PG medical counselling postponed indefinitely

By Express News Service  |   Published: 26th May 2017 04:34 AM  |  

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CHENNAI: The Directorate of Medical Education has postponed indefinitely counselling to fill post graduation medical seats in government medical colleges and self-financing colleges scheduled for May 27, which is the last day of second phase of counselling.

“Candidates must join college on May 29. If candidates don’t join, we will get those seats on the next day. So we planned to conduct the counselling after those seats are surrendered. So we postponed the counselling,” said G Selvaraj, secretary, selection committee.

Meanwhile, counselling must be finished on or before  May 31 as per MCI instructions.

On Thursday, a few non-service doctors staged a demonstration at the PG medical counselling conducted  at the Government Multi Super-Speciality Hospital in the city.

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“In-service doctors have secured maximum number of seats, because of government tactics to pacify government doctors who were protesting against the Madras HC order recently. The government notified the rural areas as remote areas, because of this many government doctors benefitted. But, non-service doctors who scored well in NEET could not get seats. Because of adding incentive marks, the score of the in-service doctors increased,” said N Karthikeyan, who secured good marks in NEET, but could secure only diploma seat.

MCI gives Tamil Nadu nod for 305 additional PG medical seats

By Sinduja Jane  |  Express News Service  |   Published: 26th May 2017 05:53 AM  |  

CHENNAI: In a big boost to medical education in Tamil Nadu, the Medical Council of India (MCI) has given approval for 305 additional post-graduation masters degree seats in government medical colleges in the State, almost a 40 per cent increase from current numbers.

“This is a big number… These additional seats were added to the matrix for admissions this year,” a senior health department official told Express. The State has also applied for additional seats in super-speciality courses. “We are waiting for the approval,” the official added. Of the 23 government medical colleges in the State, 13 offer PG degree.

In all, there were 1,188 postgraduate medical seats in these colleges last year. Of these, 792 seats were for master degree courses (Master of Surgery, Doctor of Medicine), while the remaining 396 were diploma seats. With the addition of these 305 PG seats, the number of PG degree seats has gone up to 1,097.

For the eligible in-service doctors who were upset over losing 50 per cent reservation in admission to postgraduate degree courses in government colleges following an order by Madras High Court, this comes as a huge relief, as more in-service candidates would get seats.

The Madras High Court had recently directed the State health department to follow MCI regulations for PG medical admissions. Under this, there is no provision for 50 per cent reservation for in-service government doctors in admissions to PG degree courses, other than to the doctors serving in remote and hilly areas.

The court said admission should be based on NEET marks and incentive to the in-service doctors served in remote and hilly areas. This triggered protests by government doctors across the State for nearly a month.

Following this, the State government notified some rural areas as remote, and began counselling for postgraduate medical seats.

7வது ஊதியக்குழு பரிந்துரை கருத்துக்கேட்பு கூட்டம்! 4 நாட்கள் நடக்கிறது!!

7வது ஊதியக்குழு பரிந்துரை தொடர்பான கருத்துக்கேட்புக் கூட்டம் சென்னை லேடிவெலிங்டன் கல்லூரி வளாகத்தில் 4 நாட்கள் நடைபெற இருக்கிறது.
மத்திய அரசு ஊழியர்களுக்கு 7வது  ஊதியக்குழு பரிந்துரைகளை கடந்த ஆண்டு அமல்படுத்தியது. அந்த 7வது ஊதியக்குழு பரிந்துரைகளை தமிழக அரசும் செயல்படுத்த அரசு ஊழியர்கள் கோரிக்கை வைத்திருந்தனர்.

இதுகுறித்து கடந்த பிப்ரவரி 22ந்தேதி தலைமை செயலகத்தில் முதல்வர் எடப்பாடி பழனிசாமி தலைமையில் ஆலோசனை கூட்டம் நடைபெற்றது.
அப்போது தமிழ்நாடு அரசு அலுவலர்கள், ஆசிரியர்கள் மற்றும் உள்ளாட்சி நிறுவனங்களில் பணியாற்றும் பணியாளர்களுக்கு ஊதிய விகிதங்களை மாற்றியமைப்பதற்கான பரிந்துரைகளை அளிக்க 5 பேர் கொண்ட குழு அமைக்கப்பட்டது.

