Yogesh Avasthi

Children’s University has gone beyond researching curriculum and activities; it has set up six ‘tapovans’ to take pre-natal care of children and mothers for their healthy growth Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Wednesday, October 27, 2010 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=201010272010102703312993f4a6d8b2 ) Children’s University has set up six centres for holistic care of expecting mothers to help them give birth to babies who are healthy, both physically and mentally. Called “Tapovan”, these centres expose mothers-to-be to an environment as natural and simple as possible. Greenery has been created around the tapovans and interiors made such that they fill the women with “positive energy,” said a senior university official. Each tapovan has full-time physicians — practising allopathy and ayurveda — nurses and maids to take care of the women. They will be given necessary medical care and medicine free. While he...

Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University (BAOU) rids three state universities of the task of hiring teachers for elective courses; it offers 149 electives and conducts exams for the same to help students earn credits for postgraduate courses Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Tuesday, October 26, 2010 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=2010102620101026030124566c99cd434 ) A Memorandum of Understanding with Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University (BAOU) is working wonders for several state universities implementing the choice-based credit system (CBCS) for postgraduate courses. Some of these varsities do not have a proper curriculum in place for electives nor teachers who can teach that subject. But BAOU offers 149 electives to the students to choose from, making universities heave a sigh of relief. Nearly 700 students from three state universities have enrolled at BAOU to study the electives. While the student studies...

Invites agencies to bid for projects including transforming the pattern of board exams to help students shift to learning with understanding rather than mugging up Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Thursday, October 21, 2010 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=2010102120101021025813404dea9cf99 ) With an objective of placing Gujarat in the list of top three states that can boast of excellent student learning outcomes in the next five years, the state government is working towards the revamp of school education system. It has conceptualised several projects to improve the quality of education and building the capacity of teachers and educational personnel. Registered agencies can bid for the projects targeted at 8,000 schools, 82,000 teachers and 18 lakh students. Some of these projects are: ♦ Research and action plan to transform the pattern of Board Exam questions ♦ Supporting Gunotsav in primary classes and de...

An auto driver returns Rs 1 lakh cash a builder left behind in his vehicle; builder promises to make it possible for driver to own a flat in his new housing scheme Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Tuesday, October 19, 2010 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20Latest&sectid=2&contentid=2010101920101019024521945f73fe4a9 ) An auto-rickshaw driver who did not let lure of the lucre get the better of him was duly rewarded for his honesty. Auto driver Jitendra Tiwari who found cash amounting to Rs 1 lakh, three expensive mobile phones and other important documents in his auto returned it to its owner. The man turned out to be property developer Dhirubhai Mehta of Teraiya Group, who promised to make it possible for Tiwari to own a flat in his new apartment scheme in Naroda. Tiwari, who lives in a rented house in Isanpur with his wife and two daughters studying in nursery and senior KG, left his low-paying job at Arvind Mills two years ago and s...

Serving officers of Indian Army will study languages, management and IT-related courses at Gujarat University from the new academic year Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Monday, October 18, 2010 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20Latest&sectid=2&contentid=20101018201010180224338086b60939b ) From the new academic year, serving officers in the Indian Army will be seen at the Gujarat University campus to study languages, information technology, management, psychology and other subjects. In a letter to Gujarat University, Brigadier Arun Bali, Directorate General of Military Training in New Delhi, has sought vacancies for serving officers who will be provided study leave for a year or two to enhance their professional standing. Based on the needs of the organisation, the officers are being encouraged to carry out specialisation in these subjects, the letter states. The letter addressed to Gujarat University Vice Chancellor Parimal Trivedi...

JNPT asks Mumbai cops to probe forgery; orders GU to find guilty if it wants to continue with training prog Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Saturday, October 16, 2010 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=20101016201010160306117107f6455b7 ) The Gujarat University was pulled up by the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust after two students submitted a forged letter for summer training at the Mumbai port. JNPT has also filed an application with the Nhava Sheva police in Mumbai, seeking an inquiry into the forgery. The letter was submitted by NSUI state spokesperson Hardik Dodia and Ajay Thaker, first year students of Port Management at B K Institute of Management. Vice-Chancellor Parimal Trivedi said, “Our students have to undergo summer training for 33 days compulsorily. Usually we line up companies for the students. But if someone wants to be trained at a particular firm, we allow it. For this, the student has to submit a...

To save itself from running into cash deficit, the Indian Railways has put on hold projects like beautification of Ahmedabad railway station Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Friday, October 15, 2010 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20Latest&sectid=2&contentid=2010101520101015031458241fbe2fbfb ) The Indian Railways may be basking in the glory of 13 gold medals its players have clinched at the Commonwealth Games, but it is a long winding tunnel ahead for the largest rail network in Asia. It has derailed around 130 small and big projects of the Western Railway, particularly Gujarat, as part of cost-cutting measures to counter the lacklustre earnings. This means some of the key projects, including beautification of Ahmedabad railway station, are likely to be delayed by at least five years, sources said. It is worth mentioning here that the railways has pumped in Rs 100 crore into the Commonwealth Games as its official sponsor. According t...

