As dream crumbles, tribal student returns to cattle rearing in his village

NHRC registers case as student fails to get admission to veterinary, agri courses

31/08/2019, PON VASANTH B.A,CHENNAI

U. Chandran

U. Chandran, a tribal student from an unmotorable hamlet on Bargur hills, who passed out with flying colours in Class XII, despite all odds, has gone back to cattle rearing.

He failed to get admitted to the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS) and Tamil Nadu Agriculture University (TNAU) due to alleged policy bias against vocational stream students.

Following a complaint by Sudar, a non-governmental organisation working against child labour, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has now registered a case and has sought a report from the Director of Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare (ADTW) Department.

Chandran was the fifth among the 11 children born to Udumutti and Pasuvi from Sundaipodu, roughly 60 km away from Anthiyur in Erode district.

He studied in a vocational stream — Agricultural Practices — in an aided school in Gobichettipalayam, by staying in an ADTW-run hostel. He secured 98% in his core subjects and 74% in total.

Reservation Arithmetic

In TANUVAS, 18 of the 360 seats (5%) in Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry course is reserved for the vocational stream. Despite topping the rank list in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category, he failed to get admission due to reservation arithmetic.

As per Tamil Nadu’s reservation policy, 1% is for ST. One percent of 18 is 0.18, which is rounded off to ‘zero’ and hence no seats,” said C. Nataraj of Sudar, adding that Chandran was heartbroken when the news reached him.

Su. Moorthy from the Forum for Education Development, who is fighting along with Mr. Nataraj in seeking justice for Chandran, said the situation in TNAU was worse.

“We have appealed to the Chief Minister’s office to allocate a seat for Chandran. We are hoping for the best,” he added.

Madras University to honour researchers

31/08/2019,CHENNAI

The University of Madras will celebrate Teacher’s Day by presenting awards to research scholars. Sudha Seshayyan, Vice-Chancellor of the Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University will distribute the awards, said Madras University V-C P. Duraisamy.

10 public sector banks to be merged

Big banks will have enhanced credit capacity and global 

competitive edge, says Nirmala Sitharaman

31/08/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,NEW DELHI

In what comes as the second wave of the government’s efforts to revive the economy, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday announced a slew of banking reform measures, including merger of 10 public sector banks into four entities. This would take the number of banks in the country from 27 in 2017 to 12, Ms. Sitharaman said.

These bank mergers, and the ones already carried out, will lead to the creation of big banks with an enhanced capacity to give credit, she said. These big banks, she said, would also be able to compete globally and increase their operational efficiency by reducing their cost of lending.

“We have chosen these banks for the mergers on the basis of ensuring that there is no disruption in the banking services, and that the banks should benefit from increased CASA [current account savings account] and greater reach,” Ms. Sitharaman said. “The banks that are being merged with each other run the same or very similar platforms, and so there will be no disruption in their activities.”

The largest of the mergers announced is that of Punjab National Bank with Oriental Bank of Commerce and United Bank. The amalgamated entity — to be called Punjab National Bank — will become the second-largest public sector bank in India, after the State Bank of India. It will also become the second-largest bank in India in terms of its branch network, with a combined total of 11,437 branches.

The second merger announced was that of Canara Bank and Syndicate Bank, which would render the merged entity the fourth-largest public sector bank. The merger also has the potential to lead to large cost reductions due to network overlaps, Ms. Sitharaman said, adding that the similar business cultures of the two banks would also facilitate a smooth transition.

The third merger is of Union Bank of India with Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank, the Finance Minister said, which would make the merged entity the fifth largest public sector bank. This merger would have the potential to increase the post-merger bank’s business by 2-4.5 times, she added.

TN Veterinary & Animal Sciences University directed to admit Overseas Citizen of India card holder

The Madras High Court said that holding a Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card is sufficient for admission under NRI quota.

Published: 30th August 2019 04:05 AM 

Madras High Court (Photo | EPS)

By Siva Sekaran

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Holding that for admission of a candidate having US citizenship in a university in India, the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card issued by the Central government alone is the sufficient document, the Madras High Court has directed the TN Veterinary & Animal Sciences University to admit an OCI card-holder in the first year BVSC & AH degree course for 2019-20.

