NEET scam: Probe sought into private co hired for exam centres surveillance

By Our Representative

Addressing media in Jammu, senior RTI activist S Balvinder Singh, accompanied by other colleagues, has said that underqualified and underage staff deployed by the security agency hired by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for conducting NEET examination held on 5th May 2024 is also responsible for the paper leak scandal rocking the country today.

NTA is already under scrutiny for a paper leak during the NEET examination on 5th May 2024, and further investigations have now revealed additional disturbing findings, the media was told. "It's an NTA scam in the allotment of surveillance contract for NEET centres", the activists alleged.

Giving specific instances, Balvinder Singh said, "At the Kendriya Vidyalaya Miran Sahib, a Sikh girl student was barred from entering the NEET examination centre for wearing a Kada, an article of Sikh faith, despite her repeated clarifications that the Kada is explicitly permitted under NEET’s dress code for Sikh candidates, as stated on their official website."

According to him, investigation has revealed that "NTA gave contract to M/s Innovatiview India Pvt Ltd, located at 37, 2nd Floor, Shanti Vihar, Kakardooma, New Delhi, for tasks such as biometric capture, frisking via HHMD, and installing CCTV cameras for live surveillance at various examination centres, including those in Jammu."

"Shockingly", he added, "At Kendriya Vidyalaya Miran Sahib, four out of five staff members deputed were found to be underqualified, lacking a matriculation certificate, and one was underage, being only 16 years old."

A Sikh girl student was barred from entering the NEET examination centre for wearing a Kada, an article of Sikh faith

Continued Balvinder Singh's colleagues, these staff members were "deployed for the NEET examination, one of the country’s most critical competitive exams, without adequate training on NEET guidelines, particularly concerning the dress code for different communities. This raises grave concerns about the competence and integrity of the examination process."

Seeking CBI inquiry into the contract awarded to Innovatiview India Pvt Ltd for surveillance of examination centres for competitive examinations, including NEET, Balvinder Singh wondered how the company, which claims on its website to ensure a fair and equitable examination process through advanced security solutions, "could sublet such crucial work to a local security agency in Jammu, resulting in the deployment of underqualified, underage & untrained staff."

Balvinder Singh urged the Ministry of Education Government of India to expand the scope of the CBI inquiry from merely investigating the paper leak to also examining the allotment of contracts for biometric capture and frisking.

"Instead of enhancing transparency, the NTA is undermining the integrity of the exams by deploying inadequately trained and underage staff, thus jeopardizing the fairness of the process for millions of students", he insisted.

Comments

Amidst climate of hate, none cares to remember VP Singh, not even his family

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* It was former Prime Minister Vishwanath Pratap Singh's birthday on June 25. He would have turned 93 on this day. A man of great idealism and conviction, VP changed the politics of power in India that became more inclusive in terms of participation and representation of the marginalised in our highest decision making bodies.

Will official Modi invitation to Pope include itinerary of meeting Manipur Christians, too?

By Fr Cedric Prakash SJ* Few will not remember Judas Iscariot and the role he played in the betrayal of Jesus! For those who don’t know or don’t remember, these passages from Sacred Scripture will help put things in perspective: "And while they were eating, he said, 'Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.' They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, 'Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?' Jesus replied, 'The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray from Sacred Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.' Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, 'Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?' Jesus answered, 'You have said so.' (Mt. 26: 21-25)

RSS supremo Deoras 'supported' Emergency, but Indira, Sanjay Gandhi 'didn't respond'

Indira Gandhi, Balasaheb Deoras By Shamsul Islam* National Emergency was imposed on the country by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on June 25-26, 1975, and it lasted for 19 months. This period is considered as ''dark times' for Indian democratic polity. Indira Gandhi claimed that due to Jaiprakash Narayan's call to the armed forces to disobey the 'illegal' orders of Congress rulers had created a situation of anarchy and there was danger to the existence of Indian Republic so there was no alternative but to impose Emergency under article 352 of the Constitution.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah* The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual.

Manipur's Meira Paibis: Inter-sectional activism, regional bias, media misconstruction

By Biswanath Sinha* The women led movement in India is a diverse and multifaceted phenomenon that reflects the country's vast cultural, social, and political landscape. One of the most distinctive and influential women's organizations in this tapestry is the Meira Paibi of Manipur. Known as the "torchbearers," Meira (lights/torch) Paibi (holder/bearer) carved out a unique space in the annals of women's activism in India.

Architects, planners, designers discuss impact of climate change on infrastructure

By Dr Mansee Bal Bhargava* The School of Architecture and Planning at the Woxsen University, Telengana, organized a conference on Architecture & Design of Built Environment (ADoBE) on 6-7th June 2024 at the Indian Institute of Technology, IIT-Hyderabad. The larger theme of the ADoBE’24 pivoted on ‘Cities Embracing Inclusivity’.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Search This Blog