Foreigners Get Permanent Jobs

Mohammed Younus :

Defying nationality laws under the Indian Constitution as well as academic criteria, five foreign nationals have managed to get into permanent service and that too in a higher learning institution, and have continued in service for the past five years. The five foreign nationals are faculty members of various wings of the University of Hyderabad (UoH), holding top positions. A query raised under the Right to Information Act (RTI) revealed that these faculty members were appointed during the period 2007-2010, though four of them had mentioned their nationality as Indian.

Telangana RTI Forum president said that despite several representations to the university no action had been taken in this matter

Ironically, they all continue to hold their posts even as information about the discrepancy reached the Ministry of Human Resource Development more than a year ago. As per the information obtained under RTI, Dr S Naresh Babu (Biochemistry), Dr T Sarada Devi (Plant Sciences), Dr Mahadev Kalyankar (Medical Sciences) and Dr Vineet C P Nair (Computer Sciences) had wrongly mentioned their nationality as ‘Indian’, even though three of them enjoy the citizenship of USA and another Australian.

The fifth one, Dr Jagan Pongubala, also a citizen of USA, however, did mention his real nationality. Interestingly, the Registrar wrote a letter to the HRD Ministry in June 2014 mentioning that the University had noticed that the faculty members were having OCI (Overseas Citizenship of India), but were appointed on a permanent basis. The letter further mentions that the UGC rule position on this with regard to Central Universities is that such faculty members can be employed only for a short period.

However, Telangana RTI Forum president G Tirupathi Yadav, who obtained this information, said that despite several representations to the university authorities no action had been taken in this matter. There were several other irregularities in the university, he said and stressed the need for a CBI enquiry into all the appointments made during the past few years. The Vice Chancellor and other authorities had allegedly shown helplessness in taking action against the ‘fake Indian nationals’, citing various reasons.

It was a clear case of fraud and breach of citizenship laws, he maintained and reiterated that his forum would lodge a complaint with the HRD ministry. Legal expert and PG College of Law principal Gali Vinod Kumar said that foreign nationals could not be given a permanent job in India until and unless they acquired Indian nationality. “We do not have any constitutional provision of dual citizenship as of now. However, in some cases NRIs and OCIs are given facilities of one-time clearance to attract them for business and investment in India.”

As per the DoPT (Department of Personnel and Training) guidelines, “Appointment of non-Indians to civil posts under the Government of India should be made only in very exceptional circumstances for short periods, in fields where Indian experts are not available. Such appointments would be on contract.”

B V R Mohan Reddy's Advice

Noted entrepreneur, businessman and NASSCOM chairman B V R Mohan Reddy, on the occasion of workshop ‘Education and Employment’ organised by Metro India, said that change has become very quick these days. He advised the students to capture the opportunities from ever changing world because the predictability of change has come down unlike in the past. Citing instances from Industrial Revolution in past centuries, he said that after the ICT revolution across the globe, the industry has been bringing in change every year.

“Though the technology disrupts the way of life it leads to opportunities,” he said, further adding, “Learning was not an event but a continuous process and does not stops with a teacher but teacher is a good way of learning.” Continuing his inspiring speech, he advised the students to learn continuously and by all ways possible observing that government only can provide an ecosystem for growth and learning.

He advised the students to stick to the five points in their journey of success that include challenging the status quo, being persuasive, ability to take risks, working in a team and open mindedness. He expressed his hope that by the year 2022 India would be the place for largest working population of age between 25 to 50 years. He said that if proper employment opportunities are not available for them it would be disaster rather than a dividend.

Stating that the T-Hub initiative by the State government would prove to be the best incubation centre for entrepreneurs and start-ups in the future he said that innovative brains are always in demand. He congratulated the gathering, most of which comprised computer science engineers, that the present era youth were witnessing a remarkable change in every stream of life.

He asked the students to catch the pace of change to be recognised and to be able to sustain in the growth market. Only those who can understand the fast moving world in time can be able to prove their presence otherwise they would be pushed down the ladder of growth, he observed.

Turf War of TSPSC and APPSC

A day after the Telangana Public Service Commission (TSPSC) released its maiden job notification, it accused its Andhra Pradesh counterpart of intentionally trespassing into the confidential section of TSPSC and occupying it.

The TSPSC has built a case against APPSC and has urged the State government to evict it from the Commission’s building for maintaining congenial atmosphere. According to TSPSC officials, a case of trespassing and ‘theft’/‘missing’ of files have also been registered with the Begum Bazar Police Station on Friday

The TSPSC has built a case against APPSC and has urged the State government to evict it from the Commission’s building for maintaining congenial atmosphere. According to TSPSC officials, a case of trespassing and ‘theft’/‘missing’ of files have also been registered with the Begum Bazar Police Station on Friday. The Commission officials alleged that the APPSC officials were not complying with the understanding reached by top officials of both the Public Service Commissions in June this year.

Telangana PSC member C Vithal said, “by the time we reached office, the in-charge of our confidential section came to us complaining that APPSC officials have broken open the section and several files have gone missing from the section. We have directed the secretary to lodge a police complaint.” He said that as per the understanding in the form of agreement between both the commissions it was decided that 2nd and 3rd floors are allotted to TSPSC and 4th, 5th floors for APPSC.

