Monday, March 16, 2020

Holiday for Classes till V, no theatre in 16 TN dists

Mayilvaganan.V@timesgroup.com

Tamil Nadu on Sunday unveiled a raft of measures to contain the Covid-19 outbreak, including holiday for KG and primary schools, closure of theatres and malls, and shutting down tourist locations till March

31. Puducherry followed suit by declaring holiday for students till further orders.

A statement said the CM has directed the closure of all kindergarten (LKG and UKG) and primary schools (Class I to V) till March 31. “Theatres and malls in border taluks of Theni, Kanyakumari, Tirupur, Coimbatore, Nilgiris, Krishnagiri, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Tiruvallur, Tirupattur, Vellore, Ranipet, Erode, Dindigul, Dharmapuri and Virudhunagar districts shall remain shut till March 31,’’ the statement said. The CM has also advised people to refrain from travelling out of the state and avoid public gatherings for 15 days.

The state has also issued TN Covid-19 Regulations 2020 authorizing collectors to seal an area, bar entry/exit of population, close schools, ban vehicle movement, initiate surveillance of patients and designate buildings to isolate patients if there is a spread in geographical areas like villages, towns, city and wards.

No private laboratory should take or test samples for Covid-19, warns GO

Asking hospitals to report all suspected cases to health authorities, the GO has specified that people with symptoms should be forcefully admitted to hospitals if they refuse to cooperate. The GO warned that no privatelabshouldtake or test samples for Covid-19.

Adopting a multi-pronged approach aimed at tightening vigil at the borders, preventing the spread of the virus, improving health facilites and creating awareness on sanitation and hygiene, the CM announced a 60 crore fund for combating the virus in the state through various government departments.

EPS has also instructed authorities to intensify cleanliness drives in temples, mosques and churches where people gather in large numbers and directed district collectors to supervise the anti-virus measures.

Meanwhile, major engineering eductional institutions across the state including NIT, Trichy, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Vael’s university, SRM Institute of Science and Technology and VIT have taken a proactive step and have either suspended classes or have advanced summer holidays. IIT-Madras is yet to decide on the suspension of classes.

Following the CM’s order, district authorities across the state stepped up efforts to combat the virus. Coimbatore collector K Rajamani said10 cinema theatres in border taluks of Pollachi, Kinathukadavu and Anaimalai have been closed. Three prominent shopping malls in the city Brookefields Mall, Fun Republic Mall and Prozone Mall have announced that they are shutting down till March 31. In Krishnagiri, 22 theatres have been closed while other districts were also following suit.

Tourist places like Kovai Kutralam, Kodiveri dam and Bhavanisagar Dam too went out of bounds for the public to deter large gatherings. In Theni, besides theatres and shopping malls, popular picnic spots like Vaigai Dam Park, Kumabakkarai Falls, Megamalai, Chinnasuruli and Suruli Falls have all been shut down. Tourist places in Nilgiris, however, are not shut. The tourists are allowed after thorough screening and sanitization.

Cardamom estate workers in Theni district have been asked to stop going for work in the plantations. They were told that jobs would be given to them under MGNREGA.

Similar efforts were undertaken in Kanyakumari district which shares the border with Kerala and vigil has been tightened at check-posts to screen people entering the state with Covid-19 symptoms.

The government has assigned commissioner of revenue administration (CRA), J Radhakrishnan, to coordinate with all the departments engaged in preventive measures of the disease. District collectors have been instructed to send a daily report on measures taken by the respective administration to the CRA, who in turn, would submit a report to health minister and CM.
Engg colleges suspend classes

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

16.03.2020

Major engineering colleges have suspended classes or advanced summer holidays to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Five institutes have suspended all classes from Monday till March 31, or until further notices.

“We have advised students to go home and return after academic activities resume,” said Mini Shaji Thomas, director of National Institute of Technology, Trichy. The college has advised faculty against travelling abroad or entertaining guests from foreign countries on the campus. Students who wish to stay back in the hostels were asked to take strictly follow instructions.

Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur, has directed people with international travel history to report to its hospital. VIT and SRM Institute of Science and Technology have also declared holidays till March 31. “We have asked students to stay in touch with their faculty,” said Ishari K Ganesh, chairman, and chancellor of Vael’s University. He said the institute was helping students to book tickets to home.

Official spokespersons from SASTRA University and Sathyabama University said they are yet to decide on the holidays and will have a meeting on Monday.

However, IIT-Madras has decided not to suspend classes. “As of now, educational institutes in Tamil Nadu are functioning normally, and we have received guidelines to postpone all foreign travel and avoid large gatherings. We are rigorously implementing the medical precautions,” said Bhaskar Ramamurthi, director, IIT Madras.

Some institutions have approached the government for advice as several students have come back from Holi holidays, some after visiting infected areas in other states.

Sunday, March 15, 2020

RGUHS Declares Holidays At Its Medical Colleges Due To Coronavirus Scare 

By Garima

Published On 14 March 2020 9:00 AM | 

Updated On 14 March 2020 9:00 AM 

Bengaluru: Through a recent notice, the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) has informed about the Holidays to colleges affiliated to RGUHS in view of precautionary measures to prevent spreading of coronavirus. 

The notice clearly states, "As per the orders of Govt. of Karnataka cited under reference above, holidays are declared for colleges affiliated to Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences for one week starting from 14.03.2020 to 20 measure to prevent the spreading of avoid public/social gatherings and avoid travel as a precautionary measure. 

The holidays will not be applicable to Faculty and Office Staff of Colleges Interns and Postgraduate students AYUSH, etc. Interns and Postgraduate student working in Hospitals The heads of the institutions shall ensure that necessary preventive facilities are provided while posting the students for hospital duty. However, the University examinations will be schedule. For more details, log on to the official website of RGUHS: https://www.rguhs.ac.in/ 

https://education.medicaldialogues.in/universities/rguhs-declares-holidays-at-its-medical-colleges-due-to-coronavirus-scare-63925

'Personal WhatsApp Account Not A Public Place':Sending Of Abusive Messages On Personal Account Not An Offence U/s 294 IPC, Says Bombay HC [Read Judgment]

'Personal WhatsApp Account Not A Public Place':Sending Of Abusive Messages On Personal Account Not An Offence U/s 294 IPC, Says Bombay HC [Read Judgment]: 'WhatsApp cannot be a public place if messages are exchanged on personal accounts of two persons. If these messages had been posted on WhatsApp Group, in that case the same could have been called
'பல்கலை தற்காலிக பணியாளர்கள் நிரந்தரம் செய்ய அரசு பரிசீலனை'

Added : மார் 14, 2020 23:13

சென்னை: ''பல்கலைகளில் உள்ள தற்காலிக பணியாளர்களை, பணிநிரந்தரம் செய்வது குறித்து, அரசு பரிசீலித்து வருகிறது,'' என, உயர் கல்வித்துறை அமைச்சர், அன்பழகன் கூறினார்.

சட்டசபையில் நடந்த விவாதம்: தி.மு.க., - பொன்முடி: அண்ணாமலை பல்கலையில், ஆசிரியர் அல்லாத பணியாளர்களை, அரசு ஊழியர்களாக மாற்றுவதற்கு, அரசு நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டும். அவர்களை தொடர்ந்து, அங்கேயே பணியாற்ற, அனுமதி வழங்க வேண்டும்.உயர்கல்வித்துறை அமைச்சர் அன்பழகன்: அண்ணாமலை பல்கலையை, 2013ல் அரசு ஏற்றது. அங்கு, 12 ஆயிரத்து, 500 பேர் பணிபுரிந்து வந்தனர்.

