No number of Sasikalas can harm AIADMK, says min

No number of Sasikalas can harm AIADMK, says min

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:08.02.2021 

State fisheries minister D Jayakumar on Sunday put up a brave front, dismissing suggestions that he and his colleagues had been nervous about talking to reporters about V K Sasikala. “Let any number of Sasikalas come, they cannot harm AIADMK,” he told reporters on Sunday. On Saturday, a video, where three AIADMK ministers appeared to be reluctant to talk to reporters and were seen goading the other, was widely circulated on social media.

The AIADMK delegation had met the press on Saturday after a meeting with the state director general of police (DGP), where they lodged a second complaint against Sasikala and her nephew and AMMK general secretary T T V Dhinakaran. “We should not go by social media trends. It may not reflect the reality of what exactly happened,” Jayakumar told reporters on Sunday. “With the party having decided against the reentry of Sasikala, there is no room for any hesitation on our part,” Jayakumar said.

“When the law minister was present, it was only appropriate for him to address the media. It was the case earlier too, when deputy coordinator K P Munusamy was present and he spoke to the media. If they were not there, I would have addressed the media,” Jayakumar said.

According to him, Sasikala and Dhinakaran are functioning as the ‘B-Team’ of the DMK. They have nothing to do with the AIADMK. If she continues to use the AIADMK flag, the police and the law will take its course, he said.

“We want the AIADMK to come back to power once again in Tamil Nadu without the interference of Sasikala’s family and we are all working hard towards achieving that,” Jayakumar said. On deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam running a separate campaign in the media and promoting himself, Jayakumar said he will remain with the party forever and there need not be any doubt about that.

With the party having decided against the re-entry of Sasikala, there is no room for any hesitation on our part

D JAYAKUMAR | fisheries min

Thanks to HC, girl makes it in phase II of med counselling

HAD CONNECTIVITY ISSUES IN PHASE I

Thanks to HC, girl makes it in phase II of med counselling

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Madurai:  08.02.2021 

The state government has informed the Madras high court that a medical aspirant who missed her first phase of counselling due to internet connectivity issues has been allotted a seat under 7.5% quota at Erode government medical college in the second phase of counselling. It was on the court’s direction that petitioner S Gowsalya was allowed to attend the second phase of counselling since she was not able to view the communication sent because of poor network connectivity.

She had completed Class XII in a government higher secondary school at Pazhayanur village in Sivaganga district in 2017. Though she appeared for NEET, she was not able to secure sufficient marks then. She appeared for the test again in 2020 and secured 252 marks out of

720. Though she had a bright chance of securing a medical seat under the 7.5% horizontal reservation for government school students, she missed the first phase of counselling. The government informed that the petitioner was allotted a seat in Erode government medical college and hospital but the same was withheld for the outcome of this petition.

Taking cognizance of the submissions, Justice V Parthiban observed that once the petitioner has earned the seat on the basis of her performance and ranking, she must be allowed to enjoy the fruits of the outcome in the selection. The judge observed that such benefit ought not be denied to a deserving student like the petitioner who hails from a remote rural area. “In the realm of a beneficial public policy of this nature, a liberal and equitable dispositions are to be preferred than adopting a pedantic and inflexible approach,” observed the judge.

AMMK cadres prepare to greet Sasikala with gusto

AMMK cadres prepare to greet Sasikala with gusto

Hotels In Hosur Full, Banners Line Route To City From B’luru

V Mayilvaganan & V Senthil Kumaran TNN

Krishnagiri:  08.02.2021 

The Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border in Krishnagiri district witnessed unusually frenetic activity on Sunday as AMMK cadres geared up to give a rousing reception to V K Sasikala, who is returning from Bengaluru to Chennai on Monday.

Scores of cars with AMMK men whizzed past the border, heading towards Devanahalli near Bengaluru where Sasikala, a close aide of J Jayalalithaa is staying since her release. The cadres plan to greet Sasikala from the farmhouse and enter Tamil Nadu in a massive convoy. At the border town of Hosur, dozens of AMMK cadres from across the state have checked into hotels to greet her on Monday.

Meanwhile, many more cadres in towns and villages along the route from Krishnagiri to Chennai were busy sticking posters and erecting banners welcoming Sasikala. There were posters by AIADMK functionaries too welcoming Sasikala in some places.

“We have planned to give a grand welcome to Chinnamma in three places starting from Atebelle, the entry point of Tamil Nadu from Karnataka and in Hosur city,” AMMK Hosur secretary Maare Gowdu said. The AMMK has drawn out a plan to greet Sasikala at 56 places starting from Atebelle to Guindy covering Krishnagiri, Vellore, Tirupattur, Ranipet, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts before she ends the road trip in Chennai.