“We have instructed TSPSC section officials to completely make use of the 2nd and 3rd floor sections as per the agreements between both the commissions earlier,” he said. He said that by trespassing into the confidential section, entry to which is much restricted even for our employees, APPSC officials have created a security and confidentiality risk to important files pertaining to notifications and other stuff.

“We will now recommend the State government to shift APPSC from this building as every immovable asset here belongs to Telangana State as per the AP Reorganization Act,” he said. The Commission member said TSPSC would approach the State Reorganisation Committee to take necessary steps for shifting APPSC from the building because they pose threat to the functioning of TSPSC as long as they stay here.

“It may create a chaotic situation in the future as we have to release more notifications in the coming days and maintaining secrecy or confidentiality will be a challenge for us,” he observed. He said that before June 2, 2014 the then government has allotted some floors to AP and others to Telangana Commission, but objections were raised against that. Later a new understanding was signed between the two Commissions and Governor E S L Narasimhan welcomed it.

On the other hand, TSPSC Employees Union president Pawan Kumar Goud said that though higher-ups of APPSC agreed to co-operate, a few officials including the additional secretary and section officers from APPSC were deliberately creating ruckus. He said TSPSC does not have a strong room like their counterpart APPSC to preserve important files and examination papers. He said employees of TSPSC would start shifting to the allotted floors as per the agreement.

He alleged that APPSC officials wanted them to react rudely to build a case in support of Section 8 of the AP Reorganization Act. “But, we don’t want to do that,” he said.

Current Distribution of Floors at PSC building

-Sections of both the Commissions spread across all the five floors

-TSPSC does not have Strong Room.

-About 34 sections and 120 staff members of TSPSC spread across four floors

-As per the latest understanding 2nd and 3rd floors go to Telangana and 4th, 5th floors are allotted to AP

-Despite two months of agreement it is not implemented

-Police case against tress-passing filed in Begum Bazar police station

Traffic Norms for Schools

Mohammed Younus :

In the light of accidents involving children, mostly near school premises the traffic police department along with the school education department has stipulated certain fresh norms for school managements. Besides deploying additional traffic police officials, the department has asked school managements to deploy school cadets or students leaders for traffic management during peak hours.

Most of the nearly 3,000 schools in the city are following the traffic police instructions and deploying volunteers headed by Physical Education Teachers (PETs) during the opening and closing times of the schools. Traffic Police Additional Commissioner Jitendar said lack of awareness about road safety norms among school children was resulting in accidents, including some fatal. “In the past two years, few accidents involving school children have shattered the conscience of people and traffic department has taken it up as a challenge to bring about a meaningful change,” he said.

The additional commissioner (traffic) said, “Schools need to have open space for parking, display sign boards of school zone, zebra crossing in front of schools, speed level signs, no horn zone besides checking the health of the school vehicle driver regularly.” As per the norms school buses must have first aid box, safety grills at windows, an escort and no extra seating be permitted in the bus.

Apart from this the traffic police have been training the school children and staff about safety precautions on roads. In the year 2014-15 about 1.20 lakh school kids have been trained during the previous year and it is still going on. Traffic Police Inspector M Srinivasulu of Traffic Training Institute said that general signs of traffic, norms, rules and precautions are taught to the school kids. Besides this several hundred parents and guardians have also been trained on traffic rules.

District Education Officer (DEO) of Hyderabad B Somi Reddy said that the education department gives permission only after the traffic police clearances are issued. If we find any discrepancy in the implementation of traffic norms stipulated by traffic police we take proper action against the erring school managements. “We send notices to the schools and give them time to resurrect the discrepancy, in case of regular offence the permission of the schools may be cancelled”, said Somi Reddy.

Norms for schools

-Schools with large open spaces should allow the parking inside

-They should erect sufficient number of traffic signage boards

-As per the provisions of State Public Safety (measures) enforcement Act – 2013, the managements have to provide access control measures including IP based CCTV for effective regulation/monitoring/ensuring safety of children

-Autorickshaws must not to carry more than 6 children

-Schools to inform parents through a circular

-Review during parents meeting

Other figures
Number of schools in city	3,037
Number of school children	10.47 lakh
Number of vehicles	32 lakh
Population of city	About 90 lakh

Special drive
Autos carrying excess children	1,794 cases booked
Under-age driving	81
Counselling	8,814

Major Cause of Traffic Woes...

By Mohammed Younus

Lack of coordination seems to be the major cause of chaos in the management of city traffic and maintenance of roads in Hyderabad which has developed into a cosmopolitan city over a period of time.

Road safety has become a big challenge for the authorities these days even as efforts have been in place for the traffic management and safety of citizens. While the traffic police have been making all its efforts to ease the huge vehicular movement in the city, other aspects are hampering its work.

City Traffic Additional Commissioner Jitender said that traffic management in city carried out in three ways that includes enforcement, education and engineering of the roads.

He said that though the number of fatal accidents has come down over the past three years nevertheless the accidents’ figure was very high. “Percentage of road accidents in and around city has come down by 20 but it can be brought to lower level only if all the concerned departments work in coordination”, he added.

