Nursing students threaten suicide over ‘harassment’ by college principal
When in hospital after consuming 300 units of insulin, Hena received an audio from her students sobbing due to the harassment they are currently facing at the institution from the principal Amudha Sun

Published: 14th August 2018 03:26 AM |

The CSI Hospital next to the School of Nursing Pic: Pandarinath B
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: One of the premier nursing institutes in the city is facing allegations about harassment and human rights violations from the firstyear students and some teachers. A first-year tutor/coordinator Hena Simon at the CSI Hospital's School of Nursing attempted suicide after allegedly being strangled by the principal. After the incident was posted on social media, students claim that they have been refrained from meeting or speaking to any visitors or have any kind of contact with outsiders.

When in hospital after consuming 300 units of insulin, Hena received an audio from her students sobbing due to the harassment they are currently facing at the institution from the principal Amudha Sundari. She then decided to get discharged against medical advice. “The suicide attempt was to make sure the harassment ends with my life,” she says. Another audio was also released on Sunday by the students stating that they would commit suicide if no action was taken against the principal. Hena was terminated by the institution on Monday.

'Students living like prisoners'

According to several videos released by the activist Beula Poornima and Hena, the students state that they aren't allowed to go out of the premises to purchase their daily essentials such as sanitary pads; have been ridiculed and humiliated due to their backgrounds; a doctor molesting them; and bed bugs found on their mattress. "It is like a jail for them," says Beula. They claim that 34 of the first-year students were locked inside the hostel with no means of contacting anyone. However, the management has denied any such incident. "The students cannot just simply go out as they please.

They need to first get permission before going out. Otherwise, we will be held responsible just as any other college," says a spokesperson from the institution. The activists also claim that parents of 18 students were called immediately to discuss about the issues on the pretext of a student committing suicide and their ward going missing. The principal, however, did not comment on the issue. Jeevan Stephen, a CSI member, says that the first-year students are new to the system and hence, are not aware of the rules, which is why the students have come out now with such allegations. But he supports them and says that the students should be allowed some freedom.

Executive meeting to be held

A meeting with the management staff was held on Sunday by the Bishop and chairman of the institution Prasanna Kumar Samuel. Hena says no first-year students and coordinators were included in the meeting. “The Bishop spoke only to the staff and the second and third year students. The first-year students were threatened to write an apology letter or they will not be able to write the examinations.

" But the management claims that the meeting was held with the first-year students, medical superintendent and treasurer. An executive meeting by CSI diocese is likely to be held on Tuesday. A board member of CSI Hospital, says, "We have been receiving complaints of harassment by the principal since two and half years after Amudha joined.

She is just frustrated because she wanted to merge the college with the nursing college in Chikkaballapur but it did not happen." Hena, who had worked in the nursing college between 2004 and 2009 and joined back in February this year, agrees that she had also not faced any such issues until the principal Amudha joined. The management was furious that the tutor had approached the media before they could form an enquiry team and investigate the matter. But Hena says that she was approached by the media after her suicide attempt. The management says that further action will be taken post the executive meeting.

Southern Railway replaces sleeper coaches with AC

Egmore-Tiruchy, Cholan Express to lose 130 to 145 sleeper berths; Pandian Express to lose 162 berths by August 20.

Published: 13th August 2018 02:45 AM | 

Image used for representational purpose only.

By B Anbuselvan 

Express News Service

CHENNAI: In a yet another backdoor way to increase revenue, Southern Railway has started replacing sleeper berths with third AC berths which cost Rs 500 to Rs 800 more for a ticket on busy routes.
The number of sleeper berths in Pandian Express, one of the most sought-after trains in Tamil Nadu, between Chennai and Madurai, is to be reduced to 702 (nine LHB coaches) by August 20. The train had 864 sleeper berths (12 coaches) until a few years ago when it was operated with ICF coaches.

Similarly, Chennai Egmore - Tiruchy Rockfort Express and Chennai - Tiruchy Cholan Express which have rake link with Pandian Express also lost about 130 to 145 sleeper berths in the last couple of years.

The sleeper berth share in trains began to shrink when railways replaced the conventional ICF coaches with LHB coaches in August 2016. Subsequently, sleeper berths were further reduced after railways replaced the coaches with third AC coaches in trains which had high passenger demand. This information was revealed in an official release by Southern Railway recently.

