SR announces special trains for Pongal 

Measure aimed at clearing extra rush
 
09/01/2020 , Special Correspondent, MADURAI

Southern Railway will run the following special trains to clear extra rush during Pongal.

Train No. 82601 Chennai Egmore–Tirunelveli Suvidha Special will leave Chennai Egmore at 6.50 p.m. on January 10 and reach Tirunelveli at 6 a.m. the next day. Train No. 06002 Tirunelveli–Tambaram Special will leave Tirunelveli at 6.15 p.m. on January 11 and arrive at Tambaram at 5 a.m. the next day.

These trains will stop at Tambaram, Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Vridhachalam, Tiruchi, Dindigul, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Sattur and Kovilpatti.

Train No. 82603 Tambaram– Tirunelveli Suvidha Special will leave Tambaram at 7.20 p.m. on January 12 and reach Tirunelveli at 6 a.m. the next day. Train No. 82604 Tirunelveli–Tambaram Suvidha Special will leave Tirunelveli at 6.15 p.m. on January 18 and arrive at Tambaram at 5 a.m. the next day.

The trains will stop at Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Vridhachalam, Tiruchi, Dindigul, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Sattur and Kovilpatti.

Train No. 82606 Nagercoil– Tambaram Suvidha Special will leave Nagercoil at 5 p.m. on January 19 and reach Tambaram at 5 a.m. the next day.

Train No. 06075 Tambaram– Nagercoil Special will leave Tambaram at 11.20 hrs. on January 20 and arrive at Nagercoil at 2 a.m. the next day.

The trains will stop at Valliyur, Tirunelveli, Kovilpatti, Sattur, Virudhunagar, Madurai, Dindigul, Tiruchi, Vridhachalam, Villupuram and Chengalpattu, according to a press release.

Special Sub-Inspector shot dead at check-post 

Wilson was checking an SUV

09/01/2020 , Special Correspondent, KANNIYAKUMARI

Unidentified persons shot dead a Special Sub-Inspector of Police, Wilson, 56, posted at Padanthalumoodu check-post near the Kerala border, while he was conducting a check on a car going towards Nagercoil from Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday night.

Three rounds fired

Sources in the police said Wilson was checking the sports utility vehicle, bearing registration number TN 57 AW 1559, which entered Kanniyakumari district around 10 p.m., when suddenly, the unidentified occupants of the car opened three rounds of fire at the police officer, inflicting bullet injuries on his forehead, abdomen and leg.

Even before other policemen at the check-post could react, the car fled from the spot.

A profusely bleeding Wilson was rushed to Kuzhithurai Government Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead. The body was sent to Kanniyakumari Government Medical College Hospital for a post-mortem. An intense hunt has been launched in Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli and Tenkasi districts to nab the assailants.

High alert

All check-posts in these districts and also in Kerala have been put on high alert following the killing of a police officer.

Parents of govt. staff may get health cover

09/01/2020 , Special Correspondent, CHENNAI

The State government will consider pleas to include ageing parents of government employees and those in local bodies under the purview of the health insurance scheme meant for pensioners in the State, Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam told the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.

During his reply to DMK MLA G. Anbalagan (Kumbakonam) during the question hour, Mr. Panneerselvam (handling the Finance portfolio) said the request would be considered and a decision taken after consulting the Chief Minister.

The Deputy Chief Minister said he would consider another request by DMK MLA K. Pitchandi (Kilpennathur) to speed up monthly board meetings that reviews the requests from patients who need kidney transplantation.

With a premium of ₹350 each, the scheme covered 7.30 lakh pensioners and family pensioners with a network of 988 hospitals.

In 2019-20, ₹297.68 crore premium was paid to the insurance companies and 2.01 lakh pensioners benefited with treatment cost totalling ₹578 crore.

Here is the list of areas in Chennai facing power shutdown on January 09

According to a statement from Tangedco, the power supply will be resumed before 5 pm if work is completed.