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is responsible for maintaining and upkeep of about 8,000 KM or roads in its limits. Few kilometers of roads come under National Highways Authority.

GHMC Engineer in Chief Dhan Singh claimed that major roads in city were looked after by the National Highways Authorities. “Whatever we are ought to do we do for the laying of roads. Though an average life of a tar coal road is four years it cannot sustain for such long period in urban areas as lot of digging and other activities occur in cities.”

On the other hand illegal encroachments on the foot paths meant for pedestrians also lead to congestions and traffic issues and in some cases accidents, he added. There is a lack of coordination between various departments.

GHMC Chief Engineering Suresh Kumar however opined that the road safety of the citizens cannot be directly linked to bad roads. He rather said that city planning was most important to ensure the road safety.

“We have older sewerage, electricity and water services underground and if we extend the roads on the floor these services come in the middle of the current roads and that leads to various other issues” he said.

Curbing Road Accidents

Mohammed Younus :

Traffic Police is creating awareness and educating the masses on ways to minimise road accidents by adopting state-of-the-art technology and also bring down traffic violations in the city. With two of its Traffic Training Institutions (TTI) taking lead in the training and education part, the department has been overseeing the enforcement of modern techniques in traffic management. Traffic police authorities are taking up the growing vehicle numbers as a challenge and implementing the rules chalked out for traffic management in a non-contact manner.

Additional Commissioner Traffic Jitender said that more focus was given to the offences that affect the safety of general public. He said, “We generally keep a check on cell-phone driving, over speeding, red-light jumping, ziz-zag driving, rash driving, drunken driving and other such offences that directly affects the safety of others.” He said that to stop the offenses the traffic police was issuing challans to the offenders through an e-challan system without causing the traffic snarls at the place of offense.

We collect the data of offenders from our CCTV cameras and hand cameras given to the traffic sleuths and send the offenders an e-challan. We also conduct breath analyser test every week to check for the drunken driving cases, he informed. The city has an integrated signaling system, only one among any city of the country, to manage the easy flow of the traffic, he said.On the other hand TTI Goshamahal Sub Inspector M Srinivasulu said that training is arranged for the cops and for the general people by the institute.

“Police officials of all ranks coming from other branches of policing to traffic undergo a week-long training at our institute”, he said. He informed that the institute also indulges in arranging counseling for the offenders of drunken driving, rash driving and over speeding on the roads.

Schools, Exploitation and Parents

By Mohammed Younus

Parents up in arms against big loot in schools

Thanks to the poor checking mechanism and lacunae in the implementation of laws, private school managements in the city are raking in a moolah and exploiting parents in the name of various categories of fees.  There exists a large gap between the prescribed fees by the government and the ones collected by private school managements , and year on enhancement in fees has become a pain in the neck for parents for decades now.

Fees collected by the private school managements are unimaginable for a common man and unaffordable for the well-to- do as well. The high handedness of the private school managements in city has reached new levels with an average 100 to 200 per cent increase in five years. Though the steep rise in fees by private managements resulted in strong activism from parents, it also simultaneously exposed the hollow regulatory measures being implemented by State education department.

Hyderabad Schools’ Parents’ Association member M Subrahmanyam said that the school managements started enhancing fees exponentially from the year 2007. “In 2007, most of the city schools have increased fees by 35 per cent, contrary to the annual 15 per cent hike, and this forced several parents to speak out strongly against the exploitation.”

In 2009, the parents’ group approached the government complaining about the rampant hike in fees by private schools in the city. Mounting pressure forced government to issue GO 91 during the same year directing the school managements not to charge more than Rs 5,000 as caution deposit. The Hyderabad Schools’ Parents’ Association member said most of the 1,400 private school managements in the city did not follow what was up held by the High Court and by State government through a GO 42 in 2010.

He lamented that year after year, these school managements have been increasing fees without holding consultations with the respective parents-teachers Associations or government authorities. Another representative of the Parents’ group Ashish Naredi said almost four government orders were in place regulating the affairs of the private schools, but most of them continue to be ignored. He said, “As per GO MS 1, 1994, no school can earn more than 5 per cent profit and 50 per cent of the fee collected must be paid as salaries of teachers. Besides these, schools should have to submit their annual reports and audited statements of accounts every year.”

Though this GO has been in place for two decades, the school managements continue to exploit parents by enhancing fees and flouting the norms under the nose of government, he lamented. In 2013, the then Hyderabad district collector M K Meena made it compulsory for private managements to display their fee structure on flexes in front of their offices, but it was challenged in High Court and the matter is still pending. Hyderabad District Education Officer B Somi Reddy said upon complaints from various groups, officials from the education department would visit and examine schools as per the powers vested by GO MS 1 and 42, which have been charging more fees from parents. He said regional joint directors would crack the whip on school managements from this Monday and action would be initiated against erring school managements.

