Air of uneasiness at oath-taking, CM doesn’t get up to greet his deputies

Air of uneasiness at oath-taking, CM doesn’t get up to greet his deputies

17.11.2020 TOI     

The ceremony was attended by home minister Amit Shah, BJP chief JP Nadda and former Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis. Nitish, who insisted on leveraging his higher numbers in previous terms to secure bigger share of departments and the post of speaker, has seen BJP playing by the same playbook to demand bigger share in the government.

The saffron party has kept its commitment to make Nitish the CM despite BJP winning more seats, but has also been firm on getting a share which is commensurate with its new-found muscle. While BJP has 74 members, JD(U) is 30 short of them with current strength. In the previous government, JD(U), with 71 members, had 18 ministers other than Nitish as CM. BJP, with 52 legislators, had 13 ministers, including deputy CM Sushil Modi. While Prasad and Renu Devi are set to be designated as deputy CMs, the party has staked its claim for the post of Speaker, with Nand Kishore Yadav being seen as the likely choice. Name of Yadav, who has been part of every NDA government in Bihar since 2005, was conspicuously missing from the list of ministers who took oath.

With BJP flexing its muscle and demonstrating its intent to rework the terms of trade with JD(U) by dropping its biggest face in Bihar Sushil Modi as deputy CM because of his perceived proximity to Nitish, the ceremony had an air of uneasiness hanging on it. The audience at Raj Bhavan closely looked at the “body language” of the dramatis personae and many eyebrows were raised when Nitish did not get up to receive Prasad and Renu Devi when they greeted him with folded hands after having been appointed ministers.

BJP also tried to soften the buzz about Sushil Modi’s unhappiness. “Sushil Modi Ji is not at all upset. He is an asset to us. Party will think about him, a new responsibility will be given to him,” Fadnavis said. On Sushil Modi not returning as his deputy, Nitish said, “It is the decision of BJP to not field Sushil Modi as deputy CM. They should be asked about this.”

Full report on www.toi.in

Bihar deputy CMs Tarkishore Prasad and Renu Devi during the oath-taking ceremony at Raj Bhawan in Patna, on Monday

As Cong bristles, RJD distances itself from ‘picnic’ remark

As Congress bristled over RJD national vice-president Shivanand Tiwari’s remarks about Rahul Gandhi and why the Mahagathbandhan lost the Bihar polls, his party on Monday distanced itself from what it said were entirely his “personal views” and insisted all was well with the grand alliance, reports Sheezan Nezami. RJD’s national spokesperson Manoj Jha said Tiwari accusing Rahul of “picknicking” ahead of the polls and blaming Congress for the alliance falling short of the majority should not be construed as the party’s official statement. He said a proper analysis was required to pinpoint the reasons why the Mahagathbandhan lost.

Full report on www.toi.in

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TN Health minister releases rank list for MBBS, BDS admissions, counselling to be conducted at Jawaharlal Nehru outdoor stadium

TN Health minister releases rank list for MBBS, BDS admissions, counselling to be conducted at Jawaharlal Nehru outdoor stadium

Time slots and dates will be allotted to the students and per day 500 students will be called for the counselling.

Published: 16th November 2020 01:23 PM 

Health minister Vijayabasker releases MBBS AND BDS counseling rank list, in Chennai on Monday. (Photo |EPS / R.Satish Babu)

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Health Minister C Vijayabaskar released rank list for MBBS and BDS admissions 2020-2021 at the Directorate of Medical Education office here on Monday. Counselling will be conducted from November 18 at the Jawaharlal Nehru outdoor stadium here.

The minister also released a separate rank list for 7.5 percent quota for government school students, government quota seats in government medical colleges and self-financing medical colleges and management quota seats for self-financing colleges. First copy of the rank list was received by Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan and Selection Committee Secretary G Selvarajan.

