Two pairs of special daytime trains to be operated

Two pairs of special daytime trains to be operated

It will run on Madurai-Villupuram and Nagercoil-Tiruchi sections

31/05/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,MADURAI

Back on track: Ticket counters open for reservation at Dindigul railway station on Saturday. G. Karthikeyan

Southern Railway will operate the following special trains from Monday:

Train No.02636 Madurai- Villupuram Intercity superfast special will leave Madurai at 7 a.m. It would leave Dindigul at 8 a..m., Tiruchi at 9.15 a.m., Ariyalur at 10.10 a.m. and reach Villupuram at 12.05 p.m. In the return direction, train No.02635 will leave Villupuram at 4 p.m., Ariyalur at 5.25 p.m., Tiruchi at 6.40 p.m., Dindigul at 8.05 p.m. and arrive Madurai at 9.20 p.m.

Train No.02627 Tiruchi– Nagercoil superfast special will leave Tiruchi at 6 a.m., Dindigul at 7.15 a.m., Madurai at 8.15 a.m., Virudhunagar at 8.57 a.m., Tirunelveli at 11.10 a.m..and reach Nagecoil at 1 p.m. In the return direction, train No.02628 will leave Nagercoil at 3 p.m., Tirunelveli at 4.25 p.m., Virudhunagar at 6.25 p.m. Madurai at 7.25 p.m. and reach Tiruchi at 10.15 p.m.

Passenger reservation system counters at the originating/destination stations of the above trains and also at stations where the trains have scheduled stoppages have been opened for booking of tickets from 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Only two counters will be functional for the purpose of only booking tickets. In view of extended time limit for claiming refund and to keep less crowd, no refund shall be granted. Also, in view of the prevailing threat of COVID-19, passengers are requested to use online ticket booking facility, a statement said.

Delhi HC raps Telegram on Jagran e-paper row

Delhi HC raps Telegram on Jagran e-paper row

‘Reveal users sharing content illegally’

31/05/2020, STAFF REPORTER,NEW DELHI

The Delhi High Court on Saturday directed the messaging app Telegram to disclose the identity of users who are running channels on its platform to illegally share the e-paper version of the Dainik Jagran newspaper on a daily basis.

The High Court also directed Telegram to take down the channels which were indulging in copyright infringement activities against Jagran Prakashan Ltd., the publishers of Dainik Jagran, within 48 hours.

Jagran Prakashan had moved the High Court complaining that Telegram, a Dubai-based company, has allowed its users to create various channels without disclosing their identity.

Some of the users, Jagran Prakshan said, have created channels on which e-papers of the Dainik Jagran are being uploaded in PDF format on a daily basis. It said Telegram with the help of these channels is not only permitting availability of current editions of the e-paper but also previous editions.

Jagran Prakshan said this feature is available only to subscribers. It contended that Telegram through the channels was not only causing “serious financial loss” but also violating its trademark rights as well as copyright in the e-newspaper.

PM CARES not within the ambit of RTI Act: PMO

PM CARES not within the ambit of RTI Act: PMO

Fund is not public authority, says reply

31/05/2020, PRISCILLA JEBARAJ,NEW DELHI

The fund was set up to accept donations for relief measures during the pandemic.

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has refused to disclose details on the creation and operation of the PM CARES Fund, telling an RTI applicant that the fund is “not a public authority” within the ambit of the RTI Act, 2005.

The Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund accepts donations and provides relief during the COVID-19 pandemic, and other similar emergencies.

Sri Harsha Kandukuri, a law student, filed an RTI request on April 1, asking the PMO to provide the Fund’s trust deed and all government orders, notifications and circulars relating to its creation and operation.

“PM CARES Fund is not a Public Authority under the ambit of Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005. However, relevant information in respect of PM CARES Fund may be seen on the Website pmcares.gov.in,” the reply said.

Another RTI request on the issue, filed by activist Vikrant Togad, had also been refused in April citing a Supreme Court (SC) observation that “indiscriminate and impractical demands under RTI Act for disclosure of all and sundry information would be counterproductive”.

Expert panel gets more time to submit report

Expert panel gets more time to submit report

Committee to examine academic issues arising out of COVID-19 situation

31/05/2020, STAFF REPORTER,CHENNAI

The expert panel constituted by the School Education Department to examine academic and teaching issues caused by the COVID-19 crisis has been granted another week’s time to submit its report.

The group, headed by the Commissioner of School Education, had earlier been given 15 days to submit a report to the State government.

A government order dated May 29 from School Education Secretary Dheeraj Kumar stated that the deadline had been extended by a week.

Four members have been added to the expert group to facilitate broad-based participation — Ajeeth Prasath Jain, founder, Dr. APJ Education Consultancy, P.R. Velumani, chairman, Bharathi Vidyalaya Education Institution, C.S. Manoharan, president, CBSE Schools Management Association, and Sundaraparipooranan Pakshirajan, former member, Tamil Nadu State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights.