Parents’ association member Subrahmanyam sought to know as to why State government was not showing any interest in resolving this issue when it could fix the maximum retail price for the sale of liquor in the state. He said, “This has to be stopped right here, if not, it will spoil the lives of middle class people and even affluent classes.” Besides all this, strict uniform codes have been cited as a contributing factor for the benefit of the managements. Some local schools are alleged to be in deal with suppliers, sometimes they themselves turn suppliers selling own uniforms to raise money. So is the case with the supply of books as well in the case of certain schools. The discounts offered by some of the publishers are ranging up to 35 per cent thus making it to be most lucrative part of running schools as a business.

 Fee structures in some schools 

CHIREC International School (Nursery)
Annual fee : Rs 75,000 
Term fee : Rs 19,500
Activity fee : Rs 19,500

Meridian Educational Society (1st Standard)
Term 1 tuition fee : Rs 23,000
Term 2 tuition fee : Rs 20,781
Total amount including Various heads paid : Rs 1.71 lakhs

GLENDALE (KG to 10th standard)
Application & Registration fee   : Rs 1,000

One term fee :

Rs 1 lakh up to 5th,
Rs 75k for 6th,7th
Rs 25K for 8th 9th

Caution deposit :  Rs 10,000 for all

Oakridge International School
Tuition fee : 

Rs 74,400 for up to 3rd standard,
Rs 90,000 for 9th and 10th

Term 1 fee :

Rs 59,300 for preprimary Students,
Rs 63,800 and Rs 70,500 for Class VII to X

Demands of parents

• Year on year fee hike must be curbed
• Schools must take permission before increasing fees
• State government must ensure the implementation of laws concerned
• Particular laws must be strengthened to ensure quality of education

GOs pertaining to the regulation of schools

GO MS No 246 (1987):
Community participation in the form of Parents Teachers Association must
Implementation status: Marginal
Reason: No initiative from government

GO MS No 1 (1994):
Maximum profit only 5 percent, 50 percent salary must be spent on salaries, submission of audited accounts yearly
Implementation status: Being violated for years
Reason: No initiative from government

GO MS No 91 (2009):
Application fee Rs 100, Registration fee Rs 500
Refundable caution deposit Rs 5,000; no other fee to be charged under any head
Implementation status: Severely violated 
Reason: Sub judice

GO MS No 42 (2010):
Upheld various clauses of GO 91
Implementation status: No implementation 
Reason: Stay on few clauses of GO 91

RTI a second Independence

Central Information Commissioner Madabhushanam Sridhar Acharyulu said that the inception of Right to Information Act in 2005 was like second Independence to people across the country.

Addressing a workshop on RTI at University of Hyderabad on Friday, he said that in India vigilance on the performance of government on a daily basis was very necessary. He said regular vigilance would help people to get information on their performance and bring out loopholes to be corrected for good governance.

World Intellectual Property Organisation-United Nations’ representative S Rama Rao in his inaugural address said the country had contributed largely to International Human Rights Law after getting Independence. “RTI Act has been recognised as freedom of expression. In 1990s, only 13 countries had national legislation on RTI but today there are more than 100 countries that are following this,” said Rama Rao. Rao further stated that it was only good governance that could give transparency and accountability. “We must bring out the black sheep out of secrecy to help in changing the system to benefit the common man,” he observed.

State Information Commissioner S Prabhakar Reddy in his keynote address said RTI Act was a great milestone in the evolution of democracy in the country. “In the past 10 years, it has ushered in transparency and good governance across the country. Though it is gaining awareness and has helped the poor sections to get information at low cost in short time, there is room for improvement,” he said.

Reddy further opined that authorities must implement pro-active disclosure and more powers to be given to the information commission to strengthen the RTI Act. He also advocated for adequate measures to provide safety to whistle-blowers.

Implementation of RTE marginal

Mohammed Younus 

Academicians and educationists are crying foul over State government’s move to close down nearly 500 primary and secondary schools in the State as part of rationalisation.

Educationists advocated for the strengthening of government schools in terms of infrastructure and academics instead of closing them down in the name of rationalisation

Educationists have blamed the education department for the declining strength of students in public-funded schools across the State over a period of time. They advocated for the strengthening of government schools in terms of infrastructure and academics instead of closing them down in the name of rationalisation. Member of the All India Save Education Committee M Madhu said that State government has not been focusing on the implementation of Right to Education act despite several representations and agitations by the social groups.

He said, “RTE implementation was very bleak in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana from the year of its inception. Shockingly, the TS government has also put its poll promise of strengthening the government schools in State.” He sought to know as to why the student strength was more in the places/villages where the government schools have been planned to close down as part of the rationalisation.

Save education committee members have also alleged that in the name of cluster schools several schools were shut down in the past and rationalisation was extension of that policy. Another academician working to save the government schools Sattar Khan said that Telangana government was encouraging private parties in education sector and denouncing the government schools existence. He said that government has promised to implement the KG to PG free education before election and after one year in power nothing has been done instead it was resorting to de list the existing schools.

On the other hand education activists have also raised questions over the process of transfers made during the rationalisation and alleged large scale irregularities and corruption in transfers of teachers in the process. Noted educationist and Journalism scholar P L Vishweshwar Rao said that transfers were not made as per the procedure and there were lot of irregularities.