Under the 7.5 percent reservation for government school students this year, N Jeevithakumar from Government Model Higher Secondary School, Silvarpatti, S Anbarasan from Government Higher Secondary School in Kallakurichi and S Dhivyadharshini from Government Higher Secondary School in Chennai secured first three ranks in the top 10 list.

R Gunasekaran who studied in Government Adi Dravidar Higher Secondary School in Vellore districts secured fourth rank in the 7.7 percent reservation for government schools students. 

Among the top 10 candidates for government quota seats, R Srijan from Erode, Mohanaprabha Ravichandran from Namakkal, and G Swetha from Chennai secured first three ranks in the top 10 list.

The Selection Committee received 24,714 applications for MBBS and BDS seats, among them 23,707 were accepted. The committee received 15,885 applications from the State board students, 7,366 from CBSE and SSCE students, 285 from Indian School Certificate Examination and 171 from other boards.

According to the Selection Committee data, 9,596 students applied were passed out in the current year and 14,111 students were from previous years.

Total 972 applications were received from students for 7.5 percent reservation, among them 951 were accepted.

Speaking to the press after releasing the rank lists, the Health Minister said, the counselling will begin from November 18 at the Jawaharlal Nehru outdoor stadium due to Covid-19 this year to maintain physical distance. Time slots and dates will be allotted to the students and per day 500 students will be called for the counselling. After special counselling, counselling for 7.5 percent special reservation will be conducted.

The minister said, there are chances of government schools students getting 405 seats, 313 MBBS and 92 BDS seats, under 7.5 percent reservation. There are 3,650 MBBS seats in 26 government medical colleges. Among them 227 MBBS seats and 12 BDS seats are reserved for 7.5 percent special reservation.

In 15 self financing colleges there are 2,100 MBBS seats are there, among them 1,061 are reserved for State quota and 86 are for 7.5 percent special reservation.

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami is likely to hand over seat allotment for government school students secured seats under 7.5 percent reservation, according to the officials.

The candidates can access the full rank list at www.tnmedicalselection.org website, the officials said.

Chennai girl secures third rank in NEET-UG “It’s the 7.5 per cent reservation for the government school students which has helped me move closer to getting a seat in Madras Medical College.

Chennai girl secures third rank in NEET-UG

“It’s the 7.5 per cent reservation for the government school students which has helped me move closer to getting a seat in Madras Medical College.

Published: 17th November 2020 05:41 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: “It’s the 7.5 per cent reservation for the government school students which has helped me move closer to getting a seat in Madras Medical College. It has been my dream and I thank the government for this opportunity,” says S Dhivyadharshini from Chennai, who secured third rank in the merit list released by Health Minister C Vijayabaskar, for 7.5 per cent reservation for government school students, on Monday.

Dhivyadharshini secured 620 marks in NEET-UG this year, after two earlier attempts. “I took NEET in 2018, but managed to get only 145 marks. In my second attempt in 2019, I could get only 466 marks. But this year, I am so happy to be a rank holder,” she says.

A student of Government Higher Secondary School, Arumbakkam, Dhivyadharshini passed Class 12 in 2018. Her father, B Shivakumar, is running a catering service and mother K Tamilselvi is a Corporation school teacher. “I want to be a gynaecologist and I aspire to help students like me. I sailed through because of my determination,” she adds.

‘This reservation is a timely help for students’

Cuddalore: Sarathkumar J, son of a farmer in Cuddalore district secured 515 marks in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). He is one among the top ten students who made it to the Tamil Nadu NEET merit list released on Monday. Thestudents will be given medical seats as per 7.5 percent reservation for government school students. Sarathkumar a native of Veppur in Cuddalore district completed his education from Nallur Model School in 2019. He said, “ I could not pass NEET in the first attempt. This was my second attempt and has been possible only due to timely reservation announced by the State government.”

