MOST OMICRON CASES SHOW NO SYMPTOMS All Had Contact With Someone From African Nations, The UK

MOST OMICRON CASES SHOW NO SYMPTOMS

All Had Contact With Someone From African Nations, The UK

Team TOI

Ahmedabad/Rajkot/Surat:  19.12.2021

The patients of Omicron variant of Covid-19 are not drastically different from the Alpha and Delta variants the experts have seen in the first and second waves — for the start, majority of the patients that got detected with the variant are asymptomatic, and don’t need oxygen support.

The first three patients of Gujarat — all from Jamnagar — were discharged from the government-run GG Hospital recently. The experts said that except the first case where a septuagenarian had developed fever and dry cough, the other two were asymptomatic.

“Their temperatures were checked regularly, and they were given paracetamol and multivitamin tablets as part of Covid protocol. Apart from that, they did not need any medical intervention,” said a treating doctor. “According to the protocol, they are supposed to remain quarantined for the next seven days and report to us if any problem arises. They were discharged after they tested negative twice after 14 days.” Dr Rakesh Joshi, medical superintendent of Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad, said that the sole patient the hospital has — a native of Kheda with travel history to the UK — is stable. “In Delta variant, we had seen high involvement of lungs. Here, it’s not the case. The caution, however, is still required as Omicron is considered to be highly contagious and the patients are kept in a separate ward,” he said.

The only Omicron patient in Surat did not complain of any health issues since he tested positive. No symptoms were found during examination by doctors. “He was as normal as a healthy person,” said a health official. A 42-year-old businessman who had returned from Africa had tested positive after eight days of return and later the variant was confirmed in genome testing.

City-based experts said that sore throat, body ache, and mild fever are among the symptoms recorded in India and elsewhere. They, however, added that more details are required to ascertain the progression of the variant.

(With inputs from Nimesh Khakharia in Rajkot and Yagnesh Mehta in Surat)

6 teams search for ex-minister Bhalaji

6 teams search for ex-minister Bhalaji

Move Comes After HC Rejects Bail

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Virudhunagar/Madurai: 19.12.2021

The Virudhunagar district police have formed six teams to nab former milk and dairy development minister K T Rajenthra Bhalaji (AIADMK) who is on the run after the Madras high court on Friday refused to grant him anticipatory bail in cases pertaining to the job racket registered last month.

The first case is against Bhalaji and his two accomplices for collecting money from 23 people on the promise of getting them government jobs in Aavin and in government departments. The second case is based on a complaint from K Nallathambi, one of the co-accused in the first case, who claimed that Bhalaji had used him as a tool to collect money from people promising jobs in Aavin.

Police said that the former minister has been booked under sections 406 (punishment for criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 506(i) (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code. Bhalaji had led the party’s protest in Virudhunagar district against the DMK government on Friday, shortly before he was denied anticipatory bail.

Meanwhile, in a special sitting on Saturday, the Madras high court restrained the Virudhunagar police from summoning any relative of Bhalaji not figuring as an accused in the cheating cases.

Justice G R Swaminathan passed the interim order while hearing the petition filed by Bhalaji’s sister K Lakshmi, who sought a direction to the police not to harass her family members. The judge also directed the police to file a counter and adjourned the case to Monday.

Senior counsel for the petitioner submitted that Lakshmi’s son Vasanthakumar was taken to the Thiruthangal police station around 9.30pm on Friday. Police made Vasanthakumar call his brother Ramana and driver Rajkumar to the station. The trio was detained there though they were not involved in any offence.

He further submitted that the police officials allegedly threatened them to ask the former minister to surrender.

Bhalaji moves SC seeking advance bail

Chennai:

With special teams on his toes and the Madras high court rejecting his anticipatory bail petitions, former milk and dairy development minister, KT Rajenthra Bhalaji has moved the Supreme Court seeking advance bail. The AIADMK leader is facing arrest in two cases for allegedly cheating aspirants of money promising them government jobs. In his petition, Balaji contended that the main accused, Nallathambi is involved in similar cases of job racketeering over the years and has also falsely implicated prominent political figures from the opposition party too to divert attention. TNN

PM to open 11 med colleges in Jan

PM to open 11 med colleges in Jan

To Share Stage With CM During His First TN Visit Amid DMK Rule

Julie.Mariappan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:  19.12.2021

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister M K Stalin will share the stage in Virudhunagar on January 12 for the opening of 11 new medical colleges in the state. Union health and family welfare minister Mansukh Mandaviya will also take part in the event, sources said.

This is the PM’s first visit to Tamil Nadu after the Stalin-led DMK government assumed office. “The state government is ready to open the colleges as approval has been obtained for admission of 1,450 seats in these colleges. The PM (is keen on) attending the event,” said a source. The erstwhile AIADMK government managed to get the colleges allotted for Tamil Nadu under the Modi government’s scheme to establish medical colleges attached to existing district and referral hospitals. The Union and state governments shared the cost of ₹325 crore in a 60:40 ratio to set up each medical college.