He alleged that officials responsible for transfer of teachers have collected lakhs of rupees to transfer the teachers in their demanded places. He said, “A district education officer in Warangal was already suspended on charges of irregularities while several others are also involved in such acts. Action must be taken against such officials.”

A Collective voice for a Collective Cause

Muslim organisations have decided to come together to press upon the State government for early implementation of 12 per cent reservations to the Muslim community as promised by the ruling party.

-Participating at a round table organised by Muslim Reservation JAC on Saturday, various organisations have decided to chalk out a programme to press the government in this regard

-The community leaders urged the State government to speed up the process of providing reservations to the Muslims as promised during the elections

Participating at a round table organised by Muslim Reservation JAC on Saturday, various organisations have decided to chalk out a programme to press the government in this regard. The community leaders urged the State government to speed up the process of providing reservations to the Muslims as promised during the elections. Several social activists including political JAC chairman Prof M Kodandaram and others have come forward to support.

Muslim Reservations Joint Action Committee convener Haneef Ahmed said that government must come up with a sub-plan for Muslim community in the State. He said that besides providing reservations, protection to Wakf properties and judicial powers to the board should be provided. He said that JAC would soon organise public meeting in city for 12 per cent reservations and would take up a struggle for the same.

Communist Party of India Telangana State secretary Chada Venkat Reddy said that the only way to eradicate poverty and illiteracy in the Muslim community was to provide reservations to the eligible. Prof M Kodanda Ram said that demand for reservations to the Muslim community was just and democratic. He said that a democratic struggle should be planned by the civil society members to achieve the real objective of separate Telangana State.

Welfare Party Telangana co-convener Mohammed Rahmath said that Muslims must be provided with the reservations and it is their right. He said that the socio-economic and education conditions of Muslim community could be bettered with reservations and others. Advocate Shafiullah Quadri has demanded the State government to ensure proper implementation 4 per cent reservations in all kind of recruitments until the 12 per cent reservation is implemented.

He lamented for the delay in the process of implementation of reservations to the Muslims, who have participated in the Telangana movement as a community in the hope of getting their due share in the development.

Telangana Samajika Vedika convener Gali Vinod Kumar opined that the newly formed State could not achieve its objective of all round development until the marginalised sections of the society are not rewarded with their due share in the society. He said that tribals and Muslim communities in Telangana need upliftment in every aspect.

Comprehensive Evaluation for IIT

Mohammed Younus :

Educationists and academicians bat for the better implementation of the Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) in the State to increase the number of students in IITs from Telangana.

-The Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation pattern of education was adopted by the State School Education Department last year,after a series of consultations and brainstorming sessions. The first batch of SSC students has even attempted their final examination as per this programme

-The method of teaching involves analysis of learning levels of students. This helps students think analytically and understand the subject rather memorising the notes

The CCE pattern of education was adopted by the State School Education Department last year after a series of consultations and brainstorming sessions. The first batch of SSC students has even attempted their final examination as per this programme. The educationists say that the concept of CCE has been derived from the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) which also conducts the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) for admissions into Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) besides other national institutes.

Better implementation of the Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) pattern in the schools can groom the students at a younger age to be able to qualify for the highly competitive examinations across the country, said an IIT trainer Pawan Kumar Kasu. He said that the method of teaching adopted by the educators involves analysis of learning levels of the students. This helps students think analytically and understand the subject rather memorising the notes.

On the other hand, students would understand the core of the subject beyond mere headlines or title of the subjects. He said that there were so many similarities between CCE and JEE examination, the pattern of questions in both the examinations is very much similar. “With the help of CCE it has become very easy for the students who want to go for IITs these days because the students are taught in this pattern from the 6th standards that is sufficient for students to become competent enough for JEE examination by the time they reach higher classes”, said Pawan.

Similarly, it is to be reminded that the central government has recently mandated all the State boards to strictly follow the guidelines prepared by the National Council for Education, Research and Training (NCERT). Though there have been a difference of opinion on this issue but several academicians have termed it a good move for promoting quality education. State Council for Education, Research and Training (SCERT) Prof K Krishnamohan Rao said that the CCE module of teaching was prepared in light of the guidelines of the NCERT.

Fee Reimbursement Dues Go Up

 Mohammed Younus :

Lakhs of students in the State have been literally left in the lurch as their long wait for the release of tuition fee and reimbursement dues amounting to Rs 2,500 crore cumulatively by the government is getting longer. Adding to their travails several college managements have held back the original SSC and intermediate certificates and other documents of eligible students. 

This continues despite a notice being served on college managements by the Commissioner of Collegiate Education some time ago, which clearly stated that severe action would be taken against managements that hold back certificates/documents of students for want of reimbursement dues. As per records available with the Welfare Department, the State government has to release Rs 270 crore for the year 2013-14 and Rs 2,000 crore for academic year 2014-15.

Though the Welfare Department has released some amount for the previous academic year, no amount has been released for the 2014-15 academic year. The most recent release of tuition fee and reimbursement were made in March this year. According to existent procedures, reimbursement amounts are transferred directly to the accounts of college managements and tuition fee as maintenance fee is given to students.

