NEET rank holder on course to realising his dream

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

TIRUCHI,AUGUST 25, 2017 00:00 IST

UPDATED: AUGUST 25, 2017 04:58 IST

Syed devoted a year to prepare for the exam

Syed Hafiz who secured the third position in NEET (National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test) ranking at the State-level is all set to be the first doctor in the middle-class family.

His father Syed Zakir Hussain, a loco pilot with Indian Railways, is, no doubt, happy, but regrets what he terms as a one-year loss for his son. He said: "I committed an error by shifting my son from CBSE to State Board for higher secondary studies with the focus of marks alone."

Nevertheless, Mr. Zakir Hussain is today a relieved lot as he did not admit his son in a private medical college at Bengaluru last year for a fee of Rs. 5 lakh per annum, based on last year's NEET score.

Syed Hafiz had attempted NEET last year also, but was not lucky since the Tamil Nadu Government had secured exemption from the exam for 'State Quota' seats in government medical colleges and private institutions. He was out of reckoning for admission under State Quota based on plus two marks since his overall score was 1120 out of 1200.

Syed Hafiz who was enamoured by the profession due to his zeal for societal service was particular that he would join MBBS only on merit and took the gamble of devoting a year to prepare for the entrance examination.

The strenuous preparation at home for a year did serve the desired purpose. By virtue of his score of 651 out of 720, Syed Hafiz got admitted in Madras Medical College, even before the State-ranking was announced.

"I focussed my preparation on the CBSE content at higher secondary during my year-long preparation for NEET entrance. State Board students will continue to be at a disadvantage if the teaching-learning system is not revamped. Building capability to understand concepts rather than memorising skill is key to cracking NEET successfully," Syed Hafiz said.

State Board students will continue to be at a disadvantage if the teaching-learning system is not revamped. Building capability to understand concepts rather than memorising skill is key to cracking NEET

Syed Hafiz

State third in NEET

Health Dept. issues notices to 868 persons

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

SALEM,AUGUST 25, 2017 00:00 IST

UPDATED: AUGUST 25, 2017 03:53 IST

The Health Department has served warning notice on as many as 868 persons for their failure to destroy mosquito breeding sources following the outbreak of dengue in the district.

The department in association with all the government departments had launched anti-dengue operations in all the 20 blocks, four municipalities, 33 town panchayats by deploying a large number of medical teams. The staff of the department along with the local bodies has been destroying the mosquito breeding sources.

According to K. Poongodi, Deputy Director of Health Services, dengue warning notice was served on 868 people for their failure to check the breeding of mosquitoes in their households, shops, schools and colleges, workshops, industrial houses etc. Sanitary certificates of five private schools have been cancelled.

Surprise checks will be conducted regularly and action will be initiated against the erring people, Dr. Poongodi said.

Special buses to Velankanni

STAFF REPORTER

DINDIGUL,AUGUST 25, 2017 00:00 IST

UPDATED: AUGUST 25, 2017 03:49 IST

The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Limited will operate special buses to Velankanni from Dindigul between August 28 and September 9 for St. Arokiaya Madha festival scheduled to commence on August 28, according to Corporation Managing Director C.V. Ilangovan.

He said 60 buses would be operated round the clock between Velankanni and Dindigul. Two special teams would be deputed to the bus stands in Dindigul and Velankanni to guide the pilgrims.

Ola, Uber to have pick up points at airport

STAFF REPORTER

CHENNAI,AUGUST 25, 2017 00:00 IST

UPDATED: AUGUST 25, 2017 03:41 IST

In what may come as relief for commuters, private cab aggregators Ola and Uber will be able to pick them up at Chennai airport.

In a tie-up with the Airports Authority of India, these cab operators will have designated spots in the airport, where passengers can take the cab. Passengers who don’t have mobile apps of Ola and Uber on their phones will also be able to make a booking through their staff and take a ride. This facility is likely to start in a few weeks, sources said.

Kolkata and Lucknow airports too will have this facility at their airports.

Five disabled candidates allotted MBBS seats

UPDATED: AUGUST 25, 2017 03:42 IST
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As many as 117 seats allotted for persons with disabilities remained vacant on Thursday, the first day of single-window counselling for government quota seats in MBBS and BDS this academic year.

