Petition in HC to reopen places of worship

Petition in HC to reopen places of worship

10/05/2020, LEGAL CORRESPONDENTCHENNAI

A public interest litigation (PIL) petition has been filed in the Madras High Court seeking a direction to the State government to permit reopening of temples, mosques, churches, gurudwaras and other religious institutions that have remain closed ever since the nationwide lockdown was implemented on March 24 to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

The case has been listed before a Bench of Justices Vineet Kothari and Pushpa Sathyanarayana on Monday.

R.K. Jaleel, an activist from Chennai, had filed the case through his counsel M.L. Ravi.

He filed the case contending that there was no logic behind keeping religious institutions closed, when the government was desperate to open liquor shops.

Since the lockdown had been relaxed to a great extent now, with shops and other commercial institutions having been permitted to function, for extended hours with limited staff, the litigant claimed that religious institutions should also be allowed to be reopened.

The litigant further added that this should be the case especially because Muslims were now fasting during the holy month of Ramzan.

Patients housed in Corpn. care centres stage protests

Patients housed in Corpn. care centres stage protests

Asymptomatic persons demand better facilities

10/05/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

Patients housed in COVID-19 care centres of the Chennai Corporation have been holding protests against civic officials, demanding better facilities.

Hundreds of patients were housed in the care centres of the Corporation after the Health Department permitted the shifting of asymptomatic patients.

Patients and their family members had started a campaign on social media demanding better facilities at the centres. The information on social media led to a rise in the number of protests by patients in various centres.

Video recordings of conditions at the centres have been shared on social media, highlighting the problems faced by patients. “We do not get nutritious food. The food is inadequate and drinking water is not supplied either,” said a patient.

Some women and children, admitted to the centres, have complained of a lack of medical care from qualified doctors.

Protests in Loyola College and the Chennai Trade Centre have been shared on social media. Patients have complained about the delay in food delivery and the lack of medical care.

‘Not clean’

Traders who were housed in a marriage hall on the outskirts of the city said that officials housed them in the building without cleaning it. “The building has not been cleaned for months. Toilet cleaning has not been done properly. They should keep the building clean. Disinfection is not done regularly. They sent us inside and closed the door, leaving us without food and water for several hours,” said a trader.

Corporation officials said that they had assessed the condition of the centres to improve services.

“The Corporation on Saturday received reports of a large number of patients testing negative for COVID-19 in several care centres. More than 50% of patients at the centres tested negative on Saturday,” said a Corporation official.

Testing for patients is being done at the Chennai Trade Centre, where protests have been frequent. “Over 154 patients have tested negative for COVID-19. Doctors have to make a decision on asking them to remain under home quarantine. We will provide additional food for the patients,” said an official.

Over 1,000 patients, admitted to tertiary care hospitals, have been shifted to the care centres. Work on development of care centres for at least 50,000 patients is expected to be completed by the end of the month.

23 discharged in Madurai

23 discharged in Madurai

10/05/2020, STAFF REPORTER, MADURAI

A total of 23 people who recovered from COVID-19 were discharged from Madurai’s Government Rajaji Hospital on Friday, according to the district administration. However, the discharge was confirmed by State-level authorities through the bulletin only on Saturday.

There were 16 patients from Madurai and seven from Virudhunagar who were discharged. Of them 13 were men, six women and four children.

The patients from Madurai were residents of Kottampatti, Anaiyur, Usilampatti, Sellur, Vandiyur and Sikkandar Chavadi.

Collector T. G. Vinay said that after treatment, the patients were discharged. Those who did not display symptoms were in the hospital only for 14 days, he said and added that a final test was taken 24 hours before it was decided that they could leave the hospital.

Drink kabasura kudineer to boost immunity, says Revenue Minister

Drink kabasura kudineer to boost immunity, says Revenue Minister

10/05/2020, STAFF REPORTER,MADURAI

Revenue Minister R. B. Udayakumar said that people must consume kabasura kudineer on an empty stomach everyday to boost their immunity. He said this while distributing sachets of the powder to members of various minority groups here on Saturday.

He also distributed dry ration as part of the COVID-19 relief efforts by the State government at Kallikudi and Tirumangalam to members of the Narikuravar community, the elderly and differently abled persons. Although no direct link has been established between kabasura kudineer and COVID-19 treatment, Siddha practitioners and Ayurveda doctors say that it helps in boosting immunity, he said. Corporations and district administrations across the State have resorted to distributing tonnes of sachets to the public, he added.

“Kallikudi block is one of the few blocks in the district without any cases. To ensure that the status quo remains, the public must cooperate,” he said. He said the relaxation which has led to the revival of several industries in these two regions will help in stabilising the economy. “With Mahatma Gandhi Employment Guarantee Act scheme kick-starting, I am sure several labourers will receive regular income,” he added.

