'Searches by I-T ongoing at places belonging to associates of Sasikala'

TNN | Updated: Nov 12, 2017, 05:48 IST

I-T searches continued for the third day on Saturday at Jaya TV office and MD Vivek Jayaraman's house

CHENNAI: A senior I-T official said, "Vivek and his associates used the money from these bank accounts to buy movable and immovable properties worth several crores."

Searches were still continuing in some places, including Kodanad estate owned by Sasikala, because some lockers there were yet to be opened, the source said. "Our officials are questioning some people to ferret out more details about the seized documents," said the official.

The sleuths completed search operation in most places on Saturday. "But searches are continuing in Jaya TV office and houses of Vivek and Krishna Priya," the official said. Searches are going on at places belonging to various associates of Sasikala and her family in Cuddalore, Namakkal districts.

Searches at Jaaz Cinemas have led the I-T officials to another multiplex in the city. Officials have sought clarification on purchase of 11 screens by Jaaz Cinemas from the multiplex in 2015. The owners of the multiplex are being questioned.

With regard to some documents seized from Dhivaharan's premises at Mannargudi, officials are questioning his daughter Rajamathangi, a resident of Chennai.

"She had imported many foreign cars. We are probing the source of funds for those purchases. She is also being asked to explain the source and other details about the purchase of property.," another official said. In all, 355 people have so far come under the I-T scanner in this round of searches.

Tamil Nadu colleges create 16 thousand duplicate entries for government scholarships

Ram Sundaram| TNN | Updated: Nov 12, 2017, 05:44 IST



COIMBATORE: Collegesacross Tamil Nadu have created nearly 16,000 duplicate entries to receive Rs 3 crore in government scholarships earmarked for students belonging to the backward classes (BC), most backward classes (MBC), scheduled castes (SC) and scheduled tribes (ST), government records show.

With no validation mechanism in place, this has resulted in a windfall for some students - who have received the scholarship multiple times under different IDs within the same academic year - at the expense of others who should have benefited but were denied funding.

The state government through the BC, MBC & minorities welfare department and adi dravidar & tribal welfare department provides scholarships to students in Tamil Nadu under 11 different schemes including pre-matric and post-matric scholarship schemes. However, the state government had slashed scholarships for engineering, medicine, law and other students belonging to these communities citing a fund crunch.

Until 2009-10, conventional methods were used for disbursing the scholarship amount to students. A web-based application - Electronic Clearance System (ECS) - was introduced in the same year to make the entire transaction digital.

The scholarship amount was credited to individual bank accounts of students after the district-level authorities verified and sanctioned claims submitted through their respective colleges.

Government records show that district-level authorities in the said departments approved nearly 16,000 scholarship claims without scrutinising the records.

College authorities had created duplicate IDs for the same student. "There was no validation option available in the ECS software to reject multiple entries. Consequently, scholarships were granted multiple times to the same set of students," said government sources.

Besides this, government data suggests that nearly 5,000 bank accounts were used numerous times for disbursing the scholarship amount. Some of the accounts were used more than 70 times, said sources.

A district-level official from the adi dravidar welfare department said that an enquiry was initiated in 2016-17 in which some of the colleges claimed that they made multiple entries by mistake.

"To overcome this, changes have been made in the ECS this year (2017-18). Instructions have been given to verify Aadhaar card linked with bank accounts of all the beneficiaries so that there is no duplication," the official added.

Also, nearly 75,000 applications received by the departments between 2013-14 and 2015-16 remain pending at various stages. Authorities replied that necessary changes have been made to ensure that the pending applications were cleared soon.

Little-known viral fever now sends children to doctors

TNN | Nov 11, 2017, 07:21 IST



CHENNAI: It is the season of fever,but doctors are also dealing with an influx of child patients with a little-known viral infection that has the symptoms of dengue and chicken pox. Since 2010 when hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), caused by a virus found in the intestine, made a comeback, doctors in Chennai have recorded a three-fold rise in cases. "Although we now see HFMD cases throughout the year,it usually peaks in summer.

This time, the pattern seems different. In the last one week alone I've seen aroundseven cases," saidDr Deepa Hariharan, neonatologist at Sooriya Hospital.Thoughfrom thesamefamily thatcausesfoot and mouth disease in cattle, in humans, it affects children in the 1-11 age group and is uncommon in adults. Caused by viruses of the picornaviridae family,it can spread when a person comes in contact with the mucus, saliva, or faeces of an infected person.

