writingonblog uncensored: Visually impaired seek permission to write exams d...

writingonblog uncensored: Visually impaired seek permission to write exams d...: Chennai: After two years of continuous struggle, Miranda Tomkinson, a person with multiple disabilities, wrote the UGC National Educ...

Visually impaired seek permission to write exams digitally

Chennai:

After two years of continuous struggle, Miranda Tomkinson, a person with multiple disabilities, wrote the UGC National Educational Testing (NET) exams on Sunday.

This comes in the wake of a High Court order on Friday which directed the UGC to provide Braille question paper to Miranda, said S S Smitha of the Disability Legislation Unit, South, Vidya Sagar. Even University Grants Commission vice chairman Prof H Devaraj also personally intervened to make provisions to help Miranda get a Braille question paper.

Smitha said that now UGC has to provide Braille question paper to all the visually impaired as per the High Court order otherwise it is contempt of court.

She says printing in Braille is not difficult. “If they can do it for Miranda why not for others,” she reasons. She says visually impaired people are now happy with the High Court order in providing Braille question paper.

Raghuraman, assistant professor at Government Arts College, Nandanam, and also a visually impaired person, said that the High Court judgement is a landmark one. Now all the universities and colleges should implement it by providing Braille question paper in semester exams.

However, this is not the end. The next step would be to ensure the visually impaired be allowed to take their exams through a computer or a laptop so that they don’t have to rely on the scribe but only on themselves. He said that the Braille question paper empowers the visually impaired to decipher the question paper and read out the answer to the scribe. But if a computer or a laptop is provide then he can read and write down the answer without depending on the scribe.

writingonblog uncensored: TN plans social security for urban poor

writingonblog uncensored: TN plans social security for urban poor: Chennai: Tamil Nadu government has launched an ambitious programme of providing social security to the urban poor and the underprivilege...

TN plans social security for urban poor

Chennai:

Tamil Nadu government has launched an ambitious programme of providing social security to the urban poor and the underprivileged sections under the Tamil Nadu Urban Livelihood Mission.

Official sources in Commissionerate of Municipal Administration (CMA) said that the Rs 200 crore mission would focus on providing social security pension, special homes for differently abled, children homes, old age homes, counseling centres and livelihood support centres.

The focus would be on vulnerable sections of the society, which include the aged, street children, migrant labourers and mentally challenged who are exposed to high degree of social risk like crime and violence.

Officials said the aim of the mission is to cover all below poverty line families in the urban local bodies over the next five years.

The beneficiaries under the scheme would be identified by adopting the methodology done by Pudhu Vazhvu Project of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department.

The list would be updated regularly on an annual basis besides a periodic survey would be carried out to identify street children, pavement dwellers and migrant labourers to rehabilitate them.

The funds for TNULM would be made available under Swarna Jayanthi Shahara Rozgar Yojana, Rajiv Awas Yojana and Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission and other ongoing schemes related to respective departments.

Interestingly, the focus of the mission would on six major activities. These include skill training for wage employment  and self employment and entrepreneurship programme, social sector interventions in health, education and sanitation, housing, basic amenities and services like water and sanitation and social security and safeguards besides social mobilization and capacity building. Officials said the approach is to provide livelihood to the urban poor.

Sources said that a enumeration on homeless in Madurai an Coimbatore has already begun besides validation of urban poor is going on

writingonblog uncensored: General Motors India introduces 24x7 Free Roadside...

writingonblog uncensored: General Motors India introduces 24x7 Free Roadside...: Chennai: General Motors India launched 24x7 Free Roadside Assistance Program for customers who buy new Chevrolet vehicles from Januar...

General Motors India introduces 24x7 Free Roadside Assistance Program

Chennai: General Motors India launched 24x7 Free Roadside Assistance Program for customers who buy new Chevrolet vehicles from January 2014.

The initiative has been specifically designed to enhance the ownership experience of our esteemed customers and provide round-the-clock hassle free support in case of an emergency anywhere in India.

“Customer is the most important facet of our business. With the launch of the roadside assistance program, we are taking the ownership experience a step further by ensuring complete peace of mind and comfort. The initiative includes special care for our customers in the event of vehicle immobilization such as free taxi provision and towing facility anywhere in India,” said P Balendran, Vice President, General Motors India.

