Covid-19: Family cardholders in Tamil Nadu to get Rs 1,000 each

TNN | Mar 24, 2020, 11.26 AM IST

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu chief minister Edapapdi K Palaniswami on Tuesday announced a Rs 3,280crore relief package to help people in the wake of the rising Covid-19 cases. All family card holders will get a cash support of Rs 1,000 each.

The family cardholders can also avail rice, dal, edible oil and sugar for April free of cost. The government will give tokens to avoid rush at PDS outlets. Those who don’t wish to get the cash support could register online.

Those who fail to get the commodities in March could get them in April too, along with the entitlement for that month.

Unregistered pavement vendors will get an additional cash support of Rs 1,000, besides the Rs 1,000 announced for PDS cardholders. MGNREGS workers will get a special pay for two days.

Making a suo motu statement in the assembly, the chief minister said lockdown would come into effect in the state at 6pm on Tuesday. “Due to the announcement, the livelihood of public, including daily wage labourers, taxi drivers, construction and unorganised sector workforce, pavement vendors and elders will be affected hugely,” he said.

“The families of construction workers and auto drivers enrolled in the driver welfare board will get a special cash support of Rs 1,000, 15kg of rice, one kg of dal, one kg of edible oil,” chief minister said.

The district collectors and labour welfare boards will identify migrant construction labourers and offer 15kg of rice, one kg of dal and one kg of edible oil free of cost.

Amma Unavagams, the budget canteens in the state, will continue to offer food.

The chief minister said district collectors and the Greater Chennai Corporation commissioner have been directed to set up community kitchens to prepare food for the needy. “District collectors have been told to offer food at the doorstep of the senior citizens, who avail the services of anganwadi centres,” Palaniswami said.

Mayiladuthurai to be Tamil Nadu’s 38th district

TNN | Mar 24, 2020, 11.56 AM IST

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday announced bifurcation of Nagapattinam district to create a new district with Mayiladuthurai as its headquarters. Mayiladuthirai will be the 38th district in the state.

Making a suo motu announcement in the assembly, the chief minister said, “The district is created for administrative reasons and to speed up the welfare measures to the public.”

While laying the foundation stone for the construction of a new medical college earlier this month, Palaniswami said the government was considering the bifurcation, a long pending demand.

With this, the EPS government has created six new districts in the last one year. Earlier, it created Tenkasi by bifurcating Tirunelveli, Chengalpet by bifurcating Kancheepuram, Kallakurichi by bifurcating Villupuram and Ranipet and Tirupattur by trifurcating Vellore.

During the debate in the assembly on Tuesday, deputy speaker Pollachi V Jayaraman demanded that the government create Pollachi district since the Pollachi municipality has been in existence for the last 100 years.

Coronavirus in Chennai: Three more patients test positive for Covid-19

TNN | Mar 24, 2020, 01.59 PM IST

CHENNAI: Three more Covid-19 cases have been reported in Chennai, taking the total number of novel coronavirus-infected patients in Tamil Nadu to 15, health minister C Vijaya Baskar said on Tuesday.

The minister said all the three patients had returned from abroad. A 74-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman, both of whom returned from the US, are admitted to Stanley Medical College and Hospital. A 25-year-old patient, who returned from Switzerland, has been admitted to Kilpauk Medical College Hospital. They are residents of Porur, Purasawalkam and Keelkattalai.

At present, 14 patients are undergoing treatment for the viral infection in the state. The condition of a patient admitted to Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai continues to remain critical while all other patients are stable.

One patient, who was cured, was discharged from hospital last week.

Covid-19 scare in Tamil Nadu: Doctors, nurses, sanitary workers and others to get additional one month salary

TNN | Mar 24, 2020, 01.15 PM IST

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday announced an additional one month salary for doctors, nurses, local body officials, sanitary workers and others involved in the efforts to combat Covid-19.

While making a suo motu statement in the assembly, the chief minister asked MLAs and ministers to clap their hands to thank people involved treating patients and preventing the spread of the disease. The members clapped their hands as suggested by the CM.

The chief minister appealed to the public to extend cooperation in controlling the virus. "All those who return from abroad must register themselves for screening. Those who have symptoms must admit themselves in hospitals and get treatment," said Palaniswami

He said many people coming from abroad land in Bengaluru and entre Tamil Nadu from there. “We are not able to identify and screen them,” he said.

Covid-19 scare: Bus services from Chennai’s CMBT stopped

TNN | Mar 24, 2020, 03.32 PM IST

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu transport department on Tuesday afternoon stopped bus services from Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT) at Koyambedu.