Ariyalur, Dindigul, Nagapattinam, Krishnagiri, Virudhunagar, Kallakurichi and Ooty colleges have been sanctioned 150 seats each, while Namakkal, Tiruvallur, Tiruppur and Ramanathapuram colleges have been allotted 100 seats each. The AIADMK had proposed colleges in Cuddalore and Kancheepuram too but owing to the presence of Annamalai University in Chidambaram and a private medical college in Kancheepuram, the state government could not get central approval.

Former health minister C Vijayabaskar said the health department took up the implementation of the scheme on a war-footing and completed land acquisition and got approvals from government agencies quickly. “It was historic that TN got sanction for 11 medical colleges at one stroke. Even the newly created Kallakurichi district was included,” Vijayabaskar said, recalling how appointment of doctors was a big challenge earlier in Nagapattinam, Ooty and aspirational districts like Ramanathapuram and Virudhunagar.

NEXT STOP VIRUDHUNAGAR:

PM Narendra Modi greets M K Stalin while visiting his father and former CM M Karunanidhi in Chennai in 2017

Headmistress forces SC students to clean toilets, suspended

Headmistress forces SC students to clean toilets, suspended

Tirupur:19.12.2021

The headmistress of a government high school here was suspended on Saturday for forcing students belonging to scheduled castes (SC) clean toilets and using degrading caste names to refer to them.

Chief educational officer R Ramesh said he received a complaint from some Class IX and X students of the school, in Iduvai village, on Friday against Geetha, 45, working in the school for the last three years. “They said she abused them using their caste name and made them clean toilets. I visited the school and conducted an inquiry to gather prima facie information and subsequently placed her under suspension. A complaint was lodged with the Mangalam police based on the inquiry,” he told TOI. Departmental action will be taken against Geetha and she is likely to be booked under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, a school education department official said.

There are 14 teachers in the school, which imparts education to 400 students. TNN

Footboard travel: MTC bus crew resort to flash strike, traffic hit

Footboard travel: MTC bus crew resort to flash strike, traffic hit

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:19.12.2021

Traffic was affected for about one and a half hour at Otteri in north Chennai after crew of 12 MTC buses parked the vehicles across Strahan's Road in protest over being manhandled by a group of schoolstudents who were travelling on the footboard of an MTC bus.

The flash protest impacted vehicular movements on many other arterial roads connecting Purasawalkam with north Chennai.

Otteri police inspector Krishna Murthy detained two of the students and launched a search for those absconding.

A team of police went to to the spot and talked to the crew after which the protest was lifted. The incident happened around 3.30pm and the students reportedly boarded the bus (29-A plying between Anna Square and Perambur) at Doveton bus stop. Since they were travelling on the footboard and also tried to climb atop the bus, conductor Karthik warned them.

However, the students allegedly did not get in and instead made fun of the conductor. On Strahan's Road, Karthik shouted at the students again and in return, the students got down from the bus and hurled stones at the windshield.

The crew immediately stopped the bus and staged a protest, who were soon joined by the other members of MTC.

Of late, videos of students travelling footboard of MTC buses and EMU trains have gone viral on social media. In a recent incident in Gummidipoondi, a girl and a boy were summoned by police and and let off with an warning for footboard travel on an EMU train.

SEEKING ACTION: MTC bus crew of protest at Otteri on Saturday

TN govt teachers can work in schools for 8 years, say new rules

TN govt teachers can work in schools for 8 years, say new rules

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:19.12.2021

As per the new guidelines issued by the school education department for transfer counselling, a teacher can work in a school for maximum eight years. However, the guidelines said, it will be applicable prospectively which means the rule will be implemented for new teachers appointed after this notification. “The teachers who have completed eight years of service in a particular school will be transferred compulsorily. These teachers will be given priority and allowed to participate in the counselling before general counselling takes place,” guidelines issued by school education secretary Kakarla Usha on Saturday said.

“If it is applied to existing teachers, then more than 80% of teachers may have to be transferred. So, it is being introduced only for new recruits," an official said.

To address the vacancy issues in northern districts, the policy has mandated five years of service in priority blocks for new recruits. These priority blocks will be identified based on vacancies.

Existing teachers working in non-priority blocks and willing to work in priority blocks through general counselling need to serve at least three years. Teachers who serve in priority blocks will get preference over others during the general counselling. The counselling will be done during May or at the end of first or second term and no transfer counselling will be done during the academic sessions.

P Patric Raymond, general secretary of TN Graduate Teachers Federation, said the objective for introducing the maximum eight-year service rule in schools was unclear. "The department should give priority to teachers who were transferred for taking part in the strikes held during the AIADMK regime," he said.

Govt to receive applications for MBBS, BDS courses from today

Govt to receive applications for MBBS, BDS courses from today

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:19.12.2021

The Tamil Nadu government will be receiving applications for MBBS and BDS courses from Sunday 10am on its online portal, said health minister Ma Subramanian.

Addressing reporters on Saturday, the health minister said the government will be receiving applications for 6958 MBBS seats and 1925 BDS seats under the government quota in both government and private colleges.