SFI State secretary B Sambasiva said that due to delay in reimbursement of arrears, students are being made to undergo harrowing moments by college managements. He said, “Students have been denied their certificates/documents for lack of reimbursements and many could not pursue their dreams of higher education as managements have remained adamant on their decision.”
In March, government released Rs 434.14 crore towards scholarships and Rs 159.16 crore as maintenance fee.

Similarly, about Rs 100 crore was released under tuition fee and Rs 9 crore as maintenance fee. With an increase in the number of students this academic year, State government needs to release at least Rs 2,500 crore or more under the fee reimbursement and scholarships at various levels. ABVP State secretary J Niranjan said State government was deliberately delaying the process of issuing fee arrears. He said despite several agitations and representations in this issue, arrears were not being released.

He said, “Students have been subjected to harassment due to non-payment of fee arrears across the State. College managements have been holding back certificates of students.”
The number of eligible candidates at various levels in the previous academic year was more or less 7 lakh and it is nearly 13 lakh for the academic year 2014-15.

Heritage Lovers on the Rescue

Raising their voice against the decision of State government to demolish Osmania General Hospital, heritage lovers and civil society members on Tuesday assembled in large numbers outside the OGH heritage structure to make themselves heard.

-Members from city based civil socitey groups and heritage lovers have assembled outside OGH heritage structure to make their voices heard and chalked out a number of reasons as to why government should not demolish the age old building, often considered as a pride of the city

-“Osmania General Hospital building is like a Taj Mahal for the booming Medical Tourism sector of the city”

A delegation of civil society members, including the alumni of Osmania Hospital, met the Minorities Commission chairperson and interacted with Archaeological Department director Sunitha M Bhagawath and shared their concerns over the decision. Speaking on the occasion, Minorities Commission chairman Abid Rasool Khan said the commission would convey the views aired by the civil society members to State government.

He said that commission would communicate the concerns of citizens through such interactions with the government representatives to build a proper understanding on the issue that involves a historic building. Expressing serious concern over the extrapolative decision of Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, Osmania Old Boys Association convenor Dr Iqbal Javeed said government should have thought of developing OGH from the perspective of medical tourism.

He said, “Osmania General Hospital building is like a Taj Mahal for the booming Medical Tourism sector of the city. People from across the globe come to see the historic structures like this, which helps to enhance the tourism sector.” He said previous rulers constructed the Osmania Hospital, High Court, Salarjung Museum and Central Library on the banks of Musi River in front of each other keeping in view the symbolic compatibility of the buildings.

“If government removes OGH, then it would deface the beauty of the years-long aesthetic beauty of the construction on the other side,” he opined. On the other hand Forum for Better Hyderabad general secretary O Maneckshaw Debara said that a larger part of the total 26.5 acres land of the Osmania Hospital was open and new buildings can be constructed on that land. He said, “Osmania Hospital is the icon of Hyderabad. It has to be restored because it can be restored to its earlier position with only Rs 7 crores. Government should think over it.”

Archaeological department director Sunitha Bhagawath said that all the concerns of the civil society members would be conveyed to the State government for further action. She said that repairing and maintenance was needed for many other historic buildings in the city. State government takes decisions as per the need and looking at the conditions of the structure, she added.

Enquiry Commission for Reservations

Mohammed Younus :

With barely one month of its six-month tenure remaining, the Commission of Enquiry established by the government to study the socio-economic conditions of the Muslim community in the State, it would be holding its first official meeting on Monday to finalise the roadmap. The commission was established on March 3, 2015 to study the socio-economic conditions of the community to take necessary steps for providing 12 per cent reservations to the deserving poor.

However, due to lack of office space and proper quorum of members the commission could not start its function during the past five months, except few meetings with officials from several departments concerned. Earlier only chairman and a member were appointed and selection of other members was not carried out until July, 2015. In the last week of July, the State government appointed two more members for the commission.

Though the intention of the government was to collect a detailed report to provide reservations, the tardy start of the commission’s work irking the community. The Muslim community elders have been demanding for the early preparation of the report but nothing has been materialised yet. The commission was allotted office space in Shakar Bhavan in July, when only one month is left for completion of the job.

Tameer e Millat State secretary Abdul Raheem Qureshi said that the government should have constituted B C Welfare Commission and procedure of giving reservation must have followed. He said, “we have to wait for the outcome of the commission’s enquiry, then only we can comment on the issue that whether it can deliver any good for the beleaguered community or not.” Enquiry Commission chairman G Sudhir, who was conferred with chief secretary rank recently, said that he would ask the government for extension to carry out the task it has been given.

                                                              -----------

Commission’s responsibilities
• Was set up on March 3, 2015 by a Government Order and was given six months’ time to give a report
•Not given an office space until July, past five months of its inception
•To gather data on socio-economic-educational conditions of Muslim community
•Take data as per the nine terms of references stipulated by the government
•Collate data procured by the different agencies, study, analyse and submit the report
•Recommend suitable steps for removing the impediments in the improvement of the overall conditions of the community                                     -----

He however, said clarity was needed whether the time of Enquiry Commission would begin after the initiation of the enquiry or from the date of inception. As part of the enquiry, the commission would collect and collate data pertaining to the Muslim community in the State from various government agencies and recommend the suitable remedy for the upliftment of the community. 