Justice G Jayachandran gave the direction on Wednesday while allowing a writ petition from Karnan Jayabalan, a US citizen holding the OCI card, praying for a direction to the university to admit him in the course without insisting on proof of employment of NRI (specimen-III) and NRI bank account.

Earlier, advocate Hema Muralikrishnan told the judge that as per the prospectus, the OCI cardholders/Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) have been granted parity with NRIs. The prospectus also specifically excludes the NRI/OCI/PIO for consideration under the foreign national quota.


While so, having pursued his course throughout in Tamil Nadu, but being a citizen of the US and OCI cardholder, his only option is to compete along with the NRIs/wards of NRI/NRI-sponsored candidates under the NRI quota. As per the prospectus, he submitted the OCI card issued by the Union government, the only document available with him to prove that he is an OCI.

However, the university rejected his plea for admission, Hema contended. She referred to an amendment made to the Citizenship Act in 2015 and claimed admission to her client.

Accepting her arguments, the judge pointed out that the amendment had been made to accord the OCI cardholders certain rights. As a consequence to provide education for PIO and OCI candidates, parity has been drawn along with NRIs.

The documents necessary to prove the status of an NRI is entirely different from the documents that have to be submitted by a PIO/OCI. To prove PIO/OCI status, the card issued by the Centre would be the one and only document. The prospectus does not say anything about other documents.

Hence, the petitioner should be admitted, the judge said and accordingly gave the direction with a condition that the candidate should pay the fees only in US dollars and not the equivalent Indian currencies.

Bharatidasan University staff meeting with governor's secretary cancelled after stirring row
This followed criticism by invitees over the lack of any agenda and the mention in the university circular asking them to 'dress up in pleasing attire' for the event, which they deemed insulting.

Published: 29th August 2019 01:32 PM

Bharathidasan University in Tiruchy

By Express News Service

TIRUCHY: A meeting scheduled on Thursday at Bharatidasan University between varsity staff and R Rajagopal, the Governor’s additional general secretary, was called off.

This followed criticism by invitees over the lack of any agenda and the mention in the university circular asking them to 'dress up in pleasing attire' for the event, which they deemed insulting.

The meeting was also criticised on the grounds that it amounted to bypassing authority. Balamurugan, general secretary of the Association of University Teachers (AUT), said, “It is clearly bypassing the authority of the higher education department of the state. They chose to do this without consultation or involvement of the department which AUT condemns.”




“Apart from stating the time and the venue of the meeting, there were no clear details about the meeting, especially the agenda,” said a member of the Teachers Association of Bharathidasan University.

“Asking us to dress up in pleasing attire was insulting. We are supposed to stand before students each day. What exactly was meant by the statement?” wondered another staff member.

Educationist Prince Gajendra Babu said, “The Governor performs the role of Chancellor in a decorative capacity. A formal meeting with university stakeholders to be chaired by the governor’s secretary is unreasonable. The vice-chancellor and the higher education department hold authority. With the higher education department not involved, the meeting is just bypassing authority. This is the first time I am hearing about such a meeting.”

Speaking to Express, additional general secretary Rajagopal said, “I am not going to Bharathidasan University today. The university officials may have thought that I would drop in on my way to South Zonal Cultural Centre at Thanjavur. They have not asked me before issuing the circular.”

The circular signed by the university registrar was dated Wednesday and the meeting was scheduled in the University on Thursday. It was said in the circular that Rajagopal was to interact with deans, directors and co-ordinators of the University.

The registrar and vice-chancellor were not available for comment.

Parts of Chennai to have power shutdown on August 30, here's the list
As a part of routine maintenance works, Tangedo will be suspending power supply in areas like Velachery, Adyar, Madhavaram and Avadi.

Published: 28th August 2019 06:52 PM | Last Updated: 28th August 2019 06:52 PM

Power supply will be resumed before 5 pm if work is completed, Tangedco said in a statement (File photo | EPS)

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: For carrying out maintenance work, power supply will be suspended by Tangedco on Friday (Aug 30) from 9 am to 5 pm in these following areas. According to a statement from Tangedco, power supply will be resumed before 5 pm if work is completed. Here is the list of areas which will face outage

VELACHERY: Part of Velachery Tambaram main road, Part of 100 Feet Taramani Link road, Sarathy Nagar, Seetharam nagar, SPIC nagar, Entire Dhandeeswaram Nagar.