“We already pay exorbitant fares for premium tatkal tickets, which was created by moving 50 per cent of tatkal tickets to this category. Now, another 10 to 15 per cent sleeper berths have been converted to third AC sleeper class, forcing us to pay an additional Rs 500 to Rs 800 a ticket. This is completely unacceptable,” rued R Krishnan of Madurai, a regular train commuter.

A third AC berth between Chennai and Madurai costs Rs 815, while the sleeper berth fare is Rs 315. The AC tatkal fare is Rs 1130, while the sleeper tatkal fare is Rs 415.

Much to dismay of rail passengers, recently the railway board approved LHB coaches for the Chennai - Tirunelveli Nellai Express and Chennai - Sengottai Podhigai Express. These two trains are also expected to lose two sleeper coaches (approximately 130 sleeper berths) once the ICF rakes are replaced with LHB rakes.

The rakes currently have 864 sleeper berths in 12 ICF coaches. However, the train is expected to get 10 LHB coaches thereby reducing the sleeper berths to 780 (78 berths per coach).
Rail passengers charged that railways was exploiting passengers taking advantage of the high transportation demand.

“South-bound trains will lose about 500 sleeper berths a day. This will result in increase in demand for sleeper berths in Chennai - Tiruchy - Madurai - Tirunelveli routes, benefiting omni buses,” added K Shankar, a rail enthusiast in Chennai.

When contacted, a senior railway official said trains that are run with less than 24 coaches (maximum number of coaches permitted for operation) are augmented with an AC coach without changing the train composition. “However, for trains that are operated with 24 coaches, a sleeper coach was removed to include a 3-tier AC coach. It is a policy decision by railway board being implemented across India,” explained the officer.

Short file:

Total number of sleeper berths reduced from 864 to 702 in Pandiyan Express

Pandiyan Express, Rockfort Express and Cholan Express to run with additional 3-tier AC coach after August 20

Railway Board approved LHB coaches for Nellai and Podhigai Expresses

Number of sleeper coaches likely be reduced from 12 to 10
Sleeper berths will come down from 864 to 780 for Nellai and Podhigai Expresses in another few months

AC three tier coach augmented in Puducherry-New Delhi train recently

As PVR takes on Sathyam Cinemas, concerns now on possible ticket price hike

PVR’s acquisition of Chennai-based SPI Cinemas is unlikely to radically change Tamil Nadu’s theatre sector, according to industry experts.

Published: 13th August 2018 03:49 AM |

Representational image of PVR theaters.

By Gopinath Rajendran

Express News Service

CHENNAI: PVR's acquisition of Chennai-based Sathyam Cinemas is unlikely to radically change Tamil Nadu’s theatre sector, according to industry experts. However, some have raised concerns on possible changes in pricing and distribution policies, and the impact on SPI’s brand.

Film producer S Sashikanth of Y Not Productions, for instance, pointed out that the industry impact would be limited since SPI accounts for less than five per cent of the 750 screens in the state.

“As a user, however, I’d say the kind of standards they’ve achieved are incomparable. For those of us who’ve grown up in Chennai, Sathyam has always been the first preference. They maintain world-class standards, and let’s hope PVR maintains that,” he said.

However, Hema Rukmani, Thenandal Studio Ltd adds that PVR’s clout and experience in the industry would ensure a smooth transition. “Based on my sources, it seems like they have a deal in place for the iconic popcorn as well. If a new brand had taken over Sathyam, then we would’ve worried. But PVR is a veteran in the industry, so I don’t think it will be a major change as far as the business is concerned”.

But, pricing and distribution policies post-acquisition are still unclear, some say. Noted distributor Abirami Ramanathan pointed out that PVR might bring in distribution policies from the North.

Sathyam’s charm and memories will stay on

AVIS Vishwanathan, happiness curator talks on Sathyam cinemas and memories..
Published: 14th August 2018 03:38 AM |

By Express News Service

CHENNAI : My earliest memory of Sathyam Cinemas is from 1976. I was barely nine and we were visiting Chennai (Madras then) from New Delhi. My uncle took us to watch ‘Chitchor’ (directed by Basu Chatterjee) at Sathyam. That was a movie with many firsts for me — my first time at Sathyam, my first Amol Palekar film and the first time I heard a song by KJ Yesudas!

