Bengal

Giving due respect

• The Statesman
• 30 Oct 2014

Vidyasagar University mulling plans to open statistics department

Biswabrata Goswami
biswabrata@thestatesman.net
Midnapore, 29 October
The authorities of Vidyasagar University are mulling plans to open statistics department to pay due honour to the man behind the creation of the university.
While remembering the glorious activities of Professor Anil Kumar Gayen, who had made significant contributions in Mathematics and Statistics and dedicated the later years of his life towards the establishment of Vidyasagar University as a non-traditional institution of higher education in a programme held yesterday, the varsity authorities disclosed their future plans about the opening of statistics department before the academics.
It was an irony that the contributions of Mr Gayen towards the establishment of Vidyasagar University was not given due recognition by the former Left Front Government during its 34 years of rule. It was only under the active leadership of the present Vice-Chancellor Professor Ranjan Chakrabarti, based on a proposal submitted by Dr Abhijit Guha a teacher of the Anthropology department, that the executive council of Vidyasagar University in its meeting held on 4 May 2012, decided to form a committee to commemorate the contributions of the founder of the varsity in a befitting manner. Accordingly, Gayen’s short biography was placed in the VU website, (http://vidyasagar.ac.in/About/AKGayen.aspx), and the Central Library building was named as Anil Gayen Bhavan.
The first Anil Kumar Gayen memorial lecture was held yesterday at the Birendranath Sasmal Hall at Vidyasagar University in presence of more than hundred members of the varsity community including many students and teachers of the various departments. The lecture was delivered by Professor Syed Samsul Alam the first Vice-Chancellor of Aliah University and a student of Professor Gayen.
Professor Gayen first mooted a proposal for the establishment of Vidyasagar University as a non-traditional rural university to cater to the developmental needs of the local tribal and underprivileged communities with the aid of interdisciplinary teaching and research to the Central Government in the early 1970s and was finally accepted through the recommendations of the Ghani Committee by the University Grants Commission.
Anil Kumar Gayen (1919-1978) hailed from a poor family of a remote village named Lakkhi, in the Khejuri block of present East Midnapore district and became a renowned scholar in the fields of Mathematics and Statistics. He was awarded Ph.D degree in 1950 in Statistics from the University of Cambridge under the supervision of Professor Henry Ellis Daniels, F R S, then President of the Royal Statistical Society, UK.
Gayen held the chair of the Head of Mathematics Department at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, during 1954-1978. Professor Anil Gayen was a Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society, England and Cambridge Philosophical Society and was President, Statistics Section of the Indian Science Congress in 1971 and also a Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy.

Bengal

App for visually impaired

• The Statesman
• 29 Oct 2014

App identifies denomination of currency notes from photograph

Biswabrata Goswami
biswabrata@thestatesman.net
Midnapore, 28 October
Students from IIT, Kharagpur and International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad have developed a smartphone
application that can recognise the denomination of a currency note from its picture.
The app will be helpful for visually impaired persons, who often have difficulty identifying denomination of currency notes. After taking a photograph of a bank note, the app will inform the holder via voice intimation. A visually impaired person could have significant trouble differentiating the value of one piece of currency from the next.
Though the RBI has added embossing of different shapes unique to each denomination on the left side of the note, it is quite hard to make out.
Particularly, when the note is worn out with time, it appears more difficult to recognise a currency note for a visually impaired person.
The size of notes of different denominations, are also very similar, which makes it harder. Other than the images printed upon them, there may be no way to tell the difference between a hundred rupees note and a thousand rupees note. That is where this application comes into play.
The app has been developed by Suriya Singh, Kumar Vishal and C.V. Jawahar from IIIT Hyderabad and Shushman Choudhury from IIT Kharagpur. The application can detect the denominations with an accuracy of 96.7 per cent, claim one of the researchers.
While demonstrating the application in Kharagpur recently, Shushman said the smart phone needs a 1.3 MP camera with auto focus. He said, “Several similar systems have been developed around the world, but most need an internet connection on the smart phone. This app, however, doesn’t require internet.”
This application is not only the sole one that has created ways to help people who are blind and low vision deal with money. In the USA, LookTel Money Reader, iPhone users with vision disabilities can simply point the device’s camera at any bill, and wait for the app to recognise it. Once it does, the Money Reader will speak the value of the bill out loud.
But, in our country, most visually impaired persons are still facing the difficulty in recognising the denomination of currency notes. But, from now, it will be easier for them to deal with the currency notes, said an IIT, KGP student.

