Yogesh Avasthi

ISRO has asked the city college to ascertain mineral composition of moon By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at 03:18:45 AM (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20Latest&sectid=2&contentid=2009072820090728031845390cb60e7c4 ) One of the oldest science colleges in Ahmedabad, MG Science Institute, has been asked by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to analyse images and other data glea ned by Chandrayaan-1, country’s first unmanned moon probe. The study, which will be carried out by the 63-year-old college over a period of three years, will focus mainly on ascertaining mineral composition of the lunar surface. Chandrayaan-1 was launched by ISRO on October 22, 2008, to scan the moon for any evidence of water, minerals and Helium 3, a rare isotope that some scientists believe could be a valuable energy source in future. Another key objective of the probe is to map a three-dimensional atlas of the ...

Purified water-dispensing units to be installed on rly platforms; water to be sold for Rs 3 a litre, Rs 2 for 500 ml and Re 1 for 300 ml By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Tuesday, July 28, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=2009072820090728025847843361219bf ) To keep up with the increasing demand for pure drinking water at the Kalupur railway station, the Ahmedabad Railway Division’s Commercial department has decided to set up purified water-dispensing units at seven platforms, the first of its kind on the entire Western Railway line. As per railway sources, the process of inviting tenders has already begun and the work of setting up the unit is expected to be completed in three months.The initiative will fulfil the demand of thousands of passengers for safe and potable water at an affordable price. The water-dispensing units on the lines of railway stations in Chennai, will have purified wat...

Education department makes it mandatory for state’s 900-plus colleges to set up placement cells enabling students to land jobs after graduation By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Saturday, July 25, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20Latest&sectid=2&contentid=20090725200907250324002815bd110a1 ) Placements may soon cease to be the exclusive preserve of MBA, engineering and MCA institutes. In what could be a master stroke in student-industry interface leading to jobs straight out of college for graduates, the higher education department has made it mandatory for all 900-plus colleges in the state to set up their own placement cells for passouts. The move will be a godsend for arts, science and commerce graduates who hitherto could not expect a job with a solitary degree in hand. The new project called UDISHA — for Universal Development of Integrated Employability Skills Through Higher Education Agencies — is the brainch...

Had they just cared to fill in the forms at H K Commerce College, they would have easily got admission, say college sources By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Saturday, July 25, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=20090725200907250323447182f5e64a8 ) Two young boys from Kutch were in for a rude shock on Friday when they realised 15 days after regularly attending their lectures at H K Commerce College that they were nowhere on the list of the admitted candidates in the FY BCom section. All this despite having reportedly scored more than 70 per cent marks — HK Commerce cut-off was 69 per cent— and even having allegedly paid Rs 10,000 to a local ‘student leader’ to ensure their admissions are taken care of. Worse, the two students, Nilesh Parasan and Anil Vidoriya, did not even fill up admission forms thinking even that would be done by the ‘student leader’! According to a college source, “The cut-...

Out of 43 govt-run colleges in Gujarat, 39 are running sans a principal. Hey Ram! By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Saturday, July 18, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20Latest&sectid=2&contentid=2009071820090718032831796a58bb96c ) Students missing from classrooms is normal, but it’s anomaly at the government-run colleges in the state. There are 43 government-run colleges in Gujarat, and only four have a principal to oversee the proceedings.The remaining 39 have caretakers acting as principals, resulting in very little control of the authorities on the campuses. In Ahmedabad, the state-aided Government College campus houses three institutes — The Gujarat Arts & Commerce College; The Gujarat Arts & Science College and The Gujarat Commerce College — and none of these have principals. Yet another government-funded institute in the city — The KK Shastri College in Maninagar — also operates its science, commerce ...

In a new Railway Board initiative, neatness and efficiency in services on trains and stations will be the responsibility of designated officers; Division chief to look after A’bad station By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Wednesday, July 15, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=20090715200907150225285461aea81ba ) Amidst bickering between past and present railway ministers or increase-decrease in fares, the best thing to have happened to train travel recently is the all-new focus on neatness that the Railway Board has embarked on. The new initiative likely to deliver the goods. The Board for the first time has assigned senior officials responsibility of ensuring neatness and efficiency in services on trains under their personal charge. The nation-wide programme was launched a week ago. Thus, expect constant supply of water on trains, dirt-free toilets cleaned at every major station, clean linen ...

