Vikas Vaidya

By Vikas Vaidya Gone are the days when a doctor with a typical first aid box used to visit a patient, riding a bicycle. Gradually, doctors started using cars. Nowadays, it has become a matter of prestige for doctors to have a four-wheeler; else, people say, ‘iski practice nahi chalti hogi’ (He is not a successful doctor). Dr Dilip Sarda, President of Maharashtra State IMA became concerned about doctors losing grounds on their health front. With a mission to promote better health regime especially among doctors, he came out with a wonderful idea -- Cycle Club. His idea is a success, at least in Maharashtra. The State has 197 branches of IMA, 49 in Vidarbha. Dr Sarda has urged the IMA branches in State to form Cycle Club to promote healthy living among the members. According to him, the doctors should ride bicycle once in a day. They should come to their respective IMA branches on bicycle, or, in whatever way, ride bicycle. “The branches responded to my appeal positively. O

By Vikas Vaidya It was the installation of new body of Indian Medical Association (IMA), Nagpur chapter. But, it was not like any other installation ceremony because doctors present in the function vowed to act against unethical medical practice. Most of the senior office-bearers not only admitted mistakes of a few in the fraternity but also vowed to take measures against them. Admitting that a few doctors spoiled the image of ethically practicing doctors, Dr Kishor Taori, Chairman of Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) said, “MMC is duty-bound to punish them. All organisations of doctors should talk to their members and promote ethical practice. The doctors involved in cut practice will be dealt with severely. But, self-governance is always better that Government or society taking law in their hands.” Noted actress Varsha Usgaonkar installed the new team of IMA Nagpur. Noted sexologist Dr Sanjay Deshpande and Dr Kush Jhunjhunwala were installed as President and Secretary. Dr D

By Vikas Vaidya She is an Indian film actress from Goa, who has worked in various Bollywood and Marathi movies as the leading lady. During the 1990s, she was the most popular actress in Marathi cinema. She is regarded as one of the most successful and influential Marathi movie actresses of all time. That’s why her comment on success of present Marathi movies assumes importance. According to her, typical Marathi movies used to be based on rural life. But recently the Marathi movies has changed a lot and became successful. The reason is it has become more natural. Varsha Usgaonkar was in city to install new team of IMA, Nagpur branch. “You see, there was a bit artificial flavour earlier. Now the technology has advanced. When I watch shots of old movies in which I had acted, I feel a bit embarrassed. The movies during my times were excellent but today’s advances in technology could have added the value,” pointed Varsha. New writers have added to the kitty of Marathi Cinema. Music

By Vikas Vaidya The Maharashtra Government received another shock as Medical Council of India (MCI) has rejected the proposals of Government Medical Colleges at Gondia and Alibaugh, the highly placed sources disclosed. After the passage of a year after announcement made by Maharashtra Government to set-up Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) in six places including Chandrapur, Gondia, Nandurbar, Baramati, Alibaugh and Satara, the proposal was waiting MCI’s nod. Had these colleges received permission from MCI, additional 600 MBBS seats would have been available for meritorious students at affordable cost. Maharashtra Government had sent proposals of new medical colleges at Satara, Nandurbar, Gondia, Chandrapur, Baramati and Alibaugh to MCI for 100 seats each. The colleges were asked to submit required documents at MCI on April 7, 2014. No official from MCI was available to inform on this. Dr Pravin Shingare, Director of Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) told The

By Vikas Vaidya Dashing hopes of engineering students of Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU), who wanted jumping rule to be implemented, Chancellor K Sankaranarayanan has refused to approve the amendment in ordinance 4 of 2014. After the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court had refused to give a respite, now Chancellor has also decided to go with the policy to improve standard of education in Maharashtra State. The notification dated September 13, 2013 was framed because the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) had changed the syllabus, pattern of examination. Therefore it was imperative for the University to abide by the same. Thus in order facilitate and help the repeater students, the notification laid down a specific scheme. On the strength of this notification these students were permitted to step into higher class, despite the fact they were not eligible to enter into the higher class. This facility was granted because of the transition from the