அக்குழுவில் நிதித்துறை கூடுதல் தலைமை செயலாளர், உள்துறை முதன்மைச் செயலாளர், பள்ளிக்கல்வித்துறை முதன்மைச் செயலாளர், பணியாளர் மற்றும் நிருவாகச் சீர்த்திருத்தத்துறை செயலாளர் மற்றும் உறுப்பினர் செயலாளராக டாக்டர் P. உமாநாத் ஆகியோர் உறுப்பினர்களாக நியமிக்கப்பட்டனர்.

இந்த குழுவினர் மத்திய அரசின் 7-வது ஊதியக் குழு பரிந்துரைகளை திருத்திய ஊதிய விகிதங்கள் குறித்து ஆராய்ந்து வருகிறது.

இதைத்தொடர்ந்து சென்னை லேடி வெலிங்டன் கல்லூரியில் 4 நாட்களாக கருத்து கேட்பு முகாம் நடைபெற உள்ளது.

நாளை தொடங்கி, சனிக்கிழமை (27ந்தேதி), மற்றும் 02.06.2017 (திங்கட்கிழமை), 03.06.2017 (செவ்வாய்க்கிழமை) ஆகிய தேதிகளில் நடைபெற இருக்கிறது.
இந்த கருத்துக்கேட்பு கூட்டத்தில் நிதியமைச்சர் ஜெயக்குமார், மற்றும் ஊதியக்குழு உறுப்பினர்கள் பங்கேற்பார்கள் என கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.

அரசு வேலைக்காக முயற்சி செய்பவரா நீங்க? முதல்ல இதைப் படிங்க...!

எந்தத் தேர்வு எந்த நாட்களில் நடக்கிறது என்பதை உங்களுக்கு ஞாபகப்படுத்திகிறோம். இதே உங்களுக்காக.

அரசு வேலையில் சேர வேண்டும் என்கிற விருப்பம் உள்ளவர்கள் அரசு தேர்வுக்கு விண்ணப்பித்து வருகிறார்கள். எந்தத் தேர்வு எந்த நாள் நடைபெறுகிறது என உங்களுக்கு ஞாபகம் இருக்கிறதா.
எப்படியாவது அரசு வேலைக்கு போக வேண்டும் என்கின்ற விருப்பம் உள்ளவர்கள் அரசு நடத்தும் போட்டித்தேர்வுகள் அனைத்திலுமே பெரும்பாலும் கலந்து கொள்கின்றனர்.

போட்டித் தேர்வுகளில் பங்கேற்பவர்களுக்கு பயன்படும் வகையில் தேர்வு நாட்களை உங்களுக்க ஞாபகப்படுத்துகிறோம்.

ஜூன் 3 மற்றும் 4ந் தேதிகளில் - நேஷனல் இன்சூரன்ஸ் ஏ.ஓ.தேர்வு நடைபெறுகிறது.

ஜூன் 4ந் தேதி - பாரத ஸ்டேட் வங்கி பி.ஓ. மெயின் தேர்வு நடைபெறுகிறது.

ஜூன் 4ந் தேதி - எஸ்எஸ்சி - சிஜிஎல் தேர்வு நடைபெறுகிறது

ஜூன் 18ந் தேதி - யூபிஎஸ்சி சிவில் சர்விசஸ் முதல் கட்ட தேர்வு நடைபெறுகிறது.

ஜூன் 18ந் தேதி - இந்திய வன சேவை முதல் கட்ட தேர்வு நடைபெறுகிறது.

ஜூலை 2ந் தேதி - டிஎன்பிஎஸ்சி - உதவி வேளாண் அலுவலர் தேர்வு நடைபெறுகிறது.

ஜூலை 2ந் தேதி - டிஆர்பி முதுநிலை ஆசிரியர் தேர்வு நடைபெறுகிறது

பிளஸ் 1 மாணவர்கள், 'ஆல் பாஸ்' !!

