Sunday, January 22, 2012

Education cannot be categorised as a business product...... : Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2814140.ece?homepage=true

Former President APJ Abdul Kalam said education cannot be categorised as a business product or system and only great teachers can inspire quality learning.


Addressing the students of Maharaja Sayajirao University and Prince Ashokraje Gaekwad School at two separate functions on Wednesday night, Dr. Kalam said, “It is not the great building or a great facility or great advertisements which give quality, but loveable education and great teachers do.”

“Education at the primary level has to be delivered in an integrated way by great teachers through great syllabus and by promoting affinity between parents, students and teachers. It cannot be business product or system,” he said.

He suggested educational institutions to introduce cutting edge technologies for enabling the students to make faster progress in their learning process.

Capacity building through education will enable students to deal with the real world, particularly to grow in their professional career and participate in the national development, he said.

Research creativity, innovation, ability to use high technology, entrepreneurial leadership, and moral leadership capacities are to be built up among students in their formative years by educational institutions for their participation in nation building tasks, Dr. Kalam said.

“If we develop in all our students these five capacities, we will produce ‘Autonomous Learner’ a self—directed, self controlled, lifelong learner who will have the capacity to both respect authority and at the same time is capable of questioning authority, in an appropriate manner,” he said.

Dr. Kalam also emphasised the need on students planting at least five trees and nurturing them for clean environment.

The challenges of corruption and moral turpitude in the nation, environmental degradation and need of building a compassionate society have to be overcome for making the country economically developed nation by 2020, he said.

Dr. Kalam also opened a scheme of Ramkrishna Mission Memorial which was launched at the youth convention at the C C Mehta auditorium of MS University as part of the 150th birth anniversary celebration of Swami Vivekananda.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

INTEREST SUBSIDY: URGENT NEED OF THE HOUR - MR. M. RAFEEQUE AHMED

INTEREST SUBSIDY: URGENT NEED OF THE HOUR - CLE CHAIRMAN


V.M. Khaleelur Rahman

The Indian leather and leather products industry enjoys a valuable place in the world leather market. The types of leather, shoes, garments and goods overseas customers require are made here and exported. Despite competitions from countries like China and Pakistan, Indian exporters are faring well with their best efforts and timely assistance from the government. No doubt the progressive policy of the government is paying high dividends. However the general feeling among small entrepreneurs and traders is that their interest is not properly protected by the government and hence they are facing a threat of extinction silently. They want the government to come out with some “protective measures” to save them from collapse. It is well known that many small tanners and traders are already out of the market.

Mr. M. Rafeeque Ahmed, Chairman, Council for Leather Exports (CLE), has said recently that “there is slowdown in exports” and it is endorsed by many leading exporters. The inability of small exporters to operate in the present difficult market can be the main reason for the slow pace of exports. The advantage available to exporters in exchange rates is not much in comparison with increases in prices of raw hides and skins, tanning materials, labour charges, etc. The CLE Chairman has also rightly pointed out that the industry needs a stable currency to make future plans for exports.

As the leather industry is in a tight corner at present due to an unprecedented world phenomenon which nobody is able to understand and explain in proper perspective, Mr. Rafeeque Ahmed has said that the government should extend increased rate of “interest subsidies” for all types of exporters. It is welcomed by all. At present only a few export sectors like handicrafts, handlooms and carpets are enjoying the benefit of 2% interest subsidy given by the government.

Export Orders

There is no report of much fresh export orders due to Christmas and New Year holidays. According to reliable sources, exporters are offering their products – leather, shoes, garments, goods etc – at almost unchanged or slightly higher prices even though these prices are not workable as competitions from other countries are high in the world leather market. As far as goat and sheep upper and lining leathers are concerned, the quotations of exporters are at around the following prices:

S/C AND F/C GOAT FINISHED LEATHERS

Material Size/sq.ft. Substance Selection Price US$ per sq. ft. C&F

Goat upper leather 3/5 0.6/0.8 mm ABC 2.60

Goat suede leather 3/5 and 4/7 0.6/0.8 mm ABC/D/E 2.10/1.80/1.60

Goat lining leather 4/7 0.5/0.7 mm TR-1/2/3 1.60/1.50/1.40


S/C AND F/C SHEEP FINISHED LEATHERS

Material Size/sq.ft. Substance Selection Price US$ per sq.ft. C&F

Sheep suede/cabretta leather 4/7 0.6/0.8 mm ABC/D/E 2.50/2.00/1.50

Sheep Suede/cabretta leather 6/9 0.8/1.00 mm ABC/D/E 2.75/2.25/1.75

Sheep lining leather 3/5 and 4/7 0.5/0.7 mm TR-1/2/3 combined 1.70

LOCAL MARKET

In the Chennai local market, arrivals of tanned goat skins are limited as usual and there is good demand for almost all items. Exporters of leather and leather products are regularly covering their requirements at almost unchanged prices. A tanner pointed out that though there is good demand, tanners like him are not able to do much because of continuously ruling high prices of raw hides and skins everywhere in the country. The undeniable fact is that during the past three or four decades there was not a period like this when prices of all types of raw hides and skins had gone up to this extent. Moreover transactions are also now mostly by cash which was not the case in the past at all.

