India needs better doc-patient ratio, more beds: Min

India needs better doc-patient ratio, more beds: Min

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  05.01.2021

The Centre is taking up the Covid-19 vaccination programme in a big way, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan said on Monday.

Addressing the gathering at the 32nd convocation of Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research in Chennai over video conference, the minister said Covid-19 had turned the clock back by many years, if not decades, derailing efforts of decades. But the novel coronavirus has showcased the contribution of the government sector towards adequate healthcare, he added. He praised frontline health workers who aided in patient care during the pandemic.

India should increase doctor-patient ratio from 1:1,700 to 1:1,000 as per World Health Organisation (WHO) norms, and the number of hospital beds from 9 per 10,000 people to 40 per 10,000, the minister said. The country spends about 4.2% of its GDP on healthcare and services as compared to about 18% by many developed nations, he said.

“This year, we have already made a substantial increase in our healthcare spend and the finance commission has projected a massive increase in the health outlay in the next five years,” he said. There is also a move to increase the number of medical colleges, almost one per district, and also the number of medical graduates, he said.

He told those graduating to do the things righteously with the best intentions and efforts. “A lifelong commitment to going forward is essential and you must always look to give back to your alma mater,” he said.

Chancellor V R Venkataachalam conferred the degrees and vice-chancellor Dr P V Vijayaraghavan presented 94 gold medals to meritorious students and distributed certificates to 1,266 students including in Ph.D, super specialties, post-graduate and undergraduate disciplines.

Union health minister Harsh Vardhan participated in the convocation of Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research in Chennai over video conference

Court: Standing by striking staff not participation

Court: Standing by striking staff not participation

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  05.01.2021

Merely standing near other employees during a strike will not amount to participation in a strike, a city labour court observed and directed a manufacturing unit in Ambattur Industrial Estate to reinstate an employee who was dismissed from work for his participation in a strike. The labour court also stated that the management did not follow procedures in domestic enquiry and held that the employee did not indulge in any misconduct.

E Kandan of Chettiyar Agaram moved the labour court against his employeran automobile parts manufacturing unit against his termination. According to his petition, he joined the company in 2010 and in April 2014, he was terminated, stating that he was a member in the labour union.

In response, the management submitted that the petitioner was deputed at another factory of them in Villivakkam and instead of reporting to work there, he was found indulging in an illegal strike in front of the Ambattur factory. The management contended that they did not terminate his services, but the petitioner stopped reporting to work.

After perusing the submissions from both sides, Jacintha Martin, Presiding officer, II additional labour court noted that the main charge of the management was that the petitioner participated in an illegal strike. To prove their point, they had played a video in the court showing the petitioner standing near the other employees who participated in the strike, the court noted.

The presiding officer pointed out that the name of the petitioner is not mentioned in the list of the partial lock out. The management has failed to establish that the petitioner participated in an illegal strike, the court observed merely standing near other employees during strike does not mean participation.

Flights to UK to begin but not from Chennai

Flights to UK to begin but not from Chennai

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

05.01.2021

Flyers to London will have to go via Bengaluru or Hyderabad as there will not be any direct flight from Chennai when services resume on January 8. The ministry of civil aviation has allowed direct flights only from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

This has hit many who had arrived earlier and have tickets to fly back from Chennai. Refund is not an option because they have already used one leg of the ticket. The airline has allowing them to shift the date of travel but they have to fly domestic to board flights from Bengaluru or Delhi.

Basheer Ahmed of Metro Travels said, “The ministry has allowed more frequency to airports other than those in the south because of the worry of the new strain. People from other TN towns will have to fly to Chennai and then to Bengaluru or Delhi to board direct flights.”

There will be two services from Bengaluru, three services, from Hyderabad, five services from Mumbai and five services from Delhi per week.The ministry has allowed outbound flights to resume from January 6 and inbound flights from January 8.

“The resumption of services is only temporary. People are looking to postpone trips. The restriction on the number of flights is likely to affect reopening of international sector,” said Ahmed.

Sources said Air India may start a direct flight from Chennai to London this month. “However, the state government is unlikely to allow services on the route. The four metro airports except Chennai have been identified as gateway airports for international flights during the shutdown so that passengers can be screened in a more efficient manner,” said an airport official.

TN plans to reopen schools after Pongal, seeks views of parents

TN plans to reopen schools after Pongal, seeks views of parents

Times News Network

 05.01.2021

The school education department wants to reopen schools for Class X and XII students post-Pongal holidays to prepare them for board exams. The department has asked all schools to conduct meetings with parents on or before January 8 to know their views on the move.

“It is necessary to reopen schools for students who are due to write board exams to conduct physical classes and prepare them for the exams. So, all schools should conduct parents meetings on or before January 8,” school education director S Kannappan said in a circular to CEOs on Monday.

The department also evolved standard operating procedures (SOP) for reopening of schools. He said the decision on reopening of schools would be taken based on the parents’ views.

V Shanthi, headmistress of Vidyodaya Girls Higher Secondary School in T Nagar said, “Though we take classes online, we can give writing practice only in classrooms. Some are hesitant to clear doubts in online classes.” We need to hold physical classes for at least students due to write board exams,” said G J Manohar, principal of MCC Higher Secondary School in Chetpet.