இந்த ஆண்டு, பிளஸ் 1 படிக்கும் மாணவர்களை, 'ஆல் பாஸ்' செய்ய, தலைமை ஆசிரியர்களுக்கு உத்தரவிடப்பட்டு உள்ளது. அண்ணா பல்கலை பரிந்துரைப்படி, தமிழகத்தில், பிளஸ் 1 பாடத்துக்கு கட்டாய பொதுத் தேர்வு, அறிமுகம் செய்யப்பட்டு உள்ளது.

தேர்வு நேரம், மதிப்பெண் முறையிலும், மாற்றம் கொண்டு வரப்பட்டுள்ளது. இந்நிலையில், இந்த ஆண்டு, பிளஸ் 1 படிக்கும் மாணவர்களுக்கு, 'ஆல் பாஸ்' வழங்க முடிவு செய்யப்பட்டு உள்ளது.

'இந்த ஆண்டு, மார்ச்சில் தேர்வு எழுதிய, பிளஸ் 1 மாணவர்களில், யாராவது தேர்ச்சி பெறாவிட்டால், அவர்களுக்கு சிறப்பு பயிற்சி அளித்து, துணைத் தேர்வு மூலம் தேர்ச்சி பெற வைக்க வேண்டும்' என்றும், தலைமை ஆசிரியர்கள் அறிவுறுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளனர்.

KARNATAKA

Health Department on aggressive drive to hire doctors on call

1,401 doctors’ posts vacant at health centres in State, of which 994 are for specialists

Faced with a shortage of 1,400 doctors at its healthcare centres, the State Health Department is going all out to hire them on call.

The department is widely publicising its decision to hire doctors on call and on contract. While a monthly remuneration of Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 1.2 lakh has been fixed for doctors opting to take up a job on contract, a retention fee of Rs. 10,000 apart from a daily out-patient fee of Rs. 2,000 has been fixed for those who are on call. These on call doctors will also get a fixed amount for every procedure they conduct. The fee for every procedure has been fixed and notified in a Government Order issued on March 3.

Principal Secretary (Health and Family Welfare) Shalini Rajneesh told The Hinduthat ever since the department started publicising the scheme in the last one week, 142 candidates had sent their biodata and 109 enquiry calls were made.

Notices inviting on call doctors have been put up on the campus of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) and Karnataka Medical Council (KMC) where medical graduates and professionals visit frequently, she said.

“We have realised that the poor response from doctors is mostly because they are not aware that such a scheme exists. So, we are now publicising the scheme in places where it will attract doctors’ attention. Anyone interested can call our Arogya Sahayavani 104 for more details, or email their biodata with choice of place to oncallspecialistskar@gmail.com,” she said.

Despite enhanced salaries and incentives, there are not many takers for medical posts in the department. The department’s recruitment drive conducted through KPSC last year has only validated this. Of 1,122 applicants, only 597 reported for duty.

This is striking, especially when the number of applicants is many times the existing posts in other government departments.

High Court puts rider on RGUHS tender

Says further proceedings would be subject to the final order on a PIL petition

The High Court of Karnataka on Thursday put a rider on a process initiated by the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) to procure hardware of a particular specification for end-to-end computerisation at a cost of several crores of rupees even as the required software is still under development.

A vacation Division Bench comprising Justice Ravi Malimath and Justice John Michael Cunha, in an interim order, made it clear that all further proceedings on the tender process initiated by the RGUHS on February 13, 2017 would be subject to the final order on a PIL petition filed by Silicon Educational and Charitable Trust.

The petitioner contends that the tender process violates provisions of the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements Act. Also, it claims, the university is going against the advice given on May 3, 2017 by the State government asking the former not to proceed with procurement of hardware till completion of development of software by the National Informatics Centre.

The petitioner claimed that the university had on May 11, 2017 opened the financial bids and it appears that three companies had quoted prices in the range of Rs. 66 crore to Rs. 107 crore though the cost of the required hardware may not exceed Rs. 10 crore. The vice-chancellor of the university is hastily trying to complete the tender process before expiry of his tenure in July, the petitioner alleged.

Old hospital to be converted into PHC

Minister announces that it will function with many facilities

The old government hospital premises located at Chengam Road-Thandarampattu Road Junction in Tiruvannamalai is set to see the light of the day finally.

Health Minister C.Vijaya Baskar, who visited the complex that once accommodated a 500-bed hospital on Thursday, announced that an Urban Primary Health Centre (Urban PHC) would be set up on the premises, particularly for the benefit of devotees who perform Girivalam.