“We will have data from National Sample Survey records, government departments, various census reports, Bureau of Economic & Statistics and others besides interacting with community leaders to prepare dossier based on the terms of references given to us”, said Sudhir. Mufti Mohammed Sadiq Mohiuddin said that if the government needed the socio-economic data of the community for technical reasons, it should have gathered it as early as possible.

He said, “Muslim community in Telangana need justice in terms of social, economic and educational upliftment. Delay in the process of providing them reservations would probably result in the loss of confidence in the government.”

There are about nine different terms of references set up by the State government for the commission that include collation of data from State & central agencies, study, survey the socio economic conditions, rate of employment in private & government sectors, health care indicators and others.

Counseling Spells Doom

By Mohammed Younus

No takers for nearly 27,000 seats; No admissions in seven colleges;  only one admission each in 29 colleges

Believe it or not, there are absolutely no takers for nearly 27,000 seats in various privateengineering and pharmacy colleges in Telangana this year, which is all set to force nearly 100 colleges either down their shutters or scale down their courses in the near future.

As the the final phase of EAMCET 2015 counselling came to a close on Friday for admissions of students into 231 engineering colleges and 132 pharmacy colleges in Telangana, nearly 36 per cent of the seats remained unfilled. Out of the total number of 86,805 seats, only 56,017 seats got filled. This includes 52,808 out of 79,484 engineering seats available; and only 84 out of 3,740 pharmacy seats.

Surprisingly, as many as seven colleges registered zero admissions and about 29 colleges could only manage to get only one admission each. Scores of other colleges registered less than 100 admissions. Only 91 colleges were able to fill the seats which they were allotted by the university, indicating a sharp decline of demand among the students for engineering courses in these colleges.

Out of the total 98,643 candidates qualified in the first phase, only 66,410 attended the counseling and 62,668 exercised their options.Ironically about 11,000 students did not report to the colleges in the stipulated time even after being allotted with the seats in various engineering colleges.

“Each college has an intake of at least 240 seats in the first year, with a minimum of 60 seats in each branch – civil, mechanical, electrical, electronics, computer science etc. Some colleges have seats even up to 800. The colleges can run the courses if at least 75 per cent of the seats are filled up. But going by the present trend of admissions this year, many engineering colleges will not be able to sustain and they have no option but to wind up,” an official said.

Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University of Hyderabad (JNTUH), after several rounds of inspections, has disaffiliated and disallowed several private engineering colleges from the counseling for admissions. The university has affiliated about 220 colleges, disallowing 25 colleges and disaffiliating several courses in many other colleges.

However, the college managements managed to get the interim orders from the High Court to participate in counseling. Despite the entire legal efforts by the private engineering college managements, the percentage of admissions in many colleges was not encouraging rather disappointing. “The fact that seven colleges got zero admissions and 29 colleges registered only one admission during the counselling shows the lack of credibility of these colleges. It is surprising as to how the University granted them affiliation and how they could get clearance from the inspection committee,” a source said.

Except a few engineering colleges who could fill up all their seats including those in the 30 per cent management quota, the remaining colleges could not fill up the seats even in the government quota, leave alone in the management quota.

While the government quota (also referred to as convenor quota) is filled up through a centralised counselling process with the students on the basis of their ranks obtained in the engineering entrance test, the management quota is filled up by the college managements at their discretion with the students irrespective of their performance in the entrance test. Educationists and academicians are raising serious questions over the large number of engineering colleges across the state in the back drop of poor admissions.While the percent of students appearing for EAMCET decreased, the number of students opting for engineering courses has also come down compared to the previous year.

Noted educationist Prof G Haragopal said that government must shun the idea of privatizing higher education at least now. He said, “We have to think over the large number of engineering colleges at least now. We do not need such a large number of engineers. Higher education in the state must be public funded.” Lack of proper education and bleak prospects of employment has been driving students away from the engineering colleges in the State, he opined.

Chief Camp Officer for Eamcet 2015 counseling B Srinivas Rao said that inspections were being held in the colleges which have petitioned against the decision of JNTUH and a final report assessing the credentials of colleges would be filed in High Court very soon. On the other hand, private engineering colleges consortium chairman N Goutham Rao said that colleges which did not register any admission this year may not shut down immediately but such colleges may closed down ultimately. He said that some colleges may run for some more time as they have other courses besides graduation.

Counseling Spells Doom

By Mohammed Younus

No takers for nearly 27,000 seats; No admissions in seven colleges;  only one admission each in 29 colleges

Believe it or not, there are absolutely no takers for nearly 27,000 seats in various privateengineering and pharmacy colleges in Telangana this year, which is all set to force nearly 100 colleges either down their shutters or scale down their courses in the near future.

As the the final phase of EAMCET 2015 counselling came to a close on Friday for admissions of students into 231 engineering colleges and 132 pharmacy colleges in Telangana, nearly 36 per cent of the seats remained unfilled. Out of the total number of 86,805 seats, only 56,017 seats got filled. This includes 52,808 out of 79,484 engineering seats available; and only 84 out of 3,740 pharmacy seats.

