Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, October 31
State Level Eligibility Test (SLET) conducted to appoint lecturers in government-aided colleges is going in for a makeover. The reason, only 2.98 per cent students have cleared SLET and a worried West Bengal College Service Commission (WBCSC), which conducts the exam, has decided to ring in the changes.
This year 8000 sat for the SLET in August. The results published on October 29 make grim reading as only 265 have cleared the exam. Alarmed, the chairman of WBCSC Himangshu Ghosh has informed higher education minister Sudarsan Roychoudhuri about the sharp drop. The commission has also urged a probe by the West Bengal State Council of Higher Education.
In commerce and chemical science only 8 and 7 students respectively have cleared the exam. In life science only 6 students have passed and in economics only two students have crossed the hurdle. The worst affected are earth and mathematical sciences where the pass percentage is zero.
“If the students fails to pass the SLET then it means that colleges will not get lecturers. I have urged the higher education council to call a vice-chancellors meeting at the earliest,” said Ghosh.
“Any exam system has the scope for upgradation but the meeting is also important. Then everyone will understand whether the syllabus or the students is the problem,” said Roychoudhuri.
But Ghosh seems to have pinpointed the problem. The main problem according to Ghosh is that some subjects cover a wide area. For example mathematical sciences also include statistics and computer science. Life science covers subjects like botany, physiology, zoology and microbiology. “A student taking SLET is expected to be an all-rounder and the person may not have the same competency level in all subjects. This could be the reason for not fairing well,” said Ghosh.
While SLET offers only 21 subjects, National Level Eligibility Test (NET) conducted by UGC offers 92 subjects. From 2008 SLET too will offer more subjects like microbiology, physiology, electronics and biochemistry. “We have already spoken to the UGC and would be breaking down several subjects which are in a combination mode. More students hopefully will clear the exams,” said Ghosh. SLET 2008 is scheduled for March.
Though the commission will be offering more subjects from next year, Ghosh feels that students should do away with suggestions. “Most of the students these days do not have an in depth knowledge. This is because they do not do any library work and heavily depend of their private tutor and do suggestive study. Unless this is changed we will not get lecturers for our colleges,” Ghosh said.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Home centres retained for private engg colleges
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, October 30
The students of private engineering colleges may get to take their next semester exam starting December 3 from their home centres.
The West Bengal University of Technology (WBUT), which governs all the 58 private engineering colleges in the state, though wanted to scrap do away with the practice of awarding home centres but failed. “We want to scrap home centres but it would not be possible from December,” said S. R. Islam, registrar of WBUT.
The issue will be raised in the university’s executive council meeting next week. The main stumbling block is that about 20 per cent of institutions located in North Bengal do not have another engineering college nearby for students to take their exam. Engineering colleges in Malda, Siliguri, Jalpaiguri, Dooars, Cooch Behar and West Midnapore are facing this problem.
The principals of most institutions have already informed authorities that unless away exam centre is given to all colleges they would not want the university to implement it. Many colleges have also sighted infrastructure problems for hosting exams from another college.
WBUT had tried to rent non-engineering colleges hosting the exams. But problems have coped up here too. “It would not be a problem to rent colleges during December as there are holidays. But our next semester exam is in June and it will coincide with exams of non-engineering colleges. So this cannot be a permanent solution,” said Islam.
About 70,000 students would be taking the exam in December. The university had tried to do away with home centres in June this year but they backtracked after strong students’ protest. “If the university has to do away with home centres then it should be implemented everywhere. Why will we go to another college when our counterparts have a home advantage,” said a student of Narula Institute of Technology.
A section of teachers at WBUT too feel similarly. “Jadavpur University and Bengal Engineering and Science University, Shibpur have home centres for their students. But can anyone raise questions about the credibility of exams. A student who is a cheat will do it anywhere,” said a source in the university. The university however has decided to send more visiting teams to the colleges during the semester exams.
Mou.Chakarborty@hindustantimes.com
Kolkata, October 30
The students of private engineering colleges may get to take their next semester exam starting December 3 from their home centres.
The West Bengal University of Technology (WBUT), which governs all the 58 private engineering colleges in the state, though wanted to scrap do away with the practice of awarding home centres but failed. “We want to scrap home centres but it would not be possible from December,” said S. R. Islam, registrar of WBUT.
The issue will be raised in the university’s executive council meeting next week. The main stumbling block is that about 20 per cent of institutions located in North Bengal do not have another engineering college nearby for students to take their exam. Engineering colleges in Malda, Siliguri, Jalpaiguri, Dooars, Cooch Behar and West Midnapore are facing this problem.
The principals of most institutions have already informed authorities that unless away exam centre is given to all colleges they would not want the university to implement it. Many colleges have also sighted infrastructure problems for hosting exams from another college.
WBUT had tried to rent non-engineering colleges hosting the exams. But problems have coped up here too. “It would not be a problem to rent colleges during December as there are holidays. But our next semester exam is in June and it will coincide with exams of non-engineering colleges. So this cannot be a permanent solution,” said Islam.
About 70,000 students would be taking the exam in December. The university had tried to do away with home centres in June this year but they backtracked after strong students’ protest. “If the university has to do away with home centres then it should be implemented everywhere. Why will we go to another college when our counterparts have a home advantage,” said a student of Narula Institute of Technology.
A section of teachers at WBUT too feel similarly. “Jadavpur University and Bengal Engineering and Science University, Shibpur have home centres for their students. But can anyone raise questions about the credibility of exams. A student who is a cheat will do it anywhere,” said a source in the university. The university however has decided to send more visiting teams to the colleges during the semester exams.
Mou.Chakarborty@hindustantimes.com
Teachers' training to make maths lesson fun
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, October 30
Teachers from primary schools in the state will be given specialised training. This is being done so that they can drive the fear of a particular subject from the minds of pupils.
The Diagnostic Achievement Test (DAT) report, which was aimed at making a comparative study of the strengths and weaknesses of students in various subjects in different parts of Bengal, has revealed that most pupils have “scope for improvement” in the subject. Hence, the West Bengal Board of Primary Education has conceived of a plan to train schoolteachers so that they may teach the subject in a manner interesting to students.
“Mathematics and English are two subjects that remain a cause of fear for children in primary schools. If teachers know beforehand the sections which a student fails to understand and also how they can make the lesson easy yet interesting, students would develop a liking for the subject,” said Shulopany Bhattacharya, president of the primary board.
Studies have also revealed that weakness in mathematics is a major cause for the increase in dropout rates amongst students. “Most students lose interest in going to school because they do not understand mathematics. Thus, besides giving them mid day meals and taking other steps to ensure that dropout rates decrease, we will also have to ensure that they love mathematics,” said Bhattacharya.
Teachers will be taught ways of making calculation more interesting by using various teaching aids. “Instead of doing a calculation on the black board, if a teacher can demonstrate it with certain tangible objects in front of their eyes, like for instance, if pupils get to see how 2 + 2 equals 4, they would definitely understand it,” Bhattacharya explained.
Though primary schools would not be able to start mathematics labs like in CBSE schools in the state, teachers will be encouraged to explain to students with live examples.
Well-known mathematics scholars will prepare the curriculum for teachers’ training across the state. Teachers, especially newcomers, would be targeted for the training programme. There are almost two lakh teachers in primary schools and the board will first train a small group of teachers as master resource persons, who in turn, would train some chosen teachers as district resource persons. These district resource persons would then go out to every circle in the districts and impart the training to teachers there.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Kolkata, October 30
Teachers from primary schools in the state will be given specialised training. This is being done so that they can drive the fear of a particular subject from the minds of pupils.
The Diagnostic Achievement Test (DAT) report, which was aimed at making a comparative study of the strengths and weaknesses of students in various subjects in different parts of Bengal, has revealed that most pupils have “scope for improvement” in the subject. Hence, the West Bengal Board of Primary Education has conceived of a plan to train schoolteachers so that they may teach the subject in a manner interesting to students.
“Mathematics and English are two subjects that remain a cause of fear for children in primary schools. If teachers know beforehand the sections which a student fails to understand and also how they can make the lesson easy yet interesting, students would develop a liking for the subject,” said Shulopany Bhattacharya, president of the primary board.
Studies have also revealed that weakness in mathematics is a major cause for the increase in dropout rates amongst students. “Most students lose interest in going to school because they do not understand mathematics. Thus, besides giving them mid day meals and taking other steps to ensure that dropout rates decrease, we will also have to ensure that they love mathematics,” said Bhattacharya.