A day after AM exposé, Edu Dept transfers education inspector H R Polra to Jamkhambalia, seals his office and begins probe into bribe charges against him By Yogesh Avasthi and Shraddha Singh Posted On Tuesday, July 14, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20Latest&sectid=2&contentid=2009071420090714032944906bea3a4c6 ) Education Inspector H R Polra took a hard blow on Monday, and he might have seen it coming. A day after AM showed him accepting bribe over two kids’ admission, he finds himself transferred to Jamkhambalia in Saurashtra. Armed with damning evidence, the Education Department locked up Polra’s chamber in the District Education Office in Ellisbridge, while the man himself has reported sick and went on an eight-day leave. In another quick move, the education secretary handed over the incriminating CD containing the bribe-taking visuals to Anti Corruption Bureau inspector general Teerthraj, who confirmed t...

Education inspector caught on tape accepting bribe to get two kids admitted to Junior KG in Kubernagar school By Yogesh Avasthi & Shraddha Singh Posted On Monday, July 13, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20Latest&sectid=2&contentid=2009071320090713035359265bbf9678b #) If there was any doubt admissions in educational institutes are done by bribing officials, they can now be laid to rest. Here’s an Education Inspector caught on tape accepting money from a go-between for admission of two children. To medical college ? MBA ? No, Junior KG. The Education Inspector in question is H R Polra, in charge of Naroda beat of District Education Office (DEO). He was approached by parents of two children through a friend of theirs after their two daughters failed in an admission test held in February 2009 by a Kubernagar school. The go-between, Rajesh Tekchandani, had heard Education Inspector Polra could help, and appr...

Bhagwad Vidya Sansthan Trust run by Gopal Bhuva got AICTE approval for its institutes on the basis of fake documents; inquiry launched By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Sunday, July 12, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=2009071220090712035631343597d4ab2 ) Move over admission irregularities and buying seats for money. Here entire colleges are bogus. Four full-fledged colleges. The case relates to a Trust in Saurashtra which set up an MBA institute, an engineering college and two polytechnics by allegedly hoodwinking AICTE and gaining its approval on the basis of fake documents. If that’s not bizarre enough, one of the institutes is built on government land. Shri Bhagwad Vidhya Sansthan Trust, founded by one Gopal Bhuva, had been running two polytechnics in Gondal and Jetalsar for the last two years, and was all set to open an MBA and an engineering college in Gondal this academic year. The tw...

Equipped with computerised controls including automatic braking, fault diagnostics and event recorders, the new engine can pull almost double the number of coaches as compared to the conventionally used engine By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Saturday, July 11, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=20090711200907110320245002604d3a8 ) The Ahmedabad Railway Division has procured a new electromotive diesel (EMD) loc omotive with higher horsepower capacity for its goods train. It will be operational by the end of this month, say railway sources. One EMD locomotive will cost Rs 14 crore, they say. The suspension of the locomotive is also designed is such a manner that it will lead to safer train-operation. The introduction of EMD locomotives shall help the Railways in running such heavy haul trains by only one locomotive. “The new engine can take almost double the load when fitted to a goods train. ...

Railways to introduce disposable bed sheets and pillow covers made of polypropylene non-woven fabric in air-conditioned coaches, after frequent complaints from passengers about dirty, unwashed linen YOGESH AVASTHI No more worries about smelly bed sheets and musty blankets. Heeding the frequent complaints by passengers about the cleanliness of bed sheets, blankets and pillows provided in air-conditioned rail coaches, the Railways have decided to introduce disposable linen. The disposable bed sheets, pillow covers and blanket made of polypropylene non-woven fabric will be given to passengers in first class, second and three-tier AC. Passengers are often dissatisfied with the cleanliness standards of the linen offered by the railways, as it is used by multiple passengers and often not washed properly. A Lok Shakti Mail passenger, Sunil Wadhwani, said, I received dirty bed sheets with someones hair stuck on them. Even after complaining, I did not receive clean, washed linen, as even the re...