Bengal

CM’s London dreams take a beating

• The Statesman
• 09 Sep 2014

KOPT turns down proposal for Giant Ferris Wheel at Millennium Park

Biswabrata Goswami
biswabrata@thestatesman.net
Haldia, 8 September
The Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) has turned down the chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s ambitious proposal of setting up of London Eye Wheel on the port land near Millennium Park.
Citing legal provisions, the trustee board members of KoPT, in their board meeting held on 5 September, refused to enter into a joint venture with the state government for the construction and operation of a Giant Ferris Wheel at Millennium Park at Kolkata similar to that of the London Eye.
According to the proposal tabled by Mr RPS Kahlon, chairman of KoPT, the port would not only have to provide its prime land for the said purpose almost free of cost, but would also have to provide funds and other administrative help to execute the work on behalf of the state government.
But during the meeting, the chief legal officer of KoPT said that there was no provision in the MPT Act, 1963 empowering the Board to enter into any joint venture with any state government to award concessions by inviting tender. The officer also opined that the proposal would have to require sanction of the Central Government under Section 42(3A) of MPT Act, 1963.
After hearing the legal restrictions, seven board members, who were present in the meeting, asked the KoPT chairman to first bring Centre’s approval before discussing the project in the board meeting, a senior port official said.
“Out of the seven board members present, four were from KoPT itself. This clearly showed that the chairman has lost the board's confidence. Mr CB Singh and Mr I Jeykumar, who were instrumental in stalling the tender for shore handling of cargo, were conspicuously absent from this meeting”, a source placed in KoPT board told The Statesman. Mr Kahlon was not available for comment. A few months ago, chief-minister Mamata Banerjee announced that Kolkata would soon have its ‘Kolkata Eye’, modelled on the ‘London Eye’, a giant ferris wheel, providing a magnificent view of the metropolis from a height of 120 metres. It was to be constructed at Millennium Park, on the bank of the River Hooghly.
In her Facebook post, Miss Banerjee had written, “This project, the first of its kind in size and magnitude in India, is already underway and is expected to be ready in a year's time.”
She had said that it would be a tourist attraction. The proposal was to have a giant wheel with 36 air-conditioned capsules that. would rotate slowly, allowing tourists to have a view of the city from a height of roughly 100 metres.

