With industries set to open, government issues guidelines

No employee from a containment zone should be allowed to work

04/05/2020,DENNIS S. JESUDASANCHENNAI

The State government on Sunday issued several sets of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to enable certain industries, including the construction sector, to resume partial operations in rural and specified urban areas outside the COVID-19 containment zones from Monday.

As per the SOP, notified a day after Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami announced a relaxation of the lockdown, no employee from a containment zone should be allowed to work. “One should understand [that] the intention of the government is to carefully restart operations of industries and not undo all the precautionary measures taken so far,” a senior official told The Hindu.

He made it clear that private firms other than those that fall under the sectors specifically mentioned in the G.O. issued by the Chief Secretary cannot resume operations. “If any more relaxation is necessary, the State government would take a call,” he added.

Industrial units engaging over 1,000 workers must tie-up with a nearby hospital for a daily visit by a doctor. In units with 201-1,000 workers, a part-time doctor must visit once in two days, and units with less than 200 employees must have a doctor “on call”.

Those aged above 55, persons with co-morbidities and parents of children below five years of age “shall be encouraged from home [sic]”. Such permission shall not be entertained in the construction industry.

Disinfecting industrial premises twice a day, thermal screening of employees before they enter the premises, wearing of masks and physical distancing at the workplace are among the mandatory provisions. “Ensure that only medically fit persons, without any co-morbid conditions and below 55 years of age, are called for work in the first phase,” said the G.O, which also officially extended the lockdown till May 17.

Companies should arrange for the transportation of their workers. The vehicles should only carry passengers at 50% capacity, and a provision should be made for disinfectants/sanitisers at the entry and exit points of buses. No pillion riding will be allowed on two-wheelers.

Not more than 2/4 (depending on the size of the facility) persons should be allowed to travel in lifts or hoists. Wearing face coverings is compulsory in all areas of the premises.

The G.O. also specified punishments to be imposed under various provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, in case of were violations.

If any employee of a firm tested positive for COVID-19, it must be brought to the notice of the office of the Deputy Director of Medical Services of the district concerned or the 24-hour helpline immediately, the State government said on Sunday.

The person should be admitted to a designated COVID-19 hospital and close contacts must be tested and kept under home or facility quarantine, as per the standard protocols, a G.O said.

“Close proximity of the area in which the employee was working should be thoroughly disinfected for three days and can be put back into use. The whole of the campus should also be disinfected,” the G.O. stated.

Identification and isolation of potentially infectious individuals was a critical step in protecting people at a work site, it added.

1.26 lakh Tamils residing outside State register with govt. to return home

1.18 lakh people have expressed their intention to leave Tamil Nadu

04/05/2020,DENNIS S. JESUDASANCHENNAI

As of Sunday morning, over 1.26 lakh Tamils currently residing or stranded in other States and countries have registered themselves with the Tamil Nadu government, requesting the authorities to facilitate their return in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. Separately, over 1.18 lakh people currently residing in T.N. have expressed their intention to leave for their native States.

As of 9 a.m. on Sunday, 45,505 requests were made for the return of 52,100 persons from various countries to Tamil Nadu, a senior official told The Hindu. Another 13,839 registrations were made for the return of 74,890 persons living or stranded in other States, an official source said.

As for natives of other States intending to leave Tamil Nadu, 25,302 registrations were made for 1,18,504 persons.

However, a senior official said the State government was hopeful that the number of people intending to leave Tamil Nadu would come down once industries resume operations. “We are not for the exchange of workers, since many of them want to leave only because they don’t have work here and are not earning. From Monday, many industries are set to commence operations and, hopefully, there will be a drop [in the number of people looking to return home],” the official said.

Another official pointed out that workers were crucial to kick-starting the economy. “What is the point of allowing industries [to operate] if there are no workers? Many migrant workers will naturally stay put if the industries resume operations,” he argued.

Officials also explained that the process of returning home from a State or a foreign country would be long. “It is not as if one can reach home after getting here by an aircraft or a train. A medical check-up and quarantine will follow soon after,” an official said. But the return of students, tourists and pilgrims was inevitable, he added.

The government has requested those abroad to register themselves on the portal nonresidenttamil.org if they intend to return to Tamil Nadu, so that estimates regarding medical check-ups and quarantine facilities could be made.

