Let Rajini first start a party, says Jayakumar

AIADMK will win in 2021: Minister

19/11/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

Mocking actor Rajinikanth’s statement that a ‘miracle’ was waiting to happen, senior AIADMK leader and Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar on Monday said the miracle will be the AIADMK retaining power after the 2021 Assembly polls.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Jayakumar said his party neither believed in miracles nor luck, and was only dependent on the people who, he hoped, will vote the AIADMK into power in the 2021 Assembly polls.

When asked why his party was constantly under attack, he said the AIADMK was doing well, and hence, was “naturally prone” to criticism. “They want to become big [players] only by attacking us. But they cannot come close to the AIADMK,” the Minister said.

The AIADMK had grown thanks to the efforts of party founder M.G. Ramachandran, Mr. Jayakumar said. “Our leader did not come with athisayam [miracle] or adhristham [luck],” he added.

When asked if actors Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan will form a political alliance to challenge the AIADMK, Mr. Jayakumar said he will wait for Mr. Rajinikanth to first launch a party, something the Minister said the actor had been bragging about for years.

“Let actor Rajinikanth start a party first, and then, let us see whether those two actors come together. Even if they come together, let us see what their principles are in public life. Then, we will comment [on the issue],” he said.

Replying to a query on the local body polls, he said: “We [AIADMK] are not afraid of the local body polls. It was the DMK which went to the court to stall the polls. Based on the government’s undertaking in the Supreme Court, the elections will happen. The Tamil Nadu State Election Commission will announce the dates.”

Trains rescheduled

19/11/2019, STAFF REPORTER , SALEM

The Southern Railway has partially cancelled and diverted a few trains due to engineering works in Erode-Karur section on November 19 (Tuesday).

According to a release, Train no. 56110 Erode – Tiruchchirappalli Passenger will be fully cancelled and Train no. 56841 Tiruchchirappalli – Erode Passenger will be partially cancelled between Karur and Erode, Train no. 56825 Erode-Tirunelveli Passenger will be partially cancelled between Erode and Karur, Train no. 56320 Coimbatore - Nagercoil Passenger and Train no. 56712 Palakkad Town - Tiruchchirappalli Passenger will be diverted via Salem, Namakkal, partially cancelling and skipping stoppages between Erode and Karur.

Train no. 56826 Tirunelveli - Erode Passenger will be partially cancelled between Karur and Erode, Train no. 56846 Erode - Jolarpettai Passenger will be partially cancelled between Erode and Salem, Train no. 16340 Nagercoil - Mumbai Central will be regulated for 75 minutes at Karur, Train no. 56713 Tiruchchirappalli - Palakkad Town Passenger will be regulated for 50 minutes at Karur, a release said.

Man sentenced to 7 years for wife’s suicide

19/11/2019, STAFF REPORTER ,COIMBATORE

The Mahila Court here on Monday sentenced a 36-year-old man to seven years imprisonment for abetting wife’s suicide in 2014.

Sessions judge J. Radhika sentenced Walter Vincent of Karunya Nagar to undergo three years of imprisonment for subjecting wife to cruelty under Section 498 A and seven years of imprisonment for abetting her suicide under Section 306 of the IPC. The sentences will run concurrently. As per the charge sheet filed by police, Vincent’s wife committed suicide on June 27, 2014, following physical and mental torture by him. The couple had married in September 2011 and the woman gave birth to a daughter in 2012. Though Vincent had agreed to stay at the house of his wife at Perumpazhuthoor in Thiruvananthapuram, he later moved to Coimbatore and joined as faculty in a university.



The woman was forced to come to Coimbatore along with daughter. The charge sheet said Vincent did not take care of the child and sold 30 sovereigns of jewellery of his wife without her knowledge. Public prosecutor R. Sarojini said the judge imposed a fine of ₹ 2,500 each for the two sentences.

Man arrested

Sulur police on Monday arrested a Madurai native who is believed to have stolen around 150 cars from different States. A. Parameshwaran (39) was arrested by a special team of police from Kangeyampalayam.

Police said the accused had stolen around 150 cars, mainly from Kerala, Andra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa. In Tamil Nadu, he had stolen cars from Chennai, Erode, Tiruchi, Thanjavur and Karur.

The man landed in police custody when police were investigating the theft of a van from Sulur 10 days ago.

Police managed to get a surveillance camera visual of the man and identified him. He was traced to Kangeyampalayam along with the van on Monday.

Mechanical failure delays train in A.P.

19/11/2019, STAFF REPORTER,GUNTUR

A mechanical failure in Prasanthi Express delayed the train for more than two hours on Sunday causing a commotion in the railway station.

Railway sources said that a failure in the airconditioning in the A-1 coach of the train was noticed when the train chugged into the Guntur Railway Station. When the passengers brought the issue to the notice of the railway authorities, the railway personnel shunted out the coach and attached another coach. Tense moments were witnessed when the irate passengers entered into a verbal duel with the railway personnel.

Finally, the train moved on after two hours.

Petition writing is free at Madurai Collectorate

Nehru Yuva Kendra volunteers come to the help of needy

19/11/2019, STAFF REPORTER,MADURAI

Grievance redressal meetings at Madurai Collectorate usually teems with people waiting to meet officials and submit their petitions.

These people come from all places across the district. After spending on bus fare, they cough up ₹30 to ₹100 with a ‘petition writer’ to ensure that their letters are written in the right format. The cost varies depending on one’s haggling techniques and the size of the petition.

But on this Monday, however, there was an unusual sight at the Collectorate. A group of 20 volunteers from Nehru Yuva Kendra (NYK) sat behind a long table and started writing the petitions for the public for free.

Collector T. G. Vinay said, “Many people travel long distances to submit their petition but end up seeking the help of writers who sometimes charge exorbitantly. To stop this practice, we approached a voluntary organisation which redirected us to this group of 20 people from NYK,” he said.

The Collector said the volunteers had been taught to just write the basic gist of each petition. “Most of the time, petitions are very long. We have told volunteers to write the gist and provide certain sub-heads so that it is easy for filing,” he said. He added that when the petitions are redirected to the officials concerned, they will file detailed reports.

M. Meenakshi, a volunteer, said they would be available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Monday. Apart from volunteering to write petitions, people can also approach them for other basic help. "We are also interested in cleaning the campus. Differently abled people can come to us for other help as well,” she said.

Ms. Meenakshi said the volunteers would come in a batch of 20 on rotation. “This service is fulfilling. We also get to understand the working of the government machinery in a better way. People need not fall prey to petition writers any more,” she said.

Another volunteer P. S. Vaishnavi said the volunteers needed more training to write petition in a better way. The Collector said he would arrange a two-day workshop for the same.

S. Rajapushpam, a petitioner who has been coming to the Collectorate for three years, seeking a government job for herself, appreciated the novel service. “I come from Kallikudi and spend ₹75 for bus fare. Until today, I paid ₹40 for my petition. Now, I can save it. The volunteers are kind too,” she said.

Tenkasi district inauguration on Nov. 22

19/11/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,TIRUNELVELI

Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami will formally inaugurate Tenkasi district, which was recently bifurcated from Tirunelveli district, on November 22.

The Chief Minister, who is expected to reach Thoothukudi on Thursday evening and drive down to Tenkasi on the next morning, will preside over the 90-minute-long function and distribute welfare measures to beneficiaries.

He is likely to lay the foundation for an integrated collectorate complex, housing the district police office, which is expected to come up on a 50-acre government land at Aayiraperi. Although a formal puja was performed on Government Higher Secondary School ground near Tenkasi new bus stand on Monday for erection of pandal for the event, the venue is likely to be shifted to a school premises near Azad Nagar bridge where Mr. Palaniswami attended a function earlier.

Revenue officials caught on the wrong foot

Unable to explain eligibility for ‘destitute widow certificate’

19/11/2019, D.J. WALTER SCOTT,RAMANATHAPURAM

Several Revenue department officials were caught on the wrong foot at the public grievances redressal meeting here on Monday when Collector K. Veera Raghava Rao asked them to explain the eligibility for a widow to get ‘destitute widow certificate’ and conducted an on-the-spot ‘written test’ on the subject.

When a middle-aged woman, carrying a child, presented a petition to the Collector, stating that she could not get destitute widow certificate despite several attempts, Mr. Rao asked a revenue official from the block concerned to explain the eligibility mentioned in the Government Order for issuing the certificate.

When the woman official fumbled, the Collector asked officials from other blocks to spell out the eligibility criteria only to be surprised by wrong answers and a host of conditions put forth by them.

While one official said the annual income of the applicant should not exceed ₹24,000, another official said it should not exceed ₹21,000 and another official said the income limit was ₹48,000. They also said the applicant should live in a thatched roof house, should own no property and have no dependent.

As the officials gave varied and incorrect answers, Mr. Rao lost his cool and criticised them for being unaware of the Government Order. At one stage, he asked the officials to write down the eligibility and in the ‘written test’ too, they contradicted one another.

Later, Mr. Rao said a widow could be issued the destitute widow certificate if her total monthly income from all sources did not exceed ₹4,000.

She could live in a concrete house and even own a couple of acres of land, but the point to be considered was the income limit.

Pointing out that the officials fixed their own rules and guidelines, he said, “You would do gross injustice to petitioners if you denied them the certificate due to your ignorance of the Government Order.”

Release of Melavalavu convicts irks HC

Government told to produce orders today

19/11/2019, B. TILAK CHANDAR,MADURAI

Expressing displeasure over the release of the 13 convicts in the Melavalavu massacre case, the Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday directed the State government to produce the orders passed in this regard.

A Division Bench of Justices S. Vaidyanathan and N. Anand Venkatesh directed the government to produce the relevant documents on November 19.

The court was hearing a petition filed by advocate P. Rathinam, who challenged the release of the convicts.

‘Why the hurry?’

The court wondered how the 13, convicted of a heinous crime, had been released.

With six people killed and two courts, including the Supreme Court, confirming the convictions, what was the hurry to release the convicts, the Bench asked.

Stating that there were limits to government orders, it pointed out that even in the Dharmapuri bus burning case, the convicts had been released.

The 13 convicts were freed in connection with the MGR centenary celebrations, on grounds of good conduct.

No daytime flights for four months from Kochi

19/11/2019,KOCHI

The four-month-long runway re-surfacing work at Cochin International Airport is set to start on Wednesday and there would be no flights from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. till March 28, 2020. Since almost all services have already been re-scheduled, the project period would see cancellation of only five services — one service to Maldives, operated by Spice Jet, and four services in the domestic sector — , a statement from the airport said on Monday. PTI

Kerala varsity begins internal investigation into marks scam

19/11/2019

SPECIAL  CORRESPONDENT,THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

Arif Mohammed Khan

The University of Kerala has commenced an internal inquiry into the illegal modification of moderated marks that were obtained by students pursuing career-related courses.