Page1

IIT-Kharagpur fetes ‘conman’, later files FIR

• The Statesman
• 24 Aug 2014

biswabrata goswami
MIDNAPORE, 23 AUG: In a queer case, IIT Kharagpur felicitated a person, who claimed to be an alumnus and Director, Corporate Finance at Deutsche Bank, but soon came to know from various sources that he was a conman. He was felicitated during the IIT’s 63rd foundation day celebrations on 18 August.
The man - Vijay Kumar, who also claimed to be an ex-Vice President of Microsoft, an alumnus of IIT Kharagpur (2003 batch) from E&ECE Department and IIM, Ahmedabad (2005 batch) even proposed to donate Rs 1.56 crore towards some Institute initiatives which were announced by the Institute at the foundation day function.
Later, the IIT authorities received information from various sources alleging that the credentials of this person appear to be questionable and false. Accordingly, IIT Kharagpur filed an FIR with local police authorities urging them to investigate the identity and credentials of this person.
The incident comes at a time when the IIT, KGP authorities are planning to set up a sophisticated digitalised ‘Hall of Fame’ to document the evolution of the IIT system and record contributions of everyone associated with it.To make the people and IITians  aware of the fraudster, the institute’s registrar Mr T K Ghosal put up the fact in the notice board urging “all concerned not to be influenced by any projected details or any presentation on the association of this individual with IIT Kharagpur”. When asked Mr Ghosal said, “The man first approached us claiming to be an alumnus. As we always give special treatment to our alumni, we announced his name in the function where he proposed to donate a huge sum of money towards some Institute initiatives. Later, we were alerted about his credentials from our sources and then we filed a complaint against him with the local police authorities”.
Ms Bharati Ghosh, SP, West Midnapore said, “We have received a complaint from IIT authorities and have started a probe into the matter. We are trying to establish his real identity and locate his whereabouts. But, it is also surprising how the IIT authorities even felicitated a man without checking his credentials and identity.”
As soon as news spread in the IIT faculties, numerous mails were circulated among the IITians who later found that the man pulled off a similar scam some years ago. According to reports, the accused man, who allegedly posed as Microsoft Vice President and cheated several students by promising them admissions in IITs, was arrested in New Delhi in 2010.
He was apprehended from Najafgarh following investigations into a complaint filed by a victim Rajiv Ranjan Kumar from Bihar that he was cheated of Rs Rs. 3.11 lakh by the accused who promised admission to his son in IIT-Kharagpur.
During interrogation, it was revealed, Vijay Kumar used to target IIT aspirants and influence them by showing fake degrees and projecting him as an engineer and an IIT-Kg topper.

Bengal

Contai woman’s death: Autopsy report suggests suicide

• The Statesman

• 20 Aug 2014

Biswabrata Goswami
biswabrata@thestatesman.net
Contai, 19 August
Amidst the controversy over the death of a CPI-M leader’s wife at Sunia village in Contai where the family members alleged that the woman was tortured, gang-raped and murdered by the Trinamul Congress backed goons, the post-mortem report, however, suggests that the woman had committed suicide.
“There was no wound in the body, no injury marks in her secret parts and her death was due to hanging. This was the report of the post-mortem report which we have received this afternoon,” said Mr Sukesh Kumar Jain, SP, East Midnapore.
Mr Jain also said: “Though prima facie evidence suggested the victim was not sexually assaulted and committed suicide, we arrested three people and booked them on charges of abetment to suicide last night. They were produced before the additional chief judicial magistrate court in Contai today where the magistrate remanded them in police custody for five days.”
But local CPI-M leaders and family members alleged that the post-mortem report has been slanted at the behest of Trinamul Congress leaders. As some TMC workers and leaders are directly involved with this case, there was an effort to show it as merely a suicide case. The doctor who was to conduct the post-mortem was changed all of a sudden and another doctor conducted the post-mortem, alleged the CPI-M leaders.
The body of a CPI-M leader’s wife was found hanging from the ceiling of the verandah of her two-storied mud-house yesterday. The family alleged that the woman was dragged out of her house, paraded naked, gang-raped and then murdered, allegedly by TMC workers, on Sunday night. In the written complaint, a CPI-M local committee member, who is staying outside the village along with his son and brothers since 2011 after the change of guard in the state as TMC supporters allegedly threatened him with dire consequences, charged that the victim had been raped and killed.