The police, however, are yet to grant permission for the gatherings. In Chennai, Sasikala’s family members were giving final touches to the house on Habibullah Road in T Nagar, where she is most likely to stay.

AMMK founder and Sasikala’s nephew T T V Dhinakaran said cadres from all over the state would assemble voluntarily all along her return route to welcome her. “What is going to happen is not something we are organising. Lakhs of cadres are expected to congregate on their own to greet her,” he said in Bengaluru.

Dhinakaran said he had instructed the cadres not to cause any hindrance to the public on Monday. He, however, said he suspected a conspiracy to defame AMMK cadres by creating a law and order problem. He said Sasikala had initially planned to visit M G Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa memorials after her return. Now that the memorial was closed, her schedule would be decided once she reaches Chennai. Dhinakaran said the action of AIADMK ministers to lodge a complaint with DGP was saddening. “I don’t understand why they are so scared when the power is with them,” he said. AMMK men were also busy trending the hashtags ‘TN welcomes Rajamata’ and ‘TN welcomes Chinnamma’ on Sunday.

Krishnagiri district secretary of Tamil Nadu Thiyaga Thalaivi Chinnamma Peravai Sakthivel petitioned the district SP, seeking his permission to strew flowers from a helicopter.

Meanwhile, the reactions in the AIADMK camp to the preparations was mixed as many appeared to go into wait and watch mode. State local administration minister S P Velumani declined to respond to reporters’ question about Sasikala. In Vellore, where chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami is slated to visit this week, police asked AMMK cadres to remove posters and banners they had put up welcoming Sasikala.

Doctors, nurses turn family for elderly COVID patient who lived alone in Chennai

Doctors, nurses turn family for elderly COVID patient who lived alone in Chennai

The elderly man lived alone as all his relatives were abroad when he tested positive for the coronavirus, said RGGGH Dean Dr E Theranirajan.

Published: 07th February 2021 02:18 AM 

Isolation ward at RGGGH. 

By OMJASVIN M D

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Even as the number of Covid-19 cases reduces, heartwarming stories from hospitals remain aplenty. Doctors and nurses have been the sole caretakers of Covid-19 patients as visitors were not allowed in hospitals; but at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) here, they even served as family to a 70-year-old man who didn’t have anyone else to take care of him.

The elderly man lived alone as all his relatives were abroad when he tested positive for the coronavirus, said RGGGH Dean Dr E Theranirajan. “He had no caretaker when he developed symptoms. He informed his family abroad and they contacted the Health authorities here, who visited his house and brought him to the hospital,” Dr Theranirajan explained.

Since there was no attender, even the patient’s clothes could not be brought to the hospital. He had some lung complications, and was immediately admitted to the RGGGH, the dean added. The RGGGH staff ensured clothes were given to the patient from the ‘Wall of Kindness’, where people can donate clothes and essentials to needy patients at the hospital. “Our healthcare staff also ensured he ate properly. They offered him counselling and communicated with his family abroad,” said the dean.

Eventually, the patient’s wife returned to the country and wrote a check for Rs 1 lakh to the hospital for the treatment and care provided. “She was almost in tears when she came to the hospital. She gave us the cheque and said she would be ready to help the hospital in any way. It was heartwarming for us too,” Dr Theranirajan said, adding that the patient was discharged on January 23.

The RGGGH has handled more than 30,000 Covid-19 cases and saved many lives, including those of 30 patients above the age of 90 years. In the past, patients’ relatives have donated televisions, rice bags and cash, among other things, out of gratitude to the hospital.

Those above 50 will soon be able to self-register on CoWIN for jabs

Those above 50 will soon be able to self-register on CoWIN for jabs

Nisha.Nambiar@timesgroup.com

Pune:07.02.2021

The central health ministry will soon open up the CoWIN app for people aged 50 and above who wish to self-register for Covid vaccination.

On Friday, the ministry had said vaccinations for this category will start in March.

Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan told TOI on Saturday the government will make the app public within a month. “Currently, Co-WIN access is restricted and is not available to the public. But we have one month to work on it and release it for citizens,” he said.

Bhushan said work is on to make the app more citizenfriendly. “We will be slowly revealing new features that will make it easy for those above 50 to register.”

Ram Sewak Sharma, chairman of the Empowered Group on Technology and Data Management to combat Covid-19, had earlier told TOI that the citizen version of the app would incorporate the suggestions that were made for better, more user-friendly performance.

He said the app will include an “appointment” feature once it’s made public.

Suggestions have come in from states on how to improve the app’s user interface.

“Technology will not be an issue. The best citizencentric interface will be made available in the coming days whenever it goes public,” he said.

CoWIN — an extension of India’s existing vaccine intelligence system, eVIN (electronic vaccine intelligence network) — is an IT solution that helps plan, implement and monitor the ongoing Covid inoculation drive. Currently, access is limited to administrators and vaccinators at sites where jabs are being administered for those who are part of the first two priority groups — healthcare and frontline workers.

