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The Hindu
19 hours ago
- Health
- The Hindu
New National Medical Commission chairperson calls for affordable private medical education
Coordinated teamwork, a uniform licensing process for doctors across India, and improving the perception of the National Medical Commission (NMC) were among the priority areas for work for the statutory body, Abhijat Sheth, the newly appointed Chairperson of the Commission, told The Hindu in an exclusive interview. Dr. Seth's appointment comes amid controversies and a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into alleged corruption in the process of securing approvals for private medical colleges. Stating that he wouldn't be able to comment on the CBI probe into alleged bribery, Dr. Seth, however, said that the current trend of 'MBBS seat booking' costing many lakhs of rupees at several private medical colleges was a matter of concern. 'What exchange is taking place (between students and medical college authorities) is very difficult to confirm for the Commission. This is a matter for investigating agencies to probe,' he said, adding that the high cost of an MBBS programme, the basic medical undergraduate degree in India, in a private institution could be because quality in education doesn't come cheap. 'Most of us don't look at the cost incurred by the government sector to educate a doctor. When compared to that quality, (the cost of) private education seems expensive,' Dr. Sheth said. 'This is all a matter of perception. Yes, the perception is that the fee is very high…but I'm sure that we, as a team, will be able to, over time, see how best we can optimise this,' he said. The fee structure and cost must be controlled to a level that is comfortable to an average family, he added. 'We want the private medical institutes to survive, and we want that education is affordable,' he said. India has many well-developed government medical institutions with huge capacity for student intake, Dr. Sheth said. 'We must ensure that they are working at their full capacity. The Central government has brought in many initiatives to increase medical seats, and to ensure that their organisations are able to work at full capacity for this. Currently, we feel that we aren't using these institutes to their full capacity — this is an area we need to explore,' the NMC Chairperson said. In India, only 40% of the medical services sector — education, diagnostic services, and treatment — is with the government, Dr. Sheth said, speaking of the private sector's role in healthcare. 'So, (in) training doctors to use the latest and new technology, etc., we have to bring in the private sector. For this, we must work closely with them as partners in the healthcare ecosystem. The Commission is looking at greater collaboration and commitment from the private sector. This is a resource which we would like to engage and harness,' he said. 'They (private medical facilities) have huge learning resources with them. We are actively looking at how best to integrate them,' he added. Also read: Medical education in India is at a crossroads; here's a road map The immediate focus at the NMC would be to improve the quality of education, promote good governance, and make access to the NMC easy for students and doctors, the Chairperson of the regulatory body said. 'Also, all the unnecessary lengthy procedures and processes are to be minimised. This must be replaced with coordinated and sustained teamwork,' Dr. Sheth said.
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Dadi' of Indian screens: Sushma Seth reflects on a career playing the matriarch in shows and movies
It almost felt like a prophecy for a 13-something Sushma Seth to essay the role of a "Haryanvi old biddy" in a play written by her uncle, Maheshwar Dayal as the role would foreshadow her future as one of the most beloved Dadis of Indian screens, in both television and cinema. Seth, who has been a regular on TV screens, theatre, and cinema - mostly in a matronly role since her debut in "Junoon" (1978) as Shashi Kapoor's aunt, remembered playing a 75-year-old nawab in another production by Dayal. "In one of the plays, I played a Haryanvi old biddy, and she ruled her household and was called Tai. It was very similar to what I did in 'Hum Log'. That was my first play. "In another one, I played a 75 year old Nawab sahab. There was no beard but I wore a topee and an achkan and churidar and I spoke like an old nawab sahab," the 89-year-old said at a session at India Habitat Centre on Friday. As she acted professionally in plays after growing up, it became destiny for her to play roles of elderly women, something that she took in her stride by adding her "own shades" to the characters. By the end of the shoot of "Junoon", which was directed by late filmmaker Shyam Benegal, Seth received offers from Raj Kapoor for "Prem Rog", Yash Chopra for "Silsila", and Benegal for "Kalyug", all the roles of women in their senior years. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas Prices In Dubai Might Be More Affordable Than You Think Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Quote Undo "So for my own self I would give them a couple of shades depending on how their children behaved. If it were an indulgent mother or a mother who had a wayward son like Sanjay Dutt in his first film ('Rocky'). "He was a spoiled brat and I felt he was spoiled because his mother didn't take care of him and put him on the right path. So I had to be a little uncertain of how I should treat the child or be indulgent or overpampering him or overlooking all his faults," the veteran actor said. Seth added that the shades made her characters feel different, even when they looked similar in the script. "That way for my own self I would give different shades to the character depending on the children whose parent I played. And hoped to god that audience also saw that little bit of difference," she said. Even though Seth first appeared on the silver screen, it was her role as "Dadi" in family drama "Hum Log" (1984) on Doordarshan that immortalised her. Directed by P Kumar Vasudev, "Hum Log" followed the struggles and aspirations of a middle-class family. In her late 40s at the time, Seth was not an ideal candidate to play the role of the matriarch but the "spoiled brat" of a character felt too irresistible to her. "Kumar told me I was too young to play dadi. I said, just give me the script and we will see. When I read the script, I felt this is the only character I want to do. I just loved the dadi of 'Hum Log'. She was a spoiled brat, indulgent by her husband and her son, and she ill treated her daughter in law and pampered one daughter and didn't pamper the uglier one. "She was a typical character and I loved doing that character that one could go to town with such a character which you can't do otherwise," she said. With limited resources in makeup and dresses, Seth improvised using her mother's old clothes, a wig from Mumbai and an inimitable accent. 62-year-old actress Rita Bhaduri is no more "I ordered a wig from Bombay, I pulled out old jumpers from my mother's trunk that they used to wear in the 1920s and for wedding scenes I pulled out those old sarees of that time. And for the first day's shoot I did my own makeup, I put the dress with that seedha palla and I said, 'Ab batao, kahan baithna hai, ka karna hai?'" she recalled with an accent that became unique to her role. Seth, whose last commercial role was in "Kal Ho Na Ho" as Preity Zinta's grandmother, currently works with NGO Arpana, directing plays and dance dramas with children.
