Bizarre event

15/03/2020

Mahasabha prescription A member of the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha drinking cow urine at a ‘gau mutra party’ organised by the group in New Delhi on Saturday. Swami Chakrapani, the Mahasabha chief, claimed the liquid is the “only cure” for COVID-19 .Getty Images

‘No more wait at the Vaikuntam complex’

15/03/2020,TIRUMALA

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has decided to temporarily scrap the system of making pilgrims wait at the Vaikuntam

Queue Complex prior to  their darshan of Lord Venkateswara. 

Normally pilgrims wait between two and 10 hours at the complex. In view of the COVID threat, the TTD has decided to strictly follow the ‘time slot’ system in darshan and let in the pilgrims on an hourly basis. The new system will come into force on Tuesday. Pilgrims should report at the complex only at the time mentioned in darshan tickets.

Watermelons and tender coconuts flood market

15/03/2020, STAFF REPORTER,MADURAI

Watermelons stocked on Kamarajar Salai near Vandiyur Teppakulam in Madurai on Saturday. G. Moorthy

With rising temperature in the city over the past few days, there is a good demand for tasty and delicious watermelon, along with tender coconuts and ice apples (nungu).

The pavements in Madurai are flooded with bright green watermelons, which are sold in forms of fruits, juices and salads. A kilogram of watermelon fruit is sold between ₹ 18 and ₹25.

P. Pandi, a watermelon vendor on Melur Main Road, says that business has been brisk owing to soaring temperature.

“Over the past two days, we have sold around 750 kg of melons,” he says. He adds that most of Madurai’s melon flow comes from Tindivanam in addition to a special variety of melons from Bengaluru which is small and has a pink interior.

Also, in order to quench their thirst due to scorching sun, customers make a beeline to spots where tender coconuts are sold. They are sold between ₹25 and ₹60 depending on the size.

The nuts are usually brought from Pollachi for their superior taste.

There is a huge patronage for tender coconuts despite being sold at higher cost, says N. Kathiresan, a vendor. He says that due to higher demand he could sell 100 additional tender coconuts each day over the last week.

S. Kathiravel, a marketing professional who travels throughout the city, says that he takes at least three breaks during a day to avoid dehydration.

“I make sure that I either eat a piece of watermelon or drink tender coconut water during each break to regain energy,” he says. The sales of another summer favourite, the tasty ice apples, have also started picking up in the city.

While a piece of ice apple is sold around ₹ 7, each mug of palmyrah fruit juice is sold at ₹10.

B. Muthumani, a vendor from Tenkasi district, says that a group of sellers from his place commutes to Madurai to sell ice apples for the past week.

“Due to good rains, we were able to harvest our yield early this year. As the season progresses more hawkers will sell their produce ,” he says.

Late night food delivery options at restaurants on the rise

We see some change in the regular mindset of people: restaurateurs

15/03/2020, P.A. NARAYANI ,SANJANA GANESHMADURAI

Preparation of late dinner at a hotel in Madurai. G. Moorthy

Restaurants in Madurai are seeing an overall spurt in people dining out and ordering food late at night. With Tamil Nadu government permitting shops and commercial establishments employing over 10 people to stay open for 24 hours, restaurateurs say that they are starting to see some change in the regular mindset of people.

Proprietor of the Temple City hotel K.L. Kumar who has opened the city’s first 24*7 restaurant, says that though Madurai has carried the tag of ‘Thoonga Nagaram’ for years, there have been no fully-functional restaurants serving food beyond 11 p.m.

“Since our restaurant is located opposite the bus stand in Mattuthavani, there are a lot of customers who stop over for food at odd hours. The aim is to ensure that they have a dine-in option,” he says.

R. Manohar, who manages Bismi Biriyani, a popular take-away shop, says that there has been a tremendous rise in the number of late-night delivery options. They have even established a separate wing just to cater to their online deliveries.

“Although we close our orders by 12 a.m., there is a rush of orders between 10.30 p.m. and 11.30 p.m. We get at least 50 orders on weekdays. The numbers are definitely higher on weekends,” he says.

B. Muthumani, a delivery boy, says that currently food delivery apps close orders by 12 a.m.

“But, in other metropolitan cities, including Chennai, orders are accepted till 3 a.m. So, if more restaurants are open late at night, then such an option can be extended in Madurai too,” he says.

A worker at Mukku Kadai K. Subbu restaurant says that their restaurant is quite crowded even till 1 a.m. At Dindigul Thalappakatti biriyani, food is served until 2 a.m., they say.

Despite this change, most restaurants, however, say that they are hesitant about opening shop all night. Mr. Manohar says that they have limited staff who need to come back early the next day to begin preparations for the next day’s sale.

“The number of staff tends to be unreliable. We cannot gamble,” he says.

A source from Mukku Kadai K. Subbu says that there is a drop in the number of clients who visit post 12.30 a.m. “There are very few people who really venture out too late. It is not part of the culture,” he says.

M.P. Murugappan, who helps run a registered push-cart stall near Mattuthavani’s fruit market, says that those who are used to the late night culture are vendors, labourers and truck drivers who stop and eat at pushcarts.

This is the same case near Simmakkal and Arapalayam too and adds that it is the pride of the city but is not preferred by many. “Most places do not have tables or a sit-down option. We also just serve basic tiffin items. The number of dishes is limited,” he says.