Teachers will be taught ways of making calculation more interesting by using various teaching aids. “Instead of doing a calculation on the black board, if a teacher can demonstrate it with certain tangible objects in front of their eyes, like for instance, if pupils get to see how 2 + 2 equals 4, they would definitely understand it,” Bhattacharya explained.
Though primary schools would not be able to start mathematics labs like in CBSE schools in the state, teachers will be encouraged to explain to students with live examples.
Well-known mathematics scholars will prepare the curriculum for teachers’ training across the state. Teachers, especially newcomers, would be targeted for the training programme. There are almost two lakh teachers in primary schools and the board will first train a small group of teachers as master resource persons, who in turn, would train some chosen teachers as district resource persons. These district resource persons would then go out to every circle in the districts and impart the training to teachers there.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Recovering national treasures a distant dream
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, October 29
There is some bad news for art lovers in the country. Some of the most precious treasures of the country, which are now kept in various museums across Europe can never be brought back, feels eminent art historian and member of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) executive board Kapila Vatsyayan.
In an executive board meeting of UNESCO held in early October, the topic of returning artefacts belonging to various countries, including India that are housed in museums across Europe was raised. But curators of various museums in Europe, which include the British Museum and the Louvre, have turned down the offer.
“They felt art objects which belong to the developing world would be safer in European museums and they need not be returned. According to some curators, these pieces of our heritage will be best preserved in those museums and we would not be able to take care of them in the way it is done by them,” said Vatsyayan. The curators have instead suggested that the countries, including India that want their antiques back can be given a digital version of the original.
In various European museums — paintings, sculptures, metalworks, textiles, furnitures, drawings, and other decorative art — from ancinet India like the Gupta age, Pal age and Mughal age are preserved. According to UNESCO’s 1970 convention, one country cannot take away another country’s treasures by illicit means. But the problem with India is that most of the art objects were taken during the colonial rule.
Asked whether it is possible for India to reclaim its treasures, even if the museums disagree, Vatsyayan said, “The possibility is very low. It is a very complicated legal process and even the Interpol gets into it. The biggest problem is to prove its place of origin and even if it were done, it would be more difficult to prove how it changed hands and ended up in an European museum.”
Though it is illegal to accept any antique without the export clearance certificate from the country of origin, most museums do not follow the rule.
Talking about the loss of Rabindranath Tagore’s Nobel medal, the art historian, who was once a student at Santiniketan and had met Tagore in her childhood said, “Gurudev is much more than the medal and he is in our blood. But I felt terrible and defeated when I see that we could do nothing to bring back the medal. We do not have that sense of pride and ownership for our heritage,” she added.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Kolkata, October 29
There is some bad news for art lovers in the country. Some of the most precious treasures of the country, which are now kept in various museums across Europe can never be brought back, feels eminent art historian and member of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) executive board Kapila Vatsyayan.
In an executive board meeting of UNESCO held in early October, the topic of returning artefacts belonging to various countries, including India that are housed in museums across Europe was raised. But curators of various museums in Europe, which include the British Museum and the Louvre, have turned down the offer.
“They felt art objects which belong to the developing world would be safer in European museums and they need not be returned. According to some curators, these pieces of our heritage will be best preserved in those museums and we would not be able to take care of them in the way it is done by them,” said Vatsyayan. The curators have instead suggested that the countries, including India that want their antiques back can be given a digital version of the original.
In various European museums — paintings, sculptures, metalworks, textiles, furnitures, drawings, and other decorative art — from ancinet India like the Gupta age, Pal age and Mughal age are preserved. According to UNESCO’s 1970 convention, one country cannot take away another country’s treasures by illicit means. But the problem with India is that most of the art objects were taken during the colonial rule.
Asked whether it is possible for India to reclaim its treasures, even if the museums disagree, Vatsyayan said, “The possibility is very low. It is a very complicated legal process and even the Interpol gets into it. The biggest problem is to prove its place of origin and even if it were done, it would be more difficult to prove how it changed hands and ended up in an European museum.”
Though it is illegal to accept any antique without the export clearance certificate from the country of origin, most museums do not follow the rule.
Talking about the loss of Rabindranath Tagore’s Nobel medal, the art historian, who was once a student at Santiniketan and had met Tagore in her childhood said, “Gurudev is much more than the medal and he is in our blood. But I felt terrible and defeated when I see that we could do nothing to bring back the medal. We do not have that sense of pride and ownership for our heritage,” she added.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Monday, October 29, 2007
Massive changes in state Higher Education Council on cards
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, October 28
The government is all set to make the West Bengal State Council of Higher Education (WBSCHE) a more powerful body and bring in engineering and other courses under it.
The government will bring a bill during the Winter Session of the Assembly. Established in 1995, WBSCHE is an apex body, which advises the government on higher education policies and also guides the 8 state universities.
After the bill is passed, West Bengal University of Technology (WBUT) under which all the 58 private engineering colleges and 24 management colleges are affiliated, will become a member of the council. “We will try to make WBUT at ease with government intervention,” said an official of higher education ministry.
Apart from WBUT Bengal Engineering and Science University, Netaji Subhas Open University and West Bengal University of Fisheries and Animal Sciences will also become full time members of the council. “The council suggests and recommends academic matters to the universities. Since all universities are autonomous they have the freedom to accept or reject suggestions,” said a member of WBSCHE. “So far no technical or distance education university was a member of the council. It has long been felt that all state universities should become member and this will be done now,” he added.
Apart from four universities the state college service commission would also become a member of the council. “The state college service commission is in charge of recruiting and filling up vacancies. If the commission becomes a member the state could resolve problems in recruiting teachers,” said another member of WBSHEC.
The Council will now also now look after self-financing postgraduate courses in colleges. “Colleges with good infrastructure offer self finance post graduation courses. But the government has received complaints regarding fee structure, lack of infrastructure and teachers. Since the colleges were under the university and not directly under the council so we could not do anything,” said an official of the higher education ministry. “But now the council along with the university will affiliate these courses and the council will monitor them. The state feels that the universities are not always equipped to take care of the self finance courses and we can act as the helping hand,” he added.
The WBSCHE is also scheduled to get a permanent chairman. Till now the higher education minister acted as the ex-officio chairman. The ministry felt that a full time chairman would ensure that the council works smoothly and tackles problems without waiting for the minister.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Kolkata, October 28
The government is all set to make the West Bengal State Council of Higher Education (WBSCHE) a more powerful body and bring in engineering and other courses under it.
The government will bring a bill during the Winter Session of the Assembly. Established in 1995, WBSCHE is an apex body, which advises the government on higher education policies and also guides the 8 state universities.
After the bill is passed, West Bengal University of Technology (WBUT) under which all the 58 private engineering colleges and 24 management colleges are affiliated, will become a member of the council. “We will try to make WBUT at ease with government intervention,” said an official of higher education ministry.
Apart from WBUT Bengal Engineering and Science University, Netaji Subhas Open University and West Bengal University of Fisheries and Animal Sciences will also become full time members of the council. “The council suggests and recommends academic matters to the universities. Since all universities are autonomous they have the freedom to accept or reject suggestions,” said a member of WBSCHE. “So far no technical or distance education university was a member of the council. It has long been felt that all state universities should become member and this will be done now,” he added.
Apart from four universities the state college service commission would also become a member of the council. “The state college service commission is in charge of recruiting and filling up vacancies. If the commission becomes a member the state could resolve problems in recruiting teachers,” said another member of WBSHEC.
The Council will now also now look after self-financing postgraduate courses in colleges. “Colleges with good infrastructure offer self finance post graduation courses. But the government has received complaints regarding fee structure, lack of infrastructure and teachers. Since the colleges were under the university and not directly under the council so we could not do anything,” said an official of the higher education ministry. “But now the council along with the university will affiliate these courses and the council will monitor them. The state feels that the universities are not always equipped to take care of the self finance courses and we can act as the helping hand,” he added.
The WBSCHE is also scheduled to get a permanent chairman. Till now the higher education minister acted as the ex-officio chairman. The ministry felt that a full time chairman would ensure that the council works smoothly and tackles problems without waiting for the minister.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Spare the rod teachers, understand the child
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, October 26
Schools will now have to maintain a dossier on students’ behaviour so that teachers can have a body of information to refer to and study how a student carries himself. This will help them understand the behaviour pattern of each student and help them deal with each student and thus avoid corporal punishment.