In rarecases,it may require hospitalisation; in very rare cases, it can be fatal as patients can develop complications like encephalitis, meningitis or paralysis, inflammations of lungs or hemorrhage. In most cases, intervention is rarely required, said Dr S Balasubramanian, medical director of Kanchi Kamakoti Childs Trust Hospital, adding that they received atleastthree cases a day. "You just wait till it goes away, which takes 10-12 days," he said. HFMD causes fever, diarrohoea, sore throat and lesions in the palms, soles and mouth. "Doctors sometimes misdiagnose it and give children antibiotics. There are no tests to confirm, or medicines to heal, HFMD," saidDr Balasubramanian.

Doctors say HFMD typically spreads in enclosed spaces like classrooms. "It usually occurs in pre-school andkindergarten children as their resistance level is low," Dr Hariharan said. Patients with high fever are given paracetamol, and those with rashes are prescribed anti-allergens. In the the 2010 outbreak, health experts tried to study the virus butthe projecthit a dead-end for want of samples.

Provoked by CCTV installation, tigress kills 4 cubs at zoo

A Selvaraj| TNN | Nov 11, 2017, 07:09 IST



CHENNAI: A tigress in the city zoo killed an entire litter of four cubs on Monday, just a day after giving birth, apparently after an ill-informed attempt to fix security cameras in its enclosure distressed the animal.

A forest range officer, Prashanth, newly posted to the Vandalur Reserve Forestarea, had engaged four workers to put up the cameras in tigress Uthra's pen in Arignar Anna Zoological Park, zookeepers told TOI on Friday.

They said senior members of the zoo staff repeatedly attempted to dissuade the forester from disturbing the tigress because it had just had a litter, but to no avail. "Uthra became distraught and turned violent, finally taking out its anger on the newborn cubs," a senior zookeeper said on condition of anonymity.

"We found the four cubs dead inside the tigress' enclosure on Monday and informed zoo officials," he said. "They called government veterinarians to the spot."

TOP COMMENTThere seems to be something strangeSriram Venkat

The veterinarians performed autopsies on the cubs and examined the tigress but are yet to release their report.

An animal keeper submitted a report to the zoo's deputy director, an IFS officer, detailing the sequence of events leading to the deaths of the cubs.

The officer, Sudha, has called for a departmental inquiry into the case. A zoo official confirmed that the forest official had engaged four men, who climbed on trees to get close to the tigress' enclosure and fixed eight cameras all around it. "The workers connected the cameras to the zoo's control room to monitor the animal," he said.

On Day 2 of I-T ops, diamonds & Swiss watches tumble out

Jayaraj Sivan and B Sivakumar| TNN | Updated: Nov 11, 2017, 17:07 IST

HIGHLIGHTS

A senior I-T official said teams seized Rs 6 crore in cash, 8.5 kg gold worth Rs 2.4 crore and documents relating to investments worth Rs 1,200 crore.

I-T searches continued on premises owned by convicted AIADMK leader V K Sasikala, her relatives and associates in various parts of Tamil Nadu yesterday.



CHENNAI: Diamond jewellery and Swiss watches tumbled out of cupboards in unoccupied hostel rooms of a women's college in Tiruvarur district as income tax searches continued on premises owned by convicted AIADMK leader V K Sasikala, her relatives and associates in various parts of Tamil Nadu for the second day on Friday, said I-T sources.

A senior I-T official said teams seized Rs 6 crore in cash, 8.5 kg gold worth Rs 2.4 crore and documents relating to investments worth Rs 1,200 crore, for which their owners could not provide any source of income.

They searched the hostel of Sengamala Thayaar Educational Trust Women's College, owned by Sasikala's brother V Dhivaharan at Sundarakottai in Mannargudi, the family's native village, and seized several valuables that were hidden in unused hostel rooms, said sources. "They include diamond jewellery and Rolex watches. We are in the process of assessing their value," said an official.

Officials said they grew suspicious when 12 protesters objected to their entry into the college. Their refrain was that I-T officials would plant valuables in the college to trap Dhivaharan.

The protesters were arrested on Friday. On Friday, searches concluded at 50 of the 188 premises I-T teams visited. 'Operation Clean Money' is set to continue in most places including Sasikala's Kodanad tea estate in the Nilgiris — which was partly owned by the late CM J Jayalalithaa — on Saturday. "Questioning of inmates is continuing in many places," said the official. Many incriminating documents relating to shell firms were seized from the premises of Jaya TV MD and Sasikala's nephew Vivek Jayaraman and his sister Krishna Priya.