அங்கு, 6,000 பேர் போதும். இதனால், மீதமுள்ள, 6,000 பேர் பாதிக்கப்படக்கூடாது என்பதால், அவர்களுக்கு மற்ற அரசு கல்லுாரிகளில், பணி வழங்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. தற்காலிக பணியாளர்கள், 127 பேர் பணிநிரந்தரம் செய்ய வேண்டும் என, கோரியுள்ளனர். அரசின், 13 பல்கலைகளிலும், இந்த கோரிக்கை உள்ளது. இந்த பிரச்னையை தீர்க்க, அரசு பரிசீலித்து வருகிறது.
பெற்றோரை பராமரிக்காத மகன் வீட்டை ஒப்படைக்க உத்தரவு

Added : மார் 14, 2020 22:43

ஸ்ரீவில்லிபுத்துார்: பெற்றோரை பராமரிக்காமல் சண்டையிட்ட மகன் தனது வீட்டை காலி செய்து தந்தையிடம் ஒப்படைக்க சிவகாசி சப்கலெக்டர் தினேஷ்குமார் உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளார்.

விருதுநகர் மாவட்டம் ஸ்ரீவில்லிபுத்துாரை சேர்ந்தவர் முத்து. இவர் மனைவியுடன் தனது வீட்டில் வசித்து வருகிறார். மகன் கருப்பையா மற்றும் குடும்பத்தினர் வீட்டின் மாடியில் குடியிருந்து வருகின்றனர். இவர் பெற்றோரை பராமரிக்காமல் தினமும் சண்டையிட்டு வந்துள்ளார்.இதை தொடர்ந்து மகன் குடும்பத்தை வீட்டை விட்டு வெளியேற்றி வீட்டை தங்களிடம் ஒப்படைக்க கோரி சிவகாசி சப் கலெக்டர் தினேஷ்குமாரிடம் முத்து மனு அளித்தார்.விசாரணை நடத்திய சப்கலெக்டர் ஒரு மாத காலத்திற்குள் வீட்டை காலி செய்து முத்துவிடம் ஒப்படைக்க மகன் கருப்பையாவிற்கு உத்திரவிட்டார்.
சென்னை கூட்டத்தால், 'வெட்டிச்செலவு' 'சிண்டிகேட்' உறுப்பினர்கள் அதிருப்தி

Added : மார் 14, 2020 22:39

கோவை: கோவை பாரதியார் உட்பட பிற பல்கலைகளின், 'சிண்டிகேட்' கூட்டம், சென்னையில் நடத்தப்படுவதால், தேவையற்ற செலவினம், சிரமங்கள் ஏற்படுவதாக, உறுப்பினர்கள் அதிருப்தி தெரிவித்துஉள்ளனர்.

கடந்த ஆண்டுகளில், கோவை பாரதியார் பல்கலையில், துணைவேந்தர் இல்லாத சமயத்தில், உயர்கல்வி துறை முன்னாள் செயலர் மங்கத்ராம் சர்மா தலைமையில், சிண்டிகேட் கூட்டங்கள், சென்னை செயலர் அலுவலகத்தில் நடத்தப்பட்டன.தற்போது, துணைவேந்தராக காளிராஜ் செயல்பட்டு வரும் நிலையிலும், சிண்டிகேட் கூட்டம் வரும், 20ம் தேதி, சென்னை செயலர் அலுவலகத்தில் நடக்க உள்ளது.

இதற்கு, உறுப்பினர்கள் கடும் எதிர்ப்பு தெரிவித்துள்ளனர்.பல லட்சம், 'காலி'பாரதியார் பல்கலையில் இருந்து, 12 சிண்டிகேட் உறுப்பினர்கள், அலுவலக பணியாளர்கள், நிர்வாக அதிகாரிகள், ஓட்டுனர் என, 20 பேர், இக்கூட்டத்துக்காக சென்னை செல்ல உள்ளனர்.

இவர்களுக்கான, விமான டிக்கெட், தனித்தனி வாகன வசதி, நட்சத்திர ஓட்டல், உணவு என, பல்வேறு பிரிவுகளில் செலவினங்கள் உள்ளன. ஒரு கூட்டத்துக்கு, குறைந்தபட்சம், 5 லட்சம் ரூபாய் செலவாகும் எனக், கூறப்படுகிறது.

இதுபோன்ற, அனைத்து பல்கலைகளின் நிர்வாகிகளும் சென்று வந்தால், பல லட்சம் தேவையின்றி செலவிட வேண்டிஇருக்கும்.அறிவுறுத்தல்சிண்டிகேட் உறுப்பினர் ஒருவர் கூறுகையில், 'சிண்டிகேட் கூட்டம், பல்கலை வளாகத்தில் நடத்த வேண்டும் என்பதே விதிமுறை. தற்போது, பட்ஜெட் கூட்டம் நடப்பதால், அனைவரையும் சென்னை வர அறிவுறுத்தியுள்ளனர்.'

சனி, ஞாயிற்று கிழமைகளில், பட்ஜெட் கூட்டத்தொடர் இல்லாத நிலையில், பல்கலை கூட்டத்தில், செயலர் உள்ளிட்ட பிறர் பங்கேற்கலாம். 'ஆனால், அவரவர் வசதிக்காக, பல்கலைக்கு தேவையற்ற செலவினங்களை ஏற்படுத்தி வருகின்றனர்' என்றார்.துணைவேந்தர் விளக்கம்துணைவேந்தர் காளிராஜ் கூறியதாவது:பட்ஜெட் கூட்டத்தொடர் நடப்பதால், செயலர் மற்றும் பிற துறை செயலர்கள், அதிகாரிகள் வெளி மாவட்டங்களுக்கு செல்ல இயலாது. மார்ச் இறுதிக்குள், அனைத்து பல்கலையின் நிதிக்குழு கூட்டம் நடத்தப்பட வேண்டும்.பாரதியார் பல்கலையின் நிதிக்குழு கூட்டம், 20ம் தேதி காலையும், சிண்டிகேட் கூட்டம், மதியமும் நடத்த திட்டமிடப்பட்டுள்ளது.

கூட்டத்தில், உயர்கல்வித் துறை செயலர், நிதித் துறை அதிகாரிகள், கல்லுாரி கல்வி இயக்குனர் பங்கேற்க உள்ளனர். இதன் காரணமாக, கூட்டம் சென்னையில் நடத்தப்படுகிறது. இனி வரும் காலங்களில், கட்டாயம் பல்கலையில் தான் நடக்கும்.இவ்வாறு, அவர் கூறினார்.

'கொரோனா' பீதிமத்திய, மாநில அரசுகள், 'கொரோனா' தடுப்பு நடவடிக்கையை, தீவிரமாக மேற்கொண்டு வருகின்றன. தேவையற்ற பயணங்களை தவிர்க்க, அதிகாரிகள் அறிவுறுத்தியுள்ளனர்.

இந்நிலையில், ஒவ்வொரு பல்கலையில் இருந்தும், 20 பேர் சிண்டிகேட் கூட்டத்துக்காக, சென்னை சென்று வருவது, உறுப்பினர்கள் மத்தியில் அச்சத்தை ஏற்படுத்தியுள்ளது.
அச்சம் என்பது மடமையடா... கைகள் கழுவுவது கடமையடா.
..
Added : மார் 14, 2020 22:19

இந்தியர்களுக்கு இயற்கையிலேயே நோய் எதிர்ப்பு சக்தி அதிகம் இருப்பதால், 'கொரோனா'வை கண்டு அஞ்ச தேவையில்லை.

