The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Tuesday, October 3, 2000,
Chandigarh, India

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

M A I L B A G

Re-evaluation, KU style

KURUKSHETRA University has already earned the dubious distinction of being an irresponsible institution as far as the declaration of various annual and supplementary examination results are concerned. However, the real inefficiency of the university is exposed when it comes to declaring the results of those students who have applied for re-evaluation.

Dissatisfies with the evaluation process, every year thousands of students apply for re-evaluation after the declaration of the results of the annual examinations. They pay a hefty fee and spend a tidy sum of the whole paper-work involving the process of applying for re-evaluation. A sizeable majority of these applicants belong to that category that has either failed in a particular course or a particular subject.

Their reason for re-evaluation is simple — if they pass after re-evaluation, they would automatically stand exempted from appearing in the ensuing supplementary examinations that are generally held in October. But year after year hundreds of them are in for a rude shock. Their re-evaluation result is almost never declared before the commencement of the supplementary examination, and they remain on the tenterhooks till the last moment. Having no alternative, they appear in the supplementary examination (for which again a separate fee and applications are involved), only to find to their utter chagrin that they have cleared the paper via re-evaluation!

No marks for guessing who is responsible for all this mismanagement and loss of the precious time, money and energy of students.

To refurbish its image of not being able to declare the re-evaluation results in time, the think tanks of Kurukshetra University had a brainwave this year to go in for the spot evaluation of answer-books in some of its selected affiliated colleges. This has been done impulsively, without proper panning, and the results are sure tobe disastrous for the gullible student who has put his trust in the university.

Let us have a look at the re-evaluation process going on this year.

1. Thousands of answer-books are being literally dumped at various affiliated colleges. And under special instructions from the university, the principals of these colleges are being forced to get them re-evaluated from various teachers. These principals, in turn, are forcing the teachers to undertake the re-evaluation work and finish it sans all propriety.

2. Absolutely no norms of the formation and functioning of a “Spot Evaluation Centre” are being followed. In fact, in a number of cases there is no “Spot Evaluation Centre”, and examiners are being asked to carry as many as 50-100 answer-books to their place (after teaching in the college and staying there for six hours) and being forced to bring them back after “re-evaluation” the next day!

3. All this is being done on a war-footing in order to ensure timely declaration of results. Nowhere is the interest of the poor student being protected.

4. While distributing these answer-books, representatives of the university are totally oblivious about the eligibility of the evaluators. As a result, a number of answer-books are being marked by those part-time ad hoc teachers who are not even on the approved list of the examiners of the university.

All this when the university, in order to streamline the working and lessen the workload of the Controller of Examinations, formed a separate cell for re-evaluation and appointed a full-fledged Deputy/Assistant Registrar to look after it.

SUSHIL KANSAL
Ambala Cantt

Health guide scheme

THE report "Health guide scheme loses relevance" (September 13) was clear and incisive. A study conducted by the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID), Chandigarh, conceded that women village health guides (VHGs) did play a role, inter alia, in educating ruralites on immunisation, family planning, health-related matters, drinking water, etc. Why then abolish the scheme as some negative minds suggest? Better spread it countrywide. Construction, not destruction, holds a promise for the village India which Gandhiji called "Real India".

We shout "primary health", but provide "secondary care". The Association of Rural Surgeons of India reveal that 45 per cent of the surgeons work without an anaesthetist, 68 per cent without a radiologist, 68 per cent without a qualified pathologist, 63 per cent without blood bank facilities and 32 per cent do not have any of these things.

According to a medical expert, at least 104.06 million people are suffering from major diseases. Nearly 50 million deaths are caused by water-borne diseases.

Official figures hide more than they reveal. Even so, the statistics provided by the Ministry of Rural Areas and Employment are telling. On April 1, 1997, of the 13,18,899 habitations, 1,17,429 remained without water, with 3,83,106 partially covered. In 16 major states, for which survey reports have been received, 55,739 habitations have brackish water, 58,325 have excessive iron, 37,760 have an excess of nitrate, 27,895 have too much fluoride. This is borne by Dr A.K. Tharian's finding that 25 per cent hospital beds are occupied by patients suffering from water-borne diseases.

S. S. JAIN
Chandigarh

Why this late probe?

IS this the way justice is done in a democracy? Nearly six months after Harpreet committed suicide, the CBI has started a preliminary investigation that actually should have started immediately after the incident. This is not the only instance when the enquiry has been hushed up in a case involving the so-called bigwigs.

Everyone, excepting the police, knows who is behind all this. What is the point in spending public money on investigations when everybody knows what's going to come out of this government-managed drama.

Politicians should amend the Constitution in such a way that no court can award them any punishment! At least, this will save the country from such government-managed dramas.

JIMPY SINGH
Sunnyvale (USA)

(Received in response to The Tribune’s Internet edition.)