VELS UNIVERSITY LAUNCHES ‘VELS FREE EDUCATION SCHEME’ FOR CHILDREN OF CORONA WARRIORS

Dr. Ishari K Ganesh, Founder and Chancellor of VISTAS (Vels University), one of Tamil Nadu’s leading multi-disciplinary institution for higher education has announced a free education scheme for children of various service personnel who have been tirelessly working at the frontline to combat the spread of coronavirus.

The scheme will provide an opportunity for students who have cleared their class 12 examinations in this academic year, to pursue their higher education in any of the fifty undergraduate courses offered at Vels University. Recognising the sacrificing efforts of the frontline fieldworkers and to ensure a quality higher education for their children, this scheme can be availed by Corona warriors (nurses, police personnel, and sanitation workers).


Under this scheme, a total of 300 students (100 wards of parents working in each of the three fields – nurses, police personnel and sanitation workers), will be selected on the basis of their marks and their education will be sponsored by Vels University at complete free of cost. Priority will be given to the children of those who had lost their lives in the battle against the virus.

This shall be a trendsetting plan for Tamil Nadu. Interested candidates are requested to register themselves at www.velsuniv.ac.in or contact 9003461468 / 9952018671 / 8807307082 / 9445507603 / 9445484961 / 99620 14445 either by phone or on WhatsApp for additional information and clarification. They can also contact the university staff in person for more information.

Speaking about the free education scheme in a video released on his official handle, Dr. Ishari K. Ganesh, Chancellor of Vels University, has also requested the Chancellors of other private Universities and heads of educational institutions to offer such similar schemes as a token of respect and gratitude for the faceless warriors who are waging a war against the Covid – 19 virus

Ganga Hospital teaches live

Ganga Hospital teaches live microsurgery using Microsoft Teams

Hand and Microsurgery Operative Course goes virtual on Microsoft Teams with attendees from across the world

COVID-19 has altered the way we work, learn and live. As frontline responders in the global health crisis, healthcare institutions have swiftly adopted collaborative tools and cloud-based solutions to ensure continuity in providing quality healthcare and regular learning for the medical fraternity.

With face-to-face teaching suspended during the enforced closure, Ganga Medical Centre & Hospital in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, was exploring ways to continue conducting their Hand and Microsurgery Operative Course. Leveraging the power of Microsoft Teams, the hospital conducted its annual learning conference on July 11 and 12 with more than 550 surgeons from 27 countries in attendance.

Ganga Hand and Microsurgery Operative course is an annual conference that covers discussion between the operating faculty and the delegates on aspects of hand surgery from a minor trigger finger to reattachment of a totally amputated finger. This year the course included examples of congenital hand problems, brachial plexus injuries, nerve injuries, wrist injuries and arthritis. The course is regularly attended by plastic surgeons and orthopaedic surgeons dealing with trauma and having special interest in hand surgery.

An on-ground videographer provided the live feed from specialized audio and video equipment installed in the four operating theatres. The live feeds were sent over Microsoft Teams and broadcast using Microsoft Stream to a global audience extending from Australia to Argentina. During the two days, live surgeries by five leading surgeons were conducted in parallel with live voiceover added to the feed to explain nuances of surgical skills and techniques.

“COVID-19 brought physical conferences to a halt, with no one being sure of the resumption of previous normalcy.  Adapting to change is important to grow.  At Ganga, we wondered if we could still do the popular annual live hand operative course.  Instead of telecasting to our own auditorium, Microsoft Teams enabled us to telecast it to the world.  Around 20 hours of surgical demonstration was possible every day and we were able to demonstrate 21 procedures. Microsoft Teams’ high definition streaming was flawless, enabling surgeons view structures less than a mm in size, even better than being at Coimbatore.  We were impressed by the capability of the product and the passion of the support team at Quadra, who really helped us to reach out,” said Dr. S Raja Sabapathy, Chairman of the Department of Plastic Surgery, Ganga Medical Centre & Hospital.