Unable to sleep due to rats scampering aboard Saurashtra Mail, a passenger lodges complaint with Mamata Bannerjee’s office. Call from Centre sends 5-member team scurrying to tackle rodents Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Saturday, October 09, 2010 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20Latest&sectid=2&contentid=2010100920101009023743515978405bc ) On Friday night, the Western Railway was playing Pied Piper to the rodents in Saurashtra Mail. It was a call from the Railway Ministry that forced them to take up the new role. A five-member team of Ahmedabad Railway Division boarded Saurashtra Mail (Okha-Mumbai) upon its arrival at Kalupur railway station at 10.50 pm. Armed with torches and mousetraps, the members were on board to catch as many rodents before getting off at Mumbai. Sources said, they have been asked by the ministry to inspect the coaches thoroughly and submit a report on the extent of torture the rodents were perpetrating on pa...

A record 9.19 lakh saplings were planted at 400 places in the city in July. Saplings at 2 of the sites, GMDC and GU gymnasium grounds, are now being conveniently removed for Navratri celebrations Yogesh Avasthi, Mehul Jani Posted On Thursday, October 07, 2010 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20Latest&sectid=2&contentid=201010072010100703481869875cf5789 ) Two months ago, the city and state administration with the help of thousands of eco-conscious Amdavadis planted a staggering 9.19 lakh tree saplings at 400 prominent sites in a day. The exercise was trumpeted as Ahmedabad’s bid for a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. However, today, the proofs of this mammoth drive — the saplings — are being conveniently erased. At two of the sites, GMDC and GU gymnasium grounds, tractors and trucks can be seen crushing young plants (see pictures). The grounds are venue for ‘Swarnim Navratri’ celebrations announced by Gujarat Industr...

To further boost their freight business and optimise utilisation of tracks, railways combine two goods trains. This empty train will reach Gandhidham and split into two trains to offload goods at destination stations Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Thursday, October 07, 2010 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=20101007201010070338595065a707f5b ) An out-of-the-box idea by the Western Railway could boost its freight earnings tremendously, ensuring optimum use of the tracks and speedy delivery of goods besides saving on fuel. For the past one month, goods trains heading from Sabarmati to Gandhidham to load freight items are running with 120 wagons instead of the usual 40-60 wagons. Earlier, nine to 12 empty goods trains, each with 40-60 wagons, used to run from Sabarmati to Gandhidham. Now, three to four such empty freight trains, each carrying 120 wagons, leave for Gandhidham — this section mainly covers Kandla an...

Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Tuesday, October 05, 2010 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=2010100520101005031423703bcd5535d ) Now onwards, the evaluation of MBA answer sheets will be conducted by examiners on the lines of evaluation of class 10 and 12 board papers. Every examiner will be required to assess just one section assigned to them in the answer paper. For example, if there are five sections, then one examiner will be assigned only one section for assessment. This means five examiners will be evaluating five sections. Every examiner is required to assess 150 answer papers per day. The decision was taken at a meeting held by faculty members of MBA colleges affiliated to Gujarat Technological University. They were concerned about the poor performance of students in the university examination. Sources said that the new method will do away with repetitive mistakes made by an examiner and thus help in qual...

Amdavadis find time to enjoy the simple pleasures of life. We have all the facilities needed in a metropolitan city, but cleanliness is an issue. Development is skewed, too Posted On Sunday, October 03, 2010 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20A%201000%20Salutes&sectid=68&contentid=20101003201010031141473252ffec17 ) Ashok Garud I was working in Guwahati division of railways as chief engineer when I got a promotional transfer to Ahmedabad. This was in May 2009. As a fast growing city’s new divisional railway manager, I had many challenges in front of me. But I knew it was possible because I had heard that people here were very helpful and efficient. I liked everything about the place— the people, the food, the quality of life. Ever since I joined railways in 1979, I have been to Hubli, Tiruchirapalli, Kanyakumari, Allahabad, Lucknow, Mumbai and other cities. Ahmedabad has a fantastic public transport system. AMTS and BRTS work i...

