After AIIMS, Maulana Azad Medical College, Vardhmaan Mahavir Medical College and some other medical colleges in Homeopathy and other system of medicine Delhi is getting ready for another medical institution to cater its students for medical and health related education.
The city government is planning to open a Medical University in the city.
Though the plan has not taken concrete shape but high level sources in Delhi government say that University College of Medical Sciences (UCMS) may be upgraded as independent university by detaching it from Delhi University. This may be done on the line of formation of Delhi Technological University (DTU) by converting Delhi College of Engineering into a full fleged university. The sources say that this will be done on the basis of recommendations of Knowledge Commission. The proposed university will work under Delhi Government.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today invited NRIs and American-Indians to work in India for country’s progress. Addressing a reception of Indian Community in USA hosted by Indian Ambassador Meera Shankar in Washington the Prime Minister appreciated Indian community for their contribution, creativity and hard work and said “we will require imagination and innovation to succeed. People of Indian origin worldwide can contribute mightily to this effort”.
Talking about global slowdown he said that though it had hurt the country but gross savings ratio and gross investment ratio had helped to sustain high growth rate. The Prime Minister said that India need a better education system, better health care system, investment and modern infrastructure.
“In the past few years we have already experienced what has been called a “reverse brain-drain”. I would prefer to call this “brain gain” or, indeed, a meeting of minds. We have tried to encourage this flow by making it easier for Indian and American scholars, scientists, business leaders and other professionals to work together. Let me take this opportunity to extend an invitation to all Indian Americans and non-resident Indians who wish to return home to India in one capacity or another,” he said.
The Prime Minister said that NRIs no longer have to make a choice between here and there. Modern technology and flexible policies have opened possibilities of working in both places. Terming India and US similar in many ways Manmohan Singh said that relation with US will remain one of the important pillars of our foreign policy.
Over 120 institutions including several central universities and research institutions have been engaged to study climate change.
The Ministry of Environment is currently engaged in the preparation of India’s second national communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on climate change. According to a reply, given by Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh today, a network of 127 institutions has been engaged countrywide belonging to Research and Development Institutions, Universities, autonomous bodies of the government, NGOs and private institutions for studies on various aspects of climate change.
These include greenhouse gas emissions of anthropogenic origin from sectors such as Energy, Industry, Agriculture, Forestry and Waste, Assessment and impact of projected climate change on key sectors such as Agriculture, Water, Natural ecosystems, Health, Extreme climate events, etc.
Teachers and students of Delhi University today criticized the proposed model of semester system in undergraduate courses. Though teachers did not have objection on semester system in the PG courses but they said that the proposed semester system in undergraduate courses is neither desirable nor feasible.
DUTA organized a seminar on desirability and feasibility of semester system at undergraduate level in the Arts Faculty, University of Delhi today. Prominent academicians Anand Kumar, JNU, Tabrez Alam Khan, JMI and Subrata Mukherjee alongwith Deepak Pental, VC, DU participated in the seminar. Members spoke about the drawbacks of the proposed model circulated by the VC and expressed their serious concerns as it was never debated and discussed in the appropriate statutory bodies of DU. Aditya Narayan Misra, President DUTA made it clear that semester system as suggested lacks the feasibility test as the existing model in operation needs to be scrutinized before making any attempt to talk of reforms in the present system. Anand Kumar expressed satisfaction over the existing model in DU although necessary changes should be initiated keeping in view the requirements and priorities with regard to Indian scenario.
The speakers had the view that lack of infrastructure to handle two-exams in a year for nearly 3 lakh students of DU is the biggest concern in the implementation of the proposed system.
Country’s first-ever air-conditioned circular bus service started in Dwarka, New Delhi. Smart Card Based Automatic Fare Collection System too has been launched today on the occasion. With these Delhi has moved a big step ahead in the direction of world-class city. Chief Minister Dikshit dedicated new Dwarka Sector-8 (Bagdola) DTC Bus Depot and inaugurated air-conditioned Dwarka Circular Bus Service along with Smart Card System.
Dikshit described launch of Circular Bus Service as a Red Letter Day for Dwarka as short distance commuting from one sector to another will become easy, comfortable and hassle-free at very reasonable rate. The minimum fare in air-conditioned circular service Rs.2.50 whereas it is Rs.5 in non-ac buses. Commuters in Dwarka Circular Service will be charged at Rs.2.50 per km for a distance up to four kilometers whereas they will have to pay Rs.10 + Rs.1.25 per km. for kilometer above four kilometers. The maximum fare will be Rs.25.
The new system of Automatic Fare Collection has been introduced as a pilot project and it will be introduced in other buses and integrated with Delhi Metro, once people become used to it in time to come.
