Indian Institute of Science and other premier technological institutions,” said vice-chancellor Karisidappa.

There is a proposal to select students through the Common Entrance Test. Engineering colleges offering this programme will be chosen based on NAAC and NBA accreditation and Local Inspection Committee reports. With government colleges not having NBA accreditation, they’re unlikely to offer the course this year. “As most engineering colleges have placement cells, students can benefit from them,” the VC said.

While admission to all BSc programmes in most colleges is over, VTU hopes its course will enthuse those keen to join. “Some students passionate about STEM subjects may want to join an engineering college. Others may prefer pure sciences over engineering. The number of students completing PU course is higher than last year because of the all-promotion policy. The increase in seats will benefit them,” Karisidappa said.

The course will be in sync with NEP. Students can opt for electives from other streams like humanities. NEP allows forming a cluster or collaborating with other educational institutions and engineering colleges will be encouraged to do it

Karisiddappa VTU VC

Tax filings reflect portal bug getting fixed: Govt

Tax filings reflect portal bug getting fixed: Govt

1.2 Crore Returns For FY21 Filed With 76.2L Taxpayers Using New Online Facility: CBDT

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:09.09.2021

After weeks of tussle with Infosys, the vendor for the new tax portal, the government on Wednesday said that several technical issues on the faulty platform are being “progressively addressed” and this was reflected in the “positive” return filing trends.

So far, nearly 1.2 crore returns for the last financial year have been filed, with over 76.2 lakh tax payers using the new portal’s online utility for the purpose, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said.

Describing it as an encouraging trend, CBDT said nearly 95 lakh income tax returns have been e-verified, with over seven lakh having been processed. E-verification of returns is a pre-condition for processing of returns.

The statement marks a change in the department’s tone towards Infosys, which had blamed India’s premier IT company for the glitches on the platform. It comes days after RSS mouthpiece Panchjanya attacked Infosys for funding “anti-India forces” and messing with the portal. RSS, however, distanced itself from the report.

Amid complaints from the vocal tax professionals, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman resorted to “summoning” Infosys CEO Salil Parekh twice and has now set a deadline of September 15 for making the portal glitch-free.

Even now, several taxpayers are complaining about their inability to log in or file their returns.

“The ministry of finance has been regularly monitoring the resolution of issues with Infosys, which is the Managed Services Provider for the project… It is reiterated that the (income tax) department is continuously engaged with Infosys to ensure a smooth filing experience to taxpayers,” CBDT said. It added that return filing has increased to 3.2 lakh daily in September.

In addition, taxpayers have been able to view over 8.7 lakh notices issued by the department under the faceless assessment, appeal or penalty proceedings and over 2.6 lakh responses have been filed so far. “An average of 8,285 notices for e-proceedings are being issued and 5,889 responses are being filed in September 2021 on a daily basis,” the tax department said.

The numbers are also meant to signal to taxpayers that things are improving and they should go ahead with filing their returns as the deadline is fast approaching.

SSG nurse gets Florence Nightingale award

SSG nurse gets Florence Nightingale award

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Vadodara:09.09.2021

She has worked without a single-day off during Covid-19 pandemic. In fact, she was among the first in nursing staff at Central Gujarat’s biggest hospital — SSG Hospital — in Vadodara to handle a Covid-19 positive mother and her newborn when almost everyone feared the deadly virus.

Two years ago, when most wards were heavily waterlogged, she along with resident doctors and support staff ensured that the gynaecology and obstetrics department continued to function.

On September 15, her dedication to the profession will be recognized as President Ramnath Kovind will confer the prestigious National Florence Nightingale Award 2020 virtual on Bhanumati Gheewala fondly called sister Bhanuben.

The Indian Nursing Council, a statutory body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, confers the award to recognize the contribution of healthcare workers.

The 56-year-old head nurse performs her duty six days a week at the government hospital and on the seventh day she provides her voluntary services at Ramkrishna Mission to support their child welfare activities.

Bhanuben who joined as a nurse in 1988 underwent training in gynaecology speciality at Chandigarh in 2000 and finished Nurse Practitioner Midwives course in 2010.

She also kept upgrading herself. “For years, we had been following conventional methods. It was after a workshop on alternative birth positions in July 2019 that we started practicing birth positions featuring reclining, squatting or side-lying which have physiological and psychological advantages over the conventional posture,” said Bhanuben.

“It is indeed a matter of pride for entire SSG Hospital that our nursing staff Bhanuben has been selected for this prestigious award,” said professor Ranjan Aiyer, medical superintendent at SSG Hospital.

Bhanumati Gheewala worked relentlessly during pandemic

Biological, adoptive parents fight for girl’s custody

ADOPTIVE PARENTS HAD BEEN CHILDLESS, HAD BIOLOGICAL CHILD LATER

Biological, adoptive parents fight for girl’s custody

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:09.09.2021

A 16-year-old girl’s adoptive parents and biological parents have moved the Gujarat high court in a legal battle for her custody.

The case is from Jamnagar district, where a couple had given their daughter for adoption to their uncle and aunt, because the older couple did not have a child then. Later, the adoptive parents had a girl born to them and the biological parents began asserting their rights over their daughter.

During the hearing before the bench of Justice J B Pardiwala and Justice V D Nanavati, it was submitted that the biological parents took custody of the child when she was at school in August 2011. Since then, she has been living with her biological parents, who also claimed before the court that the child is not willing to leave her biological parents.

As the dispute between the biological and adoptive parents grew worse, the biological parents moved a local court and demanded that the adoption deed be cancelled. On the other hand, the adoptive parents insisted on enforcement of the adoption deed. The adoptive parents have been arguing that there is no law under when the adoption deed can be cancelled, and thus they will remain the parents of the child and responsible for her all her life. The dispute twice reached the high court but remained unsolved.

The judges told the lawyers that the girl is 16 years of age and in two years she will attain majority, so both parties should allow her to decide with which set of parents she wants to live with. The judges also said that such litigations are very painful, “In the fight between the biological and adoptive parents, we don’t want the girl to suffer, and that is for sure.” When the high court insisted that both parties try to reach an amicable solution to the problem, the lawyers from both sides expressed inability and the court was informed that there was a case of assault, for which one of the litigating parties was convicted and sentenced to jail. He is out on bail and is contesting hard for the custody. Upon hearing this, the judges said, “You continue to fight. Let them draw swords but spare the girl.” As the lawyers continued to insist on the hearing, the judges reiterated their request for an amicable solution and said, “Even the judgment is not going to solve the problem.” The court finally decided to hear the case at length on Monday.

While the girl is now 16, the dispute has been in court for 10 years. During this time, one of the litigants had assaulted the other and was convicted and jailed for it