For persons hailing from other States who wish to leave Tamil Nadu, registrations can be made on the portal rtos.nonresidenttamil.org, the Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority said on Sunday.

Natives of Tamil Nadu who are currently in other States and wish to return have also been asked to register themselves on the same portal. Those who intend to return or leave in their own vehicles can request passes while registering themselves.

It’s an uphill task to get e-pass

Huge flow of requests since e-portal opened, says Collector

04/05/2020, SANJANA GANESH,MADURAI

The State government’s move to relax norms regarding the functioning of industries from May 4 has brought a sigh of relief to entrepreneurs. However, tiny and small-scale entrepreneurs in Madurai say that the process of obtaining passes for their employees is among their biggest problems yet.

From 11 a.m. onwards, the portal- http://www.tnepass.tngea/- displayed an error message stating ‘the site cannot be reached.’ Convenor of Madurai District Tiny and Small Scale Industries Association K. R. Gnanansambandham said the servers were slow. “Without proper systems in place, how can we even attempt getting passes?” he asked.

Many labourers from his company who attempted to obtain passes were unsuccessful. “When some members of my organisation tried to apply for a pass, they failed to get it. There was also no clear reason for the rejection,” he said.

Most importantly, he said that only five or six industries had been listed in the drop-down menu on the portal disallowing people who sell spare parts, oil, grease, paint and other commodities, which had been classified as ‘non-essential,’ to continue with their work.

Tamil Nadu Small and Tiny Industries Association president S. Anburajan said that since the district administration had strictly prevented entry of people into the Collector’s office seeking passes, many people were clueless about how to begin working on May 4. He added that when labourers went to e-sevai centres to apply, the slow servers caused very lengthy wait time.

The relaxation permits the Collector to decide on whether e-passes will be given to plumbers, electricians, AC mechanics, homecare providers and maids.

T. Dhirivayam, a plumber-cum-electrician, who resides in Anna Nagar, said that without any income for the last one-and-a-half months, he has had to survive on meagre savings.

“I've spent the money saved for my daughter’s wedding,” he said. With the relaxation being his only shot at earning a living after a 40-day interval, the e-pass issue proved to be a stumbling block, he said.

Collector T. G. Vinay said that there had been a huge flow of requests since the time the e-portal opened on Sunday morning. “The District Industries Centre head said that they are yet to reject applications and they still have 250 pending requests,” he said.

He added that they had been flooded with requests from people who already had government’s permission to function without a pass, including employees of medical shops and staff working at restaurants that permit take aways. “We are working on clearing applications,” he said.

Virudhunagar Collector to take a call on reopening industries

No positive cases for the ninth day

04/05/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,VIRUDHUNAGAR

After nil report in positive cases for the ninth consecutive day on Sunday, Virudhunagar district administration will now shift its focus to the issue of relaxation of curfew norms for industries.

Collector R. Kannan said the State Government had authorised Collectors to take the final call on opening industries based on the local situation.

Meeting planned

A series of meetings with officials and representatives of fireworks, printing and textile industries, among others, would be held to discuss the possibility of putting in place standard operating procedures to ensure social distancing and safety for employees.

Match industry and a section of printing units involved in printing textbooks for government schools were already operating with curtailed staff strength.

Meanwhile, 36 more persons, who attempted to enter Virudhunagar from other districts with or without e-passes, were detained and quarantined in hospital, he said.

The district had so far recorded 32 positive cases, with 13 active ones. The last positive case was reported on April 24.

Multiple options

Do you feel uncertain of a career option? Do you lack the freedom to choose a subject that you really want to pursue? Do you always feel low on self-confidence? Are you constantly doubting yourself? 

A Q&A column by Nandini Raman, practising counsellor and trainer, to assuage your doubts.

04/05/2020

I am pursuing my second year of post-graduation in Psychology (Clinical) from IGNOU Delhi, and I am preparing for the civil services too. I have also done my advance diploma in guidance and counselling with a bachelor’s degree from Punjab University. I am willing to earn and start my career but am unable to get any job as everyone wants an experienced candidate and, to be experienced, I need to work somewhere as a trainee. So, where can I get this experience? — Rashmi Singh

Dear Rashmi,

Yes, I understand the frustration this situation causes. Stay motivated and apply for internships and openings across schools, colleges, companies and hospitals. There are many forums and groups on social media (WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, Google groups, and so on) that post regular job openings and vacancies for counsellors on an on-going basis for freshers and experienced professionals.