Surprisingly, as many as seven colleges registered zero admissions and about 29 colleges could only manage to get only one admission each. Scores of other colleges registered less than 100 admissions. Only 91 colleges were able to fill the seats which they were allotted by the university, indicating a sharp decline of demand among the students for engineering courses in these colleges.

Out of the total 98,643 candidates qualified in the first phase, only 66,410 attended the counseling and 62,668 exercised their options.Ironically about 11,000 students did not report to the colleges in the stipulated time even after being allotted with the seats in various engineering colleges.

“Each college has an intake of at least 240 seats in the first year, with a minimum of 60 seats in each branch – civil, mechanical, electrical, electronics, computer science etc. Some colleges have seats even up to 800. The colleges can run the courses if at least 75 per cent of the seats are filled up. But going by the present trend of admissions this year, many engineering colleges will not be able to sustain and they have no option but to wind up,” an official said.

Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University of Hyderabad (JNTUH), after several rounds of inspections, has disaffiliated and disallowed several private engineering colleges from the counseling for admissions. The university has affiliated about 220 colleges, disallowing 25 colleges and disaffiliating several courses in many other colleges.

However, the college managements managed to get the interim orders from the High Court to participate in counseling. Despite the entire legal efforts by the private engineering college managements, the percentage of admissions in many colleges was not encouraging rather disappointing. “The fact that seven colleges got zero admissions and 29 colleges registered only one admission during the counselling shows the lack of credibility of these colleges. It is surprising as to how the University granted them affiliation and how they could get clearance from the inspection committee,” a source said.

Except a few engineering colleges who could fill up all their seats including those in the 30 per cent management quota, the remaining colleges could not fill up the seats even in the government quota, leave alone in the management quota.

While the government quota (also referred to as convenor quota) is filled up through a centralised counselling process with the students on the basis of their ranks obtained in the engineering entrance test, the management quota is filled up by the college managements at their discretion with the students irrespective of their performance in the entrance test. Educationists and academicians are raising serious questions over the large number of engineering colleges across the state in the back drop of poor admissions.While the percent of students appearing for EAMCET decreased, the number of students opting for engineering courses has also come down compared to the previous year.

Noted educationist Prof G Haragopal said that government must shun the idea of privatizing higher education at least now. He said, “We have to think over the large number of engineering colleges at least now. We do not need such a large number of engineers. Higher education in the state must be public funded.” Lack of proper education and bleak prospects of employment has been driving students away from the engineering colleges in the State, he opined.

Chief Camp Officer for Eamcet 2015 counseling B Srinivas Rao said that inspections were being held in the colleges which have petitioned against the decision of JNTUH and a final report assessing the credentials of colleges would be filed in High Court very soon. On the other hand, private engineering colleges consortium chairman N Goutham Rao said that colleges which did not register any admission this year may not shut down immediately but such colleges may closed down ultimately. He said that some colleges may run for some more time as they have other courses besides graduation.

Interview Opposed for Group II

Mohammed Younus :

Student groups and unemployed youth find fault with the examination pattern prescribed by the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) for the Group II examinations. The major worry of the students seems to be the ‘interview’ component under Group II examinations. Student groups alleged that interview for the posts under Group II category would pave the way for bias and undue favours to the candidates.

A majority section of the students who have been preparing for the Group II examinations has opposed the move ever since it was proposed by the syllabus committee and the commission to the State government. Telangana Unemployed Youth Organisation convener G Kalyan said that by virtue of interview for the Group II examinations chances of undue favors would increase.

“It has happened in the past, when the State was not divided and N Kiran Kumar Reddy was Chief Minister, few members in the interview panel had favored some candidates”, he said. He alleged that interaction of the candidates with the interview panel members would definitely result in nepotism and candidates selected thus would not be on the basis of merit but other parameters altogether.

He demanded the State government to remove the interview part and make it completely written test based examination. On the other hand, the youth who have been preparing for the Group II category examinations are also wary of the interview. Parimal Srinivas alleged that the State government wanted to continue the same corruption tactics as in the past.

“Only the candidates with the strong political and social background or concrete backing of the panel members would get selected if interviews are made mandatory in these examinations”, he lamented. He said that instead of the interview, government should make it a complete merit based selection. 

SFI secretary B Sambasiva said that students in Telangana have not been preparing for the Group II examinations keeping in view the interview part and all of a sudden this compulsion may dismantle their preparation of several months.

He said, “State government or TSPSC must hold talks with the students and student groups to include the interview for these examinations, otherwise, so many students may lose the test despite getting good marks in written test.”

About 12 categories of services are enlisted under Group II. The pattern of examination includes two parts, one being written test and the second part is interview. First part comprises of four components of 150 marks each and questions are multiple choice based.

Posts under Group II category

-Municipal Commissioner grade III 

-Assistant Commercial Tax Officer

-Deputy Tehsildar

-Sub-Registrar grade II

-Junior Employment Officer

-Assistant Registrar

-Assistant Labour Officer

-Extension Officer (Rural Development)

-Excise Sub-Inspector

-Executive Officer grade II

-Assistant Development Officer

-Executive Officer grade I

-Pattern of Examination