Ever since the Government Tiruvannamalai Medical College was shifted to the new complex on outer ring road, the old hospital premises had been neglected.

The people of Tiruvannamalai town and villages on the western and southern side of the town faced hardship, especially at night, in reaching the medical college. Parties like the DMK and the CPI (M) and youth organizations staged protests demanding the government to start a government hospital on the old premises.

The Minister’s announcement comes as a relief to the people of Tiruvannamalai and adjacent villages. Dr. Vijaya Baskar said the proposed Urban PHC would consist of an outpatient ward, casualty ward, siddha medical unit and a specialised ward for the aged. On Girivalam days, the proposed PHC would function as a full-fledged hospital round-the-clock, he said. He inspected the additional building being built in Government Tiruvannamalai Medical College Hospital at a cost of Rs. 26 crore to accommodate another 200 beds. R. Jayanthi, Dean, Government Tiruvannamalai Medical College, accompanied the Minister during his visit.

Power shutdown today and tomorrow

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

TIRUCHI, MAY 26, 2017 00:00 IST

Power supply would be suspended from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday in the following areas as the Tangedco has planned to replace the high tension power cable in the Kalkandarkottai section: Mela Kalkandarkottai, Keezha Kalkandarkottai, Keezhakurichi, Nathamadipatti, Alathur, Ponmalaipatti, Indira Nagar, parts of Kottapattu, Thiru Nagar and Adaikala Annai Nagar.

Power supply would be suspended from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday in the following areas of the city as the Tangedco has planned to replace the high tension power cable in the Kattur section: South Kattur Gandhi Salai, Gandhi Nagar IV Street to VII Street in North Kattur and Vasantha Nagar.

Power shutdown

SALEM, MAY 26, 2017 00:00 IST

UPDATED: 

There will be no power supply in the following areas from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday (May 26) due to maintenance works on the Nethimedu sub-station: Nethimedu; Annathanapatti; Shevvaipet; Chathiram; Arisipalayam; Four roads; Guhai; Linemedu; Thadagapatti; Dasanayakkanpatti; Kondalampatti; Neikkarapatti; Uthamacholapuram; Poolavari; Suramangalam; Meyyanur; Sinnerivayal; Pallapatti; and Saminathapuram.

Mecheri sub-station (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.): Mecheri; Suriyanur; Thettigiripatti; Amaram; Mallikuntham; Pallipatti; Aandikarai; Pottaneri; Koonandiyur; Keerakkaranur; Sengattur; Kuthiraikaranur; Parakkallur and M. Kalipatti.

Thumbal sub-station ( 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.): Thumbal; Panaimadal; Edappatti; Mamanji; Selur; Pappanayakkanpatti; Vellalapatti; Sekkadipatti; Thandanur; Eachangadu; Mannur; Karumanthurai; U. Kumarapalayam; Kalakkampadi, Pagadupattu and surrounding areas.

Puthiragoundanpalayam sub-station (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.):Puthiragoundapalayam; Yethapur; Abinavam; Veeragoundanur; Gandhinagar; Dalavaipatti; Thennampalayur; Ottapatti; Olappadi; Umaiyalpuram; Ariyapalayam; Pethanayakkanpalayam; Erumasamuthiram; Sinnamasamuthiram; Kalyanagiri; Kalleripatti; Vaithiyagoundanpudur; Periyakrishnapuram; Kothambadi; Kalpaganur; and Rasinagar.

Power shutdown

     Madurai

There will be a power shutdown in the following areas between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Monday as the TANGEDCO plans to undertake maintenance work at its T. Kallupatti sub-station:

T. Kallupatti, Kunnathur, Kadaneri, M. Subbalapuram, Villoor, Kallikudi, Puliyampatti, Puliyankulam, Vaiyoor, Chennampatti and Aavalsooranpatti.

Dental care facility upgraded in GRH

Dean inaugurates a dental ceramic lab

The dental care facility at Government Rajaji Hospital here has been upgraded with the inauguration of a dental ceramic lab on Thursday.

Inaugurating the facility, M. R. Vairamuthu Raju, Dean, said that the Dental Surgery department would henceforth provide root canal treatment as well for patients.

