Students collect funds for girl’s treatment

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

UDUPI,AUGUST 18, 2017 00:00 IST

UPDATED: AUGUST 18, 2017 04:30 IST

Mehak G.  

In a noble gesture, students of Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College collected Rs. 1.12 lakh to aid medical treatment of 11-year-old Mehak G. from Shivamogga who is suffering from blood cancer. Mehak, who belongs to an economically disadvantaged family, is receiving treatment at the Kasturba Hospital in Manipal.

The amount was handed over by the students to Mehak’s mother Shahina here on Thursday. The sole breadwinner for her family, Shahina used to sell eggs from a rented van in Shivamogga.

After her child was diagnosed with cancer, Shahina, a widow, moved with her family, including her elder daughter, Seher G. (15), and son Salman (9), to get Mehak treated here about nine months ago for the child’s treatment. Her elder daughter, Seher, who always got marks above 90 % till Class IX and son Salman had to discontinue their studies.

The students of the college kept a box to collect money for Mehak last month. “After we learnt about the plight of Mehak, we decided to help her as her mother was trying so much,” said Vignesh Bhat, college student.

“This is a kind gesture on part of our students. I hope they will carry on with the same spirit of helping society in their lives. I had made it clear to them that the collection of money should be strictly voluntary,” said Kusuma Kamath, college principal.

Shahina said that she had already spent about Rs. 6.5 lakh for Mehak’s treatment and was trying to raise another Rs. 3.5 lakh for the same purpose. “People cutting across religions and castes have helped me in Udupi and surrounding places, besides the kind students of this college,” she said.

She got Rs. 1.5 lakh from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund through Oscar Fernandes, MP. The authorities of Mother of Sorrows Church, Udupi, St. Lawrence Basilica, Attur, Stella Maris Church, Kalmady, too gave donation. She had also got financial help from mosques in Udupi and Malpe and the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, she said.

The Rainbow organisation, comprising auditing students, also handed over a cheque of Rs. 15,000 to Shahina on the occasion. Meanwhile, a group of students and some lecturers who have come together here under the banner of “Fragrance of Humanity” are collecting donation for the purpose.

No churidhars for school teachers’

TIRUCHI,AUGUST 18, 2017 00:00 IST

UPDATED: AUGUST 18, 2017 04:54 IST

The School Education Department has turned down a request made on behalf of women teachers in government schools for permission to wear churidars.

10-year-old rape victim delivers girl child

CHANDIGARH,

AUGUST 18, 2017 00:00 IST

A 10-year-old girl who was allegedly raped repeatedly by her uncle delivered a girl child at a local government hospital here on Thursday morning, a senior doctor said. Both the victim and the newborn are stable. However, the baby is under observation in the neonatal intensive care unit as it is slightly underweight.

Tamil Nadu CM forced to wind up MGR centenary celebration meet following ruckus

Julie Mariappan| TNN | Aug 17, 2017, 04:06 PM IST

CHENNAI: Members of the village administrative staffs association on Thursday disrupted the MGR centenary celebrations held in Chennai, forcing chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, who was presiding over it, and his cabinet to abruptly call it off.

The function began at 11am, an hour behind schedule. It was the first event by staff of a government department, including village administrative officers, village assistants and land survey staff, celebrating the former CM's centenary. With most of his cabinet colleagues present, Palaniswami began his speech at around noon.

As many as 2,000 staff members were keenly listening to the speech at Kalaivanar Arangam, inside and outside the imposing structure. The moment the CM ended his ten-minute-long speech, detailing the effective functioning of revenue department and its staff for the welfare of people, TN village assistants association secretary Shanmuga Sundaram shouted from one of the front rows, stunning the dignitaries on stage. "What have you done to us?" he asked, lifting up his hands. Seven senior bureaucrats on stage, including the CM secretaries were perplexed.

Tension was palpable among the gathering. Ministers were seen reaching out to revenue minister RB Udayakumar and bring some order.

Sundaram alleged that their demand to resolve salary disparity was not responded to by the CM. "We are not getting salary on a par with even 'D' grade staffs, despite putting in so many years and working for public welfare and neither do we get full salary nor dearness allowance," Sundaram said.

When many participants took the exit route in protest, Palaniswami abruptly ended left the venue along with his cabinet colleagues, without giving away mementos to the office-bearers of the associations. Later, Udayakumar announced that government would begin preliminary talks with the association members at the same venue. "The demands are being considered," the minister told TOI later.

Case filed against Medical Officer of Ambur GH for insulting national flag

TNN | Updated: Aug 17, 2017, 11:56 PM IST


Vellore: A case has been registered against the Medical Officer (MO) of the government hospital in Ambur, Dr A Kennedy, for reportedly insulting the national flag during the Independence Day programme in the hospital on Tuesday.

The Ambur Town police have registered a case under Section 2 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, against Dr Kennedy following a complaint from former councillor of Ambur municipality, Suresh Babu.

Babu, in his complaint, stated that Dr Kennedy was speaking over the phone while the national flag was hoisted and the national anthem was sung on Independence Day on the premises of the hospital. The flag was hoisted by Ambur legislator R Balasubramani.