In its attempt to curb corporeal punishment in schools, the school education department is coming up with regulations and the maintenance of a students’ dossier will be one of them.
The department will send a circular to all government-aided schools. “The first draft on ways to stop corporal punishment is ready. After another round of discussions, we will be sending a circular to schools by the second week of November asking them to follow the recommendations,” said school education minister Partha De.
The teachers will have to study various facets of a student like his academic progress, areas of interests, hobbies, language skills, behaviour with classmates and how he responds to teachers. Comments on all students under subheads will be maintained. De feels if a child is observed thoroughly it would not be difficult to tackle him. “We have consulted several psychologists and would tell teachers to adopt different tactics for different students. The dossier will make the task easy.”
The school education department will ask schools to conduct regular health check-ups of each student which will have to be incorporated in the dossier. The ministry will ask schools to avail of its school health programme. The schools will also be asked to tie up with local doctors. “Sometimes, a student is reckless not simply because he is a child but because there are several aspects to be taken into consideration like his family background and health. Schools will have to look into that aspect too. At several occasions, due to health problems, a child behaves erratically and teachers and parents end up punishing him without fully understanding his condition. This aspect should also be looked into,” said De.
The dossier, apart from help identify a difficult child, will also help teachers understand the strengths and weakness of a child, De felt. “After the teachers treats a child according to his type, he would also have to keep track of the response. If the child does not respond favourably then the tactics need changing,” said De.
The minister will also make it mandatory to include a chapter on handling difficult students and ways of doing away with corporal punishment in all training programmes and orientation programmes of teachers.The programme will involve not just the school managing committee along with the teachers but also local leaders, doctors and the guardians. Schools will be asked to arrange more cultural programmes so that informal interaction between teachers and students increase and their relationship strengthens. “We understand that teachers have their share of problems and have to address them. But under no circumstances should a child be given corporal punishment in school. If violated, then steps would be taken under the existing code of conduct,” said De.
Kolkata, October 26
Schools will now have to maintain a dossier on students’ behaviour so that teachers can have a body of information to refer to and study how a student carries himself. This will help them understand the behaviour pattern of each student and help them deal with each student and thus avoid corporal punishment.
In its attempt to curb corporeal punishment in schools, the school education department is coming up with regulations and the maintenance of a students’ dossier will be one of them.
The department will send a circular to all government-aided schools. “The first draft on ways to stop corporal punishment is ready. After another round of discussions, we will be sending a circular to schools by the second week of November asking them to follow the recommendations,” said school education minister Partha De.
The teachers will have to study various facets of a student like his academic progress, areas of interests, hobbies, language skills, behaviour with classmates and how he responds to teachers. Comments on all students under subheads will be maintained. De feels if a child is observed thoroughly it would not be difficult to tackle him. “We have consulted several psychologists and would tell teachers to adopt different tactics for different students. The dossier will make the task easy.”
The school education department will ask schools to conduct regular health check-ups of each student which will have to be incorporated in the dossier. The ministry will ask schools to avail of its school health programme. The schools will also be asked to tie up with local doctors. “Sometimes, a student is reckless not simply because he is a child but because there are several aspects to be taken into consideration like his family background and health. Schools will have to look into that aspect too. At several occasions, due to health problems, a child behaves erratically and teachers and parents end up punishing him without fully understanding his condition. This aspect should also be looked into,” said De.
The dossier, apart from help identify a difficult child, will also help teachers understand the strengths and weakness of a child, De felt. “After the teachers treats a child according to his type, he would also have to keep track of the response. If the child does not respond favourably then the tactics need changing,” said De.
The minister will also make it mandatory to include a chapter on handling difficult students and ways of doing away with corporal punishment in all training programmes and orientation programmes of teachers.The programme will involve not just the school managing committee along with the teachers but also local leaders, doctors and the guardians. Schools will be asked to arrange more cultural programmes so that informal interaction between teachers and students increase and their relationship strengthens. “We understand that teachers have their share of problems and have to address them. But under no circumstances should a child be given corporal punishment in school. If violated, then steps would be taken under the existing code of conduct,” said De.
Box:
* Dossier on every student to be maintained
* It would keep regular records of students on like academic progress, areas of interests, hobbies, language skills, health, behaviour with classmates, how he responds to teachers.
* Government’s school health programme will be rejuvenated to ensure all schools have regular health check up programmes for students
* Teachers will be taught different ways to handle different types of children
* The students response will also be noted in the dossier.
* If response is poor, then tactics has to be changed
* All teachers training programmes will have a chapter on ways to do away with corporal punishment and ways of handling a difficult child.
* A teacher who awards corporal punishment will also face punishment.
* Schools’ managing committees, local leaders, local doctors and guardians will be involved in the programme
* School will have to conduct more cultural programmes to ensure the teacher- student bond strengthens.
Mou.Chakrabory@hindustantimes.com
* Dossier on every student to be maintained
* It would keep regular records of students on like academic progress, areas of interests, hobbies, language skills, health, behaviour with classmates, how he responds to teachers.
* Government’s school health programme will be rejuvenated to ensure all schools have regular health check up programmes for students
* Teachers will be taught different ways to handle different types of children
* The students response will also be noted in the dossier.
* If response is poor, then tactics has to be changed
* All teachers training programmes will have a chapter on ways to do away with corporal punishment and ways of handling a difficult child.
* A teacher who awards corporal punishment will also face punishment.
* Schools’ managing committees, local leaders, local doctors and guardians will be involved in the programme
* School will have to conduct more cultural programmes to ensure the teacher- student bond strengthens.
Mou.Chakrabory@hindustantimes.com
Friday, October 26, 2007
Presidency College floats its biggest on campus expansion plan
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, October 24
It is a mother of all expansions in a college steeped in history and tradition. Presidency College is planning to make a 45,000 square feet construction and add a new four-storied building in its existing campus in College Street. And yes Promode da’s much-loved canteen is also going to get a makeover.
The proposal has been sent to the higher education department, which in turn has lobbed it to the finance department for clearance. The college has proposed to construct a four-storied building behind its historic main building, which is a heritage structure. The Group D employee quarter located in the same area will be relocated behind the library building where a four-storied building will be constructed. The project is estimated to cost the government Rs 5.5 crore and would be completed in two year’s time.
The new building will cater mainly to the Arts department. Sociology, political science, history and English department presently conduct their classes in a scattered manner. They are likely to be shifted to the new building. Bengali and sociology department, which could not expand due to the space crunch are definitely looking forward to their new quarters.
Alert to the students’ sentiment the college will be trying not to demolish Promode da’s canteen or the old gym, which will be given pride of place in the ground floor of the new building. Efforts are on to make sure that the canteen will not be closed for even a day.
Speaking to HT, former student and Trinamool MLA Saugata Roy, said, “Unlike Rakhal Da’s canteen in Calcutta University, Promod Da’s canteen does not have any historic connection. It is not even a heritage structure. I don’t think students would be unhappy if the canteen is given a new look.”
Each department will be given a staff room with separate cubicles for teachers. Five classrooms will be constructed and each will accommodate 45 students. There will be some extra classrooms, which will be used by other departments. The building will be equipped with all modern teaching aids like computers and projectors.
“It will be huge. According to the building plan submitted by the college the new structure will look like the main building from outside. It will be built in such a way that it does not look out of place as it is situated next to a heritage structure. The plan also suggests a bridge to connect the new structure with the main building.
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has already sanctioned the plan. “The land behind the main building substantial and one cannot hope to get so much space in central Kolkata. The KMC has also told us that we will not be able to do carry out any more construction in College Street,” said an official of the college.
Hence the college is also looking forward to a second campus where it plans to have a guesthouse, some classrooms and an auditorium. The higher education department has zeroed in on land beside Dhapa in South 24-Parganas for the second campuses of Bethune and Presidency College. “It is in very initial stage. We have just seen the land and will have to speak to the urban development ministry before making any comment,” said an official of the higher education department.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Kolkata, October 24
It is a mother of all expansions in a college steeped in history and tradition. Presidency College is planning to make a 45,000 square feet construction and add a new four-storied building in its existing campus in College Street. And yes Promode da’s much-loved canteen is also going to get a makeover.
The proposal has been sent to the higher education department, which in turn has lobbed it to the finance department for clearance. The college has proposed to construct a four-storied building behind its historic main building, which is a heritage structure. The Group D employee quarter located in the same area will be relocated behind the library building where a four-storied building will be constructed. The project is estimated to cost the government Rs 5.5 crore and would be completed in two year’s time.