'வைரஸ்' பாதிக்காதவர்களுக்கு முகக்கவசம் அவசியமில்லை. கைகளை நன்றாக கழுவினாலே போதும். கொரோனா வைரஸ் குடும்பத்தில் இருந்து, 'கோவிட் - 19' வைரஸ் சீனாவின் வூஹான் நகரில் இருந்து கிளம்பியது. இப்போது இந்தியா, இத்தாலி உட்பட உலக நாடுகளை மிரட்டுகிறது.

இந்த வைரசை விட ஆயிரம் மடங்கு வேகமாக, சமூக வலைதளங்களில் வதந்திகள் பரவுகின்றன. மக்கள் அச்சத்தில் உறைந்துஉள்ளனர். இறப்பு குறைவுஉண்மையில், கொரோனாவால் உயிரிழப்பு குறைவு. வூஹானில் இறப்பு சதவீதம், 5.6 என்றால், ஒட்டுமொத்த சீனாவில், 0.7 சதவீதம் தான். 9 வயதுக்கு உட்பட்ட குழந்தைகள் ஒருவர் கூட உயிரிழக்கவில்லை.அதேபோல, 60 வயதுக்கு உட்பட்டவர்களுக்கும் பெரிய பாதிப்பு இல்லை. 80 வயதை கடந்து சர்க்கரை, இதய பாதிப்பு, கேன்சர், மூச்சுப் பிரச்னை உள்ளவர்களை தான் அதிகம் தாக்குகிறது. தற்போது, மருந்து கள் இல்லாததால், முன் எச்சரிக்கை நடவடிக்கை மூலம் எளிதில் தப்பலாம்.

காக்குமா கவசம்?

இந்தியாவில் பாதிக்கப்பட்டவர்கள் விரைவாக குணம்அடைந்து வருவதால், பதற்றப்பட வேண்டாம். கள்ள சந்தையில், ஆறு மடங்கு விலை கொடுத்து, 'மாஸ்க்' வாங்க வேண்டாம். முகக்கவசம் உங்களை முழுமையாக பாதுகாக்காது.ஏனெனில் காற்று மூலம், கொரோனா பரவாது. பாதிக்கப்பட்டவர், தும்மும் போது தெறிக்கும் நீர்த்துளிகள் மூலமே பரவும். யாராவது உங்களது முகத்திற்கு நேராக தும்மினால் அல்லது இருமினால் மட்டுமே கவசம் பாதுகாக்கும்.நீங்கள், 'மாஸ்க்' அணிந்திருந்தால், அதை சரி செய்வதற்கு அடிக்கடி கையால் முகத்தை தொடுவீர்கள். ஒவ்வொரு முறையும் கைகளை கழுவி இருக்க மாட்டீர்கள்.ஒருவேளை, வைரஸ் பரவி இருக்கும் மேஜை, நாற்காலியை தொட்ட பின், மாஸ்கை சரி செய்யும் போது, உங்களது அசுத்தமான கைகள் முகத்தில் படும். அப்போது கண், மூக்கு, வாய் வழியாக வைரஸ் உடலில் செல்லும். எனவே, வைரஸ் உங்களை பாதித்திருக்கும் என்று உணர்ந்தால் மட்டும் மாஸ்க் அணியுங்கள்.

இதன் மூலம் மற்றவர்களுக்கு, வைரஸ் பரவாமல் தடுக்கலாம்.பலமான இந்தியாஉலகில் இந்தியர்களுக்கு தான் நோய் எதிர்ப்பு சக்தி அதிகம். அசுத்தமான சூழலில், மாசுபட்ட பகுதியில் வாழ்ந்து பழகியவர்கள். இதனால், வளர்ந்த நாடுகளின் மக்களைவிட நமக்கு எதிர்ப்பு சக்தி கூடுதல். 2003ல், 'சார்ஸ்' வைரஸ், 29 நாடுகளில் பரவியதில், ஆயிரக்கணக்கானோர் பலியாகினர்.அப்போது இந்தியாவில் வெறும், மூன்று பேரே பாதிக்கப்பட்டனர்.

அவர்களும் விரைவாக குணம்அடைந்தனர். கடந்த, 2012ல் மத்திய கிழக்கு நாடுகளை தாக்கிய, 'மெர்ஸ்' வைரஸ், இந்தியா பக்கம் எட்டிக் கூட பார்க்கவில்லை. அமெரிக்காவில், 2010 - 11 முதல், 2018 - 19 வரை புளூ காய்ச்சலால், ஆண்டுக்கு, 37 ஆயிரத்து, 444 பேர் என்ற விகிதத்தில், 3 லட்சத்து, 37 ஆயிரம் பேர் மரணம் அடைந்தனர். இதுவே, இந்தியா வில் புளூ காய்ச்சலுக்கு, 2010 - 19 கால கட்டத்தில், 11 ஆயிரத்து 30 பேர் மட்டுமே மரணம் அடைந்தனர்.

அமெரிக்காவுடன் ஒப்பிடுகையில், நான்கு மடங்கு அதிக மக்கள் இருந்த போதும், நமது இறப்பு விகிதம் குறைவாக உள்ளது. நாம் எதையும் தாங்கும் பலமான உடல் அமைப்பை பெற்றவர்கள்.தேவையில்லாமல் பீதியடையாதீர்கள். அவசியமில்லாமல் மாஸ்க் வாங்கி பணத்தை வீணாக்காதீர். சாப்பிடுவதற்கு முன் கை கழுவும் பழக்கம் நமக்கு உண்டு. இனி அடிக்கடி கைகளை சுத்தமாக கழுவுவோம். எதற்கும் அஞ்சாமல் அன்றாட வாழ்க்கையை தொடருவோம்.
மாநகராட்சி பணியில் அசத்தும் கோவை எம்.பி.ஏ.,பட்டதாரி

Updated : மார் 14, 2020 06:51 | Added : மார் 14, 2020 06:49 |

கோவை: கோவையில் எம்.பி.ஏ., படித்துவிட்டு எம்.என்.சி நிறுவனத்தில் மனித வள மேம்பாட்டு அதிகாரியாக பணியாற்றிய கோவை பட்டதாரி ஒருவர் மாநகராட்சி துப்புரவு பணியாளராக பணியில் சேர்ந்து வியப்பளிக்கிறார்.





கோவை மாநகராட்சியில் 549 நிரந்தர துப்புரவு பணியாளர் காலி பணியிடங்களுக்கு தேர்வு நடந்தது, தமிழில் எழுத படிக்க தெரிந்தால் போதும் என அறிவிக்கப்பட்ட நிலையில் எம்.பி.ஏ., பட்டாதாரிகள் உட்பட 7 ஆயிரத்துக்கும் அதிகமானோர் விண்ணப்பித்திருந்தனர்.
நேர்காணல் நடத்தப்பட்டு இட ஒதுக்கீட்டின் அடிப்படையில் சமீபத்தில் 321 பேருக்கு பணி நியமன ஆணை வழங்கப்பட்டது. இதில் பணி நியமனம் பெற்ற பட்டதாரிகளில் எம்.பி.ஏ., படித்த சையத் முக்தார் அகமது என்பவரும் ஒருவர். கோவையை சேர்ந்த இவர் ஐதாராபாத்தில் எம்.என்,சி நிறுவனம் ஒன்றில் மனித வள மேம்பாட்டு அதிகாரியாக பணியாற்றினார். அந்த பணியை உதறிவிட்டு துப்புரவு பணியை கையில் எடுத்து கோவை மாநகராட்சி மத்திய மண்டலத்தில் பணியாற்றி வருகிறார்.