MADHAVARAM: Parvathipuram, Industrial Garden, Annai Nagar, Veti Nagar, Srinivasa Modern Town, Dhanalakshimi Nagar, Chetti medu Ponniamman Koil street, Telecom colony, Manjambakkam Eri Karai, Omakulam street, Athikula medu, Periya Mathur.

SASTHIRI NAGAR: Thiruvalluvar salai, 1 st to 4 th East Street, Valmiki street, Sivasundara Avenue (1st and 2nd street).


NEELANKARAI: Pandian salai, Surya garden, Kumaraguru Avenue, Sivan Koil Street, Ellai Amma Koil street, Sengeni Amman Koil st, ECR – Liberty company to Police station, Kabaleswarar nagar (North and South), Sunrise Avenue, Anna nagar 1 st to 4 th st, Saraswathi nagar (South and North).

THIRUVANMIYUR: L.B Road 1 part, Indiranagar 1 st Main Road, 2 nd Main Road, Indiranagar 1 st Cross st, Indiranagar 1 st Avenue, Teachers colony, Balaraman road.

AVADI: Kalaigar nagar, Koilpathagai main road, Part of Poompzhil Nagar, Kannanapalayam part.

PALAVAKKAM: Ambedkar Nagar, Canal Puram, Govindan Nagar 1 st to 7 th st, Vaiko salai, Maniammal st (Canal road), Krishna nagar 1 st to 8 th st, Kovalavili Amman st 1 st to 15 th st, Periyar Salai, Pachaiappan street ,1 st to 11 th streets, DSG st 1 st to 4 th streets, Kandasamy nagar 8 th to 10 th streets, Gandhi Nagar 1 st to 4 th streets.

Oral cancer stalks the poor in rural Kuppam

High rates reported among agricultural labourers addicted to chewing tobacco and gutkha

30/08/2019

Help is at hand: Health officials organising a cancer screening and awareness camp at Kuppam in Chittoor district of A.P.

The largely rural district of Kuppam on the junction of three major southern States — Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu — has recorded an alarming increase in cases of oral cancer over the last decade. The intensity of the disease has gone up in recent months. The frequency of oral cancers is higher among women in the Kuppam belt.

The dependence of a large proportion of the population on manual labour for livelihood is seen as a major factor contributing to the rising rates of oral cancer. The region of Kuppam, Santhipuram, Gudupalle and Ramakuppam mandals is home to a large number of agriculture labourers. In addition, a huge number of youth from the district depend on odd jobs in Bengaluru and Chennai — both major cities within a day’s commute.

Given the hard manual labour, this vast group is forced to undertake, addiction to tobacco products, particularly the chewing variety is common.

Families afflicted

Three members of a six-member family — a couple and their son — at Mallanur were all detected with oral cancer in a span of just three years. The head of the family, Senthil, said he had acquired the habit of chewing tobacco from his father.

“Since 2012, I got addicted to gutkha, consuming close to 10 packets a day. I was diagnosed with oral cancer in a Bengaluru hospital in 2017. Later, I recovered. Unfortunately, I continued the habit. Now, I am hit by the malignant disease on the other cheek,” he said.

Sugunamma, a worker at the flower gardens in Kuppam, said surgery for cancer caused by chewing tobacco had left her disfigured. “I quit the habit. But the cancer has done its damage, and I am yet to recover fully. My daughter inherited this vile habit from me. But after counselling, she has given it up for good,” she said.

The incidence of oral cancer is also found to be high among the youth from Kuppam. Working away from home in hard conditions, many take to chewing tobacco and smoking.

Medical camps

Alarmed by the high rates of cancers, the district medical authorities have been holding medical and awareness camps in recent months.

District Medical and Health Officer B. Ramagiddaiah told The Hindu that the number of victims in the rural pockets was very disquieting. In addition to oral cancer, cases of lung, throat and intestinal cancers were also detected.

“In recent months, we had arranged surgeries for about a dozen cases from Kuppam area,” the DMHO said.