Mumbai offers highest quality of life, Chennai treats its women best: Study

Mumbai offers highest quality of life, Chennai treats its women best: Study

Chandrima.Banerjee@timesgroup.com

05.12.2020

There’s a reason cities are spoken of in organic terms. They come up, grow and thrive, or shrivel and die. But for decades, how a city treats its people has been judged by an idea of urban experience that is far removed from the lives we lead. Now, IIT-Bombay researchers have come up with an urban quality of life index tailored to the reality of life in India. And, for the first time, they have factored in gender parity. Chennai, it turns out, is the most women-friendly and Patna the least.

Overall, Mumbai tops the list of 14, followed closely by Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai. But so important is the gender role index that quality of life rankings of six cities would have changed had it not been considered — Delhi, Jaipur and Indore would have been ranked higher, and Mumbai, Bhopal and Lucknow would have ceded their spots. Only Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai surpass the average score for gender index, while Indore, Jaipur and Patna are way below average.

“Women experience cities differently; meeting women’s needs becomes essential in promoting sustainable urban development,” the paper, in press to be published in Elsevier journal ‘Transport Policy’, said. The study found that Jaipur has the highest crime rate against women, Chennai has the lowest . The gap in literacy rate between men and women is the widest in Jaipur (13.2%) and lowest in Kolkata (5.4%). The unemployment rate for women is the highest in Patna — at 346, it is more than four times the urban average of 73.

Another often overlooked factor are the basics — power, water, education. Only 36% urban households in Patna have access to treated tap water. Literacy was the highest in Pune (91%) and, surprisingly, the lowest in Hyderabad (83%).

Full report on www.toi.in

Girl is born in US from embryo frozen for 27yrs

NEW RECORD

Girl is born in US from embryo frozen for 27yrs

Maria Cramer  05.12.2020

In 1992, Tina Gibson was nearly 2 years old when a couple donated embryos that were frozen in a clinic in the US. In February 2020, one of those embryos was implanted in Gibson, an elementary school teacher in Tennessee, and in October, she gave birth to a baby. Gibson and her husband, Ben, named her Molly.

The birth broke the record for the longest frozen embryo to result in a live birth. That record, according to the National Embryo Donation Center in Tennessee, was set in 2017, when Molly’s older sister, Emma, was born after an embryo from the same donor couple was implanted in Gibson. “We feel so blessed,” Gibson said.

Molly’s birth is the result of a process that began when an embryo was frozen on October 14, 1992. It was thawed in February 2020, the longest time an embryo had been frozen before it led to a live birth, said Martha Earl, director of the University of Tennessee Preston Medical Library. She said she had researched medical journal articles and had “found no published case in a medical journal of a live birth” of an embryo that had been frozen more than 20 years.

Molly’s birth shows that there is not a limited length of time an embryo can be frozen, said Dr Jeffrey Keenan, director of the National Embryo Donation Center, a Christian organisation that performed the transfers.

“If the embryo survives the thaw well, it should have just as good a chance as freshly created embryo,” he said. “No embryo is too old.” Dr Sigal Klipstein, director of the egg donor programme at In-Via Fertility Specialists, said the only issue is the quality of the embryo at the time of freezing. NYT NEWS SERVICE

Vijay Mallya’s assets worth ₹14cr seized in France

Vijay Mallya’s assets worth ₹14cr seized in France

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:05.12.2020

French authorities have seized fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya’s property in France worth1.6 million euros (Rs 14 crore) based on a request made by the Enforcement Directorate.

According to the ED, Mallya’s seized property is located at 32, Avenue Foch, Paris. The asset created by allegedly laundering bank loans availed by Mallya using his Kingfisher Airlines Ltd. Mallya has defaulted on loans of over Rs 9,000 crore taken from public sector banks. The agency has attached his properties worth over Rs 11,000 crore.

Mallya has already been declared a fugitive economic offender and his extradition from the UK is in progress. A chargesheet has been filed in court against him and a non-bailable arrest warrant is pending. “Extradition request of Vijay Mallya was sent to UK, and the Westminster’s magistrate’s court has ruled for his extradition on charges of money laundering on December 10, 2018,” the ED said.

Govt hasn’t paid specialist doctors for two months

Govt hasn’t paid specialist doctors for two months

Sunitha.Rao@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:05.12.2020

Hundreds of senior resident doctors, who have been working in government medical college hospitals across in the state after completing their PG courses, have not been paid salary for two months.

These doctors, who have been on Covid duty, were due to receive Rs 60,000 per month as stipend. But most have not been paid since October as it appears the government has not factored in the increase in senior residents reporting for mandatory one-year government service after completing their courses. Most of these doctors joined service in mid-September.

While some old medical colleges in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Ballari and Hubballi have paid their doctors, some of the newer colleges like the ones in Shivamogga, Kalaburagi and Mandya are yet to disburse payment.

TK Anil Kumar, principal secretary, medical education department, said the issue has been brought to the notice of the finance department and that it will be resolved soon. “Old medical colleges like the ones in Bengaluru, Ballari, Hubballi and Mysuru have all paid their senior resident doctors. Those working in medical colleges in the rest of the state will be paid soon,” he said.

About 1,500 doctors with postgraduate medical degrees have to mandatorily complete stints in government institutions. Of these, close to 450 were posted for work in government hospitals under the administration of the health and family welfare department. They have been posted as duty doctors in community health centres, taluk and district hospitals. They have to be paid by the health and family welfare department.