அரசு வேலையில் பணி நிரந்தரம், பாதுகாப்பு இருப்பதால், ரூ.35 ஆயிரம் மாத சம்பளம் பெற்ற, தனியார் நிறுவன வேலையை உதறிவிட்டு, ரூ.16 ஆயிரம் சம்பளத்தில் பணியில் சேர்ந்துள்ளதாகவும்,எந்த பணியும் இழிவானது இல்லை எனவும், இது டாக்டர் சேவை பணிக்கும் மேலானது என்ற மன நிறைவுடன் பணிபுரிவதாக கூறும் சையத் முக்தார் அகமதுவை நாமும் பாராட்டுவோம்.
Sastra to set up STEM labs in 10 TN schools

TNN | Mar 14, 2020, 04.26 AM IST

Trichy: SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, has selected 10 schools in Tamil Nadu to set up SASTRA-CNR Rao laboratories. Named after Indian chemist C N R Rao, the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) lab is aimed at strengthening science and technology-based learning at the school level.

Each of the 10 schools will get a lab worth Rs 5 lakh. These labs will have Do-It-Yourself (DIY) kits on robotics, Internet of Things (IoT), 3D printing, artificial intelligence (AI) and drones.

SASTRA had called for competitive proposal submission from schools across Tamil Nadu. More than a hundred schools submitted their proposals from which 25 schools were shortlisted for interaction and presentation.

The schools are, Adhyapana School (Madurai), Swami Dayananda School (Manjakudi), Chinmaya Vidyalaya Matriculation (Trichy), Government Model Girls Higher Secondary School (Manachanallur), Sri Matha Matriculation Higher Secondary School (Kumbakonam), PSBB (Chennai), Akshaya Academy (Coimbatore), PS Senior Secondary School (Chennai), Gurukulam Matriculation (Chengalpet) and Sitadevi Garodia Hindu Vidyalaya, (Chengalpet).

Schools have been selected from rural and urban areas based on the requirement and interest level of the teachers and management to utilize the new laboratory to the students from Classes VI to XII. While a few schools opted to use this lab up to Class IX by adopting this during the working hours others opted it as special course. tnn
AI Express puts off launch of flights to Abu Dhabi, Doha

TNN | Mar 15, 2020, 04.28 AM IST

Trichy: Air India Express has postponed the launch of services to Abu Dhabi and Doha from Trichy in view of Covid-19 threat, while Air Asia has suspended it service to Kuala Lumpur for two days citing operational reasons.

“Air India Express announced that the commencement of Trichy-Doha service will commence only after further instruction from the State of Qatar,” authorities from Trichy international airport said. The Abu Dhabi service will start from May 15.

Air India Express had earlier announced that it would start non-stop flights from Trichy to Abu Dhabi (four days a week) and Doha (three days a week) apart from a direct flight to Delhi via Madurai from March 28. All the additions also reflect in the summer schedule of Trichy international airport.

The director general of civil aviation has appealed the airlines to support their passengers during this tough period by waiving off cancellation or rescheduling fees or by providing other incentives.

As per the civil aviation notification, passengers who have booked on the Air India Express flight to Abu Dhabi can rebook on the Trichy-Dubai or Trichy-Sharjah flights – also operated by Air India Express - without any charges.
New Covid-19 testing lab at Tiruvarur med college hosp

TNN | Mar 15, 2020, 04.30 AM IST

Tiruvarur: A new testing facility for Covid-19 has become operational at the Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) of the Government Medical College Hospital in Tiruvarur on Saturday. This is the third Covid-19 testing facility after King Institute of Preventive Medicine in Chennai and Government Medical College in Theni, set up by the Tamil Nadu government. “The operation of the testing facility commenced at our hospital today (Saturday). With the new setup, we can test the swab of the patients and check the results at the earliest. The doctors and lab technicians have been posted to take care of the process,” dean of the hospital, Dr J Muthukumaran told TOI.

Muthukumaran said the lab will be functioning as the testing centre for swabs taken in their hospital and referred from government hospitals in neighbouring districts like Trichy, Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Pudukottai etc.

The real time polymerase chain reaction (rtPCR) that was already installed in the lab will be utilized for Covid-19 testing. T

he swab taken from the throat and nose of the patient will be put through a chain of processes to get the results. VRDL in Tiruvarur is one of the nine such labs in Tamil Nadu. The rtPCR has been equipped with the facility to test 32 samples at a time.
Covid-19 scare: 24 hours on, techie finds way back from Italy

TNN | Mar 15, 2020, 07.10 AM IST


COIMBATORE: A software developer stranded in Italy returned home on Saturday morning after several phone calls, detailed planning and three flights.

While the Centre was allowing Indians stranded in Italy to return with a Covid-19 negative certificate, Srinithin Jayabal was stuck in Rome as doctors refused to subject him to the test as he didn't show any symptoms.

He finally went to another European country, which he didn't wish to name, flew to Delhi and then took a third flight to Coimbatore. Jayabal describes his return to India at 1am on Saturday as an "adventure". He used his business contacts in Europe, including sources in the Vatican church, to find other European countries with almost no or a low number of Covid-19 cases. " I confirmed that flights from that country were going to India daily. I then flew to that country from Rome on Friday and took a direct flight to New Delhi. I am relieved the immigration authorities here cleared my entry after a detailed check-up. They found me to be fine."

Jayabal, however, has decided to quarantine himself for 14 days. The techie, who flew to Italy on February 26, was stranded there since Wednesday, when the country came under a lockdown. On Tuesday, the country recorded more than 10,000 Covid-19 cases. "I was staying in a hotel. But the plight of many other Indians, including a pregnant woman with a child, was pathetic. They were in the airport for two days."

What made the situation worse for Indians was shutting down of all consular services by the Indian embassy. "As a result, there was no update or news for the stranded people from the hotline operator."

On March 10, Jayabal and 15 other Indians were not allowed to board their flight to India by the Emirates authorities. The airline said the Indian government had instructed them not to allow Indian passport holders to return from Italy without Covid-19 negative certificates. "Getting tested for the virus in Italy is not allowed without symptoms, because the hospitals are booked to capacity. So, it was impossible to get the certificate. My mails and tweets to the external affairs ministry yielded no response," said Jayabal describing the desperate times that he went through.
Woman to deliver fifth child after HC suggests counselling

TNN | Mar 14, 2020, 04.43 AM IST

Madurai: A woman who sought pregnancy termination after a failed family planning surgery, agreed to deliver her fifth child after the Madras high court suggested counselling to her. The court also directed the Madurai district collector to examine the possibility of disbursing financial support to the woman and providing temporary government job to her husband.

The petitioner, a 35-year-old woman who was married in 2007 had three daughters and a son. On April 14, 2014, she underwent family planning surgery at a primary health centre in Virudhunagar district. Recently, when the petitioner underwent medical examination, she learnt that she was pregnant.

The petitioner moved the high court Madurai bench seeking compensation for medical negligence and also sought termination of pregnancy. Hearing the plea, Justice C V Karthikeyan suggested counselling to the woman.

Pursuant to the counselling, the doctor submitted a report stating that the petitioner had agreed to have her fifth child.