The new building will cater mainly to the Arts department. Sociology, political science, history and English department presently conduct their classes in a scattered manner. They are likely to be shifted to the new building. Bengali and sociology department, which could not expand due to the space crunch are definitely looking forward to their new quarters.
Alert to the students’ sentiment the college will be trying not to demolish Promode da’s canteen or the old gym, which will be given pride of place in the ground floor of the new building. Efforts are on to make sure that the canteen will not be closed for even a day.
Speaking to HT, former student and Trinamool MLA Saugata Roy, said, “Unlike Rakhal Da’s canteen in Calcutta University, Promod Da’s canteen does not have any historic connection. It is not even a heritage structure. I don’t think students would be unhappy if the canteen is given a new look.”
Each department will be given a staff room with separate cubicles for teachers. Five classrooms will be constructed and each will accommodate 45 students. There will be some extra classrooms, which will be used by other departments. The building will be equipped with all modern teaching aids like computers and projectors.
“It will be huge. According to the building plan submitted by the college the new structure will look like the main building from outside. It will be built in such a way that it does not look out of place as it is situated next to a heritage structure. The plan also suggests a bridge to connect the new structure with the main building.
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has already sanctioned the plan. “The land behind the main building substantial and one cannot hope to get so much space in central Kolkata. The KMC has also told us that we will not be able to do carry out any more construction in College Street,” said an official of the college.
Hence the college is also looking forward to a second campus where it plans to have a guesthouse, some classrooms and an auditorium. The higher education department has zeroed in on land beside Dhapa in South 24-Parganas for the second campuses of Bethune and Presidency College. “It is in very initial stage. We have just seen the land and will have to speak to the urban development ministry before making any comment,” said an official of the higher education department.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Have solar power? Sell it
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, October 23
THERE IS good news for those using solar energy in Bengal — soon they will be able to sell their unutilised electricity to the CESC and the State Electricity Board to earn money. This will be the first of its kind initiative in India.
The West Bengal Renewable Energy Development Agency (WEBREDA) has drafted a proposal in this regard and has presented it to West Bengal Electricity Regularity Commission (WBERC) for approval.
“We are hoping that the commission will be able to implement it from December. And once implemented, all electricity service providers will be bound to buy unutilised solar energy from the household and will have to pay their consumer for the amount of power consumed by them,” said WEBREDA director S.P. Gon Choudhuri.
While the tariff notification is expected from WBERC by December, WEBREDA will launch this first of its kind concept in India from January 1 in 25 houses at Rajarhat as a part of its pilot project.
The process will be simple. A house with solar electricity production unit will have to install a ‘reverse meter’ or ‘export meter’ at a very nominal price. This meter will be installed near the CESC or state electricity board meter box. The consumer will not need separate wiring for using powers from electricity board and the solar cell. Instead once the ‘export meter’ is installed, the power from two separate sources will be switched ‘in’ and ‘out’ automatically.
“A consumer often does not use solar power produced throughout the day. If attached to the grid of the electricity service provider, the extra unit produced will automatically flow into their main line and could be used by others,” explained Gon Choudhuri.
When CESC or state electricity board officials will come to read the meter they will have to check both. The electricity board will have the option to send their electricity bill by subtracting the tariff that it had to pay to the consumer for utilising his solar electricity or may pay the amount to the consumer by cash.
“This concept is there in every developed country. If every household produces 1 KW of excess solar power and if there are 1 lakh houses then the amount of electricity produced will be equal to the amount of power generated by a thermal unit in a day. This will help to curb pollution from emission and power usage,” said Gon Choudhuri.
The WBERC and WEBREDA are now busy deciding on the tariff. “Negotiations are on. We want that those who will sell solar power get preferential tariff from the electricity service providers. The tariff will be act as an incentive and inspire people to have solar power units installed,” said Gon Choudhuri.
But the question is that will electricity boards agree to such an arrangement?
As per the Indian Electricity Act, 2003, electricity boards will have to buy solar power once WBERC implements its decision. “They are bound by law to buy excess solar power from households. They know that power supplied by them is not eco-friendly and are responsible for global warming. This procedure is accepted the world over by service providers to promote green power and the same will happen in India too,” said Gon Choudhuri.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Kolkata, October 23
THERE IS good news for those using solar energy in Bengal — soon they will be able to sell their unutilised electricity to the CESC and the State Electricity Board to earn money. This will be the first of its kind initiative in India.
The West Bengal Renewable Energy Development Agency (WEBREDA) has drafted a proposal in this regard and has presented it to West Bengal Electricity Regularity Commission (WBERC) for approval.
“We are hoping that the commission will be able to implement it from December. And once implemented, all electricity service providers will be bound to buy unutilised solar energy from the household and will have to pay their consumer for the amount of power consumed by them,” said WEBREDA director S.P. Gon Choudhuri.
While the tariff notification is expected from WBERC by December, WEBREDA will launch this first of its kind concept in India from January 1 in 25 houses at Rajarhat as a part of its pilot project.
The process will be simple. A house with solar electricity production unit will have to install a ‘reverse meter’ or ‘export meter’ at a very nominal price. This meter will be installed near the CESC or state electricity board meter box. The consumer will not need separate wiring for using powers from electricity board and the solar cell. Instead once the ‘export meter’ is installed, the power from two separate sources will be switched ‘in’ and ‘out’ automatically.
“A consumer often does not use solar power produced throughout the day. If attached to the grid of the electricity service provider, the extra unit produced will automatically flow into their main line and could be used by others,” explained Gon Choudhuri.
When CESC or state electricity board officials will come to read the meter they will have to check both. The electricity board will have the option to send their electricity bill by subtracting the tariff that it had to pay to the consumer for utilising his solar electricity or may pay the amount to the consumer by cash.
“This concept is there in every developed country. If every household produces 1 KW of excess solar power and if there are 1 lakh houses then the amount of electricity produced will be equal to the amount of power generated by a thermal unit in a day. This will help to curb pollution from emission and power usage,” said Gon Choudhuri.
The WBERC and WEBREDA are now busy deciding on the tariff. “Negotiations are on. We want that those who will sell solar power get preferential tariff from the electricity service providers. The tariff will be act as an incentive and inspire people to have solar power units installed,” said Gon Choudhuri.
But the question is that will electricity boards agree to such an arrangement?
As per the Indian Electricity Act, 2003, electricity boards will have to buy solar power once WBERC implements its decision. “They are bound by law to buy excess solar power from households. They know that power supplied by them is not eco-friendly and are responsible for global warming. This procedure is accepted the world over by service providers to promote green power and the same will happen in India too,” said Gon Choudhuri.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Genetic studies at Asutosh College
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, October 23
Asutosh College will soon become the only college in the state to offer an undergraduate course in genetics.
The course will be offered in the self-finance mode from the 2008 academic session. “We wanted to start this course from the current academic session but could not. However, the CU syndicate has already given its approval. It is too late for starting the course this year and hence we will launch it in 2008,” said principal Debabrata Chowdhury. At present, Calcutta University (CU) only offers a postgraduate course in genetics.
The course will cover three aspects of genetics — medical, environmental and agricultural. The college has already drawn up the syllabus for the course, which would include topics such as microbes, plants, recombinant BNA technology, biotechnology, gene transfer method, gene therapy, genetic engineering, DNA fingerprinting, genetically modified crop and transgenic crops and human genome. “Genetics is an inter-disciplinary subject and hence the syllabus will include biology, biotechnology, zoology, microbiology, physics and chemistry,” said Dipak Kar, head of BSc in microbiology and in charge of BSc in genetics.
Talking about the importance of genetics in modern science, Kar said: “Genes are present in every living organism and define their character. To know genes and use them for human development is what genetics aims at. It is a subject of today which students who take up would like immensely.”
The college authorities are optimistic that students who opt for the course will find good placements. “For the past few years, our college has been offering campus placements and since we already have courses such as microbiology and biochemistry we have been getting enquiries from quite a few companies about genetics students,” said Chowdhury.
Students who complete the course can hope to work in the applied area of genetics or go into research work. “The passouts will have a huge role to play in medical science, forensic science and other biomedical-related field. It is a subject with huge opportunities.”
Though the subject is modern, the teachers are finding it difficult to find books for the undergraduate course and are busy culling out reading material from journals and postgraduate and research level books.
