A campus that turned a fortress:OU

HYDERABAD: For the past 10 days Osmania University (OU) campus was buzzing with activity as students  and activists spearheaded the Telangana agitation, but 

on Wednesday it wore a deserted look. With police adopting strong-arm tactics, from threats of arrest to coercion, the sylvan OU campus virtually became a police camp. 

Colleges on city outskirts caught in 'regional' crossfire

HYDERABAD: Caught in no-man's-land between supporters of Telangana and Samaikhya Andhra are the educational institutions in Nalgonda, Mahbubnagar and Khammam, which share their borders with districts from Andhra and Rayalaseema belt. 

While the `united Andhra' agitation has picked up in the Andhra and Rayalaseema regions, college managements of these Telangana districts say that the academic year is getting affected in engineering colleges on city outskirts close to the Andhra and Rayalseema district borders. 

Sensitising students on climate change:Copenhagen Summit conducted by the Indian Youth Climate Network (IYCN) at Taramati Baradari

HYDERABAD: Over 300 college students and other youngsters are attending a ‘base camp’ on the Copenhagen Summit conducted by the Indian Youth Climate Network (IYCN) at Taramati Baradari. The three-day camps inaugurated on Monday aims at providing leadership orientation to the youth and help them take positive climate actions.

The Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, C.S. Ramalakshmi, who inaugurated the event, appealed to the youth to participate more actively in local activities and help create a better environment. She wanted IYCN to take up climate actions once a month.

Live proceeding of the Summit will be aired at the camp followed by discussions, said Ranga Prasad, Regional Coordinator. Films on climate change and related themes will be screened at the base camp. Topics such as sustainability, mitigation and adaptation, corruption and its impact on climate change, biodiversity etc. will be discussed.

Experts from related fields are expected to take part in this summit.

The camp is open to youngsters and participants will be given a certificate of participation from IYCN and APEC.

For details and registration, contact over phone number 95810 00350.

andhra pradesh state government launched Website on 108 operations containing all the data redarding 108 services

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Minister for Aarogyasri P. Satyanarayana on Monday launched a website www.AP108.com containing all data of 108 emergency services in the State.

Principal Secretary (health) J.Satyanarayana and Commissioner, Family Welfare Anil C. Punetha were also present.

The website would provide data on the number of ambulances in operation, a daily report of the previous day’s working, details of beneficiaries, their addresses and phone numbers ( if available), number of lives saved, types of emergencies, procurement process, HR policies and other details.

According a press release here on Monday, out of a total of 802 ambulances, 752 were in operation. The ambulances have attended to 36, 73, 958 emergencies till date.

Testing time for students in the andhra pradesh State

Schedule of common entrance tests may go haywire if agitations continue

Career of students taking national level entrance may be hit if present crisis continues

Extended academic year may hamper prospects of those planning to pursue higher studies abroad

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HYDERABAD: If the ongoing agitation and closure of colleges continue for another two weeks, the schedule of various Common Entrance Tests (CETs) in the State might go haywire.

This is the period when officials are generally busy chalking out dates for CETs for the next academic year but nothing has moved since the unrest on campuses started 15 days ago and subsequent closure of colleges. Last year, CET dates were announced on January 7.

“As of now there is not much of a problem but if disturbances continue for another two weeks the schedules might get affected,” admitted K.C. Reddy, Chairman, A.P. State Council for Higher Education.

Focus on global warming

 

Eye-catching: A visitor trying to capture images of paintings on her mobile at Global Art India children’s painting expo on Sunday.

Hyderabad: Their nimble hands came up with stunning work. The Global Art India children’s painting expo that was organised with a theme on “Global Warming” at Prasad’s Mall here on Sunday was not just a regular expo. It not only made the visitors think about the consequences of global warming but also aided in lending a helping hand to the children of the downtrodden.