Taking note of the report, the judge observed that the court shall take up the responsibility of her family since the family planning surgery which she underwent voluntarily ended in failure. Since the woman’s family is presently residing in Madurai district, the judge gave the direction to the Madurai collector.
Palaniswami lays stone for Dindigul govt med college

TNN | Mar 15, 2020, 04.20 AM IST

Madurai: Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, who laid the foundation stone for the Rs 327 crore government medical college in Dindigul, on Saturday took the opportunity to ask the people to take necessary precautions to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

“This virus is said to have spread to 118 countries and we have to take necessary precautions being detailed by the health department through the media and newspapers. Any person with symptoms of cough, fever or breathlessness should report to the nearest hospital,” he said.

Though the government has been discouraging large gatherings and asking people to also avoid unnecessary travel, over 15,000 people gathered at the venue of the government medical college at Adhiyanoothu village panchayat in Odukkam. However, all of them were provided with hand sanitizer and asked to disinfect themselves before entering the venue. Police and other officials wore masks and arrangement was made for health officials to demonstrate how people should wash their hands to remain free of the infection.

Listing out the achievements of the AIADMK government, he said it was their endeavour to excel in all departments of administration. The number of medical seats in Tamil Nadu since Independence up to 2011 was only 1,945. Only as many students could enter the medical education system every year. Late chief minister J Jayalalithaa enhanced it by 885. Last year, his government obtained 350 more seats from the Union government and now 1,650 new seats were to be created in the 11 new medical colleges being established in the districts. The Tamil Nadu government is the only one to have achieved this yeoman task in just one and a half years, he said.

He said 70% of the deliveries in Tamil Nadu happened in government hospitals and 90% of the medical vacancies had been filled in the state. As many as 31,616 vacancies of doctors had also been filled, he said. Deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam, health minister Dr C Vijaya Baskar, minister Dindigul C Srinivasan, health secretary Dr Beela Rajesh, Dindigul district collector M Vijayalakshmi among others were present.
Honoring Maruthakasi, the legendary Tamil lyricist, in his centenary year

So sang comedian-turned-politician Karunas, the MLA for Thiruvadanai, during a recent session of the State Assembly.

Published: 15th March 2020 05:52 AM 



Express News Service

TIRUCHY: Kadavul ennum mudhalali kandedutha thozilali..
Vivasayee!

So sang comedian-turned-politician Karunas, the MLA for Thiruvadanai, during a recent session of the State Assembly. He was praising Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami for announcing the Cauvery delta as a protected special agriculture zone. The selection of song could not have been more appropriate as Palaniswami has tried to draw on the legacy of AIADMK founder and filmstar M G Ramachandran and Vivasayee is from a popular MGR film.

The song owes its timelessness — in capturing the lives of farmers and boosting the image of political leaders — to its lyrics, penned by the versatile A Maruthakasi. As his centenary year draws to a close without much fanfare, his verses have gained significance again amidst a political churn, last seen in Tamil Nadu when his associate MGR left the DMK to start the then ADMK. The association was creatively and politically fruitful for both.

MGR’s favourite

Maruthakasi was born on February 13, 1920, in Melakudikadu, a village on the banks of the Kollidam in what is now Ariyalur district. His mother, Milagaayi Ammal, a talented folk singer and father, Ayyamperumal, an agriculturist, had a strong influence on his writing. He started writing lyrics for songs sung in dramas that performed near his village. He got his film break after singer Tiruchy Loganathan performed one of his drama songs at an audition at Salem Modern Theatres. The owner of Modern Theatres, T R Sundaram, intrigued by the lyrics, sent for Maruthakasi to write songs for his films made by him. Thus, he made his debut in Mayavathi in 1949, bringing an authenticity and understanding to lyrics about agriculture rarely seen in film songs before.

One of MGR’s favourite lyricists, he dominated the industry for the three decades. “As far as I know only two Tamil film heroes completely understood the power of songs. One was N S Krishnan and the other one was M G Ramachandran. We have heard of the instances of MGR waiting for months for songs with attractive lyrics in his films,” lyricist Yuga Barathi said. To such a star, the versatile Maruthakasi was invaluable. So much so that when Maruthakasi quit the profession and returned to his village between 1963 and 1967, it was MGR — recovering from a gunshot wound — who ensured his comeback.

“One telling instance of MGR’s fondness towards Maruthakasi is what happened during the filming of Ninaithathai Mudippavan. In the film, MGR played dual roles. He was not satisfied with the lyrics written by Kannadhasan for one song and sent for Maruthakasi. The lyricist gave him the popular Kannai nambathey unnai yemattrum,” Yuga Barathi said.

Versatile writer

“Maruthakasi was gifted with the ability to instantly write for a range of situations and genres. Some lyricists are only comfortable writing love songs while some prefer philosophical songs and others songs of a particular genre. Maruthakasi was an all-rounder,” said lyricist Piraisoodan.For instance, his lullaby song Neelavanna Kanna Vaada was popular. For a cremation scene in the movie Rambaiyin Kadhal, he penned the evergreen – Samarasam ulavum idamey – in which he described the crematorium as a place of equality, where people regardless of caste or class were cremated. In fact, a significant number of Tamil film songs from 1950 to 1960, were written by Maruthakasi. By the time he retired, he had written close to 4,000 songs and worked with some 50 music composers.

People’s language

According to Piraisoodan, before Maruthakasi’s entry into the industry, lyrics were not much understood by common people.“It was Maruthakasi who brought the people’s language into film songs. If you read his lyrics even without music they are clear and meaningful,” he said. It was Maruthakasi who wrote songs for the first colour Tamil movie Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum, starring MGR. Maasila unmai kaadhale marumo selvam vantha pothiley was a hit love song from the film. In another song - Azhagana ponnu than athukketha kannu than - in the same movie, the woman would respond, in the next line, with ‘I have nothing but self-respect’.

Even in love songs, Maruthakasi injected social messages. In the film Aadavantha Deivam there is a song featuring a couple stuck in a hut with a leaky roof amidst a downpour. The lyricist wrote a song for the situation, Sottu sottunu sottuthu paru ingey, in which he compares the drops of rain to the sweat dripping from the forehead of a toiling poor man. In the same song, he compares the downpour to the harsh words used by some wealthy people against the people of the lower classes.“A majority of his songs bear social messages. Similarly, almost all his songs reflect the lives of the common people,” said Maruthabarani, the lyricist’s son.

Son of the soil

As evidenced by Karunas’ performance, Maruthakasi’s songs on agriculture remain popular among the farmers. Another of his famous songs about farmers is Yer munaikku ner inga yethuvume ilai (Nothing in the world is equal to the tip of a plough). Many present-day lyricists express wonder at his turn of phrase and believe none but Maruthakasi could write such songs about farming. “Many confuse some of Maruthakasi’s songs with Pattukottai Kalyanasundaram songs. Given that Kalyanasundaram was known as a leftist, Maruthakasi songs were equally rational and progressive,” Madhukkur Ramalingam, CPM functionary and writer, said.

Admirers cite his song - Manapparai maadukatti Mayavaram yeru pootti - in the Sivaji-starer Makkalai Petra Maharasi, to highlight Maruthakasi’s knowledge of farming. “In this song, he mentions the names of places across Tamil Nadu known for specific farming activities. If you analyse the lyrics, you learn of Manapparai bull, Mayavaram plough, Athur kichadi samba rice, Madurai harvesters, Pollachi market and Virudhunagar traders,” Ramalingam pointed out.“This listing of several places in a song was first attempted by Maruthakasi. Later on, lyricist Vairamuthu tried something similar with Thanjavur mannu eduthu, Thamiraparani thanni vittu,” Ramalingam said.