Their mother Ilavarasi is convicted along with Sasikala in the wealth case. The officials copied several documents from laptops and desktops at Jayaraman's and Priya's residences. At Jayaraman's father-inlaw Baskar's residence in Anna Nagar, an argument broke out between Chitra, a relative of Baskar and I-T officials when they seized some gold ornaments.

She claimed the ornaments belonged to her and that they were kept at Baskar's house because her house at Kolathur on the outskirts of the city was flooded. I-T officials said she could reclaim the valuables if she could produce documents to prove her claim.

Railways to install loudspeakers at level crossings to warn vehicles of incoming trains

Pankul Sharma| TNN | Nov 11, 2017, 20:35 IST

HIGHLIGHTS

360 people have been killed in train accidents during the past two years

Of these, 110 were killed in 55 accidents at level crossings across the country

Now, the loudspeakers at level crossings will broadcast alerts whenever a train approaches

BAREILLY: In the aftermath of a train-tanker collision on October 26, which claimed the life of the tanker driver and leaving a dozen train passengers injured, the railways is all set to install loudspeakers at level crossings that will broadcast alerts whenever a train approaches.

Rajendra Singh, PRO of North East Railways' Izzatnagar division, said on Saturday, "All 632 level crossings, including the 145 which are unmanned, will be equipped with loudspeakers at either side of the tracks.

"Besides, all the signals at level crossings will be interlocked with the gates and until the latter are closed, there will be no green signal for the train," he added.

According to Rajen Gohain, the minister of state for railways, 360 people have been killed in train accidents during the past two years. Of these, 110 were killed in 55 accidents at level crossings across the country.

In a reply to a question raised by the Rajya Sabha member Chunibhai Gohel on August 11, Gohain informed the house that 40 persons were killed at unmanned level crossings during the financial year 2016-17.

Singh told TOI, "To prevent accidents at level crossings, we are taking all measures including installation of loudspeakers and interlocking the gates with signal poles. We are continuously working to close such crossings by providing alternative provisions like subways, flyovers and connecting roads. However, sometimes adamant public supported by politicians prevent such projects from being implemented."

According to the district administration, BJP MLA Bhoharan Lal Maurya has written to railways not to construct subway at level crossing 19 of Lalkuan section.

During 2016-17, Izzatnagar division closed 22 unmanned crossings and provided subways at five of them. The remaining 17 have been connected to nearby crossings by road. Besides, at those crossings which have one lakh train-vehicle units (TVU) every 24 hours, flyovers are being constructed.

"We have installed loudspeakers at five level crossings, including at Izzatnagar. Very soon all crossings will have this. Meanwhile, at 200 crossings gates have been interlocked with the track signals so far," Singh added.

உதவ உதவும் இணையதளம்

Published : 10 Nov 2017 09:33 IST

ச.கோபாலகிருஷ்ணன்




மயூக்




இப்போதெல்லாம் உதவி தேவைப்படுவபர்கள்கூட சமூக ஊடகங்கள், இணையம் வழியாகவே உதவியைக் கேட்கிறார்கள். இப்படிக் கேட்கப்படும் உதவிகள் உண்மையானவையா என்ற சந்தேகம் உங்களுக்கு எழும் அல்லவா? உதவி கேட்பவர்களின் உண்மைத் தன்மையை ஆராய்ந்தும் அதன் அடிப்படையில் உதவியும் கிடைத்தால் பிரச்சினையே இருக்காதுதானே! அதைத்தான் ‘மிலாப்’ (Milaap) என்ற இணையதளம் ‘கிரவுட் ஃபண்டிங்’ முறையில் செய்துவருகிறது. பெங்களூருவில் 2010-ல் தொடங்கப்பட்ட இந்த இணையதளம் இன்று இந்தியாவின் மிகப் பெரிய கிரவுட்ஃபண்டிங் இணையதளமாக உருவெடுத்துள்ளது. .