The expert team, led by Pro Vice-Chancellor P.P. Ajayakumar, recorded the statements of senior officers, including the Controller of Examinations, Director of the Computer Centre, Joint Registrars and Assistant Registrars of various sections, and employees of the IT cell in the examination wing.

The panel, which comprised technical experts, including Syndicate member K.G. Gopachandran, Senate member K.S. Anil Kumar and Ignatius Kunjumon, a retired professor of the Cochin University of Science and Technology(CUSAT), also blocked the related hard disks from the examination wing as part of the ongoing probe. The team is likely to study the access patterns to identify the source of the alterations that had been made to the marks, sources said.

The inquiry also exposed various drawbacks of the existing examination software, including its inability to incorporate certain ‘conditions’ to selectively provide moderation. The university has also suspended the login credentials of most officials until further notice.

Meanwhile, Governor Arif Mohammed Khan summoned Vice-Chancellor V.P. Mahadevan Pillai to understand the circumstances that could have led to the ongoing controversy and the remedial measures that have been adopted to prevent such malpractices in future.

UDF walkout

Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala has demanded a judicial inquiry into the issue. The Opposition UDF staged a walkout in the Kerala Assembly on Monday demanding an impartial investigation into the complaints of Kerala University arbitrarily awarding marks for students of 16

Panel clears three more medical colleges

Institutes will come up in Krishnagiri, Nagapattinam and Tiruvallur

19/11/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT , CHENNAI

The Technical Evaluation Committee of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has given the “clearance” to establish three more government medical colleges in Tamil Nadu.

The State government had applied seeking permission to establish the colleges in Krishnagiri, Nagapattinam and Tiruvallur districts.

Health Secretary Beela Rajesh on Monday made a presentation to the committee in New Delhi.

The final decision on establishing the colleges will be taken by the Empowered Committee of the Union Health Ministry, official sources said.

“The Technical Evaluation Committee has cleared the proposal. Officials had to give a number of reasons for seeking medical colleges in these districts. For Nagapattinam, the emphasis was laid on the district having a long coastal line, and the fact that it was affected during the tsunami, and cyclones,” a reliable source said.

The source added that the Chief Minister has allotted land for all three proposed medical colleges.

Rajagopal is State’s Chief Information Commissioner

First serving govt. officer to be made CIC

19/11/2019, T. RAMAKRISHNAN,CHENNAI

R.Rajagopal, Additional Chief Secretary attached to the Raj Bhavan, has been appointed the State Chief Information Commissioner (CIC).

He was one among five candidates who were considered by the selection committee, headed by Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, at its meeting on Monday morning. The other prominent candidate on the shortlist was T.K. Rajendran, former Director General of Police (DGP), according to a source.

An order announcing Mr. Rajagopal’s appointment was issued by Personnel and Administrative Reforms Secretary S. Swarna in the evening. The post of CIC had remained vacant since M. Sheela Priya demitted the office in May this year after she turned 65.

In its edition dated November 16, The Hindu mentioned in a report that Mr. Rajapgopal was one among those whose names were doing the rounds for the CIC’s post.

Mr. Rajagopal, who belongs to the 1984 batch of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers, is the first serving government officer to be made CIC.

All of his predecessors — S. Ramakrishnan (2005-10), K.S. Sripathi (2010-15), K. Ramanujam (2015-17) and Dr. Sheela Priya (2017-19) — held the post after their retirement from government service.

Barring Mr. Ramanujam, who is a former DGP, all others were retired IAS officers. According to the order, Mr. Rajagopal, who turned 58 in June this year, will hold the post for a period of three years.

Through another order of the State government, Anandrao Vishnu Patil, who is now Managing Director of the Tamil Nadu Housing Board, has been posted to the Raj Bhavan as Secretary to Governor Banwarilal Purohit.

Come Dec. 1, only one lane will accept cash at toll plazas

Others will only accept FASTags

19/11/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

Smooth travel: FASTag cards, which can be procured online, have both pre-paid and postpaid modes.File PictureN. BASHKARAN

From December 1, only the extreme left lane at the 48 toll plazas under the control of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will accept cash.

All other lanes will be available only for vehicles with FASTags, that use radio frequency. “According to a 2014 notification, vehicles without the tags would have to pay double the amount due,” said Pavan Kumar, Regional Officer, NHAI.

Tie-up with banks

The authority has tied up with several banks that have opened point of sale counters at all toll plazas to sell FASTag cards that are affixed on the windscreens of vehicles. They can also be procured online. Motorists need to have some balance in the cards from which the toll fee would be automatically deducted at the plazas. The cards can be operated on pre-paid and postpaid modes. At present, trial is on at 35 plazas for vehicles with tags.

However, motorists don't seem to evince interest in getting the cards. Less than 30% of vehicles have tags at present.

3 professors quizzed over IIT student’s death

Girl’s roommates, staff to be interrogated

19/11/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

A special team headed by Additional Commissioner of Police C. Easwaramurthy on Monday interrogated three professors, whose names allegedly figured in the notes left by 19-year-old Fathima Latheef, the first year student who ended her life in her hostel room at the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras, 10 days ago.

Initially, the Kotturpuram Police registered a case treating it as an unnatural death. However, three days later, the parents of victim slammed the police for shoddy investigation and requested the Chief Ministers of Kerala and Tamil Nadu to order a thorough probe and demanded justice for the death of their daughter.

With notes downloaded from her mobile phone as evidence, the parents alleged that their daughter was driven to take the extreme decision due to harassment of faculty members.

With protests mounting, the investigation was handed over to a special team of police personnel from Central Crime Branch (CCB) headed by Mr. Easwaramurthy.

After recording the statement of her father Abdul Latheef on Saturday following his representation, the special team issued summons to the three professors, whose names figured in the notes left by the victim in her mobile phone.

On Monday, the professors were interrogated in an undisclosed location in the city. All their statements were duly recorded and further investigation is on, said sources. The special team is likely to continue its investigation with a few more staff members and the roommates of the victim, sources said.

It may be recalled that City Police Commissioner A.K.Viswanathan had promised expeditious investigation and quick action against those responsible for the girl’s death.

Now, Tirumala to give laddoos in jute bags

Swati.Bharadwaj @timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:19.11.2019

One of the richest deities in the world, Tirupati Lord Venkateswara is now showing the way when it comes to eliminating plastic and adopting new eco-friendly packaging practices for distribution of its famed laddoo prasadam to devotees.

On an average, about 3.5-4 lakh laddoos are sold at the temple premises per day, which translates into a requirement of around 70,000 plastic covers on a daily basis, as per estimates.

Now, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the trust that manages the temple, has joined hands with Aditya Birla group company Hindalco and Jute Corporation of India to roll out a pilot project on distributing prasadam in 100% recyclable aluminium foil laminated jute bags. Hindalco and JCI have already applied for a patent for the process of aluminium foil lamination of jute.

As part of the pilot, JCI has opened an exclusive prasadam distribution counter for sale of jute foil laminated bags at TTD and over 1 lakh metres of the laminated fabric or around 3 lakh bags have already been sold over the past two months. TTD additional EO AV Dharma Reddy said efforts are underway to reduce the use of plastic in a phased manner and make Tirumala plasticfree.

TTD officials said they have been trying to encourage and facilitate use of non-plastic packaging materials at prasadam distribution counters like paper boxes, paper bags and foil laminated jute bags. However, a chunk of the prasadam continues to be distributed in polythene bags albeit of over 51 microns.

UNHOLY ACT

Chidambaram temple priest slaps devotee

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Cuddalore:19.11.2019

A temple priest was booked on charges of assaulting a woman devotee on the temple premises at Chidambaram in Cuddalore district.

Police said S Latha, 51, a nurse posted at a government primary health centre, visited Lord Nataraja Temple in Chidambaram to perform pooja for her son S Rajesh on his 21st birthday on Saturday.

She went to a shrine dedicated to Vinayagar inside the temple and gave the pooja articles to Dharshan Dikshithar, a member of the hereditary priests (podhu dikshithars) and custodians of the temple. She claimed that the

priest on receiving the pooja articles went inside the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine without noting down her son’s name and his star sign and performed the pooja.

When the dikshithar returned and presented the prasad to her she questioned him on how he performed pooja for her son without knowing his name and star sign. Soon, an argument erupted and in a fit of rage, the dikshithar reportedly slapped the woman. The incident shocked the scores of devotees in the temple.

They questioned the behaviour of the dikshithar. The priest claimed that the woman attempted to snatch his gold chain and he acted in self-defence to protect his belonging.

Devotees condemned the behaviour of the priest and demanded the authorities initiate stringent action against him.

The woman later lodged a complaint with Chidambaram town police station.

Police booked the priest under section 294-b (obscene songs and acts) and 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) of the Indian penal code (IPC) and section 4 (penalty for harassment of women) of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act, 1998.

Police launched a hunt for the priest, who absconded on learning that a case was booked against him. A video of the incident had gone viral on WhatsApp.

CAUGHT ON CAM

Govt teachers may soon be eligible for VRS, says minister

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Trichy:19.11.2019

Voluntary retirement scheme for government teachers completing 30 years of service is under the government’s consideration and it may be announced soon. This was revealed by Education minister K A Sengottaiyan after inaugurating the state-level 62nd Republic Day athletics at Kongunadu Engineering College at Thottiyam on Monday.

“An announcement in this regard will be made by chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami within a week”, the minister said while replying to a question. Sengottaiyan said that the Tamil Nadu government was providing a number of measures to help sportsmen excel in their respective fields. He recalled that it was their late leader J Jayalalithaa who established a separate university for sports. “We have decided to hike incentives for sportsmen. Now they are getting Rs 100 a day. Efforts are on to provide free college education to 100 sports students who excel in their fields. Tamil Nadu government is now providing 3% reservation for sportsmen. There is also a plan to enhance the percentage for them,” he added.

He appealed to the student community to spare time for sports events on a par with studies as it would help build their physical and mental health.

A total of 2,099 boys and 2,236 girl students from across the 32 districts are participating in the sports meet to be held over six days.

Tourism minister Vellamandi N Natarajan, minister for backward classes and minorities welfare S Valarmathi and district collector S Sivarasu and officials from various departments were present at the event.

3 more med colleges to come up in coastal, tribal districts
MCI Technical Panel Gives Go-Ahead
Julie Mariappan & Pushpa Narayan TNN

Chennai:19.11.2019

Three more medical colleges are likely to come up in the coastal and tribal belt of the state, in addition to the six colleges approved by the Medical Council of India in October.

The technical committee of the apex regulatory body has given the green signal for colleges in Nagappattinam, Tiruvallur and Krishnagiri districts. The state will add 450 more MBBS seats once the empowered committee gives its nod. The meeting with the empowered committee will be held next week. Tamil Nadu health department officials said they would be able to add 1,350 more medical seats within the next two years.

In August, the cabinet committee on economic affairs had approved setting up of 75 government medical colleges by 2021-22. The Centre also offered to partially fund the project as it wanted to increase the number of medical colleges in the country. Tamil Nadu, which currently has 24 medical colleges, proposed new colleges in six unserved areas along with a justification on the need for a college in the areas, the land and the state’s willingness to provide the remaining funds to set up the colleges. It got a nod for all the six colleges in Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, the Nilgiris, Dindigul, Tirupur and Namakkal.

