Patna University protest
The functioning of Patna University was paralysed on Wednesday after more than 600 employees continued their indefinite strike for the second day in support of their demands.
The protesters under the banner of Patna University Employees' Association assembled at the institute gate raising slogans against vice-chancellor YC Simhadri. The employees staged a dharna and demanded removal of the vice-chancellor alleging that he was neglecting their genuine demands. The employees have called the strike in support of their various demands, including implementation of assured career promotions, arrears payment to grade IV employees, basic facilities to employees and promotions and jobs on compassionate grounds.
The worst sufferer of the strike were the first year students who reached the institute to write their examinations and were informed that the exam got postponed. At BN College, the students staged protest against the postponement of their examination.
Cardiology conference
Renowned cardiologists from across the country would talk about the different conditions that can cause heart diseases and dwell on the latest treatments available for them in the 22nd annual conference of Cardiological Society of India (CSI) to be organised in Patna on April 25 and 26.
Organising secretary of the conference and a member of the state chapter of CSI, Dr V.P. Sinha announced this on Wednesday. "Around 500 people, including postgraduate students of medicine and paediatrics department of Patna Medical College and Hospital and cardiologists from across the country would take part in the conference," he said.
The theme of the conference will be training and education youngsters. CSI outgoing president U.C. Samal said: "Rheumatic fever, non-invasive cardiology would be among the few topics to be discussed in the conference."
Prominent among the others CSI members who took part in the conference were, B.P. Singh, A.K. Jha, B.B. Bharti.
Blind association members
A section of Bihar Netraheen Parishad members on Wednesday claimed that the election to choose the state working committee of the organisation was not held properly since the past five years.
The founder member-cum-general secretary of the body Nawal Kishore Sinha said influential people had got backdoor entry in the state working committee of the organisation and were trying to capture the Antarjyoti Netraheen Balika Vidyalaya, the school run by it. Bihar Netraheen Parishad is a body working for visually challenged people and is affiliated to All India Confederation of the Blind. "The All India Confederation of the Blind general secretary J.L. Kaul visited Patna in October, 2014, to conduct the election but he dismissed it without citing any reason. The members of Bihar Netraheen Parishad want election to be conducted soon under the district administration. Our other demand is to close the various bank accounts of Anatrjyoti Balika Vidyalaya till the election process is completed,"said Sharma.
The members also demanded that the government recruits an experienced person in the post of state disability commissioner.
Forest Rights Act
Members of Bihar Navnirman Abhiyan, a non-government organisation, on Wednesday criticised the government for not implementing the Forest Rights Act, 2006, in the state and held the political leaders and bureaucrats responsible for it. Addressing a news meet in Patna, the Abhiyan convener Chakraborty Ashok Priyadarshi said: "While in Odisha, rights of 3.50 lakh forest dwellers have been settled, in Bihar one lakh families have been deprived of the benefits accruing from the said act. They live in and near forests, but have no legal right to their homes, lands or livelihoods."