The Tamil Nadu government nationalized his works in 2007, 18 years after his death.Now, his admirers and family urge the government to install his statue and institute an annual award for best song in his name. Such a gesture in Maruthakasi’s centenary year would lead to future generations not only singing and appreciating his timeless songs but also remembering the name of the man who penned them.
New trend: Drugs come by courier

A 23-yr-old college student was arrested under NDPS for his alleged involvement in the case

Published: 14th March 2020 06:33 AM 


By Express News Service

CHENNAI: An innocuous-looking parcel from The Netherlands that claimed to contain wedding cards had blue ‘punisher’ pills, a mega-dose Ecstasy pills which is apparently three times stronger than most others pills used in rave parties. Addressed to a person in Mysuru, Postal Intelligence officers of Air Customs detained the parcel at Foreign Post Office at Meenambakkam after they found it contained some blue-coloured tablets.

Chennai Air Customs Commissioner Rajan Chaudhary said the tablets were tested with narcotics testing kit and it was found to be methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA), a narcotic substance.“We found 384 gm of tablets suspected to be MDMA, valued at Rs 30 lakh, and they were seized under NDPS Act 1985,” he said, adding it is one of the major seizures by customs in recent times.

He also said searches were carried out at Mysuru address of the consignee. “The 23-year-old youth, who is a graduate of JSS Science and Technology University in Mysuru was arrested under NDPS for his alleged involvement in the case. He is said to have told officials that the pills are in high demand in parties held frequently in Bengaluru and Mysuru,” said Chaudhary.

Ecstasy and Molly, a party drug that alters mood and perception are chemically similar to both stimulants and hallucinogens and produce feelings of increased energy and pleasure. The seized blue tablets are known blue ‘punisher pills’ bearing skull mark and contain 250-300 mg of MDMA which is a high dosage. This pill has caused numerous deaths in the UK, the commissioner said.

A narcotic substance

The tablets were tested with narcotics testing kit and it was found to be a narcotic substance, one of the major seizures by customs
Coronavirus: Around 100 flights cancelled in 40 days from Chennai airport

Similarly, 62 flights have been cancelled in March.

Published: 15th March 2020 05:42 AM 


Information on flights being displayed at the Chennai airport on Saturday | Martin Louis

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: There are very few takers for the freebies airlines are offering these days. Given the current situation, nearly 100 flights have been cancelled at Chennai over the last 40 days. According to information obtained by Express, 37 flights were cancelled in February alone, which included 9 from Indigo, 6 from Malaysian Airlines, 2 from Batik Air, 2 from Singapore Airlines, 4 from Lufthansa and 14 from Cathay Pacific.

Similarly, 62 flights have been cancelled in March. These include 6 from Kuwait Airlines, 4 from Sri Lankan Airlines, 6 from Thai Airways, 29 from Indigo and 17 from Air India. After the travel ban advisory, a total of 21 services, 10 arrivals and 11 departures, have been cancelled and sources predict more cancellations. According to Chennai airport, 10 flights, including two to domestic destinations have been cancelled. Eleven departures stood cancelled. However, details pertaining to how many foreigners flew out of Chennai following deadline on visa clamp could not be gathered. 

On March 5, IATA estimated that the crisis could wipe out $113 billion of revenue. Airlines will need emergency measures to get through the crisis. “Air transport is vital, but without a lifeline from governments, we will have a sectoral financial crisis piled on top of the public health emergency,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO.
SCs, OBCs fear losing benefits under new scholarship plan

15/03/2020

D. Ravikumar, MP from Villupuram, who raised the issue in the Lok Sabha on Friday, found fault with the changes being mooted by the Central government. The inclusion of the criterion of merit might render “a large number of deserving Dalit students ineligible” to get the scholarship, which was, after all, being given only to those who pursued higher studies. Mr. Bharathan said that given the relative disadvantage that the SC students would be faving vis-a-vis OBC students, there was a chance of the latter eating into the share of the former. [However, as per a document of the Central government, out of the annual 62 lakh student-beneficiaries, SCs will account for 42 lakh].

“Let the Central government frame a separate scheme for OBC students. We have no objection,” he said.

While Mr. Ravikumar wants the Centre to retain the post-matric scheme and give it a higher allocation, Mr. Bharathan suggests that the State government absorb the full cost of the scheme. Even now, it has allocated about ₹1,950 crore for 2020-21 towards the scheme.

“If the outlay can be increased ₹2,000 crore, there would not be much problem,” he adds.

A senior official of the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department says the State government is formulating its response to the Centre’s proposal.
COVID-19 victim cremated after initial refusal

We had to seek permission from North Delhi Municipal Corporation: authorities

15/03/2020, STAFF REPORTER ,NEW DELHI

The body of a 68-year-old woman from Delhi, who succumbed to COVID-19, was cremated at Nigambhod Ghat on Saturday after initially being denied permission by the crematorium, said her family.

“We reached the crematorium by 10.30 a.m., but the authorities refused to cremate the body. They said they did not have any guidelines from the Health Department about coronavirus victims. We refused to go back and had to wait for about two-and-a-half hours for the cremation,” said Sanjeev Arora, the deceased’s relative.

“There was some confusion initially and the body was later cremated at the CNG crematorium,” said Ashok Rawat, a North Delhi Municipal Corporation health officer.

The family said that the government should have made better arrangements. “The government knew about the death. We had come to the crematorium in an RML Hospital ambulance and had to wait for hours,” Mr. Arora said.

Suman Gupta, the coordinator of an NGO, which runs the crematorium, said that the delay was because they had to seek permission from the north civic body. “This was a special case and we had to seek permission. As soon as we were granted the permission, we made arrangements for the cremation,” he said.

‘Safety gears’

Mr. Rawat said that the “initial confusion” was because it is a “new disease”. “The confusion was cleared and safety precautions were also taken. Two persons from the crematorium who helped the hospital staff in the cremation were also provided headgears, goggles, gloves, and shoes,” he said.
Bizarre event

15/03/2020

Mahasabha prescription A member of the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha drinking cow urine at a ‘gau mutra party’ organised by the group in New Delhi on Saturday. Swami Chakrapani, the Mahasabha chief, claimed the liquid is the “only cure” for COVID-19 .Getty Images
‘No more wait at the Vaikuntam complex’

15/03/2020,TIRUMALA

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has decided to temporarily scrap the system of making pilgrims wait at the Vaikuntam

Queue Complex prior to  their darshan of Lord Venkateswara. 

Normally pilgrims wait between two and 10 hours at the complex. In view of the COVID threat, the TTD has decided to strictly follow the ‘time slot’ system in darshan and let in the pilgrims on an hourly basis. The new system will come into force on Tuesday. Pilgrims should report at the complex only at the time mentioned in darshan tickets.
Watermelons and tender coconuts flood market

15/03/2020, STAFF REPORTER,MADURAI


Watermelons stocked on Kamarajar Salai near Vandiyur Teppakulam in Madurai on Saturday. G. Moorthy

With rising temperature in the city over the past few days, there is a good demand for tasty and delicious watermelon, along with tender coconuts and ice apples (nungu).

The pavements in Madurai are flooded with bright green watermelons, which are sold in forms of fruits, juices and salads. A kilogram of watermelon fruit is sold between ₹ 18 and ₹25.