Transport Minister Arvinder Singh stated that an Air-conditioned Circular Bus Service at very reasonable rate is a gift to the residents of spread-out Dwarka Sub-city. They used to struggle to get auto-rickshaw/rickshaw to commute short distance, they will be relieved of this tension with launch of Circular Service
Dwarka Circular Service (+) & (-) will cover Dwarka More, Dwarka 6/7 crossing, Sector-10 Metro Station, Sector-8 DTC Depot, Sector-22/23, Sector-22 Govt. Senior Secondary School, Sector-23 Pochan Pur, Sector-19 Modern International School, Sector-19 Pocket-3, Sector-18B DDA Flats, Sector-12 Pocket-8 DDA Flats, Sector-12 Ashirvad Chowk, Sector-4, Sector-6 DDA Shopping Centre and Dwarka More. The routes to be operated from new Depot are RL-77, RL-75, Palam Coach, 724 Extn and Dwarka Circular.
Vibha Puri Das today became the new Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development. A 1976 batch IAS officer of Uttaranchal Cadre Vibha Das, was Addl. Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training prior to this posting.
Das is a post graduate in Political Science from the Jawaharlal Nehru University. She has also completed a Certificate Course in International Approaches to Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation in the Institute of Development Studies, Sussex, UK.
Federation of Central University Teachers’ Association (FEDCUTA) is the largest association of teachers and their unions. In an exclusive and detailed interaction with fachcha.com Aditya Narayan Mishra, President, FEDCUTA revealed many things about our education system. Some excerpts:
Q: How Many universities come under Federation of Central Universities Teachers’ Association (FEDCUTA), at present?
ANM: At Present, there are 24 central universities come under FEDCUTA including Delhi University, JNU, Jamia, Aligarh, BHU, Vishva-Bharti and others. We are trying to achieve bigger participation. There are over 25,000 teachers associated with the federation through teachers associations.
Q: Is there any plan to include Delhi Technological University (DTU) or Ambedkar University in the Federation?
ANM: No, These are state universities.
Q: How do you see the Sixth Pay Commission’s recommendations for teachers?
ANM: See, it is a challenge for us to ensure talent in the system and to retain them with it. For the first time we have received parity with IAS in the pay scale not for just 3-4 years, as it used to happen during earlier pay commissions, but upto 14 to 15 years we are ahead of them. This is recognition of teachers in our system.
Q: It means everything is OK with the new pay commission…
ANM: No, there are certain irritants in the recommendations too like in the pay scale and service condition is getting changed. We have serious objections to it. Our basic objection stays with the fact that whenever the pay commission comes why they (UGC and Universtiy adminstration) try to change service condition. UGC is trying to do it in a very undemocratic manner. It is trying to impose those conditions which are impossible to achieve for a teacher and in a way trying to promote sycophancy.
For example some awards have been listed and made benchmarks like Gyanpeet Award, Bhatnagar awards, Padma awards etc. These are very prestigious awards and given to the people for their lifetime achievements. They are trying to ridicule the teachers by asking them to get the awards for promotion. Again, teacher work hard to get the PhD but here the focus is on getting honorary Doctorate award. There is no recognition of genuine PhD but for honorary PhD. Classroom teaching has got no points and activities other than teaching can gather points and get promotion too. Also, colonial mindset is reflecting by the fact that publication of paper in an Indian Journal is given lesser marks in comparison with foreign journals.
Q: You talk about talent and world class infrastructure but why Indian students go abroad for their studies and face Australia like situation i.e. racism, attacks?
ANM: Qualifying percentage for admission of the most of the prime institutions, including Delhi University, has gone up every year. It is despite increase in number of seats in the university. But at the same time you look the scene at the state universities. Many state governments are not giving proper attention to their institutions in terms of infrastructure and pay scale. Some of the state government are appointing teachers at very low pay of rupees 5000 to 6000 per month. In such a situation how can you expect a world class institution and facilities? And, in such a situation capable students go to other countries for studies.
Q: But there is no fund crunch now, at least in central universities. Why are you (teaching community) not able to achieve global standard in terms of teaching and environment?
ANM: With present pay scale and fund inflow we can achieve world standard. Only thing need to take care of that recruitment or selection should be based on more qualitative assessment than quantitative assessment to ensure talent in the system. We have better talent than any other developing country have. India has great potential. There is no need to go to developed countries with begging bowl and request them to open their universities in India. In all sectors including engineering, medical, literature, publishing every where we have proved our potential. We welcome the government’s initiative to set up new IITs and IIMs. This will help to stop drainage of valuable foreign currency and our talent.
Q: As a president of the biggest teacher organization in the country (FEDCUTA) and also president of Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) what would you say about student politics in DU and whatever has happened in the DUSU election and thereafter? Is it a way to throttle the student’s politics in the university?
ANM: See, the Lingdoh Committee has never tried to understand. It has failed to address the issue in proper perspective. Without a broad vision whatever has been recommended was improper. Allowing students to spend only rupees 5000 for election is a joke. This is general statement and undermining the requirement. How can a person communicate to its electorates or how can it be possible in such a small amount of money. Ban on printed materials is again a wrong step. Age bar is ok but the way candidatures of the candidates of different organizations have been scrapped was totally undemocratic.
Q: What would you like to say about not allocating office to elected DUSU representative despite their democratic mandate? What happened to Delhi University Researchers Association (DURA)?
ANM: See, DURA is a defunct body now. Its election has not held for many years probably for last 10 years. As far as DUSU or DURA is concerned I would only like to say that every union or body must try to defend its interest.