கோயம்புத்தூரில் பிறந்து வளர்ந்த அனுஜ் சிங்கப்பூரில் படித்துவிட்டு டெல்லியில் ஒரு நிறுவனத்தில் பணியாற்றிக்கொண்டிருந்தார். அந்த நிறுவனத்தில் அவரது மேலாளராக இருந்த மயூக் சவுத்ரி என்பவருடன் இணைந்து மிலாப் இணையதளத்தை அனுஜ் தொடங்கினார். “நிதி உதவிக்கான தேவைகள் என்று வரும்போது தனிநபர்கள் இணைக்கப்படுகையில் வெளிப்படைத்தன்மை அதிகரிக்கிறது. உதவி தேவைப்படும் நபர்களையும் உதவக்கூடிய நபர்களையும் இணைப்பதற்கான தொழில்நுட்பக் கருவி ஒன்றைத் தொடங்க முடிவெடுத்தோம். எனவேதான் இந்த இணையதளத்தைத் தொடங்கினோம். மிலாப் என்றால் இணைத்தல் என்று பொருள்” என்று இணையம் தொடங்கிய கதையைச் சொல்கிறார் அந்த நிறுவனத்தின் சி.ஓ.ஓ. அனுஜ். இதைத் தொடங்கும்போது இவருக்கு 22 வயதுதான். மயூக்குக்கு 24.

இந்தியா முழுவதும் உள்ள கிராமப்புறங்களில்தான் இவர்கள் கவனம் செலுத்திவருகிறார்கள். பொது சுகாதாரம், சூரிய விளக்குகள் பொருத்துவது, கழிப்பறைகள் கட்டுவது என ரூ.100 கோடி மதிப்பிலான திட்டங்களுக்கு மிலாப் இணையதளம் மூலம் நிதி வசூலித்துக் கொடுத்திருப்பதாகச் சொல்கிறார் இதன் சி.இ.ஓ. மயூக். 2014-ல் தான் நகர்ப்புறங்களுக்கும் விரிவுபடுத்தியிருக்கிறார்கள். கிரவுட்ஃபண்டிங் மூலம் இதுவரை ரூ.230 கோடி தொகையைப் பெற்றுத் தந்திருக்கிறார்கள் இவர்கள். இதில் 70 சதவீதம் மருத்துவ அவசரத் தேவைகளுக்கே சென்றுள்ளன.

பெரும்பாலும் சமூக வலைத்தளங்களில் வரும் நிதி உதவிக் கோரிக்கைகளின் உண்மைத்தன்மையை நாம் சரிபார்க்க முடிவதில்லை. இதனாலேயே பலர் அந்தக் கோரிக்கைகளை நிராகரித்துவிடுவார்கள். எனவே, இந்த உண்மைத்தன்மையைச் சரிபார்த்து உறுதிசெய்துகொள்வதில் மிகுந்த அக்கறை செலுத்துகிறார்கள் மிலாப் குழுவினர். “உதவிகேட்பவரின் உண்மைத்தன்மையை உறுதி செய்வதற்கான வலுவான வலைப்பின்னலை நாங்கள் உருவாக்கியிருக்கிறோம். இந்தியா முழுவதும் உள்ள நூற்றுக்கும் மேற்பட்ட மருத்துவமனைகளுடன் தொடர்பு வைத்திருக்கிறோம். உதவி கேட்டுவருபவர்களின் உண்மைத்தன்மையை அதன் மூலம் சரிபார்த்துவிடுகிறோம். எங்களது வலைப்பின்னலுக்குள் வராத மருத்துவமனைகள் என்றாலும், சம்பந்தப்பட்ட மருத்துவமனையிடம் பேசி அவர்களை எங்கள் தொடர்பில் இணைத்துக்கொள்வோம். ” என்கிறார் அனுஜ்.

மிலாப் இணையதளம் சமூக ஊடகங்களிலும் சிறப்பாக இயங்குகிறது. இவர்களுடைய இணையதளத்திலும் சமூகவலைதளப் பக்கங்களிலும் வெளியிடப்படும் கட்டுரைகளும் காணொளிகளும் மனதைத் தொடுபவையாகவும் உள்ளன. இவர்களது இடுகைகளைப் பல மீம் பக்கங்கள் பகிர்கின்றன. இன்று இணையம், முகநூலைப் பயன்படுத்தாதவர்களையும் இரண்டாம் நிலை, மூன்றாம் நிலை நகரங்களில் இருப்பவர்களையும் சென்றடைவதை அடுத்தகட்ட நோக்கமாக வைத்திருக்கிறார்கள்.

“எங்கள் கோரிக்கைகளை பிராந்திய மொழிகளில் உருவாக்குவதில் கவனம் செலுத்துகிறோம். வாட்ஸ்அப் மூலம் பிராந்திய மொழியில் பலரைச் சென்றடையவும் முயல்கிறோம்” என்கிறார் அனுஜ்.