“The chief minister has also taken all measures to improve infrastructure in government colleges by evening meeting the Union minister,” he said.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be inaugurating 11 new colleges in Tamil Nadu on January 12 when admissions are over for the additional 1450 seats. “CM Stalin and PM Modi will participate in the event,” he added.

Omicron cases doubling in just 1.5-3 days: WHO

Omicron cases doubling in just 1.5-3 days: WHO

‘Surge In Areas With Community Transmission’

Sushmi.Dey@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:19.12.2021

The Omicron variant is spreading with a doubling time of 1.5 to 3 days in countries with documented community transmission, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in its latest update about the new strain which is also affecting countries with high levels of population immunity.

“There is consistent evidence that Omicron has a substantial growth advantage over Delta. It is spreading significantly faster than the Delta variant with a doubling time of 1.5-3 days,” said WHO’s technical brief. The saving grace so far has been Omicron’s lower virulence even though its spread underlines the need for masks, sanitisation and vaccination.

The UN health agency said it remains uncertain to what extent the rapid growth rate can be attributed to immune evasion, intrinsic increased transmissibility or a combination of both. Preliminary data also suggest there is a reduction in neutralising titres against Omicron in those who have received a primary vaccination series or who have had prior SARSCoV-2 infection, which may suggest a level of humoral immune evasion.

India’s active caseload currently at 84,565 cases

Humoral immunity is the process of adaptive immunity manifested by the production of antibodies that develops in bone marrow.

The number of people infected with the Delta variant in UK were found to be doubling every 11 days, according to a study conducted by the Imperial College of London based on analysis of swab tests taken between May 20 and June 7. “Given current available data, it is likely that Omicron will outpace Delta where community transmission occurs,” the latest WHO update said.

In India, while overall Covid-19 cases continue to be below 10,000 for around 20 days, health authorities have cautioned against complacency highlighting examples of countries like UK and France that are witnessing a surge powered by Omicron despite high vaccination rate and exposure to the Delta variant.

A total of 7,145 new Covid-19 cases were recorded from across the country on Friday. Active caseload currently stands at 84,565 cases. This includes Omicron-infected cases but Delta continues to be the dominant variant so far, according to officials.

While some studies from UK show that the risk of reinfection from Omicron is higher than Delta and there are no signs of the infection being milder than Delta, the UN health agency maintained there are still limited data on the clinical severity of Omicron.

Only 18% of doctors pass orthopaedics PG exam, 66% fail to make cut in ENT

Only 18% of doctors pass orthopaedics PG exam, 66% fail to make cut in ENT

Rema.Nagarajan@timesgroup.com

19.12.2021

Less than one in five doctors doing post-graduation in orthopaedics passed the final theory exam conducted by the National Board of Examination (NBE). In ENT, almost two-thirds failed the exam. Similarly, just over 36% passed the exam in paediatrics. The results announced by the NBE on November 24 were a shock to many doctors doing diplomate of national board (DNB).

DNB is a post-graduate course considered equivalent to MD/ MS, but is conducted in private hospitals and institutions and administered by NBE.

Doctors had been assured that the hardship and disruption in studies due to Covid would be taken into consideration when conducting the exams and in marking them. However, students claimed that the pass percentages show that along with an unreasonably difficult paper, the evaluation must have been harsh.

Poor preparation by docs during Covid ‘blamed for poor results’

Senior officials in NBE blamed the poor results on poor preparation by doctors during Covid. Those specialising in orthopaedics pointed out that if Covid was the reason, the results ought to have been uniformly poor across all specialties. However, among specialities in which over 50 students appeared, the pass percentage was almost 90% in obstetrics and gynaecology, and in dermatology and well over 60% in several others including general surgery, ophthalmology, radio diagnosis and psychiatry.

“DNB orthopaedics is quite high up in preference and so only people with a decent rank in the NEET PG exam get the specialty. Hence, it can’t be that more than 80% of doctors specialising in orthopaedics are poor students. If the poor result is attributed to substandard training at the institute, NBE is to be held responsible for giving accreditation to poor quality institutions. However, this cannot be true because some of the institutes which have seen zero candidates passing are among the best,” said a resident doctor in orthopaedics.

According to data that NBE shared with TOI, the pass percentage of DNB pediatrics has been consistently low over the last three exams, the highest being 43.4% in the June 2020 session.

The president of the Association of National Board Accredited Institutions (ANBAI) and the head of the department of orthopaedics and spine surgery in Ganga Hospital, Dr S Rajasekaran, said that ANBAI has written to the NBE to consider reevaluation before publication of results if there is an abnormally low pass percentage in any specialty. “We have also made a strong plea that at least 50% of the examiners must be from NBE institutions,” he added.

“Only those clearing the theory exam can appear for the practicals. So the final result of those who pass the practical exam could be even lower,” said an orthopaedic resident who had failed and is appearing for the next DNB exam being held from December 16 to 19. Many resident doctors pointed out that there was not even a month between the results of the last exam being announced and the next one being held. “It ensures that students have no time to challenge the results as they would immediately get busy preparing for the next chance to clear the exam,” said a resident doctor specialising in paediatrics.