Bengal

Flood causes loss of 100 crore

• The Statesman
• 15 Aug 2014

District administration report says around 2 lakh people have been affected in the floods
Biswabrata Goswami
biswabrata@thestatesman.net
Tamluk, 14 August
The flood situation in eight blocks of East Midnapore is grim, with agriculture and property worth as much as Rs 100 crores damaged.
The situation has particularly worsened due to incessant rains, triggered by a low pressure in the Bay of Bengal, during the last seven days. The local Met office sources said the rains will continue for another 24 hours before the weather improves.
As a result, millions of people living in Contai-I, II and III, Khejuri-I and II, Egra-II, Ramnagar-II and Bhagwanpur-II blocks in the district have been affected with swelling river water overflowing the banks and entering the villages. Besides, there was severe waterlogging in many coastal areas due to continuous rains, affecting thousands of residents.
The district administration has already alerted the concerned government officials of these eight blocks to meet all exigencies.
“The BDOs of these blocks have been asked to evacuate the people from low lying areas and make arrangements for free kitchens for the affected people.  A total of 200 rescue-center has been set up where more than 10000 people are staying,” said a senior administrative officer.
The Chief Minister has asked the concerned departments to keep watch on the weak river embankments by deploying mobile teams in these areas, adequate stocks of fodder and make arrangements for supply of drinking water and health services, the official said.
The farmers are facing severe difficulties as paddy seedlings have been damaged by the floods. Left with no other option, they have now turned to the government for assistance. The farmers have threatened to launch a massive agitation, if the state government denies them compensation.
“Last year also during the floods, many hectares of paddy fields perished. But, we are yet to receive any compensation. This year, we are facing similar losses due to floods, but we are not sure whether the state government will compensate us or not. If the situation continues, we will launch agitation,” said Mr Prasun Bera, a farmer from Khejuri.
According to the assessment report prepared by the district agriculture and horticulture departments, the total loss has been estimated at around Rs 100 crores, of which major losses have been incurred from the damage to crops, seedlings, flowers and ornamental leaves.
The district agriculture department, however, has not mentioned the losses in monetary terms, but officials said the loss would be around Rs 50 crore.
Similarly, the district horticulture department has assessed the damages caused to flower plants, betel vines and vegetables. They have estimated the loss at around Rs 35 crore.
According to its reports, the heavy downpours have damaged 50,000 hectares of agricultural land, 1,200 hectares of flowers and 800 hectares of betel vines worth of Rs 3.67 crore. Meanwhile, people involved with fisheries are facing worst as most of the ponds and water bodies have been washed away by the flood waters.
According to the district administration report, around 2 lakh people have been affected in the floods so far. A total of 10,000 houses have either collapsed or partially damaged.
In view of the scale of devastation, the district administration has appealed to the state government for funds and to extend help in relief assistance and support for the eventual reconstruction effort in the affected areas.

Bengal

VU prof’s e-mail account hacked

• The Statesman
• 07 Aug 2014

Police unable to trace the hacker as yet
Biswabrata Goswami
biswabrata@thestatesman.net
Midnapore, 6 August
The e-mail account of a professor at Vidyasagar University, who had lodged a complaint with the police and vigilance commissioner against the former Vice-Chancellor for his misappropriation of public fund, was hacked by an unknown person.
The Kotwali police in West Midnapore have initiated a case based on the complaint lodged by Dr.Abhijit Guha, Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology at Vidyasagar University regarding the hacking of his two e-mail IDs on the same day as early as 5 February, 2014, when he was attending a conference at the Institute of Development Studies, Kolkata, but the investigating police officials were unable to detect the hacker till today. The case was lodged under sections 65/ 66/66C of the Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2008. Dr. Guha alleged that he could not access his two e-mails acconts abhijitguhavu@rediffmail.com and abhijitguhavu@yahoo.com which he was using since 2002.
In his complaints to Ms Bharati Ghosh, SP, West Midnapur Dr. Guha also alleged that the hacking took place after he lodged successive complaints from his e-mail ID abhijitguhavu@rediffmail.com to the State Vigilance Commissioner  and the Inspector General of Police, West Bengal regarding the misappropriation of public funds and impersonation perpetrated by Mr. Swapan Kumar Pramanick, the former Vice-Chancellor of Vidyasagar University under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act.
It may be recalled that in a recent period the Vidyasagar University authorities have realised Rs 1,14,685 from the arrear  salary of the former Vice-Chancellor in connection with a misappropriation done by Mr.Pramanick only after Dr.Guha had lodged a complaint against the former VC with the IG and SP of West Midnapore on 5 November 2013.
Mr Pramanick, who was close to the former CPI-M state leadership, had enjoyed two successive terms from 2003-2011.The delay in conducting investigation and consequent detection of the criminals related with the cyber crimes only proves the lacks of infrastructure at the district police level, a senior police officer said.