The following summer we moved to Chennai. And I distinctly remember, as an adolescent, being drawn to the posters of this movie by J Mahendran called ‘Uthiripookkal’ (1979). I think it was A-rated. So, I bunked school and went to watch this movie with an older friend at one of the screens in the Sree-Sathyam-Santham-Subham complex. I have no idea how my friend got us admitted into the hall. But I remember being whacked by my grandmother when she discovered what I had been up to! Another first here — the first time I bunked classes and went to the movies was at Sathyam! And my first Telugu movie, ‘Sankarabharanam’(K Viswanath), too happened here — in 1980.

Getting tickets back then was such a hassle. I remember often having to squeeze through a narrow queue ‘tunnel’, with ugly iron bars, at the rear of the Sathyam building, to buy tickets. During our eventful courtship in 1988, and in the first couple of years of our marriage (before we moved out of Chennai), my wife Vaani and I have watched several movies here.

Some years later, when we came back to live in the city, Sathyam was again a first choice for us as a family. I can never forget a night show of ‘Air Force One’ (1997) featuring Harrison Ford, which we watched here. We went home past midnight to find that our place had been burgled! Another interesting experience I recall is when ‘Kaho Na Pyaar Hai’ was released in 2000, we were in the front row of the balcony.

And our daughter Aanchal, who was just five years old then, was seated on my lap. The moment Hrithik Roshan came on screen, she leaped out of my lap, ran up to the balcony railing and screamed, “I love him! I love him!” The audience cracked up! Sathyam’s charm is like AR Rahman’s music — it has grown on you and so it will stay with you. Over time, brand Sathyam and SPI Cinemas may fade away. But the memories will stay on.

(AVIS Viswanathan is the happynesswala; He is a big fan of Big B and of Sathyam Cinemas — in that order!)

New Chennai railway time-table disappoints many

According to the new time-table, the Cuddalore-Vriddhachalam passenger train is extended to Tiruppadirippuliyur, while the Nagore-Tiruchchirappalli passenger trains will run upto Karaikkal.

Published: 14th August 2018 03:21 AM |


For representational purposes (File | EPS)



By B Anbuselvan

Express News Service

CHENNAI : The new railway time-table, which comes into effect from August 15, has disappointed passengers as the Southern Railway has neither introduced any new trains nor reduced the travel time of trains. The travel time in the 495-km Chennai Egmore and Madurai section, which became a fully electrified double line six months ago, remains above eight hours and ten minutes for all trains except Vaigai Express. The Villupuram-Madurai section double lines have been developed at the cost of `1200 crore. Besides reducing the travel time of weekly trains including Nagercoil- Mumbai CSMT biweekly express by 60 minutes, the Tambaram-Tirunelveli Antyodaya Express is speeded up by 60 minutes.

According to the new time-table, the Cuddalore-Vriddhachalam passenger train is extended to Tiruppadirippuliyur, while the Nagore-Tiruchchirappalli passenger trains will run upto Karaikkal. Similarly, the Palakkad-Punalur Palaruvi Express is extended to Tirunelveli, while the Kollam-Edamann passenger train will run upto Shengottai.


Travel time of 10 daily express trains including the Chennai Central-Coimbatore Shatabdi Express, Chennai Central-Alleppey Express and Pandiyan Express is reduced by 5 to 15 minutes. The departure time of about 25 trains from Chennai Egmore and Central stations has changed by 5 to 30 minutes. 

While the Southern Railways officials have repeatedly informed that new trains from Tambaram to Nagercoil and Tambaram to Kollam are being proposed, the time-table having no such trains has disappointed the rail passengers J Soosairaj, president, Tamil Nadu Southern Districts Train Passengers Association termed the time-table as a testimony to the step-motherly treatment meted out to Kanniyakumari district. “We have been assured that a triweekly Express is proposed to Nagercoil. However nothing has happened. We have to rely on bus services to travel for about 700 km,” he said.

K Baskar, member, Divisional Rail Users Consultative Committee (DRUCC), Chennai, said the reduction of travel time by five minutes is negligible. “The Southern Railway operates trains at the same travel time as that of single lines in double tracks between Chennai and Madurai. It only exhibits Railways’ poor efficiency and lack of planning,” he charged. Railway sources said the travel time of trains was not reduced mainly due to the proposed 4- hour corridor block a day for track maintenance. “We are planning a few changes in the time-table in a few months,” said an officer.

Relief pours in from Chennai for Kerala

Right from the beginning, materials have been pouring in. From homemakers to businessmen, everybody made it a point to donate something.