The last batch of buses left around 2.30pm. If operated beyond this, it will be difficult for drivers to return before 6pm when the lockdown begins in the state to prevent spread of Covid-19. The lockdown will be in force till March 31.

Around 2,850 buses were operated from CMBT on Monday night to clear extra rush of passengers. More than 1.9 lakh passengers left Chennai using these buses, according to official data. The excess crowd turned CMBT chaotic on Monday night.

In addition to this, around 30,000 people boarded buses at Tambaram. As many as 430 buses were operated from Tambaram.

Saving the strays: Good samaritans feed furry friends in Chennai

TNN | Mar 25, 2020, 04.20 AM IST

CHENNAI: M Neelagandan got married five months ago. But he will be next meeting his wife only after the lockdown period ends. For, the animal lover has volunteered to stay at the Blue Cross of India shelter during this time of need to help care for the voiceless.

“They need us now more than ever and it gives me great satisfaction to be here for them,” says Neelagandan, who runs a few canteens in the city. “They are shut now, so I have the time to volunteer. My wife supports what I do.”

The lockdown will affect not just humans but animals too. On Monday, Maneka Gandhi appealed on Twitter, requesting people to feed animals. “In the event of a lockdown, if they are not fed, many will die, creating another serious problem. I have asked all animal welfare workers to feed the animals during this period. I will be doing the same,” she wrote.

Animal welfare activists in the city and other individuals have risen to the challenge. With hotels shut, stray animals in the city are finding it difficult to find food. If many starve and die, it will worsen the situation.

At shelters, volunteers and staff are staying on to do their bit. “Twenty two of us, including two vets, two volunteers and Blue Cross staff will stay at the shelter to care for the sick and injured animals. We have 1,263 animals and have to ensure they are fed nutritious meals, and get exercise. We also have to attend to the upkeep of the shelter and go on rescues,” says Dawn Williams, general manager, Blue Cross.

Dinesh Baba, who runs Cloud No 9 Kennel and Nursing Care, is providing cooked food to street animals. “On Monday, I cooked about 75kg of dog food, and fed strays,” says Dinesh, who commutes from Porur to Injambakkam every day.

Sumita Pai, who lives in Alwarpet, has been regularly feeding birds and community animals but plans to make a more concerted effort during the lockdown. “I will follow all government guidelines and directives. I will feed the animals on my own and step out only for a brief period,” she says.

Animal lovers say it is necessary to feed strays but do so in a responsible manner. “You can feed animals in your locality so you don’t have to step out much. Also, do not do it in groups, social distancing is must,” says Dinesh.

In a related development, the Animal Welfare Board of India wrote to all the chief secretaries of all the states and UTs, saying that it had come to their notice that a large number of pet shops or animal breeding facilities where animals and birds are kept for sale are now shutdown. "The animals stranded in such places are likely to suffer and die without food, water, temperature control, etc. All such pet shops are to be evacuated by the State Animal Welfare Boards through SPCAs. Where there is no SPCA available, the district administration shall ensure to check and evacuate all animals," it said in the letter.

No staff, restaurants may remain shut in Chennai

TNN | Mar 25, 2020, 04.16 AM IST

CHENNAI: It will be bad news for those depending on restaurants for food from Wednesday when a majority of standalone restaurants will be shut as part of the lockdown. A few neighbourhood eateries may function.

Chennai Hotels Association secretary R Rajkumar said a sizeable number of the staff employed by restaurants had left the city. “As per government orders, dine-in facilities will not be allowed as there are very few staff members left,” he said.

In a notification, the state government said the operation of app-based food delivery aggregators such as Swiggy, Zomato and Uber has been halted, adding that no one can be engaged in this task. “We expect at least 90% of all standalone restaurants to shut. A few neighbourhood eateries may be opened,” he added.

With a majority of the 8,000 eateries in the city and its fringes shut, city residents began feeling the pinch of closure from Tuesday evening. Madipakkam resident R Siddharth said many had jacked up prices. “Many were closed in our area except for two. However, food was very expensive,” he said. For instance, chicken fried rice, normally priced at Rs 120 a plate, cost Rs 160 a plate on Tuesday. “We don’t know if this eatery too will be shut on Wednesday.”

A majority of those who left the city said they made the decision as they realized getting food would be a problem. “To avoid all this confusion, I left for my hometown on Monday evening. I didn’t mind paying Rs 12,000 for the,” S Nagenthiran, a resident of Guduvanchery, told this reporter over phone.

A few bachelors, who have decided to remain in the city, said they had decided to test their cooking skills at home.