The state then applied for three more colleges. Before the state health secretary Beela Rajesh appeared before the technical committee, the state submitted several documents to show that it was keen on having at least one medical college in every district. The state also told the committee that it has already sanctioned ₹600 crore for the construction of the six new colleges without waiting for funds from the centre. “For the three new colleges, the proposals were sent on the instruction of the chief minister. We also had papers that showed the land allotted for these colleges. This was more than what the technical committee had demanded. Last time, we did this only after the technical committee’s approval. We also had justifications for each college in the respective district,” said a senior health department official.

For instance, the state said the coastal district of Nagapattinam had a high population of fishermen and was prone to be hit by cyclones and tsunamis. It also had at least two major tourists destinations – the Velankani Church and the Nagur Dargah. For Krishnagiri, officials pointed out how maternal mortality in the district was high compared to the state average along with the statistics on its high tribal population. They also showed how the district was prone to road accidents because of long stretches of national highways. They faced the biggest challenge when they were asked to convince why the state needs a college in Tiruvallur when its neighbour and state capital Chennai has four. “Although it is about 50km away from Chennai, travel time can sometimes go up to three hours,” officials said. The committee has now sent the papers to the empowered committee for further scrutiny.

Last week, the Tamil Nadu Medical Council urged the Medical Council of India and the state government not to start any more medical colleges. The council said that Tamil Nadu has one doctor for 709 people against the standard 1:1000 prescribed by the World Health Organisation. With the existing number of seats, the number of doctors in Tamil Nadu will double to 2.02 lakh by 2035, at a time when population growth is slowing down. The estimated population in 2015 will be just 13 crore, as against the present 8.15 crore, it argued. But state health officials said increase in seats will mean recruitment of more doctors, promotions for many senior doctors who can’t be promoted currently due to lack of vacancy. “A college with 150 seats will need at least 300 faculty members. The medical recruitment board will soon be one of the busiest hiring agencies,” the official said.

1,000s of fish ‘poisoned’ to death in Chennai's Tiruneermalai lake

Locals who spotted the fish said the lake water had turned deep black in colour due to release of industrial waste

Published: 17th November 2019 06:35 AM 

Catla fish were found floating dead in Tiruneermalai lake on Saturday | Express

By OMJASVIN M D

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Rampant pollution, allegedly caused by industries in the vicinity, resulted in the death of thousands of fish in the Tiruneermalai Lake on Saturday. Catla fish, varying from two to four feet, were found floating dead in the lake early in the morning. Residents who spotted the fish said the water in the lake had turned deep black in colour due to the release of industrial waste.

“Water has been deep black for the last two days, and there’s sludge,” said Vinoth Gajendran, a local resident. “It has now spread all across the lake.” Vinoth, who is also a pharmacist, did a test to find the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) in the water. The level was 818 mg/l, much higher than the permissible limits for drinking water.

The dead fish weighed 1-3 kg. Since the lake is spread across 167 acres, it’s difficult to estimate the actual number of the dead fish, said residents. “From Durga Nagar side alone, more than a thousand fish died. But if we look at LakshmiPuram and Thiruneermalai side, the number will be in five digits,’’ claims Vinoth.

The Catla Fish is an important source of livelihood for the local residents of Tiruneermalai. “While these fish are used only for consumption, the lake water is important for agriculture. But now, if we get into the water, it feels itchy and the stench has become unbearable,’’ says Pugazhventhan V of Tiruneermalai Nanbargal Kuzhu, a water-body conservation group.

By Saturday afternoon, most of the fish were in a decomposed state, further polluting the lake. The Public Works Department, the custodian of the lake, and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, who are responsible for holding the polluting industries accountable, turned a blind eye.

TNIE had reported twice in 2018 and 2019 about how chemical water filled up the lake. Only temporary measures were taken up to plug sewage while a permanent solution is awaited. In a similar incident in July, the lake turned completely green in colour after the continuous discharge of industrial effluents. After a TNIE report, officials inspected the spot and the pipe was disconnected.

While the Kancheepuram Collectorate recently gave permission for the lake restoration groups to clear Seemai Karuvellam, an invasive species growing in the lake bund, it’s water resources department that has to block sewage inflows and desilt the lake to save it from turning completely unusable.

When contacted by Express, officials with the WRD department said they would send people to clear off the dead fish by Saturday evening. ‘’Strict action will be taken against offenders once we find source of pollution,’’ said a WRD official.

`மந்திரம்கூட சொல்லமாட்டீங்களா?'- தட்டிக்கேட்ட பெண்ணை தாக்கிய சிதம்பரம் தீட்சிதர்!

ஜி.சதாசிவம்எஸ்.தேவராஜன்

சிதம்பரம் நடராஜர் கோயிலில் பூஜை செய்ய வந்த பெண்ணை தாக்கிய தீட்சிதர் மீது வழக்கு பதிவு செய்து போலீசார் விசாரணை நடத்தி வருகின்றனர்.

சிதம்பரம் நடராஜர் கோயில் தீட்சிதர்

கடலூர் மாவட்டம் சிதம்பரம் வ.உ.சி தெருவை சேர்ந்தவர் செல்வகணபதி மனைவி லதா(51). இவர் காட்டுமன்னார்கோயில் அடுத்த ஆயங்குடி அரசு ஆரம்ப சுகாதார நிலையத்தில் தலைமை செவிலியராக பணியாற்றி வருகிறார். இவர் நேற்று மாலை தனது மகன் பிறந்த நாளை முன்னிட்டு சிதம்பரம் நடராஜர் கோயில் வளாகத்தில் உள்ள முக்குருணி விநாயகர்கோயிலுக்கு அர்சனை செய்ய வந்துள்ளார்.

போலீசார் விசாரணைஎஸ்.தேவராஜன்

அப்பொழுது கோயிலில் பணியில் இருந்த தீட்சிதர் தர்ஷிணியிடம் பூஜை பொருட்களை கொடுத்துள்ளார், ஆனால் லதா தனது மகன் பெயரை கூறுவதற்குள் தீட்சிதர் உள்ளே சென்று வெறும் தேங்காயை மட்டும் உடைத்து அர்சனை செய்து கொடுத்ததாக கூறப்படுகிறது.

பின்னர் வெளியே வந்த தீட்சிதர் தர்ஷிணியிடம் ராசி, நட்சத்திரம், பெயர் என எதையும் கேட்காமல் எப்படி அர்சனை செய்தீர்கள் எனக் கேட்டுள்ளார். அதற்கு தீட்சிதர் ஏன் நீ வந்து உள்ளே செய்யேன் எனக் கூறியுள்ளார்.

பாதிக்கப்பட்ட பெண் லதாஎஸ்.தேவராஜன்

இதில் இருவருக்கும் வாய்தகராறு ஏற்பட ஆத்திரமடைந்த தீட்சிதர், லதாவை தாக்கி கீழே தள்ளியுள்ளார். மேலும் லதாவை தகாத வார்த்தைகளால் திட்டி தீட்சிதர் கன்னத்தில் அறைந்ததால் கோயில் வளாகத்தில் மயங்கி விழுந்தார். அங்கிருந்த பக்தர்கள் தீட்சிதரை தட்டிக்கேட்டு வாக்குவாதத்தில் ஈடுபட்டனர்.

இதில் காயமடைந்த லதா சிதம்பரம் அரசு மருத்துவமனையில் சேர்கப்பட்டு சிகிச்சை பெற்றார். இது குறித்து சிதம்பரம் நகர காவல் நிலையத்தில் கொடுத்த புகாரின் பேரில் போலீசார் வழக்கு பதிவு செய்து தீட்சிதரை தேடி வருகின்றனர்.

போலீசார் விசாரணைஎஸ்.தேவராஜன்

கோயிலுக்கு பூஜை செய்ய வந்த பெண்ணை தீட்சிதர் தாக்கிய சம்பவம் சிதம்பரதில் பெரும் பரபரப்பை ஏற்படுத்தியுள்ளது.

`ஈ.பி.எஸ் கனவில்கூட நினைத்திருக்கமாட்டார்.. ஆனால், அற்புதம் நடந்தது.. நாளை..!’- கமல் விழாவில் ரஜினி

பிரேம் குமார் எஸ்.கே.  vikatan

`நடிப்பு, பாட்டு, எழுத்து, ஒரே படத்தில் 10 கதாபாத்திரத்தில் நடிப்பது என 60 வருடமாக திரையுலகத்தில் ஒரு தனி சாம்ராஜ்ஜியத்தையே நடத்தியவர் கமல். அதனால்தான் அவர் உலக நாயகன்’- ரஜினி
ரஜினி


மக்கள் நீதி மய்யம் கட்சித் தலைவரும் நடிகருமான கமல்ஹாசனின் 65வது பிறந்தநாள் விழாவை நேற்று சென்னை நேரு உள்விளையாட்டு அரங்கில், கமல்ஹாசனின் 60 ஆண்டுக்கால திரைப்பயணத்தைச் சிறப்பிக்கும் விதமாக `உங்கள் நான்' என்னும் `கமல் 60' நிகழ்ச்சி நடந்தது.

கமல்

ரஜினிகாந்த், இளையராஜா, ஏ.ஆர்.ரஹ்மான், பிரபு, வடிவேலு, விஜய் சேதுபதி, கார்த்தி, விக்ரம் பிரபு என திரையுலக நட்சத்திரங்கள் பலர் இந்த விழாவில் கலந்துகொண்டனர்.

விழாவில் பேசிய இசைஞானி இளையராஜா, ``கமல் இன்னும் 60 ஆண்டுகள் திரையுலகில் இருக்க வேண்டும்" எனக் கூறினார். பின்னர் பேசிய நடிகர் விஜய்யின் தந்தை இயக்குநர் எஸ்.ஏ.சந்திரசேகர், ``ஒருகட்டத்தில் ரஜினி அரசியலுக்கு வர வேண்டும் என நினைத்துக்கொண்டிருந்தேன்.

கமல் - ரஹ்மான் - இளையராஜா

அந்த நேரத்தில் கமல் துணிச்சலோடு அரசியலில் இறங்கினார். அரசியலில் இறங்குவது சாதாரண விஷயம் கிடையாது. நிச்சயமாக கமல் அரசியலில் விஸ்வரூபமெடுப்பார். கமலைப்போல் ரஜினியும் அரசியலுக்கு வர வேண்டும். தயவுசெய்து எங்களை ஏமாற்றிவிடாதீர்கள் ரஜினி.
இங்கு சிலர் தமிழன் இல்லை என்று பேசுகிறார்கள். தமிழகத்தின் தண்ணீரை குடித்துவிட்டாலே அவர் தமிழர்தான். நீங்கள் இருவரும் அரசியலில் இணைந்து பயணித்து தமிழகத்தில் நல்லாட்சி அமைக்க வேண்டும். இருவரும் முதலில் அரசியலுக்கு இறங்கி பிறகு அடுத்த தம்பிகளுக்கும் அரசியல் வாய்ப்பை வழங்க வேண்டும். அரசியலில் அடுத்த தலைமுறைக்கு மூத்தவர்கள் வழிவிட வேண்டும்” என்று கூறி அதிர வைத்தார்.

