Appraisal of College and University teachers!

Government's decision to initiate a move to periodically assess performances of teachers is really a welcome one.For university teachers teaching performance should include regular taking of classes and quality of teaching imparted.Their research work should include the quality of papers published.However, the quality of journals in which they're accepted should also be reckoned with.That apart, the number of research scholars who have been awarded PhDs under their supervision should also be considered.It should be remembered standard of a university is primarily judged by its contribution to the field of research.Participation of a teacher in national and international seminars should also be recognized. But it's difficult to appraise college teachers. Their regularity in taking classes, teaching performance, examination of answer scripts of both college and university examinations in scheduled time, helping the college administration in other academic works etc may be considered.Unfortunately, most of our colleges are not in good shape.Students normally come to college for admission and examinations.Teaching is in reality treated as extracurricular activity.Pass students normally bunk classes and most of them are not deemed eligible to take university examinations as per university rule unless their percentage of attendance is shown inflated by the college authorities.However, Honours students are a bit more serious as expected.They at least attend practical classes regularly in practical based subjects.If college authorities take a hard stance in case of students' attendance, college unions would stand by defaulting students and ultimately authorities would be compelled to compromise on the issue.However, there're colleges where attendance norms are duly maintained and they've academic ambiance.But their number is unfortunately very few . Except in few colleges there is hardly any infrastructure for research work.UGC normally sanction research grants to teachers with PhD but where would they do their work?So teachers are mostly frustrated as they can't pursue their research work after doing PhD particularly in practical based subjects.So infrastructure in colleges needs be improved a lot to ward off their frustration.In fact in colleges assessment of teachers on the basis of their continuing performance in the field research can hardly be done.In some colleges, again ,students' politics vitiate the academic atmosphere all the time. It's welcome students will also assess the performance of teachers as done in foreign universities and in some Indian universities also.In reality, it's the students who make good teachers.But, reportedly only those students who have 70% attendance in classes would be eligible to have their say in a teacher's performance.If so, very few students could be found to fulfill this criterion.In that case only a handful of students would participate in the assessment process that might not result in proper appraisal.Again, if the political dadas influence these few students it would defeat the very purpose of this assessment procedure.So appraisal of college teachers unlike their university counterparts would be a complex process.Nevertheless periodical assessment of teachers is necessary.Let the process be started and loop holes plugged whenever needed.

Fighting shy of truth!

Recently crime against women has increased manifold.However,some people whose valued opinion in this matter is some trimes sought by media more often than not refuse to buy this plain and simple fact.They argue incidences of criminal assaults on women were no less in earlier days too.The difference is now is the media highlight them more.But why are media so proactive now in bringing such ugly incidents to light?Why did they hush up such crimes perpetrated in earlier regime?Do media like to deliberately show the present govt in poor light?If so,Mamata Banerjee's scathing criticism of media merits justification. What's true is eve teasing, molestation and rapes have really increased in recent times.Perhaps many people don't want to be tagged a Marxist by saying such criminal offences were less frequent before the change of guard.They seem to maintain a neutral stance by tarring both the govts(LF&TMC-Cong) with the same brush particularly in this matter only to be on the safe side.However, humdrum public expect they should have the courage to call a spade a spade.

An inhuman act!

It’s really unbelievable auto-driver refused to stop his vehicle when a girl child fell off the auto as it took a sudden turn while her mother cried desperately to stop the auto.Mother helplessly clasped her baby's hand strongly as she was being dragged on the road.The child was hauled as much as 30 meters before the auto stopped for a moment and sped away.The baby was seriously injured in the process and was hospitalised.Something more serious could have happened to her and it was by sheer stroke of good luck she had had a close shave.What’s more, three days have passed since the incident took place but police was yet to nab the inhuman auto-driver lest other auto pullers could go on strike in protest of arrest of their colleague.However, on the fourth day when the media brought the matter to public administration was prodded to arrest the culprit.Initial police inaction is certainly condemnable and we wonder is it a civilized society that we’re living in?

Misdirected!