P. Pandi, a watermelon vendor on Melur Main Road, says that business has been brisk owing to soaring temperature.

“Over the past two days, we have sold around 750 kg of melons,” he says. He adds that most of Madurai’s melon flow comes from Tindivanam in addition to a special variety of melons from Bengaluru which is small and has a pink interior.

Also, in order to quench their thirst due to scorching sun, customers make a beeline to spots where tender coconuts are sold. They are sold between ₹25 and ₹60 depending on the size.

The nuts are usually brought from Pollachi for their superior taste.

There is a huge patronage for tender coconuts despite being sold at higher cost, says N. Kathiresan, a vendor. He says that due to higher demand he could sell 100 additional tender coconuts each day over the last week.

S. Kathiravel, a marketing professional who travels throughout the city, says that he takes at least three breaks during a day to avoid dehydration.

“I make sure that I either eat a piece of watermelon or drink tender coconut water during each break to regain energy,” he says. The sales of another summer favourite, the tasty ice apples, have also started picking up in the city.

While a piece of ice apple is sold around ₹ 7, each mug of palmyrah fruit juice is sold at ₹10.

B. Muthumani, a vendor from Tenkasi district, says that a group of sellers from his place commutes to Madurai to sell ice apples for the past week.

“Due to good rains, we were able to harvest our yield early this year. As the season progresses more hawkers will sell their produce ,” he says.

Late night food delivery options at restaurants on the rise

We see some change in the regular mindset of people: restaurateurs

15/03/2020, P.A. NARAYANI ,SANJANA GANESHMADURAI


Preparation of late dinner at a hotel in Madurai. G. Moorthy

Restaurants in Madurai are seeing an overall spurt in people dining out and ordering food late at night. With Tamil Nadu government permitting shops and commercial establishments employing over 10 people to stay open for 24 hours, restaurateurs say that they are starting to see some change in the regular mindset of people.

Proprietor of the Temple City hotel K.L. Kumar who has opened the city’s first 24*7 restaurant, says that though Madurai has carried the tag of ‘Thoonga Nagaram’ for years, there have been no fully-functional restaurants serving food beyond 11 p.m.

“Since our restaurant is located opposite the bus stand in Mattuthavani, there are a lot of customers who stop over for food at odd hours. The aim is to ensure that they have a dine-in option,” he says.

R. Manohar, who manages Bismi Biriyani, a popular take-away shop, says that there has been a tremendous rise in the number of late-night delivery options. They have even established a separate wing just to cater to their online deliveries.

“Although we close our orders by 12 a.m., there is a rush of orders between 10.30 p.m. and 11.30 p.m. We get at least 50 orders on weekdays. The numbers are definitely higher on weekends,” he says.

B. Muthumani, a delivery boy, says that currently food delivery apps close orders by 12 a.m.

“But, in other metropolitan cities, including Chennai, orders are accepted till 3 a.m. So, if more restaurants are open late at night, then such an option can be extended in Madurai too,” he says.

A worker at Mukku Kadai K. Subbu restaurant says that their restaurant is quite crowded even till 1 a.m. At Dindigul Thalappakatti biriyani, food is served until 2 a.m., they say.

Despite this change, most restaurants, however, say that they are hesitant about opening shop all night. Mr. Manohar says that they have limited staff who need to come back early the next day to begin preparations for the next day’s sale.

“The number of staff tends to be unreliable. We cannot gamble,” he says.

A source from Mukku Kadai K. Subbu says that there is a drop in the number of clients who visit post 12.30 a.m. “There are very few people who really venture out too late. It is not part of the culture,” he says.

M.P. Murugappan, who helps run a registered push-cart stall near Mattuthavani’s fruit market, says that those who are used to the late night culture are vendors, labourers and truck drivers who stop and eat at pushcarts.

This is the same case near Simmakkal and Arapalayam too and adds that it is the pride of the city but is not preferred by many. “Most places do not have tables or a sit-down option. We also just serve basic tiffin items. The number of dishes is limited,” he says.

Mr. Kumar agrees and says that it is time for people to make use of options and for more restaurants to open up so that trust is built both ways.

“Only if more restaurants open, can more people venture out. Only if more venture out, will the streets become safer and normal. It works both ways,” he says.
GST on mobile phones hiked to 18%

15/03/2020

Pankaj Mohindroo, chairman at India Cellular & Electronics Association, said the move to increase GST by 6% would be detrimental to the vision of Digital India.

“Consumption will be stymied and our domestic consumption target of ₹6 lakh crores by 2025 will fall short by at least ₹2 lakh crores,” he said.

In a letter to the Finance Minister earlier this week, Mr. Mahindroo said that instead of rationalising the GST on components and inputs, the “bizzare” move to increase the rate on the final product was not in the interest of consumers as well as the industry.

On the calibration of rates for other items where similar problems arise, such as footwear, textiles and fertilizers, Ms. Sitharaman said that after a detailed discussion it was decided to take up the matter at future meetings.

The GST rate on maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services in respect of aircraft has been reduced from 18% to 5% with a full input tax credit.

“This change is likely to assist in setting up of MRO services in India,” she said at a press conference after the meeting.
COVID-19: air travellers feel the heat

Passengers are forced to reschedule their flights at higher prices

15/03/2020, JAGRITI CHANDRA,NEW DELHI


In dire straits Passengers wearing masks at Patna airport on Saturday. Ranjeet Kumar

Travellers forced to cancel flights after the government’s advisory against non-essential travel have been left in the lurch, as most airlines have offered full refund only for travel to countries for which there is an outright ban.

In many cases, while the airlines have waived re-booking fees, travel agents and aggregators have either failed to pass on the benefit to passengers or such travellers are forced to reschedule flights at a higher price.

On Wednesday, the government cancelled visas for all foreign citizens and mandated quarantine for Indians returning from China, Italy, Iran, Spain, Germany and Republic of Korea. It advised all Indians against non-essential travel, adding that they could be quarantined for 14 days on their return.

Twenty-two year old Anandita Abhay Bhalerao was scheduled to fly to Paris for a backpacking trip from Mumbai on Friday by Kuwait Airways.

However, her flight was cancelled after Kuwait banned the entry of nationals from several countries, including India.

Despite the cancellation by the airline, the Mumbai-based writer was offered only a free date change.

Determined to join her friends, Ms Bhalerao then booked a ticket on Gulf Air for ₹39,000 which she was forced to cancel following the government’s advisory and received only half the fare as a refund.

“I booked both my tickets through Make My Trip (MMT). When Kuwait Airways cancelled the ticket, MMT said they were helpless and I will have to contact the airline. The airline offered only a date change, but that is not an option for me as I was travelling to celebrate my sister’s birthday and also because there is no clarity on how long the COVID-19 infection will continue,” Ms. Bhalerao told The Hindu over the phone. A communications professional, Durga Nandini, was booked for travel to Vietnam on Malaysia Airlines between April 2 to 12.

Following the government’s advisory, the mother of a four-year-old is apprehensive about travelling. Though the airline allows her to change the date of her travel for free unlimited times until December 31, according to Make My Trip's website Ms. Durga will have to cough up ₹5,220 per ticket as penalty for rebooking. Alternatively, she will have to cancel her travel and bear the entire loss.