Chevrolet 24x7 Free Roadside Assistance provides immediate support in the event of vehicle immobilization due to mechanical or electrical breakdown, road traffic accident, battery drainage, fuel scarcity, tyre problems and locked/lost key amongst others. In the event of a breakdown or accident, Chevrolet owners can call 1800-103-8090 (toll-free) or 0124-4388090 for free roadside assistance round the clock throughout the country.

The facility is also available for existing Chevrolet owners at a nominal price of Rs 1,000 for one year and Rs 2,700 for three years under warranty.

writingonblog uncensored: Bahwan CyberTek included in Gartner report

writingonblog uncensored: Bahwan CyberTek included in Gartner report: Chennai: Bahwan CyberTek, a leading global provider of innovative IT products and solutions, has been included by Gartner in thei...

Bahwan CyberTek included in Gartner report

Chennai:

Bahwan CyberTek, a leading global provider of innovative IT products and solutions, has been included by Gartner in their recently published report on ‘Choosing the Right Vendor for Payment Modernization Initiatives' authored by Mary Knox and Christophe Uzureau.

According to the Gartner report, the scope of Banks' modernization initiatives may “range from the upgrade of single payment functionality to the design of a payment services hub, involving a rethink of payment workflows.”

This report says “Identifying lead vendors for a payment modernization initiative is challenging and risky. This research, based on an analysis of available payment software, will help CIO’s and heads of payments navigate this complex marketplace.”

S Durgaprasad, Co-Founder & CEO of Bahwan CyberTek said, "We feel being included by Gartner is a testimony of our capability towards building a strong end-to-end payment solution backed by strong industry expertise, right domain knowledge, tools and methodologies. We have successfully delivered complex programs, consolidated operations and delivered efficiency benefits resulting in value for our customers.”

writingonblog uncensored: 63,000 civilians in South Sudan taking shelter in ...

writingonblog uncensored: 63,000 civilians in South Sudan taking shelter in ...: New York: About 63,000 civilians are now sheltering in UN bases around Southern Sudan, including 25,000 in two Juba bases; 15,000 ...

63,000 civilians in South Sudan taking shelter in UN bases

New York:

About 63,000 civilians are now sheltering in UN bases around Southern Sudan, including 25,000 in two Juba bases; 15,000 in Bor, 12,000 in Bentiu and 8,000 in Malakal, according to United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS)  .

The UN Mission says that the security situation in Upper Nile and Unity States is tense, with reports of the presence of anti-Government and Government forces. Government forces are believed to have consolidated their positions in and around Bor, as well as at the airport. Anti-government forces remain in the vicinity and the situation remains tense.

The Department of Peacekeeping Operations says it is working with other peacekeeping missions in the region, as well as troop and police contributing countries, in order to quickly mobilise personnel and equipment to be moved into South Sudan to strengthen the Mission’s protection of civilian capacity.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that at least 121,600 people have been displaced by the crisis in South Sudan since mid-December. Humanitarian organizations say the figure is expected to be higher.

Aid workers report that the priority needs of the affected communities include food, health care, shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene services.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that aid agencies are responding to the needs and have delivered food to thousands of people in Juba, Bentiu, Malakal and Awerial. They have not been able to access the relief warehouse in Bor, because of insecurity. Reports indicate that it may have been looted.

Mobile clinics operating in UN facilities in Juba are carrying out 350 consultations per day, and measles and polio vaccination campaigns are scheduled to begin before the New Year.

Aid organisations have distributed mosquito nets, mattresses, tents and soap to displaced families and have set up 160 latrines at displacement sites in Juba.

Meanwhile, 72 UNPOL Peacekeepers from the MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping in the Democratic Republic of Congo, arrived in Juba on 17 December. The officers are part of a group of five thousand five-hundred additional Peacekeepers and UN Police Advisers that was asked for by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Monday and approved unanimously by the Security Council on Tuesday.

The Bangladesh Police Officers who are trained in crowd management and security will be deployed immediately to help with the growing numbers of internally displaced persons, approximately 63,000, who are now seeking refuge in UN Compounds throughout South Sudan.

writingonblog uncensored: UGC yields to Miranda’s plea for Braille question ...

writingonblog uncensored: UGC yields to Miranda’s plea for Braille question ...: C Shivakumar Chennai: After two years of continuous struggle, Miranda Tomkinson can now dream of writing the UGC National Educationa...