Family members of stranded pilgrims seek govt. help

Family members of stranded pilgrims seek govt. help

10/05/2020, STAFF REPORTER, MADURAI

With 22 senior citizens from Madurai, who were on a pilgrimage to north India, stranded in Gaya in Bihar for over 40 days following the lockdown, family members have sought the State government’s help to bring them back.

The group had left for the pilgrimage on March 11 and are now being provided food and shelter by the Nattukottai Nagarathar Chathiram in Gaya.

Family members said that the senior citizens were psychologically affected as they were unable to come back home.

One of the family member, M. Gnanagurunathan, said that his mother and mother-in-law were among the stranded.

Though he was in touch with them over phone, he said that being away from home had taken a toll on the mental health of the elders and they longed to return home.

He said that the family members of the senior citizens had sent representations to both Tamil Nadu and Bihar governments and were awaiting response from them. Members of DLSA Madurai said that they were in touch with their counterparts in DLSA Gaya and were monitoring the status. The senior citizens will undergo a medical test on Monday and will apply for travel e-pass, the members said.

Meanwhile, 23 pilgrims from Madurai who were stranded in Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh reached the city on Friday.

They were taken to the Government Rajaji Hospital for a medical check up and have been asked to remain in home quarantine for two weeks, the members said.

Colleges, hostels turn isolation centres

Colleges, hostels turn isolation centres

This has been done to tackle any explosion of COVID-19 cases, says Collector T. G. Vinay

10/05/2020, SANJANA GANESH,MADURAI

The district administration and the department of health services have established 11 isolation centres across various taluks. It has been done to tackle any explosion of cases, says Collector T. G. Vinay.

He adds that these facilities are in addition to those functioning at the Southern Railways hospital, Government Hospital for Thoracic Medicine at Thoppur and taluk-level hospitals.

As on date, the Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) has around 300 beds in the COVID-19 speciality ward. This includes beds in the COVID-19 suspected ward too. “Only the first floor of the super-speciality block is being used as there are only 57 active cases. There are two other floors which can be used as well,” a source said.

Asymptomatic cases

Mr. Vinay says they have set up beds at taluk hospitals in Melur, Tirumangalam and Usilampatti to treat asymptomatic cases.

The administration has approached private colleges and has taken over government hostels to provide space for COVID-19 patients. These facilities will predominantly be used for isolating and testing potential cases.

These include Sri Meenakshi Government Arts College for Women hostel, Madurai Kamaraj University hostel, Thiagarajar Engineering College hostel, Police Training Centre (Othakadai) hostel, Meenakshi Nursing College, Mannar Thirumalai Naicker College hostel, Homeopathy Medical College (Tirumangalam), Sedapatti High School, Kamaraj Engineering College hostel, Vadipatti Government High School and Arul Anandar College.

Some colleges like Sri Meenakshi Government Arts College for Women and Thiagarajar Engineering College have provided space with the health department setting up beds.

However, some other institutions like Madurai Kamaraj University and Meenakshi Nursing College have provided beds as well. Each of these facilities have access to a dedicated doctor, AYUSH doctor, staff nurse, lab technician and hospital worker who all operate from a nearby Primary Health Centre.

They also will be provided with surgical instruments, drugs and consumables, the Collector said.

“In case there is a rise, asymptomatic cases will be shifted to these facilities. For each of these centres, two Compulsory Rotatory Residential Internship (CRRI) students will be deputed as well. The Deputy Director, Public Health, will form schedules regarding relieving doctors and staff nurses,” the Collector added.

‘HC order hampers reopening of economy’

‘HC order hampers reopening of economy’

Online liquor sale needs logistics: T.N.

10/05/2020, KRISHNADAS RAJAGOPAL,NEW DELHI

The Tamil Nadu government, which on Saturday moved the Supreme Court against a Madras High Court order to close liquor shops in the State, also filed a separate memo, requesting that the case be heard even on Sunday.

“The entire country and the State are facing a unique situation, wherein the economy is sought to be reopened in a phased manner, the directions issued are seriously impeding this process. Therefore it is prayed that this case may be listed at the earliest, even on Sunday, so as to mitigate the hardship caused to the citizens,” the State said.

Tamil Nadu, represented by advocate Yogesh Kanna and State Additional Advocate-General Balaji Srinivasan, said liquor retail was owned and operated by the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited (TASMAC). The order for an open-ended ban was on the basis of petitions filed by parties interested in keeping the State-run shops closed, he said.

As for online liquor sales and home delivery, Tamil Nadu said the Supreme Court had clarified on May 8 that a decision would be left to the discretion of the States.

It said no other State, except Maharashtra where the COVID-19 cases were three to four times more than Tamil Nadu, sold liquor exclusively through online means. Online sales could at best supplement sales through physical outlets.

“E-payment and home delivery call for immense logistical coordination, supply chain management, which needs time and manpower, especially in the present situation,” the petition contended.