Students complain of wrong valuation in Sanskrit paper

BHUBANESWAR: The Board of Secondary Education (BSE) Odisha was flooded with results-related complaints from various parts of the State on the day of the publication of Matric results on Wednesday regarding ‘wrong valuation’ of Sanskrit answer papers in which the students have received unbelievably low marks.

The complainants alleged that the students who had performed well in the subjective part of Sanskrit had obtained a meagre 15 marks in the objective section attempted through optical mark recognition (OMR) which were evaluated by computers.

According to a student Harekrushna Acharya of Saraswati Sishu Vidya Mandir in Paralakhemundi, most of the students of his school who had secured above 85 per cent marks in the subjective of Sanskrit have got 15 in the objective. Out of 71 students who had appeared in the exam, the mistake has been noticed in the mark sheets of 49 students, he added.

Similarly, Shradhanjali Behera of Cuttack, who had secured above 90 per cent in all subjects, has got only 19 marks in the objective of Sanskrit paper. 

Several students alleged that the BSE should be careful before publishing the result. It might be a mistake in the evaluation by the computer which should be rectified by the BSE authorities immediately, they added.

Admitting the mistake, BSE president Daskshya Prasad Nanda said they are analysing the problems and have asked all the schools to send their complaints, if any so that the board will be able to correct and send the new mark sheets within three days.

Human chain formed to mark Nat’l Anti-Child Labour Day

BHUBANESWAR: Demanding bridge course for child labourers and employment for their families, civil society forums on Wednesday formed a human at the Lower PMG here to mark the National Anti-Child Labour Day.  

Around 200 children along with members of civil society forums like Campaign Against Child Labour (CACL), Forum Against Child Exploitation (FACE), Campaign Against Child Sexual Abuse and Trafficking (CACST), Center for Child and Women Development (CCWD), Ruchika and Sakar participated in the human chain. 

According to CACL convener Sudhir Sabat, nearly 47 per cent children are working as child labour and 68 per cent children are school dropouts from 8th class in the State. He also demanded the Government to start Age Appropriate Education, white paper on child protection in every three months and to strengthen State-level Child Labour Advisory Committee.

Later the members of the civil society forums submitted 12-point charter of demands to the Chief Secretary through the Labour Commissioner to take steps for development of child labourers in State. Among others, FACE convener Sadasiv Swain and Bharat Chakra of Save the Children addressed the gathering at the human chain venue.

Certificate issue: BPUT board to consider RCM students’ demands

-- Action against cops for assaulting girls demanded

  

BHUBANESWAR: Finally after two and a half months struggle and indefinite strike of MBA and MCA students of the Regional College of Management Autonomous (RCMA), a committee of the Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT) agreed to discuss the demands of the students in detail in its May 7 emergency board meeting. 

It was decided after a four-member delegation of the students met with Employment, Technical Education and Training (ETE&T) department Secretary C S Kumar here on Tuesday over their long standing demand to get original registration cards and degree certificates, denied to them by the college authorities so far.

Kumar said the process is on to solve the RCM certificate issue. “The BPUT governing body meeting will be held on May 7 where they will take decision in the matter,” he added.

According to a student Raza Quadir, the Secretary said they would inform the students about the outcome of the meeting on May 8, while the final decision will be taken on May 20. “If we don’t get a positive response from the officials, we will continue our demonstration in front of the Lower PMG till our demands are fulfilled,” said Quadir. 

Meanwhile, All India Democratic Students’ Organization (AIDSO) members have expressed solidarity with the RCMA students. 

Besides, another team of students also met Twin City Commissioner of Police Dr RP Sharma regarding the police assault on the students at the Lower PMG here late on Monday night in which four girl students were seriously injured. 

According to reports, a group of RCMA students on Monday staged demonstration in front of the BPUT office at Gandamunda in the city from 11.30 am to 10 pm night demanding issuance of certificates in favour of them. When they failed to meet BPUT VC to discuss about the certificate issue, they didn’t give chance to some officers to go out of the office. To bring normalcy, the police forces swung into action and detained more than 20 students from the spot.

Later the police left the detainees at the Lower PMG. All of the sudden some irate students attacked police personnel asking for why they had detained their friends of no reason for which they have to react. In the clash two vehicles of police were damaged, the police sources added. While the students alleged that the male staff of the Commissionerate Police assaulted girl students without engaging women police. As many as 20 students were injured. “The cops have crossed the limit by assaulting the girls at night time. It was serious violation of human rights,” said human rights activists in the city. 

Seriously injured girl students were undergoing treatment in the Capital Hospital. 

    

Bhubaneswar city police to keep vigil on suspected persons

--ID card mandatory to stay in city hotels

BHUBANESWAR: “The Commissionerate Police (Bhubaneswar-Cuttack) will revamp its intelligence capacity to track suspected persons roaming around the city,” said Twin City Commissioner of Police Dr RP Sharma here on Monday. 

While reviewing crime situation of the twin city at a meeting here, Dr Sharma said they would strengthen their night patrolling and other basic policing to make feel the city dwellers that the police are with them at the time of need. 

On the context of terrorist group Indian Mujahideen’s stay in the city, the commissioner said they would direct all the hotels and lodges in the twin city to make Identity Card compulsory for their customers for staying in the hotel. He also said that how a group of arms dealers were staying in a city hotel before the police arrested them. 

Dr Sharma said they would keep strict vigil on suspected persons so that they could not get chance to create any problem in the twin city or in the State. “Our police team with the help of local intelligence will keep close watch on strangers and criminals,” he added.

Robber gang busted in city, 4 held

BHUBANESWAR: Special squad of the Commissionerate Police arrested four persons of a criminal gang when they were trying to commit robbery in Chandrasekharpur area in the city a few days ago, said Twin City Commissioner of Police Dr RP Sharma here on Tuesday.  

The police team also seized two mousers, 10 rounds of live bullets, seven mobile phones, five costly bikes, 13 gold chains, two electronic gazette and Rs 9000 cash from the possession of the robbers.  

The accused were identified as Subrat Rao alias Chandu (30) of Narayan basti of Unit-8, Bitu Thakur (43) of Canal Colony under the Laxmisagar police limits, Rajesh Nayak (21) of Banapur in Khurda district, Santosh Sethi alias Sidhu (22) of Khairi under the Pipili police limits. They were sent to Jharpada jail after their bail plea was rejected by the local court here.

Dr Sharma said all the accused have been staying at different slums in the city. They were operating their gang from the slum areas. The accused were involved in several loot and dacoity cases registered against them at different police stations including Chandrasekharpur, Khandagiri, Saheed Nagar, Nayapalli and Banapur police station, he added.

Dr Sharma said the team had arrested Subrat nine days back. After getting important clues, the special squad arrested the other members of the gang. Fifth accused of the gang Sidharth Nayak alias Milu (23) of Prahalad Sahi in Balugaon area is absconding.