To begin with, there will be 25 seats and the college has decided to set a high cut-off mark for applicants. “This is a very serious subject and needs in-depth study and to begin with we would be looking at students who would be able o pull it off,” said Chowdhury. Class XII passouts with physics, chemistry, biology or biotechnology will be eligible to apply.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Kolkata, October 23
Asutosh College will soon become the only college in the state to offer an undergraduate course in genetics.
The course will be offered in the self-finance mode from the 2008 academic session. “We wanted to start this course from the current academic session but could not. However, the CU syndicate has already given its approval. It is too late for starting the course this year and hence we will launch it in 2008,” said principal Debabrata Chowdhury. At present, Calcutta University (CU) only offers a postgraduate course in genetics.
The course will cover three aspects of genetics — medical, environmental and agricultural. The college has already drawn up the syllabus for the course, which would include topics such as microbes, plants, recombinant BNA technology, biotechnology, gene transfer method, gene therapy, genetic engineering, DNA fingerprinting, genetically modified crop and transgenic crops and human genome. “Genetics is an inter-disciplinary subject and hence the syllabus will include biology, biotechnology, zoology, microbiology, physics and chemistry,” said Dipak Kar, head of BSc in microbiology and in charge of BSc in genetics.
Talking about the importance of genetics in modern science, Kar said: “Genes are present in every living organism and define their character. To know genes and use them for human development is what genetics aims at. It is a subject of today which students who take up would like immensely.”
The college authorities are optimistic that students who opt for the course will find good placements. “For the past few years, our college has been offering campus placements and since we already have courses such as microbiology and biochemistry we have been getting enquiries from quite a few companies about genetics students,” said Chowdhury.
Students who complete the course can hope to work in the applied area of genetics or go into research work. “The passouts will have a huge role to play in medical science, forensic science and other biomedical-related field. It is a subject with huge opportunities.”
Though the subject is modern, the teachers are finding it difficult to find books for the undergraduate course and are busy culling out reading material from journals and postgraduate and research level books.
To begin with, there will be 25 seats and the college has decided to set a high cut-off mark for applicants. “This is a very serious subject and needs in-depth study and to begin with we would be looking at students who would be able o pull it off,” said Chowdhury. Class XII passouts with physics, chemistry, biology or biotechnology will be eligible to apply.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Monday, October 15, 2007
Now Engineers to take the oath
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, October 14, 2007
We’ve all heard of the Hippocratic Oath that doctors must take before they can launch into their profession of healing the sick.
But, soon, engineers keen to practise the profession in India, too, will have to take a professional oath and register themselves just like lawyers, doctors and architects do.
Engineering is not a registered profession in India, but the Centre plans to formulate a law soon and make registration and taking a professional oath for both practising engineers and engineering graduates willing to pursue the profession mandatory.
The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has already drafted the Bill in this regard and sent it to the ministry of human resources development (MHRD) for approval. And, if all goes well, according to sources within the ministry, the Bill will be tabled in Parliament during the winter session. With this change, engineering will technically become a profession and all Indian engineers will be responsible for their work and can be brought to trial in court for any professional mistake or negligence.
Once the Bill is passed, while completing their graduation, engineers – just the same as lawyers and doctors – will have to take an oath of fulfil their professional duties and their responsibility towards society.
The Centre also plans to form a Council of Engineering, which will give a registration number to all engineers willing to practise the profession. Apart from the council, various other engineering-related registered societies, such as the Institute of Engineers, will also have the power to give a registration number to qualified engineers. Both the oath-taking and the registration number will be mandatory for every engineer in India. Those already in the profession will also have to go through this process.
One of the main reasons for making engineering a registered profession is to help Indian engineers get hired globally. Many First World countries insist that Indian engineers go through a short-term course before joining organisations there. This is because Indian engineers, unlike doctors, do not register themselves or take a professional oath that makes them answerable to authority.
Another reason for this predicament that Indian engineers face on foreign shores is that the AICTE, which recognises all engineering courses in the country, is yet to become a member of the Washington Accord, an international association of accreditation boards from various countries, to seek global recognition. Becoming a full member of the Washington Accord will become easy for India if engineering becomes a registered profession since teaching this course in India needs AICTE approval.
BOX
* Soon, engineers must take a professional oath and register themselves just like lawyers, doctors and architects.
* The Centre plans to bring a law soon and make registration and taking a professional oath for both practising engineers and engineering graduates mandatory.
* The AICTE has drafted a Bill and sent it to the MHRD for approval. It will be tabled in Parliament in the winter session.
* With this change, all engineers can be brought to trial in court for any professional mistake.
* One main reason is to help Indian engineers get hired globally.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Kolkata, October 14, 2007
We’ve all heard of the Hippocratic Oath that doctors must take before they can launch into their profession of healing the sick.
But, soon, engineers keen to practise the profession in India, too, will have to take a professional oath and register themselves just like lawyers, doctors and architects do.
Engineering is not a registered profession in India, but the Centre plans to formulate a law soon and make registration and taking a professional oath for both practising engineers and engineering graduates willing to pursue the profession mandatory.
The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has already drafted the Bill in this regard and sent it to the ministry of human resources development (MHRD) for approval. And, if all goes well, according to sources within the ministry, the Bill will be tabled in Parliament during the winter session. With this change, engineering will technically become a profession and all Indian engineers will be responsible for their work and can be brought to trial in court for any professional mistake or negligence.
Once the Bill is passed, while completing their graduation, engineers – just the same as lawyers and doctors – will have to take an oath of fulfil their professional duties and their responsibility towards society.
The Centre also plans to form a Council of Engineering, which will give a registration number to all engineers willing to practise the profession. Apart from the council, various other engineering-related registered societies, such as the Institute of Engineers, will also have the power to give a registration number to qualified engineers. Both the oath-taking and the registration number will be mandatory for every engineer in India. Those already in the profession will also have to go through this process.
One of the main reasons for making engineering a registered profession is to help Indian engineers get hired globally. Many First World countries insist that Indian engineers go through a short-term course before joining organisations there. This is because Indian engineers, unlike doctors, do not register themselves or take a professional oath that makes them answerable to authority.
Another reason for this predicament that Indian engineers face on foreign shores is that the AICTE, which recognises all engineering courses in the country, is yet to become a member of the Washington Accord, an international association of accreditation boards from various countries, to seek global recognition. Becoming a full member of the Washington Accord will become easy for India if engineering becomes a registered profession since teaching this course in India needs AICTE approval.
BOX
* Soon, engineers must take a professional oath and register themselves just like lawyers, doctors and architects.
* The Centre plans to bring a law soon and make registration and taking a professional oath for both practising engineers and engineering graduates mandatory.
* The AICTE has drafted a Bill and sent it to the MHRD for approval. It will be tabled in Parliament in the winter session.
* With this change, all engineers can be brought to trial in court for any professional mistake.
* One main reason is to help Indian engineers get hired globally.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Training to curb corporal punishment in schools
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, October 14, 2007
The education department has come up with a new formula to curb corporal punishment in schools. It has decided to impart on-the-job training to newly recruited teachers on how to tackle disobedient students and improve their quality of performance.
Talking to Hindustan Times, school education minister Partha De said the training would be of great help to teachers who lack experience in handling children. “It is only after a teacher assumes charge that she or he realises how difficult it is to impart knowledge. So, we have decided to introduce a training programme for new teachers,” he said.
Besides arming them with the skill to understand children and tackle unruly ones, the training will also give the newly appointed teachers a minimum of a year’s work experience. Many teachers recruited through the School Service Commission (SSC) examination lack a formal training and the programme on anvil would fill in the gap, feel academics.
Early last month, the minister had summoned representatives of all teachers’ organisations and had asked them to suggest ways so that students could enjoy the hours in school and teachers could abstain from meting out corporal punishment. Most of the organisations, reportedly, urged the minister to introduce the training and orientation programme for new recruits to solve the problem.
For experienced teachers, the school education department plans to incorporate lessons on how to handle adolescent problems, avoid corporal punishment and make classroom learning a joyful experience in orientation programmes organised from time to time. Though the programmes would not be structured, the government would shape lessons in way that would make both experience teachers and new recruits avoid corporal punishment or use of abusive language in class.
The school education department was expected to come up with steps to combat cases of corporal punishment in schools much earlier. On the delay, De said: “We would have had the programme ready by the end of September, but I had to go to the districts to oversee the flood situation. Everything will be finalised within a week.”