கமல் - விஜய் சேதுபதி

நிகழ்ச்சியில் பேசிய கமல், தனது திரைப் பயணத்தில் முக்கியமானவர்களை குறிப்பிட்டார். ``எனது 60 வருட திரைப் பயணத்தில் முக்கியமானவர்கள் பலர் உள்ளனர். அதில் கே.பாலசந்தர், ரஜினிகாந்த், கருணாநிதி, எம்.ஜி.ஆர், சந்தானபாரதி, ஷங்கர், சுஜாதா, அனந்து, ஜெமினி, கிரேசி மோகன், நாகேஷ், வி.கே.ராமசாமி, ஸ்ருதிஹாசன், அக்ஷராஹாசன், அம்மா, அப்பா, தமிழர்கள் என பலர் உள்ளனர். இவர்கள் எல்லோரும் என் வளர்ச்சியில் முக்கியமானவர்கள்” என்றார் நெகிழ்ச்சியோடு.


தொடர்ந்து ரசிகர்களின் உற்சாகக் குரல்களுக்கு இடையே பேச ஆரம்பித்த நடிகர் ரஜினிகாந்த், ``என் நண்பர் கமல்ஹாசனுக்கு வாழ்த்துகள். அவர் நடிப்பு, பாட்டு, எழுத்து, ஒரே படத்தில் 10 கதாபாத்திரத்தில் நடிப்பது என 60 வருடமாக திரையுலகத்தில் ஒரு தனி சாம்ராஜ்ஜியத்தையே நடத்தியவர். அதனால்தான் அவர் உலக நாயகன். இந்த உயரத்தை கமல் பிடிக்க கொடுத்த உழைப்பு, செய்த தியாகங்கள் அபாரமானது.

கமல் - ரஜினி

அவர் ஒரு ஜீனியஸ். அவர் சொல்ல நினைப்பதை அவரது சினிமாக்கள் மூலம் மக்களுக்கு கற்றுக்கொடுத்திருக்கிறார். அவர் பேசுவது புரியாது என பலர் சொல்லுவார்கள். தூங்குபவர்களை எழுப்பலாம்... தூங்குவதைப் போல் நடிப்பவர்களை எழுப்ப முடியாது.

கமலுக்கும் எனக்குமான நட்பை யாராலும் உடைக்க முடியாது. எங்கள் இருவரின் கருத்துகளில் வேறுபாடு இருக்கலாம். சித்தாந்தங்களில் வேறுபாடு இருக்கலாம். ஆனால், எங்கள் நட்பில் மாற்றம் வந்ததில்லை. நான் அரசியலுக்கு வந்த பிறகும் நாங்கள் சண்டை போட்டுக்கொள்ளமாட்டோம் இந்த மேடையிலே பேசிய பலரும் அரசியல் குறித்துப் பேசினார்கள்.

கமல் ரஜினி

எல்லோர் வாழ்க்கையிலும் அற்புதங்கள் நிகழும். இரண்டு ஆண்டுகள் முன்னர் தமிழகத்தின் முதல்வர் ஆவேன் என எடப்பாடி பழனிசாமி கூட நினைத்துப் பார்த்திருக்க மாட்டார். ஆனால், அவர் முதல்வரானார். அதுக்கு அப்புறம் கூட இந்த அரசாங்க 20 நாள் தாங்காது, 2 மாசம் தாங்காது என்று சொன்னார்கள். அற்புதம் நடந்தது... இன்று வரையிலும் ஆட்சி கவிழாமல் தொடர்கிறது. நேற்றும் அற்புதம் நடந்தது. இன்றும் அற்புதம் அதிசயம் நடக்கிறது... நாளையும்...... அற்புதம் நிகழும்” என்றார் அதிரடியாக!

`போனை பிடுங்கி எறிந்து விடலாமா?'- ராமதாஸை சோதிக்கும் பிஎஸ்என்எல்!

மலையரசு

vikatan 

``லேசாக மழை தூறினாலும் அவற்றுக்கு காய்ச்சல் வந்து செயலிழந்து விடும். எத்தனைமுறை சரி செய்தாலும் நிரந்தமாக குணமாகவில்லை. எத்தனையோ தொழில்நுட்பம் வந்தாலும் இவ்வளவு மோசமாக சேவை செய்தால் எப்படி முன்னேறும்"
ராமதாஸ்

கடந்த நிதியாண்டில், பிஎஸ்என்எல் நிறுவனம் ரூ.13,804 கோடி நஷ்டத்தைச் சந்தித்தது. அதிக நஷ்டத்தைச் சந்தித்த அரசு நிறுவனங்களில் பிஎஸ்என்எல் முதலிடத்தில் இருந்தது. கடந்த சில வருடங்களாகவே இப்படி பிஎஸ்என்எல் நிறுவனம் கடும் நிதி நெருக்கடியில் சிக்கி தவித்து வருகிறது. எனினும் ஓரளவுக்கு நிதி நெருக்கடியை சமாளிக்கும் வகையில் நிறுவனத்தில் பணிபுரியும் 50 வயதைக் கடந்த ஊழியர்களுக்கு விருப்ப ஓய்வுத் திட்டம் அறிவிக்கப்பட்டு செயல்படுத்தப்பட்டு வருகிறது. இதுவரை பல ஆயிரம் ஊழியர்கள் விருப்பு ஓய்வுக்கு விண்ணப்பித்துள்ளதாக செய்திகள் வந்த வண்ணம் உள்ளன.

பிஎஸ்என்எல் சிம் ஆக்டிவேசன்: காவல்துறைக்கே இந்த கதின்னா..?!

ஆனால் இதுவல்ல இப்போதைய செய்தி. பா.ம.க நிறுவனர் ராமதாஸ் பிஎஸ்என்எல் நிறுவனத்தால் தனக்கு ஏற்பட்ட சோகத்தை மூன்று பாயிண்டுகளாக டுவிட்டரில் பதிவிட்டிருக்கிறார். ராமதாஸுக்கு சொந்தமான தைலாபுரம் தோட்டத்தில் கடந்த மாதம் பிஎஸ்என்எல் சேவை பாதிக்கப்பட்டதாக கூறப்படுகிறது. இதனை அப்போதே தனது ட்விட்டர் மூலம், ``எனது தைலாபுரம் தோட்ட இல்லத்திற்கு இரு BSNL தரைவழி இணைப்புகள் உள்ளன. லேசாக மழை தூறினாலும் அவற்றுக்கு காய்ச்சல் வந்து செயலிழந்து விடும். எத்தனைமுறை சரி செய்தாலும் நிரந்தமாக குணமாகவில்லை. எத்தனையோ தொழில்நுட்பம் வந்தாலும் இவ்வளவு மோசமாக சேவை செய்தால் எப்படி முன்னேறும் பிஎஸ்என்எல்" என்று கேள்வி எழுப்பியிருந்தார்.

அதன்பின் சேவை சரிசெய்யப்பட்ட நிலையில் தற்போது மீண்டும் சேவை பாதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதையடுத்து பிஎஸ்என்எல் நிறுவனத்துக்கு எதிராக தற்போது கடுமையான விமர்சனத்தை முன்வைத்துள்ளார் ராமதாஸ். அவர் வெளியிட்டுள்ள ட்விட்டர் பதிவில், ``தைலாபுரம் தோட்டத்திலுள்ள பிஎஸ்என்எல் தொலைபேசி இணைப்பு அடிக்கடி பழுதடைந்திருப்பது குறித்து சில நாட்களுக்கு முன் டுவிட்டரில் பதிவு செய்திருந்தேன். அதை தொடர்ந்து வந்த அதிகாரிகள் சரி செய்தனர். அடுத்த சில நாட்களிலேயே மீண்டும் பழுதாகிவிட்டது. பழுதடைவதில் வேகம் என்றால் அது பிஎஸ்என்எல் தான்.

உலகில் மாற்றம் ஒன்று தான் மாறாதது என்பார்கள். அந்த வரிசையில் பிஎஸ்என்எல் சேவை மட்டும் தான் மாறாதது.... தேறாதது என்பதையும் சேர்த்துக் கொள்ளலாம். அந்த அளவுக்கு வாடிக்கையாளர்களை வெறுக்க வைக்கும் வகையில் மோசமான சேவைகளை வழங்குகிறது பிஎஸ்என்எல். நான் தரைவழி தொலைபேசியை நேசிப்பவன். ஆனால், எனது இல்லத்தில் உள்ள பிஎஸ்என்எல் தரைவழி இணைப்புகள் அனைத்தையும் பிடுங்கி எறிந்து விடலாமா? என்ற அளவுக்கு அதன் சேவை என்னை சோதிக்கிறது. இதே நிலை நீடித்தால் பிஎஸ்என்எல் ஊழியர்களுக்கு மட்டுமின்றி, பிஎஸ்என்எல் நிறுவனத்திற்கும் கட்டாய ஓய்வு நிச்சயம்!" என்றுக் குறிப்பிட்டுள்ளார்.

Uncle gets life for sexually assaulting 1-year-old in 2012

Aamir.Khan2@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:18.11.2019

In a rare conviction in the rape of a survivor who was just one year old when she was attacked in 2012, the accused, her uncle, has been awarded a life term behind bars. The court held that he did not deserve any leniency for he not only “betrayed the family’s trust” but also displayed “extreme perversity and monstrosity”.

Given the nature of the social setting and the relationship of the survivor and the accused, special judge Dr Saurabh Kulshreshtha called it an “abhorrent act” on the child. “The accused not only betrayed the trust of the child’s family but also displayed extreme perversity and monstrosity,” said the court, which deals with cases of sexual assaults against children.

The accused and the child’s family hailed from the same village and the accused was regarded as the child’s paternal uncle according to village tradition. On December 1, 2012, the child’s father had returned home after drinking with the accused. The child’s mother claimed that the accused took her daughter out for a stroll but when her daughter did not return, she became suspicious.

The child was crying inconsolably when the mother found her with the man. On checking her body, the mother found injuries on her private parts. On hearing the mother’s cries for help, locals thrashed the accused and handed him over to the police.

In court, counsel for the survivor advocate Chandra Suman pointed out that the survivor’s medico-legal report suggested five signs of injuries indicating sexual assault. Besides, the forensic reports showed the presence of the DNA of the accused on the child’s clothes, he submitted. The accused was also found to have161mg/100 ml alcohol in his blood stream at the time of incident.

The advocate relied on Section 106 of the Evidence Act to argue that the burden of proving the fact that the accused was not guilty or had not committed rape was upon him. Judge Kulshreshtha observed that medical evidence clearly pointed towards rape.