Children aged below 10 years exhibited their paintings on different topics, including depletion of ozone layer, deforestation, pollution etc. that lead to global warming. Using canvass and water colours, the children came up with eye-catching paintings that appealed people to avoid plastic, plant more plants, save water etc.

Over 500 such paintings were displayed at the expo for auctioning, with a minimum base price of Rs. 50 each for each painting. All the proceeds from the auction would be donated to Vikasini, an NGO in East Marredpally that provides schooling to girl children from economically weaker sections.

Visa applicants must convince consular officer of their return

Q. My visa got rejected in Dec 2008 in Chennai and for a second time in July 2009 in Hyderabad. Why was it rejected? And since my visa has been rejected twice in the last six months, I am trying to book a visa date but not able to get a normal date. Can I book visa date in the emergency slot?

A. Why was your application rejected? We address this issue on our website www.hyderabad.usconsulate.gov under the topic ‘Frequently Asked Questions’. In general, the Consular Officer will look for evidence that you will return to India at the end of a temporary stay in the United States.

Section 214(b) of the United States Immigration and Nationality Act states that “Every alien shall be presumed to be an immigrant until he establishes to the satisfaction of the Consular Officer, at the time of application for a visa, that he is entitled to non-immigrant status.” This means that most visa applicants must convince the Consular Officer of the following:

That the applicant intends to return to his or her home in India following a temporary stay in the United States; that the applicant’s financial situation is such that he or she can afford the trip without having to seek unauthorised employment in the U.S.; and that the applicant’s purpose of travel is for purposes permitted by the applicant’s visa category.

Applicants overcome this presumption of immigrant intent by showing that their overall circumstances, including social, family, economic and other ties to India, will compel them to leave U.S. at the end of a temporary visit or study. “Ties” are the various aspects of life that bind you to India, such as your family relationships, employment and possessions.

In the case of younger applicants who may not have had an opportunity to establish such ties, the Consular Officer may consider educational status, school grades and long-range plans in India. The Consulate General requires some documents and suggests others in order to help the Consular Officer get the most complete understanding of your case. Each person’s situation is different and there is no single interview answer or document that shows compelling ties to India.

No constitutional crisis in Andhra Pradesh, says PCC chief

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee president D. Srinivas on Sunday dismissed reports that the State had plunged into a constitutional crisis following the resignation of 138 MLAs and the decision of the Ministers to quit their posts.

The PCC president asserted that “no Minister has resigned from his post so far” while the MLAs, whom he personally spoke to, responded positively to his appeal to reconsider their resignations. “I have requested all of them against taking any step that will push the party and the government into crisis,” he told reporters here.

Mr. Srinivas advised the party Ministers, MLAs, MLCs and other elected representatives not to indulge in any action that could embarrass the Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Instead of precipitating matters and causing a crisis, the leaders could resolve the issues amicably by negotiations and seek clarifications from the leadership.

The party high command was aware of the current situation in the State and, “I will not be surprised if it deputes an emissary to address the apprehensions being raised.” Party leaders who were not satisfied with the announcement made by the Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram could seek clarifications from him, he said, adding the leadership would do whatever was needed to be done at an appropriate time.

Emissary sought

At a separate press conference, two former Ministers from Rayalaseema -- J.C. Diwakar Reddy and D.L. Ravindra Reddy -- who started the spate of resignations urged the party high command to depute a responsible leader to clarify people’s doubts and resolve the deadlock. The confusion arose because of different versions given by Mr. Chidambaram, the Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and the Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai and it was for the Centre to allay apprehensions by sending an emissary. Quoting Chief Minister K. Rosaiah’s interview that appeared in these columns on Sunday, they asserted that there was no scope for imposing President’s rule in the State as “we are all behind Mr. Rosaiah.”

Gandhian protests

They claimed that the spate of resignations was not organised and the Ministers volunteered to quit from the posts only to register their protests in a Gandhian way. They refused to react to a question whether they would take back their resignations. “We will convey our stand when the Assembly meets on Monday,” they said.