                                                                  Dr Shakilur Rahman By Vikas Vaidya He was in Class XI, when his uncle diagnosed with cancer. His village was the small one and many  modes of treatment were not available there. Then he strongly felt that he should become a doctor. His that strong determination made him doctor. He feels that people should not term doctors as God. They are human beings. But patients should have strong will power to live. Dr Shakilur Rahman, specialist in Minimal Invasive Surgery was in city to perform surgery. Dr Rahman has developed expertise in performing surgery through single incision. Presently he is working as Consultant Surgeon at Al Ain Hospital at United Arab Emirates. “Whenever a patient suffers from any diseases, his strong will power to live does help to recover. Yes, doctor’s efforts, medication, treatment everything is there. But the response to all this comes from within the patient. This response can come only

By Vikas Vaidya Though Akola’s Government Medical College and Hospital got increased intake of 100 to 150 due to prompt judicial intervention, it would not be able to admit students on additional 50 seats in academic session 2014-15, thanks to shocking apathy by the Government and authorities who let down all concerned by breaching the promise to remove all deficiencies in time-bound manner. Medical Council of India (MCI) has asked Central Government not to renew permission for admission of 2nd batch of MBBS students against the increased intake from 100 to 150 for the academic session 2014-15 for Akola GMCH. Now Damocles Sword hangs over medical seats of Akola GMCH of which 70% are available for bright students of Vidarbha and this affordable medical seats might be lost again, if corrective steps are not taken on war-footing. Worse, there is a big question-mark over even the original intake of 100 seats of Akola GMCH. The renewal of MCI for these original 100 seats is due this y

By Vikas Vaidya With an eye on bringing quality in technical education, University Grants Commission freezed new engineering colleges. This may boost the decision of Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University of banning 250 colleges running sans teachers. UGC has asked universities not to process application from colleges providing technical education for the academic year 2014-15. There was a much debate on the decision of banning 250 colleges. All colleges are not the technical institutions. But there is no tab on their spread. The issue has so haunted university, leading one Vice-Chancellor to quit. This situation is not alone in RTMNU but all universities throughout India are facing the same problem. Under section 82 (1) of Maharashtra Universities Act 1994, university prepares perspective plan as per the needs of the colleges in that area. But most of the universities under pressure of technical institutions allegedly violate the norms and such institutions stand up. UG

By Vikas Vaidya With an eye on bringing quality in technical education, University Grants Commission freezed new engineering colleges. In its recent circular UGC has made it clear that all affiliating universities shall neither invite nor process any application from colleges providing technical education for the academic year 2014-15. In view of the pattern of enrolment in colleges providing technical education vis-à-vis the approved intake capacity thereof over the last couple of years (data collected from AICTE), it has been decided to have a one-year moratorium on affiliation of fresh colleges providing technical education, by universities; and approval of increase in the intake of students in technical colleges. Accordingly, all affiliating universities shall neither invite nor process any application from colleges providing technical education for the academic year 2014-15. In a letter sent to Vice-Chancellors of all universities, the Secretary of UGC has made it clear that

By Vikas Vaidya His relatives kept telling him that his grandfather had fallen down from bed several times during late night hours and could not stand up. He remained there for the whole night in that condition. The relatives became tensed as they could not find out the solution. They had to spend sleepless nights. Finally, this young software engineer came out with the solution. He invented Person Safety Device (PSD). He experimented it with his grandfather. It was successful. Everybody at his grandpa’s place heaved a sigh of relief. He has also got the patent for this project. Chandrahas Kawishwar, a young software engineer of Nagpur did it. “The idea struck my mind that why not prepare such a device that would help everybody at home. I used to see my relatives always tense because of the worry that my grandpa would fell down from bed. At first, only my grandfather was in my mind. But now I am seeing that everywhere people are facing this problem and they don’t have any