The age of the survivor was crucial in determining a compensation of ₹4 lakh.

Nirbhaya gang rape: Court admits plea seeking transfer of case to another judge

A Delhi court has admitted a plea filed by the parents of 2012-gangrape victim, seeking transfer of the case to another judge.

The victim’s parents have sought court’s direction to Tihar Jail authorities to expedite the execution of the rape convicts. The court will hear the matter on November 25. They moved the application since the earlier two judges hearing the matter got transferred and the matter is getting adjourned continuously, the plea said.

The special fast track court, set up to hear cases of sexual harassment cases exclusively, of Patiala House Court is currently vacant and no judge has been appointed till now. PTI

UAE citizens can now get visa on arrival

New Delhi:18.11.2019

India has granted visa-on-arrival facility to the citizens of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with an aim to enhance people-to-people contacts and trade relations, officials said on Sunday.

The visa-on-arrival facility for the nationals of the UAE came into effect from Saturday. It will be available for a period of up to 60 days with double entry for business, tourism, conference and medical purposes, a government official said.

This facility is aimed at further strengthening people to people contacts and trade relations as well as strategic ties between the two countries. The international airports where the facility will be available are in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

The visa-on-arrival will be available only to those UAE nationals who have earlier obtained an e-visa or a normal paper visa for India, irrespective of whether the person actually visited India or not. PTI

IndiGo to operate London direct on wide-body aircraft: CEO
Saurabh.Sinha@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:18.11.2019

IndiGo will not have one-stop flights to Europe and will operate those routes as direct services using the recently ordered Airbus A321 XLR (extra-long range) and wide-body aircraft. The low-cost carrier (LCC), which last month ordered 300 A320 Neo family single aisles worth about $33 billion (₹2.34 lakh crore), says ordering widebody aircraft is on the cards to operate routes like Mumbai/ Bengaluru-London, which the A321 XLR cannot fly.

While the wide-body product would have a business class, IndiGo CEO Ronojoy Dutta said single-aisle aircraft, including the XLRs, would not offer inflight entertainment (IFE) and hot food. Instead, the airline was looking at minor changes for the narrow bodies in terms of slightly better cushioned seats and a wider food variety.

“Deliveries of the A321 XLRs begin from 2023-24. This aircraft can fly nonstop to western Europe but can’t do London (or other destinations in UK) nonstop, apart from maybe Delhi. When we launch London, we will look at places like Mumbai and Bengaluru also. For that, we will need wide-body aircraft, which are certainly not ruled out by the recent 300-aircraft order,” Dutta, or Rono as he is known in the industry, said.

Full report on www.toi.in

WhatsApp identifies new hole, Cert-in advises update

Anam.Ajmal@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:18.11.2019

WhatsApp has identified a vulnerability that could have been exploited though a malicious MP4 file. India’s Computer Emergency Response Team (Cert-in) described the vulnerability’s severity rating as “high” and advised users to update to the latest version of WhatsApp.

The vulnerability, identified as CVE-2019-11931, affected both Android and iOs systems but it is unclear if any users were impacted. The company has rolled out a security update.

“WhatsApp is constantly working to improve the security of our service. We make public reports on potential issues we have fixed, consistent with industry best practices. In this instance, there is no reason to believe users were impacted,” WhatsApp said in a statement on Sunday.

With 400 million users, India is WhatsApp’s biggest market. The development comes just weeks after WhatsApp sued the Israeli company, NSO group, over the alleged misuse of their spyware Pegasus, which was installed in the phones of 1,400 users, including at least 120 Indians. Many of those who were spied on were journalists, rights activists and lawyers.

In a post on it’s securities and advisory page, WhatsApp’s parent company Facebook confirmed the vulnerability on November 14. The post describes the vulnerability as “A stack-based buffer overflow could be triggered in WhatsApp by sending a specially crafted MP4 file to a WhatsApp user.”

Although this description is vague, Cert-in website gives more details. It states that the vulnerability can be “exploited by a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the target system.”

“A remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a specially crafted MP4 file to the target system. This could trigger a butter overflow leading to the execution of arbitrary code by the attacker. The exploitation does not require any form of authentication from the victim end...,” the cert-in website elaborates.

According to the emergency team, the successful exploitation of the vulnerability could allow a remote attacker to cause “Remote Code Execution (RCE) or Denial of Service (DoS) condition, which could further compromise the system.

The development comes just weeks after WhatsApp sued Israeli company, NSO group, over the alleged misuse of their spyware Pegasus

‘Need better outreach to attract foreign students’

While 96% of educational institutes use their websites to reach out to potential foreign students, only 47% also use social media

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

18.11.2019

To attract more foreign students to pursue higher education in India, better outreach programmes by the universities are required, according to the 'Study in India' survey. The survey by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), in partnership with EdCIL India Limited was conducted to gauge the preparedness of Indian institutions on standard operating processes followed for attracting and on-boarding international student.

According to AISHE 2018-2019 report, there are about 47,000 international students pursuing education in India. The country is targeting to boost this number to around 1.5 – 2.5 lakh international students by 2022. However, the survey reveals that technology is yet to make inroads in handling overseas traffic and meet the targets. While 96% institutions depend on their websites for promotion and reaching out to potential foreign students, only 47% also use social media, mainly Facebook. The survey reveals that Indian institutes handle queries from prospective students from overseas through email. 95% institutions said they get international students through government agencies such as EdCIL and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).

A total of 77 higher education institutions that are part of the 'Study in India' programme participated in the survey. Among others, there are 5 IIITs, 11 IITs, 5 NITs, 2 IISERs, 2 IIMs, 4 Central universities and 4 state universities which completed the survey.

The total number of students pursuing studies abroad at a global scale has grown from 2.7 million in 2004 to 4.3 million in 2014, representing 1.8% all tertiary enrolments globally. Since 2004, the education export sector has been growing at 5% per annum. However, India is yet to harness the full potential of its wide education network.

Govt general hospital completes 355 years

Aditi.R@timesgroup.com

Chennai:18.11.2019

The Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital completed 355 years on November 16. Apart from its rich history, the hospital was also the first medical institution in the world to admit women.

“In the British era, women from European countries came here to study medicine since they were prohibited from studying in their own countries,” said Venkatesh Ramakrishnan, novelist and historian.

The hospital was opened on November 16, 1664 by Sir Edward Winter to treat soldiers of the East India Company. It was initially housed at Fort St George but was later moved out after the Anglo-French War to its present place. By 1772, the hospital had begun training Europeans, Eurasians and Indians in allopathic methods of diagnosis, treatment and methods of preparing medicines and assist qualified doctors. A private medical hall run by Dr Mortimar was regularised as a medical school and was opened on February 2, 1835 by then governor Sir Fredrick Adams.

In 1842, the institution began allowing Indian students. The teaching staff increased, senior courses spanning five years was started and from October 1, 1850, it was christened as Madras Medical College. The first batch of students graduated from the college in 1852 with a diploma of graduate.

Mary Scharlieb, the first woman physician and gynaecologist in the world, also graduated from the institution in 1878.

The institution is only four days younger than the Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, established on January 28, 1835, the oldest in Asia.

“Both institutions would have been inaugurated the same day, but it is said that the plaque meant for MMC was not delivered on time, hence the delay,” said Ramakrishnan.

Dr. Sudha Seshayyan, vice-chancellor of the Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University who graduated from MMC in 1977, said it was the institution’s history and service that amazed her. “All boys and girls were treated equally. This helped us develop team spirit, we spent more time together, learned life lessons. It’s hard to put my experience in a sentence. I’m sure other alumni would agree.”

NOSTALGIA: A photograph of the hospital in the 1930s

Noida-shocker: Strangers save woman from getting raped, then rape her 

India

Written by

Shalini Ojha

A distressing incident has been reported from Noida, one which will make you sick.

In one of the parks of the city, a 21-year-old woman was on Wednesday allegedly raped by five men, who had earlier "saved" her from being raped by her acquaintance.

While four men have been arrested, two are still at large.

Details of this case will trouble you.

What happened 

Under pretext of job, man tried to rape victim

The illiterate, unemployed survivor had gone to a park in Sector-63 to meet one Ravi, who worked as a peon at an export company.

Ravi was known to her brother and assured her a job, said senior police officer Vaibhav Krishna.

At the park, he tried to rape her, and the woman's screams alerted nearby strangers. They thrashed Ravi and he fled.

Details 

After thrashing Ravi, "saviors" raped her

After Ravi ran, two men identified as Guddu and Shamu raped the victim. They also called three men, Brijkishore, Pitambar, and Umesh, who took turns to violate her.

The men also beat her. The entire episode played out merely 500 meter away from a police post.

Somehow she approached the police and was taken to a hospital for treatment. She is now out of danger.

68 - ம் ஆண்டில் எம்ஜிஆருக்கு ஜோடி ஜெயலலிதா; ஒரே ஆண்டில் எட்டு படங்கள்

வி.ராம்ஜி

68-ம் ஆண்டில் எம்ஜிஆர் நடித்த எட்டுப் படங்கள் வெளியாகின. இதிலொரு சுவாரஸ்யம்... இந்த எட்டுப் படங்களிலும் எம்ஜிஆருக்கு ஜோடி ஜெயலலிதா.
எம்ஜிஆரும் ஜெயலலிதாவும் ‘ஆயிரத்தில் ஒருவன்’ படத்தில்தான் இணைந்து நடிக்கத் தொடங்கினார்கள். பிறகு அடிக்கடி படங்களில், சேர்ந்து நடித்து வந்தார்கள். ஒருபடத்தில் சரோஜாதேவி நடித்திருப்பார். இன்னொரு படத்தில் கே.ஆர்.விஜயா நடித்திருப்பார். இப்படி நடிகைகள் மாறிக்கொண்டே வந்த நிலை, 68-ம் ஆண்டில் மட்டும் ஹீரோயின் ஜெயலலிதா என்றே இருந்தது.

எம்ஜிஆரும் ஜெயலலிதாவும் இணைந்து நடித்த ‘ரகசிய போலீஸ் 115’ திரைப்படம் 1968-ம் ஆண்டு, ஜனவரி மாதம் 11-ம் தேதி வெளியானது. இந்தப் படத்தின் கதையும் திரைக்கதையும் வலுவாக இருந்தன. மேலும் பாடல்களும் பிரமாதமாக இருந்தன. படமும் நூறுநாட்களைக் கடந்து ஓடியது.
இதையடுத்து, பிப்ரவரி 23-ம் தேதி, தேவர் பிலிம்ஸ் தயாரிப்பில், எம்.ஏ.திருமுகம் இயக்கத்தில், ‘தேர்த்திருவிழா’ வெளியானது. இதிலும் எம்ஜிஆரும் ஜெயலலிதாவும் ஜோடியாக நடித்தனர். எம்ஜிஆர் நடித்த படங்களில் சுமாரான படம், சுமாரான வசூல், சுமாரான வெற்றி எனும் பெயரைச் சம்பாதித்த படங்களில் ‘தேர்த்திருவிழா’வும் ஒன்று.