Following the video of the doctor speaking over the phone being circulated in social media, Babu lodged the complaint on Wednesday. Acting on the complaint, special sub inspector K Annadurai registered the case.

Superintendent of police of Vellore, P Pakalavan said they have launched an inquiry into the case. They would look into the video being circulated in social media and also conduct an inquiry with the people who were present at the spot on that time. "We will also inquiry Dr Kennedy and take suitable action as per the provision in the Act," he said.

NEET delay: Future of students hangs in balance

TNN | Updated: Aug 17, 2017, 11:47 PM IST


Chennai: Tamil Nadu is yet to the get the sanction for the ordinance exempting it from the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), but the Supreme Court has already stayed counselling for MBBS/BDS admission until August 22. Now, the state will be left with less than 10 days to admit students to MBBS courses in 23 government-run colleges and 10 self-financing colleges before the August 31 deadline. It has another 10 days to complete the BDS admissions.

As a cascading effect, there will be a delay in admission for paramedical courses such as nursing, optometry and physiotherapy. At least two universities - Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University and the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University - have put their second round of counselling on hold to avoid seats being left vacant. The Anna University, which has wrapped up counselling, has said vacated seats will not be filled. Arts and sciences colleges too will not be able to admit students after August 18.

"Whichever way you look at it, the government has made students a victim," said Saravanan M, parent of an aspiring medical student, whose daughter took a year's break after passing her boards. While his daughter will be affected if TN manages to exempt itself from NEET, another group of state board students say a year's break may soon become a norm if NEET stays on. "For at least three years from now, all medical aspirants will take a break after completing school to study for NEET. Even if the education department changes the syllabus, it will take time for students and teachers to adapt to the new syllabus and method of learning. This will lead to tutorials becoming more important," said Prem Kumar, a Class XII state board passout.

Parents are also worried they may not have adequate time to make arrangements for paying fees, particularly if they are left with a seat under management quota in self-financing colleges or in deemed universities. "We can make arrangements if we know the chances. One of the problems for most parents is that they don't know where their children stand on the rank list. Neither the CBSE, which conducted the examination, nor the state's directorate of medical education has published rank lists," said a parent M Senthil Mohan.

Health minister C Vijaya Baskar is meeting senior politicians and officials campaigning for the ordinance. On Thursday, he met vice-president Venkaiah Naidu. "Through the ordinance we are now seeking exemption only for one year and that too only for government colleges. Rural students will be most affected if NEET is implemented," said health minister C Vijaya Baskar.

If NEET scores are taken as criteria for admissions, more than 42% of the seats will go to students from CBSE and other boards, officials from the directorate of medical education said. This would mean that less than 5% of state board students who cleared the test will be able to get into one of the 23 government medical colleges. "The state proposed reserving 85% government seats for the 23 government colleges, but it was struck down. We are now working on other options as suggested by the Supreme Court," said a senior official.

Railway staff board ac coaches illegally, smoke


Siddharth Prabhakar| TNN | Aug 17, 2017, 11:57 PM IST

CHENNAI: Railway officials will now take action against staff who are travelling in 3-tier AC coaches without valid tickets, especially on the Vellore-Arakkonam-Chennai route. The issue was raised by members of the Divisional Rail Users Consultative Committee (DRUCC) at a meeting held in the divisional railway manager's (DRM) office here on Thursday.

The issue was raised by DRUCC members V Dhasarathan and M Kishore Kumar. "Railway staff show their allegiance to the union and bully passengers. TTEs don't take action against the staff because of this," the members told the meeting, without naming the union. DRM Naveen Gulati, additional DRM SP Sorte, senior divisional commercial manager B Ravichander and senior divisional security commissioner were present at the meeting and assured that they would act on the complaint.

"Smoke filled the entire coach of the Trivandrum Mail. I've given the specific details to the DRM. This nuisance happens regularly," Dhasarathan told TOI.

Gulati assured the DRUCC that action would be taken as it was raised in the meeting for the first time.

"We are aware of this and will devise a strategy as it is a sensitive issue," a senior official said.

Kishore Kumar raised the issue of unions and associations defacing railway stations with posters and banners. "They are given specific areas where they can paste these posters, but its all over the place," he told TOI.

In the meeting, Kishore said the roof of Chennai Central station leaks even if there is a brief spell of rain. A video on messaging platforms which went viral showed how the biggest station in Southern Railway had become like a waterfall. "Parcels are strewn across the platform at Chennai Egmore station which causes problems for passengers, especially senior citizens and the differently abled," he said in the meeting.

Kishore raised the issue of many NGOs willing to beautify stations through CSR activities and urged the officials to simplify the process.

Another member suggested that suburban trains should have an automatic doors to prevent footboard deaths. However, officials informed that it would not be possible currently due to lack of funds and technology.

Twenty-five DRUCC members representing various organisations such as chamber of commerce, trade associations and industries, consumer council of India, recognised passenger associations, associations of the differently abled, GM's nominee, special interest and nominees of MPs were present at the meeting.