20 docs have died in TN, says med council

20 docs have died in TN, says med council

Chennai: 05.08.2020

At least 20 doctors have died of Covid-19 in Tamil Nadu so far, according to reports collated by the state wing of the Indian Medical Council. The doctors’ body has urged the state to offer a compensation of Rs50 lakh to the family members of these doctors.

“We have so far sent death certificates and test reports of 18 doctors in the state to the chief minister’s office. We have reports of two more doctors. We are in the process of collecting information regarding more doctors from 166 branches of IMA across the state,” said IMA state president Dr CN Raja. “All doctors are like soldiers in the battle field. Their death is martyrdom,” he told TOI.

In April, a Chennai-based senior neurosurgeon Dr Simon Hercules was among the first doctors to succumb to the viral infection. Since then several doctors have died due to the viral infection. TNN

No MBBS batch should be allowed to move to the next level without exam: MCI

No MBBS batch should be allowed to move to the next level without exam: MCI

TOI-Online | Aug 4, 2020, 08.03 PM IST

NEW DELHI: The board of governors in suppression of Medical Council of India (MCI) has issued advisory on MBBS examination and external examiners for the MBBS examinations in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.

As per the advisory no batch should be permitted to move to the next level of the MBBS course without an examination.

It further said that the colleges should aim to complete the first MBBS course within two months of re-opening of the colleges and thereafter the first MBBS University exams should be completed as soon as possible, preferably within a month.

The Board has further advised that relaxations provided for the conduct of final year postgraduate examination in terms of the appointment of examiners and the exam patterns, would also be applicable for the conduct of MBBS university examinations.

In respect to external examiners for the MBBS examinations the university is advised to considering the risk stratification of the areas where the Medical colleges/institutions are located, if external examiners are not available from outside the state due to pandemic that the external examiners to be selected from a different university in the state. These external examiners have to be physically present at the venue of the examination.

If this is also not possible then at least half the external examiners to be selected from a different university, who would be physically present at the venue of the examination and the other half from a different university who would participate through video conferencing.

Conduct of practical/clinical examinations

The Board stated that since the objective of the practical examination is to ascertain skills relevant to the subject as outlined in the respective course curricula, alternative methods of skill evaluation which may include OSCE/OSPE, simulations, case scenarios, etc. may be used in lieu of clinical cases, wherever the latter is not feasible as provided for in the regulations.

Govt may go back to monthly billing of power

Govt may go back to monthly billing of power

Sivakumar.B@timesgroup.com

Chennai: 5.8.2020

Tamil Nadu government is mulling changing the electricity billing cycle of domestic consumers from bimonthly to monthly system, said state power minister P Thangamani on Tuesday.

“We will have to discuss it with the chief minister before taking a decision. There is a demand for returning to the monthly cycle. We have to take a call on this,” said Thangamani.

Changing the billing cycle with the current tariff system would provide major benefits to consumers as their tariff will remain in lower slabs as most consumers will not cross 500 units. Moreover, the first 100 units are free for all domestic consumers. It is not clear as of now whether the government has plans to tweak the tariff along with change in the billing cycle. Changing the billing cycle without altering the tariff would be suicidal for the power utility, Tangedco.

People who cross consumption of 500 units bimonthly, after factoring in the 100 free units, are paying Rs 6 per unit at present. Use of air-conditioners, especially in cities like Chennai, leads to power consumption crossing 500 units in the bimonthly cycle.

“The bi-monthly cycle of billing was introduced in August 1987 as the then TNEB did not want crowding of consumers at bill collection centres. But things have changed a lot now. Only a few consumers pay at collection centres at present. Most consumers make online payment, either using Tangedco App or its website,” said Pattabirambased consumer activist T Sadagopan.

Domestic sector alone follows bimonthly billing cycle at present. All other segments like commercial and industrial are paying monthly bills in Tamil Nadu.

“Lack of adequate assessors was one of the reasons to introduce bimonthly billing cycle for domestic consumers. Moreover, there was no hand-held machine for taking meter reading those days. Everything was done manually and it was not possible to record meter readings every month. Since technological advancements have simplified everything now, it is time we got back to the monthly cycle,” said a senior Tangedco official.

The discom has not got any official communication from the government regarding the change in the billing cycle. Hence, even deliberations have not started, he said.

International flights on radar of airlines

International flights on radar of airlines

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

5.8.2020

With the Union government promising to open an air bubble between select routes, airlines have begun preparations to start limited international flights from next month. However, the Centre has not clearly said if it would allow flights from a particular date.