Railway division’s proposal seeking stopover of four more trains — Ranakpur Express, Porbandar-Motiyari Express, Pune-Jodhpur Express and Jammu Tavi Express at Sabarmati — likely to get the railway board’s sanction by October By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Wednesday, July 01, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=2009070120090701033955406b27cddad ) The swanky Sabarmati Railway Station developed at the cost of Rs 1 crore by the Ahmedabad railway division may have missed out on a central terminus status. Now, there is good news for the people residing in the western part of the city. Divisional Railway Manager Ashok Garud told Mirror that they have sent a proposal to the railway board requesting them to allow five new trains that currently stop at Ahmedabad Railway Station to also stop at Sabarmati Railway Station. These trains are Rajdhani Express, Ranakpur Express, Porbandar-Motiyari Express,...

Forwards NSUI’s letter to the governor seeking action against SNDT Vice Chancellor and incharge of the varsity’s city centre to the VC herself By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Wednesday, July 01, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=20090701200907010322073752922ddd9 ) A month before NSUI went on a rampage at SNDT University’s centre in the city, alleging malpractice by the incharge Saudamini Menon, the organisation’s president Bhautik Vijaybhai Bhatt had written a letter to the Maharashtra governor seeking action against her and two others including university vice chancellor Chandra Krishnamurthy. But instead of acting upon it, C M Alegaon, the joint secretary to the governor, forwarded the same letter (dated June 9, 2009) to the SNDT vice chancellor seeking action against the latter, Menon and the director of the city-based centre. The bizarre move by the joint secretary asking the official...

Central Information Commission issues notice to Western Railway CPIO for not responding to RTI plea for 5 months By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Monday, June 29, 2009 (Ahmedbad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=2009062920090629183537984137a15a3 ) Lethargy in parting with information sought under RTI Act has cost a Railway official Rs 25,000 in fine and an additional Rs 10,000 for Western Railway towards compensation to the applicant. The Central Information Commission (CIC), Delhi delivered its order on June 18 and asked Railways to respond to its notice by July 15. Applicant Saiyed Sharif Chasmawala had filed an application with engineering department, Western Railway, Ahmedabad on September 20, 2007 seeking information on the agreement between Railways and a contractor about building overbridges at Palanpur. According to rules, the CPIO should have furnished the info in a month of receiving the RTI plea...

Union Minister Sibal’s innovative proposal to make class 10 Board exams optional confuses Amdavadis By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Friday, June 26, 2009 A boon or a bane? Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal’s proposal to make class 10 exams optional has the Amdavadis confused.On one hand, we have a man of the stature of Father Durai, principal, St Xavier’s Loyola, who said doing away with the current system would be a welcome move. At the same time, we spoke to a concerned mother, Alpa Mehta, who feared that kids would just slip into a comfort zone in the absence of an official examination.It is very obvious that the city, which has some of the most hallowed education institutes in the country, will see a vehement debate on Sibal’s proposal. (Ahmedbad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20Latest&sectid=2&contentid=2009062620090626034037103b1256016 )

With a daily average of six passengers and an income generation of Rs 27, the 13-bogie Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar passenger train that incurs an expenditure of Rs 1.2 lakh per day will soon be withdrawn By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Wednesday, June 24, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=20090624200906240216429327ef159c4 ) What happens to a train that doesn’t generate even one-thousandth of the daily expenditure required to run it? It goes off tracks, obviously. That’s the fate the Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar-Ahmedabad memu has met with, almost a year after it was introduced. The Railways spend on an average Rs 1.20 lakh per day on this train and the income it generates at the end of the day is nothing more than Rs 27. The highest monthly income it has generated is Rs 1,000 and the lowest Rs 446. The service began on July 1, 2008. But right from day one, there were no takers for this 13-bogie train. ...

