Yogesh Avasthi

OUCH! Kalyanmal Vijayvargiya, a diabetic admitted to Rajasthan Hospital, had his feet bitten by a rodent the size of a kitten By Vipul Rajput and Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Thursday, March 26, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20Latest&sectid=2&contentid=2009032620090326025205123ddec8467 ) A 66-year-old diabetic undergoing treatment at Rajasthan Hospital in Shahibaug was scared out of his wits when he saw a rat nibbling at his feet in the middle of the night on Tuesday. Kalyanmal Vijayvargiya, from Kakroli in Rajasthan, had checked into the hospital on March 23 to get his swollen feet treated. A few hours later, he had rat bites to show on the big toe of his right foot and third toe of the left foot. The embarrassed hospital authorities pulled up the house-keeping department and also shifted Vijayvargiya into a special suite. Rajasthan Hospital’s medical superintendent, Dr J K Parmar, said the issue was resolved ...

Rani Choudhary, the principal of DPS Gandhinagar, met under police protection a group of parents protesting increase in transport and tuition costs By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Wednesday, March 25, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=2009032520090325024402998d0583cb9 ) It was an action-packed Tuesday morning at DPS Gandhinagar, where an irate group of parents — as many as 150 of them — gathered, demanding a solution from the school principal to the problems they had discussed on March 20. The principal kept them waiting for three hours before surfacing at the assembly hall under complete police protection. The issues that the parents wanted her to address included change in timings from 7.15 am-1.30 pm to 9.40 am-2.40 pm, increase in tuition fee and transport fee. Parents said the new timings are inconvenient for working parents as they would not be able to drop the child to the school, i...

AISA BHI HOTA HAI Two exam centres have only one student each By Yogesh Avasthi and Vipul Rajput Posted On Friday, March 20, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20Latest&sectid=2&contentid=200903202009032003364412671452cb ) Two students appearing for their HSC examination found themselves in an uneasy situation on Thursday when they realised they were the only ones appearing for the examination at their respective centres. At 10 am, when Heta Mehta, a class XII Arts student of Gujarat Law Society, and her father Dilip Mehta reached Nirman High School on C G Road, where Heta was to appear for her History paper, they found the school empty with just a few officials and security guards in sight. It was only after talking to one of the officials that Heta and her father realised that she was the only candidate to sit for the exam at the centre. Just before the examination started, Heta told AM, “I feel a certain fear...

Parents of eight students with disability have been painstakingly carrying them to the classroom on the fourth floor of Shri Swaminarayan High School in Maninagar for the past three days By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Friday, March 20, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sec t name =News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=2009032020090320024506298ad455c40 ) Odds, it seems, are heavily stacked against students battling disability. Eight physically impaired students, who are in class XII (commerce), have been taking the board examinations in a classroom which is on the fourth floor of a test centre for the past three days. Parents of the eight students, some of whom can barely move their legs, painstakingly carry them through the stairway to the classroom in Shri Swaminarayan High School, Maninagar. According to norms set by the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB), students with disability should be given seats ...

Board clarifies that physically challenged students are entitled to extra time after fracture scam-smitten centre heads deny them additional 30 minutes By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Thursday, March 19, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=20090319200903190233518458ddaf26d ) The ripples of the fake fractures and impostor writers’ scam last year allegedly cost physically challenged Board examinees 30-40 marks on the first two days, as edgy centre heads denied them additional time owing to confusion over revised norms. Worse, several parents had to visit offices of respective district education officers (DEO) with their disabled wards in tow to seek permission for extra time.With several complaints pouring in to the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Board on the issue, it issued a notice on Wednesday clearly stating that differently-abled examinees were entitled to get additional 30 min...

...and Bhagwat Singh, who now takes tuitions, had a lot to say in a conversation with Mirror that was secretly taped By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Sunday, March 15, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20Latest&sectid=2&contentid=20090315200903150305343296b800427 ) FAKE FRACTURES SCAM: A YEAR LATER On March 14 last year, our education was shamed by 2 rich students who faked fractures to secure services of writers. Helping them was a senior Board official who brought 3 teachers to help the writers. The teachers were declared untraceable and their sta tements were never recorded. But Mirror has done what the cops and corrupt Board officials could not Nobody involved in the fake fractures, impostor writers scam wants to hear the name Bhagwat Singh. Not the guilty, not the accused, not even investigators. But Bhagwat Singh is the only man through which heavyweights involved in the scam that currently roam scot-free can ...

