Allow students to write exams in local languages even if course is in English: UGC

NEW DELHI, APR 19 (PTI): The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked universities to allow students to write exams in local languages even if the course is offered in English medium, while arranging evaluators and encouraging the translation of textbooks, according to Chairman M Jagadesh Kumar.

The Commission has also asked the universities to promote the use of local language in teaching and learning processes as well.

“Promotion and regular use of Indian languages in education is a crucial area of focus in the new National Education Policy (NEP). It emphasises the importance of teaching and instruction in the mother tongue and local languages.

“It also lays thrust on the need to optimise communication in all Indian languages for better cognitive attainment and the development of a holistic personality of the learners,” Kumar said.

Noting that the academic ecosystem continues to be English medium-cen- tric, the UGC chief said once the teaching, learning and assessment are done in local languages, student engagement will gradually increase, leading to an increase in the success rate.

“The Commission has requested the universities that students be allowed to write the answers in local languages in examinations even if the programme is offered in English medium, and promote translation of original writing in local languages and use local language in the teachinglearning process at universities,” he said.

Asked about how students writing in local languages will be evaluated, he said, “This will be possible if the evaluators also know the local language and the Uni- versity can make the effort to find the evaluators who know the local language.”

“The idea is to let the students write the answers in a language that will provide them the opportunity to express easily,” Kumar said He said that higher education institutions play an important role in preparing textbooks and supporting the teaching-learning process in the mother tongue and local languages. The Commission has stressed that it is necessary to strengthen these efforts and “promote such initiatives as writing textbooks in the mother tongue/local languages and encouraging their use in teaching, including translating standard books from other languages”.

Sunstroke deaths: Patole demands special session

MUMBAI, APR 19 (PTI): Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole on Wednesday demanded a two-day special session of the state Legislature to discuss the deaths tied to the Maharashtra Bhushan Award function, blaming the Eknath Shinde government for “mismanagement”.

Further, urging people to ensure that he wins with a margin of over one lakh votes, he said, “I will not be able to come for campaigning here for more than two days, think you are the candidate and ensure victory.”

The ruling BJP has fielded Minister V Somanna from Varuna to take on Siddaramaiah.

Stating that BJP has fielded Somanna who is a resident of Bengaluru, instead of someone born here, Siddaramaiah alleged, “BJP and JD(S) have come to an internal pact. That’s the reason why JD(S) has fielded Bharathi Shankar, former MLA from T Narasipur, as its candidate, aimed at dividing Dalit votes, but I’m confident that people of Varuna will understand the conspiracy and will make me win with a big margin.”

Fourteen people have died so far due to sunstroke after the programme was held on Sunday in an open ground in Kharghar area near Mumbai where social worker Appasaheb Dharmadhikari was conferred with the state’s top civilian award by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Patole said “mismanagement” on the part of the “irresponsible” state government led to the deaths. He questioned the cause of the deaths saying whether it was due to sunstroke or a stampede. This is an instance of culpable homicide and the Shinde government is hiding the truth, Patole said.

Authorities had earlier said that the deaths were not the result of a stampede.

The Congress leader said he has written to Governor Ramesh Bais demanding that a two-day special session of the Legislature be convened to discuss the deaths and take steps to prevent such incidents in the future. Calling the tragedy “heart-wrenching”, Patole in his letter to the governor

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND DIRECTORATE OF WOMEN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT NAGALAND, KOHIMA.

NO.DWRD/DEV/MTC-4/2021/185

Dated Kohima, the 19th April 2023

CORRIGENDUM

In Supersession to this department Advertisement of Even NO.DWRD/DEV/MTC4/2021/159, dated 7th April 2023 it is hereby notified that the interview scheduled to be held on 21st April 2023 at Multi Training Centre (MTC) Directorate Compound Meriema, Kohima and Training Centre (MTC) Purana Bazaar, Dimapur is postponed to 28th April 2023. The Last date for submission of Application is also subsequently extended till 26 th April 2023. The centre for interview and timing shall remain the same.