Published: 14th August 2018 03:42 AM |

The first set of materials from Path , an NGO, was sent on Sunday

Express News Service

CHENNAI : To aid Kerala in battling one of the worst floods it has witnessed in nearly a century, Chennaiites have stepped up in large numbers to mobilise relief material to help flood-affected victims in the neighbouring state. “When half of Chennai city was submerged in water in 2015, we received nearly nine tonnes of relief material from Kerala. Now, it is our turn to reciprocate,” said Vikaash Srivatsav, managing trustee of Path, a city-based NGO that has set up collection points in different places, including Naturals Lounge in T Nagar, C2 Mallika Ceebros in Pycrofts Road, Nungambakkam, Sunnyvale Apartments at Konnur High Road in Aynavaram, and Spectrum mall at Perambur.

Talking about the tremendous response from locals, he said, “Right from the beginning, materials have been pouring in. From homemakers to businessmen, everybody made it a point to donate something. The first consignment including medicines, baby food, sanitary items, water bottles (1,100 kg) and ready-to-eat food was sent on Sunday night.”

The volunteers said they are in constant touch with the Collectorate in Wayanad who is diverting the materials to different parts of the state. Priyanka Krishna, a volunteer with the Chennai rescue team said the Collectorate informed that they are currently not in need of clothes, but in need of footwear, carpets, mats, and provisions. Kalpana Ramakrishnan, one of the donors at Spectrum mall, said, “We have collected relief materials from eight apartments in our area. Likewise, people are gathering in all the areas.”



While materials are being collected quickly, transportation has become one of the major issues as most of the drivers are hesitant to drive to the flood-hit state. Addressing this, Fahd Khaleel Wallajah and Mohamed Asif from the city have started a crowd-funding campaign on GiveAway India that uses online and mobile interface to connect donors to beneficiaries and anyone from across the globe will be able to donate a range of products. “Willing donors can visit giveawayindia.org and can pay for water bottles, biscuits, rice, flour, milk powder, and other essentials. Once the crowdsourcing is done, our corporate partners from Kerala will directly provide the material to the relief areas.

This will save a lot of time,” said Fahd, adding that the model was useful in the 2015 Chennai floods as well.Bindu Satyajit from Do For Others foundation, who has been receiving the relief material at Kerala, said, while the essentials for the public is almost taken care of, the cattle are starving. She urged Chennaiites to also provide cattle feed, hay and mineral mixture.

Rajini questions CM’s absence at Kalaignar’s funeral

STAFF REPORTER

AUGUST 14, 2018 00:00 IST

The film star said that had the State government challenged the decision to give a burial space for the former Chief Minister at the Marina, he himself would have participated in protests.
Says there is no clash of great leaders in politics any more

Actor Rajinikanth questioned the absence of Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Edappadi K. Palaniswami at the final rites for former Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi at Marina, at a memorial event organised by the Tamil Film Industry on Monday evening.

“I was very proud to see that several Chief Ministers as well as leaders from the Centre were present at the final rites of Mr Karunanidhi, where he was given a state funeral. With all of these dignitaries present, shouldn't the Tamil Nadu CM too have been there to pay his last respects? What will people think of this,” Mr. Rajinikanth asked.

“Are you all MGR or Jayalalithaa? There was previously a clash of great leaders in politics, but not any more,” he said, questioning the ruling party over their absence at the State funeral.

He also said that had the Tamil Nadu government challenged the decision to give a burial space for the former Chief Minister at the Marina, he would have participated in protests himself. “I got very emotional seeing Mr. Stalin shed tears and I want to tell him that he has his family and his party for support. His father’s path and achievements will show him the way,” he said. Stating that it was tough for him to imagine a Tamil Nadu without Kalaignar Karunanidhi, Mr. Rajinikanth said that the leader had been instrumental in inspiring lakhs of people to come into politics and had always said that either people like him or oppose him in the political sphere.

“I don’t want anyone to mistake me, but I feel that Kalaignar’s photo should be kept next to M.G.Ramachandran’s photo when the AIADMK annual celebrations are held,” he said.

“If a movie like Parasakthi hadn't been made, Tamil cinema would have lagged by at least 20 years. Kalaignar was someone who showed us that cinema with good dialogues and heroes who spoke on screen and not just sang on screen were important,” said actor Nassar, president of the Nadigar Sangam.