Campus Watch
In a First, Himachal’s 9 blind girls get admission in Computer Course in ITI Sundernagar
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SHIMLA– For the first time, girls with blindness in Himachal Pradesh have secured admission in the ITI at Sundernagar in a Computer course. Nine such girls are now pursuing one year course of Computer Operator and Programming Assistant (COPA).
The ITI was mandated to impart training to disabled youth, but blind candidates were never given admission in the institute. However, efforts of an NGO, Umang Foundation, made it possible.
Ajai Srivastava, chairman of Umang Foundation said that the blind girls from poor families who passed 12th class in first division from Portmore School, Shimla with the support of the foundation were motivated to join computer course. Unfortunately, no government institution in the state have facilities to impart training to the blind candidates. The Directorate of Technical Education, when approached by Srivastava, expressed their inability to provide admission to the blind girls as the Institute, established for the disabled, lacks necessary infrastructure.
He said, “We had prepared a PIL to get justice and before filing it in the High Court, got an assurance from Sanjay Gupta, Principal Secretary, Technical Education.” He took cognizance of NGO’s letter and ensured admission to nine blind girls.
“Anjna Devi, Nisha Thakur, Veena, Monika, Yahoda, Surdassi, Kamlesh, Poonam and Billo Kumari, all brilliant students who passed class 12th from Portmore School in first division. Now they have received a chance to persue job oriented computer course from ITI Sundernagar and have been provided hostel facilities in the government’s special school for blind and deaf girls. They will also get scholarship of Rs. 1000 per month. But right now, there are no computers with talking software and Instructor for blind students. The ITI has temporarily made arrangements for their training in central government’s Composite Regional Centre for the Disabled (CRC), Sundernagar,” said Ajai Srivastava.
He further added, “It was after the order of Himachal Pradesh High Court on his PIL in 2011, the government’s prestigious Portmore was opened for blind and deaf girls. Now four blind and 16 deaf girls are studying in the School. Umang Foundation is also sponsoring the education and hostel expenses of blind girls studying in local RKMV College after passing out from the Portmore School.”
Ajai Srivastava said that the computer education is a must for blind or visually impaired to make them employable in government and private sector and his organization is striving hard to make the government institutions open for them.
Campus Watch
Nauni Varsity Scholar Naincy Bags Scholarship to Pursue PhD in France
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Solan: Naincy Sagar, an alumna of Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni has bagged a fellowship for pursuing PhD from France. Nancy has reached France and will be pursuing PhD in Forest Genetics from the University of Orléans under INRAE fellowship. INRAE is France’s National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment.
Naincy has completed her BSc Forestry from College of Horticulture and Forestry (COH&F), Neri in 2018 and MSc Forest Biology and Tree Improvement and Genetic Resources from UAS, Dharwad, under ICAR’s National Talent Scheme. Before leaving for France last week, Naincy was working as a Junior Research Fellow in a research project at COH&F, Neri.
She had applied for a PhD with a scholarship in Forest Genetics which was advertised by INRAE. Naincy was successful in the interview and was awarded a fellowship for three years for pursuing PhD at the University of Orléans. During the course of the PhD, she will receive a total scholarship of around Rs 70 lakh along with medical reimbursement. Naincy will be working on forest tree larch species in the Project titled ‘Vigour at what cost? ‘Trade-off’ of hybrid vigour in Larch-Phenological, morphological and physiological determinants of hybrid superiority in Larix X eurolepis’ with a team of 20 scientists of Joint Integrated Biology Research Unit having expertise in genetics, genomics and physiology for the enhancement of tree and forest diversity
Dr. Parvinder Kaushal, Vice-Chancellor of the university spoke to Naincy via web conferencing and congratulated her. Dr. Kaushal, who has also done his doctorate from France, shared some tips and suggestions. He asked Naincy to explore this opportunity to learn about new cultures along with doing research that could help to enhance and conserve forest wealth in the future.
Naincy expressed gratitude towards her father Satya Prakash Sagar (Retd. SDO BSNL) and mother Monika Sagar, who is working as SDO in BSNL for their continuous support for higher studies. She also thanked Vice-Chancellor Dr. Parvinder Kaushal, Dean Dr. Kamal Sharma and Dr. Dushyant Sharma, Project Investigator and all the university staff for their support and guidance. The university administration, Dean of COH&F Neri congratulated Naincy and wished her success.
Campus Watch
HP University Extends College Admission Date for 2021-22 Session Till Oct 25
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Shimla-Dates for admissions to undergraduate courses for the session 2021-22 in colleges affiliated to Himachal Pradesh University has been extended, which has come as a relief to not only those students who were seeking fresh enrollments in the first year but also to the students of the second and third year.
The varsity informed that the decision was taken after considering requests received from various students regarding the same.
Now, willing students can apply for enrollment in both government and private colleges till 5 PM, October 25, 2021.
This extension of date would benefit students who recently passed supplementary exams or those students of the second and third-year who had missed admission due to delay in declaration of their previous results.
Campus Watch
UHF Nauni Extends Admission Dates for UG, PG, PhD Till Oct 18
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Solan– Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry (UHF), Nauni, has extended the last date for applying to various Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Doctoral programmes in Horticulture, Forestry, Biotechnology, Agribusiness and Business Management. Applicants can submit their complete online application on the university’s admission portal till 18th October.
The normal seats of BSc (Hons) Horticulture, BSc (Hons) Forestry and B Tech Biotechnology will be filled on the basis of scorecard of ICAR-AIEEA (UG) 2021.
Admissions to MSc, MBA (Agribusiness) and PhD (for normal and self-financing seats) will also be conducted on the scorecard of ICAR AIEEA (PG) and AICE-JRF/SRF respectively. Students who have appeared in the ICAR-AIEEA 2021 for UG and PG, or AICE-JRF/SRF examination and are interested in seeking admission, such students must fill the university online application form before 18th October. Undergraduate aspirants who have not appeared in the ICAR test can however apply for the self-financing seats for B Sc and B Tech Biotechnology programmes run by the university by filling the online application on the university website.
The university has also advised the registered candidates to submit complete online application forms along with online payment acknowledgement slip before the due date. The schedule for online counselling will be announced by the University on the website after the declaration of the ICAR examination result. Application forms other than online mode will not be accepted.