Sd /(VILONE SAKHRIE) Director said that nearly 20 lakh people who love social worker Dharmadhikari came from all over the state for the event. This function was organised by the state and about Rs 13 crore was spent on it from the government exchequer, he said.

Despite spending so much money, Patole said, not even a tent was erected for the audience. They were made to sit for hours in the hot sun and these people could not even get drinking water. Many had to be admitted to the hospital due to sunstroke, Patole said.

What is even more shocking is that along with the heat stroke, news of a stampede is also coming through various media, which is very serious, he said.

Due to poor planning, 14 deaths have occurred and more than 500 people are undergoing treatment, said Patole in his letter, stressing that the “possibility of this number being higher cannot be ruled out”.

Referring to claims that Appasaheb Dharmadhikari had given the time for the programme, Patole said the

VISITING CONSULTANT government is now blaming the social worker. The programme concluded at 1.30 pm on Sunday when the nearest weather station to the spot had recorded a maximum temperature of 38 degrees Celsius.

Being the organiser of the Maharashtra Bhushan Award function, the state government cannot deny the responsibility, said Patole. His party has already demanded that a case of culpable homicide be registered against the government in connection with this incident, he said.

“If this government had any sense of moral responsibility, they would have resigned by now but they continue to occupy the chair. The Shinde government is hiding the truth of the Kharghar incident, but the Congress will hold a press conference in every district of the state on April 24 to bring the truth before the people,” Patole said.

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Reality of climate change

Scientists have warned that 2023 is set to be a scorcher with temperatures set to rise ‘off the charts’ causing unprecedented heat waves. Human interference on the environment through emissions of chemicals and pollutants, had brought changes being witnessed through changing climatic winds, oceanic currents and rising heat and humidity. According to meteorologists 2023 could end up as the hottest year ever. Environment scientists world over are concerned over the prediction that 2023 will be an El Nino year. That may push temperatures by over 1.5°C compared to the average temperature a century ago. The hottest year on record was 2016, when average temperature rose by 1.3°C compared to the average of 1850-1900. Global temperatures and the frequency and intensity of heat waves will rise in the 21st century as a result of climate change. High air temperatures can affect human health and lead to additional deaths. Extended periods of high day and night time temperatures create cumulative physiological stress on the human body which exacerbates the top causes of death globally, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus and renal disease. Experts also said that this year’s weather is unfolding in a kind of unusual manner that has become worryingly common - the changes are drasticlike it did in 2022 when much of the country skipped spring to go virtually straight from winter to summer.

Extra greenhouse gases in our atmosphere are the main reason that Earth is getting warmer. Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane, trap the Sun’s heat in Earth’s atmosphere.

There is a difference between “weather “and “climate” as the former relates to conditions in the atmosphere over a short time. In the latter, it relates to how the atmosphere behaves over a longer period of time. Climate change generally means changes in long-term averages of daily levels of temperature and rainfall.

Lack of preparedness a concern. Studies from the aftermath of a severe 2003 heatwave in Europe found that early heatwaves were deadlier because of a lack of state preparedness, and resulted in “marked shortterm increases in mortality. At particular risk during severe heat are vulnerable people, including infants, those of old age, and people with chronic diseases. IMd has recommended various preventive measures such as drinking sufficient water (even if not thirsty), drinking ORS (oral rehydration solutions or electrolyte replenishments) or similar homemade drinks to keep hydrated. According to director general IMd, M.Mohapatra, people in the eastern states need to take heat prevention measures adequately.According to environmentalists, there can be no compensation for the loss of natural forests because open forests are often classified as degraded. A combination of factors are causing the climate change effect and may be understood from the Nagaland experience. One of the most destructive symbols on the environment is the gradual shrinkage and extinction of the once lush Rangapahar reserved forest which had been declared as a sanctuary. At its prime, Rangapahar Sanctuary was spread over 21,768 acres and notified as a reserved forest in 1925 by the forest department of Assam. Today, what is left of the sanctuary is about hardly 300 acres that is supposed to be the Nagaland Zoological park. This is an example of how accumulated destruction of environment has pushed global warming faster.