Sailesh Patel used an MP3 player to cheat in his computer applications exam. Unfortunately for him, he failed to hide it By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Monday, June 22, 2009 (Ahmedbad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=2009062220090622033440411cf257d6 ) When the world itself is governed by technology, why should it not be used to cheat in exams? Sailesh Patel, from Gotha, decided to show the way and equipped himself with an MP3 player while appearing for his Bachelor of Computer Applications exam at LD Arts College on June 16. The exam was conducted by the Indira Gandhi National Open University. The plan was pretty simple : Patel had scanned and downloaded diagrams and answers on his 16-GB MP3 player. He would just glance through the device for help, while writing away his exams. Just when Patel thought he had pulled it off, the examiners demanded a look at his friendly device. Patel couldn’t quite tuck i...

2nd-yr student Ashish Kumar suspended after a girl student files complaint By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Saturday, June 20, 2009 (Ahmedbad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20Latest&sectid=2&contentid=2009062020090620031356432fffc509f ) Showing zero tolerance towards ragging on its campus, the anti-ragging committee of the National Institute of Design (NID) Gandhinagar suspended a second-year student, identified as Ashish Kumar, following a written complaint from a girl studying in the first year. Kumar was handed his suspension order on June 19. Kumar, learning toy designing at the NID, was also accused of 4 making lewd remarks while ragging his victim, also a toy-designing student. The incident happened on June 13. The girl was urged by her friends to lodge a complaint. The next day, on June 14, the victim met the anti-ragging committee members. She was advised to submit a written complaint. After receiving the complaint, Kuma...

Indian Railways to drop extra berth on long-distance trains from July 13 after numerous complaints about cramped space, seating confusion By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Saturday, June 20, 2009 (Ahmedbad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=200906202009062002510040123240bc2 ) Have you cursed the railway authorities for adding that extra berth, leaving you in a space jam? Bumped your head trying to manoeuvre yourself onto that narrow berth sandwiched between two side-berths on your train? Your misery will end soon. Facing fire for the immense discomfort it has cause passengers, the Indian Railways has decided to remove the controversial ‘extra berth’ it had introduced in sleeper and AC coaches of long distance trains last year. The Railway Board recently issued a circular announcing the phased removal of all extra berths installed in trains across the country from July 13. Passengers will no longer be allotte...

Dr Parimal Trivedi was the last choice of the search committee. Yet, he emerged a winner in the race to become the next GU vice-chancellor. This is how the search committee ranked the contenders By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Friday, June 19, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20Latest&sectid=2&contentid=2009061920090619033837105087cbb3 ) Dr Parimal Trivedi was not the first, or even the second choice, of the search committee formed by the education department to recommend candidates for the post of Gujarat University vice-chancellor. The three-man committee, comprising former Union minister Y K Alagh, Dr Gitesh Shah and Veer Narmad South Gujarat University V-C B A Prajapati had forwarded three names in a sealed envelop to the education department. They had also given their preferences. At the top of the committee’s wishlist was Dr Pranav Desai, from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi. Dr Desai teaches at the JNU’s...

Akruti citygold university, a Rs 908-crore self-financed institute may get approval soon By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Wednesday, June 17, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=2009061720090617032235383f21f5a23 ) Adding to the growing number of private universities set to come up in the city, Akruti Citygold Institute of Technology, Ahmedabad is planning to set up a university. A 3-member committee comprising Principal Secretary Hasmukh Kadia, Technical Education director Manish Bhardwaj and Gujarat University vice chancellor Parimal Trivedi submitted a report on Akruti Citygold University to the state government last month. Akruti City Foundation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the state to set up the self-financed private university at an investment of Rs 908 crore. It will offer academic programmes and vocational skill development courses and will admit around 12,000 student...

St Xavier’s is ninth in the top ten Indian science colleges list, BJ Medical College 13th best in the country By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Tuesday, June 16, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20Latest&sectid=2&contentid=20090616200906160308435559ffdf55c ) Ready to enrol in an institution of repute miles away from Ahmedabad for graduation? Think twice before dumping city colleges for studying in Metro cities. For, the colleges of Apnu Amdavad are among the best in business. Believe it or not, St Xavier’s College, Ahmedabad, is ranked ninth in the country in the top 10 science colleges’ list. Not just that. Quite a few city institutes have found an entry in an annual nation-wide survey of the best colleges. BJ Medical College has been ranked 13th. Last year, it was placed 21st. In the survey conducted by India Today, the college rankings were based on reputation, quality of academic input, student care, infrastruc...