The approval to conduct IPL in Dubai has raised hopes that the government may allow flights to the Middle East from next month. Many Indian carriers including IndiGo, SpiceJet, Vistara had flights to the Middle East during the pre-shutdown days and have started to display fares on online booking sites for direct flights from Mumbai and Chennai.

SpiceJet has already got slots in London to fly to India from September 1 but is yet to decide which city to fly to. “We have the slots and will announce flight dates soon,” said a spokesperson of the airline.

Ajay Singh, chairman & managing director, SpiceJet, said, “The identical arrival/departure slots that we have secured at Heathrow should suit the convenience of our passengers.”

An airline official said many airlines have begun to push for international flights because there was huge demand from people to travel to the Middle East, southeast Asia, Europe and the US.

Lizard found in food at CP eatery, police register case of negligence

Lizard found in food at CP eatery, police register case of negligence

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:04.08.2020

A man who went to dine at a popular restaurant in Connaught Place on Saturday night was shocked to find a lizard in his food. He later filed a police complaint of negligence and endangering a person’s life.

The victim, identified as Pankaj Aggarwal, also uploaded a video on a friend’s Twitter handle where he is seen talking to staff members. “I have already eaten some of the food and half of the lizard is missing,” he told them.

Aggarwal reached the restaurant along with two friends around 9.30pm. “We had ordered two items. I was eating my food when I spotted a lizard in my sambhar. I immediately called staff members. They were more interested in removing the dish from the table than addressing our issue,” Aggarwal told TOI. “I had eaten half of my food and half of the lizard was also missing. I later uploaded the video as I wanted to make people aware about the incident.”

He added, “My family has been coming to this restaurant for long and we celebrate most of our occasions here. This was my first dineout experience after the lockdown and it disappointed me.”

Stressing that hygienic conditions at the restaurant should be looked into, Aggarwal said the same items were available at roadside eateries too, “but we come to restaurants for better facilities and good hygienic conditions in which the food is prepared”.

The restaurant didn’t charge them the bill of Rs 290 but, Aggarwal said, he is more worried about hygiene at such a popular restaurant. “With the pandemic still raging, everyone thinks all measures and precautions are being taken while serving customers and people are coming out to eat with that trust in mind.”

Following a call to the police control room, an officer came to the restaurant from Connaught Place police station. Police have recorded statements of staff members, including those on duty at the kitchen.

AGGARWAL SAYS

I immediately called staff members. They were more interested in removing the dish from the table than addressing our issue

GTU to hold e-exams for 25k undergrad students from today

GTU to hold e-exams for 25k undergrad students from today

Ahmedabad: 04.08.2020

Gujarat Technological University (GTU) will begin online examinations for final-semester undergraduate and diploma students from Tuesday. The exams will run through a week. About 25,000 students are expected to take the exams. The varsity has completed the exams for postgraduate programmes, which began a week ago.

Candidates can take the online MCQ (multiple-choice question) exams using laptops, desktops, tablets, or cellphones. A consistent internet speed of 512kbps is recommended.

If students do not have that facility, their institutes will have to provide connectivity with the necessary speed. Webcams are required for students taking the exams using laptops or desktops.Front-facing cameras are needed for those taking the exams using mobile phones or tablets.

Other testing options include the pen-and-paper exams to be held from August 17 and special exams to be conducted in September. TNN

Salem gets Siddha Covid care centre

REGION DIGEST

Salem gets Siddha Covid care centre

The Salem district administration opened an exclusive 60-bed Siddha Covid-19 care centre at Uthamacholapuram on Monday. Collector S A Raman said treatment will be given to Covid-19 patients who wish to try Siddha method. District siddha medical officer Dr K Selvamurthy said patients will be administered with all Siddha medicines prescribed under the Aarogyam scheme, launched to boost immunity of people by the government

File counter in cop’s bail plea, HC to CBI: Madras high court on Monday directed the CBI to file a counter on the bail plea moved by suspended head constable S Murugan, arrested in connection with the Sathankulam custodial deaths of P Jeyaraj and his son J Beniks. After the assistant solicitor general V Kathirvelu appearing for the CBI sought time to file a counter, justice V Bharathidasan directed the CBI to file a counter and adjourned the case to August 17.

Sterlite firing victims’ kin seek govt jobs: Kin of those killed in the police firing at anti-Sterlite protesters and those who were badly injured in the police excess, on Monday petitioned the state government, seeking jobs that match their qualification. They termed the menial jobs given on compassionate grounds as an eyewash. They also alleged partiality in allotment of jobs.

Governor stable: Governor Banwarilal Purohit, who was tested positive for Covid-19, is stable, according to Raj Bhavan release. Purohit also decided not to host the “At Home Reception” at Raj Bhavan on the occasion of Independence Day in view of Covid-19 pandemic.