Recently the matter was brought to the notice of Karnataka health minister K Sudhakar, who told TOI, “Measures have been taken to disburse salaries for senior resident doctors.”

One affected doctor said, “We have been working without pay for several months now. We are all specialists. This is a mandatory posting, but the government has failed to honour its word.”

Many also alleged they were not given hostel facility close to where they work.

The Karnataka Association of Resident Doctors (KARD), which broached the matter with the state government, said some of hospitals have failed to pay according to the revised salary structure. “Some hospitals have paid these doctors Rs 42,000 per month, whereas under the revised stipend structure they should get Rs 60,000 per month. This too has to be corrected,” said Dr Dayanand Sagar, president, KARD.

GOVT LAG: Specialist doctors have to compulsorily complete stints in government facilities, but they haven’t been paid since October

Hospitals like Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health and Sanjay Gandhi Institute of Trauma and Orthopaedics have paid these doctors Rs 42,000 per month, whereas under the revised stipend structure they should get Rs 60,000 per month.

Dr Dayanand Sagar

PRESIDENT, KARD

Mysore varsity gives exams a miss, promotes 1st, 3rd semester pupils

Mysore varsity gives exams a miss, promotes 1st, 3rd semester pupils

S Ramesh TNN

Mysuru:05.12.2020

University of Mysore (UoM) has promoted first and third semester students without conducting final exams this year as per guidelines issued by University Grants Commission (UGC) and the state government. It has also promoted PG students.

Besides promoting students, the varsity also issued marks cards based on internal marks and scores secured in earlier semester examinations.

“This decision not only helps more than one lakh students continue their studies, but will also help them avail scholarships provided by the government under various schemes,” said Prof KM Mahadevan, registrar (evaluation). “The varsity is the first in the state to announce its decision to promote students.”

He said most students have accepted the results. “For students who are unhappy with marks secured, there is a provision for these students to appear for written examination,” Mahadevan said. “This will be conducted separately by the varsity. Students who fail in the comprehensive evaluation process must sit for examinations for respective subjects in the next semester. Students will be allowed to carry forward backlog subjects as well.”

The varsity also successfully conducted final year PG, UG and KSET exams. For the few students who failed to appear for final year degree exams in the wake of the pandemic, the varsity will conduct another exam for them.

The varsity has received over 113 applications from such students who missed final year degree exams. “Exams will be conducted soon and results will be announced for such students after expediting the process and they can also join PG courses,” he said.

HC turns down PIL seeking judicial probe into Hathras gang rape case

Rajesh Kumar Pandey TNN

Prayagraj  05.12.2020

: The Allahabad high court on Thursday refused to entertain a PIL seeking a judicial inquiry into the alleged gang rape of a 19-yearold dalit woman in Hathras, saying it did not want to multiply the litigation as another one in this regard was pending before its Lucknow bench.

A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Govind Mathur and Justice Piyush Agrawal, was hearing the PIL filed by one Babita Upadhyay. The petitioner had also sought directions to the UP government and authorities concerned not to restrain the media or the public at large to meet the family members of the victim.

The court while declining to interfere in the present proceedings, said that a division bench at Lucknow had taken suo motu cognizance of the midnight cremation of the victim’s body. “We are not inclined to multiply the litigation in relation to the issue which is already under consideration,” it observed.

The petitioner had also sought a direction to the state government to formulate proper guidelines and provide adequate and uniform compensation to all the victims of gang rape and murder without any discrimination.

Full report on www.toi.in

The Allahabad high court said it does not want to multiply the litigation as another plea in the alleged Hathras gang rape case was pending before its Lucknow bench

TN ready for vaccination drive, govt tells PM Modi

TN ready for vaccination drive, govt tells PM Modi

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:05.12.2020

At the all-party meeting convened on Friday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, DMK urged the Centre to offer Covid-19 vaccine free of cost to all people. The ruling AIADMK said its government is fully geared up to carry out the vaccination process in the state.

“While developed countries are planning to offer 5-10 doses of the vaccine to their people, every Indian should get at least two doses,” DMK treasurer and Sriperumbudur MP T R Baalu said, while urging the Centre to offer the vaccine free of cost to all.

“With an average cost of ₹1,000 per vaccine approximately, the procurement cost of vaccine to cover 130 crore Indians and for two doses would work out to Rs 2.6 lakh crore. The government should not get enamoured by this huge cost,” Baalu said.

“It should be seen, as an investment on Indian human resources. The expense can be met by the Centre and states as well as public sector units and by tapping the CSR funds of the private sector,” he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said in October that all Indians would be given free shots of Covid-19 vaccine.

On its part, the ruling AIADMK said it would offer the vaccine free of cost to all people in the state. “Our state government has already announced that it would provide Covid-19 vaccination free of cost to all the people in Tamil Nadu as and when it becomes available and aligning with the instructions of the Centre and as per the priority indicated,” AIADMK Lok Sabha MP P Ravindhranath said at the meeting. “We have constituted the state steering committee headed by the chief secretary and state task force headed by the health secretary. The steering committee and the task force held their meeting on Thursday, while the district and block-level meetings are in progress,” he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said in October that all Indians would be given free shots of Covid-19 vaccine. On its part, the ruling AIADMK said it would offer the vaccine free of cost to all people in the state