UGC yields to Miranda’s plea for Braille question paper

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

After two years of continuous struggle, Miranda Tomkinson can now dream of writing the UGC National Educational Testing (NET) exams.

University Grants Commission vice chairman Prof H Devaraj said that he has personally intervened to make provisions to help Miranda get a Braille question paper.

As soon as the issue came to my notice, I had asked my officials to convert the question paper to Braille.

“This can’t be done just like that. More than seven lakh people are writing the exams. We have to take extreme care in this regard and positively, the candidate will get a Braille paper this Sunday,” Prof H Devaraj said.

An elated S S Smitha of the Disability Legislation Unit, South, Vidya Sagar said that she is happy to hear the news.

“I feel UGC should have been little more responsible to respond this many letters from the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Government of India,” she said.

The officials could have even directed us to someone who can look into this, she said.

Interestingly, even a High Court order on Friday has directed the UGC to provide Braille question paper to Miranda, said Smitha.

Despite a revised guideline under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Department of Disability Affairs, which states that persons with disabilities should choose their own mode to write exams, UGC has denied the candidate Miranda Tomkinson a Braille question paper which he has demanded twice for writing the exams.

Tomkinson possesses Masters in Sociology but was worried that his qualification could not earn him a job and he has to still depend on his close relatives for financial aid.

UGC said that the delay in looking into the issue was due to lack of staff. “Now we have filled the post of 20 education officers,” said Devaraj vowing to sort out all the pending issues with UGC.

writingonblog uncensored: Pending fellowships cleared by UGC but students, s...

writingonblog uncensored: Pending fellowships cleared by UGC but students, s...: C Shivakumar Chennai: Madurai Kamraj University students protesting over the pending fellowships under various schemes have somethin...

Pending fellowships cleared by UGC but students, staff still victimised by varsity

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Madurai Kamraj University students protesting over the pending fellowships under various schemes have something to cheer about after University Grants Commission vowed to release all funds by the end of this month.

University Grants Commission vice chairman Prof H Devaraj said that the pending fellowships will be released by the end of this year.

“I met the vice-chancellor and we held discussion in this regard,” he said.

He said the delay in disbursing funds for the fellowships was due to lack of staff. “Now we have recruited 20 more staff besides I am personally looking into the issue,” he said.

Meanwhile, Madurai Kamraj University students along with the university faculty association, who were here to submit memorandum to the officials over the alleged victimization and high-handedness of the vice-chancellor of the university, welcomed the news but at the same time expressed concern over the university victimising the students and staff for taking up the issue.

“We protested and wanted to be heard by the vice-chairman of UGC when he visited Madurai Kamraj University in October during the convocation. The vice-chancellor denied us an audience and what is more three of the students were dismissed,” said a student.

Interestingly, the letters sent to C Pandiyarajan, UGC- senior research fellow and J Arun, junior research fellow, questions the effort by students to seek an audience with UGC vice-chairman besides sending a strike notice to the Nagamalai police station over the issue. “We wanted to know the reason on why the fellowships are denied. Is it a crime. Don’t we have the right to question since our livelihood depends on the stipend,” says A Jegannathan, convenor of Madurai Kamraj University Struugle Committee.

“It is the belated action by the university. It should not have been precipitated. The 3^rd December black day could have been avoided had the vice-chancellor acted sensibly,” said S Vivekanandan, All India Federation of University and College Teachers Organisation.

“We want the university to stop victimising students and non-teaching staff or else the protest would continue,” he said.

M Jayakumar, co-convenor of Tamil Nadu Federation of University Faculty Associations, Madurai, said that never in the history of Tamil Nadu, not even during the times of emergency, had any university been closed for 20 days. “What is worse syndicate passed a resolution to demote senior professor as information scientist which is a non-teaching profession,” he said.

“The students have already lost their precious time. The issue could have been easily solved amicably instead of taking it to streets or to district collector,” Jayakumar said.

“We appeal to higher education minister to convene tripartite talks between university faculty association, non-teaching staff and research scholars. The Vice Chancellor should come forward and commit herself to the acts and statute of the university,” he said.