The trust’s six plots are located at Vastrapur, Drive-in Road and Bodakdev, each approximately 30-40 acres in size, which makes them irresistible acquisitions for real estate firms and construction companies By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Monday, June 15, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=2009061520090615023248243c8c6a242 ) Groundwork for the proposed Ahmedabad University has begun in earnest. With the site for the new university near Vijay crossroad identified, the Ahmedabad Education Society (AES) is arranging the funds for an expansive building to house its various departments. The AES plans to raise funds by selling off six large parcels of prime land it owns at three locations in the city. The education society has applied for permission from the Charity Commissioner to sell the land — a rule binding purchase or sale of any trust property. The approval may take two-three months. The ...

The group has sent SMSes and emails to thousands of Indians requesting them not to over-react to help ease the situation By Yogesh Avasthi and Ojas Mehta Posted On Monday, June 15, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=200906152009061502323489929459583 ) Contrary to common perception, Gujaratis living in Australia believe that the situation is not as bad as made out in the media, with many reports of racial attacks being plain exaggeration. This has in fact caused undue panic and provoked innocent Indians, they said. Many Gujaratis in Oz have launched an SMS and email campaign which has reached out to thousands of Indians to urge them not to over-react and lie low. They are aimed at putting a lid on the hype surrounding racial attacks to ease the situation. “The way media reports are hyped, I feel as if life here is like in Afghanistan or Somalia,” said a Melbourne-based Gujarati settled i...

Three RPF men had demanded Rs 20,000 to set free a youth in their custody By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Saturday, June 13, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=2009061320090613032534368abc12a97 ) The CBI has asked DIG-cum-chief security commissioner (RPF) to arrest Assistant Security Commissioner (Ahmedabad) Atar Singh and Inspector Pankaj Dhakad on charges of violation of human rights and corruption. But considering Singh’s high rank, the DIG has raised certain queries before giving go-ahead to Singh’s arrest. Earlier too, Singh had landed in CBI net. The RPF has to report to CBI about its course of action by the next week. Three RPF personnel, including assistant security commissioner Atar Singh, inspectors S K Sharma and Pankaj Dhakad, nabbed a youth of Malia last December falsely implicating him in a theft case that took place near Dhrangadhra station. They detained the innocent youth,...

Parimal Trivedi claims Gandhi conceptualised GU; Gandhians point out the Mahatma was long dead before the varsity was founded Here is a piece of history that Gujarat University Vice Chancellor Parimal Trivedi wants to create: Mahatma Gandhi founded Gujarat University. The hitch is that those who know history, trashes his attempt. Mahatma Gandhi did found Gujarat Vidyapith and his forays in formal higher education ended with it. If a Vania’s son could perform a yagna, then he had done so by founding vidyapith (‘univeristy’ in English), Gandhi famously said. And his association with “university” ended there. However, Trivedi says that Gandhi, Sardar Patel, Kanhaiyalal Munshi, Anandshankar Dhruv, Kasturbhai Lalbhai collectively conceptualised Gujarat University. Trivedi says that he has heard of and read references to Gandhi’s association with the university. “Maybe it was his dream,” the vice chancellor says. Rubbishing his contention, Gandhians at Gujarat Vidyapith point out that Gandhi...

The spellings above are inspired by the error-filled advertisements released recently by Gujarat University By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Friday, June 12, 2009 There was a time when job advertisements would carry a note alongside saying Gujarat University students need not apply. Now we know why.A series of advertisements issued by the Gujarat University highlighting its recent achievements under vice-chancellor Parimal Trivedi’s leadership has such bloopers that they can only evoke laughter and embarrass those associated with the university.While spelling mistakes are nothing new to advertisements, the GU ads have far too many to be put down to oversight.For instance, ‘business’ has been misspelt in three different ways — buisness, bussiness and BISSINESS. The last of the misspelt ‘businesses’ is most embarrassing because it appears in an advertisement calling for applications for admission to a business school run by the university. Well, they should list courage as one of the qualific...