A year has passed since the writers’ scam, involving two class XII students, was exposed. The two students, Harsh Kotak and Komal Patel, have been penalised for feigning injuries in their hands during examination. However, little — or no — action has been taken against the Board officials and school trustees who used their guile to help the students bend rules, finds Yogesh Avasthi By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Sunday, March 15, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=2009031520090315030307173393dfd79 ) Insult to injury On March 14, 2008, Harsh Kotak and Komal Patel were caught feigning injuries while taking their class XII chemistry board exam at AG High School. Harsh and Komal, both hailing from influential families, were caught during a surprise check conducted by the then principal secretary (education), P Paneervel. The two students were taken to the GU-area police station, where official...

By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Sunday, March 15, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20Latest&sectid=2&contentid=2009031520090315030209251bc468351 ) AM:Kem chho? BHAGWAT SINGH: Fine, fine AM: I am Yogesh from Ahmedabad Mirror BS: I know you, tell me AM: Let’s meet to discuss the problem you are in BS: See Yogeshbhai, they are all big people. Now all my work from schools has gone. My job has gone. AM: You were (teaching) in A 1, right? BS: Yes I was there but it’s all finished. Now , no-one is giving me a job. Everything has been disturbed now. I had to suffer the most. No-one else. BS: Ask students anout my nature. Ask anyone. Sometimes relations, friendship... which is why this happened. I have suffered a lot, in my family... my father suffered a heart attack due to this. My wife also faced problems but time spent was... if you had been in my place, Yogeshbhai, you would have been fed up yaar. AM: I understand what...

Meet some ‘soothe sayers’ who help students appearing for Boards survive exam stress By Yogesh Avasthi and Beena Kuruvilla Posted On Saturday, March 14, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=20090314200903140304154912c1dc383 ) It’s evening and K D Raval is busy on the phone. Seated at a BPO, his caller is not a client from the UK. It’s a Board student who is at the end of his tethers. The teen’s parents talk of nothing but the forthcoming exams. Though he scored brilliantly in his past exams, the Std XII student has started hating the pressure. And, the only solution he could think of to beat the stress is killing himself. The s-word makes Raval alert. He knows the next few seconds are crucial. Relying on his former years as a school principal, he calms down the student and listens to the boy’s woes. Step by step, the counsellor tells the student that an exam is not a futile exercise, but ...

Seven trains have been kitted out with augmented first-aid kits that carry life-saving drugs and has portable equipment to carry out a mini operation By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Saturday, March 14, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-% 20City&sectid=3&contentid=2009031420090314030405537ec1fbdc ) When you are miles away from the family medicine chest, there’s always cause for worry. But you can put all your tensions to rest if you are travelling with Western Railway. WR’s Ahmedabad division has upgraded the regular medical kit to include life-saving medicines for asthmatics and heart patients. It even had portable equipment needed for a mini operation! Every train is equipped with a regular first-aid box containing medicine s for small wounds and fever. The new kit, however, is divided into two boxes: one containing medicines, BP apparatus stethoscope, torch and splints; while the other has foot suction apparatus,...

By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Saturday, March 14, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=200903142009031403035641296508be3 ) Ninety-one college students who failed to attend class regularly will not to able to sit for their university examinations. Colleges, as per procedure, send forms of its students to the Gujarat University at the start of second term. Just a week before the final exams, the colleges write to the university to withdraw the forms of those students who have failed to fulfil the mandatory attendance. As per the Gujarat University Ordinance numbers 78 and 83 A, a term is not granted to a student who fails to attend the required number of classes. As per norms, undergraduates are required to have 75 per cent of attendance, while post-grads need to have 66.5 per cent attendance by the end of the academic year. L D Arts Principal Mahipatsinh Chavda said, “Whenever a student take...

A few frequent travellers claim the rail enquiry service, 139, provides wrong information on train timings, availability of berths and fares By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Wednesday, March 11, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=200903112009031104161469466f6f08 ) The 24-hour phone enquiry service, 139, started by the Indian Railways for the central and western zones is providing wrong information on train timings, seat availability and fares, claim some frequent travellers from the city. The travellers said that they missed their trains recently because operators of the 139 service, which charges Rs 2.40 for every enquiry lasting up to 2 minutes, provided them wrong arrival and departure timings. When AM contacted railway officials, they acknowledged that they had received a litany of complains against the enquiry service, which is used by over 5 lakh people every day.The service was launc...