The following are the approximate ruling prices of tanned goat skins

3/5 or 4/7 sq. ft. Run selection Rs. 60/-, All Suedes Rs.56/-, Suedes upto Heel grip Rs.48/-, Linings A/B/C Rs.41/- and Rejections Rs.32/- (All per sq. ft.)

Raw skins and hides

Prices of standard and quality raw skins and hides are almost unchanged in different centres in the country. Of course prices are lower in those areas where these items have suffered damages due to heavy rains and cannot be used for upper or suede leathers.

(Indian Leather, January 2012)















Sunday, January 8, 2012

B.S. ABDUR RAHMAN UNIVERSITY CONVOCATION ON MONDAY, 9TH JANUARY 2012

WE UNDERSTAND THAT

B.S. ABDUR RAHMAN UNIVERSITY, VANDALUR, CHENNAI (INDIA) IS HOLDING ITS FIRST CONVOCATION ON MONDAY, 9TH JANUARY 2012 AT 11.45 AT THE UNIVERSITY CONVENTION CENTRE.

HIS EXCELLENCY DR. A.P.J. ABDUL KALAM, FORMER PRESIDENT OF INDIA HAS CONSENTED TO BE THE CHIEF GUEST AND DELIVER THE CONVOCATION ADDRESS

WE WISH THE CONVOCATION ALL SUCCESS

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

MADRASA STUDENTS ELIGIBLE FOR ADMISSION IN VARIOUS COURSES FROM THE NEXT ACADEMIC SESSION IN AMU

 
Madarsa students eligible for admission to various courses run by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences from the next academic session.

ALIGARH January 3:  In order to integrate Madarsa education with mainstream education system, the Academic Council of the Aligarh Muslim University has resolved to declare Madarsa students eligible for admission to various courses run by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences from the next academic session.
Presiding over the meeting, Prof. P.K. Abdul Azis, Vice Chancellor remarked that founder of the institution, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan wanted to integrate religious education with modern education and this decision is aimed at fulfilling his cherished dream.
The Academic council has approved the report in this regard submitted by the Dean, Faculty of Theology, Prof. Ali Mohd. Naqvi and also authorized the Deans of the concerned faculties to submit the specific proposal within 10 days to the Controller of Examination.
The Academic Council has also accorded the status of bonafide students to the students of the centre for paramedical courses.
Regarding the recognition of paramedical courses, the Academic council has authorized the coordinator of professional courses to take up the matter with the U.P. Govt. on top priority basis.
With a view to upgrading the existing paramedical courses, the Principal JN Medical College has been assigned to submit a comprehensive proposal for establishing a separate full-fledged paramedical college under XII plan.
In order to provide better job opportunities to students, the Academic Council has resolved to set-up a Central Placement Cell and nominated Dr. Afifullah Khan, Department of Wild Life Sciences, as the Honorary Placement Officer to initiate the process.
The Academic Council of the University has resolved to explore the possibility of introducing new courses such as M. Sc. (Information Technology), B. Sc. (Geophysics), Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Bachelor of Social Works (BSW) and Bachelor of Mass Communication (BMC) and the matter was referred to the Board of Studies of the concerned departments.
The Academic Council has bestowed the status of Professor Emeritus on Prof. S. M. Hadi approving the recommendation of the Board of Studies of the Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences.
 
(Dr. Rahat Abrar)
Public Relation Officer
 
AMU, Aligarh.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

PURASAWAKKAM MASJID IMAM MAULANA NIZAMUDDIN SAHIB IS NO MORE

Nizam Hazrath.jpgPURASAWAKKAM MASJID IMAM HAZRAT MAULANA NIZAMUDDIN SAHIB IS NO MORE. HE PASSED AWAY ON 31.12.2011. INNA LILLAHI WA INNA ILAIHI RAJIOON. HIS NAMAZE JAMAZE WILL TAKE PLACE AFTER ZUHAR PRAYERS AT PURASAWAKKAM MASJID