In its present form, the app packs certain key modules for administrators, beneficiary registration and status updation.

Frontline and healthcare workers need to be registered on CoWIN before they can receive their vaccines.

Four girl students jailed for ragging junior, abeting suicide

Four girl students jailed for ragging junior, abetting suicide

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bhopal:  07.02.2021 

A sessions court in Bhopal has convicted four students of RKDF Pharmacy College for ragging and abetment the suicide of a junior student and sentenced them to five years’ imprisonment.

The girls were accused of driving their junior, Anita Sharma, to kill herself.

The court of additional district & sessions judge, Amit Ranjan, pronounced the senior students guilty and awarded them jail terms of five years each.

A case was registered in this regard against the four girls under Section 306 of IPC on charges of abetment to suicide. The court, however, acquitted a teacher of the institute, who had been made a co-accused in the case. The accused — Nidhi Magre, Dipti Solanki, Divyanshi Sharma, and Kriti Gaur — have been convicted in the ragging case reported in 2013.

Anita Sharma, an 18-year old B Pharm second-year student at RKDF Institute of Pharmacy, had committed suicide by hanging at her residence in 2013.

In her suicide note, she had accused the girls in question of subjecting her to torture in the name of ragging ever since she joined the college, so much so that she was even ‘forced her to write their mid-semester copies.’ She claimed that when she tried to inform the authorities about the ragging, she was advised to ‘obey her seniors and live with it’.In her suicide note, she wrote, “Only I know how I have suffered the ragging of these four girls.”

It’s mandatory for students to give an undertaking against ragging at the time of admission.

Anita Sharma, an 18-year old B Pharm student, had committed suicide by hanging at her residence in 2013. In her suicide note, she had mentioned the ragging she suffered

Covaxin trials for kids likely soon in Nagpur

Covaxin trials for kids likely soon in Nagpur

Chaitanya.Deshpande@timesgroup.com

Nagpur:07.02.2021

For parents concerned about sending their children, especially primary students, to school due to the Covid-19 pandemic and waiting for vaccine approval for those below 18 years, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Bharat Biotech, makers of indigenous Covid-19 vaccine, Covaxin, are expected to start vaccine trials for the paediatric population by February-end or early March this year. Sources confirmed that a leading children’s hospital in the city has been selected as one of the sites for trials on children. The trials will start as soon as Bharat Biotech, a company from Hyderabad, gets formal go-ahead from the government of India. In January, Bharat Biotech MD Krishna Ella had said that the vaccine for children will be ready in the next four months — by May 2021. “It will be the first such trial in the world in which paediatric population right from toddlers to teens will be tested for the Covid-19 vaccine,” Dr Ashish Tajne, coordinator for these trials, said. Dr Tajne further said Nagpur was one of the sites for Covaxin’s phase I, II, and III human trials.

“Trials for Covaxin through intradermal route are under way in the city. Soon, Covaxin trials through nasal route will also commence. However, the paediatric trial has a special importance,” he said. According to him, these trials will be conducted in age slabs like 2 to 5 years, 6 to 12 years, and 12 to 18 years. “Special protocol will be maintained. It will be the crucial trial in fight against Covid-19,” he said.

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‘Will be first such trial in the world’

In January, Bharat Biotech MD Krishna Ella had said that the vaccine for children will be ready in the next four months — by May 2021.

“It will be the first such trial in the world in which paediatric population right from toddlers to teens will be tested for the Covid-19 vaccine,” Dr Ashish Tajne, coordinator for these trials, said. Dr Tajne further said that Nagpur was one of the sites for Covaxin’s phase I, II, and III human trials.

“Trials for Covaxin through intradermal route are under way in the city. Soon, Covaxin trials through nasal route will also commence. However, the paediatric trial has a special importance,” he said.

According to him, these trials will be conducted in age slabs like 2-5 years, 6-12 years, and 12-18 years. “Special protocol will be maintained. It will be a crucial trial in the fight against Covid-19,” Tajne said.

As per international regulations, only vaccines based on inactivated virus can be administered to children under the age of 16 years. Hence, Covaxin is the only suitable option for children in India. Other made-in-India vaccines are based on mRNA and chimpanzee adenovirus vector platforms.

Earlier, in January, the Drug Controller General of India had given conditional approval for administering Covaxin to children above 12 years of age. But later in the month, the government disapproved this authorisation.

After this, Bharat Biotech declared that it will be submitting a proposal for Covaxin trials for children between 2-12 years. A senior paediatrician from the city, who is most likely to be the principle coordinator of these trials at Nagpur, said that formal announcement about the trials will be done only after receiving government’s final nod.