Scrap ‘Deemed-to-be’ Universities
In India since decades’ universities are mostly run by State governments and in the recent years a few are funded by the Centre. In addition, there are tens of universities that belong to private bodies and these are classified as ‘deemed’ and ‘deemed-to-be’ universities (DTBUs). Now the University Grants Commission (UGC) has constituted a committee to look into the regulations of DTBUs and if required scrap “deemed-to-be” and “deemed” from university names.
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Due to these misnomers, students suffer when they apply for jobs or for studies abroad and India’s collaborations with international countries become difficult. This is because foreigners are confused by the term DTBUs. In the past, how did the wise people in the UGC designate “deemed-to-be” status for several universities? The UGC should either officially recognise the universities in question or close them down (not bull-dozed). Alternatively, the governments (State/Centre) could take over the DTUBs and handsomely compensate the owners.
This method, ready-made infrastructure and existing facilities would be available at the disposal of the governments and students (especially in rural areas) could avail college education at a lower cost. Education in India is a money-making business and let not the future of students be doomed by studying in “deemed-to-be” universities.
Sridhar D’Iyer, Caranzalem
Ukraine imbroglio
Thank you for your editorial ‘Putin must stop the war now’ (Herald, June 24).
For NATO countries Russia has invaded Ukraine. For Russians, it is a special military operation to destroy the Western war equipment that was dumped in Ukraine. Russia is not at war with Ukraine in the usual sense for they consider Ukraine to be part and parcel of Russian motherland. Russian army is not making much of advance. You will not believe it.
Russia is testing and learning from experience the modern war equipment West possesses and their war techniques. The real war by Russia against the NATO countries like Germany, France and the UK is yet to come. Till then you could safely keep on swallowing the Western propaganda against the Russians.
Antonio Menezes, by email
Recruitment on mission mode
PM Modi announces 10 lakh jobs in next 18 months. Various government departments have flagged number of vacant posts and also have raised concerns about work being affected due to lack of staff. It is a ploy to deflect criticism of his government’s abysmal record on unemployment that is at a four-decade high. 70% of the workers lost their employment in urban areas and 56% in rural areas, says study by Centre for Sustainable Employment. This is a latest promise, ahead of the 2024 general elections of creating 10 lakh jobs. In past he had promised to provide two crore jobs every year. Having miserably failed in his promise of crores of jobs every year with record high unemployment, now seeking to deflect criticism over his abysmal record by announcing 10 lakh recruitments in “mission mode in the next year and a half.
The meaningful efforts have to be made to create new employment opportunities and to fill up vacant posts, as unemployment is the most burning issue in the country.
KG Vilop, Chorao
Garbage around transformers
It is understood that the electricity department engineers in Vasco have asked the Mormugao Municipal Council to remove the heaps of garbage scattered around the transformers at different locations and to maintain cleanliness.
This is probably a problem not only in the port town but in other cities and villages in the state as well. For some reason people have been dumping the garbage near the transformers. It is learnt that due to the dumping of garbage near the transformers often the department staff and linesmen were finding it difficult to attend to emergencies like fuse calls and taking regular maintenance works due to the heap of garbage. However, what is dangerous is that the dry garbage around the transformer could catch fire which could destroy the transformer. The area around the transformer is not meant for disposing-off the garbage. People have been doing it despite the fact that there is door-to-door garbage collection in the locality.
In several places the areas around the transformers have turned into black spots. It would be in the fitness of things to put a fence around the transformer with adequate opening for the electricity staff to reach it in order to carry out repair work. The area also needs to be beautified by growing ornamental plants. This could act as a deterrent for people to throw the waste around the transformers.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Efficient functioning of Passport office
We wish to record our appreciation of the efficient functioning of the Passport Office, Panjim. Our Passports (Renewal) were received by us within three working days.
The staff at all levels were very courteous and did their duties very efficiently. Namaste.
Eulalia & Joaquim Pinto, Mapusa
Case of the
‘Missing Files’
Files have gone missing at the Margao Municipal Council (MMC). The former Chief Officer (CO) filed Police complaints in this regard. The present CO has decided to pursue the matter. This is a case scenario common all over Goa.
It is amazing how files go missing. Do files have wings to fly or take off by themselves? Are Files similar to flies? I worked in an organisation where all the files were kept under lock and key by my unscrupulous overhead. Manipulations could be done at his beck and call to suit his vested interests. The same applied to the computerised system. Locking of certain master files for security is a good idea providing those in authority doing it are not corrupt themselves.
All departments need to follow a protocol when it comes to Records Management. As per whatever may be the investigation being held, related documents are found to be missing so as to impede any investigation. It smells of a sinister plot.
Vinay Rodrigues, Margao
Treachery of the
first order
What is happening now in the AIADMK is nothing but a culmination of avarice openly displayed by the opposition leader EK Palaniswamy (EPS) well supported by the external forces in power. All know how EPS ditched Sashikala who foolishly trusted him and installed him as the Chief Minister of the state and we also witnessed how he crawled to reach her feet to get her blessings.
After coaxing O. Panneerselvam (OPS) to be a coordinator of the party but under his thump, now he wants to become the General Secretary of the party and throw OPS out of the party. What a treacherous act. That Panneerselvam openly stated that he agreed to concede the chief ministership to EPS and agreed to be number two only after PM Modi advised him to do so, is a case in point.
Now, learning of the manner in which OPS was humiliated by the so called supporters of EPS by throwing water bottles, etc, at him right under the nose of EPS, one could only feel sorry for OPS for adhering to the dictates of the external forces, instead of taking independent decisions.
The ruling DMK has played its cards very decently and diplomatically by keeping away from the internal feud of the AIADMK and enjoying the tamasha happening in the AIADMK, their arch rival.
Tharcius S Fernando, Chennai