AstraZeneca’s Evusheld therapy may be effective against Omicron: Study

AstraZeneca’s Evusheld therapy may be effective against Omicron: Study

Evusheld has also received authorisations in other countries, the pharma major said, adding that it is now working with regulators on applications for the use of Evusheld in treating Covid.

Published: 18th December 2021 03:27 AM 

By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Pharmaceutical major AstraZeneca on Friday said that a pre-clinical study has concluded that its antibody combination Evusheld retained neutralising activity against the Omicron variant.

The company is in the process of applying in India for the regulatory approval of the drug.

Importantly, the latest study was done independently by researchers at the US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, and the work was supported by US government research funds.

Evusheld (Tixagevimab along with Cilgavimab), a long-acting antibody combination for the prevention of Covid, recently became the first drug to receive emergency use authorisation in the US as a prophylaxis treatment for coronavirus infections.

It was specifically indicated for cancer and immune-suppressed patients.

Sharing comments on the latest findings, its executive vice-president Mene Pangalos said that by combining two potent antibodies with different and complementary activities against the virus, Evusheld was designed to evade potential resistance with the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Evusheld has also received authorisations in other countries, the pharma major said, adding that it is now working with regulators on applications for the use of Evusheld in treating Covid.

As Omicron was not in circulation during the Evusheld clinical trials, the firm is continuing to collect data to better understand the implications of this observation in clinical practice.

“Additional analyses to evaluate Evusheld against the Omicron variant are being conducted by AstraZeneca and third-party laboratories, with data anticipated very soon,” it said.

Tamil Nadu Governor distributes degree certificates to graduates, urges them to dream big

Tamil Nadu Governor distributes degree certificates to graduates, urges them to dream big

Commenting on the 'Save Daughter, Educate Daughter' scheme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Governor Ravi said Modi believed that daughters are the future of the country.

Published: 17th December 2021 11:08 AM 

By Express News Service

MADURAI: "Dream big, work hard to fulfil your dreams. Never ever give up your self-confidence. Sky is the limit," Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi said, as he handed over degree certificates to graduates in the 29th convocation ceremony of Mother Teresa University at Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU).

Lauding the initiatives taken by Tamil Nadu, Ravi said the State has done much better than any other state in the country empowering women. "Though the ratio of women completing higher education is more than men (3:1), it is a challenge to make them financially secure," he said.

Commenting on the 'Save Daughter, Educate Daughter' scheme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Ravi said Modi believed that daughters are the future of the country. "Female foeticide and gender issues are still prevalent in some parts of the State. We lost millions of girls. It is very unfortunate and the practice to be erased completely," he said.

National anthem was sung twice.

Deviating from the usual practice of starting the convocation ceremony by singing 'Tamil Thai Valthu' (The State song), the function at Mother Teresa University commenced and ended with the singing of the national anthem.

When asked, Vice-Chancellor Vaidehi Vijayakumar said any programme that is attended by Governor will have to start and end with the national anthem.

TNIE came to know that the convocation ceremony at Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU) also started with the national anthem.

MSU V-C K Pitchumani said the itinerary they received from the governor's office demanded so and they simply followed it.

A total of 18,000 graduates, who completed their course in 2019-20 and 2020-21 academic years, were awarded degree certificates by the university. As many as 549 graduates received their certificates at the convocation ceremony and the rest 17,451 received them through postal mail.

Minister for Higher Education K Ponmudy, Vice-Chancellor of Mother Teresa University Vaidehi Vijayakumar, Vice-Chancellor of Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam, Tirupati, Prof. Jamuna Duvvuru, Principal Secretary to the Higher Education Department D Karthikeyan, Mother Teresa University Registrar (i/c) C Hilda Devi were present on the occasion.

Omicron fear as 28 foreign returnees in Tamil Nadu detected with S-gene drop: Health Minister

Omicron fear as 28 foreign returnees in Tamil Nadu detected with S-gene drop: Health Minister

Subramanian said he would write a letter to the Centre in this connection stating passengers should mandatorily undergo RT-PCR testing on completion of home isolation

Published: 17th December 2021 06:44 PM | Last Updated: 18th December 2021 04:34 AM | A+A A-

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: So far, 28 international travellers tested positive for Covid-19 with ‘s’ gene drop, a marker for Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, in Tamil Nadu, said Health Minister Ma Subramanian on Friday.

The Health Minister said in the last two weeks, a total of 14,868 international travellers from both ‘at-risk’ and ‘non-risk’ countries were tested at the airports in the State. Of them, 70 tested positive. All these 70 samples were sent for genome sequencing. Results of 10 genome sequencing were given, of which one tested positive for Omicron variant (the first case in Tamil Nadu), eight for Delta variant, and one sample was not sequenced. The results of the remaining samples are awaited.

The minister said the Health Department officials traced 278 contacts of the man positive for Omicron and tested all of them. The Health Department will also write a letter to the Union Health Ministry requesting them to make changes in the Guidelines for International Travellers. At present, only travellers from ‘at risk’ countries (12 countries) have to undergo RT-PCR test on arrival and wait at the airports till the reports come. Of travellers from ‘non-risk’ countries, only two per cent are being tested in random sampling. Also, those with symptoms are tested, added the Health Minister.