Youngsters will be allowed to surf the internet for free and access an extensive database of the party, its members and achievements at the kiosks By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Wednesday, March 11, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=2009031120090311041559366f28ec36f ) With a view to connect with youth ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress will set up 50 internet kiosks in Gujarat this month. Youngsters will be allowed to surf the internet for free and access an extensive database of the party and its members on the kiosks.Sources in the Congress said that the party decided to set up the kiosks following Rahul Ga ndhi’s appeal to engage more youngsters in the run-up to the national polls. They said that sections of the kiosks’ screens — i.e. on the top and right — will feature messages by Congress leaders, including Rahul, Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh. The messages, in all 48, ...

66-yr-old Ravishankar Nayak, who underwent a heart transplant two years ago, is thankful to the 17-yr-old girl whose heart beats in him now By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Wednesday, March 11, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=20090311200903110415572571c5724b8 ) This retired accountant from Gujarat, settled in the US, is living on a teenager’s heart for the past two years. But he doesn’t know who his saviour was.The young heart beating inside 66-year-old Ravishankar Nayak is of a girl, who died in an accident. Her identity was never revealed.A friend of city-based dentist Hiren Bhojak, Nayak visited Ahmed abad two years after heart transplanation, in January this year. Before embarking on his return journey, he told Ahmedabad Mirror: “I’m grateful to the person who gave me a new life at the expense of hers.”Sharing his “heart-rending” experience at one of his relative’s place in Ghatlodia,...

Bank says it plans to shift the booth to another location By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Saturday, March 07, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=2009030720090307040451633af20ccf9 ) The ICICI Bank ATM booth at Ahmedabad railway station was sealed on Thursday night. The railway officials took the step as the bank had not paid the rent amounting to about Rs 1.5 lakh since August 2008. Incidentally this was the first ATM booked commissioned at the railway station and nearly 400 people were using the machine daily. Uday Shankar, Senior DCM (Divisional Commercial Manager) said, “The rent is due since August 2008 and we had reminded the bank several times. When we had send a notice to Ahmedabad zonal office they said that Mumbai zonal office will take care of this matter and due to the conflict between the two offices the rent was not paid. So we had to take this step.” When contacted, Charudatta ...

IRCTC revises menu on premium trains; bland vegetable cutlets and sandwiches to be replaced with ‘khaman-dhokla’, stuffed paratha, idli-vada and more By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Friday, March 06, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=2009030620090306033127748269ee084 ) No more Pepsi or Thumbs Up on Shatabdi and Rajdhani trains starting from Ahmedabad. Passengers will have to be content with fruit juice instead. But then, that will be made up for by an exciting new menu on the premium trains. This is part of changes IRCTC introduced in the menu on March 1. The new menu consists of a greater variety and better quality. As part of the plan, some insipid items will be replaced by trendier, neatly-packed ones. So, out go vegetable cutlets, bland sandwiches and soups. Now expect shahi paneer, pongal and idli with coconut chutney and chicken with gravy while on the go. Besides, ‘maida’ bread make...

Schools hesitate to volunteer writers for differently abled kids as education board fails to distribute new and stricter guidelines for scribes following the dummy writers’ scam By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Thursday, March 05, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=2009030520090305031154857c7385b4d ) Board exams will begin in less than a fortnight, and students with special needs are a worried lot. For the Gujarat State Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) has still not set guidelines for scribes who will write their papers. Examinations for Std X and Std XII are scheduled for March 17. Approximately 5,500 students with special needs will be taking the exams this year. Principal Nikhil Raval of the School for Blind on Ashram Road said, “After the dummy writers’ scam involving Komal Patel and Harsh Kotak came to light last year, the Board decided to draw up stricter guidelines for writer...

Ex-Gujarat University vice chancellor A U Patel tells Yogesh Avasthi why reputed colleges will shift to the new university, leaving GU with only colleges that do not attract many brighter students Posted On Tuesday, March 03, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=2009030320090303024744919fe42aacb ctid=3&contentid=2009030320090303024744919fe42aacb ) For the past 15 years, private universities have been cropping up everywhere in the country, except Gujarat. With the nod for the Ahmedabad University, the scene of education here will change for the better. New universities know the market demand and introduce professional courses accordingly. They also pay a lot of attention to the quality of education provided. And this is the reason why students are ready to pay huge amounts of money as fees to secure a seat in these institutions.With the backing of corporates, the Ahmedabad University ...