GTU’s move is aimed at speeding up admission process, thus ending the uncertainity students face when their enrollments are delayed Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Saturday, October 02, 2010 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=201010022010100203262818436dfef8f ) Gujarat Technological University (GTU) has decided to conduct the Gujarat Common Entrance Test (GCET) for MBA and MCA aspirants in February 2011. The decision is aimed at helping MBA and MCA colleges finish their admission process earlier. The move to advance GCET will further cut the waiting period for students, said GTU sources. They said they wanted to hasten the process further in 2011. “We will ask the student to fill the enrollment forms in December 2010 for GCET-2011 exams. However, the exam will be conducted online in the last week of February, 2011,” said a source. The admission process of GCET-2010 went on smoothly as compared to last year ...

To manage its internal and external resources, Ahmedabad University will put in place paperless system that will facilitate easy flow of information Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Thursday, September 30, 2010 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=2010093020100930031408132672c3fa0 ) The Ahmedabad University (AU) has embarked on an ambitious project that will link all its colleges, students and faculty in an online endeavour that will facilitate the easy flow of information. By Diwali, AU wants to put in place an Enterprise Resource Planning system to manage its internal and external resources. The Rs 1.5-crore project will incorporate five colleges and 20,000 students. AU’s Board of Management Chairman Praful Anubhai said, “Our purpose is to bring about a positive change with a paperless, environment-friendly endeavour. Through the system we will be able to track our progress, analyse our shortcomings and better ...

Gujarat University has entered into a tie-up with UK’s Birmingham College to set up a campus in London. It is the ‘first Indian varsity’ to chart foreign course Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Wednesday, September 29, 2010 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20Latest&sectid=2&contentid=2010092920100929031259892962cb595 ) The Gujarat University (GU) has set course for London. The varsity has entered into an agreement with UK’s Birmingham College to set up a ‘campus’ in the city of Big Ben, GU V-C Parimal Trivedi told Mirror on Tuesday. The extension, he said, might start admitting students from the academic year 2011. “We have finalised the agreement, and are waiting for a few clearances. If things fall in place, we could begin our London campus next year,” Trivedi said. “Many foreign varsities and colleges have set up campus in India. However, GU will be the first Indian university to head abroad.” He said that the London extension, th...

The university has retracted its earlier decision of getting colleges to conduct first and second year exams this year onwards Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Saturday, September 25, 2010 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=20100925201009250348593788973e53b Gujarat University has retracted its decision of assigning first and second year graduation exams to colleges. In March this year, the university had announced that it will only be conducting the third year exams to reduce its cost burden and deal with staff shortage. But the principals’ association had opposed the decision saying if colleges were allowed to hold FY and SY exams, the quality of students would be affected. Even academicians had said the move will reduce GU’s burden, but it will lead to malpractice by colleges, who may try to favour their students or issue marksheets to undeserving candidates. As many as 2.5 lakh students pursue FY and SY cou...

Hundreds of Gujarati tourists are waiting to be rescued; want road connectivity to be restored in the flood-hit Himalayan state Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Friday, September 24, 2010 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=2010092420100924032327535817f8bf ) Hundreds of tourists from Gujarat are stuck in Uttarakhand, where flash floods and landslides, triggered by torrential rains, have caused widespread devastation and loss of lives. Many of them are running out of resources — food and money — and are waiting for local authorities there to rescue them. Officials in the Himalayan state, however, are helpless because incessant rainfall has severely damaged more than 100 roads in Chamoli, Uttarkashi, Bageshwar, Nainital, Almora and Tehri Garhwal districts, which are home to numerous pilgrimage and tourist places. Power and communication breakdown due to weather The inclement weather has also led to power and co...

Gram panchayat asks residents to stop emptying sewage on roads or face police action. Install drainage lines and the problem will be solved, counter residents Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Thursday, September 23, 2010 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20Latest&sectid=2&contentid=20100923201009230329145118433faea ) Ghuma residents were in for a shock when they received a panchayat notice threatening them with police action if sewage spills on to roads. Issuing notices to more than 35 societies so far, the panchayat has also threatened to cut off their water connections if they failed to comply. Residents, however, claim that the panchayat is asking them to clean up its mess. “They imposed tax but failed to install water supply and drainage lines. Now, they are threatening us with police action. How fair is this?” asks Bharat Patel, chairman of Kabir Enclave. He says, “Due to lack of drainage lines, most societies have installed soak...

There is a noticeable drop in number of BEd students opting for these subjects due to the paltry payscale offered in schools Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Wednesday, September 22, 2010 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=2010092220100922030919243c3481f6a ) The education scene in Gujarat is looking grimmer with each passing day. If the statistics are to be believed, the state will soon be facing scarcity of teachers for Science and Math subjects. With paltry salaries and no guarantee of a good life, most of the B.Ed (Bachelor of Education) colleges find no takers. Educationist fear that if this situation continues, there will soon be no takers of the subjects. C P Patel principal of A G Teachers college blamed the government for this situation. He said, “The government should come up with some incentives to attract youth. It is time they revamp and revive their policies.” He adds, “In the next five to six ye...