Son of daily wage labourers secures fifth rank 

Chandhini R @ Erode: A tiny village named Kundamallanayakanur in Kanjikovil panchayat gets its first ‘doctor-to-be’ after K Boopathy secured fifth place in the rank list for admissions to undergraduate medical courses under 7.5 per cent horizontal reservation for government school students who have cleared NEET. K Boopathy, a student of Kavindapadi Boys Higher Secondary School got 559 marks out of 580 in the NEET this year. He hails from a poor family -- father Kumar and mother Parvathy -- are daily wage labourers who earn less than ‘300 per day.Speaking to TNIE he said, “One thing this achievement taught me was -- It doesn’t matter where you are from, what matters is where you want to go.” After finishing school in 2019, Boopathy enrolled in the free NEET coaching classes offered by the government and prepared for 40 days. 

Rank lists for MBBS, BDS released

Rank lists for MBBS, BDS released

Separate rank lists for the 7.5 per cent reservation for govt school students was released by the health minister

Published: 17th November 2020 05:42 AM |

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Health Minister C Vijayabaskar released the rank lists for MBBS and BDS admissions 2020-2021 at the Directorate of Medical Education office here on Monday. Counselling will be conducted from November 18 at the Jawaharlal Nehru outdoor stadium here.

The minister released rank lists for the 7.5 per cent quota for government school students, government quota seats in government medical colleges and self-financing medical colleges, and management quota seats for self-financing colleges 

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The first copy of the rank list was received by Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan and Selection Committee Secretary G Selvarajan. A total of 972 applications were received from students for 7.5 per cent reservation, among which 951 have been accepted.

Speaking to reporters, the Health Minister said, “Counselling will begin from November 18 at the Jawaharlal Nehru outdoor stadium. Only 500 students will be called per day. Counselling for 7.5 per cent special reservation will begin after the special category counselling.”As many as 405 seats -- 313 in MBBS and 92 in BDS -- are reserved for government school students under 7.5 per cent reservation. There are 3,650 MBBS seats in 26 government medical colleges.

Among them, 227 MBBS seats and 12 BDS seats are reserved for 7.5 per cent reservation. In 15 self-financing colleges there are 2,100 MBBS seats, among them 1,061 are reserved for State quota and 86 MBBS are for the 7.5 per cent quota, said the minister.

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami is likely to hand over seat allotment for government school students, said officials. The candidates can access the full rank list at www.tnmedicalselection.org website, the officials said.

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There are 3,650 MBBS seats in 26 government medical colleges. Among them, 227 MBBS seats and 12 BDS seats are reserved for 7.5 per cent reservation

Vasan Eye Care founder A M Arun passes away at 51

 Vasan Eye Care founder A M Arun passes away at 51

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  17.11.2020 

Fifty-one-year old A M Arun, the founder of Vasan Eye Care, passed away in Chennai on Monday. Arun is survived by his wife Meera, son Yuthish, 23, and daughter Sarana, a Class XII student.

He was declared dead by doctors in a private hospital in Alwarpet. Since the cause of death could not be ascertained, the Teynampet police registered a case under unnatural death and his body was sent to Omandurar Multi specialty Hospital for postmortem. Police said Yuthish told them that he saw his father lying motionless on the floor at 7.30am on Monday and rushed him to Kauvery Hospital where doctors declared him brought dead. A team of forensic experts performed the autopsy and handed over the body to his family around 3pm.

Family members told police they last saw Arun on Sunday night when he walked to his room on the first floor of the house on J J Road off Kasturi Rangan Road at Teynampet. Police said Arun who has been taking medicines for blood pressure and a few ailments, had recently quit drinking.

In a message on the hospital webpage, Arun said, "I ventured into the healthcare business by taking over a small medical shop in Trichy. It had a reputation of over 60-years of being a trustworthy and very reliable pharmacy for sourcing medicines and medical supplies. From that very day in 1999 to this day, each foot I have put forward and each path I chose to tread have been with the support, courage and motivation of my team....". The government of Singapore picked up a stake in the eye care chain to ride the healthcare wave in India. But the fall of the eye care chain was also dramatic after he was accused of money laundering.

Arun's last rites will be performed on Tuesday.