The upgrading of treatment facilities and creation of new infrastructure follows an order a few months back by the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, which, based on a public interest litigation filed by Madurai-based health rights activist C. Anandaraj, had asked the State government to improve dental care facilities in all government hospitals.

GRH doctors said that while the root canal treatment would be provided free of cost to patients, a nominal fee of Rs. 300 would be charged for making the ‘crown’ or ‘cap’ for the tooth at the dental ceramic lab.

According to GRH sources, the new facility has been set up at a cost of around Rs. 11 lakh, of which nearly Rs. 7.5 lakh was spent on the procurement of materials and equipment.

Stating that roughly 100 patients were expected to avail themselves of root canal treatment at the new facility, doctors said that the hospital would have to incur an additional operational expenditure of around Rs. 1.5 to 2 lakh for providing this treatment.

The new facility has been set up at a cost of around Rs. 11 lakh, of which nearly Rs. 7.5 lakh was spent on the procurement of materials and equipment

Blocked ration cards stand cancelled, says government

Families have been asked to apply afresh at the taluk ofifice

Despite earlier assurances that the ration cards blocked for non-linking of Aadhaar cards will be unblocked later, the district administration has now asked all the blocked card-holders to apply afresh for getting smart ration cards.

According to notices put up at the District Supply Office in the Collectorate here, people whose ration cards were blocked should apply for smart cards online or through e-service centres with Aadhaar cards of all family members and address proof.

Of around 9.5 lakh ration cards, nearly 1 lakh ration cards in which not even the Aadhaar of the family head was linked, were blocked in the district late last year as part of a State-wide action. According to officials, the number of ration card holders in the district is now 8.52 lakh with 30.73 lakh consumers.

The list of blocked cards was displayed in the respective ration shops and cardholders were asked to approach the taluk office for unblocking the cards by linking Aadhaar.

Though a large number of people thronged taluk offices and underwent a tedious process to get their cards unblocked, the process was stopped abruptly without any announcement from the third week of March, ahead of the issuance of smart cards, which began on April 1. “We also thought that the option to unblock the cards will be enabled again. However, the government has now ruled that out and instead asked the public to apply afresh,” said an official from Madurai North taluk office.

A senior official from the District Supply Office said that of the 1 lakh cards that were blocked, more than 15,000 families had already unblocked their cards till March. “A majority of the remaining cards will be bogus cards. For instance, a family might have had ration cards in two different places, in which case it could link the Aadhaar with just one card,” the official said.

“Hence, those who are really dependent on the ration cards will not get affected by the decision. Anyway, with easing of the procedure to apply for smart ration cards, it is not very difficult to get a new one,” the official added.

Those who are really dependent on the ration cards will not get affected by the decision

Hospital gets NABH accreditation

The Kalyani Kidney Care Centre here ranks among 33 private hospitals in the State and is first in the district to secure NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers) accreditation.

The hospital has received a certification from the NABH stating that the accreditation, granted based on various parameters under patient safety and quality of care, will be effective from May 22, 2017, to May 21, 2020.

The NABH is a constituent board of Quality Council of India, set up to establish and operate accreditation programme for healthcare organisations.

The board, structured to cater to needs of the consumers and set benchmarks for progress of health industry, is an institutional member of the International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQUA), an international apex body which grants approval to Accreditation Bodies in the area of healthcare.

Quality

Congratulating the hospital on obtaining the accreditation, an NABH communication appreciated the adoption of Quality Management Systems in Healthcare overcoming the challenges in this sector.

According to official statistics, only 458 out of 79,145 hospitals are accredited in then country. Of them, 33 are in Tamil Nadu. The accredited hospitals are empaneled with Medical Tourism Facilitators approved by NABH.

HC stays criminal proceedings against Pachamuthu

The Madras High Court has stayed all further proceedings in connection with a cheque bounce case pending against SRM University Chancellor T.R. Pachamuthu before a Metropolitan Magistrate Court, Chennai.

Justice S. Vimala, granted the interim relief on a criminal original petition moved by Mr. Pachamuthu besides dispensing with his appearance before the Magistrate Court.