State's now exercising its authority giving a go-by to all rhymes and reasons to teach lessons whoever venture to criticize its activities.CM thinks she's infallible and conspiracy is being hatched all around to show her in poor light.She lashes out even at judiciary which comes to the rescue of the hapless who've incurred her wrath.Cops act .with brazen discrimination to satisfy her.The incidence of mercilessly heckling the Principal of Raigunj College inside the College campus by TMC activists under the leadership of a TMC Councillor was dubbed by CM as a minor incident perpetrated by 'small' boys.The perpetrators were slapped with bailable offences and released immediately after arrest.Almost for same offence, if not a lighter one, at Majdia College students belonging to SFI were booked under non-bailable section and they were put behind the bar for 50 days.CM initially said Park street rape case was concocted and later Damayanti Sen's investigation revealed rape actually happened.Enraged CM didn't hesitate to transfer an efficient officer like Ms.Sen to a position of lesser importance.It, in fact, helped send an encouraging signal to the miscreants and opened the floodgate of rapes there after.CM took it an affront to her when Jadavpore University Professor Ambika Mahapatra and his septuagenarian neighbour Mr Subrata Sengupta, a retired engineer, simply forwarded an innocuous cartoon lampooning her.They'd to pay a heavy price for their job.Police arrested them and put them behind the bar until next day when they were released on bail.Now a legal suit is pending against them.West Bengal Human Rights Commission has however made a suo motto inquiry into the matter and pronounced judgement asking the govt to initiate legal proceedings against the police officers who arrested them.Commission has also directed the govt to pay each of them Rs.50,000 as compensation.The verdict has so offended the CM that she's lambasted the Chairperson of the Commission without mentioning his name.She's alleged Commission has gone out of its way in delivering such judgement.She's also claimed now a days judgment can be purchased by money and entire judicial system is tainted with corruption.Now some cabinet ministers have openly accused the electronic media in particular of giving undue publicity to the rising incidences of crime against women and other law and order problems.West Bengal is far better than other states so far as the safety and security of women are concerned, some cabinet ministers vociferously claim.Incidences of crimes are deliberately blown out of proportions, they allege.Media should better engage themselves to change the mindset of the criminals, they advise. It's heartening to note WBHRC has taken up the case of of Shiladitya who's tagged a Maoist by CM herself for his protest against exorbitantly high price of manures.He.s now incarcerating in jail as police framed him with non-bailable offense.What's more,the Commission can't rely on the state's investigating agency and so has decided to get the inquiry done by its own agency.Certainly,CM won't take it without reservation.Again,High Court has already admitted a PIL against CM for her sweeping comment against Judiciary calling it corrupt.Another suo motto case is in the same issue is pending for admission after submission of affidavit by media that reported her invectives against judiciary.Now if the CM entangle herself in legal battles, when will she think about the developmental activities of the state?

Justice awarded!

It's heartening to note that Jadavpore university Professor Ambika Mahapatra and his neighbor Subrata Sengupta have received justice from West Bengal Human Rights Commission(WBHRC) in Cartoon episode.What's more, the commission took up the case own its own and has asked the State govt in its judgment to initiate legal proceedings against the two police officials who arrested Ambika and Subrata in the cartoon case and award Rs.50,000 to each of them as compensation.Though it's a recommendation of the Commission that has no binding on the govt, nevertheless it proves a moral defeat to the govt.On the other hand, it's a moral booster for those who dare criticise the wrong -doings of the govt.Again,the judgement of the Commission should have no legal bearing on the on-going case against Mr. Mahapatra and Mr.Sengupta in court of law but still it'll influence the case in a big way, Govt should now witdraw the case against them at least in honour of the judgment pronounced by WBHRC.

Rail needs full-time Minister!

Train journeys are becoming increasingly hazardous.Every other day there's train accident at some place or other.No body can assure you'll reach your destination unscathed.Even you may be transported to the Otherworld by the multi wheeled monster.Perhaps we people have accepted these tragedies with stoic calm.The railway administration too seems to possess a lackadaisical attitude in this matter.It's awakened only when a massive accident takes place.They routinely pay money to the next of kin of the deceased and the injured and institute a commission of inquiry to investigate the cause of the accident.Then they wash their hands off and go to deep slumber till the next accident occurs.Perhaps hardly any action is taken based on the recommendations of the inquiry commission to minimise accidents.Again,the Central govt is too busy to appease their coalition partner that holds the railway ministry to set their house in order.Who cares for those whose lives are lost in accidents?Can money be a substitute for life?How many families are ruined in a rail accident of even moderate intensity! Incidentally, attitude of Railway board was apparently reflected in a panel discussion on railway safety and train accidents(July 30) in a private TV Chanel(ABP Ananda). Two of the panelists were ex- members of Railway board. on that very day three train accidents took place in a row and in one accident one of the coaches of Chennai-bound Tamil Nadu Express caught fire and it took toll of 47 lives and left 25 injured.The panelists, however, don't like to share the view that safety and security of Indian railways were alarming.They were complacent that even in advanced countries also railway accidents take place and compared to the vast number trains run by Indian railways the number of accidents taking place are reasonably few.Perhaps, such attitude is seemingly shared by the present members of the Railway board and UPA govt as well.If not, then how does PM allow the present Railway minister to monitor his departmental work from Kolkata?Our Railway minister behaves like a part-timer while the problem ridden Indian railways badly need a full-time minister.Unfortunately,our Prime minister is sacrificing human lives at the altar of compulsions of coalition politics. --

Eveteasing and MLA's comment!

The comment made by Chiranjit Chakraborty, a Trinomul MlA and an actor too, on the recent incident of eve-teasing at Barasat is extremely unfortunate and merits condemnation from all sections of the society.Barasat has earned notoriety for antisocial activities that culminated in the murder of Rajib Das who tried to save his sister from sexual assault by a group of hoodlums in drunken state. Police inactions and political leaders’ attempt to cover up such incidents or play down their gravity claiming them as small incidents being blown out of proportions or concocted altogether by media to malign the present govt. have encouraged the miscreants to perpetrate such crimes with impunity.Chiranjit’s remark is in tune with the above line of thinking of ruling party. Sexual assaults on women have increased manifold now-a-days. Almost every other day a rape is being held in our state. Women are no longer safe and secured here as we earlier boast they were unlike in Delhi or Bombay. Women’s commission has lashed out at the Bengal govt for increasing incidents of crime against women. People in general also share this view of the commission and feel much concerned about increasing rate of crime. But govt is yet to react, let alone tone up police administration to curb such crimes.Govt seems to be ignoring these allegations and keeps looking the other way.