Alternatively, identify a good psychiatrist and intern with him/her for the next three to six months, after which you can join his/her team, or start your own practice. Also, ask your faculty to provide you with some useful leads.

I am pursuing my fellowship in hospital administration, and want to do my PhD part-time in Hospital Administration and gain employment in the U.K. What are my options? — Perumal Sinnusamy

Dear Perumal,

Institute of Public Health, Bengaluru; All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi; and Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences (DMIMS), Wardha are some of the top colleges that offer PhD in Hospital Administration in India. You could enroll into the same course in the U.K., and then apply for a job there. https://www.phdportal.com/disciplines/229/health-management.html will provide you some more clarity. Good luck!

I am a class XII student aspiring to become a doctor. I am keen on getting through the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, but I do not know about the marks required to qualify for the interview and test. Could you please tell me about the admission procedure and the cutoff this year? — Isha Vasudev

Dear Isha,

AFMC MBBS 2020 application form will be available online in the second week of May. Admission will be offered based on NEET 2020 Scores. After qualifying in the NEET, shortlisted candidates will have to appear for ToELR — Test of English language, comprehension, logic and reasoning and a psychological test at AFMC, Pune. Further details are provided on the AFMC website. Do read through that as and when time permits.

Disclaimer: This column is not a substitute for long-term therapy. It is merely a guiding voice. Some issues may need medical intervention.

The writer is a practising counsellor and a trainer. She has worked extensively with students and young adults across a range of issues. She will answer questions sent to eduplus.thehindu@gmail.com. The subject line should be: ‘Off the edge’.

How to clean each item Processing it While on grocery runs Vegetable washes How to handle How to handle food deliveries food deliveries

04/05/2020

Getty images/istock

How to clean each item

Vegetables and fruits: Rinsing them with soap is not a good idea, as there’s the danger of ingesting soap, which can cause gastrointestinal distress leading to vomiting and diarrhoea when consumed in large quantities. Alcohol-based wipes have lab-made chemicals that are unsafe to ingest, and could have unknown long-term effects if used too often. If you’ve used it a couple of times in the past it won’t have done much damage. Simply run tap water on vegetables and fruits for about 20 seconds (the same duration you would wash hands for). Dumping veggies in a dishwasher is inadvisable.

“If you want to be doubly sure, lay out the vegetables in the sun for an hour or two before taking them into the house,” adds Dr Santhosham. There is no scientific proof that turmeric, rock salt vinegar or baking soda added to the water gets rid of a virus, but there is no harm doing it, since these are food items, so safe to ingest. Follow up by washing your hands with soap. Creating ‘dunk tanks’ where all vegetables are washed together in large quantities is also enough. “Potassium permanganate is an antiseptic and can be used, but there is no scientific backing to this,” says Dr Santosham.

Eggs: The best way to clean eggs is to rinse them with water thoroughly.

Packets and cardboard boxes: These can be wiped down with alcohol-based wipes since you will not be ingesting it.

Tins and water cans: “Before you remove the seal, wash the can with running tap water and use hand wash to clean the nooks and crannies. Use after allowing it to dry,” adds Dr Vinay D, Consultant and Head, Department of Infectious Diseases, Apollo Hospitals, Bengaluru.

Weekly grocery runs are now characterised by masks, alcohol-based sanitiser bottles, and a pair of gloves, as people around the globe try to adhere to the norms of physical distancing while shopping for essentials. What do you do with groceries thereafter? On social media, we have seen some put veggies in the dishwasher; some scrub them down with alcohol-based wipes; and some soak them in potassium permanganate.

But when does caution become paranoia? We asked experts what the right way to clean groceries was, whether we were bringing them in or a delivery was. First though, “Remember that it is a respiratory virus we are dealing with: that it has to be inhaled to cause infection; and not ingested. So, that is what we need to safeguard against,” says Dr Ravi Santosham, Chennai-based pulmonologist. However, maintaining this level of cleanliness and hygiene can reduce the possibility of contracting any aerosol or droplet-related infections, such as tuberculosis.