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Kolkata, October 14, 2007
The education department has come up with a new formula to curb corporal punishment in schools. It has decided to impart on-the-job training to newly recruited teachers on how to tackle disobedient students and improve their quality of performance.
Talking to Hindustan Times, school education minister Partha De said the training would be of great help to teachers who lack experience in handling children. “It is only after a teacher assumes charge that she or he realises how difficult it is to impart knowledge. So, we have decided to introduce a training programme for new teachers,” he said.
Besides arming them with the skill to understand children and tackle unruly ones, the training will also give the newly appointed teachers a minimum of a year’s work experience. Many teachers recruited through the School Service Commission (SSC) examination lack a formal training and the programme on anvil would fill in the gap, feel academics.
Early last month, the minister had summoned representatives of all teachers’ organisations and had asked them to suggest ways so that students could enjoy the hours in school and teachers could abstain from meting out corporal punishment. Most of the organisations, reportedly, urged the minister to introduce the training and orientation programme for new recruits to solve the problem.
For experienced teachers, the school education department plans to incorporate lessons on how to handle adolescent problems, avoid corporal punishment and make classroom learning a joyful experience in orientation programmes organised from time to time. Though the programmes would not be structured, the government would shape lessons in way that would make both experience teachers and new recruits avoid corporal punishment or use of abusive language in class.
The school education department was expected to come up with steps to combat cases of corporal punishment in schools much earlier. On the delay, De said: “We would have had the programme ready by the end of September, but I had to go to the districts to oversee the flood situation. Everything will be finalised within a week.”
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Extra time for HS examinees
Kolkata, October 11, 2007
From next year, Higher Secondary examinees will be given 15 minutes extra to read the question paper before the examination begins.
The West Bengal Council for Higher Secondary Education unanimously took this decision at its internal meeting on Thursday. Candidates appearing for the Class XII board examination under the council will be given the question paper at 10am. Students will start writing the examination at 10.15 am and will have to submit their answer scripts by 1.15pm. This rule will also be applicable for candidates taking the HS examination under the old syllabus. Even Class XI students, who will be taking the annual examination in their schools, will be given 15 minutes extra for reading the question paper, according to the directive of the council.
The CBSE board already has the provision for its students for reading the question paper. Explaining why the council brought in this change, council secretary Debashish Sarkar said, “It is a step towards easing the stress of students. If students get extra time, they would be able to read the question paper thoroughly and decide calmly which question they would be able to answer well.”
The National Curriculum Framework had suggested that all national and state boards take steps to ease stress among students. Since 2005, the HS council has introduced nine major changes to relive students’ stress. “The learning process and examinations are the two main reasons for stress in students’ lives. The council will bring many more changes in these areas in future to further alleviate the problem,” said Sarkar
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
From next year, Higher Secondary examinees will be given 15 minutes extra to read the question paper before the examination begins.
The West Bengal Council for Higher Secondary Education unanimously took this decision at its internal meeting on Thursday. Candidates appearing for the Class XII board examination under the council will be given the question paper at 10am. Students will start writing the examination at 10.15 am and will have to submit their answer scripts by 1.15pm. This rule will also be applicable for candidates taking the HS examination under the old syllabus. Even Class XI students, who will be taking the annual examination in their schools, will be given 15 minutes extra for reading the question paper, according to the directive of the council.
The CBSE board already has the provision for its students for reading the question paper. Explaining why the council brought in this change, council secretary Debashish Sarkar said, “It is a step towards easing the stress of students. If students get extra time, they would be able to read the question paper thoroughly and decide calmly which question they would be able to answer well.”
The National Curriculum Framework had suggested that all national and state boards take steps to ease stress among students. Since 2005, the HS council has introduced nine major changes to relive students’ stress. “The learning process and examinations are the two main reasons for stress in students’ lives. The council will bring many more changes in these areas in future to further alleviate the problem,” said Sarkar
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Thursday, October 11, 2007
JU engineering department to stop exam review & introduce preview
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, October 11, 2007
The faculty council of Jadavpur University’s engineering department on Thursday decided to do away with the system of review of answer scripts from the next academic session and instead introduce the preview system.
According to the new rule to be implemented from June 2008, the university will show the evaluated answer scripts of every semester exam to its students prior to the publication of results. It will be mandatory for teachers to show the evaluated answer scripts in the classroom and will be made a part of the university’s academic calendar. The students, however, will not be allowed to carry the answer script out of the classroom or make a photocopy.
Along with the evaluated answer scripts, students will be given a grievance sheet, which they can fill up if they have any problem regarding evaluation. Each grievance sheet will be forwarded to the grievance redressal cell formed especially for this purpose. If the student has a valid point, then the answer scripts will be sent for a recheck. Results will be published with the corrected marks. But if students are unhappy about the way their grievance has been handled, they would not be eligible for a review.
“The university will make necessary changes and form new rules to accommodate preview of answer scripts. But once results are published, no changes can be made,” said Partha Pratim Biswas, a professor of the engineering department and member of its faculty council.
The university feels that preview of answer scripts will be more democratic and also bring in transparency into the system. “The process will not only be more transparent but will also help students understand where and how they went wrong so that they can improve further,” said Biswas. “The process would also ensure that teachers too improve their evaluation standard, as students will be able to see it and make comments,” he added.
However, the university is unsure about what it would do if a student wants to see the answer scripts even after publication of results, through the right to information act. JU will also be strict in ensuring that semester results are published within 45 days of the exam.
Mou.Chakarborty@hindustantimes.com
Kolkata, October 11, 2007
The faculty council of Jadavpur University’s engineering department on Thursday decided to do away with the system of review of answer scripts from the next academic session and instead introduce the preview system.
According to the new rule to be implemented from June 2008, the university will show the evaluated answer scripts of every semester exam to its students prior to the publication of results. It will be mandatory for teachers to show the evaluated answer scripts in the classroom and will be made a part of the university’s academic calendar. The students, however, will not be allowed to carry the answer script out of the classroom or make a photocopy.
Along with the evaluated answer scripts, students will be given a grievance sheet, which they can fill up if they have any problem regarding evaluation. Each grievance sheet will be forwarded to the grievance redressal cell formed especially for this purpose. If the student has a valid point, then the answer scripts will be sent for a recheck. Results will be published with the corrected marks. But if students are unhappy about the way their grievance has been handled, they would not be eligible for a review.
“The university will make necessary changes and form new rules to accommodate preview of answer scripts. But once results are published, no changes can be made,” said Partha Pratim Biswas, a professor of the engineering department and member of its faculty council.
The university feels that preview of answer scripts will be more democratic and also bring in transparency into the system. “The process will not only be more transparent but will also help students understand where and how they went wrong so that they can improve further,” said Biswas. “The process would also ensure that teachers too improve their evaluation standard, as students will be able to see it and make comments,” he added.
However, the university is unsure about what it would do if a student wants to see the answer scripts even after publication of results, through the right to information act. JU will also be strict in ensuring that semester results are published within 45 days of the exam.
Mou.Chakarborty@hindustantimes.com
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
On a FALSE NOTE this Durga Puja
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, October 10, 2007
THE BARD had famously said: “If music be the food of love play on”. But little did Shakespeare know that centuries later copyright laws will be played out to stop music being played in the public sphere.
That’s exactly what going to happen from the next Durga Puja if organisers fail to obtain licence issued by the Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL), the copyright society entrusted with the job of issuing licence for playing music in public places. Any lapse in seeking permission will mean steep penalty and even imprisonment. Almost all music companies are PPL members and royalties collected from issuing the licence goes to them.
This will be the first time that PPL will approach puja organisers to get licence for playing music in the pandal. “This year we will not penalise any organiser for not obtaining the licence. We do not want to spoil the festive mood but we will make them aware about the licensing system so that from next year they start procuring it,” said Soumya Chowdhury, national sales manager (events) of PPL.
As per the Copyright Act of 1957, it is mandatory for those playing pre-recorded music in public places to take prior permission from the PPL. Depending on the magnitude of the event, the music licence fee ranges from Rs 500 to Rs 15,000 and covers music being played at functions by puja organisers. And those failing to procure the licence can end up paying anything between Rs 50,000 and Rs 2 lakh as fine. They might also be imprisoned for six months to three years.
Though this year no one will be penalised for not procuring the licence, from next year before issuing the no-objection certificate to puja committees the local police station will make it mandatory to obtain music licence. PPL along with the Kolkata Police will also organise awareness camps for the purpose.