According the petitioner, Gagan Bothra on behalf of S. Mukanchand Bothra filed a criminal complaint before the VII Metropolitan Magistrate, Chennai against the petitioner seeking to punish him for an offence under Section 138 (cheque bounce) of the Negotiable Instruments Act.

As per the complaint, Mr. Pachamuthu, as a partner in Vendhar Movies Production, had borrowed Rs. 7.50 crore from the complainant. In return of the debt, the firm had issued two cheques for Rs. 2.60 crore, which was dishonoured by the bank concerned for want of funds.

Based on the complaint, the Magistrate initiated criminal proceedings and issued summons to the petitioner. Challenging the summons, Mr. Pachamuthu approached the Court submitting that he was never a partner of Vendhar Movies Production and he had no connection with the company.

Maharajas’ Express to tour the South

The train will begin its journey in Tiruvananthapuram on July 1

Luxury train Maharajas’ Express, which has won the Leading Luxury Train of the World Award for the past five years, is now embarking on a new journey — a tour of the southern States — with a focus on domestic passengers.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, S.S. Jagannathan, general manager, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (South), said that the train, for the first time, would make a trip in the south which would be called ‘Southern Jewels’. It would cover Chettinad/Karaikudi, Mammalapuram, Mysuru, Hampi and Goa. The train will begin its journey in Thiruvananthapuram on July 1 and conclude it in Mumbai.

At each stop, passengers would be treated to a host of cultural activities, with the IRCTC tying up with the State’s tourism department. “In Karaikudi for instance, passengers will be able to visit Chettinad mansions and Athangudi tile makers,” he said. Also, the food served on the train will comprise specialities from the State it is in, he said.

Features galore

The safety of passengers will be assured as there will be a doctor on board along with paramedical staff, tour escorts, security personnel and valets, said L. Rohit Kumar, additional general manager, IRCTC (South). The 23-coach train, with a capacity of 88 guests, has bar-cum-lounges, two restaurants and many state-of-the-art features, the IRCTC officials said.

Special monsoon offers are now available, the officials said. Tariffs in Indian rupees have been introduced for the ‘monsoon special’ itinerary. This includes a 50% discount for the 8-day package, which starts at around Rs. 5 lakh per person. “But under this offer, with one booking, one companion can travel for free,” said Mr. Jagannathan. This apart, one-day and three-day trips at around Rs. 33,250 and Rs. 66,500, inclusive of taxes, are also on offer.

Bookings are now open, and for details, those interested can log on towww.the-maharajas.comor call 9840902916 or 9840902919 on working days or email ravindran.m@irctc.com

At each stop, passengers would be treated to a host of cultural activities

S.S. Jagannathan

GM, IRCTC (South)

Private colleges seek fee revision

Hold discussions with fee fixation committee

The fee fixation committee for self-financing professional colleges led by Justice N.V. Balasubramanian met here on Thursday with representatives of private engineering colleges to discuss the revision of fees.

The team representing self-financing colleges was headed by R.S. Munirathinam, founder of the RMK group of institutions.

The meeting was attended by Mr. Balasubramanian, the higher education secretary Sunil Paliwal and a former dean of Anna University.

Pay commission

The representatives of the private colleges said they were in favour of a revision in the fee structure considering the recent discussions around the recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission. “We are not asking for the fee prescribed by the Justice Krishna report. But we would like the government to consider revision based on the teacher-student ratio,” Mr. Munirathinam said.

He added that the next round of discussions were likely to be held in two-three days.

MCI nod for Pudukottai medical college

Sources told The Hindu that construction of all hospital buildings and residential quarters has almost been completed. Anatomy, physiology and biochemistry faculty block for first year had already been completed. Similarly, construction of Out Patient block, special OP block, pharmacies and laboratories had also been completed.

The college will have a Central Sterilisation Unit (CSU), which is used for processing, sterilisation and quality control of all sterile supplies and equipments used in patient-care units. Construction work for the CSU is over, in addition to residential and residence quarters of doctors, students, nurses, house surgeons, dean, Resident Medical Officer, superintendent and others.

The Public Works Department is likely to formally hand over the buildings to the Directorate of Medical Education soon for inauguration. Chief Minister Edapaddi K. Palaniswami is likely to inaugurate the medical college in the first or second week of June.