Processing it

Once you are back from your grocery run, head straight to the kitchen. Ideally, before leaving for the market, place all your cleaning implements near the sink. When you are back, dump your mask and gloves into the dustbin. Gloves should be removed in such a way that your bare fingers don’t touch them. Wash/sun all the produce and bottles. Clean down the kitchen sink and area surrounding it like you usually would, with the regular wash you would use for your utensils. Head to the bathroom and wash your clothes immediately with detergent. Have a bath using soap and shampoo.

While on grocery runs

Keep at least a three to six-metre distance from people around. “Wearing masks is mandatory; there are a lot of asymptomatic carriers who will be active and out and about. If everybody wears a mask, the safety is two-fold,” continues Dr Santosham.

While shopping for groceries, one inevitably ends up touching many surfaces. Does a pair of gloves help? “It’s not foolproof, though it has its advantages. When you have a pair of gloves (you can get them at a chemist) and a mask, the tendency to take your hand to your face reduces. You are instantly reminded that you should not be doing it,” continues Dr Santosham.

In the car, keep a hand sanitiser handy during grocery runs, so you sanitise as soon as you get back in, before you touch surfaces in the car. “Even if you use it to the point of being obsessive, there is no harm. Hand sanitisers are very important,” says Dr Vinay.

Vegetable washes

Vegetable washes that are now being pushed have sodium oleate (fat-solvent soaps), salts of carbonate, ethanol, citric acid and food grade perfumes. However, doctors feel that when there is an option to clean them using running water, it’s best not to use alternatives, the ingredients of which we are not sure of. “There is no need to use such things without any benefit when we can get the same result in a regular way,” says Dr Basant Mahadevappa, Consultant for Liver Transplant and Hepato Pancreo Biliary (HPB).

How to handle food deliveries

Opting for contact-less deliveries (an option which is now enabled by both Swiggy and Zomato), helps a great deal, as the packet is left at one’s doorstep, minimising contact with the delivery executive. According to Dr Santosham, once the item is taken in, immediately dispose of the extra packaging, including covers, bowls, and cardboard boxes, in a bin with a garbage bag. This can be taken outside and thrown into the main dump if accessible or left outside for the collection to take place. So try and plan deliveries for a time just before garbage collection happens. Transfer the cooked food to a clean container and heat the food before consumption.

Bijoy Ghosh

UAE books 3 more Indians on charges of spreading hate

Dubai monitoring posts that can inflame communal tensions

04/05/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,NEW DELHI

The authorities in the UAE over the weekend booked three more Indians for spreading hate online. Diplomatic sources said this was part of the Gulf country’s campaign to monitor community activities by Indian expats as intense social media exchanges between Indian and Gulf commentators continue.

The latest to be booked are Rohit Rawat, a chef employed with a high-end Italian restaurant, Sachin Kinnigoli, a storekeeper, and an employee with the Transguard group who posted offensive messages in a Facebook page under a fictitious name, Vishal Thakur. All three have been terminated from their positions, and the administration of Dubai is acting against them under the law.

Sources from the UAE said the country was unlikely to tolerate online hate and was monitoring both online and offline activities by expats, especially comments that inflamed religious sentiments. An offender will get jail term and be fined heavily depending on the scale of the crime. Since early March, there have been at least 11 cases of Indian expats getting sacked and punished for such crimes.

Continued online hate speech and crackdown by the authorities have drawn the attention of Indian Ambassador Pavan Kapoor, who had intervened earlier reminding Indians that discrimination is against the rule of law and the “moral fabric” of India. Nevertheless, heated exchanges continued, prompting Princess Hend Al Qassemi of Sharjah to criticise dominant political trends in India.

It is learnt that the UAE has begun to watch out for signs of extremism among Hindus, including social and cultural figures, in a focused way after a prominent Indian priest was arrested in March 2019. After a brief detention, Mahant Sudhir Das Pujari was released and allowed to return home. The Mahant said the controversy was related to a dispute with his Arab business partner, and it had nothing to do with his religious activities.