Published: 07th January 2020 08:50 PM |

Power shutdown in Chennai owing to maintenance

By Express News Service

For carrying out maintenance work, the power supply will be suspended by Tangedco on Thursday from 9 am to 5 pm in the following areas. According to a statement from Tangedco, the power supply will be resumed before 5 pm if work is completed. Here is the list.

MATHUR: Vadaperumbakkam, V.S Mani Nagar, Kanniamman Nagar, MRH Road, Manjambakkam, Ranga Garden, Vinayagapuram, Anbu valarmathy Nagar, Chinna Thoppu, Kandasamy Nagar, 200ft ring road, Manjambakkam.

IIT AREA: Rengarajapuram, Sri Nagar colony, South Avenue, North Mada Street, Anna university.

NOLAMBUR: NNS, HIG, MIG, Chinna Nolambur, Adayalampet, Kongu Nagar, Mugappair West Block 1 to 8 th Block, Rajan Garden, Panneer Nagar, Mohanaram Nagar, Jaswanth Nagar, Reddy Palayam area AIBEA Nagar, Vellalar Street, Eri Scheme, Gangai Amman Nagar, Ponniamman Nagar, Keel ayanambakk

750 stalls, 13 days, unlimited books

With a `10 note, you can buy a tiny Dairy Milk bar or even two `5 ballpoint pens.

Published: 08th January 2020 06:23 AM 

By Shwetha Surendran

Express News Service

CHENNAI: With a `10 note, you can buy a tiny Dairy Milk bar or even two `5 ballpoint pens. But the Booksellers and Publishers Association of South India (BAPASI) offer you a far better deal. This month only, for 13 days between January 9 and 21, can a measly ten rupees unlock a world of literary wonder and authors extraordinaire. Featuring over 750 stalls crammed with books, both in regional and foreign languages, the YMCA Ground at Nandanam will play host to the 43rd Chennai Book Fair. One of the largest of its kind in the continent, this year’s event is bound to excite adults and children alike.

With a special focus on Tamil Literature this year, as BAPASI aims to revive and revitalise it, it is no surprise to see a stellar author and speaker line-up at their ‘Eluthalar Mutram’ boasting the likes of Balakumaran, Perumal Murugan and Bama. Keeping in line with the underlying theme of showcasing the state’s heritage, be sure not to miss Odia artist Sudarshan Pattanaik’s sand rendition of Thiruvalluvar and an exclusive display titled ‘Keeladi-Eeradi’ with artifacts from the Sangam period, courtesy of the Department of Archaeology’s dig at Keeladi.

But be sure to know that this year, it is more than just books. Short films and documentaries will be screened at the venue. Oratorical, drawing and writing competitions have also been weaved into the schedule to encourage young local talent. “In the past, we used to do more than just look into our phones. We had a rich culture of reading in the state and we aim to inculcate this enthusiasm in the younger generations,” says RS Shunmugam, president, BAPSI.The 43rd Chennai Book Fair will be open from January 9 to January 21 at the YMCA Ground, Nandanam. On weekdays between 3 pm to 9 pm and on weekends from 11 am to 9 pm. Entrance fee at `10 per head.

At the fair

This year there will be a special focus on Tamil Literature. Short films and documentaries will be screened at the venue. Oratorical, drawing and writing competitions have also been weaved into the schedule to encourage young local talent.

Does high standard of living bring happiness?

In many countries, modern life has improved people’s standard of living, but people seem nevertheless generally not more happy with their lives.

Published: 08th January 2020 06:30 AM | 

By Rajyogi Brahmakumar Nikunj

Express News Service

CHENNAI: In many countries, modern life has improved people’s standard of living, but people seem nevertheless generally not more happy with their lives. This can be regarded as a surprise with the level of prosperity at a historic high. There is no doubt in it that every human being has the right to live and, therefore, the right to find the wherewithal to feed, to clothe and to house himself as well as his dependents.