But since people from ‘non-risk’ countries — Nigeria and Congo — tested positive with ‘s’ gene drop, the State will request the Union Ministry to make seven-day home quarantine for people from non-risk countries mandatory. They should be released only after a repeat test at the end of the home quarantine period. Also, people violating quarantine rules should be put in institutional quarantine, Subramanian said.

The State will also request the Union Health Ministry to conduct an RT-PCR test for all the international travellers, irrespective of the country they come from, on arrival before sending them home. However, the holding area in the airports may not be sufficient to make all these travellers wait till their RT PCR test report came. In that case, alternative arrangements would be made after discussions with the airport authorities, the Health Minister said.

The Minister was speaking to reporters on the DMS campus after launching an SMS facility for pregnant women and lactating mothers. Eleven different vaccines are given to children. All the due vaccine dates will be informed to the mothers by an SMS. They will also be informed about Dr Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit scheme money crediting dates. Over 11 lakh pregnant women and lactating mothers will be benefitted, he added. Later in the evening, the Health Department wrote the letter to the Union Ministry.

Spice jet likely to resume flights from Puducherry from Pongal, while Indigo approached for flight operation

Spice jet likely to resume flights from Puducherry from Pongal, while Indigo approached for flight operation

Published: 17th December 2021 07:42 PM |

By Debjani Dutta

Express News Service

PUDUCHERRY: Puducherry government has approached Indigo to operate flights from Puducherry Airport on six routes, while Spice Jet is expected to resume flight operation from Pongal on existing routes. Flight operations were stopped following the outbreak of the Covid pandemic.

Puducherry PWD Minister K Lakshminarayanan who holds the Tourism and Civil aviation portfolio who along with Puducherry Home Minister A Namassivayam held a discussion with Indigo Airline officials at Chennai told TNIE that six routes have been projected to Indigo for plying on the same conditions provided under Regional Connectivity Scheme UDAN. The government has offered VAT free Aviation fuel and a Viability Gap Fund (VGF) guarantee to the operator.

The routes being Puducherry to Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Tirupati, Rajahmundry, Kannur and Ernakulam, he said. Based on the letter sent to the operator, they have expressed interest, following which the discussions were held on Friday. Head of Indigo Chennai Jagadeeswaran, Regional Executive Director of AAI (Southern Region), Chennai R Madhavan, Puducherry Tourism Director P Priyadarshiny and other officials were present at the discussion with the ministers.

Lakshminarayanan who met Usha Padhee, Joint Secretary, Civil Aviation at New Delhi, said that certain documents sought by the ministry were handed over to the Ministry for the revival of flight operations. Puducherry government has also accepted to provide VGF to Spice Jet for resuming flight operations on Puducherry Bengaluru and Hyderabad routes. Spice jet has sought VGF for 15 seats on the Hyderabad route and for 10 seats on the Bengaluru route when normally VGF is provided for 39 seats under RCS, said Lakshminarayanan. A formal letter of acceptance would be sent to Spice Jet as well as to the Civil Aviation Ministry in this regard, following which they are likely to resume operation from Pongal, he said. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been occupancy of 60 to 80 seats out of 90seats of the( Bombardier) aircraft operated by spice jet on these routes, said Lakshminarayanan.

The operators could also take part in the UDAN4.0 tender when the Civil aviation ministry floats it in due course. Till then Puducherry government will offer the Airline operators the same benefits of VGF as under the UDAN scheme as well as VAT free Aviation fuel, he said.

Meanwhile, the land acquisition process for expansion of the airport runway for plying of larger aircraft has been initiated by both Tamilnadu and Puducherry governments, said Lakshminarayanan. As per the plan, the runway would be extended from its present length of 1,502 metres to 3,500 metres initially and then up to 4000 metres finally, said Lakshminarayanan. Around 57 acres of land will be acquired in Puducherry and 368 acres in Tamil Nadu, he said. The land to be acquired as well as the land ownership has been identified and notices are being sent to them for the acquisition, he said. The Ministry of Home Affairs has already assured to pay the cost of the land to the owners. To fulfil the requirements some of the buildings in the area will have to be demolished

The airport will also require a few modifications of changing the direction of the Taxiway and construction of a box culvert or a suitable construction over the storm channel that would cross the extended runway, he said

Special teams to nab Rajenthra Bhalaji

Special teams to nab Rajenthra Bhalaji

An investigation was underway by the DCB in both the cases, when the ex-minister had applied for anticipatory bails, which were rejected earlier this morning.

Published: 18th December 2021 04:41 AM 

File photo of KT Rajenthra Bhalaji campaigning for votes with ex-CM Edappadi K Palaniswami | Express

By Express News Service

VIRUDHUNAGAR: Three special teams have been formed by Superintendent of Police M Manohar to arrest former minister KT Rajenthra Bhalaji, who is reportedly on the run after the Madras High Court rejected both of his anticipatory bail petitions filed after he was accused in a government employment scam. Virudhunagar District Crime Branch last month registered two cheating cases against the former minister and his personal assistants, accusing them of job racketeering.