Maninagar resident spends Rs 1.5 lakh on pet’s first b’day By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Monday, March 02, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=200903022009030203052541943776d99 ) Every dog has its day, goes the adage. But little Chinky, exactly a year-old puppy, sure had more than a day to rejoice. The big bash on her birthday on Sunday hinted so.Her master, Yogesh Mistry, made her first birthday memorable by hosting a gala party at his Maninagar residence spending Rs 1.5 lakh. Full of fun and frolic, around 700 invitees enjoyed themselves to the hilt at the doggie’s birthday bash. Amid high-pitch music played by a DJ, a cake weighing 1 kg was cut to mark Chinky’s birthday. While kids did a little jig with peppy numbers encircling the puppy, goodies were showered on them from balloons adoring the ceiling of the venue. Mouth-watering dinner spread was like icing on the cake.Chinky was a bit...

Maninagar resident spends Rs 1.5 lakh on pet’s first b’day By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Monday, March 02, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : Every dog has its day, goes the adage. But little Chinky, exactly a year-old puppy, sure had more than a day to rejoice. The big bash on her birthday on Sunday hinted so.Her master, Yogesh Mistry, made her first birthday memorable by hosting a gala party at his Maninagar residence spending Rs 1.5 lakh. Full of fun and frolic, around 700 invitees enjoyed themselves to the hilt at the doggie’s birthday bash. Amid high-pitch music played by a DJ, a cake weighing 1 kg was cut to mark Chinky’s birthday. While kids did a little jig with peppy numbers encircling the puppy, goodies were showered on them from balloons adoring the ceiling of the venue. Mouth-watering dinner spread was like icing on the cake.Chinky was a bit baffled by the celebrations around. Pouring gifts, including a pearl chain sent by Rajeev Patel, a buddy of Mistry settled in Singapore, puzzled h...

Medical waste is in our homes as plastic water bottles, pouches, tiffins, toys, and even combs By Yogesh Avasthi and Ruturaj Jadav Posted On Sunday, March 01, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20Latest&sectid=2&contentid=2009030120090301025755263aab287d0 ) As Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) continues to crack down on medical clinics and scrap dealers trading in bio-medical waste, ponder over those water bottles your children carry to school, the toys they play with, trays you are served food in at malls, plastic cups you drink tea in and even combs in your drawer. Chances are, a lot of stuff in your house — and all over the city — is created from medical waste, and can cause serious health problems. That is why there are strict guidelines in place for doctors and hospitals for disposal of such waste.However, as a series of raids AMC has carried out on city clinics (see accompanying story) and warehouses ...

Yes, you read it right. Modi sanctions AES proposal for a new university; campus to come up near Helmet Circle; admission to begin in June this year By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Saturday, February 28, 2009 at 02:49:01 AM (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=20090228200902280249011356e6c9e1 ) Chief Minister Narendra Modi has officially sanctioned the proposal by Ahmedabad Education Society to set up the Rs 350-crore private Ahmedabad University, taking away top AES colleges like H L Institute of Commerce, M G Science College, L M College of Pharmacy and L D Arts College from Gujarat University. Apart from Gujarat Law Society-run H A College of Commerce and its law college, GU will be left with second-rung colleges in the city and institutes in rural areas. The two other proposals that have been sanctioned are those of ICFAI University in Ahmedabad and Navrachna University in Vadodara. The Ahmeda...

By Yogesh Avasthi & Zahid Qurehsi Posted On Friday, February 27, 2009 at 03:14:34 AM (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20Latest&sectid=2&contentid=2009022720090227031434638d42c2be7 ) Fifty tonnes of banned bio-medical waste, including used syringes, needles and glucose bags, were seized on Thursday following raids on the premises of five scrap dealers in the city. Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) officials sealed the five shops — Bindu Enterprise, behind Memco bus stop; Bhagwati Plastics in Kailash Estate; Dhanlaxmi Scrap, Asarva; Ambika Scrap Trading, Asarva and the one inside a factory in Banner Estate in Rajpur — and detained two scrap dealers. One of them was identified as Babubhai.Besides AMC officials and police, the raiding team comprised authorities of the Health and the Food and Drugs Departments. Dr Rakesh Vaidya, the chief district health officer of Ahmedabad, said: “These plastic scrap dealers ...

Doon school of Maninagar, on its own initiative, carried out a survey on the health status of its students, and realised a lot needed to be done to raise consciousness among kids By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Thursday, February 26, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=2009022620090226025556388d9cc6601 ) Doon International Public School of Maninagar carried out a survey on the health status of its students, a project co-ordinator, doctors and volunteers from among its children. The school’s drive, taken on its own initiative, brought out some disturbing findings that indicated that its children were not in the pink of health and a lot needed to be done to raise consciousness among them. Doon school began by understanding from doctors the parameters of good health for children. It then constituted a team consisting of medical practitioners and 12 student volunteers, to carry out the survey u...