The Pudukottai Government Medical College is the first government medical college in the State to get permission for 150 MBBS seats in the first year of inception of the college. No other medical college had got more than 100 seats in its first year of inception.

Moreover, it is probably the first medical college in the State to get the MCI nod within 14 months of start of construction of its buildings.

May 26 2017 : The Times of India (Chennai)

`ROYALTY' ON RAILS - MAKE WAY FOR THE 

MAHARAJAS

TIMES NEWS NETWORK





IRCTC's Luxury Train Down South To Cover Chettinad, Mahabs In TN

For close to three decades, central and northern India have had super-luxury trains like Palace on Wheels (Rajasthan) and Deccan Odyssey (Maharashtra). These trains offer the prover bial `royal' treatment with facilities akin to those in a five-star hotel even as their cocooned carriages chug through the dusty and sun-baked countryside all the while.For the first time, the tourist arm of the Indian Rail ways, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), will bring its Mahrajas' Express to southern India with Karaikudi and Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu as part of its `Southern Jewels' package. The train has lavishly decorated rooms and a presidential suite.“IRCTC has spent several crores to furnish the interiors like high-end hotels. There are two restaurants on board,“ a senior official said adding that IRCTC has been getting several inquiries for organising weddings and engagements on the train.
The train can host 88 people and an eight-day, seven-night trip could cost `3.77 lakh for the deluxe cabin and `17.33 lakh for the presi dential suite. Named `Southern Jewels', the tour starts in Trivandrum on July 1 and the train will stop in Karaikudi, Mamallapuram, Hampi and Goa before terminating in Mumbai. The price is inclusive of all meals, sightseeing, complimentary liquor and excursions. Also, passengers will be able to opt for part of the journey by paying a fixed price of `33,250 per day per person.
“This tour package targets the high-end clientèle, especially those looking for a different kind of experience within India,“ said a senior IRCTC official.
IRCTC is also trying to attract the corporate sector with this luxury train as its spacious suites can be used for holding special board meetings. This is being termed meetings incentives, conferences and exhibition (MICE) tourism in the industry. “There would facilities like internet and LCD screens which can be used to facilitate meetings,“ the official said.
Packaged with visits to the temple towns of India, the train has attracted reservation by tourists from Australia and Canada, said G Viswanathan, CEO of Footprint Holidays. “Corporates will be interested in the single day (break journey) offer it is positioned well.Short itineraries would work well with the rich and young if the pricing is right,“ he said.

May 26 2017 : The Times of India (Chennai)

SC: Plea to quash NEET won't get urgent hearing

New Delhi: TIMES NEWS NETWORK





The Supreme Court refused on Thursday to grant an urgent hearing on a plea seeking quashing of the National Eligibilitycum-Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to MBBS and BDS courses which was conducted on May 7.Filed by NGO Sankalp Charitable Trust, the petition alleged that the question paper of NEET was leaked on the examination date and pleaded the court to direct CBSE to conduct a fresh test.
It alleged that the question paper was leaked at one of the centres in Patna and it was circulated to aspiring medical students in different parts of the country in return for hefty sums of money.
Advocate Sachin Patel, appearing for the NGO, pleaded a vacation bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and Navin Sinha to grant an early hearing but the court turned down the plea saying the Madras HC was already examining the issue and asked the petition er to wait for the outcome of the HC proceedings. The HC had on Wednesday restrained CBSE from declaring the results of NEET after a group of students alleged that question papers prepared in regional languages were different from those in Hindi and En glish.
“Whatever reasons you are giving, the fact is that there is an interim stay. There is an interim stay on declaration of results. The stay might be on different grounds but results will not be declared,“ the bench said and asked the lawyer to mention the case next week.
The petitioner alleged that candidates in Bihar, West Bengal and Jharkhand were given question paper and those allegedly involved in leak of question papers were arrested by Rajasthan and Bihar police.
The petitioner also contended that there was errors in the question paper. “In the light of above stated leakage of question paper, the said examination needs to be scrapped ... In the similar circumstances of leakage of question paper, this court had cancelled All India Pre-Medical & Pre-Dental Entrance Test, 2015 and directed fresh examination,“ the petitioner said.