<span style="color: #222222;">Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank interacted with the Vice Chancellors of all the Central Universities of the country yesterday through Video Conferencing in the backdrop of spread of COVID-19. During interaction, issues related to measures to be taken regarding health of students residing in hostels and academic and non-academic staff were discussed.</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br />'' </span><span style="color: #222222;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;"><br />'' </span><span style="color: #222222;">Besides, proper adherence to social distancing and isolation instructions in the university and arrangements made to continue the education of students were also discussed. The HRD Minister also directed all the Vice Chancellors to motivate their faculty and students to use SWAYAM and SWAYAM PRABHA in mission mode and also through other online digital mediums to continue the academic programme.</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br />'' </span><span style="color: #222222;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;"><br />'' </span><span style="color: #222222;">Mr Nishank also informed that to promote online education and give suggestions regarding online examination , a committee under the chairmanship of Prof. Nageshwar Rao, the Vice Chancellor of IGNOU, has been constituted.</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br />'' </span><span style="color: #222222;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;"><br />'' </span><span style="color: #222222;">During the meeting, a decision to form an Academic Calendar Committee under the leadership of U.G.C Chairman was also taken . The Committee will suggest measures to deal with the issue of delay in the academic session.</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br />'' </span><span style="color: #222222;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;"><br />'' </span><span style="color: #222222;">Mr Nishank also asked everyone to make full use of the ArogyaSetu app and emphasized to follow the guidelines issued by the Ministry of AYUSH  to prevent the spread of COVID-19. During the discussion, all the Universities assured that in the hour of crisis, they are prepared to meet the challenges.</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br />'' </span><span style="color: #222222;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;"><br />''</span><span style="color: #222222;">Proper care is being taken for the food and mental health of the students who continue to reside in the Universities. Banaras Hindu University and Aligarh Muslim university informed that they have created facility of 40-bed isolation rooms. Most of the universities continue to run courses digitally so that academic session is not delayed. </span>