“I am a mother of a four-year-old and travelling for me is not an option because of the fear about COVID-19. Medical experts have argued that it may take upto 18 months to develop a vaccine and, therefore, I don't want to take the risk of travelling in the next eight months. But my airline allows me to reschedule only until the end of the year,” says Ms. Durga. “For regions where airlines have cancelled existing and new flights, we are offering 100% refund to our customers,” she said, adding: “We are working in tandem with our airline partners to offer an option to change travel dates with no-fee charge; and are passing full fee waiver benefits rolled out by our partners to travellers,” Make My Trip said in an email response to queries.

Third-party vendors

A senior DGCA official told The Hindu that the regulatory body had met with several international carriers, including Malaysia Airlines on Friday, and advised them to waive cancellation and rescheduling charges.

“We have also received many complaints about travel aggregators and we have asked airlines to ensure that their third party vendors implement waivers offered in toto,” the official said.
COVID-19 declared a notified disease

The State’s fourth testing facility has come up in Tirunelveli

15/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

The State government has declared COVID-19 a notified disease under the Tamil Nadu Public Health Act, 1939.

“The World Health Organisation has declared COVID-19 a pandemic. While the government is taking preventive measures, declaring it a notified disease under the Public Health Act means delegating more powers to health officials and taking stringent measures to control the infection. Now, if a person with symptoms of COVID-19 approaches a private practitioner/hospital, they should immediately notify the public health authorities,” said K. Senthil Raj, mission director, National Health Mission-Tamil Nadu. He added that they should notify the Deputy Director of Health Services of the respective district or the municipal health officials who, in turn, would take measures to isolate the patient and prevent further transmission. “This is important to prevent transmission in the community,” he said.

Another testing laboratory has been readied in the State - at Tirunelveli. With this, Tamil Nadu has a total of four testing facilities, the others being King Institute of Preventive Medicine, Guindy, and government medical colleges at Theni and Tiruvarur.

According to a bulletin issued by the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, seven persons were under hospital isolation and 1,601 under home quarantine in the State. Two nasal and throat swabs and blood samples were being processed.
Role of pvt. hospitals in handling COVID-19 remains unclear

IMA to hold State council meeting today to discuss the issue

15/03/2020, SERENA JOSEPHINE M.,CHENNAI

Many private hospitals in the city have said there is no clarity about their role in handling the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This is despite the State Health department announcing that it had held meetings with representatives of private hospitals and the Indian Medical Association, and that treatment protocols had been shared with them.

C.N. Raja, State president, Indian Medical Association - Tamil Nadu branch, said, “Private hospitals have not prepared isolation facilities so far. IMA is having a State council meeting on Sunday, and we will be discussing COVID-19, how we can handle [it], and cooperate with the government.”

In response to queries on their preparedness, at least three major private hospitals said that as per the Central government’s instructions, they are not supposed to divulge any information. A few said they had earmarked isolation facilities, while some doctors said they were told not to treat patients with suspected symptoms of COVID-19 but refer them to government hospitals. Many doctors said no proper guidelines or information had reached them. A doctor at a private hospital in Tambaram took to social media to air his concerns. The hospital, he said, had been receiving patients with classic symptoms of COVID-19 and travel history to the Middle East for the last two weeks. “We called the helpline numbers. They said they do not check persons with minor symptoms. The patients were sent home,” he said.

A senior consultant said suspected COVID-19 patients had been referred to the government hospital. “At the GH, they were not screened or tested. The government should test at least suspected patients,” she said.

Navin Gnanasekaran, associate director of medical services, MGM Healthcare, said they had identified an appropriate area for the isolation of patients with suspected/confirmed COVID-19, and were ready to attend to in-patients. He added that as of now, the government had directed healthcare professionals to identify patients with symptoms of cold/cough or fever and determine their travel history or contact with patients who had tested positive for the virus. In case of suspicion after assessment, they will call the government hotline, and based on the advice they receive, the patient will be sent home for quarantine or referred to the government in-patient admission facility.

A senior official of a corporate hospital said, “There are certain areas of concern. The lack of testing kits is one.” “We have procured about 5,000 full body suits, protective gear, long shoe covers and goggles. But if 10 to 15 patients come in, these will be exhausted within a week,” he said.
Opening of arrival hall at airport terminal put off

AAI cites COVID-19 concerns

15/03/2020, SUNITHA SEKAR,CHENNAI


The hall has been lying unused since its inauguration in 2013.

The opening of the arrival hall at the international terminal of the Chennai airport has been put off temporarily due to the COVID-19 situation, said sources.

The hall has been lying unused ever since it was inaugurated way back in 2013, as part of phase I modernisation of the Chennai airport. It was never put to use, with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) claiming that it could not be used due to insufficient manpower in both Immigration and Customs. It was later decided that the hall would be used for departure operations, but even this has been getting delayed for several months now.

Recently, AAI officials had decided that operations would finally begin by mid-March.

‘No point now’

AAI officials said that they had to postpone starting operations at the hall due to the existing circumstances created by COVID-19.

“Even now, we are prepared for it, but immigration authorities are not in favour of implementing it now due to concerns regarding COVID-19. But even otherwise, starting operations now doesn’t really help much because the point of operating the hall was to augment capacity of the departure hall at the international terminal, to ease peak-hour congestion. Now, both aircraft movement and passenger traffic have fallen drastically, and those travelling can just go through the existing departure hall itself,” an official said.

In the last two weeks, over 90 flights have been cancelled due to the impact of COVID-19. On Saturday too, several flights to various destinations like Dubai, Colombo, Muscat, Kuala Lumpur and Kuwait were cancelled. Such cancellations are going to continue in the coming days and the number is likely to increase, he added.
I-T Dept. shocked by Tasmac’s acceptance of banned notes

Dismisses State undertaking’s explanation of law and order as reason for accepting invalid notes

15/03/2020, MOHAMED IMRANULLAH S.,CHENNAI

The I-T Department has sought tax for ₹57.29 crore in unexplained investment.

The Income Tax Department has expressed shock at the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac) having accepted demonetised currency notes worth ₹57.29 crore from customers between November 9 and December 30, 2016, in contravention of the demonetisation announcement made by the Prime Minister on November 8, 2016.

After scrutinising the Corporation’s I-T returns for the year 2016-17, the department found that it had an opening balance of ₹84.23 crore as on November 9, 2016. Of that balance, ₹81.57 crore was in Specified Bank Notes (SBN or demonetised currency notes of ₹500 and ₹1,000) and ₹2.66 crore in other denominations.

Subsequently, Tasmac had collected ₹3,490.21 crore between November 10 and December 30, 2016, and the collections were deposited in bank accounts on a daily basis. Records showed that the Corporation had deposited about ₹140 crore in demonetised notes during the entire demonetisation period. After deducting the initial ₹81.57 crore, the balance worked out to ₹57.29 crore.

“The assessee is a government-owned State undertaking and it is beyond imagination how the State undertaking, managed by an IAS officer, would collect demonetised currency in contravention of the order of the Government of India,” the I-T department said in an Assessment Order passed on December 30, 2019, and accessed by The Hindu.

“Though assessee claimed that it accepted SBN from customers due to law and order problems, the assessee has failed to produce any evidence from Government of Tamil Nadu or the police evidencing any law and order issue that constrained [it] to sell non-essential commodity like liquor against invalid bank notes,” the I-T department order said.

Refusing to believe that illegal transactions could have been carried out by a State entity and since Tasmac did not provide branch-wise details of deposited demonetised notes, the I-T department said the transactions using demonetised notes should be treated as “unexplained investment,” for 2017-18.

Besides demanding tax for the unexplained investment of ₹57.29 crore, the department ordered proceedings against Tasmac.

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