அடுத்து மார்ச் மாதத்தில், 15-ம் தேதி அன்று, இயக்குநர் கே.சங்கர் இயக்கத்தில் ‘குடியிருந்த கோயில்’ வெளியானது. இந்தப் படத்திலும் எம்ஜிஆர் - ஜெயலலிதா ஜோடி. இதில் இரட்டை வேடங்களில் நடித்திருந்தார் எம்ஜிஆர். டபுள் ஆக்‌ஷன் படங்கள் பொதுவாகவே எல்லா நடிகர்களுக்கும் ஹிட் கொடுக்கும் என்பதற்கேற்ப, இந்தப் படமும் எம்ஜிஆருக்கு ரொம்பவே ஹிட் படமாக அமைந்தது. நல்ல எம்ஜிஆர், கெட்ட எம்ஜிஆர் ஃபார்முலா. வில்லனிடம் வளரும் எம்ஜிஆர் , அப்பாவைக் கொன்றவனிடம் வளரும் எம்ஜிஆர். இதுபோதாதா திரைக்கதைக்கு!

பண்டரிபாய் அம்மா கேரக்டரில் நடித்து சிறந்த நடிப்பை வெளிப்படுத்தியிருந்தார். நாகேஷின் காமெடி, படத்துக்குப் பலம் சேர்த்தது. பாடல்கள் எல்லாமே செம ஹிட். ‘என்னைத் தெரியுமா?’, ‘நீயேதான் எனக்கு மணவாட்டி’, ‘குங்குமப்பொட்டின் மங்கலம்’, ‘நான் யார் நான்யார்’ என எல்லாப் பாடல்களும் சூப்பர். முக்கியமாக, எம்ஜிஆரும் எல்.விஜயலட்சுமியும் ஆடுகிற ‘ஆடலுடன் பாடலைக் கேட்டு’ சூப்பர்டூப்பர் ஹிட்டானது.

மிகச்சிறந்த நடனக்காரரான விஜயலட்சுமியுடன் ஆடுவதற்கு எம்ஜிஆர் ரொம்பவே தயங்கினார் என்றும் அவருக்காகவே நடன அசைவுகள் கொஞ்சம் இலகுவாக அமைக்கப்பட்டதாகவும் சொல்வார்கள். இன்னொரு ஸ்பெஷல்... இந்தப் படத்தில் முதன்முதலாக, பெண் கவிஞர் ஓர் பாடலை எழுதியிருப்பார். இந்தப் படத்தை எப்போது வேண்டுமானாலும் பார்க்கலாம்.




அடுத்து, ஏப்ரல் 25ம் தேதி, ப.நீலகண்டன் இயக்கத்தில் ‘கண்ணன் என் காதலன்’ படம் வெளியானது. இதிலும் ஜெயலலிதா ஜோடி. சுமாரான படங்களில் இதுவும் ஒன்று. பாடல்கள் நன்றாக இருக்கும்.

ஜனவரி, பிப்ரவரி, மார்ச், ஏப்ரல் என்று வரிசையாக மாதத்துக்கு ஒரு எம்ஜிஆர் படம். மே மாதம் படம் வரவில்லை. ஜூன் மாதம் 27-ம் தேதி சாணக்யா இயக்கத்தில், ‘புதியபூமி’ வெளியானது. இதிலும் எம்ஜிஆர் - ஜெயலலிதா ஜோடியே இணைந்தது. ‘சின்னவளை...’, ‘விழியே விழியே...’, ‘நான் உங்கள்வீட்டுப் பிள்ளை’ என்று பாடல்கள் எல்லாமே சூப்பர். நூறுநாள் படம்தான். ஆனால் ‘படம் கொஞ்சம் ஸ்லோவாப் போவுதுப்பா’ என்றார்கள் எம்ஜிஆர் ரசிகர்கள்.

ஆகஸ்ட் மாதம் 15-ம் தேதியன்று, இயக்குநர் ப.நீலகண்டன் இயக்கத்தில், ‘கணவன்’ படம் வெளியானது. இந்தப் படத்தின் கதையை எம்ஜிஆர் எழுதியிருந்தார். ஆனால் படம் பெரிதாகப் பேசப்படவில்லை.

968-ம் ஆண்டு செப்டம்பர் மாதம் 20 ம்-தேதி எம்ஜிஆருக்கும் அவரின் ரசிகர்களுக்கும் மறக்கமுடியாத வருடம், மாதம், நாள். எம்ஜிஆரின் 100-வது படமான ‘ஒளிவிளக்கு’ அன்றைக்குத்தான் ரிலீசானது. ஜெமினியின் பிரமாண்டத் தயாரிப்பில், சாணக்யா இயக்கினார். ஜெயலலிதாதான் ஜோடி. செளகார் ஜானகியும் நடித்திருப்பார். இவரின் நடிப்பும் கேரக்டரும் பேசப்பட்டது.

எம்ஜிஆரின் 100வது படமான ‘ஒளிவிளக்கு’ம் சிவாஜியின் 100வது படமான ‘நவராத்திரி’யும் பெரிதாக ஓடவில்லை. இதேபோல் கமலின் ‘ராஜபார்வை’யும் ரஜினியின் ‘ஸ்ரீராகவேந்திரர்’ படமும் ஓடவில்லை.

இந்தப் படம் பின்னாளில், பல வருடங்கள் கழித்து மிகப்பெரிய டிரெண்டானது. படம் வந்த போதும் அதற்கடுத்த கட்டங்களிலும் ‘நாங்க புதுசா கட்டிக்கிட்ட ஜோடிதானுங்க’ பாடல் எம்ஜிஆர் ஜெயலலிதா ஜோடியைச் சொல்வதாகப் பேசப்பட்டது. நரிக்குறவர் இன மக்களிடையே எம்ஜிஆரைக் கொண்டாட வைத்தது. சி செண்டர் மக்களிடம் ஓட்டு வங்கியாக பின்னாளில் மாறியது.

மிக முக்கியமாக, எண்பதுகளில் எம்ஜிஆர் உடல்நலம் குன்றி, அமெரிக்காவில் சிகிச்சை பெற்று வந்த போது, ‘இறைவா உன் மாளிகையில் எத்தனையோ மணிவிளக்கு’ என்ற இந்தப் படத்தின் பாடல் எங்கு பார்த்தாலும் ஒலித்தது. தியேட்டர்களில் எந்தப் படம் ஓடிக்கொண்டிருந்தாலும், படம் போடுவதற்கு முன்னதாக, ‘ஒளிவிளக்கு’ படத்தில் உள்ள இந்தப் பாடல் மட்டும் ஒளிபரப்பப்படும். மக்கள் ‘தலைவா’ என்று உணர்ச்சிவசப்பட்டார்கள். இந்தப் பாடலைப் பார்ப்பதற்காகவே, எந்தப் படம் என்பதே தெரியாமல் போனார்கள்.

ஆக, 68-ம் ஆண்டில், எம்ஜிஆர் நடித்த படங்கள் எட்டு. இந்த எட்டுப் படங்களிலும் ஜெயலலிதாதான் ஜோடி.

பயிற்சி மருத்துவர்கள் பிரசவம் பார்த்ததால் குழந்தையின் கைகளில் எலும்பு முறிவு தலையில் காயம் ஏற்பட்டதாக புகார்

2019-11-17@ 01:13:00


தண்டையார்பேட்டை: புதுவண்ணாரப்பேட்டை பூச்சம்மாள் தெருவை சேர்ந்தவர் கோதண்டம் (30). இவரது மனைவி ஆரோக்கிய மேரி (26). நிறைமாத கர்ப்பிணியான இவருக்கு கடந்த அக்டோபர் மாதம் 4ம் தேதி திடீரென வயிற்று வலி ஏற்பட்டதால், ராயபுரத்தில் உள்ள ஆர்.எஸ்.ஆர்.எம். அரசு மகப்பேறு மருத்துவமனையில் அனுமதித்தனர். அப்போது, நீர்ச்சத்து குறைவு காரணமாக 10 நாட்கள் கழித்து பிரசவம் பார்க்க வேண்டும் என்று மருத்துவர்கள் தரப்பில் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இந்நிலையில், அக்டோபர் மாதம் 13ம் தேதி ஆரோக்கிய மேரிக்கு பிரசவ வலி ஏற்பட்டதால் தாய் மற்றும் குழந்தையின் நிலை மிகவும் மோசமாக உள்ளது என்றும், அவரது மாமியாரிடம் கையெழுத்து வாங்கியதாக தெரிகிறது. பின்னர், அறுவை சிகிச்சை மூலம் பிரசவம் பார்த்துள்ளனர். அப்போது, குழந்தையின் உடல் நிலை மிகவும் மோசமாக உள்ளது என்றும், கண்ணாடி அறையில் வைத்து குழந்தைக்கு தீவிர சிகிச்சை வழங்கப்பட்டு வருகிறது என்றும் மருத்துவர்கள் கூறியுள்ளனர்.

குழந்தையின் தாய் 9 நாட்கள் கழித்து, குழந்தையை பார்த்தபோது, குழந்தையின் இரண்டு கைகளிலும் கட்டுப்போட்டு இருப்பதையும், தலையில் காயம் இருப்பதையும் கண்டு அதிர்ச்சி அடைந்தார். இதுகுறித்து டாக்டர்களிடம் கேட்டபோது, குழந்தை எடை அதிகமாக இருந்தால் பிரசவத்தின்போது, குழந்தையை வெளியே எடுக்கும் போது கைகளில் எலும்பு முறிவு, மற்றும் தலையில் காயம் ஏற்பட்டது என தெரிவித்துள்ளனர். இதுபற்றி உறவினர்கள் ஆரோக்கிய மேரியிடம் கேட்டபோது, தனக்கு பிரசவம் பார்த்தவர் பயிற்சி மருத்துவர் என்றும், அவர் குழந்தையை கையில் வாங்கும்போது கீழே தவற விட்டார் எனவும், அதன் காரணமாக குழந்தைக்கு எலும்பு முறிவு ஏற்பட்டு இருக்கலாம் என தெரிவித்தார். இதுகுறித்த புகாரின் பேரில் ராயபுரம் போலீசார் மருத்துவர்களிடம் விசாரணை மேற்கொண்டு வருகின்றனர்.

தேர்தல் பிரசாரம் செய்த அரசு ஊழியரின் பணி நீக்கம் ரத்து சரியானதே: ஐகோர்ட்

Added : நவ 16, 2019 20:10

சென்னை:தி.மு.க., வேட்பாளருக்கு ஆதரவாக தேர்தல் பிரசாரம் செய்த, அரசு ஊழியர் பணி நீக்கத்தை ரத்து செய்த உத்தரவை, சென்னை உயர் நீதிமன்றம் உறுதி செய்தது.