13.75L voters in TN above 80 years, largest electorate in Sholinganallur

13.75L voters in TN above 80 years, largest electorate in Sholinganallur

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:17.11.2020

Woman voters continue to outnumber men in Tamil Nadu, according to the draft electoral rolls released on Monday. The total electorate in the state is 6.1 crore. There are 3.01 crore male voters, 3.09 women voters and 6,385 third gender voters.

“In terms of largest electorate, Sholinganallur assembly segment tops the state with 6.5 lakh voters. Kilvelur in Nagapattinam district has the smallest electorate with 1.7 lakh voters,” chief electoral officer Satyabrata Sahoo said. Except districts such as Kallakurichi, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri and Kanyakumari, the remaining 34 districts have more women voters than men.

In Chennai, there are 19.99 lakh woman voters and 19.39 lakh men, taking the tally to 39.4 lakh. The numbers may vary when the final roll is published in January, which would be the final for the assembly polls. Claims and objections can be made from November 16 to December 15.

The election department also listed out 13.75 lakh voters in the state above 80 years, who may be given the option of postal ballot due to Covid-19. The election commission has facilitated postal ballot facilities for those who are 80 years and above and people with disabilities for the first time.

In TamilNadu,Chennai(1.12 lakh), Salem (71,220) and Coimbatore (69,835) topped the districtsin termsof highelectorate in the age group of 80 years and above. “The election commission conveyed about postal ballot facility to these special category voters. It will be confirmed during elections,” said a source.

The election department will hold special camps in designated locations on November 21, 22 and December 12 and 13. Forms for inclusion, deletion, modification and transposition of entries will be available in these locations and filled in forms could be submitted there.

For inclusion, proof of address and age should be submitted along with the form. Aadhaar card may be submitted as proof of age. Proof of age is compulsory for applicants below the age of 25 years. Online filing can also be done on www.nvsp.in and https://voterportal.eci.gov.in. All those who will complete 18 years as on January 1, 2021, and those whose names are not included on the roll can apply for inclusion by filing Form 6.

7.5% quota may help 300 from govt schools

2ND, 3RD TRY FOR A FEW CANDIDATES

7.5% quota may help 300 from govt schools

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

17.11.2020

More than 300 students from humble backgrounds could enter medical colleges in the state this year thanks to the 7.5% special reservation for government school students. Of the 5,750 seats, 313 will be filled by these students.

N Jeevithkumar, a government school student from Siluvarpatti in Theni district, topped his category with 664 of 720 marks.

His father K Narayanamoorthi rears goats for a living, while his mother N Parameswari works in the 100-day job guarantee scheme. His teachers helped him join a private coaching institute.

Suryalakshmi S M of Government Girls Higher Secondary School at Porur in Chennai scored 368 marks in her first attempt. “With the help of mentors from KMC and my school teachers, I prepared for a whole year and was able to score 536 out of 720 in my second attempt,” said the daughter of a casual worker at a flour mill.

Even then, she may not have got a seat as the cut-off for BC students is likely to go up to 550 marks. But, thanks to 7.5% reservation, she is now expected to get into the prestigious Madras Medical College.

Hari Krishnan S of the Government Higher Secondary School in Lalgudi, Trichy, with 423 marks and ranked 38th in his category, is likely to get into one of the top three government colleges. “In the beginning I didn’t have the confidence to do well in NEET. My confidence grew along with practice,” he said. His only coaching was the state government’s online test series and video lectures. His father works in a grocery store.

“Without the 7.5% reservation, only 15 students would have got MBBS admissions from government schools. Though the reservation is justified, there is a huge gap between government school students and others as the cut-off may differ at least by 200 marks in all the categories,” said career consultant Jayaprakash Gandhi.

“We need to train government school teachers to prepare students for exams such as NEET,” said Dr Prasad Mane, secretary, Kilpauk Medical College Alumni Association, adding that they are willing to help government school students in the first and second year of MBBS too.