These members will join the group, which includes the Directors of School Education, State Council of Education Research and Training (SCERT), elementary education, matriculation school and government examinations, representatives from Samagra Shiksha, Kalvi TV, Parents Association (PTA), Unicef, TNeGA and IIT Madras.

The expert group aims to identify gaps in teaching and learning as well as examine how they can make up for the loss of time caused due to the lockdown. They are also expected to work on formulating an action plan by integrating and leveraging technology and online facilities to ensure uninterrupted learning and quality education.

MTC asks maintenance staff to report for duty

MTC asks maintenance staff to report for duty

Fitness certificates of 1,775 buses set to expire in June

31/05/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT ,CHENNAI

Off the road: The MTC buses need to be kept in roadworthy condition at the time of inspection by Regional Transport Officers. M. KARUNAKARANM_Karunakaran

The Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) has directed the workers of the maintenance department to report for duty, as over 1,700 buses, nearly half of its fleet, need fitness certificate.

A senior official of the MTC said the utility runs 3,600 buses and during the lockdown around 300 buses were operated for government staff and essential services.

The fitness certificate of 1,775 buses will expire in June.

The buses have to be in good condition when renewal of their fitness certificates is sought from Regional Transport Offices (RTOs).

The work involves repair, i changing engine oil, replacing worn out tyres and other maintenance work before giving a fresh coat of paint, he said.

While the officials would have to work daily, the staff would work on alternate days. Wearing of masks and gloves has been made compulsory along with regular washing of hands and maintaining a minimum of 3 ft. physical distance in the office.

Controversy over amount of solatium for matron’s family

Controversy over amount of solatium for matron’s family

₹5 lakh announced, while ₹50 lakh was given to family of VAO who died

31/05/2020, DENNIS S. JESUDASAN, CHENNAI

Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Saturday condoled the death of a matron of Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) in Chennai and announced a relief of ₹5 lakh to her family.

However, the move sparked a controversy, since a Village Administrative Officer (VAO), who died in a road accident near Tiruchi while returning home after COVID-19 duty earlier this month, was considered a frontline worker and his family was given ₹50 lakh as solatium.

The Chief Minister on April 22 announced that ₹50 lakh compensation would be granted to the families of frontline staff — police, sanitary workers, officials of the Revenue Department and government healthcare officials — should they die while on COVID-19 duty.

Mr. Palaniswami confirmed that matron John Mary Priscilla was “involved in work related to fighting COVID-19 infection” in RGGGH and died on May 27. “I extend my condolences to the bereaved family members of Mrs. John Mary Priscilla, who died while at work.”

“As a mark of recognition of Mrs. John Mary Priscilla’s selfless service and commitment in work related to COVID-19 infection, I have ordered for considering this a special case and grant solatium of ₹5 lakh from the Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund,” Mr. Palaniswami said.

“When the families of a police man and Village Administrative Officer were given ₹50 lakh as solatium after they died on COVID-19 duty, why is the government not doing the same for the matron’s family? The government should explain on what basis they have denied the same amount for her. She had retired on March 31, and her service was extended for duty during COVID-19 pandemic. Does it not make her eligible for the solatium? The government should give the family ₹50 lakh solatium as per the announcement,” a doctor said.

When asked about the difference in the solatium for these two cases, Revenue Department officials pointed the finger at Health Department officials, who have been maintaining that the deceased matron was not on COVID-19 duty.

However, the CM’s statement maintained that she was.

Govt. will fix rates for COVID-19 treatment in pvt. hospitals: Minister

Govt. will fix rates for COVID-19 treatment in pvt. hospitals: Minister

Move follows reports that the facilities were collecting exorbitant charges

31/05/2020, STAFF REPORTER,CHENNAI

The government will, in the next few days, fix and announce the rates that could be charged by private hospitals for treating COVID-19 patients, Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar said on Saturday.

The announcement followed allegations that some private hospitals were charging exorbitant rates. The Minister said the rates would be fixed based on the facilities available in the hospital.

Interacting with the media after inaugurating a 1,400-bed facility for quarantining and treating COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms, he said this was the time for the private sector to be service-oriented.

“I am appealing to private hospitals, while at the same time firmly telling them that they should not overcharge [patients],” he said.

Testing costs

He said that once the government announces the regulated fee structure, any complaints of overcharging would be taken seriously and necessary action initiated under the Tamil Nadu Clinical Establishments (Regulation) Act.

Mr. Vijayabaskar said that the government was in talks with private laboratories to bring down the cost of COVID-19 tests to below the Indian Council of Medical Research-fixed rate of ₹4,500.

He said that free tests were being done in government establishments for everyone, while private laboratories performed the tests for ₹2,500 for those covered under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS).

He said the new 1,400-bed premises had oxygen facility, separate rooms for medical personnel, lifts and an ambulance service. “Though we still have beds available in hospitals and are scaling up our facilities there, places like these can provide a homely environment for the patients. Medical teams will decide who among the patients can be accommodated here, depending on their symptoms, age, comorbidities and other criteria,” he said.