நெடுஞ்சாலை துறையில், திருவண்ணாமலை கோட்டத்தில், விநாயகமூர்த்தி என்பவர் உதவியாளராக பணியாற்றினார்.கடந்த, ௨௦௧௧ல் நடந்த சட்டசபை தேர்தலில், தி.மு.க., வேட்பாளர் பிச்சாண்டிக்கு ஆதரவாக, தேர்தல் பிரசாரம் செய்ததாக, விநாயகமூர்த்திக்கு எதிராகநடவடிக்கை எடுக்க, தேர்தல் மேற்பார்வையாளர் பரிந்துரைத்தார்.விசாரணை நடத்திய துறை அதிகாரிகள், விநாயகமூர்த்திக்கு, மூன்று ஆண்டுகளுக்கான ஊக்க ஊதியத்தை ரத்து செய்து உத்தரவிட்டனர்.

இது குறித்த அறிக்கை, மாவட்ட தேர்தல் அதிகாரியான கலெக்டருக்கு அனுப்பப்பட்டது. வழங்கப்பட்ட தண்டனை போதுமானது அல்ல என, கலெக்டர் தரப்பில் கூறப்பட்டது. அதைத் தொடர்ந்து, விநாயகமூர்த்தியை பணி நீக்கம் செய்து, நெடுஞ்சாலை துறை கோட்டப் பொறியாளர் உத்தரவிட்டார்.இதை எதிர்த்து, சென்னை உயர் நீதிமன்றத்தில், விநாயகமூர்த்தி மனு தாக்கல் செய்தார்.

மனுவை விசாரித்த உயர் நீதிமன்றம், பணி நீக்க உத்தரவை ரத்து செய்தது. மூன்றாண்டு ஊக்க ஊதியத்தை ரத்து செய்ததே போதுமானது என்றும், உத்தரவிட்டது. இந்த உத்தரவை எதிர்த்து, உயர் நீதிமன்றத்தில் தமிழக அரசு மேல்முறையீடு செய்தது.மனுவை, தலைமை நீதிபதி ஏ.பி.சாஹி, நீதிபதி சுப்ரமணியம் பிரசாத் அடங்கிய, உயர் நீதிமன்ற, 'முதல் பெஞ்ச்' விசாரித்தது. பின், தனி நீதிபதி உத்தரவை உறுதி செய்து, மேல்முறையீட்டு மனுவை தள்ளுபடி செய்தது.

ராகிங்' தொல்லை 16 டாக்டர்களுக்கு சிக்கல்

Added : நவ 17, 2019 00:04

மும்பை:மஹாராஷ்டிர மாநிலம் பால்ஹரில், மருத்துவக் கல்லுாரி மாணவியை, 'ராகிங்' செய்ததாக, 16 டாக்டர்கள் மீது, வழக்கு பதிவு செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது.

மஹாராஷ்டிராவில் ஜனாதிபதி ஆட்சி நடக்கிறது. இங்கு, பால்ஹர் மாவட்டத்தில், எம்.எல்.தவாலே நினைவு ஹோமியோபதி மருத்துவக் கல்லுாரி உள்ளது. இங்கு படித்து வரும், 23 வயது மாணவி, டாக்டர்கள் சிலர், தன்னை ராகிங் செய்வதாக போலீசில் புகார் அளித்தார். விசாரணையில், மருத்துவக் கல்லுாரியில் பணியாற்றி வரும் பயிற்சி டாக்டர்கள் மற்றும் சீனியர் மாணவர்கள், 16 பேர், மாணவியை ராகிங் செய்தது தெரிய வந்தது. இதையடுத்து, அவர்கள் மீது வழக்கு பதிவு செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது.

Bharatidasan University student attempts to kill self, accuses teacher of harassment ​

The student, who is pursuing MSc Geology at Bharatidasan University was found unconscious in her hostel room Friday night by her roommates and rushed to the government hospital.

Published: 16th November 2019 03:16 PM |

Image used for representational purpose only
By PTI

TIRUCHIRAPALLI: A girl student of a government university here attempted to commit suicide by consuming floor cleaner as she was reportedly upset for being 'humiliated' by her faculty over her academic performance, police said on Saturday.

The student, who is pursuing MSc Geology at Bharatidasan University was found unconscious in her hostel room Friday night by her roommates and rushed to the government hospital, where her condition was said to be stable, they said.

The teacher had frequently 'harassed' the girl over her performance in class, following which 30 students protested against the faculty.

The teacher has been called in for questioning, they added.

Private Universities Act to be amended to include appointment of administrator
17/11/2019, STAFF REPORTER,BENGALURU

The State government plans to amend the Private Universities Act in Karnataka to appoint an administrator in varsities to oversee the dispute of ownership if any as well as administrative issues.

Deputy Chief Minister and Higher Education Minister C.N. Ashwath Narayan on Saturday said while they had tried appointing an administrator in the past, their attempts failed as they needed to amend the legislation.

The move comes after students of Alliance University were affected due to the tussle for ownership between the two brothers in the past. The chancellor, Sudhir Angur, was recently arrested for allegedly hiring to kill former Vice-Chancellor Ayyappa R. Dore.

To fix loopholes in the medical seat counselling process, Mr. Ashwath Narayan said the government would ensure that from the coming year, all medical seats are surrendered before the mop-up round is conducted. This move will curtail instances of seat blocking. “We will have a meeting with private medical college managements and take them into confidence and ensure that we discuss the modalities with them,” he said. The State Medical Education department will coordinate with the Directorate General of Health Services that conducts counselling for all-India quota of medical and dental seats. A scam had come to light during search and seizure operations by the Income Tax department on two medical institutions.

NAAC, NBA accreditation must for engineering colleges: VTU

17/11/2019, STAFF REPORTER ,BENGALURU

The Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) has asked all its affiliated colleges to get accreditation by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).

The accreditation process will serve dual purpose, said officials. It will help improve the quality of education imparted in engineering colleges across the State and also enable VTU to identify good engineering colleges. More often than not, a large number of seats go vacant.

Colleges with good infrastructure and teaching faculty will receive good ratings and can attract more students. A senior official of the VTU pointed out while colleges are getting accreditation from the National Board of Accreditation (NBA), which is mandatory, many are not applying for NAAC despite directions from the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) and the University Grants Commission (UGC).

A circular in this regard was issued on November 4 directing all its affiliated colleges to apply for NAAC accreditation. “Accreditation from NBA is mandatory for all programmes offered in your institute. Further, the VTU also strongly recommends that institutional level accreditation be obtained from NAAC,” the circular read.

Heads of engineering colleges also pointed out that obtaining accreditation from these two agencies was a positive development and said that based on these ratings, institutions could get autonomy, deemed-to-be-university status and also funding from different sources. “Getting a good NAAC ranking helps us not only attract students, but improves our chances of getting funding for research work. We made a conscious effort to improve our NAAC ratings and worked on hiring more faculty members,” said a principal of a city-based engineering college.

Police advise women against visiting Sabarimala

17/11/2019

Women police officers at Pampa had, as part of established security protocol, verified the identity proof submitted by the group. They found two women were under the age of 50. The police apprised them of the dispute over the matter.

The police later claimed that the women had “of their own volition” abandoned their plan to trek to the Sannidhanam, and there was no compulsion on the part of the force.

Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran had on Thursday said it was not contingent on the government to escort women activists to the Ayyappa temple unless they arrived with a warrant for the State’s assistance from the Supreme Court.

The government had received the legal opinion that the State was under no juridical requirement to pro-actively ensure that women between the age of 10 and 50 worshipped at Sabarimala in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to form a seven-member constitutional Bench to look into the case further.

State Police Chief Loknath Behera told reporters that he would seek further legal clarification from Advocate General C.P. Sudhakar Prasad on the issue.

Meanwhile, the State police said they were tracking the travel plans of women activists, including that of Trupti Desai who on Saturday reiterated her decision to pray at Sabarimala on Sunday.

Students should feel privileged studying medicine, says Telangana Governor
17/11/2019, STAFF REPORTER,MADURAI

Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan presenting the Velammal Healthcare Innovation Awards 2019 to winners in Madurai on Saturday. R. AshokR_ASHOK

Students studying medicine should feel privileged and blessed as they were taking up the noble profession of saving human lives, said Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan here on Saturday.

Speaking at the Velammal Healthcare Innovation Awards 2019 valedictory function, held at the Ida Scudder Trade Centre, she said that the student community should strive and study hard.

She pointed out that the students should face challenges instead of giving into peer pressures. Problems are part of student life and they should tackle it and not take hasty decisions.

The Governor urged the students to take up research as there were aplenty of opportunities, which would ultimately benefit the society.

Nearly 70 persons from various States took part and presented their innovative inventions, out of which three participants were awarded the VHI awards under each of the three categories of surgical, diagnosis and digital innovations.

The winners were selected based on 10 criteria, including sustainability and affordability by a jury of nine eminent persons from the medical field from across the country.

In his presidential address, Velammal Educational Trust Chairman M.V. Muthuramalingam said that innovation and smartness in approach are the key to success in any field.

Technology and innovation are the reasons behind the massive growth in diagnosis and treatment. Several diseases that were impossible to treat have become treatable only because of technology, said Chairman and Quality Director, Aravind Eye Care System, R.D. Ravindran, who was the Guest of Honour.

Ms. Tamilisai later distributed the awards to all the nine winners.

The first place winners under the three categories were R. Mala, Dr. Senthil Kumar and N. Sunil Vignesh and they were given ₹2 lakh each. The second and third place winners were given ₹50,000 and ₹25,000 respectively.

Velammal Medical College Chief Executive Officer Venkata Phanidhar welcomed. Dean R.M. Raja Muthiah proposed a vote of thanks.

Correspondent of Velammal Educational Trust M. Velmohan and Chief Executive Officer M. Velmurugan were present.

Stalin vows to jail the corrupt when DMK comes to power
Leader terms 3 Ministers ‘corrupt pillars’ of current regime

17/11/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT ,DHARMAPURI

Pledging to pull back the State from the abyss into which he claimed it had fallen in the last 9 years of AIADMK rule, DMK president M.K. Stalin on Saturday vowed to see to it that “those ruling the State from the Fort [St. George] today [are] locked up inside cells once the DMK comes to power”.

He was speaking at a public meeting organised by the DMK to explain the resolutions passed at the party’s general council meeting and also to thank the constituents for the DMK’s resounding victory in the Parliamentary election.

Listing the allegations of scams against the Cabinet led by Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, the DMK leader said the first two Ministers who will be arrested for corruption and criminal intimidation alongside Mr. Palaniswami when the DMK comes to power will be S.P. Velumani and P. Thangamani. According to him, they, along with Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar, were the “corrupt pillars” of the Palaniswami government.

The State government had failed to raise its voice against the hydrocarbon project, NEET, the National Education Policy, the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, triple talaq, the imposition of Hindi by stealth, the erosion of State’s rights and many other issues, Mr. Stalin said.