Mr. Kumar agrees and says that it is time for people to make use of options and for more restaurants to open up so that trust is built both ways.

“Only if more restaurants open, can more people venture out. Only if more venture out, will the streets become safer and normal. It works both ways,” he says.

GST on mobile phones hiked to 18%

15/03/2020

Pankaj Mohindroo, chairman at India Cellular & Electronics Association, said the move to increase GST by 6% would be detrimental to the vision of Digital India.

“Consumption will be stymied and our domestic consumption target of ₹6 lakh crores by 2025 will fall short by at least ₹2 lakh crores,” he said.

In a letter to the Finance Minister earlier this week, Mr. Mahindroo said that instead of rationalising the GST on components and inputs, the “bizzare” move to increase the rate on the final product was not in the interest of consumers as well as the industry.

On the calibration of rates for other items where similar problems arise, such as footwear, textiles and fertilizers, Ms. Sitharaman said that after a detailed discussion it was decided to take up the matter at future meetings.

The GST rate on maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services in respect of aircraft has been reduced from 18% to 5% with a full input tax credit.

“This change is likely to assist in setting up of MRO services in India,” she said at a press conference after the meeting.

COVID-19: air travellers feel the heat

Passengers are forced to reschedule their flights at higher prices

15/03/2020, JAGRITI CHANDRA,NEW DELHI

In dire straits Passengers wearing masks at Patna airport on Saturday. Ranjeet Kumar

Travellers forced to cancel flights after the government’s advisory against non-essential travel have been left in the lurch, as most airlines have offered full refund only for travel to countries for which there is an outright ban.

In many cases, while the airlines have waived re-booking fees, travel agents and aggregators have either failed to pass on the benefit to passengers or such travellers are forced to reschedule flights at a higher price.

On Wednesday, the government cancelled visas for all foreign citizens and mandated quarantine for Indians returning from China, Italy, Iran, Spain, Germany and Republic of Korea. It advised all Indians against non-essential travel, adding that they could be quarantined for 14 days on their return.

Twenty-two year old Anandita Abhay Bhalerao was scheduled to fly to Paris for a backpacking trip from Mumbai on Friday by Kuwait Airways.

However, her flight was cancelled after Kuwait banned the entry of nationals from several countries, including India.

Despite the cancellation by the airline, the Mumbai-based writer was offered only a free date change.

Determined to join her friends, Ms Bhalerao then booked a ticket on Gulf Air for ₹39,000 which she was forced to cancel following the government’s advisory and received only half the fare as a refund.

“I booked both my tickets through Make My Trip (MMT). When Kuwait Airways cancelled the ticket, MMT said they were helpless and I will have to contact the airline. The airline offered only a date change, but that is not an option for me as I was travelling to celebrate my sister’s birthday and also because there is no clarity on how long the COVID-19 infection will continue,” Ms. Bhalerao told The Hindu over the phone. A communications professional, Durga Nandini, was booked for travel to Vietnam on Malaysia Airlines between April 2 to 12.

Following the government’s advisory, the mother of a four-year-old is apprehensive about travelling. Though the airline allows her to change the date of her travel for free unlimited times until December 31, according to Make My Trip's website Ms. Durga will have to cough up ₹5,220 per ticket as penalty for rebooking. Alternatively, she will have to cancel her travel and bear the entire loss.

“I am a mother of a four-year-old and travelling for me is not an option because of the fear about COVID-19. Medical experts have argued that it may take upto 18 months to develop a vaccine and, therefore, I don't want to take the risk of travelling in the next eight months. But my airline allows me to reschedule only until the end of the year,” says Ms. Durga. “For regions where airlines have cancelled existing and new flights, we are offering 100% refund to our customers,” she said, adding: “We are working in tandem with our airline partners to offer an option to change travel dates with no-fee charge; and are passing full fee waiver benefits rolled out by our partners to travellers,” Make My Trip said in an email response to queries.

Third-party vendors

A senior DGCA official told The Hindu that the regulatory body had met with several international carriers, including Malaysia Airlines on Friday, and advised them to waive cancellation and rescheduling charges.

“We have also received many complaints about travel aggregators and we have asked airlines to ensure that their third party vendors implement waivers offered in toto,” the official said.

COVID-19 declared a notified disease

The State’s fourth testing facility has come up in Tirunelveli

15/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

The State government has declared COVID-19 a notified disease under the Tamil Nadu Public Health Act, 1939.

“The World Health Organisation has declared COVID-19 a pandemic. While the government is taking preventive measures, declaring it a notified disease under the Public Health Act means delegating more powers to health officials and taking stringent measures to control the infection. Now, if a person with symptoms of COVID-19 approaches a private practitioner/hospital, they should immediately notify the public health authorities,” said K. Senthil Raj, mission director, National Health Mission-Tamil Nadu. He added that they should notify the Deputy Director of Health Services of the respective district or the municipal health officials who, in turn, would take measures to isolate the patient and prevent further transmission. “This is important to prevent transmission in the community,” he said.

Another testing laboratory has been readied in the State - at Tirunelveli. With this, Tamil Nadu has a total of four testing facilities, the others being King Institute of Preventive Medicine, Guindy, and government medical colleges at Theni and Tiruvarur.

According to a bulletin issued by the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, seven persons were under hospital isolation and 1,601 under home quarantine in the State. Two nasal and throat swabs and blood samples were being processed.