Explaining why obtaining the licence is necessary, PPL’s eastern regional head Supriyo Mukherjee said: “It is true that CDs played at pandals are purchased and the companies have got their royalty. But they are sold for private use. In this age of sponsorship, Durga Puja has got a commercial tinge. We are here to protect the music industry and whenever music is being used commercially all of them associated with its creation should get the revenue. Else, the industry will become sick like the one in Pakistan.”
Already many big Puja organisers like Shribhumi, Shimla Byam Samiti, College Square, Md. Ali Park, Park Circus Sarbojonin, Ahiritola, Dum Dum Park and Lake Town Sarbojonin have approached PPL for music licence.
Grahams Land Sarbojonin Durgotsav, located beside Indra Puri studio, got the licence from PPL on Wednesday. “As per the government circular this permission is necessary and Rs 500 is nothing if I am promised that I can play anything I want to and will not be harassed by PPL or the police for that. After all Puja is the time for enjoyment and we won’t mind if the music industry gets some money,” said Sanjay Mukherjee of the committee.
But not all Puja organisers are ready to procure a music licence. “It is wrong to say that Durga Puja has been commercialised. It is not an industry and we are not making profits. The sponsors help us to organise a grand puja, which in turn gives temporary employment to many poor people. For organisers it is voluntary service and why should we pay even Rs 500 when we have bought the CD and taken police permission for using loudspeakers. Such moves will mar Puja celebrations,” said Gautam Mukherjee, joint general secretary of Ekdalia Evergreen Club.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Kolkata, October 10, 2007
THE BARD had famously said: “If music be the food of love play on”. But little did Shakespeare know that centuries later copyright laws will be played out to stop music being played in the public sphere.
That’s exactly what going to happen from the next Durga Puja if organisers fail to obtain licence issued by the Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL), the copyright society entrusted with the job of issuing licence for playing music in public places. Any lapse in seeking permission will mean steep penalty and even imprisonment. Almost all music companies are PPL members and royalties collected from issuing the licence goes to them.
This will be the first time that PPL will approach puja organisers to get licence for playing music in the pandal. “This year we will not penalise any organiser for not obtaining the licence. We do not want to spoil the festive mood but we will make them aware about the licensing system so that from next year they start procuring it,” said Soumya Chowdhury, national sales manager (events) of PPL.
As per the Copyright Act of 1957, it is mandatory for those playing pre-recorded music in public places to take prior permission from the PPL. Depending on the magnitude of the event, the music licence fee ranges from Rs 500 to Rs 15,000 and covers music being played at functions by puja organisers. And those failing to procure the licence can end up paying anything between Rs 50,000 and Rs 2 lakh as fine. They might also be imprisoned for six months to three years.
Though this year no one will be penalised for not procuring the licence, from next year before issuing the no-objection certificate to puja committees the local police station will make it mandatory to obtain music licence. PPL along with the Kolkata Police will also organise awareness camps for the purpose.
Explaining why obtaining the licence is necessary, PPL’s eastern regional head Supriyo Mukherjee said: “It is true that CDs played at pandals are purchased and the companies have got their royalty. But they are sold for private use. In this age of sponsorship, Durga Puja has got a commercial tinge. We are here to protect the music industry and whenever music is being used commercially all of them associated with its creation should get the revenue. Else, the industry will become sick like the one in Pakistan.”
Already many big Puja organisers like Shribhumi, Shimla Byam Samiti, College Square, Md. Ali Park, Park Circus Sarbojonin, Ahiritola, Dum Dum Park and Lake Town Sarbojonin have approached PPL for music licence.
Grahams Land Sarbojonin Durgotsav, located beside Indra Puri studio, got the licence from PPL on Wednesday. “As per the government circular this permission is necessary and Rs 500 is nothing if I am promised that I can play anything I want to and will not be harassed by PPL or the police for that. After all Puja is the time for enjoyment and we won’t mind if the music industry gets some money,” said Sanjay Mukherjee of the committee.
But not all Puja organisers are ready to procure a music licence. “It is wrong to say that Durga Puja has been commercialised. It is not an industry and we are not making profits. The sponsors help us to organise a grand puja, which in turn gives temporary employment to many poor people. For organisers it is voluntary service and why should we pay even Rs 500 when we have bought the CD and taken police permission for using loudspeakers. Such moves will mar Puja celebrations,” said Gautam Mukherjee, joint general secretary of Ekdalia Evergreen Club.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Saturday, October 6, 2007
18 BESU students punished for campus violence
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, October 6
Bengal Engineering and Science University (BESU), Shibpur on Saturday, punished 18 students after they were found guilty of beating up two students. One of the victims is CPI(M) MP Md Selim’s son Russel Aziz. The incident had occurred on the night of October 5 in hostel number 7.
Second-year student Amit Kumar Mondal received head injuries and Russel, a second-year IT student was also injured during the fight. Selim, was in Delhi when the incident occurred, spoke to university authorities after returning to Kolkata on Saturday. He stated that he had full faith in the university administration and was positive that it would maintain a proper academic atmosphere in the institution.
The university called an emergency disciplinary committee meeting, following which, four students have been rusticated from the university and from the hostel. Ten other students have been suspended from the hostel, while four others have been given warnings.
“On Monday, the university will institute an inquiry into the incident. The next step to be taken by administration will also be decided then. All students are important to us and our only aim is to maintain peace and academic atmosphere in the institution. The university will do everything it cab to maintain that,” said a very high-placed official of the university.
Though, the reason behind the fight is not known yet, according to university authorities, the fight was not due to any political reasons. They believe some other problem amongst the students in hostel number 7 might have caused the fight.
This is not the first time that violence has broken out in BESU either. In August last year, second-year student Sounik Basu was critically injured. He had to be rushed to SSKM Hospital and was later operated upon and put on life support system at CMRI.
Members of Independent Consolidation (IC), which controlled the student’ union had alleged that SFI supporters had come to the hostel with hockey sticks and iron rods. But since most hostel inmates were in class at the time, the attackers damaged doors and windows of the hostel and ransacked belongings of IC sympathisers.
According to an IC member, while the vandals were at it, they spied the registrar approaching and they promptly jumped out of second floor of the hostel. In the process, Sounik, an electrical engineering student, was injured after landing in a drain. Then BESU authorities had filed an FIR with Shibpur police station and a large contingent from Shibpur, Howrah and Malipanchghora police stations were deployed on campus for some time.
Five Jadavpur University students had been punished last week after they were found guilty of ragging an arts student. There had been unrest on campus after a section of FETSU had termed the inquiry into the incident as “undemocratic”. Four union office bearers had also resigned after they had differences with this section of the union on Friday.Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Kolkata, October 6
Bengal Engineering and Science University (BESU), Shibpur on Saturday, punished 18 students after they were found guilty of beating up two students. One of the victims is CPI(M) MP Md Selim’s son Russel Aziz. The incident had occurred on the night of October 5 in hostel number 7.
Second-year student Amit Kumar Mondal received head injuries and Russel, a second-year IT student was also injured during the fight. Selim, was in Delhi when the incident occurred, spoke to university authorities after returning to Kolkata on Saturday. He stated that he had full faith in the university administration and was positive that it would maintain a proper academic atmosphere in the institution.
The university called an emergency disciplinary committee meeting, following which, four students have been rusticated from the university and from the hostel. Ten other students have been suspended from the hostel, while four others have been given warnings.
“On Monday, the university will institute an inquiry into the incident. The next step to be taken by administration will also be decided then. All students are important to us and our only aim is to maintain peace and academic atmosphere in the institution. The university will do everything it cab to maintain that,” said a very high-placed official of the university.
Though, the reason behind the fight is not known yet, according to university authorities, the fight was not due to any political reasons. They believe some other problem amongst the students in hostel number 7 might have caused the fight.
This is not the first time that violence has broken out in BESU either. In August last year, second-year student Sounik Basu was critically injured. He had to be rushed to SSKM Hospital and was later operated upon and put on life support system at CMRI.
Members of Independent Consolidation (IC), which controlled the student’ union had alleged that SFI supporters had come to the hostel with hockey sticks and iron rods. But since most hostel inmates were in class at the time, the attackers damaged doors and windows of the hostel and ransacked belongings of IC sympathisers.
According to an IC member, while the vandals were at it, they spied the registrar approaching and they promptly jumped out of second floor of the hostel. In the process, Sounik, an electrical engineering student, was injured after landing in a drain. Then BESU authorities had filed an FIR with Shibpur police station and a large contingent from Shibpur, Howrah and Malipanchghora police stations were deployed on campus for some time.