Although 58 applications had been received, only 20 were found eligible with NEET marks. Only five candidates were allotted seats, because they satisfied the disability norms prescribed. Officials said the rest of them did not qualify under the norms set for disability.

Similarly, 31 candidates who appeared under the ex-servicemen category for counselling, opted out. Officials said they had ascertained that their chances were better in general counselling that begins on Friday.

Karthikeyan G. of Coimbatore, with congenital club foot, was allotted the Madras Medical College. Ramanathapuram resident V. Sathyapriya, who had scored 134 in NEET and was certified as suffering from 55% deformity, was admitted to MMC. Her father runs a grocery shop.

S. Yukesh said “I skipped engineering counselling because I was sure to get a seat in medicine.” In class 12, he has scored 1087 and secured 149 in NEET. Yukesh has haemophilia and wants to pursue research in genetics. “But it is a faraway goal and I could change my mind,” said the candidate from Oddanchathiram in Dindigul district.

Vivegam hits screens with fanfare

STAFF REPORTER

CHENNAI,AUGUST 25, 2017 00:00 IST

UPDATED: AUGUST 25, 2017 03:41 IST

The much hyped spy thriller is Ajith’s 57th film

With fans flocking to theatres as early as 4 a.m. on Thursday, actor Ajith’s Vivegam opened big across the State. The much hyped spy thriller, directed by Siva, is the actor’s 57th film.

Many theatres across Chennai had early morning shows, where members of the several fan clubs of the actor made a beeline. With advance booking having started earlier this week, the movie is expected to have packed shows through the long weekend with Friday being a holiday for Vinayaka Chaturthi. While the movie released in over 700 screens across the State, tickets were sold at exorbitant prices in a few theatres, which did not have a computerised or online ticketing system in place, cashing in on the rush to see the movie on the first day of release.

R. Krishna, a marketing professional in the city, who caught the 5 a.m. show at the Kolathur Ganga theatre, said that many fans performed milk ‘abhishekams’ to large cut-outs of the actor kept there. The movie had enjoyed considerable hype and buzz among fans which reached a peak after the release of the trailer and the soundtrack composed by Anirudh Ravichander.

“In most theatres, the early morning and morning shows were like a celebration for the fans. Most of them burst crackers and had put up banners a week ahead of the release, ” said T. Esakkimuthu, a private taxi driver and fan of the actor.

Members of the Samayal Kalai Thozhilalar Munnetra Sangam created a 57 kg idly with Ajith’s face carved in it to celebrate the release of the movie, and kept it at Bharath theatre.

Fans performed milk ‘abhishekams’ to large cut-outs of the actor at a theatre in Kolathur

R. Krishna

Marketing professional

Alert nurse saves baby on train

Vivek Narayanan

CHENNAI,AUGUST 25, 2017 00:00 IST

UPDATED: AUGUST 25, 2017 05:01 IST

Quick responseGomathi, second from right, was quick to use CPR to revive the child.Special Arrangement  

1-year-old suffered epileptic attack

Timely intervention by a nurse saved the life of an infant, who suffered an epileptic attack while travelling on a suburban train on Wednesday.

Around 7.30 a.m, G. Gomathi, a nurse at a private hospital in Ennore, boarded the suburban train from Gummidipoondi on her way to work. When the train reached Ponneri, Jayachitra and her one-year-old son Yuvanesh boarded the women’s compartment. According to Southern Railway employee Rajasekhar, an eye-witness, between Ponneri and Minjur, the child suddenly suffered an epileptic attack.

Terrified mother

“In a few minutes, the child’s eyeballs had rolled back and he turned cold. His mother began crying loudly, thinking her child was dead,” said Mr. Rajasekhar. Gomathi rushed to Jayachitra’s help and then asked a co-passenger, Sharmila, to hold the child upside down. “Then, I patted the back of the child few times and using the airway breathing circulation technique, blew into his mouth. In a few seconds, the child’s condition returned to normal. I pinched the baby and he started crying,” Gomathi told The Hindu .

Jayachitra and others in the compartment applauded the nurse for her life-saving intervention.

“I completed my nursing course four years ago and joined the private hospital in Ennore. They give us monthly training on first aid techniques, including airway breathing circulation,” said Ms. Gomathi.