Yogesh Avasthi

A pan masala company that promised to donate Rs 10 crore to Gujarat University for renaming the convention centre developed cold feet after dailies slammed the association; proposal was cleared by the executive council Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Wednesday, December 28, 2011 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/3/2011122820111228024508732592af0c/Gutkha-maker-backs-out-of-Rs-10cr-deal-with-GU.html ) A gutkha maker who had promised to donate a huge sum for the Gujarat University Convention Centre backed out at the last minute after there was a lot of hue and cry in the media over the tobacco company’s association with an education institute. According to a deal with Gujarat University by the Pan Parag company owner in June, the company was expected to donate Rs 10 crore to the university and the varsity in turn would rename the convention centre as Mansukhlal Kothari Convention Centre. The proposal was even put up before the executive council, which cleared the deal. However, the ...

MG Science Institute’s Micro-biology Dept, along with AMC and CEPT, have started collecting plant litter, waste paper, kitchen waste to decompose them on its campus Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Sunday, December 25, 2011 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/3/2011122520111225021701905fb495f28/MG-goes-organic-with-solid-waste-management-.html                        Students visited Pirana landfill site to learn techniques of managing solid waste Students of M G Science Institute have taken the initiative to recycle urban solid waste. Micro Biology Department, in collaboration with Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and students of CEPT, have started collecting plant litter, waste paper and kitchen waste from corporate houses and housing societies to decompose them on its campus. To understand the concept, students visited AMC’s Pirana landfill site and learned the method to...

RPF arrest crew members of film based on the life of slain gangster Abdul Latif for shooting fight scenes at Kankaria railway yard and Kalupur overbridge without permission Yogesh Avasthi, Zahid Qureshi Posted On Friday, December 23, 2011 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/2/20111223201112230255114548b0d4318/Encounter-Latif-team-in-lockup.html ) The story of the film promises to be explosive. After all, it is based on the life of Abdul Latif, Ahmedabad’s original gang leader who was shot dead in an encounter. What the film director had not bargained for was some real cops on the sets and some real arrests. Midnight drama unfolded on the sets of Encounter Latif when Railway Protection Police swooped down upon the hotel where it was being shot and arrested an actor and two members of the crew on charge of shooting a part of the film on railway premises without authorisation. The director, too, was detained. The team was charged with attempt to run their vehicle over two cops,...

Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Friday, December 23, 2011 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/3/20111223201112230230301392906ecac/Traditional-dress-code-for-GTU-convocation.html ) Gujarat Technological University (GTU) has decided on a traditional dress code for its first convocation being held at the LD Engineering College ground on January 19. The authorities have also decided to do away with the convocation cap, which has been an integral part of the convocation robe for several institutes. “Knowing that it is our first convocation and would set a trend for the coming years, we decided to lay emphasis on our traditional values and culture and not on the robes which would remind us of colonial times,” said Dr Akshai Agrawal, Vice chancellor of GTU. Off white code For students it would be off white choodidaar pyjama and kurta, along with a scarf. While women will have an option of wearing an off white saree and a violet scarf. Dignitaries like chancellor, vice chancellor and the ...

Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Tuesday, December 20, 2011 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/3/20111220201112200259367968fdf5d08/Now-RTI-Act-available-in-Hindi-English-Braille-scripts-.html ) The Braille version of Right to Information Act in Hindi and English will now be available for the benefit of persons with visual impairment, said Gujarat Information Commission (GIC) sources on Sunday. The copies may be obtained from the commission offices, universities, libraries and Blind People’s Associations across the country. Recently, the commission had translated the Act in Gujarati Braille. Sources in GIC said, “Many visually-impaired people are taking the help of RTI Act. The commission is distributing the copies to create awareness regarding its rules and regulations among visually-impaired and to provide them an opportunity to use it for their benefit.” The initiative to translate the Act in Braille was taken by R N Das, the former chief commissioner of GIC. K S Divan, deputy sec...

Approached by parents to guide their wards on sex, St Xavier’s Loyola becomes first state board school to educate students on the changes taking place in their body Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Wednesday, December 14, 2011 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/2/2011121420111214024918686fe83983f/Xavier%E2%80%99s-Initiates-Sex-Education-for-Class-8-and-9-.html ) When most Gujarat board schools shun sex education, a reputed city school has taken its first step towards breaking this taboo. St Xavier’s, Loyola Hall, has begun imparting ‘Sex Education’ to students of class 8 and 9. Concerned about their wards asking them questions they were uncomfortable with or had no answers to, the parents first approached the school to find a solution. The principal had a discussion with the teachers and decided to teach sexuality and adolescent education. Since the teachers had their own limitations in conveying the subject correctly, the services of an expert were sought. However, finding one was ...

Commissionerate of Higher Education has started the process of issuing NOC to colleges; recruitment of principals will get over by March Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Monday, December 05, 2011 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/3/2011120520111205004656518fa6bd84c/150-colleges-of-Guj-Uni-to-get-principals-soon.html ) Commissionerate of Higher Education has finally decided to start recruiting principals for about 150 grant-in-aid colleges of All Gujarat states that do not have full-time principals. The commissionerate on Friday put up a notification on its website inviting such colleges to file declaration forms to obtain no objection certificate (NOC) for recruitment of principals. Colleges where headmaster will retire soon can also file the declaration. The commissionerate intends to finish the recruitment process by March so that the new principals can take charge of the new academic year. Sources in commissionerate said, “The procedure to fill up the vacant post has been goin...

Information commissioner, in response to an RTI filed by Hemlata Patel, advised authorities at Gujarat University to exercise greater care and vigilance Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Monday, December 05, 2011 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/3/20111205201112050046481585f6fefa9/GU-asked-to-exercise-more-%E2%80%98care-vigilance%E2%80%99.html ) Gujarat Information Commission has warned Gujarat University to ‘exercise greater care and vigilance’. The stern statement was made with regard to an appeal filed under Right to Information Act-2005 by Hemlata Patel dated April 9, 2011. However, Hemlata didn’t receive an appropriate response from the Public Information Officer at Gujarat University. Then, she filed an appeal to the Appellate Authority under RTI Act, to which no response was received. The applicant had requested for a copy of the report of the Local Inquiry Committee regarding affiliation of Ghantakarna Physiotherapy College, Godhra district. Sources said, “When Hemlata di...

Consumer forum observed that inaction on part of railways authorities had caused hardship to nine passengers; orders Rs 5,000 compensation for each of them Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Saturday, December 03, 2011 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/3/20111203201112030300121748fea0c78/Rly-held-responsible-for-passengers%E2%80%99-discomfort.html ) If you face inconvenience due to unauthorised passengers while travelling on a reserved berth in the train, you can make railways authorities accountable and even get a compensation. Vadibhai Maganlal Thakkar and eight other senior citizens from Gandhinagar went through a similar ordeal during their 38-hour-long journey from Varanasi to Ahmedabad. They approached Gandhinagar district consumer disputes redressal forum against the railways authorities and made them pay for their indifference and deficient services. Taking up their plea, the forum directed railways authorities to pay a compensation of Rs 5,000 to each of them, along with t...