Monday, January 20, 2020

Private college faculty want tax refund from Anna University

Staff say they don’t earn enough to qualify for tax after university makes deductions in their payment

Published: 20th January 2020 03:06 AM 




Anna University (File Photo | EPS)

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Faculty of private engineering colleges affiliated to Anna University have demanded that the varsity refund tax funds deducted in their remuneration for various examination duties. They claim that most engineering faculty do not earn enough to fall under taxable slab. A circular dated November 26 announced, “As per the procedure in force, 10 per cent of the renumeration as income tax from the faculty members and remitted into the COE’s TAN No. CHE*******D for income tax,” the circular said. The circular concerns about 15,000 exam evaluators across the State. This had caused unrest among faculty members as most of them made less than Rs10,000 from examination evaluation and claimed their income levels did not qualify for taxation.

While varsity officials had clarified to Express in December that they will not deduct if a faculty does not fall under the taxable slab, funds were deducted from remuneration of most. “Some faculty members from Anna University had submitted a declaration to the Controller of Examination with their income status and we have not deducted for those who do not fall under the tax slab,” said a senior source from the varsity adding that they have not discussed refunding at this point.

“Private college faculty do not earn enough income to fall under the taxable slab. It is not fair for colleges to deduct tax from us,” said KM Karthik, president of All India Private Engineering College Employees Union.The examination paper evaluation for November 2019 engineering exams started on November 28. Teachers, who evaluate these papers roughly earn between Rs1,200 and 1,400 a day. Most of them engage in evaluation for about 5-8 days and earning between Rs5,000-8,000.

“It is impossible for 15,000 faculty members from across the State to individually submit a declaration to the controller’s office in Chennai. The varsity neither announced any format to submit a declaration nor asked faculty if they fall under tax slab,” said Karthik. However, It is unclear at this point if Form 16 A will be issued to employees from private engineering colleges who are being taxed, as they are not direct employees of the university. “We are unsure if we can claim reimbursement from I-T Department,” said Karthik.
FASTag comes into effect at 35 toll gates across Tamil Nadu

About 25 per cent of the lanes in 13 toll plazas will be converted into hybrid allowing motorists to pay user fee both in cash and through FASTag.

Published: 17th January 2020 06:41 AM 



The Union government last year made it mandatory for all vehicles using toll plazas to be fixed with FASTag cards. (Photo | EPS)
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: FASTag-enabled user fee came into effect in 35 toll gates on national highways across the State on Thursday. However, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has extended the deadline for mandatory electronic toll collection at 13 toll gates till February 14.

About 25 per cent of the lanes in 13 toll plazas will be converted into hybrid allowing motorists to pay user fee both in cash and through FASTag.

“Barring one lane at the extreme left in both directions for cash payment, all other lanes in 35 toll gates will accept user fee only through FASTag,” said NHAI sources.

The move comes in the wake of NHAI informing the government that high cash transaction was recorded in these 13 toll plazas since FASTag system was partially implemented from December 15.

Later, the deadline for FASTag was extended till January 15 owing to shortage of devices. Cash payment lanes in these 13 toll plazas witnessed a huge vehicular pile-up since implementation of FASTag. Three toll gates between Tambaram and Padalur on Chennai - Tiruchy NH are allowed for cash payment till February 14.
    Lack of battery cars puts senior citizens in distress

    Senior citizens and differently-abled people have a very tough time commuting along long platforms in Tambaram suburban station for years now.
    Published: 18th January 2020 06:27 AM



    Senior citizens are having a tough time at Mambalam station | Ashwin Prasath

    Express News Service

    CHENNAI: Senior citizens and differently-abled people have a very tough time commuting along long platforms in Tambaram suburban station for years now. Repeated requests to Southern Railways to provide battery car facilities to ferry people still remains unheard, said frustrated residents. It is the third-most important terminal in Chennai, trains from Tambaram station transport around three crore passengers and sees a daily footfall of 75,000 people. Most find it very difficult to walk for a distance of 500-700 metres to reach the exit from platforms 5,6,7 and 8.

    A year ago, Southern Railways’ Women Welfare Organisation had donated two battery-operated vehicles at Tambaram station. Due to lack of maintenance, this service was used only for a few months. After that these vehicles were left neglected at the station. A Sathik Basha, a resident of Medavakkam has been fighting for this issue from July 2019 after he saw senior citizens struggling to commute inside the station.“Trains like Vaigai and Pallavan Express have more than 20 coaches and halt very far away from exit. People struggle to walk such long lengths while carrying heavy luggage. Porters exploit senior citizens by charging Rs 450 to ferry them till exit,” said Sathik, who has reached out to MLA, MP of South Chennai and to top officials in Southern Railways regarding this issue.

    According to railway norms, stations where express trains halt and those that have platforms more than 500 metres must have battery cars. Similarly, regular passengers who commute from Mambalam suburban station too face the same struggle. Two to three express trains halt here. Also, Mambalam station is used by more than one crore passengers.

    “Many senior citizens who are unable to walk don’t use foot over bridge. They wait for a train to halt and walk through it to reach the other platform. Railways can consider providing smaller electric vehicles that can be driven along narrow platforms,” said 80-year-old T S Thyagarajan, a regular commuter.