For CBSE students, the practical exams for Classes X and XII are scheduled to start from March 1. Schools said they needed 30 days to give training to the science students. CBSE board exams for Classes X and XII scheduled to start from May 4.

“State board students also need to be prepared for board exams. If they practice by writing model exams or revision tests, they may not score well in board exams which may affect their higher education prospects,” said career consultant Jayaprakash Gandhi.

MBBS admissions: 182 seats in govt colleges available

MBBS admissions: 182 seats in govt colleges available

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:05.01.2021

The second round of counselling for MBBS and BDS admissions began after initial hiccups on Monday with admissions for government school students.

The counselling was delayed till noon as the selection committee sought legal clarifications over an order passed by the Madras high court in the allotment of seats to three government school students under the 7.5% quota. “These students had moved the court saying they turned down their allotment in self-financing medical colleges as they were not aware the state’s announcement sponsoring medical education came late. The court had asked us to give priority to these students during counselling. We sought certain clarifications from legal experts before going ahead with the counselling,” said director of medical education Dr R Narayanababu.

On Tuesday, when the counselling begins, there will be 182 MBBS seats in government colleges, 206 seats in selffinancing medical colleges, 68 BDS seats in government colleges, and 965 seats in self-financing dental colleges.

When the counselling began, the selection committee, which initially displayed 41 seats under the 7.5% quota, added six more by adding Muthukumaran Medical College to the seat matrix. This year, at least 132 MBBS seats that were surrendered to the central government were returned to the Tamil Nadu after they remained vacant after two rounds of centralised online counselling. The centre also returned 28 BDS seats to the state government. Muthukumaran Medical College, which was not a part of the seat matrix given by the TN Dr MGR Medical University, was added to the seat matrix after orders from the high court. In addition, the100 additional seats given to PSG and16 of the 25 additional seats given to ESIC Medical College by the National Medical Commission were also added to the seat matrix.

TN govt allows 100% occupancy in theatres

TN govt allows 100% occupancy in theatres

D.Govardan@timesgroup.com

Chennai: 05.01.2020

The TN government on Monday permitted cinema theatres and multiplexes to operate with 100% occupancy. The move would help new Tamil films, including actor Vijay’s ‘Master’ and T Silambarasan’s ‘Easwaran’, to garner better collections at the box office as they would be released ahead of the Pongal festival. While ‘Master’ would be released in 700 movie halls, ‘Easwaran’ would be screened in 300 theatres. The development comes in the wake of Vijay calling on CM Edappadi K Palaniswami late on December 27 and urging him to permit 100% occupancy in theatres.

MRTS trains back at pre-Covid level

MRTS services in Chennai were on Monday increased to almost the pre-Covid level. Now, 80 trains run, compared to the pre-lockdown figure of 81. More than 10,000 commuters used the services on Monday. P 3

Govt move on cinemas dangerous, says Cong

Subsequently, members of the Tamil Nadu Theatres Association too represented the state government seeking to remove the restrictions on audience allowed into theatres. Based on the directions of the ministry of home affairs, cinemas/theatres/ multiplexes were permitted to open from November 10, 2020, with 50% of their seating capacity by following the standard operating procedure. “Based on the decrease in Covid-19 cases day by day, the Theatre Owners Association have represented to the government to increase the seating capacity of cinemas/ theatres/ multiplexes,” a state GO issued on Monday said, permitting the theatres to operate with full occupancy.

“In order to create awareness among spectators, precautionary measures for Covid-19 shall also be screened during the show time,” the GO said. While the Tamil film industry including actors welcomed the move, several people took to social media expressing fear that the relaxation could trigger a second wave, especially with a new strain of Covid making its presence felt in the state. They also cited the instances of a few hotels in Chennai emerging as new clusters.

“This is a dangerous move that could backfire. It is a selfish move taken with the hope that actor Vijay and his fans would extend their support at the time of assembly elections. Do not sacrifice the lives of Tamils for political gains,” senior Congress leader and former MP Peter Alphonse tweeted.

Actor and BJP leader Khushbu Sundar thanked CM Palaniswami and information and publicity minister Kadambur C Raju. “Film industry will flourish by leaps and bounds and come back to give best entertainment, being one of the largest economy generating field,” she tweeted. Khushbu also had a message to those who are worried over the decision. “Those who have different opinions on 100% capacity functioning of cinemas, only one message for you. Pls don’t go if you are worried. Your fear is understandable and nobody forces you to come. Take care,” she tweeted.

Tirupur K Subramanian, a leading distributor and exhibitor cited instances of politicians having already undertaken their election campaigns, while people are crowding retail shops and public places. “The CM is campaigning. Opposition leader M K Stalin is conducting grama sabhas. People are crowding textiles and jewellery showrooms where they engage in face-to-face interactions. In theatres, at the most, the audience are going clap and laugh. The SOP will be strictly followed though other public places seldom follow these,” Subramanian said.

Not mandatory for OCI cardholder to possess an Indian passport: Bombay HC upholds MBBS admission granted to student

Not mandatory for OCI cardholder to possess an Indian passport: Bombay HC upholds MBBS admission granted to student: Mumbai: Upholding the state government's decision of granting admission to an overseas citizen of India in the MBBS course at Goa Medical College under the NRI quota, the Bombay High Court has...