One complaint was filed by S Ravindran (49) of Sattur, against one Vijayanallathambi, Rajenthra Bhalaji and one Mariappan (who helped Ravindran contact Vijayanallathambi) for allegedly cheating him of `30 lakh for a job for his relative in Aavin. Ravindran, however, didn’t speak to Bhalaji directly, but Nalathambi had reportedly told Ravindran that the former minister was aware of the developments.

In December 2020, Ravindran paid `30 lakh. However, after the election, when Ravindran asked the money back, Nallathambi allegedly didn’t return it, following which Ravindran lodged a complaint with the CM’s cell and also with the Virudhunagar SP. He had also filed a complaint at the South Zone IG’s office.

The second complaint was filed by Vijayanallathambi himself accusing Bhalaji and his three personal assistants – Baburaj, Balaraman, and Muthupandi – of allegedly cheating him of around `3 crore. Vijayanallathambi said he had obtained money from several persons for obtaining them jobs and also spent money for party- related activities.

It is to be noted that the ex-minister issued a press statement stating that legal action will be taken against those making baseless complaints against him, on November 12, after Ravindran filed a complaint at the IG’s office. Soon after the incident, Vijayanallathambi was expelled from the AIADMK on November 14 for indulging in anti-party activities.

An investigation was underway by the DCB in both the cases, when the ex-minister had applied for anticipatory bails, which were rejected earlier this morning. The ex-minister was heading the state-wide protest held by AIADMK against the State government this morning when the court rejected his petitions.

Innocent persons lost their money, future: HC

Chennai: Dismissing the anticipatory bail application moved by KT Rajenthra Bhalaji in connection with a job racketeering case, the Madras High Court on Friday said innocent persons lost their money and future. This, Justice M Nirmal Kumar said, cannot be ignored. Rajenthra Bhalaji was holding the post of a minister and was entrusted with the duty to act in public interest. Instead, he allowed the accused to collect huge sums of money from innocent individuals in his name, the judge noted. Saying the minister’s claim of innocence cannot be accepted, the judge noted that only a thorough investigation can unearth the conspiracy and the involvement of each of the accused. He directed the police to conclude the investigation within the stipulated time. ENS

Anna University tells students to sign anti-ragging oath

Anna University tells students to sign anti-ragging oath

To curb the ragging menace in engineering colleges, Anna University directed students and their guardians to file an online declaration that they won’t indulge in ragging activities.

Published: 15th December 2021 04:40 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: To curb the ragging menace in engineering colleges, Anna University directed students and their guardians to file an online declaration that they won’t indulge in ragging activities. A circular on the matter was issued to affiliated colleges and universities, making the affidavit compulsory for all students.

Students have to submit the online affidavit on two websites: www.antiragging.in, www.amanmovement.org. This is in compliance with the All India Council for Technical Education (Prevention and Prohibition of ragging in Technical institution, universities including deemed-to-be universities imparting technical education) regulations 2009.

As part of an initiative of the University Grants Commission (UGC) towards reduction of compliance burden of stakeholders, UGC revised the procedure to file the online anti-ragging affidavit. As per the revised guideline, students need to submit their details on prescribed websites. The students will receive an e-mail with a registration number and a web link. The student will have to forward the email link to a nodal officer.

‘Allow foreign varsities in TN to aid growth’

‘Allow foreign varsities in TN to aid growth’

Rather than TN being dependant on the Centre for funds, the State must look at creating an eco-system locally in addition to enhancing skills of local talent.

Published: 16th December 2021 03:06 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government should tap the resources of the State’s diaspora and also allow foreign universities to set up their outposts to make TN the hub for research and development, according to former Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan.

Speaking during a virtual conference on research as an engine for growth of TN, organised by the Madras Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on Wednesday, Rajan, who is also a State Economic Advisory Council member, said the State could keep the homegrown talent in India by allowing foreign universities.

He said the State has power to allow foreign universities and the government should go in for open licensing to allow a Stanford or Massachusetts Institute of Technology or Caltech to come up. “It could be useful and will be a source for value addition,” he said.

Rather than TN being dependant on the Centre for funds, the State must look at creating an eco-system locally in addition to enhancing skills of local talent. Rajan also pushed for a need to create an environment in Chennai similar to what was done to nurture Silicon Valley.

Speaking during the occasion, Finance Minister Palanivel Thiagarajan said the need is to focus on creating an ecosystem of excellence.

Awareness: College students to get ‘Covid ambassadors’ tag

Awareness: College students to get ‘Covid ambassadors’ tag

On Wednesday, the Health Minister along with Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan and other officials, inaugurated a vaccination camp at the college.

Published: 16th December 2021 03:09 AM

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Every student at Government Queen Mary’s College for Women will be given ‘Covid-19 ambassador’ identity card in a day or two and these students will spread awareness on Covid vaccination in their area or street, said Health Minister Ma Subramanian.