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Science
- New Indian Express
MoS Defence lauds DRDL scientists for advanced missile system
HYDERABAD: MoS Defence Sanjay Seth visited the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex in Hyderabad on Wednesday and Thursday, to review ongoing missile and weapon systems programmes developed by DRDO's premier Missile Cluster Labs - Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Research Centre Imarat (RCI), and Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL). During his visit to DRDL, Seth inspected key facilities involved in the development of Astra Mk I and II air-to-air missiles, the Vertically-Launched Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (VL-SRSAM), and scramjet engine technologies. He was briefed on the progress and strategic relevance of these systems by U Raja Babu, Distinguished Scientist and Director General (Missiles and Strategic Systems), and G A Srinivasa Murthy, Director, DRDL. At RCI, the minister reviewed advanced Indigenous Navigation and Aviation Systems, the Onboard Computer Division, and Imaging Infrared Seeker technologies. Director RCI, Anindya Biswas, provided updates on these high-tech defence capabilities. He praised the scientists and engineers for their contributions towards achieving self-reliance in defence under the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. He encouraged DRDO to continue advancing technologies that enhance national security and empower the Armed Forces.
News18
2 days ago
- Science
- News18
MoS Defence visits DRDOs Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex in Hyderabad
New Delhi, Jul 18 (PTI) Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth visited DRDO's Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex in Hyderabad and reviewed the missiles and weapon systems programme being pursued by its various laboratories, officials on Friday said. He visited the complex on July 16 and 17, the Defence Ministry said. Seth commended the DRDO scientists for playing a crucial role in building Aatmanirbhar Bharat through realisation of state-of-the-art weapon systems. He exhorted the scientific community to continue strengthening the armed forces to face any challenges in the current scenario. Seth reviewed the missiles and weapon systems programme being pursued by Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Research Centre Imarat (RCI) and Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL) of missile cluster labs, it said in a statement. The minister visited various work centres of DRDL — Astra Mk I & II, vertically-launched short-range surface-to-air missile and scramjet engine facilities, the ministry said. He was briefed about the status of the projects by Distinguished Scientist and Director General (Missiles and Strategic Systems) U Raja Babu and DRDL Director G A Srinivasa Murthy, it said. Indigenous beyond visual range air-to-air missile 'Astra' is equipped with state-of-the art guidance and navigation system. Hyderabad-based DRDL, a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has taken the initiative in developing a long-duration supersonic combustion ramjet or scramjet powered hypersonic technology. Earlier in April, the DRDO had conducted scramjet combustor ground testing for more than 1,000 seconds. The Defence Ministry had said that the DRDO had achieved a 'significant" milestone in the field of hypersonic weapon technology. Seth also visited various critical work centres of RCI. RCI Director Anindya Biswas apprised him of the progress of the indigenous 'navigation/aviation systems, onboard computer division and imaging infra-red seeker facilities", the ministry said. PTI KND AS AS (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hans India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
MoS Sanjay Seth visits missile complex in Hyderabad, hails DRDO scientists
Hyderabad: Minister of State (MoS) for Defence, Sanjay Seth, on Friday, commended the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) scientists for playing a crucial role in building "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" through realisation of state-of-the-art weapon systems, the Ministry of Defence said in an official statement. He exhorted the scientific community to continue strengthening the Armed Forces to face any challenges in the current scenario. The Union Minister visited the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex at DRDO in Hyderabad. During his two-day visit, Union Minister Seth reviewed the Missiles and Weapon Systems programme being pursued by Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Research Centre Imarat (RCI) and Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL) of Missile Cluster Labs. He visited various work centres of DRDL, including Astra Mk-I and Astra Mk-II, vertically-launched short-range surface-to-air missile and scramjet engine facilities, a Defence Ministry statement said. He was briefed about the status of the projects by distinguished scientist and Director General (Missiles and Strategic Systems), U. Raja Babu and DRDL director G.A. Srinivasa Murthy. The Union Minister also visited various critical work centres of RCI, where RCI director Anindya Biswas apprised him of the progress of the indigenous navigation/aviation systems, onboard computer division and imaging infra-red seeker facilities. The Ministry of Defence in a press statement said, "Sanjay Seth also visited various critical work centres of RCI, where Director, RCI Anindya Biswas apprised him of the progress of the Indigenous Navigation/Aviation Systems, Onboard Computer Division & Imaging Infra-Red Seeker facilities." Union Minister Seth's two-day visit to the DRDO complex culminated on a day when the country successfully carried out the test-firing of two of its key strategic assets -- the short-range ballistic missile Prithvi-II and the ballistic missile Agni-I. The test-firing was carried out from the Integrated Test Range in Odisha's Chandipur. According to the Ministry of Defence, the launches were conducted under the aegis of the Strategic Forces Command as part of routine training and validation exercises. Both missiles successfully met all operational objectives and technical parameters, the Ministry said in a statement. The tests validated key capabilities, reaffirming the reliability and accuracy of India's nuclear-capable delivery systems, it added.