“Usually, raids are conducted by the government. But here, raids are carried out on the government,” he said. Mr. Stalin also hit out at Mr. Palaniswami for his ‘silence’ on an accident involving an AIADMK flagpole in which Rajeshwari, a young woman, lost her leg.

People of all strata had been hit by the “slowdown in money flow” and the BJP-led Centre’s “flawed economic policies”, the DMK leader said, adding, “Today, money flow is only with the Ministers, not with the public.”

Fathima’s father records statement

Probe team spends 3 hours with him

17/11/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT ,CHENNAI

Abdul Latheef

The special team, which was constituted to probe the unnatural death of IIT-Madras student Fathima Latheef, recorded the statement of her father Abdul Latheef on Saturday.

The death of the first-year MA Humanities student sparked protests from political parties and student organisations.

Mr. Latheef met the Chief Ministers of both Tamil Nadu and Kerala and demanded a thorough probe, besides raising serious allegations against a professor. Following this, a special team, led by Additional Commissioner of Police C. Easwaramoorthy, was entrusted with the investigation. Members of the team met Mr. Latheef at his residence in Thousand Lights and heard his complaint. They recorded his statement for three hours on Saturday. Later, Mr. Latheef met City Police Commissioner A.K. Viswanathan at his office in Vepery. Speaking to reporters, Mr. Latheef said the Commissioner heard him patiently and assured him that the probe will be expedited.

“Mr. Viswanathan told me that the investigation is progressing [by] treating my daughter Fathima as a girl from Tamil Nadu. The investigation will be expedited and appropriate action taken against those responsible in two days,” Mr. Latheef said.

‘Watch what you eat if you are a diabetic’

Chennai:17.11.2019

Neuberg Diagnostics Private Limited on Saturday organised a patient education talk by Dr V Mohan, chairman and chief of diabetology, Dr Mohan's Diabetes Specialities Centre, on “What’s new in preventing and combating diabetes.”

Giving an introduction to diabetes, Mohan said, “Glucose is a key source of energy to the body and its metabolism is highly regulated by hormones like insulin and glucagon. Diabetes is a condition that impairs the body’s ability to process blood sugar, leading to persistently high levels of glucose in the blood (hyperglycemia). There are different types of diabetes. The diagnosis of each one is based on tests. The advantage of knowing which type of diabetes one has is that the treatment can be tailored accordingly.” He said nutrition and physical activity are key to a healthy lifestyle for diabetics. “If you have diabetes, you need to keep an eye on what you eat, how much you eat and when you eat, and how active a lifestyle you lead. By making healthy food choices and understanding ‘good’ and ‘bad’ carbohydrates, it can become easy to control your blood glucose levels.” TNN

Soon, get metro rail timings at bus stops
Display Systems To Be Set Up In Six Months
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:17.11.2019

Metro train or MTC? Soon, large electronic display boards — similar to those at airport terminals — would help passengers decide the quickest mode of transport to their destination, as Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) will install display systems with train timings and platforms at all MTC bus stops near metro stations.

The facility is part of efforts for an intermodal transport system which would provide commuters information on the fastest and comfortable commuting options. Two passenger information display systems were installed at the Chennai Airport by CMRL and the Airports Authority of India on Saturday.

“In six months, bus stops near metro stations will have these passenger information systems with real-time information on metro train time and the platforms they would arrive,” an official said.

Once the systems are set up in the MTC stands, passengers heading to a metro station or alighting buses may decide on the mode of transport to their destination by checking the arrival time of the next train. Almost all of the 32 metro stations have been built closer to bus depots like Saidapet or major bus stops like DMS where buses to southern suburbs halt. The display system is also a step towards syncing both metro and MTC bus timings.

On Saturday, CMRL installed two such electronic passenger information display systems in the walkalator linking airport metro with the international and domestic terminals. Similar systems have been planned in other metro stations as well.

“The system will display metro timings on a real-time basis. It will help international and domestic passengers arriving at the airport to plan their journey by metro train,” said a release from CMRL. The installation of the display systems was the result of an extensive survey CMRL conducted with its passengers on the facilities they would require, to make commuting easy and comfortable. “During the survey, passengers suggested the kind of information and the best location for putting up these boards,” an official said. “For instance, our passengers wanted these boards to be put up right outside the entry points of Central metro, so that those leaving Central railway station or alighting an MTC bus would know the next train available.”

While the information displayed in these systems may be similar to those shown on the platforms of metro stations, officials said the systems to come up in other stations and at bus stops will follow a different format with information on all routes, trains, time and platform.

As part of providing seamless connectivity with a multimodal transportation, CMRL will also launch a uniform app-based feeder share cab service before mid-2020 where commuters may book a cab, reserve a seat, mark their pick up location and either pay online or swipe their smartcards.

SHOWING THE WAY: Passenger information display systems (left) with metro train timings and platforms installed near the walkalator connecting Airport metro with international and domestic terminals to assist air travellers who use the metro service

NEWS DIGEST

Candidates asked to upload certificates 17.11 2019

Candidates who have been admitted provisionally to the certificate verification (phase–II) for the posts of assistant training officer (stenography-English) (post code 1733) / assistant training officer (secretarial practice) (post code 1740) 2014-19 included in Tamil Nadu Employment and Training Subordinate Service (service code 028) are directed to upload the scanned original documents for the certificate verification between November 18 and 22 only through the listed E-Seva centres run by TACTV as mentioned in the commission’s website www.tnpsc.gov.in.

Tamilisai to be felicitated: Freedom from Cancer Relief and Research Foundation in collaboration with Tamil Nadu Doctor’s community supported by the Indian Medical Association will felicitate Telangana governor Tamilisai Soundararajan. The event will be held on Sunday at 4.15pm at hotel GRT Grand, T Nagar.

Chettinad Players to stage Dronacharya: Chettinad Players, a theatre house of Chettinad Vidyashram, will present Dronacharya, a play on the greatest guru of all time. The English play will be held on Wednesday at 6pm at Kumararajah Muthiah Hall (school auditorium) Chettinad Vidyashram, RA Puram. Entry to the auditorium will close at 5.30pm.

HC notice to Tangedco on regularisation of helpers’ jobs

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:17.11.2019

Twenty-five contractual helpers engaged by the North Chennai Thermal Power Station (NCTPS)for morethan 11 years has moved the Madras high court seeking to regularise their jobs and retain them in the newly created post of gangman.

“It is well settled that continuous employment of 480 days confers the right to demand regularisation on the workmen. In the present case, workmen have worked without break from 1998 to 2009 for 11years and thereafter from August 10, 2010 till date without break. Therefore, the petitioners are entitled to a claim of regularisation and cannot be termed a back-door entry,” senior counselP Wilson said representing the petitioners.

Admitting the plea, Justice S M Subramaniam ordered notices to the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited (Tangedco) and the NCTPS, returnable by November 21.

While10,000 such contract labourers are engaged presently by NCTPS, Tangedco issued two notifications which stated that the post of gangman is newly created with additional 5,000 posts on abolition of equivalent number of posts which were lying vacant for more than three years, the petitioners alleged.

The petitioners and other similarly situated people are mostly from local areas and many of them have voluntarily parted with their land for the construction of the power plant. Therefore, in the interest of equity and justice as well, it is only fitting that the corporation gives them the first preference while recruiting gangman, Wilson said.

Sabarimala opens; Kerala cops close door for women under 50
10 AP Women Turned Back From Pamba

Anantha.K1 TNN

Sabarimala:17.11.2019

As the Sabarimala temple opened on Saturday evening for the two-month annual festival amid tight security, the Kerala police, in defiance of the Supreme Court order, stopped women pilgrims at Pamba, 5km from the hilltop temple of Lord Ayyappa, checked their documents for age proof and allowed only those above 50 to proceed. Police said 10 women from Andhra Pradesh “who were below 50” were turned back.

In September last year, the apex court had held the centuries-old ban on women and girls aged 10 to 50 unconstitutional. On Thursday, it referred the issue to a larger seven-member bench for detailed examination, without staying its 2018 verdict.

The LDF government, which was proactive in implementing 2018 Supreme Court order, had indicated on Friday that it wasn’t in favour of young women going to Sabarimala, despite Thursday’s verdict making it clear that there was no stay on allowing women to have darshan of Lord Ayyappa.

Though police refused to reveal details of the women who were forced to turn back, TOI managed to identify two of them as Manthayaru, 49, and Sati Anasooya, 38kk, both natives of Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh. The two women reached Pamba as part of a group of around 30 people who are on a pilgrimage tour of Kerala.

PILGRIMS’ PROGRESS: Mandhyaru and Sati Anasooya at Pamba after police deny them permission to climb hillock

Will uphold gender justice: Politburo

C PM politburo is learned to have reiterated the party’s commitment to uphold ideals of gender justice in religion. The two-day meeting of politburo that began in New Delhi on Saturday discussed the November 14 verdict of the SC on woman’s entry into Sabarimala, and said the LDF government must take steps to clear the ambiguities in the verdict.

Kerala deploys 1,400 policemen near the sanctum at Sabarimala

The Renaissance Protection Committee, a LDFbacked organization, said it was outraged by Saturday’s developments and criticised the ruling LDF government, saying it had “gone soft” on its stand on the issue and this would only help “weaken the cause”.

Heavy security arrangements arein place at Sabarimala. Around 1,400 police personnel have been deployed at the Sannidhanam (the area near the sanctum), led by a superintendent-rankofficer and10deputy SPs. At Pamba and Nilackal, there are around 720 and 700 police personnel respectively on duty, and this includes around 250 women police officers. In addition, separate teamsof QuickReaction Force, Rapid Action Force, police commandos and National Disaster Response Force are also deployed at theSannidhanam. At Pamba, metal detectors and X-ray scanners have been installed. More than 50 women police personnel have been entrusted with verifying women pilgrims’ ID cards.

A senior police officer told TOI that they have been instructedby the government not to permit women from the “barred age group” from climbing the hillock. “We are checking the ID cards of all women at Pamba itself to avoid further confusion at Sannidhanam. Women police officers havebeen deployed atPamba to ensure that,” he said.

Manthayaru said that they reached Pamba hoping that they could have Ayyappa darshan but the police blocked them. “We could not climb the hill as the police said we cannot go there because we are aged below 50. So, we are waiting here for others from our team to return from the temple,” she told TOI near the Ganapathi temple at Pamba.

“After finding them to be in the barred age-group, we advised them to go back. They cooperated with us and did not proceed further. Around eight other women who were part of the group also returned with them,” a policeofficer toldTOI.

As the temple opened on Saturday, thousands of devotees from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and other neighbouring states offered prayers at the temple. At 5 pm, Kandararu Mahesh Mohanararu opened the sanctum sanctorum of the temple and performed poojas.AK Sudheer Namboodiri took charge as Sabarimala ‘melshanti’ (chief priest), while MS Parameswaran Namboodiri is likely to take charge as chief priest of the adjacent Malikappuram devi temple by November 23.


FULL FAITH: Women devotees at the Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple that opened for the two-month long annual pilgrimage on Saturday