Dress code controversy in St. Agnes College
It’s not fair to oppose norms now: Principal
Mangaluru, June 29: St. Agnes College principal Dr M Jeswina said that the students and parents who accepted the norms of the college including the dress code during admission, were opposing them in collusion with the PFI organization which is unfair.
Speaking to reporters here on Friday, she said that there was a dress code in the college for many years and it was not decided this year. Every year, the college management would publish the handbook detailing all the norms including dress code to inform the students and the parents. During the admission time, every parent and student would take admission accepting those norms. But now, some girl students were protesting in collusion with the PFI organization, she said.
As per the norms, all students should follow the college dress code and there was no provision to wear other dress. No girl students should wear scarf and cover their face. The students should not wear any other dress other than uniforms. It was clearly mentioned in the handbook and it the duty of the students to follow it, she said.
The institution would respect every student who opted this institution for the education. The institution would like to have a cordial relationship with the staff, students, parents, alumni and the society. At no point of time, the college staff misbehaved with the girl students and no girl student is suspended from the college after this incident. The students who staged protest in front of the college gate on June 25 and Third B Com student Fathima Anis who spoke before the media, were attending the classes in uniforms. The college has asked the students, who protested, to give written clarification before their parents within three days. Being the principal, neither she nor other teachers had taken signatures on the blank paper from the students, she clarified.
As per the norms, the students should not wear scarf inside the classroom. But they were free to wear scarf or burka on the college campus. But in some social media, it was being wrongly interpreted. There was no truth in it. As informed by someone, the college does not have 80 per cent Muslim girls. Instead, there were 28 per cent Muslim students in the college and around 100 students were given Rs 2 lakh concession, she said.
Any student could get admission into the college by accepting the college norms. Those who are ready to accept the norms laid down by the college could join any other college and they do not have any objection. In the last protest, some girls from the outside also participated along with the college students. So, she would discuss with the college management on giving complaint against the PFI which tried to tarnish the image of the college, she said.
College secretary Dr Maria Roopa, vice principal Dr Vanessa, registrar Charles Stany Pais, discipline committee convener Dr Devi Prabha Alva, and others were present.
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Another Mpox case reported in Kerala
The Kerala health department on Friday said another Mpox case was reported in the state and urged those who have symptoms to seek treatment.
The southern state had reported the country's first confirmed case of the new strain earlier this week.
A high-level evaluation meeting was held on Friday to evaluate the situation, the state health department said.
State Health Minister Veena George said the contact list of the patient has been prepared and the preventive measures have been taken.
The minister urged everyone who reached the state from abroad to approach the health department in case of any symptoms and seek treatment.
"Isolation facilities have been arranged in all the districts," the minister said in a statement.
On September 23, the health department had announced plans to release revised guidelines for the prevention and treatment of Mpox.
George had said that instructions were issued to take necessary action if the number of cases increases.
Official sources in New Delhi had earlier said that India had reported the first case of the Mpox strain in a patient from Kerala who tested positive.
They had said that the Clade 1b strain was detected in a 38-year-old man from Malappuram district who had recently returned from the United Arab Emirates.
Since the WHO's 2022 declaration of Mpox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, 30 cases have been reported in India.
Mpox infections are generally self-limiting, lasting between two and four weeks, and patients usually recover with supportive medical care and management.
It is transmitted through prolonged and close contact with an infected patient.
Mpox typically manifests itself with fever, rash and swollen lymph nodes and may lead to a range of medical complications.