On Wednesday, the Health Minister along with Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan and other officials, inaugurated a vaccination camp at the college. The minister said 5,500 students are studying in the college, and among them only 900 are not vaccinated. Through this camp, even these 900 students will be covered. He was hopeful that the college will become the first arts and science college in Tamil Nadu to achieve 100% vaccination coverage.

“So, students of this college will be the ideal people to spread awareness on Covid vaccination,” the minister said. He requested the students to spend at least 30 minutes daily to create awareness in their area or street. Subramanian said so far, 12,307 travellers from ‘at-risk’ countries have been tested for Covid at airports in the State. Also, two per cent of travellers from ‘non-risk’ countries are tested in random sampling and so far, 1,834 travellers from non-risk countries have been tested.

Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan said so far, there has been no clinical surge in cases, and the government is fully equipped to handle the cases in case of a surge. Oxygen generators, oxygen beds, oxygen plants have been kept ready. The infrastructure that was created during the last wave was not disturbed, he said.

Speaking at a function organised to distribute welfare aid to people affected with leprosy at Saidapet, the Health Minister said leprosy screening camps will be conducted in all 200 wards in Chennai and also in all government and Corporation schools for early detection of cases, so that treatment can be started.

He said it is worrying to see that more leprosy cases are being detected among children. In Tamil Nadu, the prevalence rate of leprosy in children is 8.71/10,000 while In India, it is 6.87/10,00. The high numbers is due to more screening in Tamil Nadu, he said.

Cash-strapped Madras University to hike fees from next academic year

Cash-strapped Madras University to hike fees from next academic year

“Madras University’s fees are lowest in the country and we need to hike it. Every time we plan to hike the fees, protests are staged against the decision.

Published: 18th December 2021 05:42 AM 

By Binita Jaiswal

Express News Service

CHENNAI: To tide over the financial crisis, the University of Madras is planning to revise the fee structure from the next academic year. However, academic fees will not be increased and the hike will be nominal. Currently, the varsity is examining the fees that can be increased, sources said.

“Madras University’s fees are lowest in the country and we need to hike it. Every time we plan to hike the fees, protests are staged against the decision. But increasing the fees is the need of the hour,” said a senior official of the university.

Vice-Chancellor (V-C) of the university, S Gowri, said, “Even if the fees are hiked, it will be nominal. We will ensure students are not affected in any way.” The V-C also clarified that tuition fees and examination fees will remain unchanged.

As per the recent Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India compliance Audit Report, the University of Madras continued to face financial crisis due to mismanagement and inadequate financial support from the Government of Tamil Nadu. The CAG report said funds meant for research and development activities were diverted to salaries and regular non-plan expenditure.

Sources in the university said revenue of the university has dropped while expenses have increased. The deficit is largely due to the increased financial burden after implementing Seventh Pay Commission scales of pay for teaching and non-teaching staff, and pensioners.

Univ lacks govt support: Report

As the recent Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India compliance Audit Report has revealed, the University of Madras continued to face financial crisis due to mismanagement and inadequate financial support from the Tamil Nadu Government

Being Smart Isn’t About The Brain

mind field SHORT TAKES ON BIG IDEAS

Being Smart Isn’t About The Brain

Our bodies & surroundings matter a lot

18.12.2021

‘Use your head,’ people often say, when they urge someone to apply their intelligence. But it’s actually the other way around, we think better when we think outside our heads, says science journalist Annie Murphy Paul in her book The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside Our Brain. Cognition does not occur merely in the lump of tissue inside our skull.

Brainbound thinking is inadequate for complexity of modern life, says the book. We need to recruit extra-neural resources, to listen to feelings and movements of our bodies, the physical spaces in which we learn and work, the minds of the other people around us. This is what brings focus, comprehension and creativity.

When the philosopher Andy Clark lost his laptop on a train in 2007, he experienced it as a sort of disorienting brain damage, prompting him to wonder where the mind ends and the brain begins. This is the ‘extended mind’ hypothesis, much debated since, about how cognition involves unconscious interactions between the brain, body and environment.

Paul’s book gathers all the neuroscience, cognitive science and psychology around this idea, shows how it is intuitively practised by artists, scientists, educators and leaders, and suggests how we can actually extend our own minds, by understanding embodied cognition, situated cognition and distributed cognition.

First, listen to what your body is telling you. It senses patterns and guides the brain with a tensing of the muscles or a quickening of the breath, a shiver or sigh. Being aware of these subtle nudges and prods is interoception. Financial traders who have it make better decisions than those who calculate, and they describe their decision-making as a sort of nameless sensing, like having whiskers or antennae.

Paul recommends shuttling, periodically checking in with one’s physical self in the middle of mental activity, now and then. Research shows that bodily activity and mental acuity are linked – so movement, gesture, even standing boosts cognition.

This is why classrooms and offices that link work to sitting run counter to our biological wiring, says Paul. Our surroundings vitally shape our thought, as anyone who comes back restored from time spent in nature can attest to. Green spaces engage a different part of our being, and tend to help our thoughts flow in a diffuse, more creative way.