“Every crisis offers new learnings. Covid-19 is no different. This global crisis has made remote working, remote healthcare and remote learning the new normal. It is inspiring to see how our technology is helping healthcare institutions, doctors and hospital staff collaborate seamlessly to deliver top-notch services to patients and provide real time-learning even amid such difficult situations. Microsoft India is honored to enable remote healthcare, consultancy and telemedicine for many healthcare institutions. We are delighted to partner with Ganga Hospital in this unique project of a live interactive surgery to audiences across the world,” said Samik Roy, Country Head, Modern Work, Microsoft India.

“This is a fine example of how technology can rise to the occasion and solve real life problems. Our expertise as a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, together with our track record of 16 years of winning global partner of the year awards at Microsoft Inspire, including the 2020 Inspire Partner of the Year Award in the Modern Work category, has helped us architect a solution with Microsoft Teams. We could not just replicate but bettered a real-life meeting experience for a conference that showcased very intricate and complex microsurgery procedures. We delivered high-quality video that could enable this experience as well as real-time audio for live Q&A for a rich viewing experience. To ensure a holistic experience for the doctors, our team rose to the occasion and delivered a seamless support experience across 20 hours of live surgery,” said Prashanth Subramanian, Co-Founder & Director, Quadra Systems.  

Healthcare institutions are reimagining the ways they treat their patients and help medical professionals learn new skills, irrespective of location. At Microsoft, we are committed to working with our partners in empowering every person and every organization to achieve more.

RED FM and Music Plus launches ‘RISE INDIA Awards’

RED FM and Music Plus launches ‘RISE INDIA Awards’ to recognize the COVID crusaders

One of the largest and most awarded private radio networks in India, 93.5 RED FM has joined hands with Music Plus to launch a first of its kind initiative ‘RISE INDIA Awards’ to recognize the selfless efforts of the COVID crusaders. There are doctors, nurses, frontline sanitization staff, industrialists, brands, celebrities, influencers, journalists, social media personalities and even an ordinary person with extraordinary will to wage a war against this pandemic. The virtual awards ‘RISE INDIA Awards’ is an initiative to celebrate and recognize the commitment of these crusaders.

‘RISE INDIA Awards’ is a four-week long initiative that will be streamed on Facebook and YouTube of RED FM every Friday, starting from 8^th May. Nominations will be invited through RJ mentions and RJ videos where people can either self-nominate or nominate someone who has done notable work during the COVID-19 pandemic and deserves to be honoured. Hosted by popular RJs of RED FM every Friday for 4 consecutive weeks, the digital award ceremonies will be graced by stellar line-up of singers and composers who would be supporting the initiative from their respective homes.

Speaking on the occasion, Nisha Narayanan, Director & COO, RED FM and Magic FM, said, “Every battle is won by warriors and heroes who refuse to surrender to the enemy. These times are no different. 

Our Covid 19 heroes are keeping us safe, while they fight the war against the virus. And as a humble gesture to recognise these relentless efforts Red FM has collaborated with Music Plus to bring you Rise India Awards. An effort to celebrate our Corona crusaders from health workers, and the police force, to the common man who is coming forward to serve the nation. Some of the biggest musicians and entertainers will be joining us during this weekly digital event. And every week we will also bring you stories of heroes, from across the country to inspire us. Saluting our Corona Heroes is the least we can do, and through that, hopefully also encourage many more heroes to rise.”

Speaking about The Rise India Awards, Tarsame Mittal, Founder, Music Plus, said,   “In the present scenario where the world is battling to survive, there are some real life heroes who are risking their lives to save others. With the Rise India Awards we want to honour these frontline warriors and acknowledge their contribution.”

With a virtual award show ‘RISE INDIA Awards’, RED FM in collaboration with Music Plus is back with yet another effort to bring unity and spread positivity during these challenging times.

Stay tuned to 93.5 RED FM for more details!