Five Jadavpur University students had been punished last week after they were found guilty of ragging an arts student. There had been unrest on campus after a section of FETSU had termed the inquiry into the incident as “undemocratic”. Four union office bearers had also resigned after they had differences with this section of the union on Friday.Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
CU gives balnk question papers to the examinees
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, October 3, 2007
Calcutta University cancelled the economics and civics paper of its B.Ed examination because more than half of the question paper was not printed.
This is probably the first such incident in the 150 years history of the university that students were handed over incomplete question papers. The economics and civics combined paper started at 2 pm. Within five minutes students discovered that more than half the questions were missing and the pages were blank. “We were shocked to see an incomplete question paper. We informed the invigilators,” said a student after the exam was cancelled.
A chastened university admitted the error and cancelled the paper at 2.15 pm. B.Ed examination was being conducted in two halves and the life science paper went on without any hitch.
The university has already ordered an internal enquiry and if the press where the paper was published is found guilty then it will be blacklisted. Explaining why such an error happened, the controller of examination, Onkarsadhan Adhikari, said, “It was a printing error and we regret it. Though there are people responsible for proof reading the question paper, but once it is printed no one is allowed to open the seal for security reasons. Technically we cannot allow anyone to have a look at the paper before the examination starts. Hence there was no way we could have spotted the error earlier.”
The students alleged that the university has been negligent with the examination system. But the university defended itself. “We conduct 5500 types of examination every year. The number of students vary from over a lakh to a little more than fifty. But till date no such error has occurred. We admit that it is a mistake but we have ensured that no students have suffered,” said Adhikari.
He refused to divulge where the papers were sent. “It is classified information and I cannot divulge it. But we will definitely see how this error occurred and take appropriate steps so that it is not repeated. Those found guilty will not be spared,” said Adhikari.
More than 298 students were scheduled to sit for the paper but the university could not confirm the number. “Students have many combinations. It is difficult for us to know how many students had this combination,” said Debashis Biswas, deputy controller of examination of CU.
The combined economics and civics paper exam was being conducted in ten examination centres four of them were outside Kolkata. The economics and civics examination will now be conducted on October 8 from 2 pm and the venue will remain unchanged.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Kolkata, October 3, 2007
Calcutta University cancelled the economics and civics paper of its B.Ed examination because more than half of the question paper was not printed.
This is probably the first such incident in the 150 years history of the university that students were handed over incomplete question papers. The economics and civics combined paper started at 2 pm. Within five minutes students discovered that more than half the questions were missing and the pages were blank. “We were shocked to see an incomplete question paper. We informed the invigilators,” said a student after the exam was cancelled.
A chastened university admitted the error and cancelled the paper at 2.15 pm. B.Ed examination was being conducted in two halves and the life science paper went on without any hitch.
The university has already ordered an internal enquiry and if the press where the paper was published is found guilty then it will be blacklisted. Explaining why such an error happened, the controller of examination, Onkarsadhan Adhikari, said, “It was a printing error and we regret it. Though there are people responsible for proof reading the question paper, but once it is printed no one is allowed to open the seal for security reasons. Technically we cannot allow anyone to have a look at the paper before the examination starts. Hence there was no way we could have spotted the error earlier.”
The students alleged that the university has been negligent with the examination system. But the university defended itself. “We conduct 5500 types of examination every year. The number of students vary from over a lakh to a little more than fifty. But till date no such error has occurred. We admit that it is a mistake but we have ensured that no students have suffered,” said Adhikari.
He refused to divulge where the papers were sent. “It is classified information and I cannot divulge it. But we will definitely see how this error occurred and take appropriate steps so that it is not repeated. Those found guilty will not be spared,” said Adhikari.
More than 298 students were scheduled to sit for the paper but the university could not confirm the number. “Students have many combinations. It is difficult for us to know how many students had this combination,” said Debashis Biswas, deputy controller of examination of CU.
The combined economics and civics paper exam was being conducted in ten examination centres four of them were outside Kolkata. The economics and civics examination will now be conducted on October 8 from 2 pm and the venue will remain unchanged.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
JU students in trouble for ragging
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, October 3, 2007
Three students of Jadavpur University have been suspended and two others barred from the hostel for ragging a junior and forcing him to strip.
The victim, a first-year student of international relations department, had accused the seniors of harassing him mentally and physically. The ragging continued over a few days in August and the fresher was made to drink kerosene and stand naked in the university hostel for half an hour.
The student lodged a complaint and the case was handed over to the university’s 14- member anti-ragging committee. After a month long inquiry, five students were found guilty. The committee submitted its report in the Executive Council on Wednesday, prompting action against the five students.
“This boy had given a written complain, acting on which we instituted a full-fledged inquiry and the university has now punished the guilty. Since the degree of involvement of the students was different, they have been awarded different punishments,” said Partha Pratim Biswas, a member of the EC.
Two students, Chittaranjan Burman, a second-year student of civil engineering, and Nilton Baidya, a second-year student of chemical engineering, have been suspended for the next semester starting January and expelled from hostel for life. They will not be allowed to enter the university campus, attend classes, take exams or go to the university hostel during this time. Srimanta Karmakar, a second-year maths student has been expelled from the hostel for life while Kazi Imran Alam, a second-year student of chemical engineering, and Nilanjan Biswas, a second-year student of electronics engineering, have been barred from entering the university hostel for a year.
The punishment fuelled protests by the Faculty of Engineering and Technology Students Union (FETSU). Union members gheraoed the EC members till late in the night, demanding that the decision be revoked. “The anti-ragging committee is an undemocratic body. We believe that these five students were not involved in ragging and they have no been given a fair chance to present their case. We want a fair hearing,” FETSU general secretary Amit Chakraborty said.
The faculty expressed shock at the agitation. “We thought the students would support the anti-ragging drive but it is sad to see a students’ union going against it. The anti-ragging committee includes students union’ secretaries from the arts, science and engineering departments. All three students’ representatives were present and put their signatures. How can they avoid responsibility now,” a teacher said.
“The EC’s decision is final and will not be rolled back. Have the protesters thought what would have happened if the university had lodged a police complaint against the five students? It would have meant non-bailable warrants against all of them,” another teacher said.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Kolkata, October 3, 2007
Three students of Jadavpur University have been suspended and two others barred from the hostel for ragging a junior and forcing him to strip.
The victim, a first-year student of international relations department, had accused the seniors of harassing him mentally and physically. The ragging continued over a few days in August and the fresher was made to drink kerosene and stand naked in the university hostel for half an hour.
The student lodged a complaint and the case was handed over to the university’s 14- member anti-ragging committee. After a month long inquiry, five students were found guilty. The committee submitted its report in the Executive Council on Wednesday, prompting action against the five students.
“This boy had given a written complain, acting on which we instituted a full-fledged inquiry and the university has now punished the guilty. Since the degree of involvement of the students was different, they have been awarded different punishments,” said Partha Pratim Biswas, a member of the EC.
Two students, Chittaranjan Burman, a second-year student of civil engineering, and Nilton Baidya, a second-year student of chemical engineering, have been suspended for the next semester starting January and expelled from hostel for life. They will not be allowed to enter the university campus, attend classes, take exams or go to the university hostel during this time. Srimanta Karmakar, a second-year maths student has been expelled from the hostel for life while Kazi Imran Alam, a second-year student of chemical engineering, and Nilanjan Biswas, a second-year student of electronics engineering, have been barred from entering the university hostel for a year.
The punishment fuelled protests by the Faculty of Engineering and Technology Students Union (FETSU). Union members gheraoed the EC members till late in the night, demanding that the decision be revoked. “The anti-ragging committee is an undemocratic body. We believe that these five students were not involved in ragging and they have no been given a fair chance to present their case. We want a fair hearing,” FETSU general secretary Amit Chakraborty said.
The faculty expressed shock at the agitation. “We thought the students would support the anti-ragging drive but it is sad to see a students’ union going against it. The anti-ragging committee includes students union’ secretaries from the arts, science and engineering departments. All three students’ representatives were present and put their signatures. How can they avoid responsibility now,” a teacher said.
“The EC’s decision is final and will not be rolled back. Have the protesters thought what would have happened if the university had lodged a police complaint against the five students? It would have meant non-bailable warrants against all of them,” another teacher said.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
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