Tripada eyes Limca Book of Records with a two-and-half hour dance drama involving 2,000 students By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Sunday, February 22, 2009 at 03:47:01 AM (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=20090222200902220347016154fb9ebc5 ) Tripada school students are all set to dance their way into the Limca Book of Records. With 2,000 children taking part in a two-and-a-half-hour dance drama, the school is vying for the record entry by being the largest dance group performing the longest non-stop dance drama. Teachers, trustees and parents, too, will be part of the drama which will be held at Shreyas Foundation on February 26. The drama called ‘Colour My Wings’ is a children’s project from conception to execution, said Archit Bhatt, managing trustee of the school. “From make-up to songs, from preparing the background props to creating invitation cards, the students are involved in every proces...

The new policy aims to benefit nearly 1 lakh students who fail to clear exams every year By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Saturday, February 21, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=2009022120090221023741268658ea57f ) Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board is considering introduction of ATKT (Allowed to Keep the Term) in two subjects for class X exams. While a decision on the matter is awaited, sources said that if given a nod by the members, the new policy will be implemented in 2010. So far ATKT fac ility is given only to college students. On an average, nearly 1.25 lakh children fail in class X exams every year. In a meeting held on Friday, the board members were of the opinion that ATKT facility in two subjects will be in the interest of such students as they will not lose a year and can clear the ATKT papers before class XII results.At present, the board conducts re-exams ...

Parimal Trivedi says GU has set up Institute of Design Expression, Art & Learning on its campus; a centre of the institute, however, has been functional in Memnagar since 2003 By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Wednesday, February 18, 2009 at 03:24:39 AM (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=20090218200902180324392368b22e04b ) The vice-chancellor of the Gujarat University (GU), Parimal Trivedi, on Tuesday announced setting up of a design institute on the varsity campus. Trivedi said that the institute, called Institute of Design Expression Art & Learning (IDEAL), would be first in the country to offer a wide range of courses on designing. Trivedi also said that the institute would start admitting its “first batch of students from April”. Trivedi’s announcement has sparked off a controversy because the institute apparently is not a brainchild of the university. IDEAL, in fact, is a private init...

Railways planning to introduce Gujarati thali, complete with dhokla and jalebi, in trains originating from the state By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Tuesday, February 17, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=2009021720090217024352830612f265 ) Train trips are set to be more fun than ever before for Amdavadis. What with the Railways planning to introduce Gujarati thali, complete with dhokla and jalebi, for passe ngers from the state. The service is likely to be introduced in the next two months. To begin with, premium trains like Rajdhani and Shatabdi originating from Gujarat are being considered for Gujarati cuisine. The move will be extended to all other trains in course of time. Railway sources said the decision was taken on public demand.The IRCTC is currently working out the nitty-gritty of the proposed service. Officials said since quality food was their priority, they were devising effec...

Revived by an agency run by an IIM-A graduate last November, the service was terminated following ‘lack of co-operation from cops’ By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Tuesday, February 17, 2009 at 02:43:42 AM (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.co m/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=2009021720090217024342299e8f132b2 ) The prepaid rickshaw service, that was launched at Ahmedabad Railway Station amid all the hype and hoopla on November 10 last year, has wrapped up its operations, succumbing to the monopoly of local rickshawallahs who are better off plying without meter. Nirmal Foundation, an agency established by an IIM-A graduate Nirmal Kumar, had tried reviving the prepaid rickshaw project after the RTO failed to implement it almost three years ago, due to similar reasons.Kumar’s plan, that offered prepaid rickshaw service to passengers at only Rs 2 service charge and fares decided by the RTO, was approved by the Railways last year.But t...

Gutsy Som-Lalit Institute of Business Management students are selective about the jobs being offered to them By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Tuesday, February 17, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=20090217200902170243401746dee99d8 ) The global meltdown and the subsequent slowdown in India have failed to cast a pall of gloom over Som-Lalit Institute of Business Management. For, its students still have the guts to be choosy about jobs. Much before the campus selections are over, 40 per cent of its students have lap ped up jobs. Had they not been selective, opined a teacher of the B-school, all of them would have been placed by now. Several insurance companies made lucrative offers, but failed to take Som-Lalit Institute of Business Management students on board. For, they were not interested in “slogging” in the insurance sector. The beeline of companies for campus recruitment despite the eco...