Besides these three, one has to fulfil some other needs as well, the aim being to avoid pain and to have a reasonably comfortable life. But the trouble starts when one adopts that economic philosophy which states that multiplication and fulfilment of wants leads to higher standard of living and greater happiness, and one, then sets to accumulate whatever and as much as one can by fair as well as foul means. This economic philosophy is basically erroneous and self-defeating and is the cause of many social, economic, political and moral maladies of our times.

To begin, happiness is hard to define as different people may have very different concepts of happiness, but directly correlating standard of living with happiness is likely oversimplifying their relationship. While good life conditions certainly contribute to happiness, people in poor countries frequently express a surprisingly high levels of happiness in opinion polls. For some people, fulfilling work and social relationships probably add more to happiness than being able to afford luxury goods. We should also understand one thing that happiness is not the same as pleasure. Happiness depends more on the mental state of a person than on the fulfilment of desires and the gratification of senses.

So, there may be a man whose hands are full but whose soul is empty. Also, it would be wrong to measure one’s standard of living on scale of luxury goods. It would also be wrong to dissociate this term from the intellectual, moral and cultural aspects of a person. There may, for instance, be a person with high moral character who leads a life of voluntary non-possession or minimum possessions. He may be an intellectual of a high order, contented in mind and refined in the cultural sense.

Hence, it would be wrong to say that his ‘standard of living is not high’. We should remember that just as food sustains the body so does the mind find sustenance in happiness. So, the saying goes: there is no food as good as happiness. And, to be happy, you have to be contented. Just as, for bodily well-being, man seeks food, so should he maintain the state of contentment to ensure happiness of mind.

As Alfred Nobel rightly said that ‘Contentment is the only real wealth’, we should therefore not run after securing another kind of wealth to lose the wealth of contentment because contentment is as good as a means of happiness as wealth is considered to be. Hence, it can safely be concluded that, beyond a limit, the multiplication of wants and their satisfaction does not promote happiness and certainly not in that proportion.

Precaution before pilgrimage for diabetics

It is the Sabarimala season. Male devotees of Lord Ayappa prepare themselves to visit His heavenly abode.

Published: 08th January 2020 06:31 AM

By Veena Mani

Express News Service

CHENNAI : It is the Sabarimala season. Male devotees of Lord Ayappa prepare themselves to visit His heavenly abode. The preparation for this trip begins with a 45-day fast. Throughout this period, those observing the fast remain barefoot till they visit the temple and are back. Understanding the rigour of this ritual, diabetologists urge diabetics to take extra care before undertaking a fast and deciding to walk barefoot.

Doctors advise people with diabetes to consult their physician first. “Devotees who are diabetic can opt for footwear made of cloth. They should not go barefoot at all. Exposure to extremely hot or cold weather can worsen the condition as most of them are prone to getting diabetic foot where there is a loss of sensation. In extreme cases the patient might end up having to amputate their foot or toes,” says Dr SK Wangnoo of Apollo Hospitals.

Dr V Mohan of Mohan’s Diabetes Centre says that though diabetes patients should never walk barefoot, he has seen very few patients who have come from a trip to Sabrimala with major problems. For religious reasons, if someone wishes to fast, be it during Ramzan or before a trip to Sabrimala, they should consult a doctor if they are diabetic, so as to rework their insulin dosage. “Since the food pattern becomes different, the insulin intake will also vary. They should consult their specialist to learn how to deal with that. They must prepare for the trip by doing breathing exercises and training to walk long distances. They should jog regularly for a few months before they going to these religious spots,” says Dr Mohan.

He adds that anyone with diabetes should report any kind of pricks or injuries to their doctor the moment they come back from their pilgrimage because any kind of infection or injury can be dangerous. Those with uncontrolled diabetes are prone to infection and the foot is the easiest part of the body to contract infections, especially fungal, when they walk through water. “There is something miraculous about Sabrimala that most patients who have gone on pilgrimage there have not complained about any serious problems,” says Dr Mohan. However, he recommends his patients to wear socks and carry antibiotics when they go on their pilgrimage.