Vikas Vaidya

By Vikas Vaidya The convocation of IIT, Powai on August 10 witnessed an unusual happening. One of the degrees was received by father of the student, and that too, when the student had not appeared for the final examination! The extraordinary story of a young student, whose big dreams were shattered by the whims of fate, had compelled the institute to make an exception. His father, Siddharth Dhoke, a loco-pilot with Central Railways, recieved the degree with moist eyes. Siddharth Dhoke accepted the degree at the hands of Abhay Karandikar, Professor and Head of Department of Electrical Engineering. With his intellect and compassionate nature, Akshay had left a mark which made the institute award him the degree posthumously. His father, not a very rich man, too did not lag behind. He gave an amount of Rs 2 lakh to IIT, Powai, so that every topper in Microelectronics could be given medal and three students of weaker section could get scholarship for research project. Siddha

By Vikas Vaidya It is good news that each of eight medical colleges in Maharashtra got 50 seats more, but Vidarbha got only 50 seats more. It has four medical colleges but got additional intake in Yavatmal college only. Neither Akola, nor Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) did not get a single additional seat. In the process, Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH) lost not 40, but 90 seats. The present intake of IGGMCH is 60. It is getting 40 seats restored for the last 16 years. Had the state government acted fast the intake would have reached to 100 and in present development it would have got 50 seats more making it to 150. It would not have to struggle for 40 seats forever. The state government has increased the intake of students by 400 for MBBS course in eight government medical colleges from this academic year.  The governing board of the Medical Council of India (MCI) has given the nod to hike MBBS seats by 400 at the government medical