While many people work in openplan offices or coffee shops, the most inspiring work environment is something like a monastery, with its solitary cells as well as cloisters and communal spaces. We need others, their company and stimulation, to think well.

The book makes a case for apprenticeship and imitation as a way of extending our minds. Mimicking the masters is a traditional way of learning new skills and making intelligent decisions, because it works.

Paul offers many tips on extending our own minds – offloading thoughts on paper or a device, to make a problem concrete rather than abstract, something that can be touched or tweaked physically, like a board. It is crucial to be able to alter one’s own mental state, take a walk or listen to one’s body when mentally overwhelmed.

The radical takeaway from this book is that intelligence is not a fixed lump, and people are not innately smarter than others. Rather, it is a transaction, a fluid interaction between our brains, our bodies, our spaces and our relationships.

Crisis In Nursing ... Skill shortage is global, solution has to be local

Crisis In Nursing

Skill shortage is global, solution has to be local

18.12.2021 

Who vaccinated you? Who provides the bulk of the care if you are hospitalised? Nurses are the lynchpin of our healthcare system but they just don’t get their due. To illustrate, the Lok Sabha this year saw 31 questions about doctors, including about violence against them, their mental wellbeing, shortages and deaths. Nurses suffer similar issues but they merited a grand total of one question. We learn from the answer that India has 1.79 nurses per 1,000 population, 46% less than the WHO norm. Topped with 21 months of non-stop pandemic work, this is a recipe for exhaustion.

Burnout has caused serious nurse shortages in many parts of the world. In the US Kentucky’s governor has actually declared a nurse staffing emergency, with an action plan to increase the state’s nursing students rapidly. Rich countries also have the option of importing nurses, with India being a top global exporter. Unattractive working conditions at home mean our nurses migrate eagerly. That most of them are women is not incidental to why they are underpaid and undervalued.

Beds and doctors cannot treat patients by themselves. It follows that India must reform outdated systems of professional governance as also the Indian Nursing Council Act of 1947 and increase investments in nursing education. But young people will be incentivised to train for the profession only if they see it being treated respectfully and remunerated fairly.

Honour killing case: Bombay HC confirms death sentence

Honour killing case: Bombay HC confirms death sentence

Mohammed. Akhef@timesgroup.com

Aurangabad:18.12.2021

The Bombay high court bench at Aurangabad confirmed a July 18, 2019 judgment by a sessions court in Maharashtra’s Nanded that had pronounced death sentence to a 29-year-old Bhokar resident Digambar Dasre and life imprisonment to his cousin, Mohan Dasre, for murdering a couple.

Digambar’s sister, Pooja  (22), was married a man against her wishes in 2017. Later, she eloped with her friend, Govind Karale. On July 23, 2017, Digambar and Mohan, killed the couple by slitting their throats. The accused were then arrested. “We are not inclined to convert death punishment of appellant accused Digambar into life imprisonment,” the HC bench said on December 13. The appellant accused could have cut-off social ties...however, they have committed cold-blooded murder in a pre-planned manner...” Both courts have held the double murders as a case of honour killing. “It is time to stamp out barbaric and feudal practice of honour killing, which are a slur on our nation” the bench said. “This is necessary as a deterrent for such outrageous, uncivilized behaviour,” the bench added. Additional public prosecutor Rajendra Dasalkar told TOI that after the murder, Digambar had surrendered to the police, himself approached the police and confessed to have killed the two victims.

Avoid non-essential travel and mass gatherings: Govt

Avoid non-essential travel and mass gatherings: Govt

26 New Cases Of Omicron Take India Tally Past 100

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:18.12.2021

The Centre recorded total 101 cases infected with the new SARS-COV2 variant Omicron from 11 states detected through genome sequencing.

“As the Omicron variant is spreading very fast across Europe and most parts of the world, there is a need to avoid non-essential travel and mass gatherings and keep festivities low-key. New Year celebrations have to be low-key,” ICMR director-general Dr Balram Bhargava said.

While Maharashtra (32), Delhi (22) and Rajasthan (17) have reported maximum number of cases, Karnataka and Telangana have recorded eight each, Gujarat and Kerala five each, and Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal one each till 4pm on Friday.

The government said only one or two cases are without travel history or contacts with those having travel history. However, in such cases, contact tracing is still going on. The government also said that it may be premature at this stage to extrapolate data of Omicron positive cases detected through genome sequencing to do a modelling for absolute numbers.

Asked if India is carrying out adequate genomic sequencing, officials said sufficient systematic strategic sampling is being undertaken for genomic sequencing to detect Omicron cases.

India is carrying out the “second-highest” number of genomic sequencing in the world and it is being further intensified, NITI Aayog member-health Dr V K Paul said.

“The overall situation is stable. In some districts the positivity rate is increasing and if needed restrictive measures should be implemented. There should be proper contact tracing and containment measures should be implemented. Clusters should be investigated to see if the new variant is driving the rise in cases there,” Paul said.

On whether the Omicron variant is at the community transmission level, Agarwal said, “We cannot at this point say that Omicron variant is widespread in India. Most cases of Omicron have a travel history or had contacts with those who have travel histories.