    A senior official from Southern Railways said that work is under progress to implement proposals to make Tamabaram station more comfortable for passengers. “Around 10 lifts, new escalators and battery cars will be soon installed at Tambaram station. The DRM is aware of problems and a solution will be provided. We will inform him about Mambalam station’s problems too.”
    Coming soon, e-scooters at four Chennai metro stations

    To avail the service, those interested can download the ‘Flyy’ App from google play store.

    Published: 19th January 2020 06:29 AM



    For representation purposes

    By Express News Service

    CHENNAI: Chennai Metro Rail has added another form of feeder service to provide last mile connectivity for its passengers. Electric scooters will be available from four metro stations- Alandur, Nandanam, Guindy, and Little Mount for starters. Coming months, 6000 more scooters are going to be added covering the remaining metro stations.

    To avail the service, those interested can download the ‘Flyy’ App from google play store. The vehicles will be available for rent at `1 per minute. The scooters can be used from 7 am to 9 pm in the above mentioned stations. “The passenger can drop off the scooter anywhere within the Flyy zone. Each detination point chosen by the user will have a fixed zone within which they can drop off the scooter,” said an official.

    This initiative is being carried out by CMRL in association with Flyy rental services to provide a green alternative as opposed to fuel-run vehicles. CMRL is currently operating share autos, share taxi, cabs and tempo travelers as modes of last mile connectivity.
    Fetal medicine department inaugurated at MMHRC

    ‘Advanced technology has helped us treat major issues’

    20/01/2020, STAFF REPORTER,MADURAI

    With marriages taking place between close relatives ranging from 20% to 30% among South Indians, there are high chances of birth defects and greater cases of genetic disorders for the child, said doctors at the Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research Centre (MMHRC). Other causes include late pregnancies and complications that the mother may have.

    In order to provide assessment of fetal growth and well-being, and management of fetal disorders and abnormalities, MMHRC had inaugurated a Department of Fetal Medicine, said Chairman, S. Gurushankar.

    Speaking to members of the press, Dr. Gurushankar said that mothers who often have blood pressure, diabetes and other infectious diseases need not pass them on to their children as the ingrown baby can be treated with proper diagnosis early on in the pregnancy within eight to 12 weeks.

    Head of the newly formed department, S. Padma, said that although the team has been performing intense diagnosis of foetus with detailed scans in the past, there were several complications which may arise, including the improper formation of organs, problems relating to the presence of amniotic fluid and issues like Down Syndrome.

    “Advanced technology has helped us treat major issues and selectively terminate pregnancies of foetuses which may go on to have a complicated life ahead,” she said.

    She added that experimental surgeries inside the uterus are being performed outside the country and will soon arrive to India. The fetal medicine department, she said, would be prepared to deal with all stages of pregnancies.

    T. Mukuntharajan, Interventional Radiologist, said that if more people end up consulting doctors in early stages of pregnancies, complications for the parent and child can be averted.

    He said that MMHRC had the equipment and infrastructure to handle complex cases.
    ```RGUHS gears up to establish its regional centre in Mangaluru

    Jaideep Shenoy | TNN | Jan 15 , 2020, 14:27 IST

    MANGALURU:

    Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) is all geared up to establish its regional centre in this coastal city. With the university acquiring 2-acres of land for this near Mary Hill here, the Bengaluru based health university plans to use it for academic and sports purposes. It will double up as a digital evaluation centre, a training centre for UG/PG students of medicines and teachers as well as a hub for cultural activities.

    Dr S Sacchidanand, vice-chancellor, RGUHS said the regional centre in Mangaluru is in line with the university's vision to have such facilities in all revenue regions of the state. While the regional centre at Kalaburagi will be dedicated for public use in next two-months, the university has floated tender for its proposed regional centre in Davangere and will be finalised once certain technical issues pertaining to it are addressed, Dr Sacchidanand said.

    The university is not happy with the land identified for its regional centre in Belagavi and is scouting for a land closer to Suvarna Vidhan Soudha there, he said. Each of the proposed regional centres will be headed by a senior officer at the rank of deputy registrar and assisted by assistant registrar, he said, adding these offices will help decentralise various functions pertaining to the university and expedite decision making process.

    The regional centres will become hub for digital evaluation that the university has ushered in, he said adding it will also act as training centre for teachers as well as under-graduate and post-graduate students of medicine. These centres can be utilised to hold continuing medical education programmes as well as conferences that are vital to ensure continuous updation of knowledge as well as a centre for medical colleges to host cultural events.

    For Mangaluru regional centre, Dr Sacchidanand said there is demand from the Syndicate and Senate members to set up a sports complex as part of the centre. This suggestion will be incorporated while planning the centre, he said, adding such a complex will be a value addition to the region that is home to several medical colleges. The 2-acre land that the revenue department has identified is close to Abhakari Bhavan, he noted.```
    Newlywed alleges she was gang-raped

    20/01/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,GHAZIABAD

    A newlywed woman was allegedly kidnapped and gang-raped in the Hafizpur area of Hapur on Saturday night, police said.

    According Rajesh Kumar Yadav, CO, Hapur (City), the wedding happened on Friday night and the girl moved to her in-laws’ place on Saturday. “The woman has alleged that she was kidnapped and raped by two men when she went to the toilet,” he said.

    According to a police source, when the girl went missing, her in-laws approached Hafizpur police station. “Later, she was found standing in front of India Bank in Hapur, 15 km from Hafizpur. The police took her to the hospital. Right now, things are not adding up,” said the source.

    NEWS TODAY 28.01.2026